The next morning, before the sun had fully risen over the Imperial Capital, Ethan was already awake and standing quietly near the window while looking toward the distant Imperial Palace.

The city below was already active.

Soldiers marched through the streets while servants hurried between buildings, and faint bells echoed from distant towers across the capital.

Ethan slowly adjusted his sleeves before taking a deep breath.

Today was important.

Not long after, several imperial attendants arrived outside the residence to escort him toward the palace.

"Lord Marquise, His Majesty is waiting," one of them spoke respectfully.

Ethan gave a small nod and calmly followed behind them.

As the carriage moved deeper into the capital, the surroundings gradually became quieter and more guarded while elite soldiers stood stationed along nearly every road leading toward the palace.

The closer they got, the heavier the atmosphere became.

Soon, the carriage finally stopped before the massive palace gates.

Ethan stepped down slowly, and the moment he looked upward, even he could not help but feel slightly pressured by the sheer grandeur before him.

The Imperial Palace was gigantic.

Golden towers stretched high into the sky while enormous white pillars lined the entrance, and countless carvings covered the walls while magical formations faintly shimmered across every corner of the structure.

Even the air itself felt different here.

It was heavy and oppressive.

As if the entire palace carried authority within it.

The attendants quickly led Ethan inside.

The inner halls were vast and silent while rows of armored imperial guards stood motionless on both sides, and each one carried a terrifying aura that made it obvious they were far from ordinary soldiers.

None of them spoke, and only the sound of footsteps echoed through the palace.

Eventually, Ethan arrived before a pair of enormous golden doors, and the attendants stopped there.

One of them stepped forward before speaking loudly.

"Marquise Ethan Blanks has arrived."

The doors slowly opened.

RUMBLE!

The moment the hall beyond appeared, Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The throne room was enormous.

Massive pillars stretched upward while long crimson carpets covered the floor, and countless noble officials stood lined on both sides of the hall while maintaining complete silence.

At the very end of the throne room sat the Emperor.The moment Ethan’s eyes landed on him, his heart tightened slightly.

The Emperor sat leisurely upon a golden throne while resting one arm against the side, and despite appearing relaxed, the pressure coming from him was overwhelming.

It felt like standing before a mountain.

No...

Something far more dangerous than that.

The Emperor looked like a middle-aged man, and traces of youthful features still remained on his face despite the centuries he had lived.

However, his eyes...

Those cold and deep eyes carried terrifying authority that could make even powerful experts lower their heads instinctively.

The Emperor of Arcadia.

Alaster Aurileus Arcadia.

Ethan immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully while lowering his eyes.

"This subject greets Your Majesty," he spoke calmly.

The entire hall remained silent for several moments.

Then the Emperor smiled faintly.

"So you are Ethan Blanks," he said leisurely while observing Ethan carefully.

His voice was calm, but every word carried strange pressure.

Ethan kept his posture steady.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied.

The Emperor continued looking at him quietly while lightly tapping his fingers against the throne.

"I heard quite a few interesting things about you recently," he said.

"You caused quite a disturbance during the war."

Ethan remained calm and replied carefully.

"This subject merely did his duty."

"Haha..."

A faint chuckle escaped the Emperor.

"Duty?" he repeated while leaning slightly forward.

"You nearly died, escaped five Divine Knights, killed one of them, faked half your injuries, and then returned alive."

The moment those words echoed through the hall, Ethan’s pupils contracted slightly.Several knights quietly exchanged glances, and faint surprise appeared across a few faces.

Ethan slowly lifted his eyes toward the Emperor.

Their gazes met briefly.

And in that instant, Ethan immediately understood something.

This man...

Either knew far more than he showed, or he was taking a dangerous guess.

"How can that be, Your Majesty?" Ethan spoke calmly while forcing a bitter smile onto his face.

"I was merely at the Mythic rank back then, and to fight my way out, I had to burn my reserves."

The Emperor smiled faintly while observing Ethan’s reaction carefully.

"Relax," he said casually.

"If I truly wished to expose you, you would not be standing comfortably here."

Ethan’s expression remained composed, but inwardly his thoughts turned serious.

As expected of the ruler of Arcadia.Nothing could easily escape his eyes.

The Emperor then slowly leaned back against the throne again while resting his chin lightly against one hand.

"So," he spoke calmly.

"You requested this audience personally."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And you even brought something important enough to make you travel all the way here despite pretending to be heavily injured."

The pressure inside the room subtly changed.

Every official silently looked toward Ethan.

The Emperor’s gaze remained locked onto him calmly.

"Well then," he said.

"Show me what exactly made you come all the way to the capital."

Ethan remained silent for a brief moment while carefully organizing his thoughts.

Then he slowly raised his hand.A small crystal container appeared within his palm.Inside it was a faint silver liquid that emitted a soft glow.

The moment it appeared, several Knights frowned slightly while observing it carefully.

"Calm down...Marquise Blanks wouldn’t be daring enough to harm here after all he had a family to feed,isn’t it?"

Beads of sweat formed on his head and he pressed a sincere smile."Of course."

The Emperor’s eyes also narrowed a little.Ethan stepped forward slowly while holding the container carefully.

"Your Majesty," he spoke in a steady voice.

"This subject believes this might be the key to ending the war."

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the vial while falling into deep thought, and the faint glow coming from the liquid reflected within his cold eyes.

For a few moments, the entire throne room remained silent while everyone waited for him to speak.

"So you are telling me that this thing is capable of curing the disease of the Demons?" Alaster asked slowly while lightly rotating the vial between his fingers.