Chapter 83: "The Royal Decree"

A well-built man with a muscular physique walked with hurried steps toward a majestic-looking room. The long corridors of the royal palace were adorned with intricate carvings, golden embellishments, and large banners bearing the insignia of the royal family. Despite his strong frame, his anxious steps betrayed the urgency of his task.

Upon reaching the door, he took a deep breath, composed himself, and bowed deeply before knocking. "My lord, may I enter?"

From inside, a young yet commanding voice, filled with authority, answered. "Come in."

As the man stepped inside, he was immediately met with the sight of an elegant yet formidable young man seated behind an ornate desk, deeply engrossed in reading a document. The room itself reflected the stature of its occupant—lavish yet not overly extravagant. The large windows let in rays of golden sunlight, illuminating bookshelves lined with ancient tomes and neatly stacked scrolls.

The young lord continued scanning the document in his hand, not even glancing up. The man, showing utmost respect, bowed again and spoke.

"My lord, the information you asked me to verify is correct. The elders have declared that, this time, the royal family will also send a team of young cultivators to compete for the championship in the upcoming competition."

The young lord remained focused on the parchment, his sharp eyes absorbing every detail. Without looking up, he asked, "What was my father's reaction to the elders' decision?"

The messenger hesitated for a moment before answering, "Umm... actually, my lord, this decision was already approved by Sage Alucard himself. The elders merely announced it afterward."

At this, the young lord finally set down the paper, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden surface. His gaze, now piercing, locked onto the man before him. "Father has taken such an interest in this competition… Is it because Nyxaris Velmora has shown interest in it, or is there another reason?" he murmured to himself.

The man lowered his head slightly. "I do not know, my lord, but I believe the situation is more complicated than we assume."

The young lord leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Only two academies are capable of competing with our royal house and its participants…" His eyes flickered as he recalled past tournaments, then he continued, "Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Has our team been decided yet?"

"Yes, my lord," the man confirmed with a nod. "You have been chosen as the leader of our royal team."

A smirk appeared on the young lord's lips, a glint of confidence shining in his eyes. "As expected. And who are the other members?"

The man cleared his throat before replying, "Besides you, two young lords and two young ladies will also participate. As for the final member, the elders have yet to decide. They plan to select a suitable candidate soon."

He hesitated momentarily before continuing, "Young Lord Selis declined the opportunity. He is forming an independent team to participate in the competition. The youngest lord is still too young to qualify for this year's event."

The young lord's smirk faded slightly, replaced by mild curiosity. "Selis wants to compete independently? And Father approved of this?"

The man sighed. "My lord, you know Lord Selis' nature. Once he makes up his mind, no one—not even the Sage himself—can change it. He has never cared for the fame that comes with our family name."

The young lord exhaled sharply and muttered, "Hmph. There is always one rebellious member in the family, isn't there?"

A brief silence stretched between them before the man straightened again. "My lord, I also bring a message from the Sage himself."

The young lord raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Father has something to say to me? What is it?"

"He wishes for you to persuade Lord Selis to join your team for the upcoming tournament."

For a fleeting moment, dissatisfaction flickered across the young lord's face, but he quickly regained his usual calm expression. His fingers tapped the desk lightly as he muttered, "Why is Father always so fixated on him? Just because he inherited the same Seed Weapon as him?"

After a moment of thought, he shifted his focus. "What is our little sister, Princess Serlin, doing right now?"

"I assume she is in her chambers, my lord," the man replied.

The young lord's smirk returned, this time tinged with amusement. "Summon her. To persuade Selis, we will need her help. She admires him, after all."

The man nodded swiftly. "Understood, my lord. I will inform Lady Serlin of your request."

Before leaving, the man hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is there anything else, my lord?"

The young lord waved a hand dismissively. "No, you may leave."

With a final bow, the man exited the room, his footsteps fading down the long corridor.

Left alone, the young lord leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanning the paper once more. "What is so special about this competition? Wouldn't it be akin to bullying those academy brats if we participate?" He exhaled, tapping his fingers against the desk. "Only one or two teams seem strong enough to challenge us. We must be prepared to ensure our victory."

With that, he set aside the paper and began reviewing another document, his mind already strategizing the upcoming event.

Meanwhile, deep within a forest, a figure concealed behind the trees observed a team making their way toward the city. His sharp gaze followed them as they disappeared into the distance, his expression shadowed with frustration.

"Damn it. Just where is this ant hiding?" he muttered under his breath. His grip tightened on the tree bark beside him. "Don't tell me he already left the forest by taking another route through a different city gate. That path is both dangerous and long—even for someone like me."

He clenched his fists. "Why hasn't he shown up yet?"

The wind rustled through the leaves as he narrowed his eyes, his thoughts growing darker. "I refuse to believe he escaped from me. I'll wait here for an entire month if necessary. If he still doesn't show up… then I'll deal with those guys from Finlet Academy first and resume my search for him later."

His cold gaze lingered on the distant road before he slowly retreated into the shadows, blending seamlessly with the forest.

For now, he would wait.