Chapter 59: The Unforeseen Alliances

As the first round of the tournament came to a close, Ryo and the other leaders were escorted to the guest halls, where they would stay until the next phase began. The atmosphere in the grand chamber was thick with tension as the leaders sat facing one another, their eyes fixed on Ryo with curiosity and intrigue.

Breaking the silence, the Elf Queen leaned forward slightly and spoke. "I heard from my daughter about what that idiotic brother-in-law of mine did. I apologize on his behalf."

Ryo gave a small nod. "There's no need for that."

While the leaders engaged in discussions, Ryo's four fiancées—Selena, Seyra, Ai, and Lilith—were in another chamber, holding their own meeting. Not wanting to interrupt, Ryo decided to leave them be.

The Elf Queen studied him for a moment before speaking again. "My daughter also mentioned that she sensed an immense power dormant within you—one that seemingly has no limit."

Ryo remained silent, offering no confirmation or denial.

Seeing his lack of response, she changed her approach. "Can you truly control every element?"

This time, Ryo gave a simple nod.

Her gaze sharpened. "You have vampire abilities, dragon abilities… and demon abilities as well, don't you?"

Ryo flinched. He had never mentioned acquiring demon abilities, yet the Elf Queen had somehow discerned the truth. Before he could respond, the Demon Lord smirked. "So, you do. Can you tell us what abilities you possess? I can't sense any demonic presence from you."

Ryo inwardly cursed. He had been careful not to reveal too much about his demon side. But since the secret was already out, he deactivated his Presence Nullification. The moment he did, a wave of energy spread through the room, and the leaders all tensed. They could now sense his vampiric, draconic, and demonic auras—but there was something else, something unfamiliar.

The Elf Queen's eyes widened. "If I'm not mistaken… you also have elven abilities dormant within you, don't you?"

Ryo inwardly sighed. He should have known she would be able to tell. The system had mentioned a condition to unlock his Elven Abilities when he met the Elf Princess days ago, but he had chosen not to pursue it at the time. It seemed avoiding the topic was no longer an option.

"And more importantly…" The Elf Queen's gaze sharpened. "Do you, by any chance, have Ether as well? What is this other energy I sense? I feel like I've encountered it before."

Ryo reactivated Presence Nullification, once again suppressing his aura, but the damage was already done. The leaders exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves, until the Dwarven Chieftain abruptly stood.

"Lad, do you truly have Ether energy within you?"

Ryo frowned. "Why? Is it important?"

The Dwarven Chieftain let out a hearty laugh. "Important? Lad, you have no idea! Ether energy can power any mechanical technology. We dwarves can create wonders with it, but the problem is… we have no one in this era who can use it—except for my daughter, and even she only has a small amount."

Ryo's mind raced. If Ether energy was as powerful as the chieftain claimed, then learning to use it could be a massive advantage. It could aid in the development of his nation, potentially revolutionizing infrastructure and warfare. With that in mind, he turned to the chieftain.

"Would you be willing to teach me how to use it?"

The Dwarven Chieftain grinned. "Of course! But I have a condition."

Ryo narrowed his eyes. "What condition?"

The chieftain laughed heartily before answering, "You have to marry my daughter!"

Ryo nearly fell out of his seat. "What?!"

Before he could fully process the absurdity of the demand, the Elf Queen chimed in with an amused smile. "In that case, why not marry my daughter as well?"

Ryo's eye twitched. "What the hell is happening?! I just wanted to learn how to use Ether, not get engaged again!"

The Demon Lord smirked. "Well, it seems that your potential as a ruler is attracting a lot of attention."

The Elf Queen and the Dwarven Chieftain both nodded. "It's not just about marriage, Ryo. We'd like to form an alliance with you," the Elf Queen stated. "Our people have long suffered due to external threats. With your power and leadership, we believe an alliance would benefit all of us."

The Dwarven Chieftain agreed. "Aye, lad. If you have Ether, you're more valuable than you know. And if our nations are tied through marriage, the alliance will be stronger than ever."

Ryo ran a hand down his face, exasperated. "This is ridiculous…"

The Elf Queen chuckled. "We'll discuss this in detail after the tournament. For now, think about it."

Ryo sighed. Once again, it seemed like his life was spiraling further out of his control.