Striking First

Meanwhile, Princess Audrey returned to the royal palace with a handful of nobles. The once-grand palace now felt eerily empty.

"Your Highness, what should we do now?

Lord Romantis clearly has no intention of letting you inherit the throne. If Azor or Fort takes power, they won't spare us. Are we supposed to flee to sea like those pirates?"

Leaving Heim Kingdom meant losing all noble status. Out on the sea, warriors didn't care whether someone was noble or not.

While fleeing by sea was a common way to escape danger in this world, the ocean also claimed countless lives each year.

Seeing the panicked nobles before her, Princess Audrey felt just as troubled.

A week ago, when she received the devastating news of her kingdom's fall and the massacre of her family, she had been heartbroken.

Fortunately, the World Government intervened, forcing Germa Kingdom to withdraw from Heim Kingdom. Audrey rushed back, hoping to reclaim the throne.

But now, she realized things were far more complicated than she had imagined.

"Your Highness, the late king had good relations with several high-ranking officials in the World Government. Perhaps we could contact them and ask them to speak on your behalf to lord Romantis. There might still be hope."

The finance minister had recovered since returning to the kingdom and was already trying to find a way out of this crisis.

"Would that even work? This is a decision made by a Celestial Dragon," Audrey said, her voice filled with doubt.

To the nobles of Heim Kingdom, those government officials were powerful figures, but in the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, they were merely servants. And what servant could dictate their master's will?

"At least we should try! We can't just sit here and wait for our doom."

"Fine, I'll contact them."

The nobles around her looked at her with hopeful eyes, as if they had just glimpsed a lifeline.

Unfortunately, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Not a single government official was willing to plead on her behalf.

Audrey had lost all value in their eyes. Why would they risk offending a Celestial Dragon for her sake?

A heavy silence fell over the palace. Everyone was desperately searching for a way out, but none could see a path forward.

Then, a young noble suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, the World Government originally promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of allied nations.

Perhaps we could contact other allied kings and petition the World Government together."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone turned to him as if he were a fool. Did he really think he could argue with the World Government over rules?

Was he tired of living?

The kings and nobles of the allied nations only cared about their own power. As long as the World Government didn't abolish monarchy and aristocracy altogether, they wouldn't lift a finger.

This was just a matter of replacing one king with another—it didn't threaten their own positions. Why would they care about the fate of a single princess?

This world had its fair share of wise men, but it also had its fair share of fools.

Princess Audrey didn't even bother responding, "Have you gathered any information about Azor and Fort's movements?"

"Your Highness, the commerce minister has collected five billion berries to offer to lord Romantis. The army minister has prepared two billion berries."

There were few secrets among nobles. The gathered aristocrats had used their own channels to uncover this information with ease.

Only Azor's secret mobilization of troops had remained undiscovered—he had even kept it from his own allied nobles, ensuring absolute secrecy.

"So that means we need at least five billion berries," Audrey concluded.

At her words, the room erupted in panic. Everyone understood that she wanted them to pool their wealth to match Forte's offer.

But this was real money—this was like cutting into their flesh and draining their blood. At this point, they were already standing on the edge of a cliff. There was no turning back.

"I can contribute one billion berries," the finance minister declared. As Audrey's staunchest supporter, he was the first to speak up.

The other nobles stared at him with envy. Just how much wealth had he accumulated over the years?

"I can give twenty million."

"I have eight million."

"I'll contribute fifteen million."

One by one, the other nobles reluctantly followed suit.

But the royal treasury had already been looted by the Vinsmoke family. No matter how much they scraped together, they simply didn't have enough.

Meanwhile, Romantis observed all three factions from the shadows.

He found their reliance on wealth completely baffling.

Influenced by his past-life culture, Romantis valued loyalty, honor, and duty above all else. The faithfulness of his subordinates was what truly mattered to him.

But in this world, people were disturbingly obsessed with treasure—especially nobles and pirates.

"Is there no one who truly understands me?"

He had hoped that at least one of the three would pledge their loyalty. If even one of them had knelt and sworn allegiance, he would have granted them the throne without hesitation.

But all they could think about was bribery.

Did they really think he, a Celestial Dragon, had traveled all this way just for some measly berries?

"Baruch, since they've already gathered their treasures, go and collect them. Make sure to be discreet. No one must suspect a thing."

"Leave it to me, my lord."

"As for Princess Audrey… the night is long, and I am bored. Bring her to serve me."

"Understood."

With Romantis's orders given, Baruch immediately set his plans into motion. Tonight would be an unforgettable night for Heim Kingdom.

.......

Outside the commerce minister's residence, the entire area was surrounded by soldiers. Every street nearby had been locked down—no one could escape.

"Azor, what is the meaning of this?"

Fort glared at the soldiers encircling his home, his voice filled with rage.

"Fort, tonight only one of us will walk away alive. Once I eliminate you, I will be this kingdom's new king."

Azor smirked at his longtime rival.

After years of bitter competition, the struggle between them would finally be settled tonight. By dawn, Azor would rule Heim Kingdom.

"Azor, a Celestial Dragon is here in the kingdom! Aren't you afraid of his wrath?"

Fort finally realized he had been outmaneuvered.

No matter how carefully he had planned, he had never considered that Azor would dare to launch an attack while a Celestial Dragon was present.

Was he not afraid of Romantis's fury?

Now, all Fort could do was cling to the hope that Azor would hesitate. If he could just present his five billion berries in time, there might still be a chance to survive.