A strange mission

"SILENCE!"

A thunderous voice rang out, cutting through the murmurs and whispers in the grand hall. Instantly, the room fell into an eerie stillness.

Devlin Abigor remained seated, his powerful presence undiminished. He extended his hands, holding the small child in his arms, his voice steady and commanding.

"All rise and greet the Young Duke."

To an outsider, the sight might have been amusing—high-ranking figures, rulers of vast regions, bowing to an infant who had not even lived a full day. But this was the law of this world. Strength dictated respect. Power commanded authority. To question it was to invite ruin.

The gathered elders, without hesitation, bowed in unison, their voices resonating through the chamber.

"Greetings, Young Duke..."

A sudden pause. A realization.

Devlin smirked, fully aware of the unspoken question. He had yet to announce the child's name. With a resolute voice, he declared, "From this day forth, he shall be known as Drace Abigor."

As if the name had ignited a deeper reverence, the assembled figures bowed once again, this time their voices ringing louder, carrying a newfound weight.

"Long live Young Duke Drace Abigor!"

Devlin turned his gaze to the man standing guard beside him. "Black Envoy, go. Announce to the nation that the heir to the Abigor lineage has been born. His name shall be known to all as Drace Abigor."

"Yes, Master." With a swift motion, the Black Envoy vanished from sight.

A small chuckle—soft, yet oddly eerie—escaped Drace's lips. It was the laughter of an infant, but something about it sent a shiver down the spines of those present.

'Why does the Young Duke seem amused?' they all wondered. 'Does he even understand what's happening?'

Devlin and Amelia, however, simply smiled, understanding the silent approval in their son's expression. Unbeknownst to them, Drace's thoughts ran deeper than any of them could comprehend.

'You nailed it... That was my name in my past life as well. My mother once said it would shake the world. In that life, I failed her expectations. But in this one... I will make sure the world trembles under my feet.'

---

One by one, the elders came forward, presenting their gifts to the newborn heir. Each offering carried not only wealth but a pledge of loyalty to the future ruler of the Abigor family.

After formalities were completed, Devlin and Amelia took their leave, retreating to the room specially prepared for Drace beforehand. It was a simple yet elegant space, furnished with a king-sized bed, a closet, and a few toys befitting a child of noble lineage.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Drace, unable to fight his exhaustion any longer, surrendered to sleep.

---

In a dimly lit chamber adjacent to Drace's room, Devlin sat in his wheelchair, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun dipped below the skyline. His expression was unreadable, though the furrow in his brow betrayed his inner turmoil.

In his hand, a crimson envelope lay opened. The letter it contained had changed everything.

Amelia, freshly bathed, emerged from the adjoining chamber and immediately sensed something amiss. Without hesitation, she walked to her husband's side, placing a slender hand on his broad shoulder.

Devlin met her gaze, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. Without a word, he handed her the letter.

The moment her eyes landed on the red envelope, a shiver ran down her spine. Her hands trembled slightly as she unfolded the parchment. As she read, her face drained of color.

"Ho... How can this be?" her voice wavered, disbelief thick in her tone.

Devlin rose from his seat, walking behind her before wrapping his arms around her waist, his breath warm against her ear. "This mission will take five years. We must infiltrate that place... uncover its secrets. And, Amelia, there's a high chance it holds the key to your lost memories."

She stiffened in his embrace. "No! I don't care about my past. The only thing that matters to me is our son! How can we leave him when he needs us the most?"

"We still have a year with him before we depart," Devlin reasoned. "We must prepare him in that time. Amelia, you've seen it yourself—our son is a monster in talent. At four years old, he's already reading fluently and can challenge a master-ranked warrior. He's reached the peak of the Expert Rank in both body and core cultivation. If we hadn't suppressed his growth, he might have broken through to Master Rank already."

Amelia bit her lip, her heart torn between duty and maternal instinct.

"We will use these remaining months wisely," Devlin continued. "We'll ensure he understands the workings of this world—how to survive in it. He won't be defenseless when we're gone."

"Even if he's strong, how will he hide his cultivation level? The moment we leave, people will come for him. They'll see him as nothing more than an experiment."

Devlin's lips curled into a knowing smirk. With a flick of his wrist, an object materialized in his hand—a relic Amelia recognized instantly.

The foundation of Devlin's power.

The foundation of the New Blue Empire itself.

Her eyes widened. "You're planning to...!"

He nodded. "With this, he'll be safe."

A long silence stretched between them before Amelia finally sighed in resignation. "Fine. But I'll be the one training him. For the next ten months, he's mine. Deal?"

Devlin chuckled. "Deal. After your lessons, I'll take him to meet an old friend."

"And what about the mission? Will we tell him the truth or keep it hidden?" she asked.

"I'll explain it on the day we leave," Devlin decided. "He needs to understand the weight of responsibility, but I also want him to focus on his training. And don't worry—I'll have Mr. Helmap ensure he balances rest with discipline."

Amelia frowned. "This mission still feels off to me. Why send you—a limited but invaluable asset—on an unexplored mission? Why not an Emperor Rank warrior? It doesn't make sense."

Devlin's expression darkened momentarily before he let out a small chuckle. "Perhaps they want to see what happens when I'm not around."

Amelia scowled. "Then we're walking into a trap."

His smirk widened. "That just means it won't be boring. Besides... with you by my side, we might even bring back a little brother or sister for Drace."

She rolled her eyes before smirking mischievously. "Why wait?"

With that, she tilted her head up, seeking his lips in a kiss. Devlin obliged, deepening the embrace as the room filled with a new kind of warmth.

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A/N: The story is about to reach the blood-pumping chapters. Be prepared! (And don't forget to show some love—support the book!)