Chapter95

[Ding~ Mission updated. Eleventh mission issued: Build an ancient road five hundred kilometers long. It must be wide enough to accommodate three carriages side by side and remain usable for at least ten years. Upon completion, you will receive the Intermediate Guide to Ancient Road Construction.]

[Ding~ Mission updated. Twelfth mission issued: Rapidly develop and improve cities and counties within the borders of Plumera Kingdom. At least twenty cities or counties must reach or exceed the current development level of Marigold City. Upon completion, you will receive the Comprehensive Guide to the Manufacture of Ancient Luxuries.]

When Elara returned to Plumera City.

On the other side, in the capital of Sargassum, the time rewinds to half a month earlier, before the Hundred Nations Banquet in Geranium Kingdom had ended and before the joint northern expedition by the three kingdoms had taken place.

Inside the Sargassum Imperial Palace, in a secret underground chamber of the Cold Palace.

Leif, dressed in snow-white robes, sat in the shadows of the chamber, face lowered slightly so his expression couldn't be seen.

A tall, burly man with an arrogant and mocking expression stood at the chamber entrance. Looking down at Leif like inspecting goods, he sneered and said:

"You really thought that all the trouble you stirred up outside these years was unknown to me and the Emperor Father? You're just a man from a matriarchal country. After staying too long in Sargassum, you really think you're a normal man? Instead of staying quietly in the boudoir waiting for a woman to marry you, you dare to go out every day doing business like this? Ridiculous."

"But since you still carry half the blood of Sargassum's royal family, you count as half one of us. Although you founded the Zhaiyun Pavilion, it has always grown and thrived within Sargassum, relying on Sargassum's fortune and wealth to reach its current scale and influence, so naturally, it should be controlled directly by our royal family."

"And you, a man from a matriarchal country, if your identity were exposed, the business of Zhaiyun Pavilion might take a serious hit."

"Especially since you're about to get married. Zhaiyun Pavilion is an industry of Sargassum. It can't be part of your dowry, right?"

"This time, Emperor Father carefully selected your future wife. She's a princess from the third-tier Jiasi Kingdom. And Jiasi Kingdom is backed by the second-tier Salvia Kingdom. Once you marry, you'll have a lifetime of wealth and comfort, with power and status. What's there to be unhappy about? Why are you still being so pretentious and unwilling?"

"Coincidentally, she's also quite interested in your unusual body. You'd better think it through and agree to marry her quickly. Otherwise, you've already stayed in this chamber for half a month. It hasn't been pleasant, has it?"

The man gave another sneer and said, "This chamber was built with great effort by the royal family of Salvia Kingdom. It's heavily guarded. As long as you're here, the shadow guards you've trained will never find you, let alone get close to this place."

"In short, whether you want to marry or not, you're going to marry. Until you change your mind, stay here quietly."

After he finished speaking, there was a loud sound as the chamber door was slammed shut.

Deep in the chamber, Leif still sat quietly, completely still like a snow-white statue.

Over the past days, he had already gotten used to the endless darkness of the chamber.

If he didn't agree to the Sargassum Emperor's forced marriage or hand over the master seal of the Zhaiyun Pavilion, he could only continue to stay in the cold and dim underground room.