Chapter : 1335

"Exactly," the King said. "Use this time to stabilize your other affairs. Make sure your business is running smoothly. Make sure your family is safe. Because once the Wraiths are active, you will not have much free time. You will be a ghost. You will be living in the shadows."

The King placed a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. It was a rare gesture of warmth. "You are the secret weapon of this kingdom, Lloyd. We need you sharp. We need you ready. Do not rush this. Build the team right. If the foundation is weak, the house will fall."

Lloyd looked at the King. He saw a man who carried the weight of millions of lives. He saw a man who had to make hard choices every day. And now, he was sharing that burden with Lloyd.

"Okay," Lloyd said. "Two months. We check everyone. We make sure they are solid. No traitors. No weak links. Just the best of the best."

"Good," the King said. "Start making your list. Who do you want? Who do you trust?"

Lloyd thought for a moment. He thought about Ken. He thought about Habiba. He thought about the crazy people who worked for him in the factory. He realized he actually knew quite a few dangerous and capable people.

"I have a few names in mind," Lloyd said with a grin. "Some of them are a little... unconventional."

"Unconventional is what we need," the King said. "Just give the list to my spymaster. He will start the process."

The meeting was over. Lloyd rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his jacket. He felt different. Before, he was just a guy trying to survive. He was reacting to things. People tried to kill him, and he fought back. But now, he was proactive. He was part of the government. He had resources. He had a license to hunt.

He walked out of the secret room and back into the corridor. The palace was still quiet. But Lloyd's mind was loud. He was planning. He was strategizing.

"The Wraiths," he whispered to himself. "Cool name. Really cool name. I wonder if I can get a budget for secret hideouts. Every good secret team needs a secret hideout. Maybe inside a volcano. No, too hot. Maybe under a waterfall. That would be damp. I'll figure it out."

He walked towards the exit of the palace. He needed fresh air. He needed to think. Two months seemed like a long time, but he knew it would go by fast. He had a lot to do. He had to build an army from scratch.

As he stepped out into the cool night air, he looked up at the moon. Somewhere out there, his enemies were hiding. They thought they were safe. They thought they had time. They didn't know that Lloyd Ferrum was coming for them. And this time, he wasn't just a lonely traveler. He was the King's blade.

"Enjoy your safety while it lasts," Lloyd said to the darkness. "Because in two months, the ghosts are coming to get you."

He walked towards his carriage, his step a little lighter. He had a mission. He had a purpose. And for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was the one in control of the game. The prey had become the predator. And the predator had a government-issued license to bite.

The morning sun shone brightly on the capital city. It was a beautiful day. The birds were singing. The flowers were blooming. And the King was busy turning a near-disaster into a massive political victory.

Lloyd stood on a balcony overlooking the main square. Below, thousands of people had gathered. They were cheering. Flags were waving. It looked like a festival. But it wasn't a festival. It was a show of power.

King Liam stood on a raised platform in the center of the square. Next to him was King Yuto of Muramasa. They looked very different. King Liam was tall, elegant, and wore refined robes. King Yuto was a giant of a man, wearing armor that looked like it had seen a hundred battles. He had a beard that looked like it could scrub pots.

"People of the Kingdom!" King Liam shouted. His voice was amplified by magic so everyone could hear. "Yesterday, darkness tried to destroy our joy! But light prevailed!"

The crowd roared.

Chapter : 1336

"We stand here today, not as victims, but as victors!" King Liam continued. "And we do not stand alone! Our brothers from the East, the brave warriors of Muramasa, stand with us!"

King Yuto stepped forward. He raised a massive fist into the air. "Muramasa stands with Bethelham! We will crush the demons together! We will drink their tears! We will use their bones as toothpicks!"

The crowd went wild. They loved it. It was simple. It was violent. It was reassuring.

Lloyd leaned against the stone railing of the balcony. "Wow," he muttered. "He really knows how to work a crowd. 'Bones as toothpicks.' That's vivid. A bit unhygienic, but vivid."

This was King Liam's genius. The attack on the wedding could have been a sign of weakness. It could have shown that the King couldn't even protect his own palace. But Liam had flipped the script. He used the attack as proof that the enemy was scared. He used it as a reason to unite with Muramasa.

Now, they had a public military alliance. Muramasa had a strong army. They had samurai. They had cool swords. Having them as allies made the kingdom look twice as strong. The average citizen looked at King Yuto's muscles and thought, "Yeah, we're going to be fine."

Lloyd watched as the two kings shook hands. It was a firm handshake. It was a handshake that said, "If you mess with us, we will punch you."

"It is a good show," a voice said beside him.

Lloyd turned. It was Prince Linkon. The groom looked tired but happy.

"It is," Lloyd agreed. "Your father is very good at this. He took a pile of lemons and made lemonade. And then he sold the lemonade to the crowd for a profit."

"That is his way," Linkon said. "He never wastes a crisis. The alliance with Muramasa is now stronger than ever. My marriage to Princess Arisa is not just a union of hearts. It is a wall of steel against the dark."

Lloyd looked down at the square. Soldiers from both kingdoms were marching together. It was impressive. It sent a clear message to the rest of the world: Don't mess with us.

"But it's all theater, isn't it?" Lloyd asked quietly. "I mean, the soldiers are real. The swords are sharp. But the real war isn't happening in the open. It's happening in the shadows."

Linkon nodded. "Yes. This is to keep the people calm. It is to make our enemies hesitate. But the real work is being done elsewhere. That is why we need you, Lloyd. You and your Wraiths."

"I know," Lloyd said. "I'm the guy in the back alley with a knife while everyone else is watching the parade."

"Something like that," Linkon smiled.

The ceremony continued. There were speeches. There were trumpets. It was loud and colorful. It was exactly what the kingdom needed. They needed to feel strong. They needed to feel safe.

Lloyd watched King Yuto laugh and slap King Liam on the back. Liam looked like he was in pain but kept smiling.

"They are an odd couple," Lloyd observed. "One is a refined politician. The other is a bear in human form."

"They respect each other," Linkon said. "And they both hate devils. That is enough."

Lloyd looked at the flags flapping in the wind. The Lion of Bethelham and the Dragon of Muramasa. It was a powerful image.

"So," Lloyd said. "We have the muscle. Muramasa brings the brute force. We bring the strategy. It's a good team."

"It is," Linkon agreed. "But muscle is not enough. We need eyes. We need to know where to punch."

Lloyd nodded. He knew what was coming next. The public alliance was just one part of the web. There was another part. A quieter part. A part that involved whispered secrets and hidden letters.

"Zakaria," Lloyd said.

"Yes," Linkon confirmed. "That is the next piece of the puzzle."

Later that day, Lloyd sat in a quiet garden with Princess Amina. The noise of the celebration was far away. Here, it was peaceful. There were fountains and nice bushes.

"My father sends his regards," Amina said. She was sipping tea. She looked very elegant and very dangerous.

"How is the Sultan?" Lloyd asked. "Still enjoying his games?"

"Always," Amina said. "He was very impressed by the wedding. Or rather, the failed assassination at the wedding. He likes chaos. But he likes order more."