CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER70-HE KNEW EVERYTHING ALL ALONG

Owen gazed upon the familiar Gate of Space, casting a glance over the picturesque Dreamscape Valley.

"Alright, let’s go," he declared.

The group stepped into the Gate of Space, embarking on their journey home.

After a brief, barely perceptible tremor, Owen once again found his feet firmly planted on solid ground.

The familiar palace, the familiar Raymond. He stood emotionless atop the staircase, casting a cold glance at the princes before moving to the king’s side.

The king’s face was wreathed in smiles.

"My children, you have finally returned," he exclaimed.

Chrisman and Finn knelt on one knee:

"Father Emperor."

The members of the royal guard followed suit, kneeling and proclaiming respectfully:

"Your Majesty the King."

Owen looked at the king but did not kneel. As the saint of dragons, there was no one in this world who could withstand his bow.

The king’s gaze inevitably fell on the bound Oliver.

Yet, his expression remained unchanged, his smile undimmed.

Owen realized then, this king was no ordinary man.

"Rise, all of you. You must be weary from your time in Dreamscape Valley," the king said, lifting his hand.

The two princes and the members of the guard rose to their feet:

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Finn stepped forward, speaking loudly:

"Father Emperor, a grave matter occurred in Dreamscape Valley, one that requires your judgment."

"Oh? Is it about the Dreamscape Stone?"

"No, it’s about him," Finn said, pointing at Oliver, who lay discarded at the side.

"In Dreamscape Valley, Oliver attempted to murder my brother and me. His desires swelled to the point of obliterating familial love, to the extent that even with our shared blood, he sought to kill us."

Upon hearing this revelation, a wave of surprise swept through the court.

Many ministers lowered their gaze, daring not to look directly.

The struggle for succession in the kingdom had always been brutal, but ultimately, it was a royal affair. If they were to intermingle, they risked losing their heads.

Moreover, in the thousand-year history of the Laine Kingdom, there were numerous instances of princes killing their brothers for the throne.

The ministers naturally dared not speak out.

The king sighed, "Enough, leave it to the Royal Tribunal. They will handle these matters."

Finn bowed slightly, "Yes."

"Since Oliver is not in accord with you, I assume you failed to retrieve the Dreamscape Stone?"

The king seemed unconcerned about Oliver, swiftly changing the subject to inquire about the Dreamscape Stone.

"No, I have obtained the Dreamscape Stone." Finn revealed a confident smile, pulling out the Dreamscape Stone, capturing everyone’s attention.

"Oh?" The king sounded pleasantly surprised. "You obtained it by yourself?"

"Yes."

"Not bad, not bad at all. To obtain the Dreamscape Stone alone, Finn, you are quite capable," the king said, visibly pleased, repeatedly commending him.

Finn, even more exhilarated, puffed out his chest: "It’s all thanks to Father Emperor’s teachings."

"Ha ha ha, very good, very good."

Upon hearing of Finn’s success in retrieving the Dreamscape Stone, the king appeared to lose interest in Oliver.

Owen narrowed his eyes, puzzled.

Was the King of Laine so cold-blooded? So indifferent towards his own son?

Diana whispered to Owen, "The royal family has always been ruthless. The concept of familial love is practically non-existent. Perhaps the king has barely seen Oliver’s face a few times."

"No wonder," Owen murmured back, his voice low, "Having too many children isn’t always a good thing, huh?"

Everyone present possessed some degree of ability.

The quiet exchange between the two men was clearly audible to them.

Ministers raised their eyebrows upon hearing Owen’s remarks, sneaking glances at him.

"Who is this audacious youth, daring to comment on royal affairs?" they thought.

The king’s guards, too, glared at Owen, their eyes flickering with hostility.

After a moment of contemplation, Finn approached Owen.

"Father Emperor, I must formally introduce Mr. Owen," he announced.

Owen nodded slightly towards the king, "Your Majesty."

The king’s gaze fell on Owen, who suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of pressure, as if thousands of pounds of gold weighed upon him.

His blood seemed to flow slower under this burden.

"This king is formidable," Owen thought anxiously.

"From your demeanor, I gather that Owen played a role in acquiring the Dreamscape Stone?"

The king shifted his gaze, and instantly, the pressure on Owen lifted.

Looking at the king, Owen internally noted, "Indeed, no ordinary man can become a king."

"Indeed," Finn replied proudly, stepping into the center of the court to introduce Owen. "Securing the Dreamscape Stone was entirely due to Mr. Owen’s efforts."

"After entering the temple, we encountered a master-tier guardian with dragonscale and giants’ bloodline. Mr. Owen single-handedly defeated the guardian, making it possible for me to obtain the Dreamscape Stone."

The ministers turned their attention to Owen, murmuring among themselves.

"This time, wasn’t the boundary limit diamond-tier? He alone killed a master-tier guardian?"

"A diamond-tier defeating a master-tier? This young man is extraordinary."

"No wonder this lad is so bold, he has real power."

"The second prince is glowing with confidence, it seems he had the help of a strong ally."

"It appears the second prince has a strong chance in the succession for the throne."

The king pondered for a moment before speaking out loud, "Finn, since you have completed the task I set for you, tell me what reward you desire."

Beside him, Chrisman’s eyes burned with jealousy.

These rewards, initially meant to be shared among the three, were now seemingly bestowed solely upon Finn due to Owen’s intervention.

Chrisman sighed deeply in his heart, contemplating Owen’s identity as the saint of dragons and feeling somewhat helpless.

If Finn had the support of the saint of dragons, the throne was out of Chrisman’s reach, unless he could secure the assistance of an angel race or some other advanced race.

These thoughts left a bitter taste in Chrisman’s mouth.

Since childhood, he had been carefully building his own power base, growing up walking on thin ice.

He had even personally participated in border wars, all for the sake of the throne.

Yet, in the face of Owen’s saintly status, all his efforts seemed pale in comparison.

No matter how hard he tried, what was it compared to the recognition of the dragons?

With these thoughts, Chrisman couldn’t help but feel tears well up, overwhelmed with frustration.

Finn, head bowed in thought for a long time, finally spoke gravely, "Father Emperor, I seek no reward. The acquisition of the Dreamscape Stone is entirely Mr. Owen’s achievement. To claim any credit for myself would be an injustice to Mr. Owen."

"Why not ask Mr. Owen what he needs?"

The king shook his head; "I have my own plans for Owen. Tell me, what do you desire? The fact that you have allied yourself with such a powerful individual is a skill in itself."

Finn, overjoyed, gave Owen a meaningful look.

Owen was somewhat surprised, not expecting the king to have personal plans for him.

After Finn requested some relatively inconsequential rewards, the princes’ trial officially came to an end.

Owen followed the king as they left the room.

Owen, followed the king, got into the study, his eyes lighting up at the sight before him.

The room was spacious and well-lit, its walls adorned with an array of exquisite oil paintings and maps, each oozing with historical charm.

In the center stood a large mahogany desk, cluttered with various documents.

The bookshelves were filled with ancient books, many of which Owen had never seen before.

After the king seated himself, he casually addressed Owen, "Please, take a seat, Your Highness the Saint."

Owen raised an eyebrow and, settling into his chair, expressed his surprise, "Your Majesty knows of my identity?"

The king laughed heartily, "Ha ha ha, of course. When saints emerge among advanced races like angels, dragons, and others, we make sure to gather firsthand intelligence."

"Not only am I aware of your identity, but I also know about the incident during the Saint Selection Ceremony, when you confronted the angel race’s saint, Roger."

Owen pondered for a moment, not overly suspicious.

After all, Eldrich, a professor at the Grand Magus Academy, had personally overseen the Saint Selection Ceremony.

It was only natural for him to report these details to the king.

Reclining in his chair, a playful smile appeared on Owen’s lips, "Knowing I’m a saint of dragons, you still encourage my association with Finn? Aren’t you afraid of the angel race taking offense?"

The king’s eyes twinkled sharply as he responded, "Afraid? The angel race’s actions against the myriad races do not exclude my human race. They simply refrain from invading us because they recognize our strength."

"Besides, isn’t this a private conversation between you and me?"

Owen’s smile widened, recognizing the king’s cunning nature.

"Let’s get straight to the point. What is the purpose of this private audience, Your Majesty?" Owen inquired.

"There’s nothing extraordinary. I simply wished to have a conversation with the saint of dragons. Your strength is exceptional, and you stand out among saints. With you, the dragons are bound to flourish even more in the future."

"Perhaps you might even reach those legendary realms," the king mused.

Owen responded with a nonchalant tone, "You flatter me, Your Majesty."

The king sighed deeply, standing up to walk towards the map on the wall behind him. "Alas, my Laine Kingdom is not so fortunate. Our saintess is of the human race, but not of our Laine Kingdom."

Owen straightened up, sensing that the conversation was reaching a critical point.

The king, caressing the map, spoke gravely, "Let’s start with the internal troubles. Although I have many children, only three are capable of wielding royal authority..."