The sky collapsed.

When the diplomats swept their sleeves and departed, the ministers of the dynasty wore ashen faces, not only because a war was about to break out, but also because all their painstaking plans during this period had turned into bubbles.

No matter how the outcome of this war might unfold, they would gain no benefit.

Even if this heir to the throne, who appeared out of nowhere, could actually win the war, they would face a complete reckoning—the initial negotiations between the two sides had already made this clear.

The meeting ended in discord, and the ministers still wanted to make a final effort. They privately sent someone to discuss with the diplomats but received only an impossible demand.

Assassinate Vivian and Ethan. Only if they could silence the differing voices within the Royal Capital as before, would there be a possibility of both sides sitting down to negotiate again. But by then, the other side would surely make exorbitant demands in territorial concessions and reparations.

"Teacher, what should we do next?"

In the deep night within the Royal Palace, Vivian asked worriedly.

In fact, she couldn't clearly articulate the source of her distress, whether it was the disappointment of witnessing the chaos and decay of the dynasty's end as a Sivallantin, or the confusion about her unknown fate.

They had come for Merlin's legacy and the King of Gold, yet they were forced into this dispute that ended the Gallog Dynasty.

The only one who could guide her path now was Ethan.

"First of all, I'm not your teacher."

Ethan reminded her, "Didn't you just ask me about the empire? For the empire, as long as Julius's faction exists, there will be no peace for the people."

"So, we should get rid of them...?"

This was really beyond Vivian's grasp.

Before the arrival of the King of Gold, the political landscape of Siwalant was stabilizing. Born in such an environment, Vivian never had the chance to come into contact with the clash of iron and blood.

Just one word could decide the life and death of many people.

"That's what they think too."

Urgent footsteps sounded from outside the palace, torches dispelled the darkness, marching in unison, the Forbidden Guards clad in silver armor surrounded the entire palace within the time of their conversation.

Even without using the power of electric elements, Ethan could guess the current thoughts of the dynasty's ministers. If cunning means failed, then they would seize power, launch a rebellion, and use force to sweep away all opposing forces. And after victory, the label of "betrayal" would be erased, allowing the victors to write a new history.

Driven to desperation, the dynasty's ministers were sure to choose a fight to the death.

Vivian stood on the high platform, her hair fluttering in the night breeze, carrying the dense sound of footsteps behind her. As she turned to look, what appeared before her eyes was an unexpected figure.

The last King of the Gallog Dynasty, mentioned in history books, was pushed to the throne by ministers at the age of 14. After the dynasty split, in just a few years, his brother ousted him due to his incompetence during an internal coup in Siwalant.

Vivian knew what happened afterwards, the coup was later hailed as having eradicated the dynasty's tumors, with most of those who caused the war's failure arrested and sentenced to the gallows. Under the new king's rule and reforms, Siwalant gradually prospered.

As for the young king who ruled for only a few years and was eventually dethroned with countless insults, history books no longer mentioned him.

Some believed he was executed with the ministers around him, while others said his brother spared his life out of familial affection.

And now, this puppet king, scarcely referenced even by historians, stood before Vivian. During the earlier meeting, he remained silent the entire time, leaving her with no impression. The king himself seemed uninterested in the matters that had the ministers arguing fervently; his expression was wooden, like an empty shell devoid of soul.

The one escorting the king was the Chief of the Imperial Guard.

Nominally, only the Royal Family had the authority to deploy the Forbidden Guards. This kind of power structure was quite common, just like the Knight Order of the empire answered only to the Henry Clan, which was why Julius had to meticulously plan to eliminate the unruly Commander on the Other Shore.

Yet, the current scene did not seem like an assassination.

If the young king had heeded the ministers' advice to order the Forbidden Guards to execute them, he would have no reason to attend in person.

"Vivian Gallog."

This was the only name the young king remembered from the meeting.

His tone was solemn, and at this moment, he no longer seemed like a soulless marionette. His eyes were determined as he asked, "Can you change this country?"

............…

Three days later, in the Philazer Kingdom, Royal Capital Emerald.

The sound of objects being smashed echoed from the grand hall of the Royal Palace, and the servants were as silent as cicadas in winter.

This should have been a war easily won, yet recent bad news arrived one after another.

The King's face was ashen; it felt as if they were fighting a ghost, always a step ahead of them. Just now, more bad news arrived from the front line. On the day the army set off, the deputy found the Commander dead in his tent, killed in the exact same manner as before—a silver arrow pierced his heart, taking the life of the Transcendent capable of fighting a hundred men before he could make any resistance.