Chapter 600: Tying Loose Ends

"HIS MAJESTY HAS ARRIVED!"

The announcement thundered through the royal court of Velmora, and every conversation ceased as the great doors swung open. Ministers, generals, noble representatives, and military officials turned toward the entrance, their attention settling on the towering figure walking into the hall.

Damian’s black robes flowed around his enormous frame, while his dark eyes swept across the assembled court with an indifferent calm that made several officials swallow nervously.

The officials bowed as Damian passed, maintaining their positions until he reached the elevated platform at the far end of the chamber. Damian climbed the steps and settled onto the throne, allowing the heavy silence to linger while he surveyed the court.

The Grand Eunuch stood to one side of the elevated platform, while William, the Grand Chamberlain, occupied the other. Both men bowed deeply, waiting for their sovereign to address the gathering.

"Forgive my absence. After the battle with my brother, the nobles of Gildreach Vault rose up in revolt and tried to empty my treasury, so I killed a God amongst them and deposed the other nobles, replacing them with our friends who were here in the last meeting," Damian explained.

His tone was casual, as though the murder of a God and the removal of an entire group of nobles were ordinary administrative matters. "Now, my main body is cultivating using the God vein crystals I retrieved from the treasury, and I plan to keep doing so for the next month before going to the council meeting."

The entire room fell silent. Even the officials who had prepared questions about the integration of Gildreach Vault abandoned their thoughts as they processed the announcement.

The ministers exchanged brief glances before nodding. None of them objected to his decision to cultivate. If anything, they considered it necessary. Their sovereign had accumulated an alarming number of enemies in a relatively short period, and the death of Lazarus would only encourage the remaining princes to reconsider their relationship with him. The stronger Damian became, the more secure Velmora would be.

"But sire, what happens to the tour across your realm?" Jugo asked, stepping forward slightly.

"I’ll handle it while my clone continues training," Damian replied with a casual shrug.

Jugo paused, then bowed his head. The answer was so straightforward that he found himself wondering why he had expected anything else.

Damian rose from his throne, and the movement immediately drew the attention of everyone in the hall. Several officials instinctively straightened, while others took a small step backward before realizing what they were doing.

The room was large enough to accommodate his towering stature, yet his presence made the elevated platform feel considerably smaller. He rested one hand against the arm of his throne and looked down at the assembled court, his expression turning serious as he prepared to explain the real purpose of the meeting.

"The main reason behind this meeting is to inform you of my plans to explore the Dark Continent after the council of princes. During that time, I expect you all to collaborate with Gildreach Vault’s royal court and secure the funds needed for military and civil projects. I also plan to aid Amon in his fight to reclaim the gold vein mines," Damian explained.

He paused briefly, allowing the ministers to absorb the first part of his announcement before continuing. "After we gain control of one, shipments of these God veins will be sent down to Velmora and shared amongst your families. I need Gods in my court, not demigods."

The response was immediate, though no one spoke at first. Eyes widened across the chamber as the significance of his promise became clear. With sufficient access to such resources, the most talented members of their clans might finally have a realistic chance of reaching godhood. The prospect of producing Gods who owed their advancement to Damian would strengthen both his court and the foundations of his empire.

Even the officials who had intended to raise objections about the financial burden of the Dark Continent expedition reconsidered their positions.

"But sire, if the other princes realize you are gone..." Kan began, his concern prompting several officials to turn toward him.

"I will leave behind clones in Velmora and Gildreach to continue carrying out my duties. As long as you all remain silent about my whereabouts and act as though I’m here, no one will know," Damian replied. His gaze hardened as he looked across the room. "And remember, the nobles of Gildreach don’t know about this plan, so do not share this information with them. The only people I trust are here. That’s why I’m making it known to you all."

The faces of the ministers, generals, and officials gradually brightened with proud smiles. Their sovereign had made it clear that he trusted them with the future of his empire, and that confidence carried considerable meaning in a court where suspicion and political maneuvering were common.

"Anything else?" Damian asked.

The assembled officials exchanged glances, but no one stepped forward. None of them believed their concerns were urgent enough to interrupt him after he had laid out his intentions so clearly.

Damian nodded quietly, turned away from the throne, and walked out of the chamber without another word. The entire court bowed as he departed, remaining bent until the doors closed behind him. Only then did the officials begin speaking among themselves, the atmosphere shifting from tense silence to subdued excitement as they considered the possibilities his announcement had opened.

Meanwhile, within the Violet Palace, Damian’s main body floated several feet above the bed in a cross legged position.

Three distinct colours of energy swarmed around him, circling his enormous frame before gathering into a shell that pulsed with every breath he took. Blue energy from the God vein crystals flowed into his body, while purple and golden currents circulated around him.

Linda sat on a sofa near the window, holding a cup of tea between her hands while watching him intently. She had spent enough time around Damian to recognize that he was not simply resting, but the sight before her still felt strange.

Linda took a small sip of tea, then lowered the cup without taking her eyes off him. "Is he always like this?" she asked.

"Not really, but he recently got what he needs to advance himself to the God realm, so expect him to be like this most of the time from now on," Rin explained from his position nearby.

The small seven tailed fox had settled comfortably on a cushion, his tails occasionally flicking as he watched Damian’s cultivation.

Linda nodded slowly, though the explanation did little to resolve her confusion. She glanced around the room, trying to reconcile the man floating above the bed with the Damian she had known on Earth.

"His clones are everywhere, spending time with all his women while the real body works hard. What a sad life,"

Biron sighed.

The golden bull had positioned himself near the table, where he seemed more interested in the available refreshments than in the complicated process of cultivation. His blunt assessment drew Linda’s attention, and she looked from him to Rin before returning her gaze to Damian.

"Get ready. After the council of princes, he intends to head back to the Dark Continent, and he plans to take you along with him," Rin said, turning toward Linda. "Biron and I are going to stay behind because our presence will make people think the clones are the real him, and they won’t dare to attack his realm."

Linda blinked in surprise. "You mean that black hole we passed through while coming here?"

Rin was genuinely surprised by her response. He had expected concern, perhaps even an objection to being taken into one of the most dangerous regions in existence.

Instead, Linda seemed more curious about the route they had used to reach the Underworld than frightened by the prospect of entering the Dark Continent.

"Yes, that’s the one," Rin answered with a small nod. "But aren’t you worried?"

Linda shook her head without hesitation.

"If he plans to take me there, then I’m sure he’s confident he can protect me. There is no reason to be worried." She shrugged and took another sip of tea, treating the matter as though Damian had invited her on an ordinary journey rather than an expedition into a region where powerful creatures were becoming increasingly violent.

"Hold on..." Biron moved between Rin and Linda, his golden eyes narrowing as a different thought occurred to him. "He’s not training anymore in Gildreach Vault with Queen Elsa?"

Rin’s face twisted with irritation. "Bastard, read his mind and stay updated. Your queen proved untrustworthy, so he took all the God vein crystals and left. He won’t be spending three years with the witch of the west,"

He scolded, his tails bristling as he glared at the bull.

Biron rolled his eyes. "This is exactly why I don’t read his thoughts. He still thinks like a poor person. The rich only see value. We don’t hold on to petty grievances. He’s missing a chance to cultivate with a God simply because she lied to him and his feelings are hurt."

"Bastard!" Rin snapped.

The fox lunged before Biron could say anything else, knocking the golden bull off the edge of the table. The two spirit beasts crashed onto the floor and immediately began wrestling, their insults continuing as they rolled across the carpet.

Biron attempted to pin Rin beneath his weight, but the fox slipped free and caught one of his horns between his paws. Biron retaliated by shoving him away, sending Rin skidding across the floor before the fox sprang back with his teeth bared. Neither seemed particularly concerned about the noise they were making, and the argument quickly became indistinguishable from a childish brawl.