Chapter 999: Alternate Timeline: The child king (2)

Ever since Ares Frost returned carrying strange weapons from the Phoenix Empire, Phaethon had become completely fascinated by firearms, especially the M-99 sniper rifle capable of firing terrifying 12.7x99mm rounds across nearly two kilometers.

To the young king, the weapon felt beautiful.

"A sword requires the enemy to approach," he once told Ares Frost. "But a true king should be capable of deciding life and death before the enemy even realizes danger has arrived."

Yet despite his obsession, he rarely used the sniper rifle recklessly.

After all, Ares Frost had only managed to bring back one hundred rounds of that caliber from the Phoenix Empire, and replacing them would require traveling thousands of kilometers again.

Every bullet mattered.

Every shot carried value.

Thus, today’s execution had not merely been punishment.

It had also been a practice session.

As the group prepared to return toward the palace, the soldiers quietly exchanged uneasy glances.

None of them liked this method of execution.

A guillotine was simpler.

Safer.

Predictable.

But these firearms... the abominable weapons from the south... they were frightening precisely because nobody fully understood them yet.

And people naturally feared what they could not comprehend.

Meanwhile, Phaethon Solaris calmly walked ahead while carrying the rifle casually over his shoulder.

Beside him strode Ares Frost, who acted both as royal advisor and guardian.

Throughout the kingdom, many ministers and nobles privately believed the young king was nothing more than Ares Frost’s puppet.

After all, the boy trusted him completely.

Listened to his advice constantly.

And rarely opposed him openly.

But no one dared speak such things publicly.

Not when Ares Frost stood at the peak of the eight-star rank and practically served as the shield protecting the entire kingdom from neighboring empires, as well as protecting the throne from rebellious factions.

Without him...

The throne beneath Phaethon Solaris would have become unstable long ago.

Yet despite his age, the child king had ruled surprisingly well over the past two years.

Crime rates had fallen.

Rebellions were crushed quickly.

Trade flourished.

The people lived peacefully.

Thus, even if some disliked his strange methods...

They could not deny the results.

Unfortunately for Ares Frost... There existed one person capable of influencing the young king in ways even he could not.

Her name was Zoa.

And she was perhaps the most important person in Phaethon Solaris’s life.

Inside one of the palace chambers, dozens of aquariums filled the room from wall to wall.

Large tanks.

Small tanks.

Round tanks.

Square tanks.

Water shimmered beneath magical lights while exotic aquatic creatures drifted lazily through the currents like living jewels trapped behind glass.

Most of the creatures were harmless, low-level spirit beasts.

Some were ordinary fish.

Some belonged to the first or second star.

To someone like Zoa, a five-star rank healer, they posed almost no danger at all.

At that moment, several soldiers carefully transferred a jellyfish from a water bucket into one of the newly prepared aquariums.

The creature remained motionless because of the temporary seal suppressing it.

Once the transfer was complete, the seal was removed.

Immediately, the jellyfish began floating gently through the clear water, its transparent body glowing faintly beneath the chamber lights while long, delicate tentacles drifted beautifully behind it like silk ribbons dancing underwater.

A soft smile slowly appeared across Zoa’s face.

"That glowing transparent body..."

"And those tentacles..."

"It is so beautiful."

Her eyes reflected pure fascination while she pressed her fingers lightly against the glass.

She became so absorbed watching the jellyfish move through the water that she failed to notice Phaethon Solaris and Ares Frost entering the chamber behind her.

Meanwhile, the jellyfish slowly floated upward toward the surface before lifting several tentacles above the waterline.

Zoa’s eyes brightened instantly.

Perhaps...

The creature was greeting her.

Or thanking her.

That innocent thought entered her mind naturally.

Thus, she reached her hand forward without hesitation.

But before her fingers could touch the creature... a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist firmly and yanked it backward.

Zoa flinched in shock.

She turned immediately.

Then froze as Phaethon Solaris stood there staring at her with genuine fear visible across his young face.

"What are you doing?!"

His voice erupted sharply through the chamber.

"Do you want to die?!"

The sudden outburst stunned her completely.

"Eh?"

The nineteen-year-old blinked several times before speaking carefully.

"What happened, Phaethon?"

Phaethon pointed furiously toward the aquarium. "Do you even know what beast that is?!"

Realization finally dawned on her face.

"Ah... You mean this jellyfish?"

She released a relieved sigh before smiling gently.

"It is only a second-star spirit beast. Its sting cannot seriously harm me."

Then she looked toward the aquarium fondly.

"And besides... "I think it likes this place. Look how happily it swims."

But instead of calming down, Phaethon’s expression darkened further.

He pointed directly toward the creature’s body.

"That is not an ordinary jellyfish. It is a Verinex-type Box Jellyfish. The red markings on its box-shaped body make it obvious."

Even Ares Frost silently narrowed his eyes.

The king continued angrily.

"Even a five-star Spirit Warrior like you would barely survive a minute if it stings you directly. What would have happened if we arrived late?"

Then he clenched his fists tighter.

"And this is not even the first time. The last time you brought home a fourth-star rank electric eel, you nearly spent weeks bedridden trying to pet the thing."

Zoa quietly lowered her head afterward.

She understood his anger came from concern.

That only made her feel guiltier.

After remaining silent for several moments, she finally apologized softly.

"Sorry... It looked adorable. So I forgot."

Phaethon almost lost control again after hearing that answer.

"Forgot?"

"You forgot?!"

The young king looked moments away from exploding completely before Ares Frost calmly intervened.

"Your Majesty, Please calm yourself."

Then he turned toward Zoa respectfully.

"We shall take greater precautions from now onward."

Afterward, Ares Frost gently pulled the king backward a few steps before whispering quietly.

"You understand her better than anyone. Please do not turn this into something larger."

Phaethon inhaled deeply afterward.

When he spoke again, his tone became far softer.

"Sister Zoa... Please be more careful next time."

Zoa slowly looked up. "You are not angry anymore?"

The king forced a small smile.

"No. I am not angry."

Her face brightened instantly "Thank you."

Then, almost immediately, she pointed excitedly toward the aquarium again.

"If I am careful... Can I keep it?"

"No."

"No."

Both Phaethon Solaris and Ares Frost answered simultaneously.

The synchronized rejection startled her visibly.

The young king straightened his posture afterward and spoke with unusual authority despite his age.

"Grandpa Ares, I want every person directly responsible for bringing this creature into the palace investigated immediately. Even if no conspiracy exists... They shall each receive fifty lashes."

Before Ares Frost could answer, Zoa hurriedly interrupted anxiously.

"What about the jellyfish? Will you kill it?"

Strangely enough...

She seemed far more worried about the dangerous beast than the punished soldiers.

Clearly, her priorities were somewhat unusual.

Fortunately, Phaethon Solaris understood her personality better than anyone.

Thus, he carefully chose gentler words.

"No. We shall return it safely to the sea."

Zoa’s expression immediately fell. "That is terrible. There are many frightening beasts in the ocean."

She looked toward Ares Frost hopefully for support.

But the man deliberately avoided her gaze.

Realizing resistance was useless once the king made a decision, Zoa reluctantly nodded.

"Alright..."

After calming down completely, Phaethon finally remembered why he originally came searching for her.

"There is something else. I received an invitation from the Phoenix Empire."

"It has been a long time since you left the palace. If you wish... You may accompany me."

Then his voice softened slightly.

"We can also visit your mother’s hometown during the journey. What do you think?"

Zoa hesitated.

Her eyes slowly wandered across every aquarium surrounding them.

The colorful fish.

The glowing jellyfish.

The drifting aquatic beasts.

For a moment, conflict quietly appeared inside her expression.

Finally...

She nodded gently.

"Okay."

Only then did Phaethon Solaris finally reveal a genuine smile free from frustration or worry.

He had been deeply uneasy about leaving her behind inside the palace while he traveled for several days alongside Ares Frost and the Supreme General.

Now, hearing her agreement brought him relief.

"Then we leave early tomorrow morning."

He spoke calmly.

"And this time... I beg you not to attempt to smuggle sea monsters into the royal carriage."

Zoa looked away, scratching her cheek. "Well, I will try," she said quietly.

At once, Phaethon’s face reddened in anger, "Try?" He roared aloud.

"Okay, okay... fine... I will listen to you. " She said in the end, puffing her cheeks.