Swordmaster Kain was walking down a vast corridor with an exhausted expression. “Meeting with His Majesty always leaves me drained…”3

He had just finished a private audience with the Emperor, reporting on the results of his latest mission. As he trudged down the empty corridor, someone called out to him.0

“You look like you’ve had a hard time.” The speaker was a figure dressed in extravagant attire.0

The garments were adorned with an array of gemstones, so luxurious that even a royal prince would envy them. It was the kind of attire befitting the ruler of the world—or at least someone who fancied themselves as such.0

Kain, however, spoke bluntly, his expression unamused. “What are you trying to pull off this time? You’re usually wrapped in rags.”0

“I wanted to stick to my usual style, but my damned apprentices insisted I dress properly in front of the Emperor.” The man chuckled, the sound of bones clattering echoing faintly. “It’s not like mages cared about etiquette.”0

“It was a sound judgement. If you’d shown up before His Majesty wearing rags, you’d have been lucky to escape with just your head displayed in the square. In fact,...0