Seated inside a luxurious carriage, Wang Yu gazed out of the window as the scenery outside transformed as they rose in elevation. He couldn't help but feel a bit surprised—was someone as insignificant as himself really being granted an audience with the king?0

It wasn't self-doubt—it all just felt rather sudden. After all, he'd only been in the capital for a few months, and his strength was middling at best.0

"I'm probably just riding on Professor Sieg and Captain Hugin's coattails," Wang Yu thought. "Especially if the Professor's identity as a dragon is still in play, his influence must be far beyond what it appears on the surface."0

That was Wang Yu's conclusion for the royal summons.0

The carriage climbed the winding road that led to the mountain peak on which the royal palace had been built. This peak, known as "The Throne," was impressively tall. The carriage had taken half an hour just to reach the summit.0

In this world where trains and the like were the most advanced form of transportation, such a grandiose road was a rare sight.0

This seemingly inefficient means of travel was meant largely for envoys and guests. The wide road, lined with mana crystal lamps illuminating the entire mountain, was clearly a display of Aleisterre's immense national power—a classic case of "putting on a show."0

The royal family and their servants mainly used large-scale teleportation arrays for entry and exit—normally costly, but just a nominal expense for the royal treasury.0

The carriage gradually slowed as they neared their destination....0