Chapter 61: Eye of the Empire

The Dragon Garden fell silent.

The Emperor's words lingered in the air.

"Become my eyes."

It wasn't an order.

It wasn't a request.

It was trust.

Perhaps it was the greatest trust the Emperor had ever placed in one of his children.

Kael lowered his head.

"I accept."

The Emperor nodded once.

"I expected you would."

Commander Severus Kane stepped forward carrying a long wooden case.

He knelt before the emperor before opening it.

Inside rested a simple medallion.

It wasn't made of gold.

Nor silver.

It was forged from black steel.

At its center...

An Imperial Dragon was engraved over a single open eye.

The Emperor picked it up.

"Hundreds of years ago..."

"The First Emperor created twelve of these."

"Twelve Eyes of the Empire."

"They were given only to those he trusted completely."

He placed the medallion into Kael's hand.

"This is the last one."

Kael looked down.

The metal felt warm.

Almost alive.

The system appeared.

Legendary Item Acquired: Eye of the Empire

Rank: Legendary

Authority Granted:

Inspect Imperial officials. Request records from governors. Conduct investigations in the Emperor's name.

Passive Effect:

Officials are less likely to deceive you.

Hidden Effect:

Locked.

Kael closed the notification.

A Father's Advice

The Emperor began walking toward the garden's exit.

Without turning around...

He spoke.

"Do not become the kind of ruler who only listens to those who agree with him."

Kael listened quietly.

"The loudest voices are rarely the wisest."

"The richest are rarely the most deserving."

"And the most loyal..."

He stopped walking.

"...are often those who have never been noticed."

Kael thought of Grom.

Of Lucian.

Of Selene.

He understood.

"I'll remember."

The Emperor gave one final instruction.

"When you return to Blackwood..."

"Do not rush to build an army."

Kael looked surprised.

The Emperor continued.

"Build people."

"The army will follow."

Those words struck Kael deeply.

Because...

They were exactly what he had been doing without realizing it.

Departure

By midday...

The Black Dragons stood assembled outside the eastern gate of the capital.

Their black cloaks fluttered in the wind.

Nearby...

Citizens watched them leave.

Some waved.

Some bowed.

Others simply whispered.

"That's Prince Kael."

"I heard he defended the Cor families."

"They say he rebuilt Blackwood."

"My cousin lives there."

"He says taxes were lowered."

"They actually repaired the wells."

Kael pretended not to hear.

Praise was dangerous.

It could become pride.

Walter mounted his horse.

"So..."

"Home?"

Kael smiled.

"Home."

Another Observer

Far above the city...

A hawk circled the sky.

Its crimson eyes followed Kael's group.

Not a normal hawk.

A familiar.

Miles away...

Inside a luxurious estate...

A beautiful woman slowly opened her eyes.

A magic circle faded beneath her feet.

She smiled.

"So..."

"The Prince is leaving."

Across the room stood a noble, dressed entirely in white.

"Do we proceed?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"Begin Phase One."

The noble frowned.

"And if Prince Kael interferes?"

The woman looked out the window.

"Then we'll learn..."

"...whether he's truly worthy of becoming our greatest obstacle."

Back on the Road

The capital slowly disappeared behind them.

Fields stretched toward the horizon.

Farmers harvested grain.

Children chased each other through open meadows.

Travelers passed by in wagons.

Everything seemed peaceful.

Until...

A carriage came racing toward them.

The horses were exhausted.

The driver screamed desperately.

"Move!"

"Move!"

Walter immediately pulled his horse aside.

The carriage came to a violent stop just ahead.

A young woman jumped down.

Her clothes were covered in blood.

Not her blood.

Someone else's.

She spotted the Imperial emblem on Kael's cloak.

She dropped to her knees.

"Please!"

"Help us!"

"Our village..."

"It's under attack!"

Every member of the Black Dragons became alert.

Darius stepped forward.

"Bandits?"

The woman shook her head violently.

"No!"

"It isn't bandits!"

"It isn't soldiers!"

"It's monsters!"

The woman struggled to breathe.

"There are hundreds of them!"

"They came out of the forest!"

"They're destroying everything!"

"They're..."

She burst into tears.

"...they're killing everyone."

Kael immediately dismounted.

"When did it begin?"

"This morning."

"How far?"

"Less than two hours."

Leon frowned.

"That's impossible."

"There aren't any monster nests recorded near here."

The woman whispered one sentence that made everyone's blood run cold.

"There is now."

The System

A red notification flashed before Kael.

Unlike any he had seen before.

Emergency World Event Monster Outbreak Detected

Classification:

Unnatural.

Recommended Response:

Immediate Investigation.

Warning:

This is not a normal monster migration.

Another line appeared.

Hidden Objective

Discover the true cause before the outbreak spreads.

Failure may alter the future of the empire.

Kael looked toward the distant forest.

Dark smoke rose into the sky.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

The journey home...

Would have to wait.

"Black Dragons!"

His voice echoed across the road.

The fifty soldiers immediately turned toward him.

Every movement was sharp.

Disciplined.

Professional.

"We ride!"

No one asked questions.

No one hesitated.

Fifty black-cloaked riders thundered toward the smoke.

For the first time...

The Black Dragons would fight together outside Blackwood.

And unknown to Kael...

This battle would become the event that first spread his name across the Empire.