SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Inside the lavish meeting chamber of the Frost family palace...

King Ragnar sat before a wooden table, his usually composed face now clouded with frustration. He held a glass orb and communicating with the palace master.

The palace master just informed about the Doom family's condition for constructing the teleportation gate at Dead Island City.

"Respected Palace Master, how can anyone agree to this?" Ragnar's voice carried a note of urgency, bordering on desperation. "You also know that Kent has a deep enmity with the Doom family. If we allow them to construct the teleportation gate, they will surely use it as an opportunity to take revenge. They cannot be trusted in this matter." Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

The Palace Master, an older man with a hardened face and gray streaks in his neatly trimmed beard, sighed deeply, with a complicated face. He had been through many battles, though they were battles of words and politics rather than spells and swords.

"Ragnar, I understand your concerns. But this isn't up to me. The Doom family's condition was presented to the Queen Mother, Soya. She's already agreed to their terms. My hands are tied."

The Palace Master's words fell with the weight of inevitability. "Besides, it's just a teleportation gate. What can they really do? You're overthinking this."

King Ragnar's face darkened. "Just a teleportation gate? This is the Doom family we're talking about! Their history of underhanded dealings speaks for itself."

The Palace Master shook his head, though his eyes softened slightly at Ragnar's frustration. "Even if I agree with you, the decision is not mine. The Queen Mother has made up her mind, and the matter is closed."

Ragnar sighed deeply, his breath heavy with the weight of disappointment. "Please, give me a day to think about it. I need time to come up with a plan. Thank you for hearing me out, Palace Master. I will remember this favor."

With a curt nod, the Palace Master dissonncted the commincation.

Ragnar remained seated for a moment, his mind racing with the complications of the situation. His gaze shifted toward the other end of the table, where Kent sat, quietly observing the exchange. Kent, whose sharp features were locked in thought, had been listening patiently to the entire conversation.

"So, what do we do now?" Ragnar finally asked, his voice low but heavy with concern.

Kent didn't answer immediately. He leaned back in his chair, staring down at the table, lost in thought. His expression was unreadable, but behind his calm demeanor, his mind was working furiously. After what felt like an eternity, Kent finally spoke.

"What can they possibly do with the teleportation gate? Is there a chance they could place restrictions on it?"

Ragnar leaned forward, frustration seeping into his voice. "There are a thousand things they can do. They could manipulate the gate's distance, making it unreliable. They could limit the number of people who can travel through it at a time. Or worse, they could build it to such poor quality that it falls apart in a few short years, stranding us when we need it most."

Kent's eyes narrowed. "Then we need to turn this situation to our advantage. Request that the Palace Master include specific terms. The Doom family must agree to build the gate exactly to our specifications, and it must be completed within two weeks. If they fail to meet these conditions, we won't allow them to build it at all."

Ragnar considered this for a moment, nodding slowly. "That could work. If we control the terms, we can reduce the risks. Also, the Doom family might give up after knowing that we are building one of the largest teleportation gate which can teleport armies." Raganr said with a smirk.

Kent nodded in agrement.

Silence filled for a minute and Ragnar's thoughts drifted. His brow furrowed, and he seemed distracted.

Kent noticed immediately. His uncle was rarely this silent for long. "What are you still thinking about, Uncle?" he asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.

Ragnar exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "It's not just the gate that concerns me, Kent." He paused for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully. "What do you think about Princess Sony?"

Kent blinked, clearly surprised by the question. "What about her?" Kent back.

Raganr sighed deeply and said, "Keeping a few matters aside, she is a beautiful girl with a wealthy background. There is no specific reason to reject her."

Kent interrupted his Uncle and said, "There are a hundred reasons to reject her. She's a prideful, headstrong woman. Yesterday, she tried to manipulate me into agreeing to her ridiculous demands. And she definitely needs a submissive husband who will wag his tail at her command. If I were to marry her, it would bring more problems than benefits."

Ragnar shook his head, clearly not in agreement. "You need to think about this more carefully, Kent. Princess Sony is not just any woman. Her family is the wealthiest in the Seventh Realm. They control a significant amount of power, and if I'm not mistaken, they have over 50,000 Supreme Mages ready to back her during the Trident Summit."

Kent's eyes flashed with irritation. "What are you suggesting, Uncle? That I bend the knee to her? That I throw away my independence just for the support of her mages?"

Ragnar held up a hand, trying to calm the rising tension. "Hear me out. If you accept her proposal, you gain not just her family's wealth, but their support in the Trident Summit. That means more than 50,000 Supreme Mages fighting for you. And beyond that, Lady Sony is clearly obsessed with you. Her family might even agree to support you in the inevitable war against your father's family."

Kent paused for a second, clearly taken aback by the suggestion. He had never seriously considered Sony's proposal as anything other than a nuisance. But now, with Ragnar's words lingering in the air, he found himself briefly contemplating the possibility.

Yet, in the next moment, he shook his head firmly. "Uncle, the war with my father's family won't be a simple one. Even a hundred of these Stick families, they wouldn't make a difference. When it comes to battles like these, numbers won't decide the outcome.

One powerful individual can change the tide of war." His voice hardened as he continued, "As for the Trident Summit, having a large army is more of a burden. I don't need more supreme mages as they slow me down."

Ragnar listened in silence as Kent's firm tone left no room for doubt. "I understand your concerns," Ragnar finally said, though his voice held a hint of disappointment. "But think carefully about this, Kent. You may regret dismissing her so easily."

Kent's gaze remained steady. "If she becomes a problem in the future, I'll deal with her. But for now, let's focus on the teleportation gate. We have more pressing issues at hand."

Ragnar nodded, though his expression remained troubled. He knew Kent was strong-willed, but the politics of the Seventh Realm were a dangerous game, and alliances were often the difference between victory and ruin. Still, he trusted Kent's instincts.

"All right," Ragnar said after a moment of reflection. "I'll speak with the Palace Master again. We'll propose our conditions for the gate. Let's hope the Doom family doesn't push back too hard."

Kent smiled faintly. "If they do, I might pay a visit to their family."

Ragnar smiled, understanding Kent's intent.

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