Chapter 16: The Three Kingdoms

Words : 1042 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

A few minutes later, the door opens, and Calak strides back in, his chest puffed with pride. His crimson eyes gleam with excitement as he holds the book close to his chest. "It's done, Your Majesty," Calak announces, standing straight. "Three hundred monsters have written their names in the book." Alix said. "Three hundred already? That's a good turnout. You've done well, Calak." Calak bows deeply, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty. It's an honor to serve you." Alix stands and walks over to him, taking the book for a moment to inspect it. The system's interface overlays the names, marking them as officially registered citizens. He smiles faintly, satisfied with the progress. "Well done," Alix says, handing the book back. "I'll leave this with you. If anyone else decides to write their name, let them. The more citizens we have, the stronger the kingdom will become." Calak grips the book tightly, nodding with determination. "Understood, Your Majesty. I won't let you down." "I know you won't," Alix replies. He places a reassuring hand on Calak's shoulder before turning to leave. "I'll return to the palace. Keep up the good work." "Yes, Your Majesty!" Calak says, watching in awe as Alix departs. Back at the palace, Alix sits on his throne in the grand yet quiet throne room. His eyes flicker as he pulls up his status screen, the glowing interface only visible to him. The numbers bring a small smile to his face. Citizen Count: 400 Next Level Unlock: Need 500 Citizens Current Level: 200 "Just one hundred more," he mutters, leaning back. "And I'll reach level 300. Still a long way to go to max out at 1000, but... progress is progress." He closes the screen, resting his chin on his hand. It's a slow process, but seeing the numbers grow—it's worth it. As Alix studies his status screen, the faintest ripple of movement in the shadows of the throne room catches his attention. A figure emerges, cloaked in darkness, their presence silent but commanding. One of the Shadows, kneels before him. "Your Majesty," the figure says, their voice low and steady. "I am here to report." Alix leans forward on his throne. "Go ahead." The Shadow doesn't lift their head as they begin. "After your orders to tail the humans, Your Majesty, we followed their trail to a city not far from the forest. The city is called Misorn, and it is governed by a corrupt noble named Vylan." Alix's gaze sharpens slightly at the mention of the name. "Vylan? What do you mean by 'corrupt'?" The Shadow nods slightly. "Reports from the city's residents indicate he exploits his position for personal gain. He levies heavy taxes on the populace, hoards resources meant for the city's defense, and turns a blind eye to criminal activities in exchange for bribes. Many in Misorn despise him, but his authority remains unchallenged due to his ties to the kingdom." Alix rests his chin on his hand, deep in thought. "And this kingdom? What did you learn about it?" The Shadow hesitates for a moment before continuing. "The city of Misorn is part of the Kingdom of Raltheon. Raltheon is currently stable, but its borders are vulnerable. They rely heavily on smaller cities like Misorn to act as buffer zones. However, with someone like Vylan in charge, Misorn's defenses are... inadequate at best." The Shadow shifts slightly, reaching into their cloak. "There's more, Your Majesty. We recovered this." They present a worn but detailed map, carefully folded. "It appears to be a map of the region. It may provide useful insights." Alix takes the map and unfolds it, studying it intently. His sharp eyes scan every detail, noting the locations of cities, borders, and marked landmarks. After a few moments, he leans back. "There are three kingdoms shown on this map," he says, pointing to the territories. "Raltheon here, the Kingdom of Ordeya to the west, and the Kingdom of Valgros to the north." The Shadow nods. "Yes, Your Majesty. Ordeya appears to be a merchant kingdom, known for trade and wealth. Valgros, however, is described as a militaristic state with strong fortifications and a focus on conquest." Alix taps the map thoughtfully. "This can't be the whole map of this world. The borders feel incomplete, as if there's more beyond these kingdoms. But it's a start." He folds the map neatly and hands it back to the Shadow. "Take this with you and continue gathering intelligence. I want to know more about Ordeya and Valgros—their rulers, their strengths, their weaknesses. Leave no detail unnoticed." The Shadow bows deeply. "As you command, Your Majesty." The Shadow vanishes back into the darkness, leaving Alix alone in the throne room. He leans back in his seat, tapping his fingers on the armrest as he processes the information. After a moment, he lets out a low hum. He pauses, his thoughts shifting. "I guess I should visit that guy in the dungeon." Alix rises from his throne, his expression sharpening with determination. His mind drifts to the powerful subordinate who has remained in confinement since their arrival in this world—a being more terrifying than any of the Five Lords under his command. "I hope he's still there," Alix mutters to himself as he strides down the grand hall of his palace. "The world boss itself. The one I obtained after that chaotic raid." He recalls the event vividly: five million players swarming to defeat the monstrous entity, and only twenty lucky individuals managing to claim him as a drop. Alix was among them. Even now, the thought fills him with a sense of pride. "This subordinate is stronger than any of the five Lords," Alix muses, his steps echoing in the empty halls. "Even with the Hellfire Edge, I'd only have a fifty percent chance of beating him in a one-on-one fight," Alix mutters under his breath. His steps slow as he approaches the enormous door leading to the dungeon. It towers over him, carved with intricate runes that pulse faintly with a blood-red glow.

Chapter 16: The Three Kingdoms

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