Chapter 1150
Raon took his place on the left wing of the massive training grounds, standing at the forefront of the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen. Various martial leaders who had arrived early offered respectful bows or brief nods of acknowledgment as he approached.
-Phew!
Wrath scanned the vast arena and let out a heavy breath.
-It looks like every single human in your bloodline has crawled out today. This place is packed to the point of bursting.
He shook his head in annoyance, remarking that the sea of human heads below looked like a dense patch of bean sprouts.
'It is a monumental occasion, after all.'
Today marked the critical juncture where the final pair of successor candidates would be named. Since the entirety of the following year would be consumed by grueling war preparations, the members of Zieghart likely viewed this gathering as their final moment of celebration.
-True, there won't be much room for fun for a long while...
Wrath conceded with a nod, noting that nothing drained the spirit quite like the tedious logistics of preparing for conflict.
-So, do you feel certain of yourself?
He gestured with his chin, silently inquiring about Raon’s assessment of the situation.
'To a degree.'
Raon cast a side-long glance at Karoon, whose eyes were partially lidded.
'That one, at least, seems entirely convinced of his victory.'
Karoon stood with an impeccably straight posture, hands clasped firmly behind his back. He looked as though he were already the rightful owner of the throne on the high platform, his gaze fixed intensely upon it.
'And the others...'
Raon shifted his focus calmly toward the right side of the grounds.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm."
Alice was softly humming a tune, her shoulders bouncing slightly as if she were simply attending a pleasant social outing.
"Nephew! You've arrived!"
"Greetings, Aunt."
"As the star of today's show, you really should have made a more dramatic, late entrance."
She seized his hand, pumping it up and down with startling energy. In truth, deciphering the inner thoughts of this woman was an impossible task.
'And then there is...'
Raon turned his attention to Serena, who stood tall and solitary amidst the gathered Division Leaders.
"Silence."
Serena curtly quieted the warriors of the Void Sword division, her eyes focused forward with a chilly stillness. Her gaze, too, was locked onto the unoccupied golden seat at the far end of the arena.
'She has always been remarkably focused.'
Of all the contenders, only Serena and Karoon remained fixated on the physical throne. Those two appeared to value the title of head of house with a gravity that surpassed everyone else in attendance.
'She did, after all, announce her intent to claim the leadership the very first time we spoke.'
Long before the formal selection process had even commenced, Serena had approached him with a proposal: join the Void Sword division and act as her primary support in her climb to power. At the time, the idea had struck him as delusional, but seeing her stand here now, he felt a genuine respect for her unwavering resolve.
'That is the definition of persistence.'
In the long annals of Zieghart history, no individual from outside the direct bloodline had ever ascended to the position of head of house. Even with full knowledge of that precedent, Serena had never faltered, pouring every ounce of her spirit into the pursuit. Regardless of how the rankings fell today, her mental fortitude deserved admiration.
As Raon turned back toward the dais, the ground seemed to vibrate under the weight of approaching footsteps.
"Uahahahaha!"
It was Balder. He strode up to Raon's side, his laughter booming with the resonance of a commander overseeing a grand campaign.
"Nephew! Have you been keeping healthy?"
Remarking on how long it had been since their last encounter, Balder slammed his heavy palms against Raon’s back and shoulders. Even without the reinforcement of aura, his raw physical power was so immense that Raon felt a sharp ache in his collarbone.
"Ah, yes, I am well."
Raon managed a nod while surreptitiously massaging the shoulder that had borne the brunt of Balder’s enthusiasm.
"Excellent! Excellent! You look to be in peak condition."
Beaming with an unshakeable good mood, Balder took his place beside him, looking toward the stage with sparkling eyes.
'Hmm?'
Raon felt a small crease form between his brows as he observed Balder, who seemed unable to suppress a grin.
'What is behind that expression?'
Balder was a transparent man, far less capable of masking his emotions than the average person. If a man like him couldn't stop smiling, it suggested he possessed some secret reason to be confident in the day's results.
-Oh?
Wrath noticed the shift as well, letting out a soft sound of surprise.
-It appears even that dim-witted fellow has a trick up his sleeve!
He licked his lips in anticipation, suddenly more interested in the outcome now that Balder looked so self-assured.
'Perhaps.'
Raon’s brow furrowed further.
'I assumed the path forward was already set in stone, but perhaps I was premature.'
In his heart, he had assumed that the final two spots would naturally go to Karoon and himself. Yet, standing here today, he saw a level of confidence in Balder that rivaled Karoon’s, and Serena clearly hadn't come empty-handed. Only Alice remained an enigma.
'Well, if I am chosen, that is for the best. If not, I will accept it.'
While the title of head of house was a worthy goal, the continued prosperity of Zieghart was his true priority. He had developed a deep bond with the family, so even a failure to secure a candidacy wouldn't change his ultimate path or duties.
-You are an incredibly tedious individual.
Wrath let out a dismissive snort, finding Raon’s measured reaction to be quite dull.
-You should at least be shivering with nervous energy.
'I'll show you my excitement later. Once I've actually reached the finish line.'
Just as Raon was brushing off Wrath's complaints with a wave of his hand.
"The zenith of Zieghart. Glenn Zieghart, the Destructive King of the North and our Lord, is making his entrance!"
The gatekeeper’s voice thundered across the training grounds with enough force to rattle the air. The volume was easily double what it had been for the other candidates. Thud! The rhythmic, heavy steps of the patriarch began, instantly plunging the chattering crowds into a profound silence.
As Glenn Zieghart appeared, flanked by the elite Heavenly Blade Division, the spectators involuntarily held their breath, standing as still as stone monuments.
"We offer our deepest respects to the Lord!"
"Respects to the Lord of the House!"
The moment Glenn stepped onto the grounds, every person present knelt in unison, led by Karoon’s formal greeting. Thud. Unlike his usual brisk pace in the private chambers, Glenn ascended the stairs to the platform with deliberate slowness, absorbing the silent reverence of his warriors.
"You may stand."
With a steady gaze, he gave a slight nod and settled onto the magnificent, solitary golden throne.
"Understood!"
The swordsmen bowed once more, acknowledging the natural authority Glenn exuded, before returning to their feet.
"Commence."
"Yes? Ah, yes, my Lord..."
Following Glenn’s command, Chad, the leader of the Shadow Agents, stepped forward to the edge of the platform while clutching a stack of scrolls. His lips twitched nervously, as if he feared a single stumble.
"Following the initial assessment, the remaining candidates are the Central Martial Palace Master, the True Martial Palace Master, the Light Wind Palace Master, the Void Sword Division Leader, and Alice Zieghart."
Chad recited the names of those who had passed the first hurdle, meeting the eyes of each candidate in turn.
"The objective of the second trial was the acquisition of loyal allies and supporting factions."
He paused to catch his breath, the weight of the announcement clearly taxing his nerves.
"I will now reveal the final tallies for the second test."
With hands that shook slightly, Chad unrolled the documents held against his chest.
"To begin, the results for the Void Sword Division Leader. Supporting Serena are the Kingdom of Artina, the Aquatic City of Aqurian, the City of Time known as Reminis, and the Tower Village of Eldru..."
Serena had secured the backing of nearly every territory where she had personally conducted operations. It was a testament to the meticulous and thorough way she had handled her assignments over the years.
"And finally, Nokrin, the home of the Shadow Tower."
Though Serena’s list of allies was impressive, they were largely smaller factions or isolated villages, leaving her with little mathematical hope of breaking into the top two.
"Serena! Serena! Serena!"
Her loyal followers raised their voices in a desperate, passionate chant, thrusting their fists into the air.
"My thanks to you all."
Serena offered a graceful bow to her supporters, her face remaining composed. Even knowing she would likely fall short of the final round, she seemed content with the honest fruits of her labor.
"Next are the results for the True Martial Palace Master. The Crystal Village of Arsia, the Cloud City of Ethersian, the Mining Kingdom of Pelrun..."
The list of factions backing Balder was surprisingly extensive and composed of influential regions. It was clear he had been far more active in diplomacy than anyone had credited him for.
'That is a formidable roster.'
Though, in Raon's estimation, it still wouldn't be enough to secure the top spot. Raon nodded to himself. While Balder had gathered more support than he'd anticipated, the way the major powers were split between himself and Karoon made it unlikely Balder could bridge the gap.
"...and concluding with the Moving City of Norid."
Chad paused, his breathing becoming slightly labored.
"Woaaaaaah!"
"Balder! Balder! Balder!"
The training grounds erupted into a cacophony of cheers for the True Martial Palace Master. It was a boisterous, rowdy energy that stood in stark contrast to the quiet dignity of Serena’s moment.
"Uahahahaha!"
Balder simply laughed, looking immensely satisfied with himself. Seeing him now, Raon suspected the man had simply enjoyed the process and was riding a wave of high spirits.
"Hmm."
Despite the rising noise level, Glenn made no move to restore order. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. He appeared to be genuinely enjoying the festive atmosphere.
"Third, the results for the Light Wind Palace Master. Habun Castle, the Northern Shield; the vassal houses of Sullion and Arianne; the White Whale and the Unyielding Blade of the Five Divine Orders..."
Chad began the long recitation of the forces aligned with Raon.
'I remember every one of them.'
As each name was read, Raon felt a flash of memory from his time in those places. Because many of those alliances had been forged in the heat of life-or-death struggles, he couldn't help but smile at the recollection of those high-stakes moments.
"And lastly, the Holy Kingdom of Suphren."
The moment Chad finished that final name, the spectators in the stands rose as one.
"Uaaaaaah!"
"Raon! Raon! Raon!"
"The Sword Emperor! The Sword Emperor!"
The roar that followed was significantly more thunderous than the one for Balder, vibrating through the very stones of the arena. Raon knew his reputation had grown, but the sheer scale of the public's affection was still staggering.
"..."
Raon bowed his head in a silent gesture of gratitude to the crowd.
'This should be sufficient.'
Even without a precise count, it was obvious his numbers had eclipsed those of Serena and Balder. With only Karoon and the seemingly indifferent Alice left, Raon felt the path forward was clear.
"Phew."
Chad wiped his brow, appearing visibly drained, and reached for the fourth scroll.
"Fourth, the supporting forces for the Central Martial Palace Master. The Palace Master has secured the backing of the traditional Zieghart power base and its oldest vassal houses. This includes House Sicerian, the Kingdom of Tairan, Yuber..."
He continued down the list of Karoon’s allies, his face glistening with nervous sweat. The sheer volume of names was immense, and they represented the most populous regions of the continent. It was the kind of massive network only the firstborn son of the patriarch could command.
"A-and finally, the Desert City of Zerha. Phew."
As Chad reached the end of Karoon's list, he let out a long, ragged exhale, his voice beginning to crack.
"Karoon! Karoon! Karoon!"
"Central Martial Palace! Central Martial Palace!"
Karoon’s faction responded with an explosion of fervor. Since the eldest son traditionally carried the weight of expectation, the cheers for him were nearly equal in volume to those Raon had received.
'We are neck and neck, but...'
Raon pressed his lips together.
'It looks like Karoon might have the slight edge.'
Just as Chad had indicated, Karoon had successfully tapped into the deep-rooted, centuries-old connections of the Zieghart name. Raon had worked wonders in a short time, but overcoming a thousand years of established diplomacy was a Herculean task.
'It's fine. They only need two people to move forward... wait.'
Raon paused, a realization dawning on him.
'Hold on!'
He felt his throat go dry as he looked back at Chad.
'If the order so far is what I think it is, they're being read from the bottom up.'
Serena, then Balder, then himself, then Karoon. They weren't being called by seniority or rank, but by the sheer quantity of their supporting forces, starting with the lowest.
'If that's the case, then...'
Raon’s eyes widened as he stared at the official on the stage.
"Ahem."
Chad took a quick sip of water to soothe his parched throat before raising the fifth and final document.
"F-fifth, the forces allied with Alice Zieghart. To begin: the Underwater City of Atrian, the Western Coastal Union of Sirfin, the Flower Harbor of Libellis, the Mechanized Harbor of Mecrian..."
He began reading off Alice’s supporters at a frantic pace, much faster than he had for the previous candidates. Despite the speed, the list seemed to go on indefinitely.
"W-what is happening?"
"How can there be so many?"
"Those aren't typical inland cities—they're all major ports and maritime hubs!"
"Look at that, she even signed entire trade unions!"
The crowd watched in stunned silence, their jaws dropping as Chad continued to rattle off names they hadn't even considered.
"A-and finally, the Fog Harbor of Sirentium. Huff, huff!"
Chad slumped slightly, his voice a mere rasp, his throat completely spent from the effort.
"Wooooooooh!"
"Alice! Alice! Alice!"
The audience, recovered from their initial shock, erupted into a joyous celebration of her unexpected triumph.
"We were completely blind-sided..."
Karoon’s jaw was set tight, his expression darkening.
"While the four of us were fighting over the mainland, my sister was quietly monopolizing the entire coastline and every maritime power. When you look at the map that way, the result is obvious."
He scowled, clearly frustrated that he had underestimated Alice’s diligence.
"Hmm..."
Raon felt his hands tremble slightly.
'I completely overlooked that theater.'
In his rush to secure continental support, he had never made it to the coastal regions, including the territory of House Robert or the city of the Black Tower. Alice had spent her time gathering every scrap of influence from the places everyone else had ignored.
"I-I will now announce the final standings."
Chad held up the sixth and last paper.
"Ahem! In 5th place: the Void Sword Division Leader. In 4th place: the True Martial Palace Master. In 3rd place: the Light Wind Palace Master. In 2nd place: the Central Martial Palace Master. A-and in 1st place... Alice Zieghart!"
Even the Shadow Leader seemed staggered by the outcome, shouting her name with his eyes squeezed shut.
"Urrrgh..."
"Is this actually happening?"
"Alice took the top spot?"
"Wait, that means Lord Raon didn't make the cut!"
"This is madness..."
The warriors and spectators alike were left reeling by a result that defied every prediction.
"Gaaaaaah!"
Even Glenn, who had clearly expected a showdown between Raon and Karoon, let out a sharp, audible gasp, his eyes wide with shock. The icy composure he had maintained since entering the arena had shattered completely.
"Uh..."
Raon stood frozen, his legs feeling weak as he tried to process the reality of the situation, his mouth hanging slightly open.
-Bwahahahaha!
Wrath was practically rolling on the ground, clutching his stomach in a fit of hysterical laughter.
-You claimed you wouldn't be rattled, yet look at that face! This is magnificent!
He wheezed, delighted by Raon’s utter confusion.
-You and that stone-faced king both walked in here like you owned the place, and now look at you! This is the best entertainment I've had in centuries!
Wrath continued to mock them both, his tongue flickering with glee.
"It was a grueling schedule to keep, but I pulled it off."
Alice thrust a triumphant fist into the air, her face glowing with pride.
"Never underestimate twenty years of making friends across the high seas! You landlocked fools!"
