Chương 398: Chapter : 398

Naomi turned her head. She looked at Ken. She nudged his shoulder gently with her elbow. She treated him like a very fun, lazy friend.

"Finish your cereal, Ken," Naomi teased playfully.

"We are going to the palace. You need to look presentable today." Ken groaned loudly. He dropped his spoon into the bowl. The metal clinked against the ceramic. He slouched even further down into his chair.

"This is a massive tragedy," Ken complained. He rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"I just wanted a quiet morning. The Imperial Palace is huge. The floors are too shiny. The guards are too loud. I do not want to go."

"You are coming with us," Naomi smiled.

"Do not make me drag you to the carriage."

"Fine," Ken pouted. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

"But I demand a large snack when we get there. The palace better have a good cafeteria." An hour later, the 13th Unit arrived at the Imperial Palace. The palace was absolutely enormous. Giant white marble pillars stretched into the sky. Huge glass windows sparkled in the sunlight. Golden statues decorated the entrance. Hundreds of royal guards patrolled the grounds. The carriage stopped. The team stepped out. They walked through the massive front doors. They entered a giant, pristine waiting hall.

The waiting hall was packed with people. Hundreds of elite servants from all twenty-one Royal factions stood around the room. They wore spotless uniforms. They carried shiny weapons. They glared at each other. The rivalry was incredibly obvious. Princess Iris stopped at a set of towering golden doors. Two giant guards crossed their spears in front of the entrance.

"I must go in alone," Princess Iris said. She turned to her team. She offered a brave, confident smile.

"Wait here for me. Do not start any fights with the other servants."

"We will be perfectly behaved," Sayma promised politely. The guards pulled the golden doors open. Princess Iris stepped inside. The doors closed firmly behind her. Inside the grand golden throne room, the atmosphere was incredibly hostile. The room was vast. Golden chandeliers hung from the painted ceiling. Red silk banners lined the walls. The twenty-one Princes and Princesses stood in the center of the room. They did not stand together. They formed small, angry groups.

The 1st Prince, Zeus Belmontia, stood tall and imposing. He wore his crisp white military uniform. Sparks of yellow electricity popped around his boots. He glared at everyone. He believed he was the only rightful heir. The 3rd Prince, Poseidon Belmontia, laughed loudly. He wore a loose green shirt. He flexed his muscles and mocked his younger siblings. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The 2nd Princess, Hera Belmontia, sneered in disgust.

She smoothed her flawless white dress. She looked at Iris with pure contempt. She thought Iris was a complete joke. The Royals bickered endlessly. They argued about territory. They argued about tournament points. They insulted each other's combat strategies. They postured in the bright light of the chandeliers. They wanted to prove their absolute dominance. High above them, sitting on a massive golden throne, was the Emperor of the Belmontia Empire. The Emperor was a terrifying man. He wore a dark, regal cloak.

A golden crown rested on his head. His eyes were cold and piercing. He watched his children argue. He did not say a single word. He did not stop their fighting. He simply observed them like a scientist watching insects in a jar. After a few minutes of listening to their petty arguments, the Emperor slowly stood up. He did not announce his departure. He turned around. He quietly slipped through a hidden door behind the golden throne. He left the bickering Royals behind.

Outside in the waiting hall, Ken Eliot slouched against a white marble pillar. He let out a long, dramatic yawn. He looked around the crowded room. The other elite servants stood perfectly straight. They tried to look intimidating. Ken just thought they looked incredibly uncomfortable.

"This is so boring," Ken mumbled to himself. He scratched his messy black hair.

"There are no chairs in this entire room. Who designs a waiting room without chairs? It is a massive architectural failure. My legs are completely exhausted." Naomi stood a few feet away. She smiled at him.

"Just lean against the pillar, Ken. The meeting will not take all day."

"I am going to find a vending machine," Ken announced lazily. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I need a cold drink. I also need to find a bathroom. I will be right back."

"Do not get lost," Naomi called out playfully.

"I never get lost," Ken lied smoothly. Ken shuffled away from his team. He dragged his cheap shoes on the shiny marble floor. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. He walked past the glaring rival servants. He ignored them completely. He wandered down a long, quiet side corridor. He made sure nobody was watching him. He checked the corners. The hallway was totally empty. Ken stopped slouching. He stood up perfectly straight. The goofy, lazy smile completely melted off his face. His sleepy dark eyes turned incredibly sharp and cold.

He raised his right hand. He snapped his fingers. Snap. The air around his body shimmered. His clothes changed in a single second. The wrinkled navy blue suit vanished. A high-collared, dramatic black cloak materialized over his shoulders. Elegant gold embroidery lined the dark fabric. A smooth, terrifying black mask appeared over his face. A single, glowing purple eye shined brightly in the center of the mask. The lazy boy was gone. The legendary, masked entity known as Lancelot had arrived.

Lancelot did not walk down the hallway. He simply dissolved into the shadows. He bypassed the thick stone walls entirely. He moved through the palace with god-like stealth. He headed straight toward a specific, highly shielded room deep inside the castle. He had a very important, highly philosophical meeting to attend.

The private antechamber was located deep behind the grand throne room. It was completely isolated from the rest of the palace. The walls were lined with thick, magical dampening metal. No sound could enter. No sound could leave. The room was pitch-black. There were no windows. There were no glowing lamps. The Emperor of the Belmontia Empire stepped into the dark room. The hidden door sealed shut behind him. The Emperor stood in the absolute darkness. He radiated a massive, suffocating aura of suspicion and power.

He was not a man who feared many things. But he knew he was not alone in this room.

"You are here," the Emperor stated coldly. His voice echoed off the unseen walls. A single, glowing purple eye ignited in the pitch-black corner of the room. Lancelot stood perfectly still. His dark cloak blended flawlessly with the shadows. The glowing eye was the only visible part of his body. He projected an aura of cold, absolute authority.

"You requested a conversation," Lancelot replied. His voice was deep. It lacked any human emotion. It sounded like a god speaking from the void. The Emperor turned to face the glowing eye. He crossed his arms over his regal cloak. He narrowed his cold eyes. He decided to get straight to the point.