One-Eyed Monster

The palace of the Kayne Empire is under strict security.

Though it is a magnificent structure, it is not particularly complex.

The main hall of the palace is where King Kayne and politicians handle daily affairs, capable of accommodating hundreds of people. Portraits of different King Kayne hang within, and beneath each one are records of significant events from that time.

It is nearing dusk, and the servants are cleaning under the watchful eyes of the Blue Blood League Guards.

These servants have been carefully selected, and they are allowed access to the palace only after rigorous screening.

At this moment, the servants are busy within the hall, polishing portraits and replacing lamp covers for each lamp.

The hall is cleaned like this every day, always kept in pristine condition.

The Blue Blood League Guards stand at attention around the hall, supervising these servants.

Soon, the entire hall is cleaned spotlessly, and under the illumination, the hall gleams with its original splendor.

The servants leave after cleaning; it's their daily routine, and they are well accustomed to it.

However, for a long time now, the servants have felt a change in the working atmosphere.

In the past two years, the world has changed rapidly, and the palace has also been affected.

The servants deeply feel this.

Previously, even though they couldn't move or speak freely while working, they had to diligently complete every step. But back then, they didn't feel oppressed. They felt that it was simply the rules of the palace, and sometimes they could steal a moment to slack off or exchange a few greetings with the League Guards at the door.

Though most of their conversations with the League Guards were flattery, at least they were able to speak with them.

Unlike now, these guards have become utterly cold-blooded.

Back then, the servants thought of the League Guards as living beings, with flesh and blood, who simply maintained a cautious demeanor. But now, they feel as if these guards are no more than tools, devoid of any expression.

Describing them as tools seems inadequate; these guards are now like steam locomotives, with no emotion, just walking machines.

This change makes the servants work even harder, feeling extremely uneasy under the gaze of these machines...

This oppressive atmosphere has persisted throughout the palace for a long time. Sometimes, the servants who have the fortune to see His Majesty also feel deeply moved, thinking that perhaps His Majesty is being driven insane by these guards, as His Majesty now always wears an expressionless face.

Such an expression has stripped His Majesty of his original majesty...

The servants quickly leave the palace and return to the Scholar Commons beside it. These servants are selected by the Scholar Commons, each undergoing rigorous assessment by the scholars. Although just mere servants, they carry as much on their shoulders as the adventurers with class.

Upon returning to the Scholar Commons, they see a figure heading towards the palace, the newly appointed Hand of the King, who now frequents the palace more than anyone else.

Or rather, he's the only one who can freely enter and exit the palace now.

The entire palace is now practically in a state of closure. The servants find many specks of dust each morning and evening when cleaning. Such a large place, unused, naturally falls prey to dust, and though cleaned daily, a fair amount of dust still accumulates.

In the past, many politicians would come and go from the palace, either bringing new tributes for His Majesty or offering advice. Though King Kayne was stern and strict, he was not tyrannical and still heeded the counsel of these politicians.

But scenes such as these are now almost unseen.

Whether tribute-bearing or advising politicians, they are all blocked by the machine-like guards outside the hall, without reason or explanation.

His Majesty's temperament seems to have become incomprehensible.

The servants' thoughts are not deeply concealed, and the Scholar Commons naturally noticed this strange phenomenon immediately.

However, the Scholar Commons did not choose to rush in. They are the calmest group in the entire empire, not impulsive in their actions.

They will naturally convey the abnormalities of the palace but will not instigate other organizations. After all, as long as His Majesty is still in the palace and no mishap has occurred to him, they cannot speculate rashly.

They understand that even the most bizarre changes have forces behind them, and the most important thing now is to find that hidden force. Other matters can be temporarily endured.

Everyone suspects that the force behind everything is the Alchemy Workshop. However, over time, through observation and deduction, the scholars have found no abnormalities with the Alchemy Workshop.

Conversely, those summoned by His Majesty the most are from the Alchemy Workshop.

They deduce that the Alchemy Workshop may merely be a puppet, also controlled by this hidden force.

What exactly this hidden force is, they cannot determine. How the force influencing His Majesty came in remains unknown to anyone.

The whole affair is a mystery, all a patch of the unknown.

Scholars combine information sent from various places and integrate their deductions, yet they still haven't reached a final conclusion.

With the palace under such rigorous security, how did even the Soul Devourers come in!

Could it be that these Soul Devourers possess the ability to fly?

The mystery only deepens, leaving scholars unsure which direction to tackle.

These matters are inherently challenging to judge. No one knows what these unknowns truly are; no matter how they deduce, they can only scratch the surface, and even this surface insight is provided by those beneath them.

In the Scholar Commons, Soul Devourers are no longer an unfamiliar term.

Their information is exchanged, and they reach a consensus early on; they are also aware of the Spirit World and express concern about the future.

It is time for someone to step forward, someone who can break through these unknowns and allow people to see hope again.

This person who steps forward will undoubtedly become a hero, a savior of the entire world.

But, there seems to be no one able to step forward.

The scholars continue to monitor every move occurring within the palace as usual. Strangely, despite the odd and oppressive atmosphere over this period, nothing particularly unusual is happening inside the palace.

Everything happening is too mundane, so mundane it's hard to believe...

This mundanity repeats daily, making scholars begin to doubt the entire palace.

Is this really the palace, or merely a giant model standing in Xinbal?

The Blue Blood League Guards and His Majesty keep blank faces day by day; this unusual calm persists in an endless cycle.

The scholars somewhat miss the past roars of His Majesty—roars that have not been heard for a long time...

Inside the palace, it's a bit too quiet...

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