System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 758: Chapter 758: The King’s Gift

King Alaric weighed the purified gem between his fingers. Holding it now, he noticed that the strange attraction from before was gone. That subtle whisper in the back of his mind—the one he had assumed was his own sharp instinct aiding his speed of thought, which had gradually become his main reference when making decisions—had vanished.

While the entity was present, he had been blind to the manipulation; but now that the presence had been purged, the difference was terrifyingly stark. Rage burned in the sovereign’s chest. He was being subtly controlled step by step, having fallen into the trap without ever suspecting a thing.

Suppressing the anger on his face, Alaric stared intently at Ethan.

"What am I supposed to do with this now?" the King asked.

"If you absorb the energy stored inside that sphere you will be able to ascend to the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Transcendence Realm," Ethan replied with composure. "How does that sound?"

The King stared at him with wide eyes, bordering on euphoria.

"How can that even be possible!?" Alaric exclaimed.

"The amount of power stored inside that thing is so astronomical that it truly is possible," Ethan explained. "You shouldn’t be surprised; remember that it cost half a realm to craft."

"How should I take it?" the sovereign inquired without hesitation.

"You just have to eat it," Ethan stated simply.

The King contemplated the blue gem for a split second and, without hesitating, swallowed it whole. Almost instantly, he felt his stomach burn with a scorching fire. A colossal, overflowing energy unleashed within his core, surging through his meridians. Alaric closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the floor in a lotus position, beginning to assimilate the power. His face, previously tense and enraged, adopted an expression of calm as he began to comprehend the profound truths of the world.

Ethan turned toward the princess, observing the imposing aura enveloping the monarch.

"Looks like everything went well," Ethan said in a low voice. "Your father should achieve his breakthrough very soon."

Isabella looked at Ethan with a mixture of wonder and bewilderment.

"If you knew that thing was so valuable, why did you give it to my father?" Isabella asked, crossing her arms. "If you had just said it was possessed and demonstrated what you did, you could have kept it for yourself."

"Why would I do that?" Ethan asked, tilting his head slightly.

"To keep the gem and increase your own power, instead of giving it away to someone else," the princess replied.

Ethan offered a calm smile and shook his head gently.

"I am not that kind of person," Ethan declared with resolve. "I know how to distinguish between gratitude and ingratitude."

Isabella was taken aback by Ethan’s response, but before she could process it, he leaned close to her ear and whispered softly biting her earlobe:

"Besides, my father-in-law’s safety is my top priority."

"Who is your father-in-law?!" Isabella gasped, jumping back with her face burning bright red. "When did I ever agree to marry you, idiot?!"

"Hahaha, you said you would grant me whatever I asked for if I completed the challenge," Ethan teased with a brazen smirk.

"Yes, but you used it to search for your family!" the princess countered, crossing her arms as she tried to regain her composure. "So you lost your chance."

"Really? Well, well..." Ethan said, stepping closer to her. "Then how about you set another test for me and give me another unlimited wish? Come on, how about setting a difficult one?"

"Difficult?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with a defiant smile. "I’ll give you something so difficult you’ll regret ever asking for it."

"What could be more difficult than not having you?" Ethan responded, his voice dropping as his gaze turned icy. "Why don’t you just ask me to wipe out the Silver Dragon Kingdom? We can skip going to that tournament altogether, and as a wedding altar, I’ll place the head of that fool they made your fiancé, along with his entire family and every soul he ever knew."

The look in Ethan’s eyes at the end made it clear he was not joking in the slightest; a single word from her would likely trigger a complete genocide.

"Don’t say such things!" Isabella warned him immediately, feeling a shiver run down her spine. "The Empire won’t allow it."

Ethan flashed a dark smile and tilted his head smoothly.

"You’re right, you’re right..." Ethan conceded with coolness. "So, if I wipe out the Empire too, is that a yes?"

Isabella didn’t know how to respond. At first she thought Ethan was just joking, but his gaze told her he was completely serious. Remembering all the crazy feats he had already pulled off, it was clear that if she said yes, there was no way to be sure he wouldn’t actually try to wipe out the entire Empire.

"Don’t talk nonsense, just stay alive," said Isabella.

"Well, fine, I’ll stay alive," said Ethan. "Is there anything you want to do? Now I’m your personal escort, I’ll make sure to escort you well... personally," said Ethan, landing a quick slap on her backside.

"Hey!" said Isabella, jumping forward with her face burning bright red.

King Alaric was in the middle of his trance absorbing the gem’s energy, but he was not disconnected from the world. His spiritual perception could still see and hear everything happening around him.

Is there anyone more brazen than this brat? thought the King, feeling a vein bulge on his forehead.

He was flirting with his daughter right in front of his eyes. Why didn’t this brat hold even a shred of fear or reverence for him? What gave him such outrageous guts?

King Alaric, submerged in his trance, swore to himself that as soon as he broke out of it, he would teach that brazen brat a proper lesson.

Yet at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a subtle warmth in his chest. Seeing his daughter laugh and react that way after so many years of isolation and hardship was a strange sensation... but strangely refreshing.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!