The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

The eastern gates of Blackwood slowly disappeared behind them.

The Black Dragon Banner fluttered proudly from the lead wagon as Kael's convoy followed the Imperial Highway eastward.

The highway itself was unlike anything Kael had expected.

Nearly fifty meters wide, it had been built centuries ago by the First Emperor.

Massive stone slabs fit together so perfectly that not even grass grew between them.

Magic lanterns stood every few hundred meters.

Imperial milestones marked the distance to every major city.

No matter how forgotten Blackwood had become...

The Empire's roads still connected it to the rest of the world.

Kael rode at the front beside Darius.

Neither spoke for nearly an hour.

The morning air was peaceful.

Birds flew overhead.

Farmers worked fields stretching toward the horizon.

Small villages slowly came to life as smoke rose from chimneys.

It looked peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

Finally...

Kael broke the silence.

"How often did Father travel these roads?"

Darius didn't answer immediately.

"When was he Crown Prince?"

"Almost every year."

Kael looked surprised.

"He left the capital?"

The old general chuckled.

"The emperor wasn't always an emperor."

"He fought wars."

"Settled disputes."

"Visited villages."

"He believed a ruler who never leaves his palace eventually forgets what he's ruling."

Kael silently looked toward the villages.

"Maybe that's why I needed to leave Blackwood first."

Behind them...

The Black Dragons traveled in disciplined formation.

Leon constantly scanned the tree line.

Iris rode ahead as the convoy's scout.

Walter joked loudly with Hugo.

Elias somehow managed to fall asleep while riding.

Nobody understood how.

Walter nudged him.

"How are you sleeping?"

Without opening his eyes...

"I'm not sleeping."

Walter blinked.

"You've been snoring."

"I'm thinking loudly."

The entire convoy burst into laughter.

Even Kael smiled.

These small moments reminded him that they weren't just soldiers.

They were becoming a family.

Around noon...

The convoy reached their first Imperial checkpoint.

A stone fortress overlooked the road.

Dozens of Imperial soldiers stood guard.

Travelers waited in long lines.

Merchants.

Pilgrims.

Mercenaries.

Nobles.

Everyone entering the eastern provinces passed through here.

The captain stepped forward.

"Purpose of travel?"

Edwin handed over the Imperial Summons.

The captain's eyes widened the moment he recognized the seal.

"The Emperor's summons..."

He immediately saluted.

"My apologies."

Then...

His eyes landed on Grom.

Everything changed.

His hand instinctively moved toward his sword.

"A goblin?"

Soldiers around the gate immediately became alert.

Crossbows were raised.

Villagers backed away.

Children hid behind wagons.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The captain's expression hardened.

"Explain."

Kael calmly guided his horse forward.

"He is under my protection."

The captain frowned.

"Our laws prohibit—"

"They prohibit slaves."

Kael interrupted.

"They do not prohibit an imperial prince from bringing a sworn military retainer to answer an imperial summons."

The captain hesitated.

He had never encountered a situation like this.

Technically...

The law wasn't clear.

One of the younger guards shouted,

"It's a monster!"

Grom said nothing.

He had expected this.

His eyes remained on the ground.

Then something unexpected happened.

An elderly merchant stepped out of the crowd.

"I know him."

Everyone turned.

The merchant bowed toward Kael.

"Three years ago..."

"My caravan was attacked by bandits."

"That goblin saved my granddaughter."

Another traveler stepped forward.

"And he repaired our wagon."

A woman carrying a child nodded.

"He refused payment."

"I've met him too."

One witness became two.

Then five.

Then eight.

Soon...

Half the checkpoint was telling stories about the old goblin traveler they had met over the years.

The soldiers looked confused.

This wasn't the monster they had imagined.

The captain slowly lowered his hand from his sword.

He looked at Grom.

Then at Kael.

Finally...

He saluted.

"The convoy may pass."

As they rode through the checkpoint...

Grom quietly spoke.

"I've crossed this road dozens of times."

"They always pointed weapons at me."

He looked at Kael.

"...Today was the first time..."

"...someone defended me."

Kael answered without looking back.

"If I expect my soldiers to trust me..."

"I have to earn that trust."

That evening...

The convoy camped beside a crystal-clear lake.

As the sun disappeared beyond the hills...

The system suddenly appeared.

"Hidden Quest Completed"

A Lord's Responsibility

Objective:

Protect an ally despite public pressure.

Status:

Completed.

Rewards:

✔ +500 Imperial Authority

✔ Skill Upgrade Material

✔ Reputation Increased:

Blackwood Territory: +200

Merchant Guild +50

Kael smiled faintly.

The system wasn't only rewarding victories.

It was rewarding principles.

Hundreds of meters away...

Hidden among the trees...

A hooded woman watched the camp through enchanted binoculars.

Unlike Marcus Vayne's spies...

She wore no serpent insignia.

Instead...

A silver wolf was embroidered onto her cloak.

She quietly smiled.

"So..."

"The rumors were true."

"The Tenth Prince really is different."

She disappeared into the darkness before anyone noticed.

Unbeknownst to Kael...

Not everyone watching him intended to become an enemy.

Some...

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