The system message faded into silence after announcing that 27th floor trial has started.
But the silence that followed was wrong which was not calm, the issues which is not resolved yet and not everything is complete.
It remained in the throne room like an invisible weight pressing down on everything, suffocating the air stretching each second just a little too long.
Kael sat on the throne with the composed manner waiting for the next problem to arise.
His gaze rested forward but his mind was already racing, analysing, breaking down everything that had happened.
'The 26th floor had been simple of course they were some obstacles, but it was simple. The problems were clear, the enemy was strong and Veyron took care of it and the resolution was clear at the end.
"…But this silence is killing me" Shen Yao said breaking the stillness.
Rodric glanced around the hall his expression was tense because what could happen in this floor trial, after being summoned and bound to Kael, he got to know about the towers, its missions and also the end goal of Kael and Kael's world and also how will he be to as a Kael subordinate, he must get stronger quickly.
"There should be something. A report. A threat. Anything."
Kael didn't respond immediately instead his eyes shifted slightly toward the figure standing just behind his right side. It was Veyron who was standing still and unmoving. And the evolution from before hadn't faded yet, if anything its settled and deepened his charisma and sura.
Veyron's aura was no longer just cold it was controlled, layered with something darker, something heavier including the death energy and the shadow energy, but no one can see this, only Kael, Rodric and Shen Yao could see this, they don't want an internal strife once again knowing there is undead among them. And Veyron's shadows around the edges of the hall seemed to react to him unconsciously, stretching faintly toward his presence before retreating.
"…What do you feel?" Kael asked without turning.
Veyron didn't answer instantly. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. He was sensing his power and listening to his own senses and then he said "There is stillness around us"
"But not natural stillness."
Kael's eyes flickered slightly.
"…Explain."
Veyron opened his eyes.
"…It feels something is being suppressed."
Rodric frowned.
"Suppressed? But what is being suppressed?"
Veyron nodded once.
"I don't know I just feel it and I feel it going to come out the any second."
"Like something is waiting."
The room fell silent again.
Kael's gaze sharpened slightly 'Can he feel the tower presence and its pattern, isn't that awesome where he can sense what the tower is planning to do next, he will get a skill which is clairvoyance in the future and now its just the beginning to get formed'.
"…Then it's not over."
The doors to the throne room opened abruptly. A messenger rushed in his breathing uneven.
'Does this happen every time when messenger bursts out from the main door and yes that is the sound of this floor trial'
"My King….!"
Kael raised his hand.
The man froze instantly.
"Speak."
The messenger bowed deeply.
"There has been a dispute in the western district. Two noble houses have mobilized their forces."
Rodric's expression hardened.
"Mobilized? For what reason?"
"A territorial disagreement my lord. But… they have not engaged yet."
Shen Yao tilted his head knowing that this is common in noble houses but during this time its something very unnatural.
"They're waiting for you to solve it any other way if possible."
Kael stood. The shift was immediate. The air itself seemed to tighten.
"…We will go and let's see how this trial is."
Rodric nodded.
"At once my majesty."
Kael glanced slightly to the side.
"Veyron."
A single word but that enough.
Veyron stepped forward.
"…I will accompany you, my majesty."
The western district was filled with tension all around the place, but it was not without chaos and violence and everything was under controlled.
Two groups stood opposite each other in a wide square. They had their weapons drawn and all their men were ready to draw out their weapons.
But they were waiting for someone to arrive and they remained frozen even if the situation is uncontrollable.
The moment Kael entered everything around them stopped, their movement, their sound and even their breath.
Silence spread instantly everywhere and One of the nobles stepped forward "My King."
He bowed respectfully towards Kael but Kael could sense it, there was no sincerity in his bow, but he let it go he wanted to know what was going on here.
"…Explain what is happening here."
The noble straightened. "This is a matter of land ownership my majesty. The territory in question belongs to my house and my sole alone to our family."
The opposing noble immediately stepped forward.
"That claim is false my majesty. That land has been under our control for decades."
Rodric muttered quietly.
"They're too prepared to this kind of situations, is it the tower doing?"
Kael raised his hand and silence fell again. He stepped forward slowly watching the two noble houses facing each other.
"…For a land dispute you gathered armed forces right."
Neither the two houses denied it.
"…You escalated a dispute to the royal castle and it reached to me."
Still silence.
Kael's gaze sharpened "…And yet you did not fight."
"…Why?"
The nobles hesitated for the question asked by the Kael and just for a moment but that was enough.
Veyron spoke in his low voice.
"…Because this is not a conflict to begin with. Someone is playing behind all of this"
All eyes shifted to him.
"…It is a demonstration to test what you could do my majesty."
Shen Yao smirked faintly.
"…Exactly and Veyron is right, someone is behind all of this"
Kael nodded slightly.
"Yes, as you said, someone is pulling up the strings, but who is it?"
He looked at both nobles "…Withdraw your forces."
One of them hesitated "My King, we believe…"
Before he could finish the air dropped, a sudden pressure filled the square, which was heavy and strong, this pressure was suffocating to all the people present in the square, except Kael, Rodric and Shen Yao.
Veyron had stepped forward with his presence which was pure and overwhelming.
The soldiers behind the nobles instinctively stepped back because of fear but actually not from Kael but from Veyron who was the most trusted commander of Kael the King.
"…Obey the King" Veyron said quietly and that was enough.
The two noble lords lowered their head immediately "…Yes, my King."
The forces began to disperse quickly this time. The way they disperse there was no hesitation and resistance like they expected this to happen.
Rodric glanced at Veyron.
"…That was effective."
Veyron didn't respond but Rodric was in dilemma because he couldn't do anything because he was not strong enough to show his presence.
Veyron's gaze remained on the nobles, he was watching and observing them quietly.
Back at the castle the reports didn't stop. If anything, they increased.
There were reports regarding the merchant guilds delaying payments, officials ignoring orders, patrol units questioning authority.
Rodric slammed his hand on the table.
"This is not coincidence at all."
Shen Yao leaned back against a pillar.
"…No. It's pressure to build against Kael to know what and how is he up to, find one fault they can remove the king in different means."
Kael stood in silence reading each report carefully.
"…They're testing huh."
Rodric looked at him "Testing what my majesty?"
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Of course, me."
Rodric crossed his arms "Then we end it now my majesty rather than wait for anything unreasonable. We deploy forces from our side, make an example."
Kael shook his head.
"No that won't solve anything."
Rodric frowned "That hesitation will cost us."
Before Kael could respond Veyron spoke.
"If we use force now, of course we can show the example, but they will learn the limit of our forces."
Rodric looked at him.
"And?"
Veyron's gaze didn't waver.
"Then they will counterattack it and leave us in disadvantage position."
Silence Shen Yao smiled slightly.
"…Exactly."
Kael nodded.
"This is not rebellion."
"It is a test and in the form of trial."
Kael moved personally repeatedly and solved every dispute, issues and every challenge and each time he resolved it very calmly, efficiently and firmly without causing any escalations.
But this time Rodric was always there, he was silent and watching every move of all nobles and merchants and whatever problems which was uprising in the kingdom.
And sometimes he mastered acting and he stopped being always justified, sometimes he must act cunningly, strategically and always think what is better.
In one district when a group of merchants openly questioned authority
Kael spoke as a king, but they hesitated.
Until Rodric stepped forward. The aura he was showing was like one angel has come from heaven, but his presence was so overwhelming that nothing can be untouched without his notice.
Kael noticed this 'Its good Rodric has come back to his role and I can sense he will evolve soon but it will take some time'
"…You misunderstand your position" Rodric said calmly, the temperature seemed to drop.
"…Remember this you exist under authority and that's how it is, but whatever ruckus which is been created it won't work here."
But the message was clear the resistance ended instantly.
Shen Yao later glanced at Kael "…He's becoming more than just a commander."
Kael didn't respond immediately, because he already knew how Rodric will get involved and his emotions.
That night Kael stood in the throne room. Veyron and Rodric stood behind him.
Kael activated his authority.
Appraisal!!
But not on a person but on the pattens, movements, connections and slowly something formed which seemed like a presence and proper direction.
"…There."
Rodric spoke before Kael did. Kael glanced at him.
"You sensed it too right Rodric."
Rodric nodded.
"Yes. It originates from within."
Veyron stepped closer.
"Within where?"
Kael's voice was calm.
"…This court."
Silence fell.
Shen Yao exhaled slowly.
"…So, the enemy is already inside."
The next day everything stopped coming there was no disputes, problems, issues, reports, approvals there was nothing.
Rodric frowned.
"This is unnatural, I always delt with something why it's quiet today"
Veyron spoke quietly.
"…They are preparing to do something my majesty."
Kael nodded.
"Yes, let them come."
The system activated.
[27th Floor - Condition Updated]
[Objective: Maintain Absolute Authority]
[Hidden Objective: Identify Source of Uncertainty]
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…So the mission trial finally got updated and this was it which we deduced it long back."
Shen Yao smiled faintly "A hidden enemy this time."
Rodric stepped forward.
"Then we will absolutely bring them out."
Kael stood slowly his presence filled the room.
"…We don't chase them."
"…We force them to reveal themselves."
Kael turned.
"Summon the council."
Rodric nodded.
"At once my majesty."
Kael looked at Veyron.
"Stay close and be alert."
Veyron responded immediately.
"…as always my majesty."
The court assembled. All the nobles, government officials, commanders. All were present. All were watching what was happening in the court room.
The tension was thick and heavy. Almost suffocating.
Kael sat on the throne.
But his presence alone shifted the atmosphere. Shen Yao leaned slightly forward.
"…Do you see them? The hidden enemy"
Kael didn't answer because he was waiting. And then it happened.
There was a glance, a shift, a hesitation in their face.
Veyron's voice was barely audible.
"…There Left side third row."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Yesss, I see it."
Rodric's hand moved to his weapon.
"Say the word."
Kael leaned forward slightly. His voice very calm. But cutting through the silence.
"…Interesting."
The entire court froze.
"…You know in recent days…"
"…this kingdom has been tested."
No one spoke and No one moved.
Kael's gaze moved slowly across the room.
"…And yet…"
"…no one claims who took the responsibility, all was left for me to handle everything like it's my responsibility"
Silence deepened in the court room.
Veyron's and Rodric's presence intensified slightly and that was just enough to make the air heavier.
Kael's voice dropped.
"…So, I will ask once."
"…Who started this?"
There was no answer from any side.
But now the tension had changed.
Because the trap had already closed.