The orange light pierced through the glass windows of the large room, its glow unable to illuminate the entire space.
A long rectangular wooden table stretched across the center of the room, dozens of chairs surrounding it, but only four were occupied.
At the end of the table, a man with dark red hair rested his cheek on his right hand, his blue eyes glancing left and right.
His voice sounded tired.
"So… how is the progress?"
The man sitting to his left spoke first, his golden eyes staring forward, his black hair neatly combed.
"Their identities have been confirmed. All twenty corpses were workers and the owner of that restaurant, Your Majesty."
The king clicked his tongue, his left hand tapping against the armrest of his chair.
On his right, a man with white hair and a scar on his face spoke.
"Does that mean the Overmas family can walk free? I mean, they were clearly framed."
The golden-eyed man looked at the white-haired man.
"It won't be that easy, will it, Adan…?"
The golden-eyed man looked around at everyone.
"We may know there's a possibility that the Overmas family was framed…."
He tapped the table.
"…but the people who suffered directly don't care about that."
He wiped his mouth.
"All they know is that they were attacked by subordinates of the Overmas family who stood side by side with the Dark Side…"
He looked at Adan.
"…that's why the public trial is necessary. We also have to control what happens."
Adan stroked his chin.
Meanwhile, the man sitting next to Adan let out a sigh.
His pink hair fell to his shoulders.
"But that's just a waste of time, isn't it, Thomas? We also have problems in the north that could explode at any moment…"
Thomas cut him off, pointing at the wooden table.
"That's exactly why we have to do it, Russ. If we don't hold a public trial, other problems will arise…"
Russ nodded, trying to understand Thomas's point.
"I get it, but we clearly have more urgent issues…"
Adan agreed with Russ.
"I think so too…"
Thomas clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction at Adan and Russ.
"The trial is only a few days away… what else can be changed now…?"
The argument between Thomas, Adan, and Russ echoed throughout the room. There were only three of them, yet their voices filled the vast space.
The king tapped the armrest of his chair.
His right hand massaged his neck.
'Ahh… all these problems, north, south, everywhere… there's always something…'
The king let out a heavy sigh, causing Thomas, Adan, and Russ to stop arguing.
They all looked at him.
The king looked at his people.
"The trial will proceed as scheduled… whether it causes delays or not, we will show transparency to the people…"
He crossed his arms.
"All eyes are on us. Not just humans. Every race is watching how we act. One of the great families supporting the human kingdom betraying us? That's a heavy blow…."
One of his eyebrows raised.
"…a heavy blow to all races. Because if even one of us falters, we won't be able to stand on this land anymore."
Thomas, Adan, and Russ swallowed.
Thomas looked at the king.
"What about the Bone of Malakar? Shouldn't it be moved until the dragons arrive? I mean, if the Overmas family was framed, there's a high chance it's because of that…?"
The entire room fell silent. Everyone looked at Thomas.
The king leaned forward slightly, the air temperature dropping as his blue eyes stared at him.
"That will be decided after the trial. Until then, White will guard it."
The king leaned back, letting out a breath.
"The dragons are also busy… they'll likely arrive after the trial."
Thomas nodded, though uncertain.
Russ asked the king,
"What about the dwarves' request?"
Adan clicked his tongue.
"The latest report only identified a corruption giant, right? Besides, the third-year students from Osteria Academy are already there…"
Adan stroked his chin.
"…Of course… if it's only a corruption giant and its group…"
Russ sighed, giving his opinion.
"What if mystical creatures are involved?"
Adan looked at Russ with a judging gaze.
"Then it would be worth helping."
The king clicked his tongue and pointed at Russ.
"Hey… hey… watch your mouth, Russ. Don't say strange things, or we'll end up in trouble…"
Thomas, Adan, and Russ chuckled.
Russ shrugged.
"I mean, it's impossible, right? When was the last time mystical creatures appeared? Hundreds of yea—"
Before Russ could finish, Adan covered his mouth.
The king chuckled.
Before they could continue their discussion, a figure in a black robe and black mask knelt behind the king.
The king cleared his throat.
"What is it now? Black?…"
Black spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Princess Katarina has requested a logistics-type magic helicopter to pick her up…"
One of the king's eyebrows raised.
"And what's the problem?"
Black continued.
"…The princess requested it from Tyler Adams' forces, which were deployed to the beastman territory…"
The king's expression turned confused.
"I know my daughter is on vacation there… but why is she requesting that?"
Black paused for a moment, swallowing.
"It is an emergency request. Her friend is critically injured. Kentaro Ken and a boy named Alex Sander have exited the Golden Desert."
The king and the others were shocked.
He stood up and looked at Black, who was still kneeling.
"What was Katarina doing there?! She said it was just a vacation!"
The king clenched his teeth.
"That Maya… she didn't report in detail again…"
Black let out a breath.
"The princess was indeed searching for the Flower of Life and Death. However, the ones who entered the Golden Desert were Kentaro Ken and Alex Sander."
The king sighed, holding his forehead.
Black continued, clarifying.
"And the princess has already contacted you, Your Majesty…"
The king slowly sat back down, while Thomas, Adan, and Russ wanted to ask something but held themselves back.
The king pressed his smart bracelet, and Katarina's voice was heard along with the sound of a magic engine.
"Father…"
The king sighed, his voice sounding weary.
"Why did you lie to me? You said it was just a vacation…"
Katarina's voice sounded serious.
"That's not important right now, Father…"
One of the king's eyebrows raised.
"How is that not important?! You lied to me!…"
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"Maya didn't even report properly…"
Another voice was heard—Katarina chuckled.
"Don't blame Maya… she carried out her duty well."
The king was about to speak, but Katarina interrupted.
"I want to ask for your help…"
The king clicked his tongue, his expression turning lazy.
"What is it…?"
Katarina took a breath.
"Please contact Saint Azara. Ask for some of her time to meet me."
Everyone was confused after hearing Katarina's request.
The king sighed.
"What for? Is it for your friend?"
Katarina answered shortly.
"Yes…"
The king massaged his forehead, the room temperature dropping again.
"You know holy energy cannot revive the dead, right?"
Katarina answered more softly.
"Yes…"
The king nodded slightly.
"Then there's nothing that can be done, Rina…"
Before the king could finish, Katarina cut him off, her voice trembling.
"Just please. Please, Father. I only ask for a little of Saint Azara's time…"
The king fell silent for a moment, looking at the sky before exhaling.
"Alright… I'll contact her. Are you close?"
Katarina replied briefly.
"Yes…"
The king was about to say goodbye, but Katarina spoke again.
"One more thing, Father…"
The king responded.
"What?"
The sound of the magic engine still echoed as Katarina spoke calmly.
"Please forbid humans from going to the Golden Desert and searching for the Flower of Life and Death…"
The king thought for a moment.
He nodded slowly, without asking her reason.
"Alright…"
Thomas suddenly raised his hand.
The king allowed him to speak.
"Princess… since humans aren't allowed to go there anymore, may I request one of those flowers? It's for Mira…"
Adan and Russ's eyebrows twitched as they cursed Thomas.
"Hey, hey! Read the room!"
"This guy really only thinks about himself!"
Katarina was silent for a moment, her voice turning cold.
"Yes… I will give it to you myself later…"
Thomas nodded.
"Thank you, Princess…"
Katarina ended the communication.
The king scratched his head.
"In that case, I have to contact that golden cat, right?"
The king sighed.
A large screen descended from the ceiling, facing the four of them.
The black screen turned blue, and a calling sound echoed through the room.
After a moment, the blue screen changed into a view of a room.
The king's eyebrow twitched.
Thomas, Adan, and Russ shook their heads in disbelief at what they saw.
There was chaos on the screen. A two-meter-tall woman with thick golden hair and tiger ears was seen throwing a pillow at another beastman.
The chaos was both visible and audible.
Their laughter echoed as they engaged in a pillow fight.
The king laughed madly, veins bulging on his forehead as he suddenly stood up and shouted.
"HEY! THIS IS AN OFFICIAL CHANNEL! YOU DAMN GOLDEN CAT!"
The tall golden-haired woman looked at the screen, her face blank.
She scratched her head.
"Damn… I answered it by accident."
Her voice echoed in the king's room.
Thomas, Adan, and Russ chuckled.
The king shouted again.
"Stop your game first, you idiot!"
The golden-haired woman's shoulders slumped, her bright tiger eyes losing their energy.
She glanced at the other beastmen.
"You can leave first, I want to talk to this stupid human…"
She pointed at the screen.
All the beastmen bowed.
"We take our leave, Saint Azara."
Saint Azara approached the screen and spoke to the human king.
Her golden hair flowed down to her waist, covering her bare back.
"What is it this time? Are you sending more troops?…"
She combed her golden hair, her golden eyes sharpening as her voice turned serious.
"…because those Dark Side are getting more aggressive."
On the screen, the human king slowly sat down.
His voice turned serious.
"No…"
Saint Azara clicked her tongue.
"Then why contact me? Is one of your cities under attack again?"
The king shook his head.
"My daughter is heading there…"
Saint Azara nodded.
"I know… Tyler already told me."
The king scratched his forehead.
"She's bringing a friend who just came out of the Golden Desert."
Saint Azara's eyebrows twitched.
"The Golden Desert? What was your daughter doing there?"
The king sighed, resting his cheek on his right hand.
"Anyway, she's asking for a bit of your time…"
Saint Azara clicked her tongue.
"You know I can't revive the dead, right?"
The king nodded.
"I know, but even so, my daughter still wants to meet you. She wouldn't do something pointless."
Saint Azara sighed, scratching her golden hair.
"You know I'm busy, right? Kong hasn't even returned from the frontlines."
The king chuckled.
"You didn't look busy just now…"
Saint Azara chuckled and nodded in agreement.
She let out a breath, placing her hands on her hips.
"Fine! I'll meet your daughter for a bit…"
She warned,
"But even if it's Katarina's friend, I can't do anything if he's already dead."
The king nodded.
"Thank you…"
Saint Azara clicked her tongue.
"You owe me during the next meeting!"
The king raised his hand and waved goodbye.
The screen that Saint Azara had been looking at turned black.
Saint Azara sat down on the floor, her golden hair touching the ground.
"What nonsense are those fools who entered that cursed desert up to now…"
Her tiger ears twitched as the faint sound of a magic engine could be heard.
Saint Azara sighed.
"That was fast… perfect timing…"
She slowly stood up.
"Let's see… the human princess and her dead friend."