Chapter 324: Chapter 324- Heindal Continent
In a remote corner of a blue star planet, nestled within the secluded regions of the Human zone, a continent existed—Heindal Continent.
This continent has undergone a remarkable transformation, largely due to the introduction of newly developed transportation technologies.
Hovering vehicles powered by mana have revolutionized travel in this area, giving it a strikingly modern appearance.
The driving forces behind these advancements are primarily two individuals, each occupying pivotal roles within the political landscape of the continent.
The entire region has been unified under the rule of the Silvester family, who have managed to wield considerable influence over its governance.
While the current queen—who is also the granddaughter of the head of the Silvester family—has played a crucial role in fostering the innovation of new technologies, her ability to make significant political decisions remains severely limited.
The real power lies with the Silvester family, which had previously opposed the Selvius Kingdom just five years prior.
Today, although the queen certainly deserves credit for the technological strides made across the continent, it is the Silvester family that holds the reins of decision-making and governance.
Aside from a few emerging factions, the majority of decisions appear to be dominated by the Silvester family.
Even though two other factions boast strengths comparable to that of the Silvester family, their influence is largely confined to specific domains.
For instance, the Sword Maiden and her disciples, alongside the Reinguard family, serve as the continent's guards and soldiers, choosing to remain uninvolved in the intricate web of internal politics.
The next faction, the Selvius Merchant Group, operates under the leadership of Adanyl Von Selvius—known formally as Adanyl Silvester.
This faction wields considerable economic power due to its vast wealth, yet its involvement in internal politics is minimal.
Although they possess some influence, they are not in a position to alter the decisions made by the Silvester family.
If the family decides to change laws, their authority is such that they can do so without challenge.
In essence, the entire governance structure of the continent, while undoubtedly influenced by various factors still under exploration, is predominantly shaped by the Silvester family.
They have established themselves as the central power, leaving little room for any significant political opposition.
Once, the borders of the Selvius kingdom marked the site of a present location, which now served as the capital of the entire Heindal continent—Capital city of the Silvester Empire.
Inside the magnificent palace at the heart of this capital, the royalty resided, including the current queen and her parents, as well as the head of the Silvester family.
The palace was filled with the presence of various newly formed noble factions and other significant figures.
This entire capital city resembled a fortified citadel, protected by thousands of soldiers.
Yet, despite the formidable presence of these guardians, an intruder had managed to infiltrate the palace, venturing not just into the grand structure but directly into the central room that housed the most important member of the Sulvester family.
"I—I don't understand..." The old man seated on the sofa clenched his cane with both hands, a perplexed expression etched on his face as he gazed toward the front.
In the dimly lit room, a woman dressed in a black gown, exuding an air of regal authority, sat before him.
Her cascading hair framed her face, and her deep amber eyes bore a striking resemblance to those of the previous queen of the Selvius kingdom.
Despite being the head of the family, the old man seated in the room tightly clenched his cane, trembling with apprehension.
He couldn't shake the unsettling realization that his son, Ronen Silvester, who sat across from him on a single sofa with his head bowed and hands clasped, was silent—an unexpected display from someone known for his formidable strength.
In the room occupied by four people, the old man could not help but notice the atmosphere had shifted dramatically with the arrival of their guest.
The very presence of this woman had already intimidated Ronen, who was one of the strongest individuals on the entire Heindal continent.
The old man understood that this woman commanded respect, her position lending her an undeniable authority.
Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep his eyes from drifting towards her amber gaze, which bore into him with an intensity that sent tremors through his mind.
The queen of the Selvius Kingdom was known for her fierce demeanor, and the old man felt a sense of dread at those eyes, which bore the same resemblance.
"Oye, Huban, do you want be to pull your eyes from their sockets?"
Belial interjected, standing and scratching his ear as he observed the old man glaring at the woman.
But just as he spoke, he sensed a sharp blade-like intent slicing through the air; it was the unmistakable sword intent of Ronen Silvester, the first disciple of the Sword Valley.
'No, no, this woban is here; why fear?' Belial's thoughts raced as his feet instinctively tried to back away.
He reassured himself that he was not alone in this precarious situation.
The moment the head of the Silvester family called out soldiers, Ronen Silvester arrived with them, but as if recognizing the woman, he had been the first to acknowledge her, bowing low and indicating how he would guide her into the palace.
His intentions were clear: with his presence by her side, no one would dare create trouble, for to offend her would mean courting disaster.
Belial understood well that this woman was a monster in her own right, but seeing Ronen—the other monster—bowing to her with such reverence and evident fear only reinforced Belial's notion that he must find confidence in the fact that she could very well protect him in this volatile situation.
'!?'
"What—what?" The head of the Silvester family was taken aback by the child's tone, causing him to clench his fist as he stared at the boy for a moment.
He then glanced at Ronen, who seemed unwilling to defend his father's reputation.
This prompted the head of the family to realize that these individuals were anything but ordinary, to the point where Ronen felt compelled to show them respect.
Indeed, the old man could sense that Ronen was not the type to fear anyone.
It appeared that Ronen was showing respect to the woman before him.
To be truthful, the duo was reminiscent of another pair that once ruled the Selvius Kingdom—a woman with strikingly similar facial features and her child, who was about the same age and height as the boy standing before him.
"Old man, don't you want to summon a demon?" Drishti asked directly, disregarding any formalities. She sat before him with her hands folded and her eyes closed, exuding an air of elegance and regality.
The very presence she radiated filled the room.
As she slowly opened her eyes, revealing two majestic pupils, her grandeur intensified.
"!?!"
"D-demons?! Why would I do that?!" The old man exclaimed, his voice bordering on panic as a chill ran down his spine.
Drishti had just unveiled a secret he had kept hidden, and the revelation was made in front of Ronen, who had begun to lift his head and direct a cold gaze toward his father, clearly distrusting him.
The old man trembled under the weight of those deep crimson eyes.
'Ugh?!' In the throes of this looming crisis, the old man made one of the most disastrous decisions of his life.
"Guards! Arrest this woman!"
In a fit of instinct to save himself from what seemed inevitable, he shouted for the guards who were on standby outside the room.
Within moments, dozens of heavily armed guards rushed in, swiftly surrounding the area.
Soon, the room was filled with dozens of them, swords pointed threateningly at the woman.