"The empire's resources are being used for your amusement? War machines being treated as toys, and you dare attack my entourage?" Seeing the scene before her, Gladys was furious. However, no matter how angry she was, she had to maintain her elegant and dignified demeanor in public.
Taking Muria from the Deep Blue Chamber of Commerce to her residence was supposed to be a simple task, but it turned into such a mess. She couldn't imagine how much competition she'd face from her sisters if Muria's presence was exposed.
"Who can tell me what happened here? Why is my carriage wrecked, and why did the city patrol commander dare to attack my carriage?" Gladys asked coldly.
The purple-haired, heavily armored girl behind her was brimming with killing intent. Although Katherina knew it was Muria in the carriage, he was using the same entourage setup as the princess, meaning that if Gladys had been inside, the outcome would have been the same.
"Your Highness, it was like this..."
When the seventh princess asked, some nobles quickly and clearly described the events that had just occurred.
"Take these guys to my place and notify their elders to come and pick them up. If they don't retrieve them within a month, I will repair their Phantom Machines and send them all to the front lines," Gladys ordered after understanding the situation. The racing nobles breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the princess didn't want to escalate things. With some compensation to the princess, they'd be fine.
"Bring that commander up here," Gladys demanded. Soon, two dragon-lion knights went down and dragged up the commander, whose body was charred from the golden lightning.
"Why did you order an attack?" Gladys asked coldly. She was angrier at this commander than at the racing nobles. If he angered Muria enough to make him act, she wouldn't be able to hide Muria's presence anymore.
"Because I realized that the person in the carriage wasn't you, Your Highness. In a moment of panic, I ordered the attack. Please forgive me," said the commander, struggling to kneel despite the pain.
"Forgive you?" Gladys laughed in anger. "As the commander patrolling the imperial capital, is your brain full of water? Even if it's not me in my carriage, it's someone very important to me. You ordered an attack? You are too incompetent for your position. Resign. This position is not for you."
"I'm dismissed?" The young commander felt his head buzzing with rage and frustration, as Gladys's words shattered his last bit of hope.
"Hey, buddy, what did you see in the princess's carriage that made you so excited you ordered an attack?"
After Gladys left with her damaged carriage, curious nobles surrounded the now-dismissed commander, eager for information.
"A young man," the commander replied, still angry and agitated. He looked at the dozens of noble youths before him and blurted out what he had seen, although it was just a glimpse of a male figure.
"A man? How is that possible?"
"Who is that guy?"
"I knew it! He was hiding in the carriage because of this."
The news that it was a young man in the carriage caused an uproar among the gathered nobles. Young men always have some unrealistic fantasies, don't they?
...
"If you had been a bit later, I would've taken action," Muria said, sitting across from Gladys in the carriage.
"Sorry, I didn't expect this to happen."
"That apology lacks sincerity," Muria shook his head. "The elders of those nobles will likely send you some valuable resources as compensation, right?"
"Yes, if you want, I can give them all to you," Gladys said generously. After all, her material losses were not significant. If handled poorly, she would lose face.
"No need for that. If you want to compensate me, give me the method to create the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," Muria said half-jokingly. "If not, I can settle for the method to create the Black Knights."
"Sorry, I can't decide on that," Gladys refused, looking troubled.
"Who can decide then?" Muria asked curiously.
"My father, Emperor Sandra the 154th, can decide. But even if you ask him, it won't work. Even if you're a Titan, you have to exchange equally valuable knowledge."
"Where would I get such knowledge?" Muria's face twitched. He understood now that although the Ulanos Empire was a vassal state to the Titans, they maintained relative independence and did not freely share their core technologies. They followed the principle of equal exchange.
"There's no other way then," Gladys said, smiling slyly. She realized the Titan in front of her was different from her previous understanding. He seemed to have more desires, almost... greedy.
"Is there really no other way?" Muria asked, still unwilling to give up. Mastering this construct technology would allow him to build an army quickly with enough resources.
"It's possible, but you have to wait a while."
"What way?"
"Wait until I take my father's place," Princess Gladys said with a charming smile, revealing her ambition. "But my chances are not high right now. I'm only seventh in line."
"Wait until you become Empress?" Muria narrowed his eyes, understanding the implication. "If I help you, you'll give me the method to create the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, right?"
"It's a fair exchange. If you want something, you have to give something in return. If I become Empress, I can give you more. I could even help you step into the void and increase your chances of becoming an Epic," Gladys said, smiling enticingly.
"That sounds good." Muria was tempted. "How far are you from the first in line for the throne?"
"He has already broken through to the legendary rank," Gladys said, sipping her tea. "While I'm only at Soul Intent Tier Three. That's just the difference in strength. The difference in influence is even greater."
"Be specific," Muria said, feeling uneasy.
"My cousin has over ten legendary followers, while I only have two, and those two were sent by my mother," Gladys said calmly, putting down her tea, seemingly ignoring Muria's surprised expression.
"That's quite a gap!" Muria felt the teacup in his hand suddenly become a bit too hot to handle.
"The gap doesn't matter. I have a trump card that can turn the tide instantly. If it works, no matter how many legendaries my cousin has, it won't matter," Gladys said, smiling.
"A trump card with a chance of success," Muria looked at the smiling princess with curiosity. "Can you tell me about this trump card?"
"No," Gladys shook her head firmly, smiling. "You haven't agreed to help me yet, so don't expect to get any information from me."
"Given the chance, I'll give it a try," Muria said, finding the princess's smile a bit odd. He couldn't see any downside to this.
"It's a wise choice," Gladys said, her smile radiant and beautiful.
"Can you tell me about this trump card now?"
"It's not the right time yet," Gladys said, studying Muria's young face after he removed his mask. "If I say it too soon, it won't work."
"Is it really that superstitious?" Muria was intrigued but remained skeptical, not realizing what the princess's smile truly represented.
...
"This is the hunting ground you prepared?" Muria asked, looking at the spatial gate before him with some envy. Beyond the gate was a primeval wilderness, with fierce birds flying and giant beasts roaming.
"Of course. Is there a problem?" Gladys asked, feeling a bit embarrassed by Muria's inquiry. She wondered if he found her preparations too meager compared to the Titan standards.
"Do you think this demi-plane is too small? I can't help that. This is the largest hunting demi-plane I have. You'll have to make do, Muria. It's meant to accommodate the Dragon Princess."
"...," Muria was speechless. A private hunting demi-plane—what more could he say?
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/INNIT]