"Oh, Ragnar? You came finally.

Come and see these reports," Maria said, waving a paper in the air with a mixture of impatience and relief.

Her voice carried that familiar sharpness, but beneath it was a subtle tremor, one that only those who knew her well could catch.

She leaned back slightly, tapping the edge of her desk with one manicured finger as she waited for me to approach.

I looked at the paper she waved.

My eyes narrowed.

With a slow exhale, I rose from where I had been standing and walked across the room.

The floor creaked faintly beneath my boots, echoing slightly in the large chamber.

The air smelled faintly of parchment, dust, and faint traces of candle smoke, giving it that old-office scent that always reminded me of endless work.

As I reached Maria's side, I dropped into the chair beside her, the wooden legs scraping lightly against the floor.

I took the paper from her hands, holding it as though it were a ticking bomb, my fingers gripping the edges just enough to keep it steady.

My gaze fell on the numbers, the sums, the allocations, and slowly, my expression darkened.

"Where the fuck did the money go!" I growled, my voice low but sharp, shaking slightly with disbelief and rising tension.

Maria rubbed the back of her head, a wry, almost guilty smile appearing on her face.

"Well… it's complicated," she muttered, her eyes flicking to the side, then back to the reports.

From the doorway, a voice chimed in.

"Mother?" Rebecca called out softly, stepping into the room.

She moved with that careful grace that always reminded me of someone who had learned to tread lightly in a storm.

Her long hair caught the light of the afternoon sun spilling through the window, glinting like threads of gold.

Maria looked up and gestured for her daughter to come closer.

Rebecca's footsteps were quiet on the polished floor, but there was an air of purpose in the way she carried herself.

She stood just behind her mother, hands folded neatly in front of her, watching silently as if waiting for the right moment to speak.

Then, the door creaked open further, and the previous queen stepped in.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of past reigns and present troubles visible in her posture.

Her eyes were weary, lined with experience and resignation, but there was still a glimmer of strength there, the kind that refused to break even under crushing pressure.

"There is a reason for that," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of history.

I paused, giving her a moment to collect herself, to let the words build.

She nodded once at me, acknowledging that I was waiting.

Then, in a careful, measured tone, she began to explain.

"It all happened because the supreme empress made a pact with the four heavenly monsters in exchange for their resources," she said, her eyes flicking to the papers in my hand, then back to me.

"She promised them a stable amount of money, enough to ensure their loyalty and their silence."

I cut her off, my voice sharp.

"Didn't those monsters see how she ran like a rat after we defeated her?"

"Aren't they afraid we could do the same to them?"

Before she could answer, Lucy, who had been standing quietly by the window, intervened.

"You're overstimating them a lot," she said, crossing her arms.

"They're just a group of old snail monsters."

"Most of them don't even know the current year, without mentioning politics."

I let her words sink in.

My brow lifted slightly as I nodded.

"So be it."

"I will pay them a visit myself."

"Make sure they understand who they are dealing with."

Lucy raised one eyebrow, tilting her head ever so slightly.

"You seem confident," she said, her voice calm, measured, but with a spark of curiosity.

"I wonder why?"

A small smile tugged at my lips.

I couldn't help but remember the events of that morning, a moment that had changed everything.

I leaned back slightly, recalling how I had been standing alone at the bedside, the early light casting long shadows across the room.

The system, that strange, persistent presence that had guided me before, had offered me a surprise, a hidden function of achievements I hadn't noticed until that exact moment.

It had seemed almost playful, the way it counted and rewarded, almost as if it were testing me before bestowing the gift.

Overthrowing the king had granted me more achievements than I could have imagined, and with each new milestone, my power had surged, growing stronger, faster, more complete.

By the end, I had upgraded four whole times from my base, a surge of potential I hadn't even dared to hope for.

Lucy's voice pulled me from the memory.

"Okay then," she said, nodding slowly.

"I will guide you on their path."

"But I warn you, it will be a long journey."

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees, my fingers tapping idly against one another.

"Okay," I said, the corners of my mouth lifting into a grin.

"If so, we can postpone the trip for now."

"Until then, I will take care of the problems of those filthy nobles and the rebels."

"They can wait a little longer while I prepare properly."

Maria, Rebecca, and even the previous queen exchanged glances.

A mixture of relief, skepticism, and cautious hope filled their eyes.

Maria's fingers drummed nervously on the desk, while Rebecca's lips pressed into a thin line, her mind clearly running through contingencies.

The previous queen merely nodded, silently acknowledging that the decision was mine, and perhaps for the first time in weeks, the room seemed to breathe easier.

I stood, rolling my shoulders back, feeling the new surge of strength in my limbs.

The memory of the morning's revelation added a subtle energy to my step.

As I moved toward the window, the sunlight caught my hair and cast a shadow on the floor.

The room, once thick with tension, now seemed lighter, almost expectant, as if it too could sense the shift in momentum.

Lucy walked alongside me, her presence calm and steady, like the grounding point in a storm.

"We'll need supplies, plans, information about the monsters, and a map that hasn't been updated in decades," she said, almost as if reading my mind.

I nodded, thinking of the nobles, the rebels, and all the threads of intrigue that would need to be unraveled before I could even begin my journey.

"Then we prepare," I said, the words simple but decisive.

"Everything else can wait."

Maria spoke from her desk, her voice carrying a note of concern.

"Ragnar, just… be careful."

"These monsters are not ordinary."

"Even if they seem old and slow, their strength is beyond measure."

"One misstep, and…" She trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.

I smiled slightly, a touch of irony in the gesture.

"I am aware," I said, almost teasing.

"But I've learned a few tricks of my own."

Rebecca shifted slightly, stepping closer to her mother, her eyes glinting with a mix of fear and admiration.

"Father…" she began, but stopped, unsure of how to finish the sentence, or perhaps uncertain if she should.

I gave her a reassuring nod.

"Don't worry."

"I've got this."

"I always do."

The previous queen's gaze softened, the lines around her eyes deepening as if she were silently assessing my words, weighing them against the history she carried in her bones.

"Very well," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm.

"Then I hope your confidence is not misplaced, for the stakes are higher than you think."

I chuckled lightly, a sound that was more nervous energy than true amusement.

"If it is misplaced, I'll adjust accordingly," I said.

"But for now, confidence will have to carry the day."

Lucy's lips curled into a subtle smile, approving without words.

"Good."

"Then we begin with the preparations."

"Once ready, the journey to the monsters will start."

"And believe me, it will be… enlightening."

I felt a thrill at her words, a mixture of anticipation and readiness.

"Enlightening, huh?" I said.

"I hope so."

"But first, we deal with the nobles and rebels."

"Let them stew in their little games while I prepare properly."

"Patience is an underrated weapon."

Maria nodded slowly, her expression softening.

"You always know how to make them pay attention," she said, almost wistfully.

"And yet…" She shook her head, the faintest smile appearing.

"I hope you remember to take care of yourself too, Ragnar."

I smirked.

"I always do."

"Sometimes more than I let anyone else know."

Rebecca's lips twitched with a smile she didn't fully allow herself to show.

"Just don't overestimate them either," she warned gently, her eyes flicking to Lucy.

"Even old snail monsters can surprise you if you're not careful."

Lucy chuckled lightly.

"Exactly."

"That's why preparation is key."

I leaned back, taking in the scene, the papers, the sunlight, the tension, the faint hope threading through the room.

"Alright," I said finally, standing tall.

"We prepare."

"And then… we act."

"Step by step, carefully, decisively."

"The nobles and rebels can wait."

"The monsters, however… they will see me coming soon enough."

The room seemed to settle, a quiet understanding passing between us.

Maria returned to her desk.

Rebecca lingered near the doorway.

Lucy moved to gather maps and supplies.

The previous queen watched silently, her eyes thoughtful.

And in that moment, I allowed myself a rare, fleeting sense of satisfaction.

The path ahead would be long, challenging, perhaps even dangerous, but I was ready.

More than ready, in fact, I was stronger than ever, my abilities amplified, my resolve hardened.

The four heavenly monsters, the nobles, the rebels… they were all just pieces in a larger game now.

And I intended to play it well.

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