Subtitle: The reckoning comes not with swords—but with truth.
Ray's gaze sharpened, his eyes gleaming with a cold intensity. "I've already called the inventors. They are surrounding the Montclair estate as we speak. And the king has been informed of your movements. You'd better not leave this place. Be ready to answer for every arm and leg you thought you could buy."
Duke Leonardo Montclair, who had been pretending that he had killed Ray by making excuses under the name of the "Inventor Guild" to avoid war, froze. He couldn't believe it—everything he had carefully planned was now in ruins. Ray, whom he thought was long dead, stood alive before him. The situation worsened when Ray took control, posing a threat to Leonardo.
Robert, seeing that his son was alive, let out a deep sigh of relief. The fury that had been burning within him—fury toward Leonardo, who had almost killed Ray—flared briefly before ebbing away. He still wanted to punish Leonardo for what he'd done, even going to war if needed. But seeing Ray safe steadied his heart. He would let his son handle this… though he already knew Diana would give him an earful later.
Leonardo's face twisted with disbelief. "You are alive? How did you survive my kick?"
Ray met his gaze, calm and collected, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "As you can see, I am alive and kicking. How I survived is none of your business." Then, glancing at his wristwatch, he added casually, "Oh! While we are talking, it seems the entire Inventor Guild has surrounded your Montclair family."
Leonardo's eyes widened. Panic gripped him as he fumbled with his wristwatch, desperately trying to connect to his family—to warn them. But the device flickered and displayed two simple words: No network.
Ray's grin widened, the shadows in the room seeming to deepen around him. "You can't connect to your family? I wonder why?" His tone dripped with mock curiosity. "Ah, that's right. I called the mysterious senior who created the communication network that allows everyone to use wristwatches. I asked him to shut down the entire Montclair and Richard royal family's network. Now, even if you try to call your daughter—the queen herself—she won't hear a thing. None of your family members will. You'd better wait for the king's arrival. He should be here soon."
Just as Ray finished, the heavy door creaked open.
Ray turned, about to say, "Speaking of the person, he is here faster than—" but stopped mid-sentence.
It wasn't the king. It was Diana and Selene.
Ray blinked, confused. "Mother? What are you doing here?"
Diana's face was pale with worry, her usually composed expression shattered by fear. Without a word, she rushed toward Ray the instant she saw the blood trailing from his forehead and mouth. She pulled him into a fierce embrace, her arms trembling slightly. After a quick inspection of his wounds, she exhaled in relief—they weren't serious. Only then did she ask, her voice low but sharp, "What has happened?"
Ray quickly recounted everything that had transpired. Then, frowning, he asked, "Mother, I didn't call you here. How did you know about the situation?"
Diana's gaze flicked sharply to her husband. The glare she gave Robert made him stiffen as if struck by lightning. She didn't bother listening to whatever excuse he might conjure and turned back to Ray. "Selene put a protection talisman on you, remember? While I was speaking with her about our business, she suddenly sensed something wrong. She told me that your protection talisman had shattered after use. I knew right away you were in danger. And since I knew you were at the junior competition, we came flying—literally—on a flying beast."
The atmosphere in the hall grew tense, thick with unspoken power. After Diana's arrival, no one dared to utter a word. Even Duke Leonardo—who feared no one—visibly trembled before the woman known as the 'Chaos of Storm.'
Diana turned to Leonardo, her aura flaring as her cultivation surged like a gathering tempest. But before she could speak, Ray gently caught her wrist. "Mother," he said softly, "this has been done to me. Let your son act cool this time."
Diana froze, blinking at him in astonishment. Her son—who had always preferred to stay in the shadows—was stepping into the spotlight of his own accord. A slow, proud smile touched her lips. Her eyes gleamed, not with anger anymore, but with joy and pride.
She nodded and stepped back, joining her husband with a final, dangerous glare that made Robert shiver from head to toe. Beside her, Selene—who had also been watching silently—gave Robert the same withering look before standing beside Diana. Robert's face went pale. He knew exactly what awaited him at home: two furious wives demanding answers.
Leonardo, though terrified of Diana, couldn't help a small breath of relief when Ray stopped her. But that relief didn't last.
The door creaked open once again—this time, more heavily, more formally.
King Daymond entered, his expression unreadable. Behind him came Queen Elizabeth and his six concubines, their faces tight with concern. Soldiers waited outside as the king strode in, his presence alone commanding silence.
Everyone immediately gave a special salute in greeting. The dukes, Ray, and even the shaken Leonardo performed their salutes. Only when the king spoke—his deep voice echoing through the room—did anyone rise.
"Be at ease."
Daymond's gaze swept across the room, sharp as a blade. He took in every detail—the cracked walls, the blood on Ray's face, Leonardo's broken arm, and the trembling form of his son, Lucas, who sat frozen in fear.
Queen Elizabeth gasped, horror flashing in her eyes as she rushed to her son. "Lucas!" she cried, kneeling beside him.
Lucas looked up, eyes wide with tears and fear. Seeing his mother, he clung to the fragile hope that she would protect him.
The king's voice cut through the room like thunder. "Children from the dukes' families, the referees, and all unrelated persons—leave."
No one hesitated. One by one, they filed out, leaving behind only the key figures of this storm.
Ray stood alone among the younger generation—the one at the center of it all.
Finally, King Daymond turned to him, his piercing gaze locking on Ray. The air grew heavy, the silence almost suffocating.
"Ray," the king said slowly, his voice both grave and curious, "tell me what has happened."