đźź Chapter 53:
News of the attack on the nation's most important import‑export company reached the ears of King Orik. The shock of this, combined with the news about Prince Elithius, struck him so hard that he collapsed to the floor.
Everyone in the hall panicked and rushed to check on him.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
But before anything else, the king's first words were:
"Where is the Prime Minister? Where is Orfen?"
He called for the most important man in the kingdom after the royal family—the Prime Minister, Orfen, who was also the closest person to the king.
One of the attendants answered:
"He must be outside the palace inspecting one of his private projects, Your Majesty."
The king shouted, his voice cracking with urgency:
"Bring him here at once—now!"
Ryo, upon hearing this, immediately headed out to search for him, but before he could leave, the minister appeared on his own.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
Prime Minister Orfen, with his dark brown hair and deep black eyes, stood before the king.
The king looked at him and uttered only one simple sentence:
"I need your help."
Orfen smiled warmly and placed a hand over his chest.
"I am here whenever you need me, Your Majesty."
The commander of the army stepped forward to state his position regarding the incident:
"Your Majesty, I will dispatch soldiers to inspect the company that was attacked. We will secure the area until we uncover who is responsible."
But before the king could respond, Orfen immediately objected:
"Pardon me, but I must oppose that. Do not forget that the head of that company refuses any form of military involvement."
The commander frowned, irritated by Orfen's stance.
"Prime Minister, let's not waste time arguing. You know it's absurd not to tighten security after what happened."
Yet Orfen remained steadfast:
"This decision will not change. If we do not want to lose the most important company in the country, we cannot interfere. Do not forget our economic crisis."
No one in the king's entourage was pleased with Orfen's words. They all waited for the king to speak—
but before he could, Ryo finally stepped forward, revealing the truth behind the incident.
"Forgive my interruption, Your Majesty, but the one who carried out the attack… was me."
Everyone gasped in disbelief—everyone except Orfen, who remained unshaken.
The king stared at Ryo, stunned:
"Ryo… are you serious? If you did this, then what business do you have with that company?"
Ryo explained everything:
"I have no ties to the company, but someone who does… is Prince Elithius.
That company is actually a gang that was targeting your son. I attacked it and brought him back before he lost consciousness."
Shock rippled through the hall.
No one imagined the king's pampered son would be entangled in something so dangerous.
The king immediately rushed toward the medical wing to check on his son. Everyone tried to calm him down, and he halted briefly to assure them:
"I'm calm… I'm calm. Elithius is in the medical ward now. I only want to see him and confirm his condition. After that, we will continue."
He tried to sound composed, but his heart was tearing apart.
Yet he still didn't know everything.
As they walked, Ryo felt a chilling gaze pierce through him.
It was Orfen.
Ryo looked at him, puzzled.
"Prime Minister, is there a problem?"
Orfen smiled coldly.
"A problem? Ryo… we are drowning in problems. Have you not realized that?"
Ryo didn't reply and continued walking.
When they reached the medical wing, Doctor Azitram was just stepping out. The king rushed to him.
"Doctor Azitram, how is my son? Is he alright?"
The doctor removed his glasses and answered gravely:
"Your Majesty, your son's condition is not normal. His brain is experiencing severe pain.
For now, he is asleep. Once he wakes up, we will examine him further."
"Thank you, Doctor Azitram."
"My pleasure, Your Majesty. Now, if you'll excuse me."
After the doctor left, the king entered his son's room.
Elithius lay there, asleep, hiding countless secrets.
But none of that mattered to the king in this moment.
He took his son's hand as tears streamed down his face.
"Elithius… I'm sorry. It seems I truly was a terrible father in the end.
Unlike your late mother, who always cared for you and your brother…
I neglected our family far too often.
And now this happens… all because of me.
But I will take responsibility. From now on, your father will be by your side—yours and your brother's."
After a long while, the king exited the room.
His eyes were red; everyone understood instantly—he had cried a lot.
Yet his expression was now far more resolute.
He turned to Ryo, voice firm:
"Ryo, you will explain everything from the beginning. It is time to face all of this."
They returned to the hall, and Ryo began recounting everything:
"It started when the prince disappeared some time ago.
He went to a small village to hide himself from a gang called the Numbers.
I tried to accompany him in this, but I couldn't bear staying away from the kingdom.
So I prepared to confront the gang.
I went to the Industrial City with a few people who would assist me, but one of the gang's Numbers kidnapped the prince there and took him to their base—which turned out to be the company itself.
We attacked it and retrieved the prince."
The entourage—and even the king—never imagined Elithius had gotten into such trouble.
But what shocked them even more was the company itself.
The company they had been defending moments ago…
was now a direct threat to them, despite being the country's most important enterprise.
Not long ago, they had placed bounties on this gang—
only to discover the gang was the company itself.
The king looked at Orfen, who stood quietly with his head bowed.
"Unfortunately, Orfen… it seems we won't agree this time.
We will raid that company. That is my decision."
Orfen did not oppose. He accepted it with a faint smile.
"As long as that is your decision, Your Majesty, I have no objections."
King Orik rose from his seat and issued his command to the army commander, who welcomed it wholeheartedly:
"Commander, you will carry out a raid on EconPulse.
Safety comes first above all else.
You will bring me every member of that gang.
And if they have more than one hideout—we will strike them all."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Just as the king completed his orders, footsteps echoed through the hall.
"Father… what raid are you planning?"
With blond hair, green eyes, and a height above average,
the first prince—the elder brother of Elithius—Prince Elnar stood before them.