Once again, Ezra was humbled as he gazed upon the myriad items numbering hundreds, each releasing a wisp of essence or more, indicating their status as Gold-rank or above.

But there was something else.

Coins, either in gold or platinum, lay at any point one looked, numbering more than Ezra could count.

With how haphazardly they were placed, Ezra's mind got to work.

Greed creeped into it, etching out a thought of plundering all the riches.

But Ezra was no impulsive kid.

'What's the use of stealing it if I won't use it anyway?'

It was said that desires weren't necessarily bad things, but that it was the inability to control them that often caused problems.

Ezra wasn't about to allow his greed to have control over his thoughts.

Instead, he controlled his greed, applying logic to it, and a thought came to mind.

'With this much gold at the entrance, the insides would most likely be filled with it'

If so..

'I doubt anyone would go through the hassle of counting such a large amount'

This was money accumulated over centuries and generations by the biggest Empire in Niton. The amount wasn't unprecedented, it was to be expected.

'So long as I take an appropriate amount, they won't even notice'

His evil grin showed up once again.

First things first though, exploring the depths of this category took priority.

Like the last one, this section enlarged into full view, allowing Ezra the sight of multiple enchanted artifacts.

More so, they were categorized under their specific elements, making things easier.

To make sure his hunch was right, Ezra sucked in a few coins, each from a different pile, into his ring and exited the section, then went outside.

The sudden opening of the door had the guards casting weird glances.

It had only been an hour. Was the prince already done?

Ezra paid no heed to them as he went on a leisure stroll without a word. At some point, he left the castle and stayed there for more than five minutes, but still, nothing happened.

His theory was confirmed, and his grin could not look crueler.

"Hehehe.." he chuckled under his breath.

With that, the prince got to work. With multiple plans and possibilities sprouting in his head, he headed into the vault. He had to plan how to divide his time between plundering and looking for a new mana technique.

It wouldn't be easy, but fortunately, he had seven days!

Oh! What a glorious opportunity this was.

Adding to the fact that the future would keep changing in ways Ezra couldn't ever predict, an opportunity like this might never come again.

Because of this, Ezra set himself to plunder without reservation.

After all, the Empire wouldn't even notice, so what was there to fear?!

While he did that, war had begun in earnest.

—--------------------------------------

-Middle of the previous night-

-Iris-

"Sedanin, I need the army ready at dawn"

A voice of authority resounded as the queen of Iris, Lady Mervida, gave a command to one of the other seven sitting at her round table, all of which were men.

The man responded in haste..

"My lady, wouldn't you rather give this matter more thought?"

With dazzling green eyes and a calm gaze, she retorted..

"I have, but I would like to hear..what would you have me do?"

At this, all seven raised their voices at once, drowning the previously quiet atmosphere in chaos.

"I don't remember asking anyone else to speak"

Laced with a sweet voice but a cold tone, these men felt shivers and shut their traps like scared mice.

"Well?" she said to Sedanin, who was quick to answer..

"My queen, I suggest patience. After all, we have Avilla not on our borders, but the Russells. Having them begin war first would do us good. After which, we can interfere when the battle becomes dire"

Mervida nodded slightly.

"I understand your thoughts very well-"

The seven had their expressions brighten, before shrinking back at her next words.

"-but I'm afraid I'll have to disagree"

Sedanin urged..

"But my queen-"

Or he tried to, before the queen's gaze shut him up.

"I'm not done talking-"

Sedanin settled back in his seat.

"-before I go further, I'll ask you this. Do you know of Russells current situation?"

historical

The seven gave one another knowing gazes, and Sedanin spoke.

"What of it, my queen?"

*Sigh*

After a heavy sigh, the queen spoke..

"Russel is in a state in which war could break out at any moment"

The men widened their eyes.

"The current royal family has not any Grandmasters-"

The men sucked in cold air. Things were becoming clear.

"-it is Gaga's presence that allows peace to be kept. But time has taken its turn on the once agile monster. He has grown old, his bones now soft"

The seven nodded. They knew of this.

"Their time is ticking. The royal family has until Gaga's death to produce a Grandmaster, or else!"

Her statement was crystal clear.

The seven spoke amongst themselves.

"If Niton gets hold of such news.."

"Russell will fall in a day" another concluded.

The men clenched their fists, the queen's decision now making sense.

"And that cannot be allowed to happen" her voice echoed.

If Russell fell, Iris would be in danger!

Such an unfolding was disallowed.

"We have to defend russell at all costs"

With that, Sedanin stood slowly..

"My queen, what are your orders?"

As she opened her mouth, the door slammed open, and a guard approached the table with haste.

"Halt" said the queen's butler, whose presence was nonexistent moments before.

"I have urgent news for the queen" he says, trying to bypass her.

"Then you can tell it to me"

With that, the guards hurriedly whispers in her ears, inaudible to others.

The dimly lit hall had grown silent.

After two minutes, the guards' whispers vanished.

The butler dismisses him without any change in her blank face.

With quick steps, she approaches the queen and delivers the message, also in whispers.

No big change took place on the queen's face.

But the occasional twitching had the seven guessing what kind information this was.

Once done, the queen took another deep breath, looked her generals in the eye, and spoke..

"I was planning on conserving our forces, but that has become impossible"

Some raised brows, but none spoke.

"The Avillian King is dead-"

*BOOM*

Something exploded in their heads as their minds paused a bit.

Had they heard it right?

But the queen left their poor brains no chance, quickly firing another devastating declaration.

"-and a mountain of mana crystals has been discovered on the Avillian border"

"Huh?" was the most coherent thing on their lips.

If the first had their minds pausing, this one had their brains refreshing, trying to grasp it, unable to speak.

The queen didn't stop though..

"Gentlemen, I'll have you in your best armor by morning, with an army behind you. We are going to war"

With that, the queen stood and left.

Seconds after, the men had their brains back, gave each other knowing glances, and left.

The queen had spoken, so there was nothing left to discuss.

Throughout the night, powerhouses along the continent moved, even those of powers uninvolved.

News of the Avillan King's death had spread far and wide, the consequences thereafter being massive, with everyone wanting a piece of the action!