After being awarded publicly by Anthony for his achievement, which happened 10 days ago, Basil achieved another title: Braxtein's Dragon Slayer.

Everyone came to the award ceremony just to see the body of the Dragon Basil had killed. They didn't come because they doubted the claim; they came because they were curious about what a real-life Dragon looked like.

With the ceremony broadcast openly, those who were curious could watch the ceremony with their Visual Orb. Anthony did it for a purpose: he wanted to tell the neighbouring Kingdoms how fearsome his Kingdom was.

It certainly worked since the broadcast was one of the reasons the neighbouring Kingdoms agreed to conduct the Summit Meeting earlier than the promised time.

The Summit Meeting was scheduled to be held in a month still. Thanks to the fact that the 27th Obelisk was on the brink of Outbreak, Anthony and Basil felt the need to conduct it as soon as possible to avoid future problems.

Initially, of course, the neighbouring Kingdoms of Braxtein didn't want to accept the sudden change of schedule. They were, however, silenced when Anthony said there was something dangerous coming their way.

The only one in danger here was, of course, the Great Forest of Yitoupheo, or to be exact, the Padeitophys Empire that would take care of the Outbreak by itself when it happened. Still, anything that convinced the people was fair.

"I am sorry that you can't accompany your girlfriend. You must be worried for her safety, mustn't you?"

"Iliana is more competent than any of your sons; not even the most competent Edward can beat her in any aspect."

"I like your confidence, but why don't you consider my feelings a little bit? You are talking about my children, you know?"

Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye; the day the Summit Meeting was conducted had come. Standing before the huge Teleportation Magic Circle carved in the field in front of the place, Basil and Anthony conversed.

In their surroundings, they had the Five Princes and the four Royal Escort Commanders. Standing not far away from Anthony, talking with one of the Mages there, was the Queen, Amara Auclair Braxtein.

The Queen walked toward Basil after she finished her talk with the Mage with a smile. He ceased his conversation with Anthony and then smiled softly at her as he greeted her.

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

"Good morning, Basil. You look as ready as usual; you make me confident about the outcome of the Summit."

"All of us are ready, Your Majesty. Even the Princes are too."historical

"Well, they are just there to watch and learn," Amara said nonchalantly, uncaring to what the Princes might feel. "Unlike you, their presence doesn't mean anything. It is unfortunate, but they are not as competent as you yet."

"I thank you for the praise, but I think you also have to give the Princes some credit, Your Majesty."

"Basil.. what is that? Haven't I told you to call Mother?" Amara pouted, causing Basil to sigh inwardly.

'This woman is an excellent Healer, but she is really insensitive to the people in her surroundings, or I should say, strangely stupid, which is ironic considering her profession. One day, her son will kill her and she will not know the reason why,' Basil thought to himself.

"Honey, why don't you wish our sons luck before we depart? Basil and I still have something to talk about." Anthony came to save Basil.

"Heh.. I am the Queen—can't I join too?"

"I think it is better to also pay attention to your other sons too, Your—Mother.." Amara pouted, so Basil was forced to change his way of calling her mid-way.

Sighing inwardly, he continued, "Jealousy is not something that only lovers have. Even children will get jealous when they see their parents being kind to other children."

"Eh.. I don't think they like to be pampered that much though. I mean, all of them have always refused whenever I asked them to have some tea with me," Amara said in confusion.

Being a Healer, Amara had quite a strong obsession with herbs—any herbs that she thought could heal people. She often experimented with all kinds of herbs and it wasn't rare for her to serve her newly made concoction as "tea."

Many people were traumatized by this hobby of hers: guards, maids, the Princes and even Anthony himself. Whenever someone in the palace was invited to have tea, it was an unwritten rule for that person to invite her back.

None had died from the concoction she made, but none of the people who had tasted it had a good memory. Maintaining their cool and smile while being burned from the inside was not something that they could do more than once.

'Amara, your tea is not for the weak,' was what Basil thought but he couldn't say. "I have to say that your taste in tea is as bizarre as it is interesting, Mother. I happen to also like it, which is why I can always accept your invitation."

"Right, they just don't understand!" Amara exclaimed passionately, causing Anthony to smile wryly. "Alright then, I am going to wish my other sons luck. You two can resume your talk."

Basil and Anthony watched as Amara walked graciously toward the Princes. It was hard to think she was an air-head when they looked at her demeanour; everything only changed when she had spoken more than three thousand words.

"I am sorry for my wife's behaviour," Anthony said in embarrassment. "We have it rough, huh?"

"I like honest people—I don't mind keeping them around me. You are lucky, Your Majesty." Basil looked at Anthony seriously. "Even when the world turns its back against you, she will be the very first person to declare herself as your ally."

"What about you, Basil? Will you also turn your back against me?"

"I don't have the leisure to do that, Your Majesty." Basil looked up. "When the world turns its back against you, I probably am busy creating a new world."

"When that time comes.. can I also live in the world you created?"

"We shall see, Mr Anthony, whether you agree with the world I am going to create or not," Basil replied cryptically.

The conversation between the two ceased. The Teleportation Magic Circle was also finished at the same time.

Like always, Anthony failed to understand the youth beside him. Basil reminded him too much of his young self—his better young self, who would never be swayed by the storm coming his way.

"I have returned! I have wished all of them luck."

"Mother, you must have merely told each of them good luck and left, mustn't you?

"Eh, is that wrong?"

".. No, but that is not right either."

Anthony was wondering about the goal that Basil had in mind. Authority was certainly not something Basil had in mind; he had offered him countless chances to attain an enviable authority over the Kingdom's affairs, but Basil had always refused.

Countless times he had hinted that he would make Basil King, but the Supreme Genius had always ignored it. It should've been sweet news for anyone to hear it, but Basil didn't seem to be interested at all.

'He dreams big. Those eyes don't belong to a research maniac Mage. He wants to do something, but I don't know what.'

Initially, the sheer potential that Basil had scared Anthony; as of then, he wasn't even sure if he could come out on top if a fight broke between them. Upon knowing that Basil didn't have any intention to harm his Kingdom, he was relieved but also curious.

'What do you envision, Basil? What kind of world are you going to create?'

By the time he knew it, he became so obsessed with Basil that he didn't want to see the Pacifer die.

One shall never love someone before knowing the person. When said person is just as pleasant as one expected or, in some cases, even better than one expected, falling in love with the said person is inevitable.

Anthony, who had been constantly disappointed by his sons, had lost the urge to know his sons better. When he found Basil, he did everything to figure Basil out.

He had failed, but he had become fond of Basil. He didn't know everything about Basil, but he knew more about Basil than he knew about his sons.

'When you find yourself in trouble, come to me. I may be of no help, but we will face the entire world by ourselves.'

Anthony Lionheart Braxtein had fallen in love with someone's son. He unconsciously treated Basil like his son more than he did his biological sons; he felt more like a father when he was around Basil than when he was around his sons.

Oh, the irony.

..

As Anthony, Basil, the Five Princes and the Royal Escort stood in the middle of the Teleportation Magic Circle, in the palace of Frachtenhein Kingdom, Cyane Candlestone and twelve Peak Stage Violet Core Knight kneeled before their King.

Their Teleportation Magic Circle was also ready, but they didn't rush to use it and go to the Summit Meeting. They were discussing the path they should choose to tread.

"Even to this day, I still can't believe your story, Cyane. The truth is already presented before me, but I can't bring myself to accept it due to how unfair it is."

".."

"The power needed to knock you unconscious with just a touch is equivalent to the power of a Middle Stage Purple Core Knight. Someone with that much power shouldn't want to remain in a Kingdom—I am sure the Empire must have given him a lot of offers."

".."

"That Dragon, if I am not mistaken, had a power that suppressed your soul. You said that you could barely move, but he could take the Dragon away with him, is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Looking up, Cyane was greeted by his King's wrinkled, kind face. The eyes that could no longer see anything were planted on Cyane, staring deeply into his soul.

"A strong mind and physique—added to those, a commendable mindset. I have seen where this is going, Cyane," the King said with a small smile. "It is time to lower our heads and extend our hands. Fail we cannot in fixing our friendship, lest we should perish this stormy age."

"Your Majesty.."

"Yes, Cyane." The King squinted his eyes. "In this Summit Meeting, we are going to support Braxtein."

One by one, those standing on the top of the pillar felt the rumble. Something was coming out of the ground and they didn't know if their pillars would remain erect when the new one emerged.