He carefully folded the letter and sealed it in a specially made envelope.

The edges of the envelope were coated with an anti-spy alchemical coating to ensure the contents were not intercepted by a third party, and then handed it to the large-mouthed parrot.

"Fly to the Royal Capital of the Faruk Kingdom and find Andre Faruk."

Ron commanded softly while injecting a trace of Spiritual Power, branding Andre's Magic Mark in the bird's consciousness to ensure it could accurately find the target.

The large-mouthed parrot let out a hoarse cry, spread its wings, and quickly vanished into the sky.

After sending off the Messenger, Ron returned to his meditative state, continuing to absorb the power of the stars and refine his "Star Projection" technique.

He could feel the Magic Pool slowly but steadily expanding. Although this growth was not as intense as during a breakthrough, its cumulative effect would be considerable over time.

["Star Eater's Ravings" (Mastery) Experience Points +1]

[You are currently in "Star Mapping" state, Magic Power continuously rising]

.........

Faruk Kingdom, Royal Palace Council Hall.

The golden-haired Andre sat at the head of the long table, donned in luxurious royal attire, with a gold badge representing the crown prince pinned on his chest, engraved with the Farouk Royal Family's crown insignia.

His transformation was more pronounced than when he left the Black Mist Jungle—not just in the more opulent attire but also in his metamorphosed aura.

The ambition once hidden beneath a graceful exterior had now fully surfaced, no longer concealed, becoming his most striking feature.

In those golden vertical pupils, an undeniable authority emanated, with each glance and every movement imbued with a ruler's poise.

The original elegance of his noble demeanor had completely transitioned to the steadiness and confidence of a sovereign.

This transformation was not merely external but a fundamental shift in inner temperament, as if he was born for that position.

"The search in the West District is completed, and no anomalies were found."

A guard captain clad in gleaming armor bowed and reported, his voice respectful and restrained.

His armor bore the insignia of the Crown Knight Order, signifying his elite status.

Andre tapped his fingers lightly on the chair's armrest:

"What about the South District? That is my elder brother's sphere of influence; how are things there?"

"The South District is still under investigation, expected to take two more days," the guard captain replied, his voice cautious:

"The building structures there are more complex, with numerous underground passages requiring thorough inspection. Moreover, the residents are relatively resistant to our search operations, slowing progress more than anticipated."

Andre's eyes flashed with coldness:

"Continue the search, spare no suspicious places. Especially those secret tunnels leading out of the city, they must all be sealed. If South District residents dare obstruct, deal with them as traitors."

The guard captain stood at attention, saluted, and then retreated. His footsteps echoed clearly on the marble floor.

Once the last official departed, Andre finally exhaled, leaning back in his chair.

He rubbed his temples, his stern expression slightly relaxed, revealing a trace of fatigue.

This was one of his rare moments of solitude, without the need to maintain that perfect ruler image.

Since returning to the Kingdom, he hadn't truly rested.

The bloody infighting within the royal family was far more intense than he had anticipated, facing new crises and challenges every day.

Among his fifteen siblings, three had already perished in assassinations, two had gone missing while fleeing, and four were confirmed to be aberrated, with the rest struggling to survive.

The conspiracies, betrayals, and sacrifices involved were far more complex and bloody than outsiders could imagine.

Even Andre himself often felt shocked and uneasy.

Fortunately, Lady Luck seemed to have been favoring him.

In the initial tough months of his return, he, with the aid of his formidable Bloodline Power and the Weapon Equipment provided by Ron, successfully repelled several deadly assassination attempts.

The deep red-glowing Longsword had saved his life countless times;

The silver-white Chest Armor had protected him from numerous hidden weapons and Magic attacks.

Coupled with establishing his authority upon return and killing his brother in a duel before the royal court, his presence quickly amplified.

As he seized this opportunity to gradually gain more military power, the situation began to shift in his favor.

He first won over the commanders of several elite border units, then used them to gradually erode his brothers' military influence.

Finally, through a clever coup, he seized control of the Royal Capital.

Once the news of his father's critical illness spread, he acted swiftly, taking control of most of the capital's military forces and began a large-scale roundup of his siblings.

Those princes and princesses, once high and mighty, were now either in exile or captured as his prisoners.

"Your Highness." A deep voice interrupted Andre's thoughts.

He looked up to see an old man in a red robe walking slowly toward him.

The old man's hair was gray, his face covered with the ravages of time, deep wrinkles crisscrossing like ravines.

Yet his blue eyes remained bright and lively, revealing an extraordinary wisdom.

In his eyes seemed to lie an Insight into and understanding of everything in the world.

This was Andre's grandfather—Augustus Faruk, the only Advanced Apprentice in the Kingdom, regarded by the royals as their most important advisor.

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