One-Eyed Monster

Just as Igor and Kadi subdued Clown Quinn, an ennoblement ceremony was being held in Capital City Xinbal, the most luxurious royal capital of Kayne Country on the Yowein Continent.

All the major nobles were present.

This time, the young King Kayne was ennobling an equally young Alchemist.

To honor the Alchemy Workshop's contributions over the years, King Kayne specially ennobled the Workshop's chief, Kuyi Tulan, as King's Hand!

From this day forth, the Alchemy Workshop would stand as second only to one and above all others in the entire Kayne Empire...

The enthronement ceremony was held with great pomp; princes, nobles, and the governors of all major royal capitals attended in full regalia.

Kuyi Tulan accepted the scepter from King Kayne's hand with a blank expression, formally becoming the King's Hand.

The thunderous applause went on and on, as if this were the will of all present.

Yet this was merely the surface.

After the splendor came a storm; all factions were calculating their future moves. This enthronement ceremony was not just a ceremony—it also signified that the balance of power in the entire Kayne Empire had already been broken. His Majesty the King's authority was no longer jointly shared by the Council Chamber, but had been transferred onto the shoulders of a single organization, the Alchemy Workshop. To be precise, onto a single person: Kuyi Tulan.

Naturally there were many objections to the ceremony, yet the young King Kayne was bent on his own course and refused to listen to any counsel.

This set the whole Empire to swaying.

The king's temperament had changed—this was a rare occurrence.

Crows passed along a sinister rumor in private: the Alchemists of the Alchemy Workshop had concocted a beguiling potion that made His Majesty lose his true nature and become a Puppet!

The Crow's rumor spread swiftly; before long many people already knew of it.

The worthy ministers all felt it necessary to investigate to the bottom, even if it was merely a rumor carried by the Crow.

Yet every attempt to investigate met with heavy resistance. The Alchemy Workshop's power was simply too overwhelming now—from small smithies to large mercenary bands of Adventurers with Class, all were under their hand. This left all the private spies hired by these Politicians disappearing without a trace.

Politicians were adept at making plans and decisions: if one plan failed, they would change to another; after all, they had countless plans.

After Kuyi Tulan finished the enthronement ceremony, he returned directly to the Alchemy Workshop.

All of the Golden Seats of the Alchemy Workshop were already standing there, waiting respectfully for his return.

"Congratulations to the Chief for becoming King's Hand!" The many Golden Seats and Silver Seats applauded and offered their felicitations in turn; these people were all Kuyi Tulan's confidants. Now that Kuyi Tulan had risen high, they were naturally very pleased as well.

"This doesn't need celebrating." Kuyi Tulan walked straight through the Alchemy Hall and headed to the rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard of the Alchemy Hall, Qi Liu was hunched over a stone table, writing something.

Seeing Kuyi Tulan return, Qi Liu immediately stood up. "Chief, you've returned."

"Mm. Any movement?"

"Some. A secret meeting—several royal capital governors and people from the Wizard Alliance!" Qi Liu answered.

"Keep an eye on it. And that fellow—has he been quiet today?"

"Still the same as ever. He keeps ordering people to douse him with cold water without stop, so that he can't enter a state of meditation!"

"Good. I'll go see him now. No matter who comes looking for me, I won't see them." Kuyi Tulan instructed.

"Yes, Chief!"

Ever since Kuyi Tulan brought Qi Liu out of Luona, Qi Liu had become his right arm. The growth and expansion of the Alchemy Workshop could not be separated from the merits of this born Politician.

In the struggle against the Dark Cabinet and the annihilation of the entire Black Crow organization, it had been Qi Liu who devised the strategies.

Though Qi Liu could not be said to hold the top merit, his presence greatly reduced the Alchemy Workshop's blind offensives; every plan he drew up was extremely flawless.

The leader of the Black Crow, Willem, at this very moment was imprisoned by Kuyi Tulan in the underground chamber of the Alchemy Workshop's inner courtyard.

The underground chamber was not dimly lit; Kuyi Tulan had specially cleaned it and laid down an Energy Ladder crafted by the Dwarves. One could say the lighting in the chamber was quite good.

Willem was dripping wet all over, the result of being drenched in cold water. He shook his head, not allowing himself to fall asleep, because the moment he dozed off, a basin of cold water would be poured over his head.

"Chief!" The Alchemy apprentices responsible for taking turns watching this Black Crow leader were very polite. Their worship of Kuyi Tulan had already reached a fanatical level. The rapid growth of the Alchemy Workshop over the past two years had led everyone in the Workshop to believe it was all thanks to the Chief.

"Mm. You may all withdraw. You've worked hard."

"Yes. To serve the Chief is our unquestioned duty!" The Alchemy apprentices, full of fervent adoration for Kuyi Tulan, withdrew.

Now only Kuyi Tulan and Willem were left alone together.

"The enthronement is over?" Willem shook his head as if everything were proceeding exactly as he had foreseen.

"It was only a ceremony." Kuyi Tulan said quietly.

"Heh, ha. You know, it may be only a ceremony, but from today on you stand beneath but one, above ten thousand. Of course, you'll have to face all manner of forces: those ancient families, those loyal ministers, and certain Politicians brimming with ambition!"

"All of this was within the plan, was it not?" Kuyi Tulan slightly furrowed his brows.

"Indeed, within the plan. Only—are you truly prepared?"

"Me?" Kuyi Tulan's brows knit tighter; clearly he did not quite understand Willem's words.

"From the chief of an organization to the King's Hand—do you know what such a leap will stir up?"

"Turmoil. It will cause turmoil, without a doubt." Kuyi Tulan drawled. He felt Willem's question was somewhat superfluous.

"It will also provoke alliances, driving many forces that were originally hostile to unite. Those old families who never spoke to one another will cluster together; they will weigh your standing. Your emergence has harmed their common interests. They—this swarm of parasites—control piles of Energy, have built up vast Soul Guardians, all for the sake of guarding that paltry bit of profit. Don't be fooled by how they now ignore one another; your appearance will bind them into an alliance."

"If it truly comes to that, then…" Kuyi Tulan paused. "How should we respond, Leader?"

"As we always have. Our power does not come from that crowd of old fossils. Our strength lies in the new forces. What is old must inevitably be replaced." Willem fixed his bright eyes on Kuyi Tulan, as if admiring a flawless piece of work.

"Yes, but, Leader—doesn't it chafe you, being like this?" Kuyi Tulan asked.

"No. People need a leader. And I—I am not suited to be that leader. You've already proven this, have you not? My Black Crow fell to your hand, utterly defeated, did it not?"