Weapon seller in the world of magic

Kiara froze for a brief moment that lasted no more than a heartbeat, so subtle that anyone watching closely might have mistaken it for nothing more than a pause in breathing.

Yet inside her mind, the stillness cracked open into a rush of realization that she could not ignore, because she had truly forgotten about it.

The moment the system unlocked the factory functions, the original plan to build a proper smithy had slipped away from her thoughts as easily as a tool dropped into the dark, unnoticed and left behind without care.

Now, as Alexander brought it up again, her thoughts began to move quickly, rearranging themselves in a clear and structured way as if pieces of a puzzle were suddenly falling back into place, and she began to see the connection between everything she currently had and everything she could build.

"Factory…"

The word echoed in her mind, not as an idea but as a direction.

"Production…"

Her thoughts sharpened, forming a path forward.

"Bullets…"

A small spark of realization formed, steady and bright.

"And the butler units…"

Her eyes flickered faintly, though her expression remained controlled on the outside, as the final piece settled into place.

"Automation."

At the same time, Alexander continued speaking, unaware of the exact path her thoughts had taken but sensing that something in her attitude had shifted slightly, as if she had accepted the point he was making even if she would not openly admit it.

"I understand your issues with House Silver," he said in a measured tone, keeping his voice calm and practical as he tried to remove any unnecessary obstacles from the discussion. "If you do not wish to involve the Ministry, then you may simply use private labor instead, and the Imperial Palace will bear the cost of construction without question."

He lifted his hand slightly in a casual gesture, as if dismissing the difficulty of the matter entirely.

"Use private labor," he repeated, reinforcing the option. "The cost will be covered."

Kiara allowed a small smile to form on her lips, one that was controlled and restrained, revealing nothing beyond polite acknowledgment while hiding the fact that her thoughts had already moved far ahead of this conversation.

"I will begin soon, Your Majesty," she replied, her tone smoother now, steady and cooperative in a way that felt deliberate rather than natural, as she chose her words carefully to avoid revealing too much. "I am currently working on the… architecture."

She paused briefly, as if considering how much to reveal.

"Once it is ready, I will inform you."

Alexander felt a quiet sense of relief settle within him as he listened to her response, because this was the first moment in their entire exchange where something had moved in his favor without resistance, and it gave him a small but important sense of control over the situation.

"Finally…"

He thought to himself, his shoulders easing ever so slightly.

"Something secured."

After that, the conversation slowed down, the sharp edges of confrontation softening into something quieter and more controlled, like heat that remained after a fire had died down, still present but no longer threatening to burst into flames without warning.

Seeing that there was nothing else left to address directly, Alexander spoke again, his tone steady but slightly softer than before.

"One last matter."

Kiara had already risen from her seat by that point, preparing to leave without lingering any longer than necessary, but she paused at his words, turning her attention back to him without sitting down again.

"Since Kristof Drake has already been punished for his actions," Alexander continued, his voice carrying a note of quiet diplomacy as he chose his words carefully, "I trust that there will be no further hostility toward House Drake."

Everson Drake turned his head sharply at those words, the movement quick and instinctive, as disbelief flashed across his face for a brief moment before he could suppress it.

"Is he… asking her?"

The thought struck him hard, heavier than any accusation or insult.

Then the disbelief gave way to anger, cold and sharp, settling deep inside him as he understood the meaning behind the Emperor's tone.

"So this is what we are worth now."

At the same time, realization dawned upon him with uncomfortable clarity, because he could now see the larger picture that had been hidden beneath the conversation.

Three attack helicopters.

Weapons capable of defeating 7-circle experts.

Power.

Influence.

Leverage.

"That is why…"

His fists tightened slowly at his sides, the tension in his fingers controlled but undeniable.

"That is why he chose her."

Kiara looked at him, her gaze steady and clear, holding neither hatred nor interest, but simply acknowledging his presence as if he were just another part of the situation that needed no further attention.

"I have no reason to pursue them," she said calmly, her voice even and without emotion, as if the matter held no importance to her beyond what had already been resolved.

Everson spoke immediately after her, not allowing anyone else the chance to respond first, his voice steady and controlled in a way that felt deliberate, as though he was forcing each word into place with care.

"I have thought about it," he said, pausing briefly as he gathered his thoughts. "You are not in the wrong."

The room shifted again at those words, a quiet ripple passing through the remaining people as surprise showed clearly on their faces, including the Archbishop, who had not expected such a statement.

Everson continued, his gaze hardening slightly even as his tone remained calm.

"That is not why I am backing away."

He drew a slow breath before speaking again.

"The truth is simple. We lack the strength."

A faint breath escaped him, quieter this time, carrying the weight of reluctant acceptance.

"To challenge you without suffering heavy losses."

The words were spoken calmly, almost reasonably, but beneath them, something else burned quietly, something that had not been extinguished but merely hidden.

"Our power is insufficient," he continued. "My friendship with the Emperor…"

He paused for a moment, as if choosing whether or not to say the final part.

"Well, it is insufficient."

A quiet silence followed his words, stretching across the room without interruption, as no one felt the need to break it.

"I will forget this matter and return home," he finally said, turning slightly as if preparing to leave.

Kiara watched him for a moment, her gaze thoughtful but unreadable, because she did not believe his words completely, not after everything that had happened, yet she chose not to expose that doubt or challenge him further.

"Alright," she replied simply.

That was all she said.

The meeting ended there, at least on the surface, but the conflict beneath it had not been resolved, only pushed aside for the moment.

Outside, the air of the palace felt cooler and lighter compared to the heavy atmosphere of the room, yet something invisible still lingered, like a storm waiting beyond the horizon, not yet visible but already certain to arrive.

Everson maintained a calm expression as long as Kiara remained within sight, his posture steady and composed, giving nothing away.

The moment she disappeared from view, however, that calm broke apart, and his face turned cold, sharp, and calculating in a way that revealed his true thoughts.

"We are leaving," he said quietly.

Then he turned his head toward the Archbishop.

"Arrange a meeting with Cardinal Ragnor Blackstar."

Kristof Drake looked at his father with confusion and unease, sensing that the calm acceptance shown earlier had only been a mask, and that whatever was coming next would not be as simple as walking away.

At the entrance of the palace, the carriage stood waiting, the horses shifting their weight slightly as their hooves struck softly against the stone, the sound echoing faintly in the open space.

Zion stepped forward and took the reins once more, adjusting his grip as the leather straps creaked under tension, the horses snorting softly as they prepared to move.

Kiara stepped into the carriage without speaking, her movements calm and unhurried, while Felix slept quietly in her arms, its soft breathing steady and peaceful, completely unaware of the influence it had already exerted over powerful people.

Baltrow followed behind, its heavy steps surprisingly quiet for its size, its presence like a shadow that did not belong to the world of humans, yet moved among them without concern.

As the carriage began to move, the wheels rolled over the stone with a low grinding sound that slowly faded as distance grew, leaving the palace behind.

Alexander stood there, watching until the carriage disappeared from sight, his expression thoughtful and unreadable.

Kaelan Phoenix finally spoke, breaking the silence that had formed beside him.

"What happened?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of confusion. "The issue was resolved. You got what you wanted."

He paused slightly, then added, "Why do you look dissatisfied?"

Alexander exhaled slowly, the breath leaving him in a controlled manner as he searched for the right way to explain something that was not simple.

"It is difficult," he said, his voice calm but carrying a quiet weight. "To deal with someone who has nothing to lose."

His gaze lingered in the distance where the carriage had vanished.

"And everything to gain."

Then he turned his attention to Serestia Phoenix, his expression softening slightly as his tone became more personal.

"For now, stay away from House Drake," he said firmly. "If necessary, I will bring Kristof here."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"But you…"

His eyes softened just a little more.

"I do not want you caught in what comes next."

Serestia blinked, confusion rising clearly on her face. "What comes next?" she asked. "I thought Uncle Everson agreed…"

Alexander did not answer immediately, a faint and knowing smile appearing on his lips as he looked ahead.

"Agreement is sometimes just the first step toward war." he said quietly.