After touring the Empire's most prized institutions, such as the Imperial Academy and the Magic Tower, the leaders of each nation wrapped up the second day of their visit.
Considering that the first summit had been held exclusively within the Imperial Palace, this itinerary was unusual, almost as if it had been designed to flaunt the empire's power.
But more than that, what the foreign leaders came to understand most clearly was the overwhelming presence of Caron Leston.
The world, it seemed, revolved around him. At the Academy, at the Magic Tower, and even on the streets of the capital.
Wherever Caron went, crowds followed. People cheered, eyes sparkled, and his name echoed like that of a hero returned.
Caron Leston's reappearance after three years had taken the capital by storm.
Rumors that he had been gravely injured in his duel against the Mercenary King vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by certainty—the Ducal Family of Leston was still very much alive and formidable.
With that, the second day drew to a close, and Caron's schedule came to an end.
From the beginning, he'd only been scheduled to participate for two days. Starting from the third day, the summit would shift to finer treaty negotiations—something outside Caron's role. In other words, he had fulfilled his mission.
Whoosh.
"Ah, so comfortable," Caron muttered.
Having completed his duties at the palace, he stepped into the portal connected to the Imperial Garden and returned to Azureocean Castle.
Once reserved for emergencies only, the portal between the palace and Azureocean Castle was now permanently activated.
Under normal circumstances, maintaining such a portal would have consumed a staggering amount of mana crystals, but things had changed. Now, the portal was powered by a branch of the World Tree embedded in Azureocean Castle.
Of course, mana still had to be replenished each time the portal was used—but as long as it was only for small groups, there was no issue.
"You're back," Halo said.
"Yes, Grandfather. I cleared the road, nice and clean," Caron replied with a grin.
Waiting for him were Halo and the elders of the family.
All of Halo's sons were currently stationed in the capital. The Oceanwolf Knight Order had been dispatched for the second phase of the summit, and both Dales and Raphael were out in the field, leading the knights. Even Caron's father, Fayle, had been sent to the palace to assist with negotiations.
The guardians left behind to protect Azureocean Castle were the great elders of the Ducal Family of Leston.
"You've worked hard these past three years. Why not enjoy yourself in the capital for a while?" Elder Ulrich asked, his tone overflowing with affection.
This boy—he's so precious he's the apple of my eye! Ulrich thought.
Halo and the elders already knew how far Caron had come.
Caron was teetering at the very edge of 8-Star, a level of mastery unimaginable for someone who was barely twenty years old. He had long surpassed what was thought to be the limits of human ability.
Through three years of rigorous training, Caron had reached the same level as the elders themselves. Though he lacked their battle experience, that was something time would resolve.
"What's the point of playing around? I'd rather keep working hard," Caron said.
"You wonderful child. But don't push yourself too much. You are our future! Go on, spend some of that money you've saved, pamper yourself a bit! Our Caron should do whatever he wants!" Ulrich exclaimed.
"...Ulrich, maybe you should rein it in a little?" Halo suggested.
"No way. How can I hold back? Just look at him—don't you think he's adorable?" Ulrich added.
"Not in the slightest," Halo snapped.
Ulrich simply couldn't help but feel proud of Caron.
Not only had the boy grown unimaginably strong, but he had also taken care of Halo's other two sons, Dales and Raphael. The two who had once bickered endlessly over the successor position had matured into dependable men. And at the heart of that transformation had been Caron's quiet effort.
As if his own training weren't enough, he'd made time to guide even his uncles.
"Our family's strength has grown immensely thanks to you. I'm truly grateful that you looked after Dales and Raphael," Ulrich said with heartfelt admiration.
But Caron widened his eyes and replied matter-of-factly, "I just wanted to beat up my uncles, that's all."
"...Is that so? You don't even bother hiding your disrespect in front of the head of the family anymore," Halo said.
"You've no idea how annoying they were, always playing political games," Caron complained.
In the past, such remarks would've earned a harsh scolding—but no one in Azureocean Castle dared rebuke Caron anymore.
And besides, he wasn't really wrong.
The truth was, thanks to Caron alone, the bloodline of the Ducal Family of Leston had grown exponentially stronger.
"Shall we head down to Oceanwolf Island?" Caron asked.
Caron traveled with the elders toward the Oceanwolf Knight Order's headquarters on Oceanwolf Island. The reserve forces not summoned for the summit were currently training hard there.
On the road to Oceanwolf Island, Halo said in a quiet voice, "You're not asking about Kerra."
Kerra, once the guardian of Aqua, was now absent from his post.
Caron glanced at Halo and gave a casual shrug, then said, "I heard you assigned him a mission."
"I sent him to the North Sea. The demonic monsters crossing over from there have been growing more savage by the day," Halo explained.
"Well, Sir Kerra ought to earn his keep," Caron said.
"I also told him to tend to Cain's grave while he's there. It's in shambles thanks to that uproar you caused last time," Halo continued.
"Hey, I didn't even do anything. That wasn't my fault," Caron said, raising his hands in mock protest.
Halo looked at his grandson with a complicated expression, but it vanished quickly. With a stoic face, he continued walking ahead and said, "The Guardian Dragon has already departed for the North Sea to begin charting the route. If all goes well, we may secure a passage before the year is out."
"Is that even possible alone?" Caron asked.
"She's receiving aid from the pirate fleet the Pirate Queen sent. In terms of naval combat, they're quite dependable," Halo answered.
Caron hadn't expected his acquaintance with the Pirate Queen to come in handy in this way.
During the three years he had stayed at Azureocean Castle, preparations to reach the Demon Realm had steadily progressed. The elves were currently crafting massive ships using sturdy hardwood from the Southern Great Forest.
The only task remaining was to finish training the initial landing party that would set foot in the Demon Realm. In fact, the upcoming tournament would serve as a selection process for that landing force.
"Caron," Halo said, calling his grandson's name softly. "Don't rush things. Everything is proceeding according to our plan."
"...You'll be with us, right, Grandfather?" Caron asked.
"If not me, then who else could stand at the front?" Halo asked.
He was Halo Leston, the only 9-Star knight on the continent. His presence alone was the continent's hope—and he was the only man Caron trusted without question.
Halo was his old friend, his grandfather, and above all, his most trusted comrade.
"We will cross the veil," Halo declared.
The long-cherished goal of the Ducal Family of Leston was to conquer the Demon Realm and set foot into the domain of the Void.
"There, we will uncover all hidden truths. So don't be hasty. Prepare with everything you've got, and then we march forward. Understood?" Halo asked.
"Yes, Grandfather," Caron answered.
While they spoke, they arrived at Oceanwolf Island.
Chang!
"Aaaaargh!"
"Gaaaah!"
The island echoed with screams so intense they could have come from a real battlefield.
"What a sight," Caron said, smiling with satisfaction as he watched the sparring taking place at Oceanwolf Island.
Knights clad in deep navy armor were dueling against the Oceanwolf Knight Order. The sheer scale of it felt like a full-scale battle.
These knights in navy armor belonged to Caron's personal order—the Immortal Knights. The name, of course, had been chosen by Halo himself.
Made up of the Avengers Caron had gathered from the southern kingdoms, the Immortal Knights made for perfect sparring partners for the Oceanwolf Knights.
The southern knights had richer battlefield experience than any other region on the continent. While their techniques and swordsmanship fell short compared to the Oceanwolf Knight Order, their practical combat experience vastly surpassed it.
These men had lived their entire lives in battle. And through these sparring sessions, their hard-earned knowledge was being passed on to the Oceanwolf Knights.
"It's good to see," Caron said, nodding in approval.
"Why don't we pick a few from the Oceanwolf Knights and send them to the tournament too, Grandfather?" he suggested.
"I've heard about it. A gathering to decide the strongest on the continent, or so they say," Halo said.
"But you're not allowed to participate, Grandfather. That's banned," Caron said sternly.
"...I wasn't planning to," Halo said.
Halo was in a league of his own. Even if he didn't compete, everyone on the continent already knew that he was the strongest. This tournament was meant to decide who came second.
"There are quite a few hidden powerhouses across the continent. Do you think you're ready?" Halo asked.
Caron smiled faintly, then answered, "What's more foolish than declaring victory before a fight? All I can do is give it my best."
"Well said," Halo said.
"They're calling it the 'Continental Grand Martial Tournament,' but honestly, His Majesty the emperor really has no talent for naming things. Still, I heard the royal family put up a huge prize—something like a carriage full of gold. So please, don't enter. Got it, Grandfather?" Caron said.
Despite already being wealthy, Caron clearly had his eye on the golden prize too.
Halo could only shake his head in silent exasperation.
***
Ever since the Continental Grand Martial Tournament had been confirmed, the capital underwent a dramatic transformation.
"They're coming from all corners of the continent..."
"It's money! Money!"
"We've got to rake in every coin we can!"
It was the first event in history of such an unprecedented, continent-wide scale.
Merchants, who had been rapidly expanding their influence under Emperor Revelio's aggressive economic reforms, caught the scent of profit like wolves to blood.
Thanks to the cooperation of the mages and dwarves, a colossal stadium began to rise at an astonishing pace. It was so vast that it could host eight matches simultaneously, and it soon took form on the outskirts of the capital.
To accommodate the flood of foreign visitors, inns rushed to expand their buildings. Restaurants followed suit.
Though the construction budget for the arena was by no means modest, the returns were already surpassing expectations.
And the excitement wasn't limited to the capital alone.
"After the matches, there's no way foreign nobles will just head straight home."
"They'll definitely pass through our city too."
Sensing the opportunity, key cities beyond the capital leaped into redevelopment. The city of Thebe, famous for its indulgent pleasures, stood out as a prime example.
A fierce competition broke out to attract international tourists. The lords of major cities, including Thebe, gladly began revitalizing their towns, even investing treasures that had been collecting dust in their vaults. And so, a powerful wave surged through the entire empire.
"Faster, faster!"
"It's a race against time—we need to be ready!"
Energy swept across the nation like a wildfire. Even the northern and western regions of the empire, under the leadership of the Ducal Family of Leston, joined forces to ride the momentum.
"The city where it always snows!"
"The vodka Caron Leston praised to the skies!"
From the southern border city of Reben to Riad in the northern reaches of the empire, every city where Caron Leston had once stayed now boldly flaunted his name.
Of course, Caron didn't give that name away for free.
"You'll be including a Leston business in your city development, yes?" Caron pressed.
"But of course! Ha ha, Lord Caron, this is a personal gift from me. It was terribly hard to get... I heard you enjoy a good drink..." someone said.
"Oh come on now, there's no need for gifts like this! You can use my name all you want. It's not like it'll wear out! Go ahead, use it as much as you please—really, no need to hold back!" Caron said.
"Thank you, thank you!" they replied.
Not only did Caron smoothly insert the companies he'd built with Fayle into the local projects, but he also made sure his pockets were well-lined in the process.
And that single move launched the empire into its golden age. It became the nation that drew the eyes of the entire continent.
Though it had long been hailed as the continent's strongest, the empire under Emperor Revelio was something else entirely. It had become an active force of influence.
To call it the heart of the continent wouldn't be an exaggeration. It no longer shone only in military power. Thanks to its scholarship programs and active exchanges with other races, the empire had obtained a wealth of new cultural products.
And now, it had even seized the power to influence culture itself.
The Imperial Daily, the empire's leading newspaper, captured the spirit of the times in one headline:
"His Majesty the Emperor rides the tiger named Caron to lead this empire forward. A young hero and a wise sovereign! The empire has entered a radiant golden age! Long live our great Emperor!"
A fantasy duet, composed by two men once accused of heresy. They were two degenerates giving rise to an era of glorious depravity.
Amid a whirlwind of ambition and anticipation from all corners of society, time raced forward at breathtaking speed.
***
Six months later, with a booming proclamation from Emperor Revelio, the curtain rose on the grandest event the continent had ever seen.
"I hereby declare the opening of the Continental Grand Martial Tournament!" Revelio exclaimed.