Supreme Bloodline Evolution System

Max followed them into the capital, where clean stone streets, fountains, shops, and decorated estates replaced everything he had witnessed during the journey. Wealth surrounded him from every direction, concentrated behind walls that kept the starving villages far enough away for the nobles to forget they existed.

At the highest point of the city stood the royal palace, its white walls covered in gold and its central roof rising above every other building. Hundreds of steps led toward its entrance, where another line of knights waited in complete silence.

Max dismounted at the base of the stairs and handed the reins to one of the servants before looking up at the palace.

The climb toward the royal palace gave Max more time to observe the capital from above. With every step, more of the city opened beneath him. It was an impressive sight, one that might have earned his admiration if he had not spent the last four days watching starving farmers produce the wealth that had built it all.

The knights waiting at the top of the stairs lowered their heads as he approached. None demanded that he surrender his weapons, nor did anyone attempt to search him before allowing him inside.

"His Majesty is waiting for you," the leading knight said before stepping aside.

Two enormous doors opened inward, revealing a long hall built from polished white stone. Golden decorations covered the walls and pillars, while red carpets stretched across the floor toward another set of doors at the opposite end.

Servants stood at regular distances with their hands folded before them, their clothes cleaner and finer than anything Max had seen outside the capital.

He walked between them without slowing, though his eyes continued moving from one corner to another.

The second pair of doors opened before he reached them.

"King Maximus, ruler of the Voidstar Kingdom!" a chamberlain announced.

The throne room beyond was decorated almost entirely in red and gold. Tall windows allowed sunlight to pour across the polished floor, while banners bearing Britana’s symbol hung from the walls. A dozen knights in white armor stood along both sides of the chamber, their helmets decorated with golden plumes that pulsed softly with light every few seconds.

At the far end, seated upon a throne of red and gold, was King Caratacus.

He was younger than Max had expected. The king appeared to be no older than twenty-five, with medium-length, wavy blond hair and sharp green eyes that studied Max from the moment he entered.

His handsome face carried none of the exhaustion Max had seen among Britana’s people, and the red clothes covering his tall body were decorated with enough gold to feed several of the villages Max had passed along the way.

Yet there was nothing lazy or harmless about the way he carried himself. His back remained straight, his gaze remained focused, and mana flowed through his body with enough strength to explain how he had once crushed the armrest of this very throne after learning about the rise of Voidstar.

Max stopped several steps away from him.

He did not kneel.

For a brief moment, neither king spoke. The knights watched from both sides of the hall, their hands resting near their weapons as they waited to see which ruler would acknowledge the other first.

Caratacus eventually rose from his throne.

"King Maximus," he greeted, spreading his arms slightly. "Welcome to Britana. I have waited a long time to finally meet the man who changed the balance of the entire continent in only a few months."

"King Caratacus," Max answered with a shallow nod.

Caratacus smiled, apparently satisfied that Max had shown him even that much respect.

"I hope my soldiers treated you well after recognizing who you were."

"They were all right."

The slight emphasis Max placed on the final two words caused the smile on Caratacus’s face to tighten.

"I see," he said, glancing briefly toward one of the knights. "Then I assume someone at the border failed to follow Lady Senuna’s instructions."

"They learned quickly."

Caratacus studied him for another moment before releasing a quiet laugh.

"I am certain they did."

Rather than returning to his throne, Caratacus descended the short platform and gestured toward a smaller chamber connected to the throne room.

"Come. There is no reason for two kings to shout across an empty hall. I had refreshments prepared after receiving word of your arrival."

Max followed him through the side entrance, though he remained several steps behind. The smaller room was less formal, containing a long table surrounded by cushioned chairs. Large windows overlooked the capital, offering a view of the wealthy districts below, while servants waited beside tables covered with food and drink.

Several trays held fruits Max had never seen before. Some resembled ordinary apples and grapes, while others were bright blue, pale gold, or covered in thin silver leaves. Roasted meat, fresh bread, sweet pastries, and expensive bottles of wine filled the remaining space, creating a feast large enough for dozens of people even though only two kings had been invited to sit.

"You have traveled for several days," Caratacus said as he took his seat. "Please, eat."

"I am not hungry."

"You refused the wine before I even offered it."

"I do not drink when I have business to handle."

Caratacus nodded toward one of the servants, who placed a golden cup before Max anyway. Another servant carried over a bowl filled with rare fruit before retreating with her head lowered.

"Then perhaps something lighter. Those golden berries are grown only within Britana’s royal gardens. They restore a small amount of mana and supposedly extend one’s life when eaten regularly."

Max looked at the berries but did not touch them.

Caratacus reached into the same bowl, selected one, and placed it into his mouth.

"They are not poisoned," he said after swallowing.

"I never said they were."

"Charming." Caratacus smiled.

Max finally sat down.

Caratacus lifted his cup and drank while another servant approached carrying a small wooden chest.

The chest was placed on the table and opened, revealing several rows of polished gemstones surrounded by gold coins. Red, green, and blue light reflected from the jewels, spilling across the surface between them.

"A welcoming gift," Caratacus explained. "Consider it a sign of Britana’s respect for its newest royal neighbor."

Max glanced inside before returning his attention to the king.

"You offer this much gold to everyone who enters your palace?"

"Only those capable of destroying it."

Caratacus smiled again, but Max could hear the caution hidden beneath the humor.

"I did not come here for your riches."

"No, I did not believe you had. Lady Senuna told me that wealth alone would not earn your loyalty, though she also mentioned that you possess an unusual fascination with expanding your kingdom. Gold, trade, land, people, powers... You appear to collect whatever might make Voidstar stronger."

"Senuna talks too much."

"That is why she makes such an excellent envoy."

Caratacus nodded for his servants to leave.

"You know, Lady Senuna described you as arrogant, impatient, and dangerously difficult to predict, but she neglected to mention that you were constantly standing on the edge of violence."

"She probably thought that part was obvious."

A genuine laugh escaped Caratacus this time.

"I believe I am beginning to understand why the dragon rulers surrendered to you."

"They did not all surrender willingly."

"I never assumed they did." Caratacus laughed heartily.

The room fell quiet for several breaths before Max broke the silence.

"I need a map."

Caratacus’s expression changed slightly.

"A map?"

"A detailed one covering the human kingdoms. Their borders, capitals, major cities, roads, mountain passages, military posts, and every known route controlled by the Imperial Court Empire."

Caratacus slowly placed his cup on the table.

"That is considerably more than a common traveler’s map."

"I did not travel here to request something common."

"And what do you intend to do with such information?"

"For now, I need to reach Frankindia."

The relaxed atmosphere disappeared from the room. Caratacus’s eyes sharpened as he studied Max with renewed caution.

"Frankindia," he repeated. "Why?"

"That is my business."

"You are asking me to provide passage through my kingdom and information about the borders of another. That makes part of your business mine."

"I am not marching an army through your lands. I will travel alone, and I have no intention of starting a war with Frankindia."

"Then why not fly directly there?"

"Because I do not want the Imperial Court Empire to know where I am going."

Max leaned forward, lowering his voice even though the servants had already left the room.

"The Imperial Court is already paying too much attention to Voidstar. If I cross the human lands openly or fly over every military outpost between here and Frankindia, reports will begin moving before I reach the border. I want a route that avoids their scouts, their informants, and anyone likely to sell information to them."

Caratacus leaned back even farther, an amused smile appearing on his lips.

"That would require more than a map. Patrol schedules would need to change, border records would need to disappear, and anyone escorting you would have to believe you were someone else. The Imperial Court has eyes in places even I cannot completely control."

"I assume that is why Senuna spoke so proudly about your kingdom’s usefulness."

Caratacus’s lips curved slightly, though his eyes remained serious.

"You truly do get to the point once your patience runs out."

"Can you arrange it or not?"

The king looked toward the open chest of gold between them, then closed its lid with one hand. His welcoming smile had disappeared, replaced by the calculating expression of a ruler considering how much another king’s secrecy might be worth.

"I can help," Caratacus said, "but I need something in return."