The King was particularly intrigued by the mysterious artefacts that Max had gifted to Duke Regulus. These objects had deeply impressed the Duke, who later described them in a letter filled with praise for Max's ingenuity. A grand assembly was called, where all nobles would gather to witness the recognition of both Max and the Duke for their service to the Empire.
The Royal Assembly Hall was a grand place—semi-circular in design, with ornate pillars and high domed ceilings. The King's seat was positioned on an elevated platform, directly across from the main entrance, so that all present could see him clearly. Once the King had taken his place, the herald announced loudly:
"Duke Regulus of the Northern Territories and his companion, Max and party, shall now enter the Royal Assembly!"
As Duke Regulus entered, Max followed closely behind, drawing every eye in the room. Every noble present watched Max's movements with scrutiny and curiosity. At first, Max felt a wave of anxiety—but his system activated a calming feature: Merchant's Heart. A special perk embedded in his soul, it steadied his nerves and sharpened his posture. His face brightened, his shoulders straightened, and he walked with quiet dignity and pride.
The King's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Despite being a commoner, Max showed no fear while standing before nobles and royalty. But what astonished the King even more was Max's physique. It was the kind of body ideal for mana cultivation—a body that, with the right training, could become that of a master swordsman.
Sitting silently in a corner seat was Duke Volhard, a powerful 7th-circle mage and head of the Volhard Duchy, the Empire's most influential magical family. His sharp eyes studied Max carefully. The mana flow in Max's body was abnormally pure—like that of ancient rulers of magic themselves.
Then, the Duke's eyes shifted and caught sight of Albert, Max's companion. It was his first time seeing such rare, gifted individuals standing together in the same room. (What the Duke didn't know was that the young boy standing beside Max possessed SSS-ranked magical potential—a future mage whose talents could rival even the Empire's finest.)
Volhard's son, despite being talented, had never applied himself. The Duke had long wished for a rival worthy of pushing his son forward. The royal prince was off-limits in this regard—noble families couldn't risk offending the crown by treating the prince as a mere "rival." But these two… Max and Albert… they had potential.
The Duke was about to speak, perhaps to suggest something, but the King raised a hand, urging him to focus on the matter at hand.
After everyone had settled, it was finally time to present the rewards.
First, Duke Regulus stepped forward and reported the recent incident involving necromancers. On the borders of his duchy, a group of dark magicians had attempted to raise the dead and spread corruption. Max had been involved in this conflict as well, fighting alongside the Duke using tools from his mysterious merchant system—a power that allowed him to purchase items, abilities, and even skills from across dimensions, as long as he had the money.
Max's system had helped them turn the tide—he'd even managed to slay a wyvern, a fearsome beast.
Impressed by the report, the King rewarded Duke Regulus with 20 platinum coins and something even rarer: access to the Royal Family's Sacred Training Grounds—a place said to be guarded by the souls of ancient kings and accessible only to royalty and a few chosen exceptions.
Then, the King turned to Max.
Max stood confidently, aided once again by the Merchant's Heart. He already knew from Duke Regulus that the King was not a cold ruler—strict, perhaps, but kind at heart. The King praised Max publicly for his contribution to the Empire.
Max, humbled but composed, simply responded,
"I did what I could to bring smiles to the people's faces."
The King appreciated his sincerity.
"For your courage, innovation, and service," the King declared, "I bestow upon you the title of Baron, and five platinum coins."
Max stood stunned. A noble title? For a commoner like him?
Curious, Max decided to activate a system feature: Merchant's Eye—a tool that allowed him to view the stats and information of others, almost like game characters. What he saw left him speechless. The King's stats were unlike anything he'd ever seen—a legendary-tier figure, almost a cheat character in this world.
But what startled him even more was that the system showed others stronger than the King still existed. Perhaps five or more. He filed that knowledge away for later.
The King then unveiled something rare—a map of the entire Empire. Maps at this level of detail were forbidden outside the royal family. Even the merchant system's built-in map didn't cover everything. However, the moment Max compared the royal map to his own system map, he noticed that his was far more detailed.
Then, the system issued him a prompt:
"Select your region of governance: Choose from the available unclaimed lands."
Max chose the Gravemont Region.
A hushed gasp passed through the assembly.
Duke Regulus leaned in and whispered,
"The Gravemont Region… It's vast, yes, but a barren wasteland. No crops grow there. No one has claimed it for generations."
The King raised an eyebrow and offered Max another chance.
"Are you sure? You may choose more fertile lands, Baron Max."
But Max shook his head. He trusted the system.
"I request the Gravemont Region, Your Majesty."
The King nodded, slightly intrigued by Max's confidence. The land was granted.
Several lesser nobles exchanged mocking smiles behind Max's back. To them, it seemed like Max had just made a fool of himself by accepting a useless land.
But little did they know… Max had a plan.(Although Macs didn't knew it himself)...
Far away, high up in the cold, sharp peaks of the Frostbite Mountains, something strange was hidden in the ice. A stone glowed softly beneath the frozen surface, cracked and stained with old dried blood. No one had seen it for many years, but it gave off a faint warmth that didn't belong in such a cold place. Quietly, something dark was starting to wake.....