"It's his birthday tomorrow..." The young silver-haired boy muttered.

"Eons have passed, but the date remains the same," the young boy let out as he gazed upwards.

He was sitting in what seemed like a massive hall which was as big as a football field. The walls of the hall were fifty meters tall.

The hall had a Golden throne where the young silver-haired boy was sitting. Not only that, but there also happened to be another throne in the hall on the left side of the boy, which was pitch black.

The throne happened to be five times the size of the golden throne.

If the golden throne seemed like the throne of the King, then the pitch-black throne seemed like the throne of the Emperor.

Strangely enough, it was empty. The boy still didn't sit on the bigger throne as if he was aware that it wasn't his position where he could sit.

The walls of the giant hall also had what seemed like many portraits painted on them. The portraits seemed like they were alive.

Most of the portraits seemed to be of one person.

They seemed to be showing the Growth of that one person.

The first portrait was of a young boy who seemed like two or three years old. The boy had dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. His skin seemed to be even smoother than a baby's skin was supposed to be.

The young baby was lying on what seemed like a black bed that was studded in the most precious of jades.

A few tiny planets could also be seen floating around the small bed.

The sun and the moon could also be seen there in the first painting.

The second painting seemed to be of the same boy when he was 5-6 years old. The boy seemed a little older, but his eyes were still the same. He was wearing more intimidating clothes as if he wasn't supposed to wear cute clothes.

The boy seemed to be looking straight ahead at the one who was drawing his painting. There was no smile on his face. His eyes also seemed emotionless.

There was a small crystal in his hand in the painting. It was a red crystal that was shining brightly.

The third painting also had the boy who seemed to be ten years old now.

The boy was not alone this time, though. There was a young boy near him who seemed to be one or two years old. The second baby had silver hair, similar to the hair of the boy who was now sitting on the throne.

The ten-year-old boy was gazing at the baby. His thoughts couldn't be understood from his looks, but it seemed as if he was smiling even though there was no smile on his face.

The paintings continued until the last painting of the boy, who was now seeming like a grown man.

He seemed to be in his twenties, at least based on the looks. The man had long black hair that came down to his waist now.

He was also wearing a dark robe that was coming down to his knees. Even though there was no crown on his head, he indeed seemed like the ruler.

Strangely enough, the man seemed just like Ryder did now.

The man had one sword in his hand, which seemed to be made of complete darkness. It didn't seem to have a fixed shape. It also seemed illusory, as if it wasn't solid.

The man seemed to be surrounded by many people as if he was a prey, and the others were hunters who were trying to hunt him.

Even though he was surrounded, he didn't have the least bit of concern on his face. He stood tall like a proud lion.

The painting captured the perfect essence of the moment before a terrifying Battle. It seemed as if everyone was about to attack the man in the next moment.

One of the people surrounding the dark-haired man was none other than the silver-haired boy who was sitting on the throne.

There were also paintings of more people here; however, unlike the dark-haired man, the other people only had single paintings of them.

And all the paintings were of women.

One of the women seemed to have a striking resemblance to Alice, while the other had a resemblance to Esmi.

There was also one who seemed like Miyali.

Just like these three, there were other girls painted. They were all wearing dresses that seemed like something that the modern world didn't have.

"It was your birthday then as well," the silver-haired boy muttered as he gazed at the painting where the black-haired man was surrounded by the others.

"It'll be your first birthday where I'll be with you after that day," he continued.

He shifted his gaze to the next painting.

"Oh, right. There was someone who didn't leave you alone even on that day. Unfortunately..."

"I wish I could have done something to save..."

*****

The Director of National Intelligence, Greyn, was gazing at Jenny who held a paper in her hand.

"I never thought he would be someone like that..." Jenny said as she handed the paper to Greyn.

"He is the founder and the owner of Dixon Conglomerate? The sixth biggest company in the States?" Greyn muttered as she observed the paper.

"He is one of the top ten richest people in the country. Why would he be with Mark?" She wondered.

"Maybe he was the friend of Director Mark and came to meet him? Or he came to meet for some official purpose?" Jenny pointed out.

"That is possible, but still, why would Mark take him to Ray?" Greyn asked.

The man who was standing in the back also thought of the same thing. He was just about to say that, but Greyn said first.

He opened his lips to say something else, but he stopped as he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.

He pulled out his pocket and stepped a few steps back before he picked up the call.

"Yeah?"

"Alright. Got it. We'll be right there." He continued.

After saying a few words, he disconnected the call and placed the phone back in his pocket.

"Who was it?" Greyn asked, gazing back at the man.

"There is some information. The CCTV footage is ready," the man answered.

"Good. Let's see how the events transpired," Greyn said as she started walking in a certain direction while reading the paper in his hand.

They reached the surveillance room where Greyn was shown the footage of Mark and the others. It showed even Mark and others entered the HQ. It also showed the time they entered the office of Mark.

After a short time, they were done with the footage.

"According to the CCTV footage, the old man entered Mark's office where Handerson was already present. He didn't even stay there for a few minutes before Mark took him to the room where Ray was being kept. It makes it seem like the man was certainly here for Ray," Greyn concluded.

"That's what it seems like. Maybe he knew Ray?" Jenny suggested.

"He didn't. I already asked Ray if he recognized the man. The answer was no. He had never met him in his life," Greyn said, shaking her head.

"I believe the information that Ray had was what attracted him here. As for how the old man knew about Ray, he was most probably told by Mark himself," she continued.

"Why would Director Mark leak the information about an investigation to an outsider?" Jenny inquired, not understanding it.

"I guess that's what we need to find out, isn't it?" Greyn muttered with an amused smile on her face.

*****

"Go ahead and invite all High Dukes. I believe High Duke Oris isn't in the Royal City. You should be able to contact him as well. Make sure he is here with the other High Dukes. He supports me the most. I certainly need him here when I put my plan forth," Ryder told Dale, who was the right-hand man of Rale.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Dale said as he nodded his head. He turned back and left the throne room.

"Rale, it would probably take time before the High Dukes are here. They will be given the time to come as tomorrow so that even High Duke Oris can get there. Since we have the day free, how about we go hunting? It's been a long time since I hunted some strong beasts. My growth seems to be halted," Ryder said to Rale after everything else was taken care of.

"The Diamond Beast also needs to get some experience as it is," he continued.

"Sounds like a good idea. I can also get some training," Rale nodded his head.

"Hahaha, don't take me to a place which only has beasts as strong as you. I like gradually fighting beasts. So I want to face beasts that are close to the Dragon," Ryder suggested.