Inside the Dumas Capital

In the throne room

A man in his forties sat on the throne. He looked tired as if he hadn’t slept for a few days. It was the king of the Dominic Kingdom, Dumas Dominic. His father, the previous king, had given him the same name as the capital as a blessing.

King Dumas was looking at the two kneeling people not far from him. It was prince Clyde and Duke who had come to report their presence.

King Dumas said, “So you’ve been cured…that’s good news. I’ve never heard of such a capable doctor in my Kingdom…At least now you can train in aura like your big brother. Did you unlock the Nature powers of your late mother?”

Clyde pondered over the fact that he should tell the truth to his father about everything that happened to him. About how he now had the physical strength of a god and how he could control dragon fire at the god level.

He decided not to say anything. No one would understand him and he would be feared by all. Besides, he didn’t want to be in the spotlight.

There was also a chance that his father would relinquish the throne to him instead of Alex Dominic, his big brother. He liked his overprotective big brother and didn’t want to see conflict arise between them.

“No. I do not feel any magic.” Clyde answered.

“It’s alright. It’ll appear in time.” King Dumas said. He then turned to Duke, “I entrust his training and security to you. Don’t hesitate to ask for money at the treasury for everything he needs in his training. I’ll tell the treasury’s officials about you. You’re both dismissed.”

“By your will, your Highness.” They both said before leaving the throne room.

After being dismissed by the King, Clyde then went to his mansion to rest.

As they left the throne room, the king turned to his empty left side and spoke as if there was someone there, “What do you think Salazar?”

A shadow materialized itself next to the king and then turned into an old man with a long beard and eyebrows. The old man chuckled as his black attire fluttered to an invisible wind. He said, “He was definitely lying about something. Perhaps he never met that reclusive Doctor…But then how would he be cured so easily? I smell a mystery that I can’t quite resolve. Maybe it’s beyond me, maybe not. Either way, one thing is for sure, our prince has changed after what he experienced. Let’s just hope it is good for our declining Kingdom.”

The King pondered on the words he had just heard and digested them. He could trust the keen senses of his trusted advisor Salazar Evergreen. Salazar had never been wrong before and his words could indeed be trusted.

The King then expressed his thoughts, “It seems that my second son has his own secrets.” It was followed by a heavy sigh.

The next day in Clyde’s Mansion

Clyde’s older brother, Alex Dominic, came to visit him as soon as he heard that Clyde was back.

“What interesting things did you do during these three months?” Alex asked.

Clyde quickly thought of a lie and then said, “I was traveling in the Kingdom until I reached the northern border, then I came back.”

Alex then asked, “What do you think about our citizens?”

Clyde furrowed his brows, “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’ve been sheltered in the palace ever since your birth and this was your first trip outside. What I want to know is what do you think about the lives of the citizens after your travels?” Alex said.

Clyde felt that there was something he should’ve known. He only said, “I didn’t see anything wrong. Is there something I should be aware of?”

Alex shook his head and then solemnly said, “It’s bad. Our coffers are running empty. Since we live in a landlocked kingdom, we’re completely imprisoned and have to please our neighbors in order to do business with them and supply our country with everything it needs. Our merchants trade with our neighboring kingdoms at a loss. Our father sought to shoulder that cost with our family’s wealth but it cannot last for long. It’s a good thing to help our merchants and making sure that the Kingdom runs smoothly, but the treasury will be empty in less than five years if this goes on….and I haven’t even mentioned the fact that our neighbors want to divide the fertile lands of the Dominic Kingdom between themselves. Our powerful army can only keep them at bay for so long. ”

"It's that bad? I'm having a hard time believing it. Father also doesn't seem concerned." Said Clyde with a frown.

"That's where you're wrong, brother. Father thinks that as long we keep our fertile lands we'll be okay, but we will soon not have enough money to pay our soldiers...we...we need money to make even more money...at this rate, I'm having a hard time believing that I'll inherit a declining Kingdom..

If there is even a kingdom left by the time I inherit it." Said Alex with a downcast look.

"If money is all you need, I can help you get as much as you will ever need. You'll even drown in it.hehehe" said an amused Clyde.

Alex narrowed his brows as he scrutinized Clyde. He asked, "How do you plan on doing that?"

"We still have five years, do we not? I'll only need a few months and the entire planet will be grovelling at my feet, begging me to take their hard earned money. Hehehe." Clyde said.

"Again, how do you plan on accomplishing that?" Alex felt that Clyde was joking and went along with it.

"I will soon be helping the Miracle Doctor who saved me to sell his never before seen products." Clyde perfected his lie.

"System, show me the medicines that do not exist yet on this planet and would be the most sought after." Clyde commanded in his mind.

Soon a list that only he could see appeared before his eyes.