Sitting on the elevation reserved for the imperial throne, Renzou had Daigo and Takeshi by his side, both with satisfied expressions. Although he had just escaped death, he could still feel the weight of Kagenai in his bones.
The ceremonial robes had been brought in haste, and even though his body still showed signs of the disease he had just defeated, he insisted on remaining upright. Not only out of respect for the one who had saved his life, but also because he was still the emperor of Tsuyokuni. In front of him, with his hands modestly crossed, stood Enrico.
"Enrico... there are no words enough to express what I feel. Curing me of Kagenai... something that no mage, alchemist, or priest in this territory has ever managed to do. You gave me the chance to continue evolving."
The silence that followed carried the emotion of everyone present. Renzou then stood up with some effort and kept his eyes firmly on the boy.
"Not only me. You saved the future of my people. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
Enrico lightly scratched the back of his neck, and a small blush appeared on his cheeks.
"Emperor... I just... did what I thought was right..."
[Congratulations. You have earned the gratitude of one of the most powerful mages on the continent. But what now? Are you going to keep making that embarrassed pose, or are you going to say what you want already?]
'Tsc... You can't even shut up in front of the emperor, can you?'
Enrico sighed mentally without changing his expression.
[I am just having my moment and watching your work as the new "hero of a country."]
Enrico maintained his respectful posture, but could not resist responding mentally.
'At least I have a job, unlike a talking interface that only knows how to watch.'
The system fell silent.
A momentary victory.
Hidden beneath his cloak, Enrico discreetly shook his elbow in celebration before turning his attention back to Renzou.
"I imagine Daigo explained to you why I came."
Enrico tried to shift the focus of the conversation. Renzou slowly nodded and sat back down, maintaining the imposing posture of a ruler.
"He mentioned that you need help exploring a dungeon."
"Yes, yes..."
Enrico adjusted his posture and became more serious.
"Nothing grand, of course. Just a Faizes-level Nartheis dungeon. But, since I am only a First Circle mage, I thought it prudent to ask for help. Especially since it is an unknown territory."
The emperor slightly furrowed his brow, intrigued by the humility of the request.
"And even so, you came all the way to us?"
"Only because Daigo showed confidence and because I knew that the debt the emperor carries for being alive would make this conversation more accessible."
[Don't you think you've been too direct lately?]
'Being direct with him is good.'
Renzou let out a low laugh, still hoarse because of the disease, but sincere.
"Clever. And fair. For curing me, even if there were a Kairom-level dungeon, I would have accepted. The truth is that now... now I can return to working for Tsuyokuni. Strengthening it. And that desire has been reborn because of you."
Enrico slightly bowed his head.
"I'm glad to hear that. I only ask that we begin soon, sir, because I have only three days before I need to return to Astrong Academy."
Renzou slightly raised his eyebrows, surprised. It was not exactly unexpected, considering his intelligence in creating a cure, but it was still difficult to imagine that a boy of that age had come from so far away just to accomplish his own goals.
"Astrong, then? An elite place... but very far from our territory. I am thinking of sending my daughter there."
Renzou brought one hand to his chin and calmly touched his beard while his thoughts turned to Rina.
"Impressive that you came all the way here. Which class are you in?"
The imperial family had the freedom to send their children to the academy whenever they deemed necessary. As he asked the question, Renzou was already beginning to analyze the potential of the young man in front of him.
Enrico had arrived alone, cured a disease that should have killed him, and still knew information that no one in Tsuyokuni possessed. There was something unusual about that boy.
"Class A, Rank 31."
"Ho..."
Renzou remained silent for a few seconds. A Class A student, and among the best of his year. The information only reinforced the impression he was already beginning to form about Enrico.
Enrico, meanwhile, maintained a calm expression. There were more reasons for choosing that moment to approach Renzou. Besides the help he needed for the dungeon, he wanted to establish a connection with the imperial family. After all, he knew there was something in that territory that could be important to his plans in the future.
It would still take two years before he could gain access to the Castle in the Sky, but establishing that relationship now could make things much easier when the time came.
"There is one more thing."
Enrico took a step forward and removed a sealed envelope from inside his cloak.
"And before I leave... I wanted to give you this."
Renzou cautiously accepted the envelope. He broke the seal and opened the documents in front of everyone. His eyes quickly moved across the first few lines.
Then they stopped.
"This is..."
His eyebrows rose.
Silence filled the room.
Renzou's hands tightened around the papers a little more as he read the contents again, as if he wanted to make sure he had not misunderstood. Enrico nodded neutrally upon seeing the emperor's reaction.
"A detailed plan of Tianlong's next moves, including the strategies they are developing to expand their territory through the unstable borders. And, more importantly, a strategic method for Tsuyokuni to reclaim the piece of land that was stolen from them."
The hall fell silent. Not even the guards seemed to dare breathe. Renzou continued staring at the documents, trying to understand how that boy could possess such specific information. Daigo and Takeshi even trembled slightly. With the emotion of seeing the emperor recovered, both had forgotten to better explain to Renzou what they believed Enrico's Unique Ability to be.
"But... how?"
Renzou raised his eyes toward the boy, completely astonished.
"These notes... seem to anticipate the future. There are too many details for them to be merely information obtained through espionage."
"And they aren't."
Enrico held the emperor's gaze.
"But of course, I want something in return."
Renzou slowly leaned back against the throne, still absorbing everything he had just heard.
"I understand... You are much more than you appear to be, Enrico."
"Yes, I know."
Enrico's confidence was particularly high that day.
Renzou let out a small laugh at the response and then stood up again. He walked over to Enrico and placed one hand on his shoulder.
"From today onward, you are a formal ally of House Akirama. Any request you make will have my attention."
"Thank you."
Enrico answered firmly.
Renzou then looked at Daigo, who immediately understood what he needed to do. The guards who still did not know the true nature of Enrico's information were dismissed, and Daigo raised one hand. A barrier formed around them, completely isolating the sound of the conversation.
"Sir..."
Daigo explained what he had discovered about Enrico and his supposed ability to see the future. Renzou listened in silence and, little by little, began to understand the situation better. If Enrico truly possessed an ability capable of revealing future events, then his actions made much more sense.
And, at the same time, Renzou began imagining what the boy intended to receive in exchange for all that information.
An idea came to his mind.
He immediately ordered his family to be summoned.
Daigo, who realized what the emperor was planning even before any explanation, quickly left the room to carry out the order.
Renzou looked back at Enrico. Now, his assessment of the boy had changed completely.
'Before, I already thought he was extraordinary, but now...'
A young man capable of reaching Class A, possessing such an unusual ability, and still providing information capable of helping Tsuyokuni could have extraordinary potential. If Enrico chose one of the family's four daughters, perhaps he could help raise her potential even further. Naturally, Renzou hoped it would be Rina. His daughter was a prodigy, and with someone like Enrico by her side, she could achieve even greater results.
"Besides everything you have done for our territory, I almost forgot to thank you for the dungeon you revealed. With that, our growth potential will increase even further."
"If you want to thank me, just let me enter it two years from now, sir."
Renzou began to laugh lightly. He really was starting to like that boy.
"You know, I like people like you. Skilled and intelligent."
It would be excellent if Enrico chose Rina. To be honest, he was almost certain that would happen. If Enrico really could see the future, then he had probably already seen his daughter's potential. The other three were older and, therefore, would not be as interesting choices for the development of the family's Unique Ability.
A short while later, the doors opened.
Renzou's wives and eight children entered the room. Some already knew the reason for the meeting because of what Daigo had told them. The four daughters stepped forward a few paces and stood before Enrico.
Renzou looked at them.
"My daughters. Do any of you have anything against the decision we are about to make?"
None of them disagreed.
All of them had reasons to be grateful to Enrico for saving their father, although some were still trying to understand what that meeting meant. However, it was obvious to almost everyone that Rina would be chosen.
Renzou then turned toward Enrico.
"Very well, Enrico. With whom do you want to create the connection?"
Renzou had not explained how the Unique Ability shared by the members of the Akirama family worked, but he imagined that Enrico already knew the details.
Enrico remained silent for a few seconds.
His eyes passed over the four girls.
Rina stood with a neutral expression. Inside, however, she was certain she would be chosen. She was grateful that Enrico had saved her father, but she also hoped that the connection would not hinder her own development.
'There is no other woman in this family with more potential than me.'
Besides, her father seemed so confident in his choice that she did not even consider another possibility.
'I hope he has good potential.'
Then Rina took a step forward. But before she could say anything, Enrico spoke:
"Miss Yumeha."
The entire hall fell silent.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the girl who remained a few steps behind the others.
Yumeha became completely paralyzed.
She had short black hair that covered her eyes, pale skin, and a fragile appearance that made many believe she had no future within the family.
She was precisely the daughter with the least potential. The one many servants ignored.
The one whose name was rarely mentioned when the talents of the Akirama family were discussed.
Akirama no Yumeha.
And, at that moment, Enrico had chosen precisely her.