Dai Mubai wasn't stupid. He played his role well.
He dressed like a rich but not noble merchant. His "guards" wore leather, not armor. He haggled in the market, drank in the middle-tier wine houses, and flirted with two different singers. But he went to the Spirit Hall at midnight, every night, through the water gate.
Liu Feng watched the front. Su Yin's Whispering Paper watched the walls. Ghost Blade watched the sky. Xiao Zhan watched through Li Gou's eyes, because Li Gou was now Rank 42 and stationed in Heaven Dou as a dockworker for three years. Patience was the Veil's best weapon.
On the fourth night, they heard it.
"...the Emperor won't last the year," said Elder Salas, voice thin. "His sickness is soul-deep. When he dies, the factions will tear Heaven Dou apart. Star Luo wants guarantees."
Dai Mubai's voice was a lazy drawl. "Star Luo wants the Western provinces. You want us to not march when the blood starts. In exchange, you'll recognize my brother's claim over mine when the time comes?"
"You have no brother, Your Highness," Salas said smoothly. "Not officially."
"Don't insult me, Elder. We both know about Dai Weisi. The bastard my father keeps in the hunting palace."
A pause. Then Salas: "Spirit Hall recognizes strength. If you can take the throne without civil war, we will support you. If not… we will support stability. Whoever provides it."
"And if I want more than support?"
"Then you need to offer more than promises, Merchant Mu."
The Whispering Paper went dead. Salas had swept the room for techniques.
Xiao Zhan pulled back from Li Gou's vision. He sat in the dark for an hour.
So. The Heaven Dou Emperor was dying. Spirit Hall was auctioning the aftermath. And Star Luo's Crown Prince was willing to bargain his empire's future for a throne.
Weak.
A real king didn't bargain for his throne. He took it, and made the world call it justice.
*[System Prompt]*
*[High-Value Target Detected: Dai Mubai - Rank 58 - Royal Bloodline - Fate Weight: Heavy]*
*[Marking Success Chance: 100%]*
*[Backlash: None]*
*[Bonus Effect: Marking Royal Bloodline may unlock System Sub-Function: Dynasty]*
*[Proceed?]*
Xiao Zhan looked at his hands. Twenty-three years old. He'd killed through proxies, toppled a city's balance, built an army in the dark. But he'd never Marked someone who was already born to rule.
_Yes._
He didn't need to be in the room. The Monarch's Crown floated up, and the third ring spun off it like a thrown blade. It vanished into the floor, through stone, through wards, through flesh.
In the Spirit Hall, Dai Mubai stopped mid-sentence. His eyes went wide, then blank, then clear. He stood, pushed his chair back, and knelt on one knee to no one.
Elder Salas frowned. "Your Highness?"
Dai Mubai looked up and smiled. It wasn't his smile. "The meeting is over, Elder. Star Luo has reconsidered its position."
*[Mark Successful. 5/5 Slots Used]*
*[Marked: Dai Mubai - Rank 58 - Loyalty: Absolute - Status: Crown Prince of Star Luo]*
*[Dynasty Sub-Function Unlocked]*
*[Dynasty Lv.1: Marked who hold legitimate claims to rulership generate passive Influence for Host. Influence can be burned to temporarily raise Mark Slot limit or ignore level suppression]*
*[Current Influence: 100 - Source: Star Luo Crown Prince]*
*[New Rule Added: Host may burn 100 Influence to Mark one target ignoring level difference, once per month]*
Xiao Zhan exhaled. The backlash was zero, but the rush was not. He felt Dai Mubai's soul power, his pride, his plans, his fear of his father. He felt twenty-four years of royal training. And under it all, one new truth: _My king is Xiao Zhan._
"Su Yin," he said.
She was already there. "It's done?"
"It's done. Send a message to Commander Yue. The mountain moves in three days. Destination: Star Luo border."
"And Dai Mubai?"
"He goes home. And tells his father that the Heaven Dou Emperor's death would be… unfortunate timing for Star Luo. We want chaos, but on our schedule."
Xiao Zhan stood and looked at the map on the wall. Six kingdoms. Fourteen sects. One Spirit Hall.
He had 5 Marks, but the system had just given him a way around that. 100 Influence for one free Mark per month. No level limit. No orphan rule.
A Titled Douluo was Rank 90+. He was Rank 61. With Influence, he could reach one.
He tapped the map over Heaven Dou's imperial palace. "Ghost Blade."
"Young King."
"Find out who the Emperor's personal doctor is. And who he trusts more than his sons."
The Veil was no longer an assassination group.
It was a dynasty without a crown.
And dynasties needed thrones.