Chapter 35: Power Plays and Hidden Schemes

"Your Highness, perhaps we should find a way to suppress the third prince?"

The elder looked at Park-Nat and asked.

"No need, someone else will take care of that. What we need to do now is establish a good relationship with Kennan. Go and ask him if he's available tomorrow for a meeting at Dream Tower."

Nat said.

Dream Tower, also known as the Drunken Dream Pavilion, was a famous place in the Holy City, popular among nobles and aristocrats for its fine wine and beautiful women.

"Your Highness, are you referring to the second prince?"

The elder's eyes lit up, instantly understanding Nat's plan.

Nat smiled slightly but said nothing. If there was anyone who disliked him the most, it was his second brother.

Now that the third prince had unexpectedly emerged, the second prince was surely not going to sit back and do nothing.

Let them fight, Nat thought. He would simply wait and reap the benefits.

Seeing Nat remain silent, the elder quickly left, heading toward the Sloe family.

---

In the second prince's palace:

"Your Highness, the third prince clearly intends to make the Sloe family his ally. If he succeeds, the consequences will be unimaginable. We must take action."

A man spoke to the meditating second prince, Park-Stan.

"What action do we need? Just kill him."

Stan didn't even open his eyes, speaking in a calm tone that was filled with murderous intent.

The man was startled by this response. He hadn't expected such a direct approach.

If this were discovered, the emperor would be furious.

"Your Highness, if we send someone to assassinate the third prince and it's exposed…"

The man's voice was filled with urgency. He couldn't stand by and watch his master make such a reckless decision.

"Who said I'm going to kill my third brother? I just want you to hire mercenaries to kill someone. As for who they kill, that's up to them."

Stan smirked. Searᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"And even if he gets killed, what does it matter? Who do you think will be the most unsettled by his close relationship with the Sloe family?"

The man froze for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"If the third prince aligns himself with the Sloe family, it would signal his ambition for the throne. The first prince won't just sit idly by."

Stan shook his head.

"My eldest brother is smart enough to figure out that I'll want to suppress the third prince. He won't take any action."

"Then isn't your plan playing right into the first prince's hands?"

The man asked, confused.

"If he makes a move, it will only suppress the third prince. But I'm aiming to kill him!"

Stan smiled coldly.

The man finally understood. "Your plan is to escalate this. Although you'll be suspected, the biggest suspicion will fall on the first prince. This will force the emperor to reconsider the heir to the throne."

As the man realized this, cold sweat ran down his back. The second prince was playing a dangerous game, one that could destroy both his brothers.

As long as there was no direct evidence linking Stan to the assassination, the first prince would be the one to suffer the most.

"Go and take care of it. After the third prince is dead, those mercenaries will conveniently die in an 'accident' as well."

Stan waved dismissively.

The man nodded and quickly left to carry out the orders.

Stan smirked and closed his eyes, returning to his meditation.

---

The next morning, Sylvus slowly opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face.

"The pills from the shop are really something. I've already reached the rank of Seven-Star Archmage."

Thanks to his continuous cultivation throughout the day and night, he had advanced four ranks overnight.

Although it still seemed like a low rank, considering that he had only been in this world for less than a week, his progress was already astonishing.

After getting up and washing, Sylvus enjoyed the breakfast Meylan had bought before telling him to open the shop for the day.

While Sylvus now had more than ten million magic crystals, more than enough to run the shop alone, he decided to keep Meylan around.

With Meylan managing the store, Sylvus could spend his days lying back, eating pills, and cultivating peacefully.

He also believed that one day, his small shop would become incredibly popular.

When that day came, managing everything alone would be impossible. Plus, he wasn't in need of that million magic crystals anyway.

"Boss, we should be open for business now, right?"

Within half an hour of opening, a familiar figure appeared at the shop entrance—Prince Leo, who had been brushed off the previous day.

"Welcome. What can I do for you today?"

Sylvus glanced at Leo briefly before closing his eyes again to rest. Meylan stepped forward to greet Leo.

"Are these the pills?"

Leo wasn't bothered by Sylvus's attitude. After all, yesterday's treatment had been much harsher.

"Yes, our shop's pills have a wide range of effects, capable of achieving anything you can imagine."

Meylan repeated Sylvus's shop motto.

"Oh? I've never heard of such pills before. Can they really boost one's strength?"

Leo asked curiously.

"Of course. These pills don't just enhance strength; they can also improve your natural talent. You've heard of Kennan, right? He became a genius after taking pills from our shop."

Meylan smiled.

With Kennan's success story in hand, he had the perfect advertisement.

Hearing this, Leo was even more intrigued.

So it was these pills that had caused Kennan's sudden surge in power. No wonder Kennan had returned to the shop yesterday.

"In that case, bring me your finest pills!"

Leo smiled. As a prince, money was never an issue for him.