Aksai paused for a brief moment as his eyes flickered toward Prince Arven.

'As for this man… he has already shared too much.'

The realization was clear.

'This… this is not just an offer. This is a kind of information that closes as many doors as it opens.'

His expression did not change, but his thoughts turned colder.

'If we refuse, I don't think he will let us walk away so easily. The things he has told us… they are not meant to be spread around. This is both an investment and a leash. A reason to recruit us… and a reason to silence us if needed.'

Aksai understood the situation clearly. He could not resist openly in the middle of a supposedly enemy kingdom. Not without exposing himself as a Lord. And that was something he did not want.

Not yet.

Aksai slowly exhaled and looked at Prince Arven again. This time, there was a faint smile on his face.

"Prince Arven," he said calmly, "you have given us a lot to think about."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"What you are offering… is not something a wandering cultivator can ignore easily despite the risks. I… I am willing to cooperate."

Prince Arven's smile widened slightly.

Before he could respond, Raaden looked at Aksai for a moment. There was hesitation in his eyes at first, but it quickly faded. Seeing Aksai agree seemed to give him the push he needed.

Raaden took a small breath and nodded.

"I will join as well," he said.

Lurina looked at both drifting Experts with a faint smile, while Prince Arven leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased with the outcome.

Prince Arven looked at both Aksai and Raaden with a satisfied smile. He then rose from his seat and gestured for them to follow him.

"Come," he said in a calm tone. "Since you have decided to join us, it is only right that you receive something in return."

Aksai and Raaden stood up without delay. Lurina also followed behind as the group moved out of the dining hall and into a quieter part of the palace. The corridors were wide and well-lit, with smooth floors and tall pillars on both sides. Guards stood at a distance, silent and still, as if they were part of the walls themselves.

They walked for a few minutes before reaching a large set of doors. Prince Arven stopped in front of them and placed his hand on the door. With a light push, the doors opened slowly.

A spacious hall revealed itself.

Aksai's eyes moved across the room. Shelves and display tables were arranged neatly across the hall, each one holding various Spirit resources.

"These are some of the resources we have gathered," Prince Arven said as he stepped inside.

"You can choose what you need. Of course, I would suggest you be a bit mindful. It's not that we can't afford to give you some of these things in one go. But you get what you are paid for, either in advance or after you receive them. That means you'd need to contribute as per what you take here."

Raaden's eyes widened almost instantly.

The hall was filled with all kinds of rare items. There were Spirit herbs sealed in crystal boxes, refined pills placed in jade containers, and small weapons that carried a steady flow of Spirit energy. There were even a few rare materials that could be used for crafting or alchemy.

To a Foundation Establishment Expert, this place looked like a treasure hall.

Raaden walked forward almost without thinking. His gaze moved quickly from one item to another, unable to settle in one place.

Aksai followed at a slower pace.

From the outside, he looked calm and curious, like someone carefully choosing his rewards. But inside, he was not impressed.

'These are all 2nd Order resources,' he thought. 'My Everwood Farm produces this kind of stuff almost every month.'

As a Core Formation Lord, he had access to far better resources. Forget about the things he cultivated inside the Enchanted Everwood Farm—even the current treasury of his guild had better resources than what he could see here.

Compared to what he already possessed, the items in front of him were nothing more than basic supplies. Still, he kept his thoughts to himself. He could not afford to reveal anything.

Aksai walked up to one of the shelves and picked up a jade container. He opened it slightly, felt the Spirit energy inside, and then nodded as if satisfied.

'Well… I should act like this matters,' he reminded himself.

He selected a few items—some Spirit herbs, a couple of refined pills, and a small defensive talisman. His choices were measured, neither too greedy nor too modest, fitting the image of a careful wandering cultivator.

On the other hand, Raaden showed no such restraint. The man was like a scrawny rat that had gained access to a well-filled granary. He even used his Spirit spell to move around, which looked a bit comical in Aksai's eyes.

He moved from one section to another, his eyes shining with excitement. Whenever he found something rare or expensive, he picked it up without hesitation. His hands were soon filled with jade containers and sealed boxes.

"This one… and this too. Hehehe. My days of being poor are finally over," Raaden muttered to himself as he made his selections.

Prince Arven watched them quietly, his expression calm. He did not stop Raaden or question his choices.

Aksai noticed this and understood.

'Hmm? Perhaps this is not their main treasury. Clearly, these things don't matter much to them,' he thought. 'They are just bait.'

After a while, both of them finished selecting their items. Raaden looked extremely satisfied, while Aksai simply held his small selection with a calm face.

Prince Arven nodded.

"Good," he said. "These are just the beginning. If you prove your worth, you will receive far more than what you see and can imagine in the future."

Aksai gave a small nod in response.

On the other hand, Raaden quickly agreed with a grin. For someone like him, it felt like the start of a huge fortuitous opportunity.

Aksai was about to let out a sigh of relief, thinking that he would soon be able to leave the capital city of the kingdom.

However, at that moment, he suddenly felt a suffocating presence arriving from the other side of the hall's entrance.

This was the presence of a late-stage Lord.

'Damn it. Just when I was about to get away from this den of royal snakes.'

Aksai's thoughts came to a sudden halt.

A strange feeling crept over him, cold and sharp, as if something dangerous had just set its eyes on him. It was not just a normal presence. It felt like he was being watched by a poisonous beast hiding in the dark, waiting for the right moment to strike.

His body did not move, but his senses became alert.

Beside him, Raaden reacted more visibly. His face turned pale, and his breathing became uneven. It felt as if an invisible weight had wrapped around his body, pressing him down. His legs trembled slightly, as though he might drop to his knees at any moment.

Only Prince Arven and Lurina stood as they were, calm and unaffected. Aksai's gaze shifted toward the entrance of the hall.

At that moment, a small formation lit up on the floor near the doorway. Strange symbols glowed faintly as Spirit energy gathered at a single point. The spatial fabric around it twisted slightly before a flash of light appeared. In the next moment, a figure stepped out of the formation.

It was an old man.

He wore royal robes, dark in color, with faint patterns that seemed to move if one looked closely. His hair was long and grey, tied loosely behind his back. His face looked aged, but his eyes were sharp and full of life.

There was something unsettling about him.

His skin had a faint dark tint, almost like it had been stained over time. Thin, vein-like lines ran across his neck and disappeared under his robes, glowing faintly with a dull purple hue. His fingernails were slightly longer than normal and had a dark, hardened look, like claws that had been trimmed just enough to pass as human.

When he breathed, there was a faint hiss in the air. It was subtle, but it made the atmosphere around him feel heavy.

Aksai narrowed his eyes slightly.

'This man…' he thought. 'He has merged with some kind of poison beast.'

The old man's gaze slowly moved across the hall before settling on Aksai and Raaden.

Raaden almost dropped to one knee at that moment.

Aksai felt the pressure as well, but he controlled his body carefully. He let his shoulders stiffen just enough to appear affected, but not so much that it would make him look too vulnerable.

Prince Arven stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.

"Uncle," he said.