On the seventh day after the Regent King’s death, the clouds over the Imperial Capital still hadn’t dispersed.

The continuous rain seemed intent on washing away a truth hidden within the royal city, but only pressed the oppressive air lower and lower.

In front of the Imperial Hall, a massive array of nobility and civil servants stood in line, their cloaks billowing in the wind and rain, yet they still maintained their composure.

Today was the day to bid farewell to the Regent King Arons, supposedly a solemn, glorious imperial ceremony.

Yet everyone could see that there was a strange gap between the scale of the funeral and the level it should have been.

The priest’s prayers were hurriedly recited, the ceremonial officer’s steps were faster than usual, and the coffin was almost hastily sent to the crypt under the escort of several guards.

The nobles exchanged secretive glances; some frowned, others whispered...

It had only been seven days since the Regent King’s death, and the body was hurriedly buried, which was not in accordance with the rites.

Too fast, as if to cover something up.

Moreover... no one had really seen the state of the body.

It was said that the Regent King’s condition had worsened before his death, his face festering, and to avoid disturbing everyone, the coffin should not be opened.

But this explanation only made most people more uneasy.

The Fourth Prince Rhine stood below the altar, cloaked in black, his expression pained.

Karen at his side quietly reported the guest list, confirming no absent family would cause trouble.

Rhine only nodded slightly, as if he had everything under control.

At least on the surface.

In fact, during these seven days, he had hardly spent a single night in full sleep.

He was busy appeasing the Eight Great Clans, making them believe the Empire remained within a controllable scope.

He purged the opposition, replacing or detaining a number of key officials under various pretexts.

He took control of the city defense, shifts, arrests, and commands with lightning speed, adopting all the powers left by the Regent King.

More importantly, the Second Prince and Fifth Prince completely disappeared, and the troops Rhine sent out only found the Second Prince’s army, which then broke through their enclosure.

More troubling to him was the Regent King himself...

He indeed died, but the body was missing.

Rhine could only select a prisoner from the dungeons of similar build, emaciated to skin and bones, and use alchemical potions to corrode the face, convincing everyone it was the Regent King who had died of illness and rot.

He knew this was a gamble, but without a body, the funeral could not proceed, and without the funeral, he could not move on to the next step of his plan: choosing a new Regent King.

And he must become that Regent King.

At this moment, the prayers ended, the coffin was slowly pushed deeper into the crypt, the ceremonial officer announced the completion of the funeral, and the dignitaries and nobles turned towards the Imperial Hall.

Rhine stepped forward, with Karen closely following, whispering, "Your Highness, the Eight Great Clans are all seated, waiting for you to host the regency ceremony."

Rhine nodded, "Very well. The longer they wait, the more it shows that I am the only choice to bring stability to the Empire."

Karen quietly suppressed his excited breath.

During these seven days, he was the one most acutely aware of the pressure and power struggle Rhine faced.

Those opposed were quietly replaced, those hesitant were appeased, and those opportunistic were now eager to swear allegiance in the Imperial Hall.

Rhine walked up the Imperial Hall’s white jade steps, rainwater dripping from the eaves, splashing at his feet.

He softly said, "After today, the Empire will welcome true order."

Karen looked up at him, his voice trembling, "Your Highness... you have already won."

Rhine did not smile, only spoke lightly, "No, there’s one final step."

Having just returned from the Royal Cemetery, Rhine hadn’t even had time to return to the mansion.

In a side hall of the palace, the attendant stripped off his rain-soaked black mourning attire, piece by piece, changing into the robes symbolizing the Empire’s highest ruler.

His fingers trembled slightly, not from sorrow, but from the adrenaline coursing through his body. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As he had the attendant fasten the last button, he muttered, "Hurry up. Has Simmons arrived? What about those from the Inspectorate?"

The attendant nodded nervously, cloaked his shoulders, and Rhine stepped toward the Imperial Hall.

When he pushed open the massive doors of the Imperial Hall, the sounds of rain and wind seemed instantly cut off.

The temple-like hall was vast and solemn, the high ceilings held a blue flame that illuminated the marble floors but gave no warmth.

Twelve massive relics stood on either side of the walls: the broken Dragon Shield of Dragonbreath City, the Crescent Lance of Gloomy Wind Ridge, the cracked battle helmet of the Iron Fortress Knight Order...

They stood like silent giants, looking down from above on this small and ambitious usurper.

At the highest step, the black obsidian throne carved in its entire form, loomed in shadow.

Rhine glanced up at it; that was the position he had yearned for half his life.

Within the hall, the Eight Great Clans and civil and military officials were all gathered, every gaze fell sharply on Rhine.

The Regent King was dead, the Empire needed a new helmsman.

And everyone knew, the young prince now entering the Imperial Hall, even with the Emperor’s absence, and the Imperial Throne nominally vacant, viewed himself as the sword that would sooner or later be firmly embedded in the Dragon Throne.

Yet below in the Imperial Hall, the eight core seats around the New Moon Table appeared particularly desolate.

These were the eight chairs symbolizing the Empire’s highest noble power, which should have been filled during major decisions, now only seated four.

Duke Simmons sat at the forefront, his face glowing with joy.

He kept standing up amidst the seats, conversing quietly with the surrounding officials, as if tonight was a celebration he personally arranged.

He was a die-hard loyalist of Rhine, betting everything on him, and now reveling in his fortune.