Chapter 41 : Lyon

Moments later, the hall fell into a hush as Nexus sat alone on the throne, lost in contemplation. Despite appearances of order, the Kingdom faced significant challenges. The foundation was weak, with only three thousand mortal soldiers lacking the strength of Cultivators. The scarcity of skilled personnel further compounded the Kingdom's vulnerabilities. Fortunately, its remote location and troubled history deterred outside interference, shielding the new regime from scrutiny.

However, Nexus understood that secrecy was fleeting. He raced against time to bolster the Kingdom's defenses, knowing that exposure without strength would spell its demise. The previous Purple Thorn Kingdom had many enemies and if these people found out that the fallen Purple Thorn Kingdom only is getting stronger only destruction awaits them. In the cutthroat Astheria World, strength reigned supreme, and Nexus refused to let his painstaking efforts go to waste.

Shaking off his reverie, Nexus massaged his temples, acknowledging the daunting task ahead. "What a headache," he muttered.

"Come out!!" Nexus' authoritative voice reverberated through the hall. Within moments, a figure cloaked in black attire emerged from the shadows, bowing before Nexus with head lowered.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," a deep voice boomed as Lexx materialized in the hall. It was clear that Lexx's presence was expected by Nexus.

Seated on his throne, Nexus rested his chin on his palm, his gaze fixed on Lexx. The ruby-like pupils in his eyes flickered with a subtle light as he observed Lexx.

"Rise," Nexus commanded softly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lexx replied, standing and removing his hood to reveal his face to Nexus.

"It seems your strength has grown," Nexus remarked, studying Lexx intently.

"Yes, Your Majesty. With the cultivation technique you provided, I have reached the Ninth Layer of the Essence Meridian Realm," Lexx stated calmly, though the excitement in his eyes betrayed his inner emotions. Previously, it had taken him three years to advance from a mortal to the Fifth Layer, showcasing his natural talent. However, the Darkness Codex bestowed upon him by Nexus had accelerated his progress significantly, without the need for pills or abundant Spirit Energy in the environment.

Nexus nodded with a slight smile, acknowledging the talent of Lexx. He recognized that with the right training and resources, Lexx had the potential to become a formidable force.

"How is the situation currently?" Nexus inquired, his gaze fixed on Lexx.

"Your Majesty, as you predicted, some criminals managed to escape during the cleanup, but the black armored guards swiftly dealt with them. They have successfully eliminated every criminal hiding within the Kingdom's territory," Lexx reported, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Nexus smiled in satisfaction. Following the rebellion against the Nobles, he had ordered the execution of the Nobles and the eradication of all criminals in the Kingdom. However, he was aware that not all threats had been eliminated. Therefore, he instructed the black armored guards to thoroughly search the Kingdom and eliminate any suspicious individuals without hesitation. This proactive approach had led to the swift discovery and elimination of criminals, ensuring the safety of Mysthaven Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, we also uncovered three bandit strongholds, which were swiftly dealt with," Lexx reported once more.

Nexus was momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself. The successful elimination of these threats reaffirmed his decision to take decisive action against criminals. He was relieved to hear that the Kingdom was now free from potential threats.

"Did you acquire anything from the bandits' stronghold?" Nexus inquired with curiosity.

"Yes, Your Majesty. After successfully dismantling the bandits' stronghold, we were able to gather a large amount of resources, particularly weapons, armor, food, and a substantial sum of money," Lexx reported.

Nexus's eyes lit up at the mention of money. He was not concerned with the other materials. He eagerly turned to Lexx and asked, "How much money did you ste..ahmm,I mean acquire from the bandits' stronghold?"

Lexx gave Nexus a puzzled look and promptly replied, "After counting the money, we obtained around 3 million gold coins."

Nexus's ruby liked eyes sparkled like with lights upon hearing the amount of gold coins. He was thrilled. Lexx had just provided a solution to his financial woes. Kassius had recently informed him about the Kingdom's financial situation, and now Lexx revealed that they had amassed 3 million gold coins from the three bandits' strongholds. While 3 million gold coins may have been insignificant to him in the past as the Prince of the Blue Moon Kingdom or during his time on Earth, he was currently struggling financially. With the addition of the 3 million gold coins to the existing 5 million gold coins, totaling 8 million gold coins, their financial situation had slightly improved.

"Excellent work, Lexx. Send the money to Kassius and allow the black-armored guards to take a break, as they have been hunting and fighting for the past few months," Nexus commended Lexx and issued his instructions.

"Yes, Your Majesty, as you command," Lexx bowed with a smile. Being praised by Nexus was a great honor to him.

"Oh, and how is that ' person 'faring lately? Have there been any changes?" Nexus suddenly turned to Lexx, narrowing his eyes as he inquired.

Taken aback for a moment, Lexx replied, "Well, Your Majesty, that ' person ' is still drowning in his sorrows apart from going to work l, he almost never left his house ".

Nexus pondered for a moment, stroking his chin before turning his gaze towards Lexx. "Alright, here is what you need to do," Nexus said with a slight grin, his eyes gleaming like a predator eyeing its prey.

As the sun began to set in the west, casting a warm orange hue on the ground, the chirping of insects filled the air, signaling the end of the day's activities. People made their way back to their homes, some with their families, while others walked alone, knowing only an empty room awaited them.

In Mysthaven Kingdom's Capital City, in the Residential Region, faint noises could be heard from various houses as families gathered around tables filled with steaming hot and delicious food. The sounds of children's laughter echoed through the streets, creating a sense of joy and warmth.

Despite not all houses being occupied due to the city's low population, the reason why Nexus had expanded the city with the capacity to house ten to twenty million people is to accommodate future growth.

In one of the five districts of the Residential Region, this was a district specifically designed for single individuals or those living alone. The tall buildings in this district resembled apartments, with easy access roads winding through the area.

Inside one of the apartment buildings on the fifth floor, a young man sat alone at the dining table. He appeared to be around twenty years old, with a thin frame and melancholic eyes. The room was well-equipped, with two bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen, although the residents shared a communal bathroom outside the building.

Overall, the scene painted a picture of a bustling city with a mix of joy and solitude, where individuals like the young man on the fifth floor navigated their lives in a world of contrasts.

The young man's face was slightly pale, filled with sadness. However, upon closer inspection, one could sense the intense killing intent in his eyes, as his black pupils swirled like a deep black hole. He maintained a blank expression as he gazed at the small pieces of meat on the plate in front of him.

"Sis," the young man mumbled in a barely audible voice.

"Hello Lyon, nice to meet you," a man clad in tight black clothes suddenly appeared from the corner of the room, a harmless smile on his face as a black mist condensed around him.

Lyon slowly raised his head to look at the unexpected intruder, his gaze calm and cold.