Prologue

|Richard Whiteborn|

As I sank into the soft embrace of my leather chair, I couldn't help but worry about my son Gary and the other Paladins who had gone missing. Despite the Academy's and Adventurer's Guild's best efforts, I knew their search would likely yield few results.

Gary was more than just talented. He was a force of nature, possessing unparalleled abilities in mana manipulation, swordsmanship, intelligence, and foresight. He was a prodigy among prodigies, destined for greatness and fated to dominate the world.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride mixed with fear for what Gary might become. When I was his age, I too had been called the greatest genius in Dicathen, but my abilities paled in comparison to his.

Gary had long surpassed me in skill and talent. The gulf between us had become insurmountable. Even Leia, his mother, worried about him constantly, driven by her maternal instincts.

As a Whiteborn, our family was known for its unparalleled swordsmanship in all of Dicathen. However, our ancestors had misused this power, creating a system that suppressed emotions. Though this practice had been discontinued, its remnants still lingered within our family. As for myself, I was a prime example of this emotional suppression, unable to feel the most intense emotions.

My concern for Gary was a purely intellectual exercise, requiring me to consciously analyse the situation and dedicate mental power to unravel the intricacies of what had happened. Only then could I simulate the emotions of worry and anxiety that others felt more naturally.

Gary and I shared the same condition from birth: a complete lack of emotions. But there was a singular exception to this rule - love.

Although the emotion of love had the power to break through our emotional indifference, it was not a perfect solution. Even this intense emotion could be subdued by our innate lack of emotions.

Despite this, I felt a sense of contentment as Gary grew fond of Kathyln. In the world of Whiteborns, soul mates were not just a myth - they were a reality. When a Whiteborn met their soul mate, they dedicated their life and love to that one person alone.

It was almost as if a magnetic connection had been established between the two, pulling them towards each other with an irresistible force. Seeing Gary and Kathyln drawn to each other in this way was a rare and beautiful thing, and I found myself feeling grateful for this glimmer of hope in our otherwise emotionally barren existence.

My concern for Gary was not based on fear for his safety. I knew that if anything could threaten him, it would mean a catastrophe for the entire continent. My worry lay in his future, and how his prodigious talent and emotional detachment would shape him as a person.

I empathized with him deeply, having experienced similar pain in my youth. My siblings had groomed me to be a weapon, using my talents as a means of securing their own power. I had no choice but to go along with their plans, biding my time until I could turn my sword on them and claim my rightful place as heir.

It was this experience that drove me to ensure my children never faced a similar fate. After Gary's birth, I refused to have any more children. One child was enough, and I would do everything in my power to protect him from the same fate I had endured.

That was the plan, however, fate is not always in one's control.

"Gary, please come back to us," I spoke aloud with a renewed sense of urgency. "We have good news to share with you."

|Gary Whiteborn|

As I gazed up at the night sky, I couldn't help but notice the faint tinges of colour that signalled the imminent arrival of the festival. The sky's transformation to blue, yellow, red and green was a telltale sign that the Aurora Constellate was about to begin.

My heart leapt with excitement as I sensed the levels of ambient mana around me begin to rise. I could feel my mana core throbbing in response, indicating that I was close to breaking through to the high silver stage. With a little bit of luck, I might even be able to achieve this breakthrough before the festival ended.

But despite my progress, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of weakness. I had surpassed all the lances, but I still felt like I wasn't strong enough. Breaking through to the white stage was the only way for me to enter the coveted A-rank, but what about the higher ranks of S-rank and SS-rank? How could I ever hope to achieve such heights?

As soon as my fingertips brushed against the aether, Monarch's Indifference took hold of me, erasing any trace of emotion from my expression.

"Report," I commanded with authority.

Two figures emerged from the shadows, dressed in black suits and expertly trained in the stealth arts. Their auras were perfectly contained, indicating their level of skill.

The woman began, "Your family is safe and nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. However, your mother, Leia Whiteborn, is pregnant."

I nodded, signaling for them to continue.

"We have also gathered all the necessary blackmail material to bring the noble houses under your control," the man added, presenting me with a pile of documents from his spatial ring.

I quickly scanned through the information, checking for validity.

"Good work," I said, impressed with their efficiency. "You are to proceed to Darv with three divisions of the Shadows and begin your mission there."

"Understood, my Lord," the man replied with a deep bow before disappearing back into the shadows.

I turned to the remaining woman. "You will lead four divisions to investigate Elenoir. While there may not be much dirt to uncover, find everything you can."

She bowed respectfully. "Yes, my Lord. We will not disappoint you."

As she vanished into the shadows, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. With their success, I was one step closer to my ultimate goal.