Dragon Monarch System Chapter 1047:- End of the Funeral

Heads were frequently turned towards the entrance, and by this point, the crowd felt a certain numbness. One after another, they had already witnessed the arrival of influential figures that were normally out of their reach.

They had seen prominent Sect Leaders, witnessed the personal appearance of three Goddesses, and even beheld legendary figures whose names echoed through generations. Furthermore, the Emperor himself had graced the event with his presence, and finally, they observed the profound transformation of the exiled Crown Prince.

With so many overwhelming presences appearing in succession, the initial shock began to dissipate, replaced by a peculiar sense of disbelief. It almost started to feel like a contest, where each subsequent arrival sought to surpass the last with an even more astounding entrance.

And the collective feeling was that Aditya's entrance had commanded the most impact.

The reason behind this sentiment needed no elaboration.

"I apologize for my tardiness."

"Alfred, you are late." The initial arrangement was for Alfred to meet them and escort Aditya and the others to the funeral. However, Alfred's unexpected delay disrupted this plan.

Boris felt genuine surprise, mingled with pleasure, upon seeing his old friend Alfred. A considerable time had passed since their last meeting. When Boris was preparing to abdicate the throne, he had specifically selected Alfred for a crucial position. He desired a capable and trustworthy individual to remain by his son's side and provide guidance after his departure, and Alfred was the person he trusted most for this duty.

Boris had taken Alfred under his wing and personally overseen his training. His aim was not merely to have a butler manage daily affairs, but to cultivate someone sharp, disciplined, and resilient enough to navigate challenging circumstances. While Alfred's cultivation progress was not as remarkable as some, he demonstrated exceptional aptitude in administration and strategic decision-making. In many crucial aspects, his value far surpassed that of raw strength.

Boris held no reservations about this. For him, securing someone as loyal and dependable as Alfred was of paramount importance, outweighing mere cultivation prowess. Throughout the centuries leading up to his retirement, their bond deepened, evolving into a close friendship. In fact, it was Alfred who had urged Boris to continue his reign for several more decades, believing that Alen was not yet fully prepared to shoulder such a immense responsibility.

"My apologies. I was accosted by some ruffians on my way here." In recent times, Alfred had been traversing back and forth between the Istarin Empire's capital and the Main Continent. This had become a repetitive task, a necessity he had to undertake despite the inherent risks. The sheer distance was not the primary obstacle for an individual of his caliber.

The true peril lay within the journey itself, which was never without danger. At every turn, vigilance and caution were paramount, with the constant awareness that members of the Organization might be observing him. Even with elaborate disguises and varied routes, evading their scouts was a task that could not be taken lightly. A single misstep could betray his location.

And even if he managed to evade detection, safety was not guaranteed. The routes connecting the regions were infested with bandits and wayward cultivators who preyed upon unsuspecting travelers. An ambush could occur at any moment. Eventually, an attack was inevitable, and today, it had happened.

"Are you unharmed?"

"I sustained some minor injuries, but they are insignificant." The Alfred who had been held captive previously was in a severely weakened state. At that juncture, he would have struggled against even a 5th-order cultivator at the beginner stage. His body was depleted, his strength suppressed, and he was far from his true potential.

However, after more than two months of rest and recuperation within the Dragon Palace, a transformation began. Not only did he fully reclaim his lost strength, but his overall condition surpassed its previous state. His control, endurance, and combat prowess all saw significant improvement, allowing his inherent power to stabilize and flourish.

Moreover, Aditya personally forged unique artifacts for him and augmented his armor and weaponry with potent runes. These enhancements amplified his combat capabilities considerably. Now, having become a Dragonian, his physical prowess had ascended to an entirely new echelon. With the convergence of all these advancements, Alfred was no longer the same individual. At his current standing, he possessed the full capacity to contend with a 7th-order cultivator at the beginner stage.

"Alfred!" Boris and Alfred embraced like brothers. It had been over two decades since their last encounter.

"You appear older than I do," Boris remarked with a laugh.

Being in my shoes, despite your current cultivation, you'd appear considerably older than I do now, wouldn't you think?" Boris let out a hearty laugh upon hearing this statement. It was a rare occurrence for Boris to engage in such open laughter; most found themselves deep in Seclusion, preoccupied with their personal cultivation journeys. Alfred, however, was one of the few exceptions.

Although his official title was that of the emperor's butler, Alfred's duties extended far beyond conventional service.

His most significant, hidden talent was his ability as a Seer!

Seers possessed the rare gift of glimpsing the future, but this foresight came at a cost, often leaving them weakened for several months after each activation of their power.

Turning his attention back to Aditya, Alfred remarked, "Your Majesty, it appears I have missed quite a bit." Aditya responded with a simple smile.

Aditya had been relaying information to Alfred through Rin's spiritual connection. Had the girls arrived in the Tunnel World, he would have had the opportunity to reunite with his family and Spencer.

Previously, the ongoing civil war had been dominated by three primary factions. The largest and most influential was the faction supporting Emperor Ren, boasting the majority in terms of numbers with approximately 48% of the Dukes and Duchesses aligned with him.

Conversely, the faction backing Aditya, while smaller, commanded significant power, comprising about 39% of the ducal titles. Though not holding the majority, their collective influence and strength were considerable and not to be underestimated.

The remaining 13% of the nobility maintained a neutral stance, deliberately avoiding commitment and observing the unfolding events. They were biding their time, waiting for the opportune moment to declare their allegiance. Fortunately for Aditya, after observing the recent developments, all but a handful of noble houses decided to lend him their support.

Those who did not pledge their loyalty to Aditya, along with the few who remained neutral, departed, leaving Aditya with his solidified base of supporters.

Precisely as he had anticipated, the presence of the Goddess of War and the diplomatic efforts of Boris had proven highly effective in swaying the nobles to his cause. He now commanded the support of over 50% of the nobility, a crucial threshold that would allow the Charter of Noble Reinstatement to be formally enacted.

"Alfred, when can we expect the Charter of Noble Reinstatement to be finalized?" Aditya inquired. During his time within the spiritual world, Aditya had already held discussions with Duke Cassian, Duke Ferdinand, and numerous other influential dukes. These high-ranking nobles were staunchly opposed to the Emperor, and Aditya was confident they represented the most likely candidates to join his cause if swayed.

As for the Ashen Covenant, led by the esteemed Harrington Family, there was no need for Aditya to formally seek their allegiance. Their unwavering loyalty to him was a foregone conclusion, and he knew their faction would provide the most substantial backing in the ongoing civil war.

From the outset, the Ashen Covenant had remained steadfastly loyal to Aditya.

"It will be prepared by tonight," Alfred responded with his characteristic composure. To ensure the document's swift completion, he had discreetly infiltrated the Capital and made arrangements with a select group of trusted Royal Officials to draft the charter discreetly, avoiding any undue attention.

"To all present, I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Our immediate objective is the signing of the Charter of Noble Reinstatement. To facilitate this, I request that you all convene at the Harrington household, where we will finalize the signatures and subsequently hold a meeting to deliberate on our future strategies and plans."

The Harrington estate, a formidable bastion, was a location even the Emperor would hesitate to challenge. It represented the ideal venue for them to strategize their next moves.

Furthermore, Harrington was Aditya's maternal grandfather. It was only natural that he would choose to reside at his grandfather's estate for the duration of the civil war, rather than seeking refuge within the territory of another duke.

Individuals began to disperse from the area one by one. However, not everyone opted for an immediate departure. Some saw this as a unique opportunity and chose to approach Aditya directly.

Their objective was unambiguous: they sought elixirs meticulously crafted by the Goddess of Alchemy. These were no ordinary requests, and they recognized that such opportunities were exceedingly rare. Aditya, in turn, did not outright refuse their pleas. He agreed, but with a single, clearly stated condition: they would be required to furnish the necessary herbs and materials essential for the creation of these potent elixirs.

After all, the specific elixirs they were requesting were exceptionally rare and notoriously difficult to produce. These were not concoctions that could be easily brewed or manufactured in significant quantities. Had they sought common or simpler concoctions, they would never have sought his intervention in the first place.

Therefore, the stipulation requiring them to provide the raw ingredients was entirely reasonable. Every individual present readily accepted his terms.

----------------

My sincere gratitude to everyone who has offered support through valuable golden tickets and gifts. Let us continue this momentum together!!!