Previously on Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong...
Queen Dana awakens in a grim, ancient dungeon to find herself stripped of her energy by specialized meteorite shackles. Alongside her, a loyal guard captain hangs mutilated and unresponsive, a victim of a brutal interrogation regarding the Otherworldly Lord. A mysterious, hostile figure emerges from the shadows, taunting the Queen with threats against her brother and the Winged Prince. Despite the psychological pressure and her captive state, Dana remains defiant, refusing to betray her allegiance to the human sovereign.
Dana’s expression remained cold as she let out a disdainful snort. “Your treacherous plot will never come to fruition!” she declared firmly.
“Haha, that Otherworldly Lord is truly a fascinating individual.”
A powerful figure, similarly concealed beneath heavy robes, slowly lifted a hand. In an instant, a Tier 6 longsword appeared, radiating a vibrant, otherworldly light that illuminated the entire gloomy dungeon with a brilliant glow.
“A divine weapon of this caliber is merely a plaything for first-class powers. How could a third-class force like yours possibly possess such a treasure?”
The robust man’s voice shifted, carrying a hint of mocking amusement as he continued coldly, “Furthermore, you possess Tier 6 Armor and various other Sixth-order Equipment, along with an impressive stash of Tier 6 Magic Potions and Magic Scrolls. Since when did your kind become so prosperous? This must be the work of the Otherworldly Lord pulling the strings, isn’t it? The truth hidden behind these events is quite the enigma.”
“But do not be in such a hurry. Once I bring that Otherworldly Lord here, every secret will be laid bare.”
As he spoke, the robust figure’s aura intensified, and his sinister laughter echoed through the stone walls.
“I have told you already, your conspiracy will fail!”
Witnessing her adversary brandish the precious blade gifted to her by Leo Ray with such arrogance, Dana began to tremble with rage. Nevertheless, she gritted her teeth and vowed with unwavering resolve, “Even if it costs me my life, I will never allow you to lay a finger on Your Majesty of the Humans!”
“You foolish creature, have you not realized the truth? From the moment you were imprisoned here, the Otherworldly Lord was already walking into a trap.”
The man’s laughter became even more derisive as he sneered, “Based on the trail of clues I intentionally left behind, that Otherworldly Lord will undoubtedly mobilize his troops to the border for the sake of a worthless pawn like you. When that happens, the stage will be set for a magnificent performance.”
“Are you an agent of the Desert Alliance? Are you trying to spark a war between us and the Rainforest Fortress Alliance so you can profit from the chaos?!”
Dana was momentarily stunned, but she quickly pieced the puzzle together, shouting: “No, it is also possible the Rainforest Fortress Alliance purposefully left those clues. Tell me, are you from the Rainforest Fortress Alliance or the Desert Alliance?”
“That is none of your concern, you piece of trash. You will be reunited with that Otherworldly Lord soon enough; until that time, I shall permit you to live.”
The robust figure cast a look of pure contempt at Dana before his form blurred, vanishing instantly from the damp, dark cell.
“I am so sorry, Your Majesty of the Humans... I have brought trouble upon everyone.”
Dana collapsed despondently onto the floor. She looked toward her Personal Guard Captain one last time, finally unable to suppress her muffled sobs.
...
Meanwhile, inside the King’s Hall at Lion Castle, a wave of curiosity swept through the room. Upon hearing that Leo Ray possessed a way to summon the leaders of both the Rainforest Fortress Alliance and the Desert Alliance at once, the allies leaned in eagerly, their faces full of anticipation.
“It is true that we have no formal ties with them, and their recent military movements suggest nothing but hostility. Given that these two factions are bitter rivals, bringing them together is a monumental challenge.”
Leo Ray set the command stick down by the sand table and spoke with confidence, “However, there is a strategy that can achieve this effortlessly. We simply need a third party to act as a mediator—one they would never dare to refuse.”
“A third party?”
Hanner Tree went into deep thought for a moment before nodding. “Are you referring to the second-tier power situated on the far side of those alliances? Their superior status might indeed give them the leverage required.”
“But even though things have been quiet for decades, those alliances aren’t exactly on friendly terms with the neighboring second-tier powers either.”
Fanny tilted her head in thought, adding, “Besides, if we find it difficult to even reach the alliances, it is even less likely we could establish a connection with those second-tier powers.”
The other powerful allies nodded in agreement, clearly struggling to see the hidden meaning behind Leo Ray’s plan.
Thus far, only two forces beyond the third-class had maintained good relations with them: the Red Dragon and the Light Half-Elf. However, the former was unreachable, and the latter was currently embroiled in a stalemate between the Light Elves and Dark Elves. Assistance from either seemed improbable.
“Your observations are correct; we have lacked allies as we push further into the Outer Region. But there is one prestigious old friend you haven’t considered—my hidden trump card.”
Leo Ray offered a faint smile, providing a hint.
“Lord, are you speaking of the Shadow Market?”
This time, Ariel Watson was quick to react, blurting out the answer.
At her words, the realization dawned on everyone present.
Whether it was during the mutated storm, the conflict at the Dragon Nest, or various other battlefields, the Shadow Market had consistently stood by their side. Although the Administrator remained a mysterious figure who rarely joined their councils, they were a formidable ally that had been temporarily overlooked.
While no one knew exactly what kind of pact Your Majesty of the Humans had made to command the loyalty of such a high-ranking entity, it was clear the Shadow Market was firmly in their camp!
“Of course! If the Shadow Market intervenes, this task becomes simple!”
Broy’s eyes lit up with renewed hope as he added, “The Shadow Market is renowned for being absolutely neutral and fair. Their reputation is impeccable, so their invitation wouldn’t trigger any suspicion!”
“Exactly. Let us begin immediately.”
Since everyone present was a trusted confidant, Leo Ray did not hesitate to contact the Administrator directly.
Shortly after, the Administrator’s voice resonated from the communication stone in Ice Stone City. Through a Mind Talk connection, the voice reached everyone in the hall: “Your Majesty, I am at your disposal. Please give your command.”
Previously, Leo Ray had taken the time to update the Administrator on their progress. This had strengthened their bond of trust; as Leo Ray’s influence expanded, the Administrator’s chances of rising through the ranks of the Market grew as well.
A key factor for promotion within their organization was successfully engaging with multiple Outer Region forces and generating profit—an opportunity the Administrator, who was currently facing internal pressure, welcomed with open arms.
In other words, while the Administrator was being closely watched by the Bazaar Brotherhood and could not support Leo Ray openly, they had long since become secret allies.
“Administrator, let us get straight to the point.”
Leo Ray skipped the formalities and explained the complexities of the current situation.
“To think such a plot was brewing... it is truly infuriating. Your Majesty is right; once the culprit is identified, they must face severe consequences!”
Upon hearing the details, the Administrator replied without a second thought, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. Since you have requested it, I will take full charge of this matter.”
However, the Administrator’s voice then took on a tone of slight hesitation. “There is one issue, Your Majesty. As you may know, my current jurisdiction only extends to the south of the Gleaming Rift Valley. These two alliances are outside my immediate territory, meaning I would have to send personal invitations.”
“But since I have no prior relationship with them, a standard personal invitation from the Market might not produce the results Your Majesty desires.”
The Administrator quickly added, “Nevertheless, do not worry! I have a strategy to ensure your plan succeeds perfectly!”
“Administrator, please share your thoughts.”
Leo Ray nodded, encouraging the other to continue.
“Your Majesty, the solution is to organize a Shadow Market auction on a scale far larger than anything seen before, practically forcing them to attend out of interest.”
The Administrator’s voice crackled with excitement as they continued, “And Your Majesty shall be the true architect behind this entire event!”
