Having heard what the soldier just said, King Edward's brows rose slightly in surprise.

He turned his head toward the kneeling guard and asked,

"Who is it? Do we know him?"

The soldier gulped hard before replying, his voice slightly trembling.

"Your Majesty… it's Mr. Jack Klassen. Owner of Klassen Forgeworks—the man whose weapons have become so famous worldwide that even the Dwarven King personally invited him to migrate to the Dwarven Empire."

The moment the name left the soldier's lips, the atmosphere shifted.

Even King Edward froze for a brief second, his expression turning serious.

Whispers rippled through the nobles and officials like waves.

Jack Klassen was not a name thrown around lightly.

In less than a year, his rise had shaken the world.

From a nameless smith to the most sought-after weapons manufacturer across nations, his creations had redefined warfare itself.

His company supplied armies, guilds, and even royal families.

The Dwarven Empire had tried to claim him. The Elven Kingdom had offered him resources. And now even the Holy Empire of Celestara coveted his craftsmanship.

Edward himself had met the man only once—during a trade summit that lasted barely ten minutes even thought jack was from the human empire. But his schedule was so chaotic, his time so valuable, that even kings struggled to gain audience with him.

Now, hearing that the man personally came for a seventeen-year-old boy…

It was unbelievable.

For a moment, everyone—Cian, Edward, Serena, and Evelyn—stared at Alex in disbelief.

'Why… why would someone of that level come for him?'

Meanwhile, Alex stood there with an infuriating grin that could make anyone want to punch his face into the floor.

He could feel the burning gazes around him and thought gleefully,

'Oh, I like it. I definitely like it.'

'I feel like one of those third-rate Chinese novel protagonists revealing their background and shocking everyone with their insane connections and influence. Damn, this feels good.'

Beside him, Azrael squinted. "Now who the hell is this Klassen guy? Is he the one who's gonna chop our heads off or something?"

Alex gave him a deadpan look. "Will you just shut up and let me enjoy my little moment of glory? You'll see how amazing my business partner is."

Azrael's mouth twitched. "I say we just kill them all and escape. How does that sound?"

Alex sighed. "And how exactly are you going to do that?"

Azrael shrugged. "I don't know. You figure it out. My future self kept praising you a lot when I got teleported here, so maybe there's a plan somewhere in that big head of yours. But now I'm thinking he was just full of shit."

Alex groaned. "Have you given ma—"

Before he could finish, Edward's firm voice boomed across the chamber.

"Silence."

Instantly, all chatter ceased. The tension returned.

The king straightened his posture, his royal presence radiating authority.

"Bring him in," Edward ordered. "Treat him with dignity and respect."

The soldier bowed and rushed out of the throne room.

Meanwhile, Alex turned toward Evelyn with a faint smirk. "Hey."

Evelyn looked back at him. "Hey."

For a moment, silence reigned between them, only the distant hum of magic crystals illuminating the hall.

"Why did you come here?" Alex asked finally.

Evelyn walked closer, her expression soft yet tired. She placed a hand gently on his neck, sighing quietly.

"Because a certain so-called best friend of mine asked for help," she said. "And since I have some influence in the Holy Empire, I decided to step in."

Another stretch of silence followed.

"So, you didn't come here voluntarily, huh?" Alex asked, his tone half teasing, half serious.

Evelyn didn't answer. She only looked at him quietly.

Azrael leaned in and whispered in Alex's ear. "Did you cheat on her?"

A vein popped on Alex's forehead. "Why would you even think that?"

Azrael crossed his arms. "Because you look like a douchebag, okay? You've got that face—the one that screams 'I'll break your heart and smile doing it.' And judging by her reaction, I'd say you totally did something to deserve it."

Alex's jaw dropped. "Did this scar-faced bastard just call me a douchebag?"

Before he could retort, a stifled laugh escaped Evelyn's lips.

Everyone turned.

It wasn't loud, but in the solemn atmosphere of the royal court, even the smallest chuckle was like a bell ringing in the void.

Her golden eyes softened, her lips curving faintly as she watched Alex and Azrael bicker like idiots.

'He really is someone who can lighten the mood, even in a moment like this,' she thought with a small smile.

But that small smile sent ripples across the hall.

The nobles, priests, and knights—all stared in disbelief.

The expressionless Oracle of the Goddess… was laughing.

Even Arthur Williams, Evelyn's father, stood frozen, whispering under his breath,

"My Eve… is laughing. And she looks… happy."

His voice trembled with emotion. For a moment, tears threatened to fall.

Then, the heavy doors of the throne room opened again.

All eyes turned toward the grand entrance.

Two figures walked in.

The first was Selena Vega, walking with her usual composed grace. Her dark hair robe shimmered faintly under the light, the sigil of the Vega family embroidered on her chest.

Beside her was a tall, black-haired man whose very presence commanded the room. His hair was slicked back neatly, revealing sharp, chiseled features. His eyes were deep and dark, carrying both exhaustion and confidence.

He wore a tailored three-piece suit—navy and gold accents running along the seams. But the fine fabric could barely conceal the sheer muscle mass beneath, forged by years of relentless labor at the forge. His hands, though gloved, carried the faint outline of scars and calluses—proof of a man who had shaped metal with his own blood and sweat.

Even standing still, Jack Klassen radiated an aura of authority—solid, immovable, and commanding respect.

The golden crest of Klassen Forgeworks shone on his lapel, and every noble in the room knew exactly what that symbol meant.

Jack Klassen—the man whose forges equipped armies, whose craftsmanship could decide the outcome of wars, and whose business empire was now worth billions.

And he was here… for Alex Dragonheart.

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