A gentle breeze stirred up dust, dancing in the air.

The atmosphere between the two seemed to grow colder, almost frozen.

The adventurers watching nearby held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

The Crown Prince's brows furrowed, his gaze turning slightly cold.

However, sensing this tense atmosphere, Aurelianne broke the silence first.

"Brother, what teacher means is that I can't always listen to you anymore. After all, I've grown up, haven't I?"

She displayed such a kind smile that it created an illusion before the Crown Prince's eyes.

In his mind, Aurelianne was still that obedient little sister who was always respectful to them, constantly beaming with childlike innocence.

But her current words weren't those of compliance. Like a seed buried in soil, sprouting tender green shoots, still growing continuously.

She had become independent, developing her own thoughts.

This shouldn't be...

The Crown Prince's hand, suspended in mid-air, withdrew awkwardly.

"Indeed, Aurelianne has reached that age. After all, you're here for training, which is good."

He maintained a cordial smile, showing no trace of the embarrassment from being refused.

"If you need anything, just ask. Your brother will support you."

"Thank you very much, brother." Aurelianne smiled, placing her hands at her waist and giving him a dignified slight bow.

Then, looking straight into the Crown Prince's eyes, she spoke seriously. "We just need you to clear the frontline, allowing us unhindered passage to the border."

Looking at Aurelianne's serious expression and hearing her request, the Crown Prince seemed surprised. "You want to venture deep into the monster rift? But that's too dangerous..."

"Brother."

Aurelianne interrupted the Crown Prince with a smile, speaking with great confidence:

"I have my teacher."

These few simple words left the Crown Prince frozen in place, but he quickly recovered, offering a polite smile.

"I see."

He waved his hand, summoning an officer to his side. "Notify the frontline warriors - when they see the Princess's team, let them pass immediately without credentials."

The officer clasped his hands and saluted the Crown Prince, quickly shouting: "Yes, sir!"

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, and the officer hurriedly turned to leave.

"Aurelianne, you've grown up," the Crown Prince looked at her, his eyes seemingly filled with pride.

"So have you, brother," Aurelianne maintained her smile, making even the sky seem brighter. "You're becoming more like Father."

At these words, the Crown Prince paused for a moment, then as if remembering something, stood at attention with his legs together, placing his right fist over his chest in a military salute to Aurelianne: "May you return victorious."

The wind began to pick up, scattering the thick clouds above into patches that rolled toward the horizon, revealing the azure sky overhead.

The dust on the ground rose with rhythmic footsteps, as if reaching to touch the white clouds above.

The demi-human troops marched away in unison, their uniform silver armor emanating a powerful presence, like a squad of resilient natural envoys full of vitality.

The surrounding adventurers, watching this scene of sibling harmony, seemed touched.

Who said the royal family had no affection? Rather, it was that man in the black coat who didn't look like someone trustworthy.

After Aurelianne's departure, the Crown Prince watched the demi-human troops slowly disappear before turning away.

He led his army, likewise departing from the area.

...

The Empire's southern frontline was located at the edge of national territory, consisting of three lines.

One line was near the city.

Outside the city stood an extremely fortified wall, built to resist constant enemy harassment.

Many powerful knights guarded this edge of the city frontline, constantly watching for monster invasions.

If this defense line were breached, the entire southern city would be in grave danger.

The second line was the main battlefield where the Empire's army fought against monsters.

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Army soldiers would engage in endless battles with monsters overflowing from the rift.

Naturally, this was also the most brutal frontline, where lives constantly clashed and vanished.

But the last line... that was stationed at the absolute edge of the Empire.

Strictly speaking, it had already left Imperial territory, existing beyond civilization.

There, a monster rift flickered with purple light, flowing with void-like strange energy. This monster rift had appeared fifteen years ago, constantly growing and spewing forth unprecedented monsters.

Even now, the monster rift still existed, having grown considerably larger compared to fifteen years ago. The rate at which monsters emerged had increased, and that void-like strange energy had become somewhat chilling, as if powerful creatures slumbered on the other side of the rift.

If they were to awaken, they would burst through the rift and completely tear the world apart.

Therefore, fearless warriors were needed to constantly investigate and clear the depths of the monster rift - they were the adventurers.

These adventurers gathered several miles away from the monster rift.

Peculiarly shaped towers stood among the rock walls, their walls flickering with strange colors, containing the rift in a patch of barren land. The deeper one went into the building complex, the stronger the monster presence became.

Adventurers would accept missions from the city guild, crossing the frontline with issued credentials to enter the rift.

Now, adventurers planning to investigate the rift today had already gathered outside the towers.

An adventurer team captain carrying a giant axe cheerfully asked a nearby adventurer, "Hey! Isn't that Captain Hansen? What are you hunting today?"

"Hmm... Rift Rabbits, and we need to collect fifty Rift Rabbit eyes."

"Such a dangerous mission, you dare to accept it?"

Hansen shook his head and sighed:

"No choice, after all, we have over a dozen people to feed. How else can we manage without taking risks?"

...

As the two chatted casually while waiting for the rift to open, suddenly a powerful presence approached from behind.

An army composed of demi-humans slowly approached from behind them.

The overwhelming pressure made both captains shudder, exclaiming in unison:

"What powerful presence!"

"Could it be the Crown Prince's army in person!?"

But upon seeing the unique bone-crafted silver armor worn by the troops, they dismissed their thoughts.

"Demi-humans?"

"An army composed of demi-humans, interesting."

Many adventurers crossed their arms, equally attracted by this unique army.

The powerful presence emanating from this force was like a panther waiting to hunt, making all adventurers feel a subtle sense of crisis.

But there were always some adventurers with unique personalities who wanted to provoke strangers.

This was a very handsome blonde warrior, his flowing long hair emphasizing his beauty.

He said to nearby adventurers, "I'm interested in that human knight in front."

As they approached, he whistled at the proud knight.

The moment his sound rang out.

A chill crawled up his spine to his brain, making him feel utterly suffocated. Despite standing under the blazing sun, his whole body was covered in goosebumps.

He couldn't even detect where this terrifying presence came from, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Even when facing powerful monsters from the rift, he had never felt such fear as now.

Finally, the demi-human troops passed before him.

Gwen, who led them, didn't even glance at him.

Just walking past him, that cold presence had already made his limbs feel numb and frozen.

This knight was very powerful.

What he sensed wasn't just her own strength.

It also came from those uniquely styled equipment she wore.

If he were to duel this knight, he would lose.

This force was extraordinary.

But what felt strange to him was that the overwhelming pressure that made him tremble hadn't come from this knight.

Then who was it...

Suddenly, his heart violently jumped.

It felt like a dark, hollow gaze had appeared behind him.

An extremely terrifying stare fixed upon him.

The blonde adventurer immediately broke out in cold sweat, taking several deep breaths.

A companion nearby noticed his discomfort and laughed, patting his shoulder.

"Pia, first time seeing you like this."

"Got scared?"

"No... I..."

He smiled bitterly, slowly raising his head to see an extremely elegant figure at the end of this force.

It was a girl wearing a noble crown.

The silver armor shone like light bursting from the sky, her graceful bearing emanating an extremely gentle aura.

This immediately shocked the adventurers' spirits.

Behind that noble figure seemed to be a white cloud following closely.

Something seemed to be lying on it, but they couldn't see clearly.

This demi-human force marched straight toward the gate guarding the rift.

The gate guards looked up, then deeply bowed to the elegant figure in the center of the force.

The heavy gates pushed aside the sand, slowly opening to let the entire force through.

This left all the waiting adventurers outside completely stunned.

They had waited so long outside the gate, still pending today's application.

What right did that force have?

Why did the guards open the gates for them without even thinking?

Just because they were all women?

"Because she is the Imperial Princess."

A cold voice sounded beside Pia.

He suddenly froze, utterly confused.

Clearly, there had been no one behind him just now.

So how did this voice come from behind him?

Pia suddenly turned around, only to meet Viktor's calm gaze.

In that instant, he seemed to understand.

That terrifying presence from before had come from this man.

"One more thing."

The cold voice continued.

"Today, we've booked the entire place."