At five in the evening, in the rear district of the royal palace.
Rather than a royal palace, this place was more like the inner city at the heart of the royal capital. After five in the afternoon, the front district, where the royal hall stood, imposed a curfew. By contrast, the rear district of the palace began to liven up.
The luxurious rail train moved smoothly. The three-car train was packed in the rear two cars, while the first held a round table. The window shades had been lowered, and warm-colored lights shone over the table. Five people sat around it, engaged in a relaxed card game.
Grand Marshal Litanwig.
One of the Three Ministers, Minister William.
Vice Chancellor Enm.
Minister of the Empire's Department of Special Affairs, Kukulin Byakuya.
First Prince Bailaxi Saint Ades.
There was no need to say much about Grand Marshal Litanwig and Vice Chancellor Enm. They were the old king's right and left hands respectively. In terms of power, the vice chancellor had the edge, and in many situations, he represented the old king.
The grand marshal stood over two and a half meters tall. His aura was that of an eagle-eyed, lion-faced man. Those whose hearts were not strong enough did not even dare meet his gaze.
The vice chancellor was a smiling, slightly plump middle-aged man. Having followed the old king for decades, if he had been born into the royal family, he would very likely have become the next king.
Minister William's aura was sharp. He stood just over three meters tall, yet he did not seem strong or bulky. Instead, he was lean and fierce, like a lone beast that had been lost in the darkness for many years.
Compared with the three of them, the first prince's aura