Ambition

To ensure they reached the Imperial Capital before the grand event on May 31, the convoy traveled at top speed for fifteen straight days, with an exceptionally tight schedule.

It was not until noon that day, when they saw the towering City Walls of Koennas Ancient City in the distance, that the tension in everyone's hearts finally eased. As a result, the remaining short stretch of road took them an entire half day.

By the time they passed through the gate of the Upper City, it was already dusk.

The setting sun shone upon the ramparts. The ancient City Walls, the solemn guards, and the neat stone-paved roads all seemed enveloped in a hazy warmth, lending a faint, almost imperceptible tenderness to this scene that symbolized the Empire's majesty.

Over those fifteen days, apart from drawing Runes and meditating before bed each night, Donald had spent all his time constructing an intermediate apprentice spell: a honeycomb-like model composed of nine regular hexagons, the Thirty-Eight Yuan Fire Magic, Blazing Meteor.

After fifteen uninterrupted days of practice, he had finally mastered the spell.

And now, Donald was so awestruck by the grandeur and splendor of the ancient city that he was somewhat dazed.

"When I first came here, I was shocked too. They say Koennas City is the most beautiful city on the Hells Continent," Roger said with a smile.

"No wonder the Empire chose to establish its capital here," Donald replied.

"It's no good. It's too beautiful. Makes people covet it," Wesley said, as unconventional as ever.

"By your logic, if they turned the Imperial Capital into a horse stable, there would never be any trouble again," Donald said with a laugh.

"The ministers would all have to dress like stablehands." Wesley narrowed his eyes, imagining what it would look like if ministers dressed as stablehands gathered together.

"Roger, I suggest you pass this proposal on to your father. I'm sure Wesley would be rewarded for it," Donald said to Roger.

"You're right. Wesley would surely be promoted by the Empire and become the first chief minister dressed as a stablehand." Roger had already grown used to the way Donald and Wesley talked. As he spoke, he reached out and high-fived Donald, and the two burst out laughing.

"Don't worry. If there are benefits like that, I definitely won't forget either of you." Wesley looked utterly unconcerned.

The convoy soon arrived at the inn specified in the letter, and the long, arduous journey finally came to an end.

Shortly after checking in, there was a knock on Donald's door. A properly dressed young woman gave him a slight bow and said that Ambassador Natia Vida had invited him to dine at her residence. After asking Devis for leave and receiving permission, Donald followed the young woman out of the inn.

Natia Vida's ambassadorial residence was extremely understated. Compared with the other buildings in Koennas Upper City, it even seemed somewhat shabby.

Its small wooden gate was tucked amid a cluster of grand mansions, as though it were deliberately concealing itself.

Donald bent slightly and ducked through the wooden gate. Before him was an exquisite little courtyard. Natia Vida was seated at a small round table with another female Gnome, drinking tea, while a Dwarf stood beside them.

The moment she saw Donald enter, Natia Vida immediately rose to her feet.

"Donald, you're finally here. Come, let me introduce you. This is my friend, Cynthia Vida."

Donald gave Cynthia Vida a slight bow and an imperfect gentleman's salute. "Pleased to meet you." Then he turned to Natia Vida and asked, "Are you both from the Vida family?"

The two Gnomes laughed together, and the Dwarf beside them lightly covered her mouth as well. This Dwarf was clearly more dignified than Adarua.

"Oh, no, Donald. Vida means 'wise one' in Gnome language. Only those who pass the highest-level assessment of the Engineering Academy may add the suffix Vida to their names."

"I made a fool of myself again..." Donald said, scratching his head with a smile.

"Still, in front of you, we hardly dare call ourselves Vida," Cynthia Vida said with a smile. She had remained seated.

"Oh, Donald, don't keep standing there. My neck is getting tired from looking up at you. Come, sit down," Natia Vida said.

Donald tried to sit in the empty chair beside the small round table, but the chair was too low. His center of gravity tipped backward, and he fell onto the ground.

Cynthia Vida giggled at the sight of him.

Natia Vida also laughed as she helped Donald up. "Oh, look at that. You're the first human besides Lilia to enter this courtyard. I actually forgot to prepare a chair for you..."

Lilia was the young woman who had delivered the message earlier. She was now standing obediently to one side. Seeing Donald's embarrassment, she could not help covering her mouth as well.

"No need. I'll just sit on the ground. It's the right height," Donald said. He naturally sat cross-legged on the grass, and at that height, the small round table was indeed just right.

"That's a good solution." Natia Vida smiled, then said to the young woman who had delivered the message, "Lilia, you may go back first. We won't need you to attend to us for now."

"Yes, ma'am," the young woman answered softly. She then pushed open the gate, left the courtyard, and closed it behind her. Her movements were careful from beginning to end, making almost no sound.

As soon as Lilia left the courtyard, the Dwarf who had been standing there stepped forward and lifted a metal cover from the round table, revealing more than a dozen exquisite dishes, most of which were still steaming.

The three of them then had dinner together, while the Dwarf remained at the side, serving as an attendant.

"Donald, I've already seen a sample of the Devil King Alloy you developed. It's outstanding work." Cynthia Vida gently wiped her mouth with a napkin. In truth, her table manners were so elegant that there was no trace of food at the corners of her lips.

"It was only because no one had thought of it before. Once you put it plainly, it's actually quite simple," Donald replied casually.

"No, no. Many great inventions seem very simple in hindsight. But before the light of wisdom shines into that corner, no one realizes that the problem can be solved so simply. Take the greatest invention in Gnome history—the wheel. From today's perspective, using wheels must seem perfectly natural. But would you believe it? For millions of years, no one thought of the idea." Cynthia Vida spoke with great seriousness.

Natia Vida added from the side, "That's right, Donald. Do you know? I had underestimated your machine before. Only after it was shipped back home did our engineers discover that the gears you designed, though made of the most ordinary materials, suffered very little wear. The entire Engineering Academy spent a full month before they understood why. I read that report. It was incredible. That curve... I truly don't know how you came up with it."

"Uh... probably because I spent my entire childhood in my father's blacksmith shop..."

"Haha, you don't need to explain, Donald. My father is one of the best engineers in the Gnome Race, yet look at me—I can only serve as a trade envoy. It's all talent. Talent cannot be explained," Natia Vida said with a laugh.

Cynthia Vida took a sip of tea, and her expression grew somewhat solemn. "Donald, we did not invite you here today merely to thank you. We also want to know what ambitions you have."

"Ambitions?" Donald was a little puzzled. Why had they suddenly brought up this topic?

"Yes. Or rather, are there any wishes you want to fulfill? Whatever they may be."

"Whatever they may be? Haha... I want my younger brother to become the Regiment Commander of the Royal Knight Order... Oh, and I think Koennas City is beautiful. I want to give it to a Girl..."

"If you are serious, the first can be accomplished today. The latter may take half a year." Cynthia Vida still looked entirely serious, as though she were not joking.

Donald turned to look at Natia Vida's face. She was equally solemn.

"What are you two up to? I haven't had that much to drink..."

"Donald, you're not drunk," Natia Vida said slowly. "Do you know? In just a few short months, your research results have advanced our technological civilization by a great step. We believe that effect will continue."

At this point, Natia Vida glanced at Cynthia, who continued.

"Now, you, Donald Wien, are our Extreme North Country's most important partner in Central Land. In order to continue receiving your support, we will do our utmost to help fulfill your personal ambitions."

"...What are the conditions? There have to be conditions, right?" Donald finally understood what they meant.

"The condition is simple. Promise us that you will not go to the Magic Continent." Cynthia stared into Donald's eyes.

"Why that condition?"

"I cannot say... But please believe us. There is no malice toward you in this condition."

Donald pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "I don't think I have any great ambitions... For now, I have no interest in power or status. I began learning magic only out of curiosity—surely, as Gnome wise ones, you are also curious about this world?"

Donald watched the reactions of the two Gnomes before continuing, "So, if I must name an ambition—I want to travel everywhere. The Magic Continent, the Knight Federation... If possible, I would even like to see the Extreme North Country. I am truly grateful for all the help you have given me, especially for what Adarua did to treat Richard in Dorn City. But I'm very sorry, I cannot agree to your condition for now."

Cynthia remained silent for a long time. Several times, she picked up her cup, took a small sip, and set it back down.

"Very well. This offer will remain valid at any time before you set foot on the Magic Continent. Also, I hope our conversation today will not affect our current cooperation. Even if we cannot deepen it further, we would still be happy to maintain our current form of partnership."

"Yes, that's what I think as well. Then I'll take my leave for today." Donald gestured to Natia Vida, then rose and departed.

Donald did not know why Natia and Cynthia had proposed such a partnership, nor could he understand why they had raised that strange condition. He had merely rejected them out of an instinctive aversion to restraints and restrictions. Now that they were unwilling to reveal the reason for that odd condition, he decided it would be better to leave sooner.

Only after confirming that Donald had gone far away did Natia Vida softly say, "I'm sorry. I should not have encouraged him to study magic."

"It is not your responsibility. Before this, no one had imagined that the Chosen One would be human."

"Are we really sure it's him?" Natia Vida asked.

"Ninety percent certain," Cynthia replied.

"...Then, how much time is left?"

"The original estimate was twenty years. Now, perhaps fifty years remain."

At this, Cynthia Vida fell into thought, obvious sorrow showing in her eyes.

"Natia Vida, your maid Lilia is a Mage." The Dwarf beside them finally spoke slowly.

Natia was stunned for a moment, then quickly regained her composure and said with a smile, "Interesting. Cynthia, it seems you will have to send me another military officer."