“I shall bestow upon you the ‘Sky’s Command Stone.'”

…!

At Reinhardt’s words, Jinhyuk’s pupils shook violently.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“Isn’t that item meant to be used only by the descendants of the imperial family?”

“This is unacceptable! It cannot be allowed!”

“I agree as well. No matter if they are heroes, this is preposterous!”

The ministers exclaimed in unison.

“Sorry, but the decision has already been made.”

“…Is that truly Your Majesty’s wish?”

Vainstern’s eyes grew cold and resolute.

“Yes… that is my will.”

“Then we have no choice. We will follow Your Majesty’s command, but I pray that you do not regret this decision.”

Vainstern slowly rose from his seat, followed by the nobles in his retinue.

Their response was utterly disrespectful, but it also evidenced that the Duke’s power had now surpassed the imperial authority.

‘This is a real thin ice situation.’

Indeed.

Everyone was bound to react this way.

The ‘Sky’s Command Stone’ is essentially a window for communication.

Specifically, it allows dialogue with the upper echelons of divinity.

Considering what happened when they met the Egyptian deities and acquired the ancient species ‘Goguma’…

One could guess how absurdly valuable this reward was.

‘Jackpot. No, this is utterly insane.’

The whims and unpredictability of the deities made their response uncertain.

‘But if they are pleased, the price could completely shatter the existing balance.’

Jinhyuk’s eyes gleamed with greed.

Of course.

“This reward is far too generous for us. We were merely doing our duty.”

The words that left his mouth couldn’t be farther from his true feelings.

“No. Thanks to you, we were able to prevent harm to innocent people, so this is the least I can do. I only regret not being able to offer more.”

“Once again, we are grateful for your grace.”

Ugh. It’s cringe-worthy and makes my mouth dry.

But he had to manage his expression until the very end.

That’s how adult social interactions work.

“I have some matters to finish up, but once that’s done, I will personally lead you to where the Command Stone is.”

Something caught Reinhardt’s eye.

“And. Sir Abraham?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Could you escort them? If you are there, we wouldn’t need several guards.”

Abraham, a close associate of Vainstern and a Grand Swordmaster, being chosen by Reinhardt was quite unexpected.

He could be an ally or an enemy at any moment, especially now that the Duke had openly shown hostility.

“I will follow the imperial command.”

After a brief exchange of glances between Reinhardt and Jinhyuk, Abraham nodded.

A brief respite.

Jinhyuk was assigned to the same room he had stayed in before.

At last, a proper place with a plush bed and warm food.

Teresa and Chun Yoosung, along with Pesis, were in the room opposite, so they would meet again soon.

“Ha. Finally, some rest. I’ll take a quick nap.”

Alice immediately buried herself in the bed.

As usual, she thought of sleeping without even showering.

“Ah! Sister. Me too. I want to sleep with you.”

“Come here then.”

Andrea crawled next to Alice.

“Bug!”

Goguma also rolled around on the bed, seeming to like the fluffy mattress, and purred contentedly.

“Master, I will go and observe this Abraham fellow. Despite him being a double agent, there are too many suspicious aspects to lower our guard.”

After finishing up with Namgoong Chun and Wolyoung, Andrea joined them, and the room became as crowded as a marketplace.

It would be nice if they all went to a different room.

Why is everyone flocking here?

“Hoo.”

A deep sigh escaped Jinhyuk’s mouth.

But at least the noisy ones would be quiet for a while, so now was a good chance to inspect the items he got from Antrad.

Jinhyuk laid out four items from his subspace inventory.

‘Fox Bead.’

‘Blazing Sword.’

‘A Cookbook for Gourmets: 1009 Recipes.’

‘Waters of Oblivion.’

Each item radiated an extraordinary aura as top-tier artifacts.

‘The Cookbook for Gourmets’ would be useful when tackling the 15th floor where the Witch of Lament resides…

Now it was time to inspect the ‘Blazing Sword.’

Hot and fiery energy spread from his fingertips to his scalp.

[Blazing Sword]

Acquisition Difficulty: SS

Attack Power: 13,500

Weight: 82kg

Durability: 10,000/10,000

Special Effects: This beloved sword of the mid-tier demon Antrad boosts attack power by 10% for 1 minute when used with any ‘flame attribute’ abilities or skills. Additionally, the bearer gains a 50% resistance to all flame attacks.

…This is phenomenal.

The attack power alone was immense, but the two special effects made it even more overpowered.

Both offense and defense specialized, the percentages were almost unbelievable.

‘The only downside is its weight, but there are ways to deal with that.’

He could resolve it through Mr. Orun or sell it to Rick for a high price.

Sitting on a goldmine, literally.

Next, Jinhyuk picked up a transparent glass orb with flames swirling inside.

[Fox Bead]

Acquisition Difficulty: SSS

Contents: When possessed, enables transformation into the ‘Nine-Tailed Fox’ model. This bead primarily changes the bearer’s appearance and enhances movement speed and various skills. (Note: Ownership cannot be transferred and is limited to females.)

Optimized for speed.

There was clearly one person suited for this.

“Andrea. Could you come here for a moment?”

“Me? Are you giving me something, Jinhyuk?”

Andrea’s eyes widened as she quickly jumped out of the bed, like a squirrel spotting a sunflower seed.

“Hold this with both hands.”

“Yes!”

As the bead touched Andrea’s hands, a bright light burst forth.

Woooong!

[Transformation complete.]

[The power of the ‘Nine-Tailed Fox’ awakens!]

Andrea’s appearance gradually changed.

Erect ears and nine soft white tails swayed gently.

She had transformed into the legendary nine-tailed fox, though far from the menacing depictions of lore.

“Wow…”

Andrea marveled continuously, impressed not just by the change in appearance but by the shift in the quality of the magical energy flowing from her.

“You can control the magic to transform back and forth as needed.”

“Thank you so much, Jinhyuk. To think you’d give me something so precious…”

“Don’t mention it. You’ve worked hard on the tasks I’ve given you. Consider this a reward, so don’t feel pressured.”

Though the implication was clear—keep working hard and don’t forget it.

By securing this ‘shackle of gratitude,’ he could freely use Andrea and the power of the 5th layer later.

Good.

Now that the Fox Bead was dealt with, only the ultimate hidden piece remained.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Andrea stood back as Jinhyuk examined a new liquid.

[‘Eye of Gluttony’ perceives the target!]

[Waters of Oblivion]

Acquisition Difficulty: Immeasurable

Contents: Enables ‘mass memory manipulation’ targeting all players worldwide and civilians outside the tower. The duration of altered memories depends on the completion level of the Waters of Oblivion. (Current completion: 7%)

Unbelievable…

An item that could manipulate the memories of all players and civilians globally was unheard of.

In an instant, dozens of potential uses for the item flashed through his mind.

Such boundless utility—it was a treasure indeed.

‘None of the rewards I’ve received this time are to be discarded.’

The abundance of fortune was almost frightening.

To the point where it wouldn’t be unjustified to complain if struck by a meteor while walking.

Yet, he kept his overwhelming excitement internal.

The most significant reward was still to come.

‘The Sky’s Command Stone.’

The opportunity to meet with the higher deities was soon approaching.

The Empire’s Hidden Place ‘The Emperor’s Tomb.’

This location, where the emperors of the past found their rest, was heavily protected by numerous barriers and magics.

Jinhyuk gazed inside the tomb with a sense of nostalgia.

Filled with relics ‘colored’ with significance, just looking at the tomb was a feast for the eyes.

‘I’ve really made it big to have come here.’

Even in the past, when he prided himself as the best, he hadn’t been able to enter this place.

He had failed to change the emperor’s mind and hadn’t wielded significant influence in the middle tiers’ struggle for power.

‘Back then, I had no comrades to overcome those tough challenges with.’

But now, things were different.

Although they squabbled, he had reliable people to trust and work with.

Not a bad feeling, not walking this once lonely path alone.

‘Especially since I can grow beyond what I once thought were my limits.’

At that thought, his heart thumped pleasantly.

Then…

“Hmm.”

Jinhyuk’s eyes landed on a statuesque marble sculpture, about 2 meters tall, modeled after an angel.

What really drew his attention, though, were the brightly colored gems embedded here and there in the statue.

This was the ‘Sky’s Command Stone.’

“Such an incredible item. The magic power is… endless.”

Teresa swallowed hard.

“…Certainly an interesting toy.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed as well.

“We’re seeing quite the rarity here.”

…Pesis and Chun Yoosung looked at the Sky’s Command Stone as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Having vanquished three demons, I will give three of these gems to you. But remember, the Sky’s Command Stone is merely a medium for communicating with the higher deities. To attract their interest, you must possess the corresponding qualities.”

The possibility of gaining the deities’ favor was definitely a huge advantage.

However, to the unworthy, the Command Stones could be nothing more than cursed relics, potentially attracting ridicule or even anger from the deities.

“A curse, you say?”

At the mention of a curse, Teresa’s expression darkened slightly.

As attractive as a connection with the deities might be, nobody wanted a boon badly enough to be cursed for it.

“Of course, don’t worry too much. If you’re deemed unworthy, simply return the Command Stone to the angel statue.”

“That’s… a relief.”

Murmurs of relief echoed softly throughout the room.

“There are a total of 37 Command Stones remaining.”

As Jinhyuk counted the Command Stones, Reinhardt’s lips twitched slightly.

Mentioning the number 37 seemed to convey all Jinhyuk intended to say.

“That’s right. Exactly 37 are left.”

From the past to the present, a total of 38 members had existed in the Reinhardt imperial family.

Yet, 37 Command Stones remained.

This meant…

Only one person had ever been recognized by the deities through a Command Stone.

“Does this mean none of us are worthy successors to Emperor Reinhardt the First?”

Reinhardt I had been a formidable emperor, showcasing overwhelming might and iron-fisted rule, and no one had dared to challenge his absolute power.

Thus, he was chosen by the deities.

With their protection, he wielded his sword for the empire’s peace until his life’s end.

But that golden era had been all too brief.

Since the first emperor, there hadn’t been a single candidate in the imperial family worthy of continuing the authority through the Command Stones.

“So, you decided to give us these precious Command Stones because you think those who defeated the demons might be recognized by the deities?”

“Heh. You are quick to catch on. That’s exactly why.”

“I understand you’ve made this decision, but what do you plan to do about the nobles? Surely, many will question the imperial authority now.”

Just a few hours ago, the emperor’s decision had effectively given the nobles a pretext to mobilize.

Undercurrents that had been lurking were now likely to surface aggressively.

“Imperial authority…”

Reinhardt chewed on those words.

The lonely memories of an aging emperor flitted across his wrinkled face.

“To me, the people living in this empire are more important than any such authority.”

He had wanted to protect the empire built by his ancestors.

To preserve the daily lives of the people living in peace under his rule.

He had dedicated his life to this cause, and if necessary, he was prepared to sacrifice himself without regret.

“But I alone am insufficient.”

The imperial authority was merely a puppet.

Duke Vainstern already controlled the lifeblood of power—taxes and national defense.

Though a few loyalists remained, it was not enough to turn the tide.

As the days passed, the disparity only grew more pronounced, and he had lived in despair in the darkness for far too long.

“As you feared, a grand rebellion will likely occur soon. The martial world’s ceasefire was probably due to the nobles concluding their discussions.”

“You knew…”

Despite seemingly turning a blind eye and a deaf ear, he wasn’t completely oblivious.

Even so, to proceed with such actions meant Reinhardt must have resolved himself for something.

“When I first met you, that’s when I thought it. That hope wasn’t completely lost. And what was once a vague hope has now turned into conviction. Please, save the empire.”

The emperor, having lost everything, was asking him to save everything.

His voice, heavy with sincerity, contained no pretense.

“I am…”

But just as Jinhyuk was about to respond…

[All barriers are deactivated!]

[Defensive magics are nullified!]

[Intruders have entered the Emperor’s Tomb!]

Red status windows appeared one after another.

Someone had arrived.

Inside the tomb.