Chapter 545
On the throne, King Wilhelm Augustus sat rigid, his gaze fixed on the man before him.
“Christoph,” he said coldly, “is it truly necessary to hunt down the last heir of Saint- Claire p>
Duke Christoph von Dornwald inclined his head, just enough to show respect. “Your Majesty, we exterminated the entire Saint-Claire family during the last succession because they were the greatest threat to your crown. They supported your brother p>
“If we allow this one survivor to grow unchecked, he will become a danger to us—to our sleep, to our peace. Eliminating him is necessary p>
The king’s fingers tapped once against the armrest. “Then explain to me this,” he said. “How can he be so rich p>
“It appears the rumors are true,” Christoph replied. “He studied cultivation in Xia. When he returned, he crushed the underworld leaders one by one, forced them under his command, and used that foundation to build Eden Group. During the last betting event alone, he amassed wealth that surpassed even Your Majesty’s p>
Wilhelm burst into laughter, sharp and amused. “Impressive. He sounds more capable than my own sons p>
His eyes gleamed. “Why not let him marry Sofina? Make him my son-in-law p>
Christoph’s expression tightened. “Your Majesty,” he said carefully, “that man is dangerous. Given time, he will kill you p>
The king sighed, the sound heavy with age. “I am already old. Why should I fear death now p>
His tone darkened. “Besides, I never approved your slaughter of Marquis Saint- Claire and his family. You used my succession as an excuse to settle your personal vendetta against your mortal enemy. Since it is already done, I closed my eyes to it for the sake of your support p>
He leaned forward.
“But,” Wilhelm said slowly, his stare turning icy, “I never agreed to kill that young man p>
Christoph stiffened. “It was under my command, Your Majesty,” he said quickly. “If that Saint-Claire brat dies, we can brand him a spy and confiscate all his assets for the country p>
Silence fell.
The king’s laughter was gone now. “Where is that brat now?” The King Wilhelm asked.
In his mind, a single thought lingered-
a man like Alex Saint-Claire was far too valuable to waste.
“He is fleeing toward Xia. Our elite aircraft are already in pursuit,” Christoph said coldly. “This time, he will die a hundred deaths. Once he’s gone, we will seize all his wealth without delay p>
The king let out a long sigh. “What a pity p>
If only he had learned the truth before Duke Christoph von Dornwald-the mortal enemy of Marquis Saint-Claire-perhaps he could have protected the young man.
But that chance was gone. The past could not be undone.
The doors burst open.
A minister hurried in, breath tight with urgency. “Your Majesty, there is important news. Please-watch this p>
He activated the massive three-dimensional screen.
Princess Sofina appeared on it, standing at a press conference podium.
“To all beloved citizens of Prussia,” she said, “I speak to you today not only as Princess Sofina Augustus, but to reveal the truth. I am the owner of Eden Group—
and all businesses affiliated with it p>
The room erupted into silent shock.
Across the nation, the media exploded.
Group the richest anonymous power
in Prussia-had always been a mystery. And now its owner was revealed to be Princess Sofina herself.
Duke Christoph’s face drained of color. “Impossible,” he whispered. “Alex owns Eden Group. All the money belongs to him p>
The king touched his bracelet, issuing a command to the royal artificial intelligence. The report streamed instantly into his vision.
“It seems,” Wilhelm said calmly, “that clever young man transferred everything to Sofina at the last moment p>
Christoph dropped into a deep bow. “Your Majesty, you must confiscate those assets immediately p>
“Why?” the king asked flatly. “Because you fear Sofina will use that wealth to win the next throne succession—and your supported second prince will lose p>
Christoph’s face turned deathly pale.
“Minister,” the king said, “summon Sofina to the hall p>
Minutes later, Sofina entered. She bowed with perfect composure. “Your Majesty. Father. You called for me p>
“Sofina,” Wilhelm asked, studying her closely, “are you truly the owner of Eden Group and all its assets now p>
“Yes, Father,” she replied, bowing again.
The king leaned forward. “Tell me why did that Saint-Claire boy transfer everything
to you? What did he say p>
Sofina met her father’s eyes. She did not flinch. She did not hesitate.
“He told me,” she said clearly, “that I must win the throne succession within five years p>
Her voice hardened.
“So that he can return p>
“Audacity!” Duke Christoph roared.
The king burst into laughter-deep, unrestrained, almost delighted. “That man is truly clever,” Wilhelm said, wiping a tear from his eye. “I find myself liking him more by the minute p>
“Father,” Sofina asked sharply, “why did you want Alexander Saint-Claire killed p>
“I didn’t,” the king replied with a calm smile. “That was never my intention. This was all Duke Christoph’s doing. He was the one who slaughtered the entire Saint-Claire family. He was the one who sent forces after your Alex p>
Wilhelm’s gaze-hardened. “He supports your second brother. He fears that you and Alex will seize the throne. He wants your second brother crowned-and to erase
rival who stands in the way.
Including you p>
Sofina tur ed slowly toward Duke Christoph. Anger burned in her eyes.
“Your Majesty,” Christoph said quickly, bowing low, “everything I’ve done was for you and for Prussia p>
The king waved his hand dismissively, unconvinced.
He looked back at Sofina. “Listen carefully, my daughter. If you wish to become Queen of Prussia, you will have twenty brothers to fight. Each of them is backed by powerful dukes. Your path will not be easy p>
“I believe I can handle it, Father,” Sofina said, bowing without the slightest fear. “Good,” the king replied. “If, within five years, you become Queen, I will approve Alexander as my son-in-law p>
“Your Majesty!” Duke Christoph protested instantly. “That man is not worthy of Princess Sofina. She should marry at least a duke’s son p>
“Oh, I remember now,” the king said with a thin smile. “You once suggested Sofina marry your son so you could secure her support and place the second prince on the throne, correct p>
His smile sharpened. “Unfortunately for you, that plan has completely collapsed. All because of one man-Alex p>
“Your Majesty, Christoph insisted, voice strained, “I have only acted for
the good of Prussia. The second prince is the most capable among the twenty still believe Sofina marrying my son is the better choice p>
“Enough,” the king said, his voice cutting through the hall like a blade.
“I have made my decision. It will be formally recorded.” He looked directly at Sofina.
“If you become Queen, I will recognize Alex as your husband p>
“Thank you, Father,” Sofina replied, a satisfied smile slowly forming on her lips.
Duke Christoph already understood one thing clearly-no matter the cost, Alex had
to die.
After the meeting ended, Christoph immediately placed a call to the elite airspace unit pursuing Alex.
“How is the hunt?” he demanded.
The commander’s voice came through. “Sir, that driver is extremely skilled. He’s evading our laser fire with precision. We are still in pursuit, but he has crossed into Xia’s border p>
“Use the light bomb if necessary,” Duke Christoph said without hesitation.
A pause. “Sir,” the commander replied carefully, “the light bomb carries nuclear-level destructive capacity. It’s extremely dangerous p>
“Listen to me,” Christoph snapped, fury rising. “Five elite aircraft can’t take down a single target after all this time, and you want to lecture me about danger p>
His voice turned cold. “I want him dead. Completely. Fire it now. End this p>
“Yes, sir,” the commander answered.
He stared at Alex’s aircraft on the targeting screen—smaller, faster, moving with impossible precision. Every maneuver was clean, calculated, flawless. Only an elite among elites could fly like that.
“What a waste,” the commander muttered. He had already considered recruiting the young man. That was why he initially planned to disable the craft and capture Alex
alive.
But an order was an order.
“Prepare the light bomb,” he said grimly. “Lock onto the target p>
Inside Alex’s aircraft, warning alarms screamed. Laser fire carved through the sky
around him, forcing him into brutal evasive maneuvers.
Then a new alert flashed across his screen.
Light bomb locked.
Alex’s heart sank.
Once the light bomb launched, maneuvering was meaningless. Ten kilometers
would be erased. Space itself would be wiped clean.
One pursuing aircraft stayed locked on him. The others pulled back.
Alex understood instantly.
This was the end.
He would die here.
“Launch the light bomb,” the commander ordered.
A beam of blinding light stabbed toward Alex’s position.
And in the next instant-
The entire ten-kilometer zone vanished in a catastrophic burst of light.
Nothing remained.