Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me

Chapter 398: Chapter 397: A Tier 7 Sword

The moment they saw him enter, both immediately stood.

Ashan’s expression was calm as usual.

Mili, however, looked nervous.

Charles closed the door behind him.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

The silence alone was enough to make both young royals understand why he had come.

Charles slowly walked toward the window.

Outside, the capital was visible.

Thousands of soldiers moved through the streets.

Barricades were being built. Supply wagons traveled day and night. The entire city was preparing for war.

Charles finally spoke.

"Ashan."

The Crown Prince immediately straightened.

"Uncle."

Charles turned around.

His expression was serious. Far more serious than either of them had ever seen before.

"No matter what happens..."

His eyes locked onto Ashan.

"You must survive."

Ashan froze, and the room became silent.

Mili immediately lowered her head. Her small hands clenched tightly.

Charles continued.

"Listen carefully."

"If the walls fall..."

"If the capital falls..."

"If every soldier in this kingdom dies..."

"You must live."

His voice remained calm. But every word felt heavy.

Ashan understood immediately. Charles wasn’t speaking as his uncle.

He was speaking as one of the kingdom’s leaders.

Ashan lowered his gaze.

"...You believe we might lose."

Charles was silent for several moments.

Then he nodded.

"The possibility exists."

Mili’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

"No..."

Her voice trembled.

"No..."

Charles looked toward her. The young princess was already crying.

"Uncle Charles..."

She wiped her eyes.

"I don’t want to go."

Her voice cracked.

"I want to stay with Father."

The sight made Charles’ heart ache. She was still young.

Despite all her maturity, despite her royal upbringing, she was still just a girl watching her family fall apart.

Charles walked over and gently placed a hand on her head.

A helpless smile appeared on his face.

"You have to go."

Mili immediately grabbed his sleeve.

"Please..."

"You don’t understand."

Her tears continued falling.

"What if something happens to Father?"

"What if something happens to you?"

"What if..."

Her voice broke completely.

Charles quietly listened.

Then he gently wiped away a tear from her cheek.

"Mili."

His voice was soft.

"Very soon, this city will become a battlefield."

The smile on his face faded.

"The safest place for you is far away from here."

Mili shook her head repeatedly.

"I don’t care."

"I want to stay."

Charles sighed.

Then he crouched down until he was at eye level with her.

"Mili."

His voice became firmer.

"You are a princess."

"You have responsibilities."

Mili bit her lip.

Charles then looked toward Ashan.

His expression became even more serious.

"And you."

Ashan straightened immediately. Charles placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You are the future king."

The Crown Prince remained silent.

"You must remember this."

Charles’ eyes never left his.

"Even if this kingdom falls..."

"Even if the capital is destroyed..."

"Even if our enemies take everything from us..."

"As long as you live, the kingdom lives."

Ashan’s fists slowly clenched.

Charles continued.

"A kingdom is not its walls."

"It is not its throne."

"It is not even its capital."

"It is its people."

"And as long as their king survives..."

"There is always hope."

For the first time, Ashan’s composure cracked slightly. His eyes turned red.

Yet he nodded.

"I understand."

Charles smiled. A proud smile.

For a moment, he saw his older brother in the young prince.

"Good."

Hours later, preparations were complete.

Outside the palace, a large carriage waited.

Unlike ordinary carriages, this one was attached to a massive flying beast.

The creature stood nearly ten meters tall.

Its enormous wings folded against its body.

Elite royal guards surrounded the area.

Everything had been arranged in secret.

Very few people even knew the Crown Prince and Princess were leaving.

Ashan stood beside the carriage. Mili stood nearby, her eyes red from crying.

King Alden had already said his farewell. That had only made things harder.

Charles stood before them one last time. Neither side spoke immediately.

What was there left to say? The war was coming, everyone knew it.

Finally, Ashan bowed deeply.

"I will not forget your words, Uncle."

Charles nodded.

"I know."

Then Mili suddenly threw herself into his arms. Charles nearly lost his balance. The young princess hugged him tightly.

Far tighter than she ever had before.

"Come back."

Her voice trembled.

"Please come back."

For a brief moment, Charles closed his eyes.

Then he gently patted her head.

"I will."

Mili cried even harder.

Eventually, she allowed herself to be guided into the carriage.

Ashan followed shortly after.

The door closed.

The flying beast spread its enormous wings.

WHOOSH!

Powerful winds swept across the courtyard.

The carriage slowly rose into the air. Charles stood motionless.

Watching.

The royal guards stood silently behind him.

Until the carriage became a tiny silhouette in the distance.

Only after it completely vanished beyond the horizon did Charles finally turn around.

The warmth disappeared from his face. The gentle uncle was gone.

After that, Charles left the courtyard.

His cloak fluttered behind him as he walked through the palace corridors.

The guards and servants he passed immediately bowed.

"Duke Charles."

"My Lord Duke."

Charles acknowledged them with a simple nod and continued forward.

His destination was clear, the royal treasury. A place few people were ever allowed to enter.

A place that held the greatest treasures accumulated by the kingdom throughout its long history.

Several minutes later, he arrived before a massive steel gate.

The gate stood nearly fifteen meters tall and was covered with countless runes.

Layers of formations pulsed faintly across its surface.

Anyone attempting to force their way inside would likely be killed before reaching the door.

There’s four guards stood outside. Each one was a Tier 6 expert.

Their presence alone was enough to intimidate most people.

When they saw Charles approach, all four immediately bowed.

"Duke Charles."

Charles stopped before them.

"I need access."

The four exchanged glances.

One of them stepped forward and produced a crystal token.

The others did the same. The four tokens floated into the air.

Moments later, the giant gate began to glow.

RUMBLE.

RUMBLE.

The enormous door slowly opened. A wave of ancient energy flowed outward.

Charles stepped inside.

The treasury was vast. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched throughout the enormous chamber.

Weapons.

Armor.

Ancient scrolls.

Rare ores.

Spirit herbs.

Treasures collected over centuries.

Any one of them would be enough to start a war between lesser forces. Yet Charles barely looked at them.

He continued walking.

Deeper.

Farther.

Until he reached the very end of the treasury.

There stood an ordinary stone wall. Nothing special or valuable. At least, that was what it appeared to be.

Charles stopped before it.

Then he pressed his hand against one specific section. A pulse of mana flowed into the stone.

Several hidden runes immediately lit up.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The wall trembled. Next moment, a hidden door slowly revealed itself.

Very few people in the kingdom knew this place existed.

Charles stepped inside.

The chamber beyond was surprisingly small.

There were no shelves, no mountains of treasure. No piles of gold.

The room contained only a single pedestal, and upon that pedestal rested a sword.

Charles slowly approached.

The closer he got, the heavier the pressure became.

The weapon radiated a presence that felt almost alive.

The blade was beautiful. A silver longsword with faint golden patterns engraved along its length.

Ancient runes covered the weapon from hilt to tip. Even the air around it distorted slightly.