Currently, Ray moved with the king and his wives to the new conference room. The place was quiet, almost solemn, lit only by a small crystal chandelier whose soft light trembled like a candle in still air. Its glow painted gentle halos on polished wood and left the corners wrapped in shadow. No one spoke; even the servants outside seemed to sense the heaviness and kept their footsteps muted.
It was King Daymond who finally broke the silence.
He leaned forward, fingers tapping the table once before he began.
"Ray, I thought you would get up and take the lead and demonstrate more about the wristwatch and the crystal vision. I didn't know about the network thing. It is a secret, so I won't force it out of you. But why did you let the other five vice leaders of the Inventors Guild take the lead?"
Ray smiled with that calm, faintly mischievous ease of his and replied,
"First, I do not want any spotlight. I would rather stay low-key and enjoy being an inventor. Second, I am not powerful enough to protect myself if someone wants to kidnap me to their kingdom when I am not surrounded by powerful people. And finally, this isn't over. I think the leaders of different kingdoms haven't left yet. They would wait to see who that mysterious sect master is and would want to invite them."
The king's expression shifted instantly.
Only moments ago, he had been playful—but now the weight of Ray's words sank into him like a stone dropped into still water. His jaw tightened. He had not thought this far, had not considered the hidden hands and ambitions behind polite smiles. He remembered all too clearly the price of carelessness—his daughter, the assassination attempt, and his own foolish eagerness to show her talent to the world.
Daymond exhaled heavily.
"I will send my men to keep an eye on them. I have been wondering why they didn't pester me to stay longer or ask more questions. It seems they want to keep an eye out or find the inventor that made the wristwatch and the crystal vision. They want to poach my valuable inventor out of my hands. Hmph! Not on my watch."
Then something occurred to him. His eyes softened as he turned back to Ray.
"So, Ray, why have you come here? Do you require any of my help for something?"
Ray chuckled and shook his head.
"No, Your Highness. I just came to bid farewell to you and the third concubine before I join the academy. There are a few more days before it starts."
Daymond slapped his forehead loudly.
"Right! You are eight years old. So you will join the academy—I totally forgot. Alice's birthday is also coming; she will awaken her cultivation soon. If you go there, please take care of my daughter as well."
Ray's smile grew warm.
"I am not as talented as your daughter, who has become an amazing formation master. She will be the one taking care of me."
Daymond shook his head firmly.
"You've forgotten—you are the strongest among the youngest now. Have more confidence in yourself, young man."
Their lighthearted banter made the king's wives giggle softly behind their hands. The atmosphere briefly warmed, like sunlight slipping through storm clouds.
All except one—Queen Elizabeth.
She sat stiffly, her posture too straight, her hands pressed together too tightly. Her heart weighed far heavier than her jewelry. She had many children, yet her thoughts lingered only on one—her youngest, Lucas, whose foolishness had led him down a dangerous path. And she knew… only Ray could save him from it.
Gathering courage, she finally spoke.
Her voice trembled just slightly.
"Ray… I know my son Lucas made a mistake. A huge mistake at that. But can you please remove his ban from the Inventor Guild?"
Ray's smile faded as if someone dimmed a lantern.
The entire room felt colder.
He turned to her, eyes sharpening—not with anger, but with clarity.
"You are doing the wrong thing, Your Highness. You have spoiled your son rotten. Imagine—he is a prince. He should become somebody to look up to, a model everyone follows. But instead, a prince stole something from the Inventor Guild and then aimed at the Inventor Guild member. Tell me—what would people think? They will say the queen protects a thief prince. That inventors are easy to bully, just because he is royalty."
He did not raise his voice, but every word landed like a hammer.
"Tell me, if I remove his ban now, will he learn anything? He faced no punishment after coming here. You are spoiling him even more. You are teaching him wrong. He stole something from the Inventor Guild—tomorrow he will steal something from somewhere else.
Just because of you as his backer, he thinks he has power and can do whatever he wants. But imagine he does this at the academy—where princes and princesses from many kingdoms gather. If he steals from them… would you be able to protect him?"
Elizabeth flinched at the truth.
Ray continued, gently now, but no less firm:
"Now that he has lost everything and is being looked down upon… he will either become better or worse. The only way he becomes better is through your guidance. Make him humble. It is the only path he has left."
Silence returned—heavy, but purifying.
Elizabeth nodded her head as guilt washed through her like a cold tide.
"I… I will try my best to fix him. Thank you, little Ray."
Ray nodded, then turned toward the king's third concubine.
"Your Highness, let's go to your courtyard and meet little Alice. I haven't seen her in a while; I bet she is pouting a lot."
Alicia laughed softly, her eyes brightening.
"Sure. Follow me."
Ray bid farewell to the king, queen, and the other five concubines, then followed Alicia out.
Alicia's courtyard was peaceful, filled with blooming shrubs and the soft perfume of flowers drifting in the breeze. Before Alicia could summon Alice, Ray raised a hand gently.
He looked up at her seriously.
He had something important to discuss—something that couldn't wait.