I have a Synthesizer

… …

After the group arrived deep within the palace, they finally saw some guards, not regular soldiers, nor the Security Forces, but a uniform contingent of Dark Crusaders.

The Dark Crusaders exuded a strong aura, and possessed the bearing of true soldiers, quite different from the Dark Crusaders outside. Their aura was very similar to Lilith's, prompting Klein to take a few more glances.

They were about to meet the Empress. In terms of status, she was already the most powerful person in the world. Even according to rumored strength rankings, the Empress was one of the legendary Nine Kings, the pinnacle of humanity.

This was Klein's first opportunity to meet a truly top-tier human powerhouse, and he was quite looking forward to this meeting.

After arriving at a relatively ordinary side hall, the person standing at the entrance made Klein's heart clench suddenly. It wasn't anything else, but the impression this person had left on him was too profound.

Familiar green hair, black clothes, and a remarkably handsome appearance—such a person would be too conspicuous in any crowd, allowing Klein to recognize him at a glance.

The leader of the Dark Crusaders, the person who had once saved him and Lilith, Lilith's biological father, the Source of Plague - Kukulkan.

Aside from Klein, Lilith was also staring at Kukulkan, her eyes filled with obvious hostility.

Klein had never asked why Lilith harbored such great animosity towards Kukulkan. It wasn't that he didn't want to ask, but he knew that he didn't yet have the ability to resolve this question.

Klein was rather puzzled. Kukulkan, as one of the three leaders of the Dark Crusaders, was actually here as a guard?

Oh no, perhaps he was the head guard, but a head guard was still a guard. Shouldn't a titled powerhouse be doing something more interesting?

Amidst Klein's confused gaze, Fachiss slowly walked up to Kukulkan.

"Lord Kukulkan."

"Good morning, Ms. Fachiss. Her Majesty is already waiting for you inside. This way, please."

After the two exchanged slight bows, Fachiss led the escort team into the palace.

The empty hall had almost no proper decorations. The only things that could be considered decorations were the red veils that were everywhere.

At the deepest part of the palace, a person was lying on the throne. Another person stood beside the throne.

Fachiss knelt down on one knee in the center of the hall. As she knelt, everyone else followed suit.

In the face of absolute power, no one dared to be stubborn. Klein himself was the first to kneel. Ideals of unyielding spirit and inherent dignity were not to be upheld in a place like this.

The woman on the throne sat up, yawned, and said somewhat languidly:

"Hah~ Ah!~ You're too early. Everyone, rise!"

Judging from her position, she should be the First Princess, Qianhua. However, her appearance made her look like a twin sister to the Empress.

According to the records in the history books, the Empress should already be 49 years old.

She, Kukulkan, and his father, Asmund, had been classmates of the same rank at the Royal Academy. But the Empress at this moment was truly too young.

Standing next to her, the First Princess Qianhua, made it nearly impossible to discern any age difference. No one could imagine that they were mother and daughter.

Although it was said that powerful individuals had the effect of preserving their appearance, this almost ageless effect was too outrageous.

Comparing Kukulkan, his own father and mother, to the Empress, the difference was too great. Almost no one would believe they were the same age.

Just as Klein was suspecting that the Empress was faking her age, Fachiss spoke.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready with the escort team. Please give your instructions."

The Empress did not answer immediately, but slowly descended from the throne, looking at the escort team as she walked.

She was not tall, and her slender hands and feet did not have the power that Becky and Lilith possessed. One could even say she was somewhat frail.

Klein really couldn't imagine this seemingly delicate woman tearing apart several generals, or handling an Ultra-Ranked Magic Beast.

As the Empress Qianjue walked past Klein, his Burning Heart seemed to be guided by some force, suddenly pulsating violently. All his magic was poised to be unleashed, almost instinctively.

But he couldn't sense any energy reaction from the Empress Qianjue at all. Klein could only suppress his body's excessive reaction, forcing himself to calm down.

Qianjue's gaze lingered on Klein for a fleeting moment, then turned to the others, and she spoke.

"You are all pillars of the Empire. Please be careful on this trip to Grandok. And bring Frando back to me."

Fachiss bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. We will definitely bring Lord Frando back safely."

The Empress waved her hand.

"There's nothing else to say. You may all leave. Qianhua, you also be careful and return quickly."

"I understand, Mother."

The First Princess Qianhua also lowered her head, showing her deep respect for the Empress. After following Fachiss, Fachiss led everyone away, and Klein obediently followed in the team.

He did not make any excessive reactions or reveal any anomalies throughout the process, but he always felt that the Empress seemed to have looked at him a few more times. However, he hadn't dared to make eye contact with the Empress before, so he didn't know if he was imagining things.

… …

After Klein and his group left, the Empress still stood in the center of the hall, not departing.

Kukulkan, thinking the Empress had something to say, came to her side.

"Your Majesty?"

Qianjue pointed to the place where Klein had just been standing.

"What's the name of that kid who was standing here just now?"

Kukulkan recalled for a moment, then immediately reported Klein's information.

"Klein Alex of the Gayss Family, the third son of Asmund, a very well-known Etheric Alchemist, Arcanist, Necromancer, with decent close combat skills, strength between Tier 2 and 3."

After hearing Klein's identity, the Empress frowned slightly, seeming somewhat displeased.

"He's Klein? The one you saved last year?"

"Yes."

"Purposely making himself so scruffy, interesting."

Kukulkan didn't understand what the Empress meant by "interesting", and could only ask.

"Does Klein have any problems?"

The Empress suddenly spread her hands, sighing.

"No problems, your daughter has good taste."

Kukulkan was stunned. What did that mean?

"Your Majesty? Lilith and he should not have been in contact for a long time."

"Heh, do you think I'm mistaken?"

"No, Your Majesty is never mistaken."

The Empress extended a hand, and the dust in the palace suddenly began to gather in her hand, then compressed, turning into a ring-shaped ball of mist.

The Empress propped her cheek with one hand, and held the ring-shaped ball of mist in the other, saying to Kukulkan.

"In his brain, there's something like this, called a Magic Heart, but I couldn't quite see which kind of Magic Heart it is.

Hmm! It's a decent ability, with some potential. What a pity, he already has an owner, snatched away by your daughter. Otherwise, I could have arranged something for Qianhua, Qianxun, and Qianyu."

"Magic Heart? A heart growing in the brain?"

Putting aside the matter of young people finding partners, this was the first time Kukulkan had seen the Empress hold such an appreciative attitude towards someone else's ability.

Because usually, the Empress's evaluation of others was only two words: trash.

Like Grand General Herman's Arcane Fangs, trash.

The Lava Battle Qi of the Steel Brotherhood's Chairman, trash.

Even his own Death Ripple was not spared. Anyway, these abilities were all trash in the Empress's eyes.

But Klein's Magic Heart actually received a "decent" rating. This was too rare. What the Empress said was correct, Kukulkan could basically automatically translate it into strong, invincible, that's right.

"Magic Heart, is the meaning of core, not the meaning of heart. There are several kinds, Gathering Magic Heart, Burning Magic Heart, Breaking Magic Heart, roughly like that.

However, I see that your daughter has a lot of hostility towards you. If this little boyfriend of hers grows up and helps Lilith kill you, I estimate you won't be able to stop it."

After hearing the Empress's words, Kukulkan said calmly.

"I await that day's arrival."

The Empress glanced at Kukulkan, seeming somewhat dissatisfied, but she changed the subject.

"Compared to your daughter, who knows to actively seek out an excellent partner, my daughters only bury themselves in cultivation all day long. Qianhua is already 24, I'm really worried about their future!"

Hearing these words, Kukulkan didn't know how to continue.

"Is Your Majesty considering choosing partners for the three princesses?"

The Empress curled her lips.

"They're all adults, do they need someone to teach them how to date? Wouldn't that be wasting their faces and figures?

If they can't even find an excellent partner, then what's the difference between them and trash? I'm too lazy to arrange any marriages for them. If they can't find anyone, then they can honestly be single dogs."

After speaking, the Empress crushed the ball in her hand.

"But this Klein is indeed not bad."

"Should I transfer him over from Asmund's side?"

"No need. Asmund is very stingy, he won't be willing to part with his precious son."

Kukulkan frowned. He really didn't have any good feelings towards Asmund.

"Following Asmund, Klein might be influenced in some way, developing in a rather bad direction."

The Empress chuckled.

"Bad is bad then. To me, who's bad, who's not bad, what difference does it make?"