Published at 1st of December 2025 8:16 am

Chapter 1777 Departure

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"Alright, alright." Richard lifted both hands in a gesture of surrender, his expression softening as he leaned back slightly. "You said he was looking for a wife-so what happened after that exactly?"

"He actually found one after a few hours of searching" Serine said as she raised her shoulders in a small, tentative shrug. "They say she wasn't particularly beautiful, not the kind of woman who turns heads, but she was still in her middle years. It's also said she had a calm, modest temperament, and that she agreed to marry the Cosmic Elder after speaking with him for a while-despite the fact that he's missing two limbs..." She exhaled lightly. "After that he simply took her with him, and the two vanished. We assume he brought her to one of his private planets, the ones no one dares approach."

"Hm... sounds like the old man finally found himself a life partner. Good for him, I guess. What's the problem?" Richard's smile remained, frozen on his face, but he didn't laugh this time.

"The problem is that-uh-th-that...!!!" Serine's face turned an even deeper shade of red, almost glowing.

"Just say it, girl. Put your heart at ease. I'm going to keep asking until I get an answer." Richard pressed.

"....." Serine rubbed her hands together nervously for several moments, then lowered her gaze. "The Cosmic Elder... he has never been with women. Ever. There's an ancient rumor that he once used that... that organ... in a Fair Exchange at the very beginning of his life. And from that day onward, he never touched a woman, and he never produced any offspring."

"Hm?" Richard's faint smile evaporated instantly.

"What leaves does not return, so most likely the whole thing was nothing more than a rumor," Serine added quickly, shaking her head. "He simply restrained himself all these eras because he was too consumed with the affairs of the universe. But why did he suddenly come back to searching for a wife now? And this wasn't some one-time, lonely whim-one month later, witnesses saw him repeat the same act. He took another wife and disappeared. Then again. And again!"

Serine's large eyes widened to their limit, shining with a mixture of fear and confusion. "When you combine these actions with his new youthful appearance, his different mannerisms, and the drastic change in his personality... everything about him except his power shifted completely overnight. All of it points toward the same conclusion: he truly is dying, and he's trying to live whatever little remains of his life with comfort-and leave behind an heir. Can you think of any other explanation that makes sense?"

"..." Richard tightened his brows sharply, his expression turning stern. "What are the consequences of this information?"

"The universe has been turned upside down," Serine said, her voice dropping. "Even more than when the rumors of his death spread during his long absence. Back then, the great forces were merely cautious, testing the waters. But now the possibility is far closer to the truth, which means preparations have begun in the shadows... The demonic powers have started calculating their opportunities and waiting in silence. The empires are gathering their armies, fortifying their capitals. Multiple academies have closed their gates entirely, refusing all visitors. And almost every commercial world under the major empires has tightened its security, searching and scanning every traveler who passes through."

"A suffocating silence has settled over the universe this past year," she continued, her tone trembling slightly. "Nothing has exploded yet, but everyone is expecting chaos to erupt. No one knows from where it will start, but without the Cosmic Elder, there's always a breath of fear drifting through the air." She looked downward quietly. "Even when the Cosmic Elder was alive and active, there were still wars, massacres, slave markets, and thriving black markets. But there were always boundaries no one dared to cross. Without him... those boundaries will vanish completely, and the world will see the true, vicious nature of certain beings."

"..." Richard turned his face toward the distant horizon, exhaling through his nose. "A man decides to find himself a few wives... and the entire universe collapses. That's the true definition of power and influence, that's what how a man should be."

"Hey! That's what you focus on?!" Serine snapped as she placed her hands firmly on her hips.

"Nothing, nothing-" Richard said, smiling faintly, then he glanced back at her. "So we're delayed from our next destination because of the stricter checks on free-gate travel?"

"Mm-hm." Serine nodded. "They've been scanning travelers' soul imprints lately, and traveling by ship is exhausting beyond reason... so let's just find a place to spend a few years until the universe calms down again. After that, we can go back to our normal routine." Serine gently wrapped herself around Richard's

arm.

"..." Richard remained silent for almost a full minute before speaking. "What about your family? Even if you never said it directly, I know you're from the family of Behemoth Kaylis. Won't you return to help them prepare for the new era?"

Serine's smile faded slowly, and she looked away to the side. "...They have more than enough strength. There's no need to worry about them. They will not need me for anything." Then she drew a breath, regained her warm smile, and looked directly into his eyes. "So where do we go now? There's a water planet nearby. We can buy a small transport ship from one of the fortune-seekers around here and head out. I know the coordinates!"

"...I'm sorry, Serine. It seems that our time together has finally come to its inevitable end." Richard smiled at her, his expression serene and calm, carrying a sense of clarity and quiet acceptance. "I truly hope that you were able to gain something meaningful from this experience, because I know I certainly have... it has been more valuable to me than I can put into words." "Huh?" Serine's smile shifted, a subtle confusion and unease flickering across her features. "What are you talking about exactly? I... I don't understand." "I don't know what's happening with the Bright Galaxy, or what they are planning, but I do know this: the foundations my father left for his empire are still fragile. Far too fragile to withstand a disturbance like the one currently shaking the entire universe. And now, as long as it's certain that the Cosmic Elder is on the verge of death, I can no longer continue playing the role of the wayward child, wandering without purpose." Richard gently moved Serine's hand aside with a soft, almost tender gesture. "...I need to return."

"Huh? Where did this come from all of a sudden?" Serine's eyes widened and trembled slightly, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Didn't you say that you would wait... that you would wait until you were officially summoned? Until your father would finally acknowledge you as a man and treat you like an

adult?"

"All personal concerns must give way to the greater picture," Richard said with quiet authority, his tone calm but firm. "I cannot leave my father and my siblings in a situationlike this simply because I am irritated by some minor incident, or because I feel unsettled by certain actions. The stakes are far too high." He let out a small, almost rueful laugh, then placed his hand lightly on her hair, smoothing it in a gesture of comfort. "Thank you, Serine. Without your continuous guidance along the Path of Purity, I would never have been able to free the last part of myself. And without your presence, I would have forgotten the true meaning of human connection, the warmth of it, even for a fleeting

moment."

"What? No!" Serine waved her hands in protest, her tone urgent. "You haven't fully recovered yet. You're not done yet!"

Step. Richard began moving eastward slowly, deliberately. Once he had gained

some distance, he lifted his left hand high in a farewell gesture, his voice carrying clearly to her. "I wish you all the luck in discovering other complex cases. I am absolutely certain that one day, you will achieve your dream and rise to become the greatest doctor the universe has ever seen... Farewell, Serine. Farewell for now."

"....?!" Serine followed his retreating figure with her gaze until he completely vanished into the distant horizon. Her large eyes shimmered with tears, and her lips parted slightly, as if she were still trying to process, still trying to understand the weight of what had just happened.

Puff. After a few long, tense minutes, Serine sank to the ground, hugging her knees tightly, and muttered in a voice thick with emotion, "Stupid... what's the big deal with just recording my soul imprint in a few portal?"

"Heh~" Richard exhaled softly, a deep sigh of resignation escaping his lips. He

would be lying if he claimed that parting from the one person he had spent the most time with didn't leave a weight in his chest... a weight he could not easily

shake.

But he had always known this day would inevitably arrive, no matter how much

he tried to delay it.

Woosh.

In that moment, several figures emerged quietly from the shadows, their

movements deliberate and precise.

"Hm?!" Richard furrowed his brows sharply, preparing for combat instinctively,

his body tensing as he expected an attack. But his readiness quickly shifted to

surprise, then recognition. "Shadow Swords? You followed me here?!"

Pa! More than ten Shadow Swords dropped to one knee in synchronized respect and greeting to Richard, their armor glinting faintly in the light. Then, a small portal opened with a distinct buzz, and from it emerged a small battalion of thirty individuals. Each wore black armor, though different from the standard Shadow Sword design, their presence commanding and precise. Bam! They too dropped to one knee, forming perfect alignment. "Hail the Crown Prince!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the area. "Imperial Guards?!" Richard's brows furrowed even deeper, a mixture of confusion and alertness crossing his face. "What exactly is going on here?!" "Your Highness," one of the Shadow Swords stepped forward, clearly the leader of the group, his tone respectful yet urgent, "we were forced to acquire planetary-grade artifact just to safely approach you. And Sky Opening City has been working day and night to follow your father's orders, ensuring your protection." His gaze met Richard's directly. "Now that you have finally decided to return, allow us to officially escort you."

"Tsk-" Richard let out a small, irritated sound, tinged with a trace of embarrassment. But he nodded in acknowledgment anyway. "Very well. Let's go home. I'll have words with Theo when we return!"

"Crown Prince!" The Shadow Sword called out quickly, his voice sharp with

urgency. "If you have no objection... may I suggest an alternative destination instead of returning home?"

"Hm?" Richard raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his expression.

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