Published at 9th of August 2026 10:01 am

Chapter 980: Missed Detail

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

"Anything else?" Azaron asked, wanting to know whether Asher had come solely to place the Mark.

Hearing Azaron’s question, Asher was just about to shake his head when he suddenly paused as he remembered something else.

"Can I ask a question?" Asher asked calmly as he met Azaron’s golden eyes with his purple ones.

Azaron arched an eyebrow as he replied, "Sure."

Asher nodded as he began to speak. "I wanted to understand why Baron Rivelle, Baron Canestane, and Baron Whale, along with their respective families, are still here," he asked, his tone remaining respectful.

Azaron seemed confused by what his son was asking. "I don’t understand what you mean. Enlighten me, Youngest."

Asher paused for a moment as he wondered if Azaron was playing dumb or something, but he still spoke.

"I know you and everyone else must possess enough Teleportation Scrolls, and with us heading back to the Zarethorne Empire, which might end up in a battle, wouldn’t it be better to give them the Teleportation Scrolls and allow them to return to the Empire ahead of us?" Asher explained, his tone respectful as he didn’t want to come across as overstepping his boundaries or anything like that.

Azaron paused for a moment before shaking his head with a smile as he spoke. "It seems that sometimes even smart people like you miss obvious details."

Asher arched an eyebrow, wondering what his father meant by that statement. He couldn’t help but fall into his thoughts as his mind replayed every possibility, searching for anything he might have missed or glossed over. Yet nothing came to mind.

"Let me ask you something," Azaron began again. "If the Teleportation Scrolls can teleport people back to their respective Empires, why would the various Emperors and Empresses, as well as the Principals of the various Academies, risk the lives of their students, subordinates, and Nobles by allowing them to travel by Sky Jet when an attack might happen at any time?" he asked, his tone almost expectant, as though he believed Asher would arrive at the answer almost immediately.

At Azaron’s question, Asher immediately froze as his brain finally arrived at the answer, the thing he had been glossing over all along. It had been right in front of him the entire time.

"It’s exactly as you’ve thought," Azaron continued with a small smile. "Teleportation Scrolls can’t cross such distances. After all, millions upon millions of kilometers separate each Empire," Azaron stated. "Not even I can open a portal back to the Zarethorne Empire or anything of the sort, as the Astra Energy required to bend space on such a scale is not something anybody possesses," he added as his eyes left Asher and settled upon the window before him.

"And to even use a Teleportation Scroll, one has to have pre-marked the location the Scroll would teleport them to, just like how Virelass’ Position Marker functions. You don’t just tear a Teleportation Scroll apart and appear in a random place... although Teleportation Scrolls can do that if they are faulty or deliberately rigged," Azaron continued as he explained.

Asher stayed silent as his brain processed everything Azaron had said. Indeed, if the Teleportation Scrolls possessed such miraculous effects, someone like Emperor Zolthemir would simply teleport back to the Empire with the rest of the Royal entourage. No one would willingly leave an unknown enemy the opportunity to attack or prepare an ambush when they could simply return home in an instant.

But still, Asher couldn’t help but fear what would happen to the three Baron families if an attack came. He didn’t look down on his family members, but he was certain the enemies would have prepared extensively for them. And Asher wasn’t sure anyone would have the luxury of defending someone else when they were fighting with everything they had. His mind couldn’t help but drift toward the cute Rachael.

Also, although he knew the Barons would be somewhat powerful, Asher wasn’t sure it would matter in the face of the enemies that were likely coming. He could only pray that no attack befell them until they returned safely to the Zarethorne Empire.

That way, he would become the sole focus.

"I understand your concerns," Azaron spoke again. He had brought these three Baron families here because they were the parents of his youngest son’s friends. "But they understood the risks before they followed us here. They understand the battle that might come," Azaron added, a smile appearing on his lips as he continued. "But aren’t you looking down on me a little too much, Youngest?" he asked, his eyes turning toward Asher once more. "If I dared to invite them, then I can protect everyone. So stop looking down on your old man."

Hearing Azaron’s words, Asher couldn’t help but smile before nodding. Yes, he was overthinking things. Surely, if Azaron had dared to invite them, then he was already prepared to protect them.

"Besides, let’s say that in the event I can’t stop the enemy, I’m sure you can teleport us back to the Wargrave Estate with your Position Marker, right?" Azaron asked with a smile, as though he placed complete faith in his youngest son to rise to the occasion should such a moment ever come.

Asher stood silent for a moment before replying, "Without a doubt," a smile appearing upon his lips.

"Then go enjoy yourself and stop worrying. You’re the youngest, yet you’re worrying as though you’re the Duke or one of the family’s Elders," Azaron said as he slapped Asher on the back with a wide smile.

The force of the slap staggered Asher forward, his back burning with pain. But he could only force a smile.

"We have a lot to talk about when we get home, so prepare an answer regarding your Star Energy, Youngest. After all, I’m sure I won’t be the only curious one," Azaron said as he turned and walked away with calm, unhurried steps.

Asher stared at Azaron as the man walked away while wearing a beach shirt, shorts, and flip-flops as though he were just some random passerby. This was the first time Asher had seen the man dressed in such casual clothing, as whenever he had seen him before, he had always been wearing either his combat suit or a breastplate accompanied by vambraces.

Asher shook his head and turned his gaze away from Azaron, who walked without a care in the world. He stared out through the window. He was ready to tell the truth; he didn’t need to prepare any answer. He would simply tell them that he had won it at an auction for a single copper coin.

Perhaps the only thing he would lie about was if they asked him why he had decided to buy what appeared to be nothing more than a random piece of junk. Although he could simply say that something had told him to buy it and leave it at that, which was the truth, his siblings and everyone else would probably interpret it as his intuition or something along those lines.

Asher shook his head as he decided not to think too much about it. With that, he simply stood before the glass pane, lost within his own thoughts as though he were already reminiscing about the Thalvorn Empire and everything that had transpired here.

But the very next moment, Asher’s thoughts broke as a cute voice rang out from the distance.

"Brother Asher!!!"

Share