However, some high-stage Oracle-grade experts believed that far too many people had already gathered around Prince Lucian and Prince Alvin, making the competition within their factions exceptionally fierce.

Furthermore, these experts possessed great confidence in their own strength.

They believed that even if they supported a second-tier prince, they could still help him ascend the throne.

Therefore, there were also quite a few powerful realm-crossers who chose the princes of the second tier.

The mysterious man before Kane was one of them.

He intended to support Prince Kane and gradually help him climb toward the imperial throne.

However, from beginning to end, he had never regarded himself as Kane’s minister or trusted subordinate.

Their relationship was purely transactional.

After hearing this, Kane immediately felt that the mysterious man before him had become far more dangerous.

After all, these beings had all appeared without warning and directly intervened in the struggle among the seven princes.

No matter how one looked at it, they were a force that could potentially threaten the Eternal Empire.

But the imperial throne was already within reach.

If Kane gave up because of such concerns, he would appear far too cowardly.

With that thought, his gaze immediately became sharp.

"Very well, Teacher. We will proceed as you suggested."

"As long as you can eliminate the expert beside Dorek, I will pay any price necessary to secure official positions that satisfy you and your companions."

Kane’s expression gradually became vicious.

"That damned Dorek should have died by my hand long ago."

"It was only because that mysterious expert suddenly appeared that my plan was ruined."

"Now, that man has even become Dorek’s most trusted minister."

"He helped Dorek establish a connection with the crucial Imperial City Inspectorate and build a favorable public reputation among the common people."

"The incident has already caused such an enormous commotion that Father may summon Dorek within the next few days."

"That man is definitely no ordinary expert."

"If he cannot be used by me, then he must be completely eliminated."

A smile appeared on the mysterious expert’s face.

"At last, you are beginning to resemble someone qualified to compete for the throne."

"Since that is the case, I will accept this matter."

"You need only wait for our good news."

As soon as he finished speaking, the mysterious expert gradually vanished from where he stood.

Just as when he had arrived, he left without the slightest trace.

...

At the same time, the other princes had also heard about Dorek’s actions that day.

After all, the case he had become involved in was extremely sensitive.

The Imperial City Inspectorate had always remained neutral and had never become entangled with any faction.

Yet with a single move, Dorek had made an enormous impression upon the Inspectorate.

He had even gained a considerable amount of goodwill from its officials.

There was a high possibility that he would soon be summoned by the Emperor.

And all of this had originated from the mysterious supreme expert Dorek had recently recruited.

The spies of the various princes had already investigated every available detail.

Within the Imperial City, almost no secret could remain hidden until the following day.

After this round of investigation, Daniel immediately entered the sights of every major prince.

"Damn it!"

"What qualifications does Dorek possess?"

"What talent does he have?"

"How could someone like him attract such a powerful expert?"

Prince Alvin’s heart was filled with jealousy.

Having grown up alongside Dorek, Alvin understood better than anyone just how capable Dorek truly was.

Without that expert supporting him from behind, Dorek would probably have become a corpse by now.

Before the mysterious expert appeared, Dorek had been no different from a homeless dog.

He had been only one step away from losing his qualifications to inherit the throne.

Yet after that expert emerged, Dorek seemed to have become a completely different person.

Whether it was winning over the public before a vast crowd or deliberately displaying familiarity with the Inspectorate afterward, every action revealed extraordinary cunning and political calculation.

All of this was undoubtedly connected to the supreme expert standing behind him.

"Someone, come!"

"Send people to contact the expert behind Dorek immediately."

"If he refuses to join us, eliminate him at once."

Just like Prince Kane, Prince Alvin immediately ordered his subordinates to approach Daniel.

If recruitment failed, they were to kill him without hesitation.

...

Within Prince Lucian’s residence—

As one of the two princes currently considered most likely to inherit the throne, Lucian had naturally heard the rumors concerning Dorek.

The moment he learned what had happened, his eyes lit up.

"Well played, Dorek."

"That was truly a beautiful move."

Lucian had also seen through the true purpose behind Dorek’s performance at a glance.

A rare trace of admiration appeared in his eyes.

"It seems my brother Dorek now has an extraordinary strategist assisting him."

"Heh. This struggle for the throne is becoming increasingly interesting."

...

Within Prince Marcus’s residence—

"What?"

"Dorek?"

When Marcus heard of Dorek’s actions, disbelief appeared on his face.

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly waved his hand and ordered,

"Plant more spies around Dorek."

"He can no longer be treated as the same cowardly and incompetent brat he once was."

"Raise the level of surveillance on him to the same standard as Prince Alvin."

"Understood!"

The subordinate immediately accepted the order and departed to arrange additional agents to monitor Dorek.

...

In the past, Dorek would never have dared participate in the struggle for the throne.

Even though he knew he theoretically possessed a one-in-seven chance of inheriting the imperial position, he had done nothing but hide, terrified that the other princes would regard him as a threat.

But he had completely misunderstood the situation.

Once someone was born into the imperial family, even if he was a useless fool incapable of accomplishing anything, the slightest possibility of inheriting the throne was already his greatest crime.

Imperial blood flowed through his veins.

That alone meant he would inevitably become one of the first targets eliminated by his brothers.

The weaker and more cowardly he appeared, the easier he became to attack.

It was only during a recent assassination attempt that Daniel had intervened and saved him.

Under Daniel’s guidance, Dorek finally awakened the resolve expected of someone carrying both the bloodline of the Fated Human Race and that of the Eternal Emperor.

He finally understood that if he wished to survive, he could depend only upon himself.

His sole path to life was to claim the position of Eternal Emperor.

At this moment, numerous unfamiliar experts of mysterious origins had already gathered outside Dorek’s residence.

They were all wearing disguises.

Some dressed as merchants and pushed carts of goods back and forth along the street.

Others temporarily set up small stalls and pretended to be ordinary vendors selling wontons.

Yet without exception, their eyes repeatedly drifted toward Dorek’s residence.

Even so, none dared cross the boundary.

They remained outside and observed from a distance.

The moment they entered the estate, the Oracle-grade guards and servants dispatched by the Fated Human Race would immediately intercept them.

With their currently suppressed strength, forcing their way inside was impossible.

Furthermore, rumors claimed that a T7 Oracle-grade expert had recently arrived and now remained constantly beside Dorek to protect him.

Under such circumstances, even if they wished to approach the prince—

They were completely powerless to do so.