Just as Daniel had predicted, only a few days passed before the Eternal Emperor personally summoned Prince Dorek.

The moment Dorek received the news, he became visibly anxious and hurried to find Daniel.

"Teacher! Teacher! Father has summoned me. What should we do?"

Seeing his panicked expression, Daniel waved his hand and smiled.

"Relax. There is no need to panic."

"Since your father has chosen to summon you, it means the Inspector handled everything according to procedure and has already spoken favorably of you."

"Simply follow our original plan."

Dorek immediately felt much more reassured.

"Understood, Teacher. I’ll go meet Father now."

He soon boarded a carriage reserved specifically for passage into the imperial palace and departed in a hurry.

However, although Dorek left quickly, he returned even sooner.

After all, this was ultimately only a summons.

The Emperor had merely exchanged a few inconsequential words with him. At most, it could be considered a formal procedure.

Yet that procedure was extraordinarily important, especially during the current struggle among the seven princes.

Although it brought no immediate benefits, the influence it created might eventually alter the fate of the entire universe.

During this brief period, Daniel had remained patiently within the residence.

The moment he sensed Dorek’s aura returning, he immediately prepared to meet him.

However, when Dorek appeared, Daniel’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Within his field of vision, numerous strange specks of tribulation ash clung to Dorek’s body and drifted downward with each movement.

Because of their unusual nature, the ashes disappeared without a trace the moment they touched the ground, as though they had never existed.

"So that is tribulation ash?"

Daniel’s thoughts stirred when he saw it.

"I didn’t expect the Eternal Emperor’s tribulation-ash corruption to have already reached such a severe level."

"Dorek merely met him briefly, yet so much tribulation ash attached itself to his body."

"I wonder how much longer the Eternal Emperor can endure."

From this minor detail alone, Daniel gained a clearer understanding of the Eternal Empire’s current condition.

While he was still thinking, Dorek entered and immediately bowed.

"Teacher, I have returned."

When he raised his head and noticed Daniel’s gaze, he immediately understood what Daniel had seen.

Yet instead of worry, delight appeared on his face.

"Teacher, you noticed it as well, didn’t you?"

"Father’s tribulation-ash corruption has already become extremely severe."

"I did not even see him in person. I only spoke with him through a barrier."

"He asked me many questions, but I answered exactly as you instructed and maintained the appearance of an honest, straightforward prince."

"After hearing my answers, Father clearly began trusting me far more!"

"He even proposed conducting a deeper examination of me, but I refused in advance, just as you instructed."

Daniel nodded.

"Good."

"From now on, you need only wait patiently for the right opportunity."

...

Several more days passed.

A massive disturbance suddenly erupted within the Heavenly River Starfield.

Large numbers of Tribulation-Ash Monsters appeared and began invading the surrounding territories with terrifying ferocity.

Nearly the entire universe within the starfield was devastated by them.

Worse still, the monsters showed signs of spreading throughout the rest of the starfield.

With the entire region on the verge of destruction, panic rapidly spread among its inhabitants.

Many had already begun considering whether they should abandon their homes and relocate elsewhere.

Daniel took advantage of the chaos and activated several spies he had planted within the Holy See.

After a period of careful manipulation, events unfolded exactly as he had planned.

The Holy See issued another summons for Prince Dorek.

This was already the second time Dorek had been called before the Emperor.

Compared with his first visit, he was now far more familiar with the process and soon returned.

During the first summons, he had met privately with the Eternal Emperor and exchanged a few words.

This time, however, Dorek had attended a formal court assembly, where he met both the Emperor and numerous officials of the Holy See.

When Dorek returned, an even greater amount of tribulation ash clung to his body.

Daniel narrowed his eyes.

"Interesting."

"I didn’t expect even the officials attending court to have begun suffering from tribulation-ash corruption."

With that thought, he looked toward Dorek.

"Tell me. Did everything proceed according to plan?"

Dorek now looked at Daniel with undisguised admiration.

"Teacher, your foresight is truly divine."

"Even though you have never personally entered the imperial court, you understand its internal situation perfectly."

"I am deeply impressed."

"Just as you predicted, our agent directly recommended me during the assembly."

"Afterward, I mentioned your name before the court and recommended you as well."

"Father has now decided to appoint you as a military official and send you to the Heavenly River Starfield to eliminate the Tribulation-Ash Monsters."

"Your official appointment should be issued very soon."

A smile finally appeared on Daniel’s face.

Sure enough, only a few minutes later, envoys from the Holy See arrived at Dorek’s residence to formally announce Daniel’s appointment.

Daniel accepted the decree according to procedure and learned his new identity.

He had been appointed Supreme Commander of the Heavenly River Starfield.

His duty was to eliminate every Tribulation-Ash Monster within the region.

It did not matter whether he destroyed them, suppressed them, or sealed them away.

As long as he prevented them from spreading into other starfields, his mission would be considered complete.

Without exception, these monsters had been born from the corpses of deceased native experts.

New souls had emerged within the abandoned bodies, effectively seizing possession of their former vessels.

Their sole purpose was to destroy the entire universe and transform it into an environment suitable for Tribulation-Ash Monsters.

It was worth noting that Daniel’s position as Supreme Commander of the Heavenly River Starfield was a special appointment.

It possessed no formal bureaucratic grade.

However, it granted him considerable authority, since he was permitted to mobilize imperial armies.

Daniel’s eyes flickered, but he showed no disappointment.

"This is most likely a test from the Holy See."

"If I complete this mission perfectly, they will probably grant me a proper official position afterward."

...

"Teacher, you should not go personally."

"The moment you leave my residence, the other princes may immediately move against you."

"They have already set their sights on you."

"Once you depart and lose the protection of the Oracle-grade experts stationed here, they will no longer have any reason to restrain themselves."

"They will undoubtedly use every possible method to eliminate you!"

The moment Dorek heard that Daniel intended to leave and deal with the Tribulation-Ash Monsters personally, he became extremely worried.

"If you truly must go, why not allow me to send several Oracle-grade experts from the Fated Human Race to accompany you?"

To Dorek, Daniel was the central pillar supporting his entire faction.

If he lost Daniel’s assistance, Dorek would immediately fall into a severe disadvantage in the struggle for the throne.

Therefore, nothing could be allowed to happen to Daniel at such a critical moment.