As they walked side by side through the streets, Luna glanced at Sharky and smiled. "So, you’ve co to join Alexa Royal Academy too, huh?"
"Yeah," Sharky nodded with a grin. "I didn’t expect you to already be a student here."
After a short pause, he asked, "By the way... how’s my brother doing? What kind of businesses has he started? What’s his life like now?"
Luna’s eyes lit up. "Your brother? Oh, he’s doing amazing. Honestly, it wouldn’t be wrong to say he’s one of the richest people in Alexa Royal City now—well, if we don’t count the big noble families."
Sharky raised his eyebrows, curious.
"When Gary first ca here," Luna continued, "nobody knew who he really was. He kept his background secret, even the fact that he’s a Baron’s son. He started from nothing—just a guy with big dreams."
She smiled, rembering.
"First, he opened a hotel. Then, with a little help from —and so advice you left him—he started trading with the northern regions. That trade gave him a big push. People slowly started noticing him, and he made good money."
"But that was just the beginning," Luna added with pride. "Next, he built a Fighting Arena. It quickly beca popular—crowds loved it. Gary was getting richer and more well-known."
"Then ca the real ga-changer..." Luna leaned closer and lowered her voice, as if telling a secret. "He opened a Gambling Den. That place exploded with success. It made even more gold than the arena!"
Sharky looked impressed.
"At that point," Luna said, "the nobles and royal officials started watching him closely. So wanted to rope him in, use his success for their gain."
"But before they could act," she said with a smirk, "Gary awakened his Life Seed—and beca a True Knight. Just like that, no one dared touch him."
Sharky’s eyes widened slightly.
"Instead of trying to take from him," Luna continued, "people started supporting him. Even his rivals began investing in his businesses. Everyone wanted to be part of what he was building."
She looked proud as she finished, "In just three years, Gary created one of the biggest entertainnt empires in the city. Hotels, arenas, gambling halls—you na it. He beca the richest man in Alexa Royal City."
"Even the taxes he pays to the kingdom are more than ten tis what all the nobles here pay combined."
Luna’s voice turned more serious as she continued telling him.
"But you know, Sharky... Gary didn’t stop with just businesses. Once he had made his na, he started looking at the city’s governnt departnts—especially the City Security Departnt."
Sharky gave a small nod, his expression calm.
Luna smiled at his response. "Exactly. Most people underestimate that departnt. But Gary saw its real value."
She went on, "The City Security Departnt is directly selected by the Kingdom, but the final decision also depends on public votes. And whoever takes the position gets full control to form their own team—friends, allies, even a private guard—to handle city safety."
"It might seem like a boring job," she added with a shrug, "especially since Alexa Royal City is usually peaceful. But the money that cos in through entry fees is no joke. Thousands of people co in and out of the city every day—commoners, traders, rchants..."
Sharky’s eyes stayed focused as he listened.
"And even though sixty percent of that money goes to the kingdom’s treasury," Luna said, "what remains is still a fortune. That’s why powerful nobles and even royal family mbers try to grab that seat every year."
"And Gary managed to win it," Sharky said, more as a statent than a question.
Luna grinned. "He did. And not just win—it was the first ti in Alexa Royal City’s history that soone not from the city or the royal line claid that position."
"He didn’t use force or bribes. He presented a clever plan—a new system for city security that reduced costs and improved protection. It earned the trust of the people and impressed the officials."
She paused for a mont, rembering. "I still rember the day he walked into the square after winning. No cheering or shouting—just this quiet respect. Even those who once looked down on him had nothing to say."
---
"Princess Parizaad, esteed ministers, and noble guests," Gary spoke with confidence, standing at the center of the grand hall. "This—" he held up a small card, "—is the future of city security and wealth collection."
"This will be the Identity Card. Anyone entering Alexa Royal City—except royalty—will be issued one after paying a set fee."
He glanced around the hall, pausing as everyone leaned in.
"With this card, citizens can freely enter and exit the city without paying money every single ti. Just one paynt a month, and the gates will open for them."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Then one of the elder ministers asked sharply, "If we don’t collect money at every entry, how will we raise enough funds to support the kingdom’s treasury?"
All eyes turned to Gary.
"I’ve already thought about that," he replied smoothly.
He walked to the table and began scribbling so numbers onto a scroll. Then he raised it for everyone to see.
"Let’s do the math," he said. "If a commoner enters and exits daily, we charge him every ti. In one month, he pays for 20 to 25 entries."
He drew a second column. "Now look at rchants. They only visit once or twice a month. Yet, they pay the sa rate as commoners. That’s not only unfair, but also illogical."
Princess Parizaad, who had been quiet so far, raised an eyebrow with interest. "So you’re suggesting we increase the rchants’ fees?"
Gary shook his head. "No, Your Highness. That would anger them. rchants are sensitive. Even if they don’t complain at first, they will eventually move their business to other cities. That would be a disaster."
"So what’s your solution?" Parizaad asked, crossing her arms. "Or are you just wasting our ti?"
Gary smiled, unbothered. "I present to you the true brilliance of the Identity Card system."
"We charge everyone the equivalent of 15 days of entrance fees—just once, for the whole month."
"The commoners, who usually enter the city 20 to 25 tis a month, will actually save a bit. This will make them happy and loyal."
"If we lose the money, then what benefits will we gain," The minister of the kingdom asked.
"Yes, I know we lose the money from the commoners."
"But," he paused, letting the room fall silent again, "here’s the genius part... the rchants. They usually only enter once or twice a month. But now, they’ll be paying for 15 days—without complaint. Why?"
He tapped the card.
"Because it’s the sa price for everyone. Equal on the surface, but underneath—it favors us."
There was silence for a heartbeat.
Princess Parizaad’s lips curled into a smile. "Amazing," she said, clapping her hands softly.
The nobles looked at each other, then began to applaud one after another, rising to their feet in admiration.
"Your idea is impressive," said the head of the prisoners’ departnt, leaning forward with a serious gaze. "But what about the security of this system? Can your guards truly catch criminals or stop cri if it occurs? Alexa Royal City is mostly peaceful, yes—but not completely."
The hall grew quiet again.
Gary didn’t hesitate. "There’s no issue on that front either," he said confidently. "We only issue the identity pass after verifying the background of the individual. If they’re deed dangerous or suspicious, we refuse them."
He let the words hang in the air.
"With this system in place, we not only control who enters the city, but also raise the bar for safety overall."
A wave of applause rippled through the hall again.
But behind those claps... was a darker truth.
Gary hadn’t risen through pure brilliance alone. He had bribed officials when needed. And when a certain Baron stood in his way—he was removed. Silently. Permanently.
His rise wasn’t clean, but it was effective. And more than that—it was unstoppable.
Becoming a True Knight without noble blood shocked many. It shattered tradition and turned heads. But it also protected him from the envy of royals who would have otherwise tried to strip away his power.
---
In a quiet corner far from the echoes of applause, Sharky stood beside Luna, quietly absorbing the story.
He was amazed.
Not because he doubted Gary’s brilliance—he had helped design the foundation of the plan himself long ago.
But he never expected his brother to truly accomplish it all.
For their safety, they had severed all direct contact. Not a letter. Not a whisper. Sharky didn’t even know what Gary looked like now.
And yet, here Gary stood, a dominant force in Alexa Royal City.
Sharky gave a small chuckle, then turned to Luna. "Alright, you two can catch up. I’ve got so important things to take care of."
With that, he turned and left—giving Gary and Luna the space they didn’t know they needed.
---
Luna watched him go, then looked back at Gary. "So... is the southern side of the city really that prosperous?" she asked, voice light but curious.
Gary gave her a small smile. "Not quite," he said, shaking his head. "But I know many ways to earn money. I understand its value... but I don’t value money itself. I value people."
He picked up a single coin from the nearby tray, letting it gleam under the light.
"Think about it. For soone, this might be their entire fortune. It might save soone’s life. Change soone’s fate. If I drop it, it’s just a coin to . But to them... it’s hope."
Luna blinked, surprised.
She always thought Gary acted carefree with wealth because he had too much of it—because he was rich beyond concern.
But that wasn’t it.
He didn’t worship money—he understood it. And more importantly, he cared how it affected others.
Two brothers... with power and brilliance... yet hearts full of kindness.
---
Elsewhere, Sharky stood atop a balcony, gazing at the city that shimred beneath the moonlight.
He smiled softly to himself.
"A good and beautiful girl, my brother has found," he said with quiet approval. "Strong, smart, kind. A future ruler."
He already knew of Luna’s origins. Her presence here wasn’t random. It was training—preparation—for the day she might take her father’s place.
—
Ti gradually passed, and in the blink of an eye, it had been many days since Sharky had co to the Alexa Royal City.
Over the past few days, he had beco quite familiar with the area. He walked into the Alexa Royal Academy and reported in. And he smoothly entered the Alexa Royal Academy and began to look into his studies.
"I need to choose all of my classes?"
Looking at his titable, Sharky frowned.
Different from what he had expected, apart from the core classes, most of the remaining classes were electives that one had to pay for themselves.
This kind of price was simply daylight robbery. Still he chose one class which was Knight Training. The fee was one big silver coin.
Moreover, it would achieve so goal for him.
A few days later, after gaining so information, Sharky decided to enroll in the Knight Training class.
At midday, the sun hung high in the sky.
Under such weather, Sharky walked out from his room and ca to a small square.
There was already soone there.
It was a middle-aged man who looked quite cold and rciless.
Even though it was hot, he wore leather armor and silently stood there; he did not look hot at all.
Looking at this person, Sharky felt quite surprised.
He had never thought that soone would be here before him.
"You are the first."
Ahead of him, a voice sounded out.
The man looked back at Sharky as a look of surprise appeared on his face.
He had never thought that anyone would co this early.
"Excuse , are you Mr. Jason?" Sharky asked, as he looked at the middle-aged man.
Reviews
All reviews (0)