Golden-tasseled banners fluttered at every turn of the path leading to the fortress, welcoming guests with grandeur.
Leonardo, the mastermind behind the magical decor, was now fully focused on one thing:
The crown.
For the crown's base, he had lted down the gold passed down through generations of the Crassus family.
Around its edge, he embedded rubies and lapis lazuli.
The gold itself had been taken from the previous royal crown of Xerxes, now reforged into sothing new.
It was a symbolic act—a tribute to the efforts of Michael's ancestors, who had once tried to revive their fallen house.
At the center of the crown shone a massive diamond, nearly the size of a child's fist, dazzling with brilliance.
But the crown's true value lay not in its jewels.
Leonardo was infusing it with every protective enchantnt he knew.
"No matter what happens... no one will lay a finger on my lord."
His eyes now burned with intense, near manic focus.
The kings and envoys moved forward with slightly subdued steps.
As they passed through the grand plaza and entered the fortress walls, their sense of awe only deepened.
Every single brick that made up the towering walls was inscribed with magic.
Above, a variety of flying magical beasts patrolled the skies.
"How many mages and magical beasts do they even have…?"
The sheer number of taable beasts didn't just speak to raw numbers—it implied that there were knights powerful enough to command them.
Even Princess Astrid, who had been briefed on the territory by Michael himself, couldn't hide her astonishnt.
It was easy to imagine the level of shock rippling through those less inford.
Once they passed the inner fortress, they were greeted by the Griffin Squadron—six majestic griffins harnessed to an elegant, snow white carriage.
"The city is quite large," explained a guide. "You'll find it more comfortable to travel by air carriage."
Air carriage? What in the world was that?
Even Emperor Sigmund, who prided himself on having encountered nearly every invention in the world, raised a brow at the unfamiliar term.
"Did Michael adapt the concept from that flying ship he once used? What a brilliant shift in perspective."
King Henry III eyed the griffins with undisguised envy.
Their feathers—interwoven white and gold—were beyond exquisite.
"So those feathers… he must have fed them purified dragon blood."
He felt bitter just imagining it.
Gold inlays adorned their chests and wing tips.
Each ti they spread their wings, sunlight would scatter in radiant bursts.
And the carriage itself?
Intricate carvings lined the panels, while runes and enchantnts shimred along its edges.
As if prompted by so silent agreent, the envoys and kings quickly vied for a seat—particularly by the windows.
But soon, they felt rather foolish.
The carriage was far larger on the inside than it appeared.
It had clearly been enhanced with expansion and weight reduction magic.
And despite its pristine white exterior, the entire interior was completely transparent, offering an unobstructed view of the city below from every seat.
Queen Dowager Guinevere clutched her stomach unconsciously.
Envy twisted inside her like a dull, nauseating ache.
"This must be where all my gold has ended up."
But while she seethed, the other monarchs were preoccupied with sothing else entirely.
"Just how many high level mages does it take to create sothing like this?"
In truth, the work had been completed entirely by Leonardo.
But it didn't hurt for others to assu an army of archmages stood behind it.
In fact, many high level magicians had settled here—lured by Marcus and Miaomiao's allure.
The carriage carrying the kings and envoys lifted into the sky.
Through the magically reinforced transparent glass, the entire cityscape spread out beneath them.
At Michael's request, the Griffin Squadron's commander kept the flight slow, so the visitors could take in the view.
From the central plaza, roads radiated outward in a perfectly symtrical pattern.
The city was divided into sixteen districts, each seemingly designed with a specialized function.
One of the envoys couldn't help but marvel.
"Good heavens… I never imagined a city could be laid out this way."
What caught their eyes first were the houses, clustered neatly in each district.
Unable to suppress her jealousy any longer, Queen Dowager Guinevere snapped,
"Are these neighborhoods reserved for nobles only? All the hos are brick. Not a wooden structure in sight."
Michael responded with a warm, serene smile.
"Of course not. Even our serfs live in brick houses. It's part of our urban planning."
The group stared out the windows in disbelief.
Now that they looked closer, the people walking around the hos were clearly commoners, dressed in simple clothes.
Shock rippled through the delegation.
Emperor Oswald's face was especially telling.
"If I tried to invade this city… even fire magic would be useless."
Most cities were built with wood, so one fire could level an entire district.
But this city had eliminated that weakness from the ground up.
And there was more.
The roads were immaculately clean.
While one could assu this was due to coronation preparations, there were no signs of sludge or waste runoff—not even a stain.
Romano II asked quietly,
"This city is remarkably clean. I don't see a single trace of filth. How is that possible?"
Michael bead.
"We've installed underground sewers throughout the city. All waste and runoff flow through that system."
A stunned silence followed.
"Sewers? You installed a system across the entire city?"
It sounded unbelievable.
Several of them leaned forward, peering down at the streets below.
Sure enough, stone covered drainage grates could be seen at the corners of intersections.
"…Remarkable."
Michael nodded.
"It was easier to implent since the city was built nearly from scratch."
Easier? No one believed that.
Queen Dowager Guinevere made a sour face.
"That kind of civil engineering must've required an absurd amount of labor from your people. The cost alone…"
Michael gave her a sideways glance and replied smoothly,
"Well, we used magical beasts and mages. So it wasn't too difficult."
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