The family William belongs to has been serving the royal family for many years.

As an Iron Guard, William naturally has his own set of judgments regarding many international situations.

Not to mention, since Louis's rebirth, he has been accompanying this prince closely, understanding his desires well.

He doesn't want to interfere in other countries' internal affairs, and even supposedly full-scale alliances are far from comprehensive.

Even now, the deepest cooperation with Tunisia is more like an exchange and collaboration based on industry and commerce.

In this situation, if Louis were to meet with the ministers of the West Monet Kingdom alone, it would easily give outsiders the illusion—

that Ense is prepared to partake in the conflict between the two countries.

The West Monet side, upon seeing their opportunity to annex East Monet, might resort to risky moves, forcefully creating illusions for the East Monet Kingdom and coercing them into submission.

By that time, the Ense Empire would find itself in a predicament, with no clear explanation to offer.

"William."

"Here, Your Highness."

"Your recent strength improvement has been much faster than I imagined."

William responded with a gentle smile, "Isn't it normal for the Iron Guard to enhance their strength swiftly?"

"Is this speed normal?"

"Not normal?"

"Normal?"

"For the Iron Guard, it is normal," William chuckled, "I pledged to be your shield and sword. From that day forth, my fortunes are tied to yours. As long as you continue to grow stronger, my growth rate can't slow down."

Louis nodded.

It was only after grasping the core power of the empire that he came to have a clear understanding of the existence of the Iron Guard.

The current Iron Guard is different from the earlier ones in the Ense Empire.

Back when they were called Steel Warriors, they resembled more of a specific occupational type of troop.

But after many years, the Iron Guard profession underwent significant changes.

In the memories Louis previously obtained regarding the Black Sun, the Iron Guard under the Emperor was indeed capable of overcoming divine obstacles.

That is evidently not in the same category as the historical Steel Warriors.

Yet, the existence and secrets behind the Iron Guard are not known to the average person.

It was only after officially marrying Beatrice that he understood what the Iron Guard now signifies.

This is a special troop infused with the power of the great sin of pride.

Chosen from countless elite warriors for their capability to harbor part of the pride power, their very essence of life is fundamentally altered.

To put it plainly, those who can assume the role of the Iron Guard must be a specifically modified group.

Not to mention the scarcity in numbers; to exhibit their power fully, they depend heavily on the strength of the person they've pledged to.

William's strength enhancement... speaking harshly, the growth speed of Alice, originally a heaven's favored girl, can't even reach one-third of William's.

Because William's pledge of allegiance to Louis makes his growth and strength limits dependent on Louis.

A youth version offshoot, regardless, is still an offshoot.

To say a small tap isn't a tap is pure deception.

"This battle you shouldn't truly attend. Your power shouldn't be used here," Louis said heavily, "I'm waiting for the moment you reveal your fangs to the world. Until then, just conceal yourself well."

Every Iron Guard is cultivated to serve as the "king's right hand."

If they're unafraid of their body being overwhelmed by power, the Iron Guard can pay a suicidal price to temporarily harbor the "king's stature"—to become the ultimate weapon.

But… attempting to use such power must inevitably require paying an incredibly cruel price.

William, despite being descended from those transformed by the sin of pride, is not pride itself.

His grandfather, after temporarily housing the Emperor's power and sealing the Gate of the Abyss for a while, perished body and soul.

"Majesty, I won't place my limited life here, but when truly needed, please don't obstruct me, for it is the Iron Guard's fate."

His voice was gentle but carried a determination incomprehensible to ordinary people.

Louis sighed softly.

Yet moments later, he displayed a mischievous smile, "You know me well. If you were truly to die, you understand what I would do, don't you?"

William smiled without replying.

Among the few people Louis can chat with, William is one.

Externally, William presents the presence of Louis's Personal Guard.

Internally, any acquaintance knows William is more like a friend and confidant to the king than merely a Personal Guard.

"It's late, William. You should go and rest. I'll check some intelligence and then retire to bed."

...

Louis quietly perused the documents.

Chatted for a while with Beatrice, asking about the state of the empire.

Then communicated with Livia regarding her concerns.

Livia is currently outstretched.

Indeed, literally.

She's now truly running between both ends.

Previously she'd put on a bit of a facade, now she's directly employing her duplicates.

The military base—ugh, trade transit area on Fallen Star Sea requires her oversight in construction.

On the other side, the semi-plane where the Jade Phoenix Alliance resides is still in urgent salvage.

Increasingly more historical intelligence is spreading.

When Livia communicated with him via the communication crystal, she bore a face full of vexation.

Yet this vexation was not directed at him.

Rather, the state of the semi-plane for the Jade Phoenix Alliance is worse than she'd imagined.

"Grand Speaker Tom is gone."

Livia immediately relayed a piece of news to Louis, causing his pupils to constrict sharply, "Can't endure any longer?"

Olivia nodded, saying, "Being able to seal half of the serpent's body was already the result of planning by the Grand Speaker over hundreds of years."

"The source of the seal's loosening?"

"Haven't you guessed?"

"Them again?"

"Yes, although not directly related, the person who made the move was a high-level officer from Jianqi many years ago."

Louis didn't want to speak.

The Abyssal Church being beaten by everyone subdued is indeed not unjust.

How many events stir up until they can be linked back to them?

"Was that person killed?"

"No."

"Name, location, I'll dispatch someone."

Louis operates more straightforwardly and brutally.

For dealing with these people, no reason is needed, only a list.

But Olivia shook her head, saying, "You can't kill him?"

"Very strong?"

"You can't kill someone who died thousands of years ago."

"Damn!"

Louis finally grasped Livia's meaning, "That guy left a fallback to break the seal, and only after thousands of years did the Cosmic Serpent's seal sustain damage?"

"Yes."

"This… is far too powerful."

"Strong is normal; we've investigated, he probably served as the Pope of the Jianqi Church before his death."

"Makes sense," Louis sighed, "Can you ensure stability of the remaining half-seal?"

"It's stable, but be cautious on your side even with just half a body. The front-half is gathering more power than the back-half."

"Mm."

After terminating the communication crystal, Louis felt a larger headache.

Why is it them again?

He sighed inwardly, "Indeed, it seems necessary to find a way to eliminate them entirely."

Although, in the end, they are really tough to eradicate.

That night, Louis fell into a deep dream.

But he did not sleep peacefully.

First, he dreamt of his wife.

Beatrice was always so gentle and understanding.

In the dream, after completing one task after another like a salaryman, he was exhausted and sat resting in a chair.

She, dressed gracefully, approached, lightly wrapped her arms around his neck, and offered a strawberry clasped between her lips to his mouth.

Admit it, quite sweet.

Elated, he lowered his head to seek the warmth of her lips, gently nibbling, and tasted a shy apple-like sensation.

"Eh, why did the taste change?"

"Don't like it?" A cute murmur echoed.

Louis's body stiffened slightly, and he looked down to find his wife transformed into his sister-in-law.

Olivia lifted her head, glimmering eyes shyly gazing at him, "Or only sister can?"