Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 273: The Unexpected Mandate

Chalom-O7 Station

Anadus Prime Gravitational Field

Euthenia Star System

December 13th

Year 2018

The event that diverted the intergalactic stage’s focus from Eldros began a few days after the Giant Emperor Massacre.

In the Pinecone Galaxy, Race Empress and Galactic Ruler Lapis Argeryan sat across from a slender elf man with long, dark brown hair framing his heart-shaped face and emerald green eyes.

He wore glasses and had a scholarly air about him.

The meeting took place in one of the space stations orbiting Anadus Prime, Lapis’ home planet.

The two were deep in a discussion concerning vital galactic matters—specifically, the Galaxy’s highest revenue generator, the Amphitheatre of Eternity.

The elven man, Elandorr Paphine, served as the Vice-Leader of the Creator Society, a group that revered the Amphitheatre’s late creator, Cassiel, while managing its operations in the present day.

He was providing Lapis with a detailed status report about the Amphitheatre and some of her other confidential projects.

Their conversation inevitably drifted toward the recent turbulence on the intergalactic stage and its implications for Pinecone Galaxy.

The aftermath of the Giant Massacre had stirred widespread unease, particularly among the Giant race.

Many feared that a Race War was looming, and as a result, a significant number of Giants were seeking refuge in safer territories.

Those with sufficient strength or influence deliberately avoided Estean-controlled regions.

This migration led to a notable influx of immigrants into Galaxies like Pinecone, presenting Lapis with a dilemma.

With the Amphitheatre’s grand opening just two months away, the last thing the galaxy could afford was unrest caused by the newcomers.

Pinecone was bracing for the arrival of billions of high-profile guests from across the Universe—wealthy and powerful individuals eager to witness the Amphitheatre’s renowned battles in person.

As Lapis pondered how to manage this delicate situation, a faint blinking light caught her attention. The gem on one of the rings she wore pulsed softly, its glow drawing her gaze.

She immediately recognized the ring—it was a gift Jamie had given her years ago, a little something for his disciple.

Like much of what came from him, it was anything but ordinary.

Though she was well aware of some of the ring’s special effects, there were others Jamie had never explicitly explained.

One of its known abilities, or at least something Lapis strongly suspected, was that Jamie could use it as a beacon to pinpoint her location—and possibly teleport to her coordinates.

And now, it seemed, that suspicion was about to be confirmed.

As the ring began blinking, Elandorr’s gaze immediately fell on it. Recognizing the spatial beacon function, he instinctively began gathering energy to act, thinking someone was trying to track Lapis’ location.

But before he could do a thing, Lapis raised her hand and a faint ripple spread through the air, dispersing the energy he had summoned.

It was a subtle yet deliberate reminder of the disparity between their powers, one that left Elandorr momentarily stunned.

The blinking ceased a few seconds later, only to be followed by the unmistakable hum of spatial distortion. The distortion gave way to the formation of a Spatial Gate, from which in stepped Jamie.

The moment Jamie entered, Elandorr’s expression shifted dramatically. His emerald eyes widened, first in shock, then in unmistakable fear.

Naturally, Elandorr recognized Jamie. There was no way he couldn’t.

Moreover, as the Vice Leader of the Creator Society, Elandorr was all too aware of Jamie’s disdain for their organization. Jamie’s tolerance of their existence was tenuous at best and owed entirely to his connection with Lapis.

Elandorr had known Jamie had been in Pinecone Galaxy months ago, and he and the other Society members had wisely kept their distance.

But now, faced with Jamie’s sudden and unannounced appearance, Elandorr couldn’t help but feel the icy grip of dread tightening around him.

Jamie, however, didn’t even glance at the elf. His focus was entirely on Lapis, his tone grave as he spoke.

"Lapis, I need you to contact those cultists and bring their leader here."

The term ’cultists’ left no ambiguity in Lapis’ mind. She immediately understood that Jamie was referring to the Creator Society and without hesitation, she pointed to Elandorr and replied matter-of-factly.

"He’s the Vice Leader."

Jamie’s gaze finally turned to Elandorr, and the elf flinched instinctively, unable to suppress his reaction.

"Vice Leader? That’ll do."

Jamie spoke indifferently, then walked to one of the couches and seated himself with the ease of someone who owned the place, before issuing his command.

"I want you guys to move the Amphitheatre’s opening up by a month."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Elandorr’s fear momentarily gave way to disbelief, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process what he’d just heard.

Lapis, too, was momentarily caught off guard, though her expression remained composed.

Finally, Elandorr managed to stammer out a response, his shock overriding his earlier apprehension.

"Wait, what?!"

Lapis, though surprised, remained silent, waiting for Jamie to elaborate.

Jamie had never shown much interest in the Amphitheatre before. Yet here he was, demanding they push its grand opening ahead of schedule by an entire month.

The Amphitheatre of Eternity’s Opening wasn’t just any event—it was an intergalactic spectacle that generated astronomical revenue for the Pinecone Galaxy.

Its opening was meticulously planned to perfection, ensuring nothing could go wrong.

Powerhouses from distant galaxies, rulers of galactic empires, and other dignitaries had already made arrangements to attend.

Quintillions of beings across the universe eagerly awaited to stream the opening from their homes. Moving the date meant upending an intricate network of logistics and coordination spanning entire galaxies.

The Amphitheatre’s opening had been scheduled for the 20th of February next year.

However, Jamie had just demanded that the date be moved up by an entire month, meaning it would now need to open by the 20th of January.

This sudden change would throw countless carefully laid plans into disarray, affecting countless individuals across the universe who had been preparing to attend the event.

Lapis, after getting over her initial surprise, spoke up first.

"Sir Jamie, this is far too sudden. The preparations for the Amphitheatre’s opening are immense. Changing things now would throw so many schedules off course."

Elandorr, emboldened by her objection and addressing Jamie by a more formal title, chimed in.

"Lord Westley, the Amphitheatre is still sealed to absorb cosmic energy.

That process won’t be completed until the end of January. The seal isn’t something even we of the Creator Society can override. And beyond that, the logistical challenges—"

Jamie cut Elandorr off, his tone devoid of warmth as he spoke.

"It’s a matter of utmost importance. The Amphitheatre has to open as soon as possible. If it weren’t for the fact that it helps Pinecone so much, I would have you open it this very instant.

A month is the most grace period I’m willing to give."

Both Lapis and Elandorr hesitated, exchanging a worried glance. The Amphitheatre’s current state made Jamie’s demand almost impossible.

The seal was beyond their power to break prematurely, and even if it weren’t, they would need the remaining days after its unsealing to finalize preparations.

Lapis tried again, carefully choosing her words.

"But Sir Jamie, the Amphitheatre needs time to complete its absorption of cosmic energy. Without that, its systems won’t function as intended.

It’s not something we can bypass, even if we wanted to."

Jamie waved her concerns aside with an impatient gesture.

"Don’t worry about the cosmic energy absorption. I’ll handle that myself. You just take care of the logistics and everything else needed to ensure the Amphitheatre opens a month earlier."

Elandorr’s brows furrowed, and despite his fear, he attempted one last protest.

"But Lord Westley, the preparations—"

Jamie’s patience snapped, and his sharp gaze pinned the elf in place.

"Just do as I say and open the damn thing."

The irritation in Jamie’s voice was clear as day, and Lapis, observing this, immediately turned to Elandorr and spoke.

"Elandorr, you heard Sir Jamie. Leave now and begin preparations. Do whatever is necessary to meet the new timeline."

The elf hesitated, his face pale, but Lapis’ gaze brokered no argument. With a hurried bow, Elandorr departed the room, likely already calculating the monumental effort required to execute Jamie’s order.

Once the door closed behind him, Lapis turned back to Jamie.

"Sir Jamie, may I ask why this urgency? Why is the Amphitheatre’s opening so critical?"

Jamie sighed, the sound heavy with frustration and weariness.

"There’s something I need to do, and I need the Amphitheatre open for it to work. That’s all."