When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aziz Ben Abdul wore a deep red robe of silk and fine linen blend, with sleeves extending past the fingertips. Around his waist was a belt of rhinoceros skin embedded with rune gold coins, and around his neck was a prayer beads dyed rose, composed of ten infant heads, along with two golden necklaces and a lapis lazuli pendant.

On his head was a cotton turban with a skull head gold medal pinned at the forehead, and he adorned the back of his head with a peacock feather embellished with numerous emerald gemstones.

Hanging from his waist were a lion skin material bag and a red wooden deity statue, while his ten fingers sported rings of varying colors and sizes, and his boots each bore a white feather.

—Should a Transcendent of the Path of Wisdom or Path of Balance open the identification vision, they would be dazzled by the myriad hues of the path light radiating from him.

He carried at least over twenty pieces of extraordinary equipment on him!

These things alone could rival the entire wealth of a small city-state's benevolent lord.

Of course, this was by no means a boast—though they were invaluable, to many esteemed guests of the Third Ring, it was nothing out of the ordinary. He carried these with him not for show but out of fear for his life.

—He had offended far too many people.

Assassins, ritualists, cursing sorcerers... Even though the Third Ring was incredibly safe, he still cautiously brought all his equipment for survival, ensuring capability to fight or at least flee under any circumstance.

His robe dyed with dragon blood could resist decree spells and reflect curses; the emerald crown hidden beneath his hair also resisted curses and boosted his life force.

The human-headed rose prayer beads around his neck could instantaneously cast ten pre-set ritual magic spells; the belt at his waist allowed him to momentarily withstand the full force strike of a Fifth Energy Level Transcendent, and the gold medal on his head was used to counter curses, mind control, and detect hostility; the peacock feather also resisted curses and could remove one abnormal state.

The deity statue by his waist was similarly used to resist curses, and it had automatic counterattack and auto-counter low-level spellcasting effects; each of the ten rings had its own benefits, while his boots rendered one invisible, and the other could randomly teleport one to a safe location.

This degree of armament might seem a bit exaggerated.

But to him, it was just right—

Aziz Ben Abdul felt particularly invigorated today.

Today is quite an important day—after many years, Clear Spring City finally has the chance to convene the Under Heaven Meeting once again!

For this day, he specially washed his face with water and styled his hair with the finest human oil and beeswax.

In the past, this meeting was also known as the pre-king meeting. Officials from various city-states would arrive here to report on tasks before the Parthia throne. Even those high above, the benevolent lords, were just one among countless regular officials then.

Ever since the Parthia King vanished, the Under Heaven Meeting ceased to be held as usual.

Thus, what was once the capital, Clear Spring City, instead became an ordinary city-state.

—But now, things are different.

With their esteemed Grand Vizier reconvening the Under Heaven Meeting, the city-state lords have responded to the call.

From today, they will progressively arrive at Clear Spring City, heading to their residences.

What does this imply?

It implies that the benevolent lords have finally bowed, conceded, and admitted defeat;

It implies that Parthia is set to have a ruler with real power once more!

Even if he is nominally just the Grand Vizier—but honestly, who cares?

Just like Avalon, like Iris Flower… the governmental systems of those young human nations outside can indeed change. Even if Parthia is an eternal unchanging nation… who mandated that Parthia alone cannot change?

Taking a step back, haven't they all managed without a monarch for so long?

Now, the Grand Vizier could also become the monarch!

At least, Aziz believes so himself.

If the lords were re-established as king, Parthia would awaken once more. Just like the coming of the Fallen Celestial Marshal causing the Holy Nation's awakening… those city-state lords would again become the next tier of officials.

—As the Left Master of Ceremony to a lord, in the past, he could barely attend the Under Heaven Meeting as a "capital minister."

Doesn't this mean he would become colleagues and equals with those high-above lords?

Once upon a time, Aziz was from a family of scholars; his mother was an archaeologist, and his ancestors, though military, were guards for some small city's lord.

In his childhood, he was even castrated by his father for playing with the lord's sixth daughter.

—He would never forget how his father, high and mighty in the family, was ordered like a dog by the lord to castrate his sole son.

Later, the lord was killed by an angered rebel army, his father too was killed alongside being the lord's dog. For his multitude of evildoings, even his mother was implicated and executed, leading him to be wanted all together.

He abandoned his mother, slipping into the ranks of fleeing civilians—using the dagger his father left behind, he killed a boy of his age, took on his name, and replaced his identity.

That year, Aziz was only seven years old.

"Aziz" was also only seven.

The sole place they could head to was Clear Spring City—then the rebels were mighty. They colluded with goblin merchants, looting civilians to sell to goblins, in exchange for extraordinary equipment, weapons, and various supplies and logistics.

Back then, only Clear Spring City was safe enough.

He was lucky enough to encounter a kind family. With adept acting and storytelling, he easily earned sympathy through his castration scars—for being a eunuch, he couldn't seize free people's properties, hence if he behaved sensibly and astutely, many free families wouldn't mind one more mouth to feed.

In name a foster son, but essentially the bodyguard or death warrior of elder brother or sister. Should the lord demand a blood tax, he could pay with a head for sacrifice—Aziz knew all this but this was his last chance.

Though only a lowly castrated foster son, there was potential for rebellion!

Subsequently, he indeed found an opportunity and took over their property.

Later, due to suspicion from others, he was exiled under the guise of "academic travel" to distant Avalon. With immense effort, he crawled back.

From an orphan whose entire family perished, he crawled bit by bit to his current standing.

Aziz's life truly exemplifies the term "transcendence."

Now he holds the position of Left Master of Ceremony, which he dearly deserves!

And there's even more—

It's not merely about this position.

He absolutely refuses to settle for just this position.

He hasn't forgotten the lord's laughter that year, his father's glaring crimson eyes, his own cries.

He hasn't forgotten the sweetness of power.

He might still climb higher.

He still might have a chance…

And at this moment, he heard the shouting of the lowly below from afar.

He curled his lip.

—Making a fuss over nothing.

Nothing new under the sunlight, those ignorant commoners probably saw something novel again. Truly a disgrace to the Clear Spring people.

After all, today is an important day with the benevolent lords visiting. Maybe it's an exquisitely beautiful female slave or perhaps a cart-pulling giant elephant or dragon.

"Aziz" tidied his hair, preparing to face the first visiting lords with a smile.