King Basil's words stunned Justin. He hadn't expected the king to be so closely attuned to Adrian's actions.

Despite the distance of several kilometers, King Basil seemed to perceive Adrian's every move with uncanny precision.

The ministers were equally taken aback. None had anticipated that Adrian's maneuvers would cause such an uproar.

Some officials, however, scoffed at the notion of Adrian being a legitimate contender.

One sneered. "He's just a young upstart. Even if he's strong, the soldiers clearly don't respect him. Let's see what other tricks he thinks he can pull."

Their expressions brimmed with disdain, convinced that Adrian's youth rendered him incapable of true leadership. To them, he was merely an inexperienced boy, not a force to be reckoned with.

Renee, however, countered icily, "Just watch. Let's see how Mr. Adrian turns the tide. This might bring an unexpected surprise to our great Ciawales."

Her cutting words silenced the room.

Even Justin, who had been on the