He thrust the sword he held into the ’Tree of Children’ and said to everyone: ’Whoever can pull out this sword will become its rightful owner as a reward.’

When he left, the stunned crowd finally realized that it was Woden, the chief god of the Bayfolk [prophecy, royal authority, and the Mad Hunt Deity].

This sword was bestowed by him upon the Monarch of the mortal world, symbolizing victory, glory, and oath.

Later, the sword fractured in a divine battle but was reforged by human craftsmen, embodying the earliest metallurgy creation of humanity.

During the Mythological Era, it traversed the mortal world, leaving behind an eternal legend, the name [Sword in the Stone] not only remained but grew in legend over time.

Every retelling by the people was like a forging of it, and after fifteen hundred years of tempering, it became one with the earth’s veins, possessing the authority of both humanity and land, growing stronger.

Perhaps... only a [Crown] could match it."

Even though the treasure is evidently stronger than anticipated, Byron couldn’t feel happy; he had a bad premonition.

"Right now, I don’t have a [Crown]."

But, since he’s already here.

He took a deep breath, firmly gripped the sword hilt, and channeled all his bones, muscles, and fascia into force.

Pop! Pop! Pop!...

His muscles bulged; the power ripples caused the surrounding air to emit booming echoes, even exploding the upper part of his military uniform into thousands of strips, revealing muscle lines as perfect as a marble sculpture.

For the past thousand years with no response, the Holy Sword unexpectedly began to glow slightly at this moment.

The surface dust and rust chipped away bit by bit, revealing its original radiant color.

Catherine and Violet showed surprise in their eyes and hurried to use their large forms to shield the glowing [Sword in the Stone].

"Hah, give me up!"

Byron felt a slight loosening in his grip.

A circle of divine radiance exploded behind his head like the sun; were it not for his two sisters’ shielding, the light would have illuminated the valley surrounded by mountains.

His eyes transformed into golden Dragon Eyes; scales appeared on his skin, exerting all his powers except the fully unfolding mythical form [Ouroboros].

The sword and rock began to shake violently.

A massive rumbling sound was heard.

Byron actually lifted the [Sword in the Stone]!

At that moment, it felt as if bells and drums sounded in unison by his ear, and cheers erupted.

Order of Knights vibrating their armor, rustling.

Countless subjects bowed to him thrice, calling out in unison, "Long live!"

The voices of millions chanting "Long live" soared into the clouds.

The echo of calls, shouts, music, the sound of vibrating armor, bells, and drums surged like tidal waves, resonating through the entire North Sea.

But before Byron could feel elated, he looked up and was dumbstruck.

"Ah, huh?"

The sword indeed rose, but not just the sword; it lifted with it... the giant cube-shaped rock like a small mountain pierced by the sword.

Clearly, it wasn’t that he met the criteria to pull out the Holy Sword, but rather his immense brute strength, stronger than a Demon Monster, did the trick once again.

The noise by his ear was merely a figment of his imagination.

Byron casually waved it a couple of times; the terrifying whistling noise proved that even the cube stone sealed with [Sword in the Stone] was a deadly weapon.

"But, I’m not looking for a Meow Meow Hammer; taking this thing to a sea battle with someone would sink the boat, wouldn’t it?

The most crucial part is, without achieving the preconditions, the Holy Sword’s abilities cannot manifest, wielding this thing in battle wouldn’t be as useful as wielding an anchor."

All anomalies vanished, and the two Queens returned to human form.

Originally intending to pat her husband’s shoulder for comfort, but couldn’t reach, Violet and Catherine’s small hands naturally fell on his pectoral and abdominal muscles.

While rubbing, they comforted him:

"It’s alright, getting this far is already very impressive."

"At least [Sword in the Stone] no longer hides its essence, showing you its true form, and sister believes you’ll eventually unlock the sword completely."

Byron had no choice; to prevent it from being stolen by any future rogue Pseudo-God descending upon the Kingdom, he simply swallowed both stone and sword into the Nether River within his shadow.

Although the effort to extract [Sword in the Stone] was thwarted again.

The advantage of hedging bets and progressing simultaneously is precisely this; if one door doesn’t open, another does, the other arrangement proceeded smoothly.

At this time, Count Hodalan had already returned to the Kalmar Union with the special medicine Byron gave him and an account for Financial Street.

Departing at night, returning at night, undetected by the vitality-wounded Kalmar Navy full of gaps.

He and his vassals watched firsthand as the officers and soldiers infected with "coelenterate disease" recovered completely after medication.

Everyone was so excited their faces flushed bright red.

Someone even murmured against the ban: "Praise the Father of Healing!"

However, a clear-minded vassal inquired Count Hodalan:

"Count, His Majesty the King of the Wild Hunt surely wouldn’t help us for free, right? What terms did he propose?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The young count shook his head:

"His Majesty [King of the Wild Hunt] let me experience the efficacy of the drug personally, didn’t charge money, nor requested anything from me.

Merely told me, he has a dream, to make the North Sea Empire great again, isn’t it natural to help the Bayfolk of the same kin?"

Then, surveying the surrounding vassals and direct lineage officers who seemed thoughtful, he continued:

"Gentlemen, ever since the reformist faction noble leader Gustav Vasa was assassinated in the street for opposing the Church, the person we’ve waited for has appeared."

Unable to suppress an expression of reverence, he declared resolutely:

"Not for anything else, but because he is virtuous!"

Upon hearing this, others were stunned for a moment before nodding vigorously in agreement.

Straightforward people have a clear sense of right and wrong; if one can benefit his own people, isn’t that the greatest virtue?

Otherwise, do we continue kowtowing to the Church like the Evernight Queen?

The disparity between one king and another is stark in comparison.

Seeing his subordinates’ attitudes, Count Hodalan’s resolve was completely firm, instructing his trusted steward:

"Invite the reformist faction and Young Faction gentlemen of the military to attend the party.

It’s time for the future of The Five Bay States... to be handed to our youth."