Max did not know whether to cry or laugh at this situation. Were things really that easy? Would he truly just walk into the Thunder Empire and walk out without any real difficulties?

He knew better than anybody that life was never that generous. He had lived through hell in his own world, trapped in a toxic environment filled with lies, manipulation, and smiling faces hiding rotten intentions. There was no way he would fall for Freya’s sudden submission.

He knew she was scheming.

She looked far too composed for somebody who was supposed to be afraid. Far too steady for a woman whose empire had just been invaded. No matter how warm her smile appeared, Max could feel that something was concealed beneath it.

"Keep kneeling, then..." Max walked past her, sitting himself on the Thunder Throne. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Immediately, violent energy began to flood his body and pour into his mana container. The Infinite Devouring Core greedily consumed the lightning, devouring it like a rare treasure, yet the pain it caused him was immense, so sharp that he could barely breathe. His fingers gripped the armrest for a moment, and his jaw tightened before he forced both to loosen. Now he truly knew that the woman before him was faking it.

She was powerful, dangerous, and far too composed.

"Why do you submit so easily?" Max asked calmly.

Freya did not move, staying on one knee with her back facing him. Her posture remained steady, her shoulders relaxed, as if this kneeling was not humiliation but another part of her plan.

"I have lived for many years, young human, and I have seen many powerful leaders. Many who had seized glory, and many who had lost it, but I have never seen somebody like you. Crafty and powerful, a fitting leader for the four clans, am I right?"

It was as if every word from her mouth was velvet, gently wrapping around him and trying to loosen his guard. Even her silence afterward felt controlled.

"I did not ask what you think of me. I simply asked why you would submit. Aren’t you a proud dragon?"

"Does there need to be a reason to wish to serve somebody stronger than my mate?" she replied, her voice carrying a slightly sultry warmth. "Or does my surrender bother you because it is not desperate enough?"

Max’s eyes narrowed, but the corner of his mouth still twitched faintly.

"Your tricks won’t work on me, big sister. I may be young, but I have not sunk so deep into the pool of power that I would choke on it. Name the true reason why you won’t even fight, or I will have you walking on the edges of sharp stones for the rest of your life."

He snorted.

"You see, I don’t trust easily. Maybe it’s a flaw, but I find it working for me so far."

He stood up and walked closer to her, stopping by her side with his hands clasped behind his back. Freya did not flinch from his presence. Her lips remained soft, her breathing calm, but her green eyes shifted toward him from the corner, sharp and aware.

"That’s why I fancy you," she said softly, her green eyes shifting to the side as she calmly took in his frame.

"Alright." Max turned on his heel, walking around her slowly, each step echoing louder than the last. Freya did not turn her head to follow him, but her eyes shifted just enough to track his movement. "Then tell me, where is the treasure? Where are the most precious things this place, this mighty empire, has to offer?"

He stopped before her, turned around to face her, and squatted down. His fingers caught her chin subtly, lifting it closer to his as his gaze searched her expression, watching for even the smallest crack beneath her lovely mask.

"If you serve me well, I will consider trusting you and not killing you too early. After all, your dear husband would pay a good price for you, wouldn’t he?"

Max released her chin, making her head dip lightly.

The smile on her face cracked for a second before returning to the same lovely, seductive look.

"Certainly. I will give you a private tour, great one," she purred, but remained kneeling.

"Rise." Max snapped his fingers like he was ordering a dog. "Lead the way, and no tricks. I have hundreds of thousands of your people waiting for their deaths outside. One wrong move could cost a few lives. One trick could cost thousands. Am I clear?"

His smile was eerie, making Freya bite her tongue just to hold herself back from lashing out at him. A faint tension passed through her shoulders, and her fingers pressed against her dress for half a breath before she buried it beneath that same graceful mask.

She did not understand how this foolish young man was so sharp. Her plan had failed, and now she was not even sure what she could do to stall for time until her husband returned.

Freya walked to the throne slowly, her fingers brushing along its side in a precise pattern. The next moment, the throne burst in a flash of white lightning, making Max gasp in amazement. What replaced it was a stairway of lightning that rose upward, high into the air, cracking through the ceiling and into a chamber that looked completely white from below, almost heavenly in its glow.

"Follow me, young conqueror." Her hips swayed seductively, as if inviting him toward something entirely different. She let her white cardigan slip from her shoulders, revealing more of her pale skin. "Or are you too afraid to see what big sister has prepared for you? Hmm?" She bit her finger with a laugh, giving it one last try to lower his guard.

A small, bluish knife was tucked by her thigh, concealed beneath her dress. The moment he gave in to her charm, she swore she would rip his throat out.

Max stepped forward, following her up the spiral stairs, each step feeling as if he was walking on weightless clouds. His heart pounded wildly. He could barely resist her. The sway of her hips in front of him, the pale skin she kept teasing him with, the playful tone in her voice, it all made his blood stir faster than it should.

But he did not have time to fool around right now. His system would soon reveal whether he had gained a bloodline. He had to get out of here quickly before that happened, in case something unexpected unfolded. But for now, he had a feeling he could not let Freya go. She was a threat he had to tame before she became a problem behind his back.