Daisy couldn't grasp Jeep's reply at all. "What do you mean?!"

Jeep sighed. "Your father was a good man. Deep down, he craved peace and quiet, wishing happiness for everyone. His love stretched beyond Danka Kingdom—he dreamed all nearby nations could live peacefully together."

Daisy frowned, pondering his words. "What's wrong with that? Doesn't that prove Father's a wise king?"

"No. Those very virtues made him Danka's utterly incompetent ruler."

The insult to her father flared Daisy's anger. She raised her voice slightly. "What did you say?!"

Jeep spoke gravely. "A sage's love has no borders. But a ruler's love must. National interests are supreme! What did your father do? Remember our argument before your adventure? Know what he did to uphold his morals?"

Daisy felt dazed. She recalled that day.

She'd been packing bags to journey with Larry. Passing her father's room, she heard Jeep and him arguing. The shouts were so loud they scared her.

"What were you arguing about?"

"Whether to send grain aid to Jeep."

Jeep chuckled like recalling a hilarious joke. He laughed maniacally.

"Jeep had a drought. Your father wanted to aid them—aid a nation planning to invade Danka! How funny. Jeep was weakened by a small disaster only from years of warmongering. Hahaha! He claimed innocent civilians suffered, hoping aid would ease tensions? Hahaha, tensions?! I can't believe a king said that."

Daisy and Mika both felt Jeep had gone mad.

Yet Daisy oddly understood his feelings. She asked slowly, "So what happened later?"

"Later? Acting on his kindness, he trusted Jeep's planted traitors over his own brother and loyal ministers. He drained Danka's grain reserves, letting Jeep recover. So they could invade Danka again!"

Suppressed too long, Jeep vented frantically to Daisy.

"Daisy, I'm sick of it. Sick of your father—my foolish elder brother. Once, he was my most respected person. I knew he was naive, but I believed he'd be a great king. So I served him diligently for years. The day before I rebelled, I realized my mistake. I should never have trusted him. Never let him take the throne! He could stay a carefree saint while I led Danka to strength. Or at least preserved our land against Jeep."

Daisy felt her world shatter. "Is this true?"

"This is about the grain aid. Ask your trusted aides. Ask Danka's people. See if it's true."

Daisy fell silent. Finally, she asked slowly, "So this is why you controlled me to hurt my parents?"

"Exactly. When you failed to bring back that S Rank Adventurer as husband, I launched this plan. A perfect plan to secure my rise. I won't let Danka be ruined by your father!"

"Even by allying with the taboo Soulspirit Race?"

"Yes!"

"But they're banned by the Adventurers Guild!"

"Remember! No taboos before national interests! They mean nothing."

Jeep took a deep breath. "National interests are above all. The Adventurers Guild sets taboos to protect the majority. If Danka isn't included, we ignore them."

"But the Adventurers Guild—"

"Stop mentioning them. You're no longer an adventurer. You'll be a queen."

Jeep waved his hand. "How could this be public? Did I shout at the Adventurers Guild, 'I'm allying with Soulspirits—don't stop me'? As long as undiscovered, they won't act."

"But if Soulspirits spread—"

Jeep said coldly, "No matter. Your two S Rank friends are there. They'll wipe out the Soulspirits. Even if they spread, they won't stay in Danka. The worse neighbors fare, the smoother Danka grows."

Daisy's lifelong values, shaped by her parents, wavered. But she pressed on.

"You know Alicia and Larry are here?!"

"Of course, Daisy. Who else in Danka could infiltrate the palace, defeat every guard, earn the Soulspirit leader's 'hard to handle' remark, and help you—besides those two S Rank Adventurers?"

Jeep instructed, "As ruler, use limited info to gain more."

"Aren't the Soulspirits your allies?"

"They were allies when useful to Danka. Now they're causing chaos. Staying with them makes us enemies of the Adventurers Guild. So they're enemies now. No permanent friends, no permanent enemies—only permanent interests. Selfish for a person, perfect for a nation."

"What can the Soulspirits do for you?"

"You'll see after your friends clean them up."

"Why trust them? You've never met them."

"Knowing their rank suffices, Daisy. The Adventurers Guild labels them 'monsters' of Matesli Continent—symbols of invincibility. Even empires won't risk offending an S Rank Adventurer."

Hearing her friends called monsters, Daisy's tone hardened. "Aelis and Larry aren't monsters!"

"No, they are monsters. Solitary achievers. But they're pioneers. Thanks to them, Matesli expands. For us, Matesli's expanse is everything. For them, it's just a rest stop. Taboos bind races in Matesli's comfort zone—not S Rank Adventurers."

Jeep looked at Daisy earnestly. "You'll understand as king. Even if external threats fade now, stay vigilant. Strengthen the military. Protect Danka..."

Daisy sensed last words. As if confirming it, black blood trickled from Jeep's mouth.

"Jeep, you!"

Jeep wiped his mouth. Seeing the black blood, he stayed calm.

"My time's near. Don't be shocked. For a traitor like me, this is the best end."

"You took poison!"

"I ceded land to Jeep already. But the blame for allying with Soulspirits must never touch Danka. Let this sinner bury it with me."

Blood kept flowing despite wiping. Jeep gave up, focusing on what mattered.

He earnestly detailed Danka's future development, relations with neighbors...

Weakly, he asked Daisy, "Remembered everything?"

Daisy nodded, voice choked. "I remember."

"Good. Good."

Jeep struggled to stand. His body swayed. He collapsed to the ground. With all his strength, he looked up. "Sorry, Daisy. Uncle never wanted this. But I had to protect this nation—absolutely. You needn't forgive me. Just protect Danka. Protect our people."

Daisy felt no anger left. She admired this man who gave everything to the nation. Setting aside personal feelings, she nodded firmly. "I promise."

"Good."

Jeep turned to Edward and others rushing near. "Thank you for staying. For believing. As your lord, my final command: swear allegiance to Danka's new queen, Daisy!"

Edward and the others knelt involuntarily, tears streaming. They agreed.

Thus, Jeep, Danka's traitor king, left this world with a satisfied smile.