Simmons returned to the castle of the Blood Clan royal family.

“Are all you’ve said true?” The Vampire Empress upon the throne coughed twice and asked.

“Yes, every word is true,” Simmons replied, head bowed, trembling slightly. “He is a reclusive supreme expert—and seems quite fond of Princess Sisha. I believe… we should not provoke such a figure.”

The elderly Empress fell silent. This was utterly unexpected. Her plan had been simple: Simmons would eliminate the man casually. If resistance appeared, send a Seventh Tier or Eighth Tier expert. Yet this clinic doctor remained inscrutable.

In an age without Primordial Gods, a Ninth Tier expert was near-divine—overwhelming all opposition. Strange artifacts? Expected. From Simmons’ report, the Empress suspected the clinic’s owner might be Ninth Tier himself.

“Also…” Simmons swallowed hard, steadying her thoughts. “As I left, I sensed another immensely powerful presence linked to him. The aura… overwhelming. By instinct… beyond the Ninth Tier.”

“Beyond Ninth Tier? Does such a being even exist today?” A young man beside the throne chuckled. Duke Kristin, who had been listening quietly.

The Empress favored Kristin—considering betrothing Princess Sisha to him. She’d summoned him precisely to hear this report.

“You claimed you couldn’t gauge the doctor’s strength—*possibly* Ninth Tier. Now you ‘discern’ a Tenth Tier being? Contradictory, isn’t it?” Kristin smirked.

“I… only speculated about the owner. My scan detected nothing unusual. It might even be… beyond Tenth Tier…” Simmons stammered.

“Enough. ‘Beyond Tenth Tier’? Reaching Tenth Tier itself is near-impossible—even soaking a Ninth Tier expert in a spiritual-energy pool for a century might fail,” Kristin shrugged.

He wasn’t exaggerating. In this era, ascending to Tenth Tier was virtually unattainable. Countless elixirs wouldn’t suffice. Otherwise, wealthy long-lived elites would’ve achieved it long ago.

Simmons had no rebuttal. Her investigation was shaky. No records described a Tenth Tier’s aura or pressure. How could she be certain?

The last verified Tenth Tier existed over ten thousand years ago—a time of abundant spiritual energy, when even Primordial Gods walked the world.

If Tenth Tier was nearly mythical… how could anything surpass it? Clearly delusion.

“Simmons,” the Empress said calmly, “if the clinic affected your mind, rest a few days and report again.” Doubt tinged her voice.

After all—unverified Tenth Tier beings? One *beyond* it? Encountered in a single day? Likely mental fog.

Examinations confirmed it: Simmons showed signs of recent mental manipulation.

She was a trusted subordinate—unlikely to lie. But such claims… had the clinic ensnared her?

“Your Majesty, every word is true!” Simmons insisted. “Though that mysterious plant controlled me briefly… everything after was real.”

“Simmons, you need more experience. At Sixth Tier, you seem capable—but advanced illusions would evade you.” The Empress waved a hand. “Dismissed.”

Simmons bowed silently and retreated.

“What is your view of this human?” the Empress asked Kristin.

Duke Kristin—frankly, the dim-witted heir of a landed noble. Not sharp, but powerful. He fancied Sisha; the Empress saw a convenient match to stabilize rule.

Truth was, she never intended Sisha to inherit the throne. Allowing her to “compete” was idle talk—Sisha paled beside her elder sisters. A joke. Until Simmons reported: Sisha had befriended a reclusive powerhouse. *Mutual* fondness. That gave pause.

Befriending strength was wise… but why *Sisha*?

“In my view,” Kristin said, pleased by her attention, “the doctor used illusions for two reasons: avoid trouble and dismiss Simmons… or sensed her killing intent but lacked strength to confront her.”

“A true Ninth Tier would erase Simmons without trace. Clearly not him. Second case? Simpler—ignore illusions, crush him outright.”

Kristin smirked, stealing a glance. The Empress gave a faint nod.

“Very well. Handle it. Clean this deception for Princess Sisha,” she said evenly.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty! One Eighth Tier expert will shatter his defenses!” Kristin declared eagerly.

*Trust. Recognition.* He’d prove himself.

The Empress watched his smug face, expression neutral. Her mind, however, was set.

She neither fully believed nor dismissed Simmons. Absurd? Perhaps. But if they truly provoked a hidden powerhouse… the cost would be severe.

Skepticism demanded verification.

Conveniently, Kristin volunteered. Let him test the waters. If he eliminated the doctor—Sisha’s betrothal proceeded. If the doctor crushed Kristin’s Eighth Tier expert? Even better. Weaken his faction. Strengthen her rule. Perfect.