Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me

Alix nods, unbothered. "That's fine. We'll ask someone who knows."

He leads her through the outer courtyard of the teleportation structure—not just a spell array this time, but a towering, enclosed building made of pale gray stone and glass, with spires humming faintly with arcane power. The portal nexus of a capital city. Permanent, reinforced, capable of long-distance jumps.

They step inside. The air is colder, charged. Mages in layered robes move with purpose between glowing crystal terminals, scroll racks, and large standing gates wreathed in silver.

Alix walks up to a counter, where a mage operator is speaking to a soldier in hushed tones. The mage is middle-aged, sharp-featured, his expression tired but alert. As the soldier walks away, Alix steps up.

"I need to reach the Bregion Empire," he says calmly.

The mage pauses, then blinks. "Bregion?" He leans in slightly. "That's not a short hop. No basic portal can cover that kind of distance."

"I'm aware," Alix replies. "Is there a way?"

The mage exhales slowly, eyeing Alix. "There is. But it'll cost you. For that range, we'd need to route you through a high-grade anchor gate. Reinforced structure, multi-tier energy draw, stabilized flux seals. You understand what I'm saying?"

"I do," Alix says. "How much."

The mage taps a crystal embedded in the counter. A number flickers into the air—100,000 in bold gold script. "One hundred thousand gold coins. Per head."

Karnessa's mouth falls open. "What—?! That's really expensive!"

The mage's expression hardens. He turns toward her sharply, eyes narrowing with disdain.

"Shut up, slave. You're not the one paying. A slave shouldn't speak while her master is talking."

Alix's eyes flick toward him, calm and unreadable.

Then, coolly, he says, "We'll do it."

The mage blinks.

"I'll pay for two," Alix adds, and tosses a larger coin pouch onto the counter. The thunk of it landing silences the surrounding murmur. A faint jingle of heavy weight follows.

The mage catches himself, nods stiffly, and takes the pouch without another word.

"Prep Gate Six," he calls out. "Full distance lock. Route to southern node, Bregion Empire border."

Another mage moves quickly to obey. The tall arch at the center of the chamber flares to life, its interior folding into a slow spiral of liquid light.

Karnessa watches the portal in awe, then glances at Alix.

"…Master," she murmurs, voice soft and careful. "Why are you willing to spend that much?"

Alix doesn't look at her. His gaze is on the portal as the energy stabilizes.

"Because gold is easy to earn again," he says quietly. "Time isn't."

The portal pulses.

Alix takes Karnessa's wrist gently and steps forward.

"Let's go."

---

The light fades.

Alix and Karnessa step out onto polished stone tiles, the teleportation arch behind them humming quietly with residual energy. The air here smells different—crisper, touched with ozone and the faint tang of alchemical oils. The plaza around them is wide, clean, and bustling—not with panic or refugees, but with calm, methodical activity.

Even though this is just a border city of the Bregion Empire, it feels like another world entirely. The towers are tall and elegant, carved from deep slate and veined with glowing threads of magic. Arcane lamps float in the air, shedding soft light even though the sun still lingers. Shops are open. Guards patrol with discipline, not desperation. Merchants haggle—not scream. There's no trace of fear.

Alix walks forward slowly, eyes sweeping over the people moving through the plaza—mages, soldiers, civilians in tailored coats and silk robes, all going about their lives as if war didn't exist just a few nations away.

Karnessa looks around in stunned silence.

Alix tilts his head slightly. "They don't look worried."

Karnessa shakes her head, still staring. "No… not at all. It's like they don't even know what's happening in the outer kingdoms."

"They know," Alix says. "They just don't care."

They continue walking through the paved plaza, past a statue of a winged warrior holding aloft a broken crown.

Karnessa's voice lowers slightly as she asks, "Why is this place so calm? There's a war tearing through half the continent."

Alix doesn't answer immediately. He stops near a railing that overlooks the rest of the city—a sprawling network of stone streets, clockwork trams gliding past, and spires crackling faintly with magical sigils. A military airship coasts silently across the distant sky, escorted by four glimmering hawk-like constructs.

Alix doesn't answer right away. He watches a pair of armored knights ride by on silver-plated steeds, their banners trailing behind them like quiet thunder.

Then, calmly, he says, "Because the people here are confident in the Empire's strength."

Just then, a group of armored youths walks past them—each wearing different crests on their cloaks. One laughs loudly. "I heard the Glassfang clan's sending their twin heirs this year."

"Let them," another snorts. "The Dawnsworn prince is still the favorite. Everyone knows it."

Alix stops walking. His eyes follow them for a beat, then he turns slightly toward Karnessa. "What are they talking about?"

Karnessa perks up, frowning in thought. "Oh, I think… I've heard of this. It's some kind of… imperial event. Every five years, all the kingdoms and clans that serve the empire send representatives to fight each other."

"Fight each other?" Alix echoes.

She nods. "Yes, Master. It's how the empire decides how to distribute resources—territories, magic relics, even military support. The stronger your forces perform, the more favor and power your region gets."

Alix raises an eyebrow. "So a tournament?"

"In a way. But only elites are allowed. They say no one older than twenty can compete, so most of the time it's the princes and heirs of noble clans. Future rulers."

Alix glances around, observing the people with a deeper understanding now. The tension he expected isn't here—because for them, the war is distant. But this event? This matters.

Karnessa adds, her voice quieter, "When I was still in the slave cages… I heard one of the merchants talking about it. Said it's how the empire keeps everyone in check. If you want more from Bregion, you earn it with blood."

Alix hums. "Of course. Control through competition. Order by making your vassals fight over scraps."

He looks toward the central citadel looming beyond the plaza, its spires reaching high into the clouds.

"But if this is how they do things," he mutters, "then this empire is more ruthless than I thought."

Karnessa looks at him, hesitating. "…It feels so wrong."

Alix's gaze remains on the citadel.

"No," he says simply. "I think it's honest."

Alix turns his gaze back toward the group of armored youths who had been speaking earlier. Without hesitation, he strides toward them, Karnessa keeping close behind, her steps light and silent.

As they draw near, the group notices them. One of the young men, sharp-jawed with a hawk crest on his shoulder, narrows his eyes but doesn't speak.

Alix stops a few paces away and speaks evenly. "Excuse me. That event you were talking about. Where is it being held?"

The group exchanges quick glances, sizing him up.

A taller boy with a lazy grin steps forward. "Ohh, it's your first time in the empire?" he says, brushing dust off his polished gauntlet. "It's in Dolblas City. That's where they always hold the event."

Alix nods slowly. "Dolblas City," he repeats. "Is that far?"

The boy's grin falters just slightly. "Not too far. Five jump by standard gate portal. But don't bother heading there unless you've got Empire citizenship." He folds his arms. "Dolblas is one of those restricted cities. Outsiders aren't allowed in."

Before Alix can respond, another youth from the group scoffs and waves a hand. "Ignore him. He likes sounding important."

That person frowns. "I'm not wrong."

"Did you hit your head or something?" the other says, rolling his eyes. He turns to Alix. "Dolblas is usually closed off, but for the event, they open the city to outsiders for a week. Merchants, spectators, scouts—you'll see all kinds flooding in."

Alix nods, considering that. "I see. Thank you."

"No problem," the second boy says. "If you're going to watch, get there early. Lodging fills up fast."

Karnessa keeps her head lowered, but her eyes flick between the boys with quiet curiosity.

Alix gives them a polite nod, then turns and walks away.

Once they're out of earshot, Karnessa leans closer and whispers, "So we're really going there, Master?"

Alix doesn't answer immediately. His gaze is fixed ahead, toward the southern skyline.

Then he murmurs, "Dolblas City… a gathering of the empire's best."

A faint smile touches his lips.

"Sounds like the perfect place to make a first impression."

Alix doesn't waste another second.

He turns on his heel, cloak sweeping behind him as he strides toward the towering portal structure at the heart of the city—this one even grander than the one before. Karnessa hurries to keep up, her footsteps light but breath quick. She doesn't ask where they're going.

Alix heads straight to the main operator's desk.

A robed woman with bronze cuffs greets him with a tilt of her head. "Destination?"

"Dolblas City," Alix says plainly.

She blinks, surprised. "During the Selection? You'll need to wait—there are a lot of people going there."

"I have the coin," he says simply, already reaching into his coat.

"Ok. That'll be fifteen thousand for priority access," she says, unfazed now.

Alix places the pouch on the table. The mage gives it a quick weigh, nods once, and motions toward a silver-framed gate near the far wall.

"Gate Nine."

Alix takes Karnessa's wrist gently. "Come."

The gate opens in a soft flare of blue-white light. With no hesitation, he steps through.