Chapter 132: The royal palace

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The royal palace

Kenny was reckless in a way that made him exhausting to deal with, but there was something admirable about his refusal to abandon an ambition simply because it was difficult. He wasn’t merely dreaming about becoming rich anymore. He was beginning to look at the world as a collection of problems that someone, somewhere, might find a way to solve.

That instinct could make him a successful merchant.

It could also get him killed if he failed to learn the difference between a worthwhile risk and a foolish one.

"Listen," Tolu said. "If you genuinely want to explore the idea, start by gathering information. Find out which routes merchants currently use, how much they spend on transportation, which stretches cause the greatest losses, and whether anyone has successfully travelled through the parts of Igbo Ora you’re interested in."

Kenny’s smile became more thoughtful.

"Then I’ll calculate how much a faster route could save them."

"Exactly. Find out what merchants would actually pay for the service. Don’t spend money trying to solve a problem before you know whether solving it will make you a profit."

Kenny nodded several times.

"And I should look for experienced guides and people familiar with the region."

"Yes."

"Perhaps even cultivators who specialise in exploration."

"Yes."

"And I should start with a small expedition rather than a full caravan."

Tolu considered that.

"If you can afford to lose everything that expedition costs, and if you have enough protection to survive the journey."

Kenny paused.

"You’re very determined to make this difficult."

"I’m determined to make sure you don’t die."

"Same thing, sometimes."

Tolu laughed.

Kenny leaned back, his gaze drifting towards the courtyard beyond the open window. Sunlight fell across the tiled roofs, and servants moved quietly through the manor, carrying baskets and attending to their duties.

For a little while, neither of them spoke.

Then Kenny straightened again.

"Still, imagine it. A trading route through Igbo Ora that cuts travel time in half. Merchants arriving before their competitors, goods reaching markets while prices are still high, fewer provisions to buy along the way. If I could establish something like that, I wouldn’t need to spend my life competing with every merchant who already owns a caravan."

His eyes shone with ambition.

"I could build something entirely different."

Tolu followed his gaze towards the courtyard.

He could understand that feeling.

He, too, wanted something of his own. A place no one could take from him, enough wealth that he would never have to return to the desperate life he had known in Ile-Esha, and enough strength that no one could simply decide his future for him.

The difference was that Tolu had a dungeon capable of producing resources, an extraordinary Dungeon Heart, and creatures that could fight battles most people would never survive.

Kenny had a dream, a merchant’s instincts, and whatever opportunities he could create with his own hands.

Neither of them had an easy path ahead.

"Just promise me one thing," Tolu said.

Kenny looked at him. "What?"

"Don’t enter Igbo Ora until you’ve done your research, secured enough funding, and found people capable of keeping you alive."

Kenny smiled and extended his hand.

"I promise I’ll think about it carefully."

"That isn’t what I said."

"It’s the best you’re getting."

Tolu stared at him.

Kenny burst out laughing.

And despite himself, Tolu laughed too.

He was beginning to suspect that keeping Kenny alive might become a full-time occupation.

....

An Invitation to the Palace

The carriage rolled steadily along the broad stone road, its wheels producing a soft, rhythmic rumble beneath the cabin.

Tolu sat comfortably against the cushioned seat, one arm resting beside him as he watched the capital pass through the window. He had travelled through these streets several times since arriving, but the city still managed to surprise him. Every district seemed to possess its own character, from the crowded commercial avenues lined with merchants and craftsmen to the quieter residential quarters where wealthy families maintained enormous compounds behind high walls.

Today, however, his destination was unlike any place he had visited before.

The royal palace.

The carriage itself was a clear indication of the occasion. It belonged to the Omimi family, and its craftsmanship was far beyond anything Tolu could have afforded before his recent rise in fortune. Its dark wooden exterior was polished until it gleamed, with intricate gold patterns running along the sides. The doors bore the Omimi family insignia, carefully engraved and inlaid with a subtle blue stone that caught the sunlight whenever the carriage passed an open stretch of road.

Inside, the seats were upholstered in soft, deep-red fabric. The floor was covered with a finely woven carpet, and the windows were fitted with curtains that could be drawn aside without obstructing the view.

Two sturdy horses pulled the carriage, their coats gleaming beneath their fitted harnesses. A pair of attendants rode ahead while another followed behind, ensuring that the carriage could move through the busy streets without unnecessary delays.

Tolu had asked Jide why the invitation required such an elaborate arrangement.

Jide’s answer had been simple.

You’re the champion. You should arrive like one.

Tolu had not argued further.

He was beginning to understand that wealth and status were often expressed through things that seemed unnecessary to people who had never possessed either. A comfortable carriage could transport him just as effectively without gold decorations, but its appearance communicated something before its passenger even stepped outside.

It was a language he would eventually need to understand if he intended to build his own influence.

For now, he was content to enjoy the comfortable seat.

As the carriage approached the palace district, the streets gradually changed.

The shops and private residences gave way to expansive gardens, guarded compounds, and imposing buildings belonging to officials and powerful families. The number of guards increased, and the cultivators patrolling the roads were visibly stronger than those in the ordinary districts.

Then the palace appeared.

Tolu had seen it from a distance before, its rooftops rising above the surrounding buildings, but the view from the main approach was something else entirely.

The outer walls stretched across the horizon, built from enormous blocks of pale stone that had been fitted together with remarkable precision. Their surfaces bore intricate carvings of mythical beasts, ancient warriors, and scenes from the kingdom’s history. Tall towers rose at regular intervals along the walls, each crowned with dark, sweeping roofs decorated with bronze ornaments.

Banners bearing the royal insignia hung from the towers, their rich colours moving gently in the morning breeze.

Beyond the walls, the palace itself dominated the landscape.

Its architecture combined imposing stone foundations with elegant wooden structures, curved roofs, broad terraces, and open galleries. The main buildings rose several storeys high, their pale walls contrasting beautifully with the dark timber supporting the roofs. Golden ornaments decorated the ridges, while carefully carved pillars lined the entrances.

Several buildings stood around a vast central courtyard, connected by covered walkways and elevated bridges. Some appeared to serve administrative purposes, while others were clearly residences for members of the royal household. Farther back, Tolu could see the curved roofs of what looked like a ceremonial hall, its entrance framed by massive pillars.

Gardens occupied the spaces between the buildings.

There were carefully arranged flower beds, ornamental trees, shallow ponds, and stone paths that wound between patches of green. Water flowed from the mouths of carved stone creatures into a series of connected pools. Beyond one garden, a wide staircase climbed towards a raised pavilion overlooking the entire compound.

The palace was not simply a large residence.

It was a city within a city, designed to accommodate the royal family, their servants, officials, guards, guests, and the countless people whose work kept the kingdom functioning.

Tolu’s gaze lingered on the guards stationed at the main entrance.

Even from inside the carriage, he could feel the difference in their presence. Several were Advanced cultivators, and at least one possessed an aura that suggested he had reached the Master rank.

The kingdom did not entrust the safety of its ruler to ordinary soldiers.

The carriage slowed as it approached the main gate.

A pair of enormous doors stood open between the stone pillars. Beyond them, another courtyard stretched towards the inner palace, its entrance guarded by soldiers wearing polished armour and carrying weapons that gleamed beneath the sunlight.

The driver exchanged a few words with the guards and presented the invitation.

After examining it, one of the soldiers stepped aside.

The carriage proceeded through the gate.

Tolu watched the palace grounds pass by, taking in the sheer scale of the place. He had grown accustomed to the comforts of Folami’s manor and the luxury of Kemisola’s residence, but neither compared to this.

The carriage finally stopped before a broad staircase leading to an elegant building with a high, sweeping roof.

An attendant was already waiting.

He wore immaculate traditional clothing, the fabric richly coloured but restrained enough to avoid distracting from the insignia embroidered across his chest. When Tolu stepped down from the carriage, the man bowed respectfully.

"Champion Tolu. Welcome to the royal palace. We have been expecting you."

Tolu returned the greeting.

"Thank you."

"If you would follow me, please. The other guests have already arrived."

Tolu glanced briefly at the carriage before following the attendant inside.

The entrance opened into a spacious reception chamber with polished stone floors and pillars carved from dark hardwood. The walls were decorated with large paintings depicting important events in the kingdom’s history. Sunlight entered through tall windows, illuminating the intricate patterns woven into the carpets and the elaborate designs carved into the ceiling beams.

Several servants moved quietly through the chamber, but none interrupted them.

The attendant led Tolu through a side passage and along a covered gallery overlooking one of the palace gardens. They passed two guarded entrances before reaching a set of tall wooden doors.

The attendant pushed them open.

"Please enter. The others are waiting inside."

Tolu stepped into the hall.

It was a large, elegant chamber, though considerably less imposing than the palace’s main ceremonial buildings. A long table occupied one side, while several comfortable chairs had been arranged around smaller tables near the windows. Refreshments stood on a sideboard, and the walls were decorated with embroidered tapestries depicting landscapes and legendary cultivators.