I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 641: Elven Code

Jack could sense the realization crystallizing within the Elven King.

Rhys wasn’t ranked 300-something.

The records, when read carefully, made it abundantly clear.

Rhys was ranked #3.

This individual is not a failure, nor are they an unremarkable student. They do not lack the talent or capability to achieve extraordinary things. In fact, they hold the third rank in an academy comprised of the most talented young mages from across the known world.

Rank #3, and climbing.

Maelor’s hand tightened on the scroll.

His breathing, which had been controlled and measured, became sharp. His ancient eyes traced back across the records, following the progression that showed his son rising through the Academy’s rankings with a steady, inexorable climb. Nothing was slowing his ascent to be #1.

”He’s Rank #3,” Maelor stated, his voice emerging softly. He was speaking to himself rather than addressing the throne room. ”My son is Rank #3. He cleared an S-rank dungeon. He killed a Disaster-class entity.”

He looked up from the scroll, his ancient gaze fixing directly on Queen Morvana.

”Why was I told my son was a failure?”

The question was simple and devastating.

Queen Morvana’s feigned delicacy vanished. Her grip on the armrest of the throne intensified. Her gaze met Maelor’s, revealing a defiant resolve beneath her outwardly solicitous demeanor.

”Your Majesty, the rankings are...” she started.

”Why was I lied to?” Maelor asked, cutting through her explanation with absolute finality. ”The records are clear. My son has been climbing steadily. Rank #50 three years ago. Rank #20 two years ago. Rank #8 one year ago. Rank #5 six months ago. Rank #3 current.”

He set the scroll down on the throne’s armrest with deliberate care.

”Someone concealed this from me. Someone made certain I believed my son was incapable of achievement. And I want to know why.”

One of the six council members who had been attempting to dismiss Jack’s claim stood abruptly.

”Your Majesty, there may be an explanation,” he said, his voice emerging with desperate urgency. ”The Academy has protocols. Rank advancement requires not just magical capability but documentation of ethical conduct, proper procedure, comprehensive...”

”Silence,” Maelor commanded, and the council member’s words died in his throat. The King turned his full attention to the scroll in his hands, his ancient eyes tracking the records once more.

One of the six council members who had been attempting to dismiss Jack’s claim stood abruptly, desperation bleeding through his carefully maintained composure.

”Your Majesty, that documentation could be false,” He articulated, his tone conveying a distinct sense of urgency. He fully comprehended how much was at stake. ”The creature could have retrieved fabricated records. This boy could have manipulated the Academy’s ledger to create false evidence of your son’s capabilities. How can we trust anything presented by this being who destroyed our bridge and now threatens our kingdom?”

The council member looked around at his colleagues, seeking support, seeking agreement that his argument made logical sense.

”Your son’s claim of Rank #3 is impossible,” the council member continued. ”It contradicts everything we know about his actual capabilities. This is manipulation, Your Majesty. Orchestrated chaos designed to fracture your trust in your own household.”

Jack’s mental connection with Tharaxis flickered with amusement at the council member’s desperate attempt to salvage the situation.

’He grasps at straws,’ the ancient dragon observed. ’Attempting to sow doubt where evidence has already been provided.’

King Maelor’s hand tightened on the scroll, but his expression remained composed as he turned to face the council member directly.

Jack stepped forward slightly, his presence commanding immediate attention.

”Send someone you trust to Cordelia Magic Academy,” Jack stated, his voice cutting across the council member’s protestations with absolute clarity.

”Send them to verify the Academy’s official records. Have them cross-reference the institution’s rankings against what I have provided. If there is a discrepancy, you will have your answer.”

He paused, allowing the weight of the offer to settle.

”By sending someone you trust wholeheartedly, your Majesty. You will know the truth beyond any doubt. You will know whether I speak the truth or manipulate. And more importantly, you will know if someone in your own kingdom has been lying to you about your son’s capabilities.”

Jack’s hooded gaze fixed on the council member who had just spoken.

”I have nothing to gain from false evidence. My credibility rests on truth. If you verify that my documentation is fabricated, you will have grounds to distrust everything I say. But I suspect you will find that my records match exactly with what the Academy maintains.”

He tilted his hood fractionally.

”By all means, verify. You will have your answer.”

Maelor was already nodding, his ancient mind clearly several steps ahead, already processing the implications and what they meant for his kingdom’s governance.

”I will do exactly that,” he confirmed.

He rose from his throne.

A movement that commanded immediate attention from everyone in the chamber. The guards straightened. The council members sat up. Queen Morvana’s eyes widened fractionally, registering that something fundamental had shifted in the balance of power.

”I am dismissing this court,” Maelor announced, his voice echoing across the throne room with absolute authority. ”All of you, out, now!”

The council members began to stand, their expressions suggesting confusion at the sudden dismissal.

”Your Majesty,” one of them started, ”we should discuss what has transpired. The creature, the revelation about your son, the implications for the kingdom’s...”

”Before you leave,” Maelor stated, his voice cutting across the throne room with absolute authority, ”you will hear who stands before you. You will understand exactly what foolishness you have committed in questioning this being’s credibility.”

The council members froze mid-rise, uncertainty rippling across their faces.

Maelor turned to Jack directly.

”Tell them,” the Elven King commanded. ”Tell them your name. Tell them who you represent.”

Jack’s hooded form tilted fractionally. The golden lightning beneath his hood intensified, becoming visible even through the fabric of his cloak. The air began to ionize, and the distinctive ozone smell filled the throne room once more.

”Jack Kaiser,” he stated, his voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty. ”Fifth chosen one of Elysium. Heir to the Kaiser name.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

One council member went completely white, their hand gripping the wall for support. Another stared, processing what the name meant.

Queen Morvana’s face drained of all color.

”The Kaiser family,” Maelor stated, allowing the implications to settle across the throne room like a pronouncement of doom. ”This Council questioned the credibility of the son of Duke Alaric Kaiser. The same Alaric Kaiser who, a month ago, turned the sky purple and then black as he erased an entire bloodline from history in a single moment.”

He paused, his ancient gaze sweeping across the assembled council and Queen.

”The same Alaric Kaiser whose power supersedes entire nations. The same Alaric Kaiser who destroyed an entire territory because they were aligned with someone who came after his family.”

Maelor’s voice became cold as ice.

”You stand before the representative of the combined interests of Elysium and the Kaiser family. You question his word. You suggest his documentation is false. You imply he is sowing discord in my throne room.”

He leaned forward slightly.

”You are fools. All of you. You don’t listen to events beyond your borders. You don’t understand the forces reshaping the world around you. And you just attempted to obstruct the interests of a family whose power you cannot even comprehend.”

One of the six council members who had been attempting to dismiss Jack’s claim stood abruptly, his face pale.

”Your Majesty, we didn’t know...” he started.

”That is precisely the problem,” Maelor cut him off. ”You didn’t know. And your ignorance could have cost this kingdom dearly.”

He ascended from his seat of authority, his demeanor portending judgment.

”I am invoking the Elven Code,” Maelor stated, his voice emerging with the weight of absolute authority. ”Due to your negligence, your obstruction of truth, and your failure to protect the interests of this crown, each of you who supported this conspiracy stands in violation of the ancient laws of this kingdom.”

He paused, allowing the implications to settle like a death sentence across the throne room.

”One more transgression. One more act of obstruction. And I will strip every one of you of your titles and position. You will be given to him...” he gestured toward Jack, ”...as serfs, to serve at his pleasure. This I swear by the ancient laws of the Elven Kingdom.”

The silence that followed was terrifying.

Queen Morvana’s entire body had gone rigid. The council members were frozen, their faces reflecting the complete understanding that their positions, their power, their very freedom had just been placed in jeopardy.

’The King moves with decisive clarity,’ Tharaxis observed internally. ’He has accepted what must be done.’

’And they now understand the price of further obstruction,’ Jack confirmed. ’Fear will ensure compliance where logic failed.’