The inland sea was wide.

The coastline was 20,000 miles long, and the total area of the sea was nearly half the size of the Aragon Empire. Two imperial duchies, four great territories, seven port cities, and three kingdoms were distributed around the inland sea.

There were more than 50 populated islands, and the race to claim hegemony over the huge sea had been ongoing since ancient times. However, the Arangis family always came out as the winner.

Even the Aragon Empire could not completely conquer the inland sea and had to recognize the Arangis family as an autonomous force. Thus, even after the founding of the empire, the Arangis family reigned over as monarch over the South and the inland sea, and very few forces challenged them over the past hundred years or so.

But now, Blyda Castle of Crete Island, the stronghold of the Arangis Duchy, was under immense tension for the first time in decades. Blyda was the holy city of the Arangis Duchy, and it existed long before the founding of the empire as the largest port city in the south.

The ancient, gray castle overlooked the huge city with a population of well over 100,000. The castle was home to dozens of nobles and nearly 300 royal guards. However, the atmosphere was as heavy and dark as the storm clouds that filled the far horizon...