The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 973

Chapter 973: The Palace Awakens

But while the heir and newest part-owner of said place was trying to wrap his mind around the scale of the Imperial Palace, unbeknownst to him, several people and organizations had already begun mobilizing.

Every scrap of news was being monitored.

Every update was being tracked.

And the moment coverage for the banquet preparations began to circulate, a surprising number of citizens across the Empire tuned in from wherever they were.

Normally, this would have been the time when people eagerly awaited announcements about the Astral Cup.

But this year’s banquet was an entirely different ball game.

Varying kinds of fans were looking forward to very different things, and the anticipation was so intense that even children were allowed to stay up far past their usual bedtime just to watch their newest idols appear on screen.

Meanwhile, prominent researchers, masters, and innovators—people who normally would never waste their time attending social gatherings—were suddenly seen dusting off their formal attire.

Several even tripped over themselves in their rush to prepare.

Because tonight wasn’t just another banquet.

Tonight was an opportunity.

If they were lucky, they might even get the chance to approach the most interesting people currently shaking the Empire.

At this point, it didn’t even matter if they only managed to speak to someone from the entourage.

Because the rumors had already spread.

The assistants.

The guards.

The maids.

Surely even they knew things that ordinary scholars and inventors had yet to grasp.

And that alone made them worth approaching.

Naturally, the media had reached the same conclusion.

Various outlets—especially those still nursing the humiliation of losing the previous scoop to Solaris Times—had already sworn that today would be the day they reclaimed their dignity.

They would capture something.

Anything.

Footage that would once again shake the Empire.

All they had to do was outmaneuver dozens of other reporters who had arrived with exactly the same goal.

But competition had never deterred journalists who already knew what was at stake.

Unfortunately, not everyone shared that enthusiasm.

Those working under Chairman Lan—including the man himself—could only feel the tightening of their collars as the hours ticked closer to the banquet.

They weren’t excited.

They were simply trying to survive.

If they could just endure tonight’s banquet without anything catastrophic happening, then most of them could finally disappear for a while until the storm passed.

At best, those who held lower positions could hand the remaining responsibilities over to the committee in charge of the Astral Cup.

It wasn’t something they would wish on their enemies.

But it was certainly not something they wanted for themselves, so they could only pass on the baton to such unsuspecting people. If anything, they already did their best to show the next group what to prepare for. And whatever they wish to do with that information was simply up to them.

Meanwhile, the members of the foreign delegations had their own thoughts about tonight’s grand event.

For them, there was nothing more exciting than the spectacle about to unfold.

As their respective vehicles arrived one after another along the illuminated approach leading toward the Imperial Palace, doors opened in elegant sequence.

One by one, representatives stepped out.

Long coats.

Ceremonial uniforms.

Tailored gowns.

Every movement was deliberate.

Every step measured.

The red carpet stretched forward like a battlefield.

And each arrival instinctively glanced toward the others.

Because no matter how polite the smiles were, everyone present knew the truth.

They were all here for the same prey.

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