The Ancient Rings were supposed to be one of the world's most guarded secrets—a mystery hidden from all but the most powerful and well-informed individuals.
And yet, The Lord of the Rings had exposed the idea to the entire world.
Even more disturbing—the "One Ring" at the center of the film's story actually existed.
The High Arbiter, deep in thought, finally spoke.
"The 'One Ring' ranks among the top three of the Ancient Rings." His tone was calm, yet his eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "And it was once wielded by the Cursed Monarch."
The Shadow Elder nodded, his normally cold and calculating gaze showing a hint of concern.
"The Cursed Monarch..." he murmured. "He perished eight hundred years ago. Few could stand against him."
His voice grew heavier.
"And it was all because of the One Ring. A destructive artifact... unlike any other."
A brief silence passed between them before he added, "Fortunately, the One Ring was lost long ago. No one has seen it since."
Yet his expression darkened further as he continued,
"But now that its existence has been exposed through that movie... people will start searching for it. And if someone actually finds it—"
He trailed off, his voice weighed with unease.
The High Arbiter, however, merely chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
"You worry too much, Shadow Elder."
He leaned back, speaking with complete confidence.
"Even if someone were to find the One Ring, they wouldn't be able to use it. Only those with the strength and willpower to control it could wield its power."
"And the weak? If they were foolish enough to put it on, the ring would destroy them. Their bodies would disintegrate before they could even dream of mastering it."
A glint of amusement crossed his eyes.
"Honestly, it would be entertaining to watch. Let them find it. Let them try. The outcome will always be the same—another fool erased from existence, and the ring lost once more."
The Shadow Elder wasn't fully convinced.
"Maybe so," he said cautiously. "But what if someone follows the movie's story instead? What if they don't try to use it, but merely keep it... guarding it, like the protagonist?"
His voice held a rare hesitation, showing just how deeply this possibility unsettled him.
The High Arbiter let out a light laugh, shaking his head.
"Now you're just overthinking it, Shadow Elder."
He exhaled, his tone still relaxed.
"Do you have any idea how many resources we've poured into finding that ring? How many decades we've spent searching, only to find nothing?"
"If no one—not even us—could find it after all this time, do you really think some fool inspired by a movie will be the one to stumble upon it?"
The Shadow Elder thought about that for a moment before finally nodding.
"I suppose you're right."
His expression shifted, and he moved on to a different topic.
"Then what do we do about Arthur?" He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Are you finally going to deal with that young demon?"
He folded his arms, his gaze turning serious.
"And what about the Global Currency situation?"
The High Arbiter was silent for a few seconds, his black-hole-like eyes swirling with unreadable thoughts.
Then, he finally spoke.
"As for Arthur... I don't plan on killing him. I can see that he still has his uses."
The Shadow Elder frowned slightly, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't want to eliminate him? He's been disrupting the world order, destabilizing industries, and drawing attention to things that should've remained hidden."
His voice was laced with skepticism as he added,
"You are the Overseer of the World's Economy. Shouldn't you be prioritizing stability? The simplest way to fix this problem is to get rid of Arthur."
The High Arbiter merely smiled, shaking his head.
"Removing Arthur won't stabilize anything. The disruption has already begun. Killing him would only create more chaos, not less."
The Shadow Elder narrowed his eyes.
"Then what do you intend to do?"
The High Arbiter's smile deepened, his tone almost amused.
"Instead of eliminating Arthur... I think it would be wiser to keep him."
He chuckled, his fingers tapping lightly against his cup.
"In fact, I might even support him—help his company expand further across the world."
The Shadow Elder looked taken aback. "You're... going to help him?"
The High Arbiter nodded.
"As much as I hate to admit it, his inventions... they're refreshing. And more than that—" he leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter, yet carrying undeniable weight—"they're entertaining."
The Shadow Elder studied him for a moment before sighing.
"So that's your decision, then."
He let that settle before shifting the conversation once more.
"And what about the Global Currency?"
The High Arbiter's smirk didn't fade.
"That plan is already underway."
He set his cup down, folding his hands together.
"The Federation of Currency System will be introduced soon."
The Shadow Elder listened intently as he continued.
"Each kingdom will have its own local currency—allowing them independence. However, for international trade and large-scale transactions, they will still rely on the Unified Trade Currency—which I will oversee."
A subtle grin played on his lips, a glint of satisfaction flashing through his dark, swirling eyes.
"In the end, nothing will truly change. The illusion of freedom will satisfy them, while control remains in our hands."
The Shadow Elder studied the High Arbiter for a moment before narrowing his eyes.
"You just want to see what else Arthur is capable of, don't you?"
The High Arbiter let out a quiet chuckle, swirling his drink before taking a slow sip.
"Who wouldn't be interested in him?" He set his cup down, his gaze gleaming with intrigue. "Even just one of his creations—computers, and that long-distance calculator communication through them—could be invaluable in warfare."
The Shadow Elder frowned, shaking his head.
"You truly are a man who seeks amusement in the most dangerous places, High Arbiter."
Then, with a sharp glance, he added, "Don't tell me you're considering using Arthur for the rumored Great War."
The High Arbiter smiled, the corners of his lips curling slightly.
"I wouldn't admit to that, Shadow Elder."
The Shadow Elder sighed, clearly unconvinced.
"I thought you had already seen enough of Arthur."
The High Arbiter's eyes darkened slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.
"I've seen enough—not of Arthur, but enough to take action regarding the Global Currency issue."
His voice was calm, but deep within his mind, a different thought lingered—
A thought he hadn't spoken aloud.
He was looking forward to meeting Arthur in the future.
Not because of his inventions, nor his disruptions to the world's balance—but because of something far more personal.
Something that Arthur himself didn't know.
Arthur was not the son of the Demon King of Morningstar, as the world believed.
He was the son of the Demon King's sister.
And more than that—Arthur was born without a father.
The High Arbiter's fingers tapped lightly against the table, his thoughts drifting to old records, myths, and forgotten texts.
He had spent years researching cases of beings born without a father, yet the only stories that ever matched such a phenomenon came from ancient mythology—tales of gods and celestial beings.
The idea of Arthur being related to something divine was, of course, ridiculous.
The High Arbiter glanced at the Shadow Elder, his expression composed yet slightly amused.
"Don't concern yourself too much with Arthur. He isn't a threat—not in the way you think. The only real danger he poses is his ability to disrupt economies."
The Shadow Elder nodded slowly. "I suppose you're right."
Just as he was about to shift the conversation, the High Arbiter chuckled, leaning back slightly. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NovelHub(.)net
"Besides, I know something about Arthur... something even he doesn't know."
The Shadow Elder's gaze sharpened, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
For a brief moment, he considered pressing for answers—but then, he caught the subtle shift in the High Arbiter's demeanor.
The way he smirked—it was clear he had no intention of revealing the secret.
Recognizing this, the Shadow Elder chose to remain silent, though the mystery now lingered in his mind.