Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye-Chapter 350: You? Worthy? Imperial Capital Guard! Drumph’s Connections!

The convoy from the Northern Territory didn't come to a halt until it reached the heart of the Imperial Capital. Once Luca and the others got out of the vehicles, what greeted them was a lavish, golden hotel that shimmered under the sunlight.

The name "Haven River" was inscribed in elegant calligraphy above the entrance. The parking lot outside was crammed with luxury cars—so many that they were impossible to count. Luca couldn't even name most of them, but just by their sleek designs, it was obvious these weren't ordinary rides—they were high-end to the extreme.

At that moment, Drumph and Quagmire also exited their vehicle. As soon as they appeared, a middle-aged man in a fitted suit walked briskly over, greeting them with a warm smile."Mr. Drumph, it's been a while. I've arranged accommodations for you and your party. Please take this time to rest and settle in.

"If you'd like a tour of the Imperial Capital, I'd be happy to arrange staff to escort you…"

Luca gave the man a once-over—judging by his poise and tone, he was clearly no ordinary official.Quagmire leaned in and whispered quietly,"That guy's name is Yugoscav. Big shot in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His rank is just one level below Drumph's. Can't believe the higher-ups actually sent him to receive us. That's some serious pull…"

Everyone who overheard was stunned. They hadn't expected this seemingly unremarkable middle-aged man to carry such weight. Some immediately dropped their casual demeanor and straightened up, offering more respectful smiles. Drumph, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. "Then I appreciate it. If we need anything, I'll let you know. Hopefully, Yugoscav won't find us too troublesome."

Yugoscav chuckled, "Mr. Drumph, you're too kind. This is my duty—if you need anything, just say the word."

Just as the two were speaking, the low hum of engines approached from nearby.

Another convoy rolled in—black SUVs stretching in a long line, even grander in scale than theirs.

Drumph turned toward the sound, eyes narrowing slightly. "Eastern Territory's people have arrived."

Quagmire and the others all looked over, their expressions darkening. They had all heard about what happened to Luca and his team in Wind City—none of them had any goodwill toward the Eastern Territory. The convoy stopped a short distance away. One by one, members of the Eastern Territory's Morning Star division stepped out. Among them were Spritlane, Ziyomin, and several other familiar faces.

Ziyomin walked up to the lead vehicle and respectfully opened the door. A tall, handsome man wearing a black top hat stepped out with elegance.

"Drumph, long time no see." He smiled warmly and greeted Drumph.

At that moment, Spritlane and the others finally spotted Luca. Their expressions immediately shifted, like they'd just seen a ghost or a demon. After all, their leader had died at Luca's hands—that image was still vivid in their minds. But then they reminded themselves—they were in the Imperial Capital now, right in the city center. No matter how crazy Luca was, there was no way he'd try anything here. Especially not during the sensitive time surrounding the founding of the Federation. Unless he had a death wish, he wouldn't dare make a move.

Luca didn't pay them any mind. He gave them a single glance, then looked away—as if he didn't recognize them at all. Drumph, however, wasn't nearly as polite. He scoffed and said coldly, "Zovland, I'm surprised you're still breathing. Thought you'd have been monster food by now."

A flash of cold light flickered in Zovland's eyes, and the smile on his face disappeared instantly. "Mr. Drumph, I've called you a senior out of courtesy—not fear. Let's be clear: we're the same rank. Maybe I don't have your seniority, but that doesn't give you the right to insult me."

Drumph spat on the ground and sneered, "Can't even keep your subordinates in line, and you dare call yourself my equal? You? Worthy?"

The moment those words landed, Zovland's face turned cold as ice. "You old bastard, what—want to throw hands right here?"

Drumph rolled up his sleeves without hesitation. "Sure. Let's go. You think I'm scared of you?!"

Seeing the situation about to explode, Spritlane, Ziyomin, and the other Eastern Territory players immediately stepped behind Zovland. Quagmire, Donlow, and the rest of Drumph's team closed ranks behind him. The two sides glared at each other, the tension so thick it was almost tangible. It felt like a fight could break out at any moment. As for Luca—he just stood to the side with Donald and the others, watching the scene unfold like it was free entertainment. He had absolutely no intention of stepping in, nor did he show the slightest awareness that this whole mess had started because of him.

"Aren't you going to stop them?" Tuwnken asked nervously, worried that the two sides would really start throwing punches and spark a massive incident. After all, they didn't come here to cause trouble.

Luca replied calmly, "No need. Someone will step in."

Sure enough, just moments after he spoke, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from a distance. A group of uniformed guards, weapons at the ready, quickly approached.

Even from the way they moved—their posture, their presence—it was clear these weren't just any guards. These were either players or elite soldiers with serious training.

"Imperial Capital Guard's here," someone muttered. At that name, everyone present felt a chill run down their spine. Before the game descended, the Imperial Capital Guard was already a famed special unit.

After the game began, the government selected only the finest players through a rigorous vetting process. The reorganized Imperial Capital Guard had since become an elite force of terrifying strength. They now held full responsibility for the city's internal security—and their authority even ranked higher than Morning Star.

The guards came to a stop between Drumph and Zovland. The lead officer, wearing a distinctive face-concealing mask, stepped forward and said in a firm voice: "Gentlemen, the use of Transcendent powers is strictly forbidden within the Imperial Capital. Please don't make this difficult for us."

As soon as he finished speaking—click—the rest of the guards raised their weapons and chambered their rounds in unison, their eyes cold and unyielding as they stared down both sides. It was clear they weren't bluffing. The Imperial Capital Guard had full authority to shoot first and report later.

It might sound a bit inhumane, but given the current state of humanity, this was no time to dwell on ideals of fairness—it was all about stabilizing the situation as quickly as possible. If things spiraled into chaos, no one would be able to take responsibility. Put simply, order outweighed right or wrong. And precisely because both the Northern Territory and Eastern Territory members understood this logic, cold sweat was already running down their backs.

If they really got killed by the Imperial Capital Guard, there wouldn't even be a place to file a complaint—let alone seek justice.

Once the crowd quieted down and behaved, the squad captain finally gave a subtle nod. He turned to Yugoscav—the one who had reported the incident—and said, "Apologies, Yugoscav. There was a lapse in our security. I'll assign two patrol units here to keep watch. If anything else happens, you'll be able to command them directly."

The Imperial Capital Guard, like Morning Star, operated as an independent special unit, not under any single department. Not even someone like Yugoscav could normally issue them orders—this was an exception given the situation.

After the Guard left, Yugoscav immediately turned to Drumph and Zovland with an apologetic expression. He offered a bitter smile and said, "Gentlemen, please don't take offense. I had no choice but to call in the Guard. If there's any personal grievance between you, perhaps it can be resolved elsewhere. After all, this is the Imperial Capital—not the place to start trouble."

Yugoscav, being part of the Imperial Capital's diplomatic corps, was a master of both hard and soft tactics. His ability to balance strength with diplomacy was polished to perfection. Even Drumph and Zovland had no choice but to give him some face.

Drumph shot a cold glance at Zovland and sneered, "Don't think this is over. You got lucky today. Let's hope you're just as lucky when the meeting starts."

It wasn't the right time to act—Drumph knew that—but the upcoming conference would be the perfect moment to strike. That's when he'd truly confront Zovland.

Zovland's face darkened, and he retorted sarcastically, "Mr. Drumph really does live up to his reputation—so upright and unyielding." He didn't say more. With a wave of his hand to Spritlane and the others behind him, he ordered, "Let's go."

The Eastern Territory members gave Luca and his group one last hard look before turning and striding into the hotel with Zovland. The bystanders, seeing them approach, quickly made way. After they left, Yugoscav turned to Drumph—who still looked visibly annoyed—and offered a wry smile, "Mr. Drumph, why don't you head in and rest as well? Please don't make things difficult for me."

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Drumph withdrew his gaze and looked back at Quagmire and the others behind him. "Let's go. We're heading in too."

Everyone responded in unison and followed Drumph into the hotel. The interior of the hotel was far more luxurious than its already impressive exterior. The walls and columns, carved in delicate marble and jade tones, gleamed under the warm lighting, exuding a sense of opulence and refinement.

This hotel, named Haven River, was designed specifically to host VIP guests and was not open to the general public. Its amenities and services were among the most elite in the world.

As Luca and the others stepped inside and glanced around, they saw that the grand lobby was already filled with people dressed in high-end designer suits—most of them attendees of the upcoming Human Federation Founding Summit.

The moment Drumph and his group entered, countless eyes turned toward them. A wave of greetings and introductions followed, echoing across the hall. The titles people used varied—"Professor," "General," "Coach," "Commander"—all spoken with clear respect and admiration.

Drumph responded to each greeting with a friendly smile. In his younger years, he had fought in countless battles, earning numerous medals and honors. After retiring from active service, he took up a post as the head instructor at the most prestigious military academy in Summer Country, producing countless officers—colonels, generals, field commanders—you name it. His students now held posts all across Summer Country. He truly had protégés everywhere, and many of them were present here today.

Of course, Drumph's own strength was nothing to scoff at either. Without that, he wouldn't have risen to become one of the most powerful figures within Morning Star at his age. With all his military achievements, accolades, and authority, it was no surprise he commanded such respect.

What was interesting, though, was that Luca quickly noticed something odd. As they walked through the lobby, a lot of people kept sneaking glances at him.

Those looks carried all kinds of mixed emotions—reverence, schadenfreude, wariness, even outright fear.It immediately sparked Luca's curiosity.What kind of image do I have in these Imperial Capital elites' minds…? What exactly do they think I am, to look at me like that?