Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âWe suspect that the most recent hunting teams may have come into conflict with the dragons of White Dragon Mountain,â said the Advanced Wizard worriedly. âThe White Dragon Mountainâs in the sixteenth level of the Abyss, itâs the territory of the Abyssal Demon Dragons. Iâm just afraid that they might come here and demand answers.â
Garen thought about it for a while.
âDonât worry about it too much, the White Dragon Mountain is still far away from the Ten Thousand Abyss Plains. I have Lady Vengeance behind me, and no matter what, even if they come here, this is still my territory. Even a pinnacle powerhouse would not be able to do much. You guys just do your own thing.â
The Advanced Wizard still wanted to say something, but Garen stopped him.
âAlright, carry on.â
â...Okay.â The Advanced Wizard heaved a long breath. After he signed that contract, he had basically thrown his lot in with Garen, so he could not help but worry about these other troublesome possibilities.
Leaving the Wizard Tower slowly, Garen headed toward the right to continue his patrol. This was Andrewâs base.
Recently, he had opened a new large-scale fluorite mine nearby and was currently gathering people to go down and excavate it. At the same time, he was using these fluorites to construct a military base nearby, specifically there to defend the mine.
Garen casually waved his hand through the air, and instantly a half-moon screen appeared before him, displaying Andrew in his suit of armor sitting on a high seat as he discussed something with a bunch of people who looked like merchants.
âLooks like these are merchants from other planes. The development of the fluorite mine was on the right track as well...â
Garen did not disturb them. Turning off the screen, he checked on the progress of Irene and her two companions.
After he sold off that male knight once, the man had gone through a round of torture before Garen bought him back again, and this time he was a lot more obedient. He worked quietly and properly with his two companions, having clearly experienced the brutality of the Abyssâ slave market.
All three of them experienced changes in their personality, growing colder and more extreme. Garen transferred them, putting them in charge of punishments and other miscellaneous jobs.
That put them to good use.
The other vacancies were filled by the remaining Level Ten powerhouses.
âSir, Kratos is requesting a meeting.â
Suddenly, the Succubusâ voice came from Garenâs bracelet.
âKratos...? Why is he here?â Garen was slightly shocked. Back then, Kratos nearly killed him, and now he still dared to come to Garenâs territory. Before this, there was no trace of him at all, not even a glimpse of his shadow.
âI donât know, but he did not come alone...â replied the Succubus in a small voice.
âBring them back to my mansion, Iâll be back there in a moment.â
Garen thought about it for a moment and gave the orders.
His mansion was the safest place. Many powerhouses had placed many matrixes there, and Lady Vengeance had also personally installed a single-use secret mechanism that could be activated at any time to devastating effects. Even if the attacker was a pinnacle powerhouse, he would still have the time to escape and ensure his own safety.
Turning around and flying back toward his mansion, Garen quickly drew a rune in the air with his claw.
Instantly, the rune in the Void exploded apart and vanished.
âWhite Feather, awaiting your orders.â
A gentle womanâs voice rang out slowly in the air.
âTarget location, my mansion, set up a Collaborative Matrix. The guests this time might not be that easy to deal with,â Garen said determinedly.
âUnderstood.â
***********************
In the giant white mansion floating in mid-air.
After he shrank himself, Kratosâ body was only two meters tall. He was shaking his dragon head and looked left and right, considering the decor in this mansion.
Nearby, there were two other white-robed elders seated with him. Compared to properly he was sitting, these two elders were both closing their eyes slightly, sitting quietly in place, completely motionless. They seemed to be pretending to sleep.
Vaguely, several powerful auras gradually appeared outside the mansion. Kratos was not particularly strong, but his senses were unnaturally sharp, so he could sense that several auras, each at least Level Ten, were slowly surrounding this place. His expression also grew slightly solemn.
But when he turned around and glanced at the two elders subtly, his heart instantly settled again.
âFor our clan to produce a new generation descendent like this, not bad.â One elder opened his eyes, his expression actually comforted.
âYes.â The other elder spoke concisely, responding with only one word.
âPlease have some tea.â A Succubus waved her seductive waist, dressed only in a thin translucent veil, as she came up and served them three cups of blood-like tea.
âHas your master not returned yet?â Kratos ran his hand down the Succubusâ thigh, his eyes narrowed pervertedly, as he asked in a low voice. âIt doesnât really matter if he keeps me waiting here, but if he wastes the time of these two lords from the White Dragon Mountain, isnât Garen thinking just a little too much of himself?â He purposely raised his voice as he said this.
One of the two elders frowned slightly, but did not respond.
âI see, so itâs the Elders from the White Dragon Mountain who have come visiting. Itâs Garenâs fault for not greeting you in time.â Just as the Succubus was about to explain, a clear voice came instantly from outside the door.
The doors were thrown wide open, and Garenâs shrunken body flew in slowly, landing on the ground. He was just about as tall as a man.
âSince you know that weâre from the White Dragon Mountain, I believe you must also know the reason weâre here, yes?â One of the elders stood up, looking at Garen with an admiring gaze.
âThe reason you two are here...â Garen paused slightly. âI truly donât know. May I know why the two of you have come to our Vengeance Fortress? Pardon my bluntness, but my relationship with the White Dragon Mountain isnât that good, is it...?â
âYouâre being modest, Deputy Commander.â One of the elders laughed. âAlthough it is true that weâre not on the best of terms, no matter what youâre still a member of our White Dragon Mountain. The blood of the White Dragons flows through your veins. I believe even you cannot deny this, no?â
âThat is indeed...â Garen did not know what these two were planning by coming here, but faced with two Level Fifteen pinnacle Ancient Dragons, even he had to be cautious.
âThen that makes things easier.â The elder continued to smile. âThere have been indeed many misunderstandings between us in the past, but seeing that weâre connected by blood, none of that is a problem. Our Ancient Parliament has unanimously decided to allow you back into the Main Clan, back under the Main Clanâs protection. The Vengeance Fortress can also act as a base for our Main Clan in this area, what a happy coincidence.â
Garen looked at the smile on his face and felt his heart sink.
He did not know how his reputation reached that place, but seeing as the White Dragon Mountain had already sent someone here, that clearly meant they were planning to get serious.
The reason he had to escape to the Abyss in a hurry was that of two emissaries from White Dragon Mountain, and now that he had finally steadied his footing and begun to develop his influence here, that damned place still had the nerve to send someone here and try to take over his territory?
Could things really go that well for them?
He smiled coldly in his heart. Well, if you want to play pretend, two can play at that game.
âAlthough I desperately want to return to the great White Dragon Mountain Main Clan, unfortunately Iâm also facing some challenging problems over here...â Garenâs expression was full of deep regret.
âProblems?â The other elder raised his eyebrow. âThe two of us are here to solve your problems for you.â
The two Level Fifteen pinnacle powerhouses would be the strongest people here, aside from the Fortress Master. They did indeed have the right to say something like that.
âOh?â Garenâs heart sank. What they were saying was becoming slightly obvious now.
But if two Level Fifteen powerhouses really wanted to make things difficult for him, all he could do was run away in an instant. However, without Lady Vengeance here right now, it was practically impossible to keep the two of them here.
In truth, by coming here, the White Dragon Mountain was already making their intentions quite clear.
They did not really care about him when he had not really developed yet in the past, but now that he was making ground and had such a vast enterprise under his belt, some of the for-profit organizations within the White Dragon Mountain was trying to devour him whole under the name of the Main Clan. White Dragons were selfish and self-centered by nature, so it was understandable.
But understanding it was one thing, for Garen to just submit to the White Mountain... That was bordering on a daydream.
âWhatever problems you have, just state them all and weâll solve them for you,â said the other elder concisely. Anyone could tell at a glance that he was the straightforward and cold type.
âMy biggest problem now is that I canât steady my footing here in the Fortress... I lack truly high-level powerhouses here to help me hold the fort. Thatâs why many of the mercenaries from the outside planes donât listen to my authority at all.â Garenâs expression was helpless.
âAlthough I really want to return to the Main Clan as well, Iâm still facing someone whoâs trying to challenge my position as Commander right now.â
He came up with a random excuse.
âOh? Who dares to challenge your position?â The old man raised an eyebrow. âTell me who it is, and Iâll eat âem!â
âItâs a guy called Nylirica.â Garen looked troubled as well. âI still havenât recovered from the injuries I sustained from the last time I agreed to his challenge for a duel, and now I have no choice but to accept yet another challenge. After all, this concerns the position of Commander. These are the laws of the Fortress, and also the laws of the Abyss.â
âNylirica?â The two old men exchanged a glance, indicating that they had never heard this name.
âThatâs fine, weâll deal with this person for you,â the slightly colder old man replied in a low voice.
Garen could tell that the two old men had stayed in their nest for too long and were not so aware of the ways of the world. Although they were powerful, they seemed slightly stiff when it came to these matters. They bought Garenâs story, hook, line, and sinker.
Garenâs heart was decided. As long as they went off in search of this Nyrilica, everything else could be easily dealt with... Once he thought of that, he began to approach the two old men passionately.
âThis isnât just an excuse of yours, is it?â
Suddenly, Kratosâ words instantly cooled down the atmosphere that had just begun to warm up.
The two old men looked at Garen suspiciously once more.
Garen hurriedly explained, âAn excuse? Kratos, I know I offended you before, and we have some bad blood between us, but how could I possibly dare to simply lie to these two Ancient Dragon Masters? You just have to ask some questions around the Fortress to know whether or not this Nyrilica is the troublesome problem I said he is, so thereâs just no way for me to lie, now, is there?â
âThatâs true. If heâs strong enough for you to find him troublesome, this guy must be no ordinary fellow. Such a being canât possibly be unknown around the Fortress. Weâll just have to ask any passerby and weâll immediately know the truth,â said the slightly friendlier elder, nodding his head in agreement.
The atmosphere instantly calmed down again.
âBut who knows, maybe you found an outsider to be your accomplice, trying to...â Kratos did not complete his sentence and instead began to laugh evilly.
Garen saw the two elders turn their suspicious gazes upon him once more.
He cursed inwardly. These two geezers were pretty easy to fool to start with, but this Kratos was getting in the way. It looked like Garen needed to find a chance to kill off this guy as soon as possible.
The intent to kill rose in his heart.
But on the surface, he continued to perpetuate his lie.
âIf I could find such a powerful outsider to collude with me, haha, do you really think I would still only be a Deputy Commander?â
Kratos was merely at the pinnacle of Level Nine, and yet he dared to act so bold in front of Garen.
Garenâs gaze on him instantly turned vicious.
Ans Kratos actually met his gaze, completely unafraid.
âI hear that Commander Garen was initially ambushed by the emissaries from the White Dragon Mountain, and that was how your essence as one of the Dragons of Disaster was revealed. In the end, the Snow City from the Primary Plane chased you here into the Abyss. It wouldnât be surprising if you harbored a grudge against White Dragon Mountain...â Kratos had even investigated the intel about this matter thoroughly. Right now, he was staring at Garen with a malicious gaze.
âThis guy...!â Garenâs heart sank, and as expected, he saw that the two elders had grown suspicious.