Chapter 56

‘What is he thinking?’

Theo stared at Ed.

Unlike Axion, whose intentions were transparent, Ed wore an indifferent expression.

Theo couldn’t grasp what was going on inside him at all.

Soaring Dragon.

The name signified the dragon rising to the sky, representing his position as the lord’s sword, wielding unchallenged power.

However, there was another nickname given to him by the public.

Serpent Dragon.

A dragon with the cunning nature of a snake.

That name seemed perfectly fitting now.

A snake, waiting for the right moment to snatch its prey in one bite.

“What are you doing right now, Director of Central Intelligence?!”

Bang!

At that moment, Julius shot up from his seat, slamming the table hard.

Despite being someone who always showed respect to others, even low-ranking inspectors, his voice was filled with intense anger now.

As if he were facing an enemy.

“What am I doing? Offering a seat to invite a talent is an old tradition of the Designation ceremony, isn’t it?”

But Ed remained calm.

“Do you think everyone here is a fool? Who doesn’t know that you’re trying to vent your anger over your nephew’s death right now?!”

“You’re wrong.”

Ed firmly denied Julius’ words and continued speaking.

“I, Ed Troyban, certainly bear personal anger towards Theo Ragnar. But as the Director of Central Intelligence, my perspective is different.”

“Different?”

“Yes. The Blossoming Ceremony is a long-standing tradition of the Ragnar family. The grudges and conflicts that occur within the ceremony are not to be questioned once they leave the grounds. In fact, it should be celebrated. After all, the Blossoming Ceremony signifies a rebirth as an official knight.”

Ed’s gaze shifted towards Theo.

“That’s why I warmly welcome the appearance of a new genius after the Captain of the Black Iron Cavalry. And my desire for such talent is just as strong.”

Theo could see a faint emotion blooming in Ed’s eyes.

Greed.

Or rather, desire.

He was craving Theo.

‘But that desire isn’t purely for me.’

Somehow, Theo thought he knew what Ed truly wanted.

‘Observation.’

[You are observing ‘Ed Troyban’.]

Ed Troyban (46 years old / Male)

– Title: Soaring Dragon

– Talents: Cunning. Strategy. Schemes. Honeyed words with a dagger hidden beneath. Ambitious.

– Current State: Wants to take ‘Theo Ragnar’ under his wing, to use him as a hunting dog and uncover the secrets of the Ancient Dragon’s relic.

‘Just as I thought.’

It was just as Theo had expected.

Ed was after the Ancient Dragon’s Relic.

And he had already sensed that Theo possessed a part of it.

‘So, the relic of the Ancient Dragon is far more important to him than avenging his nephew, is that it?’

Originally, the relic of the Ancient Dragon was a mystical object passed down for Ragnar. Why was someone with Troyban blood so greedy for it?

“As you know, unlike those of you fighting on the frontlines, the Central Intelligence Bureau is responsible for assessing the overall situation and maintaining order in the center. For this reason, we are in dire need of talent to carry out our duties. That’s why, although it may seem excessive, I’m offering Theo Ragnar such a prominent position.”

Even while Theo was pondering, Ed’s explanation continued smoothly, like flowing water.

To those unaware of the situation, it might have genuinely appeared that Ed was desperately in need of Theo.

Julius’s face twisted slightly in displeasure, but then, the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace, who had been sitting quietly beside him, slowly rose from her seat.

Was she going to help him?

Julius turned toward her, but the words she spoke were completely unexpected.

“This time, I share the same opinion as the Director of Central Intelligence.”

“…My Lady?”

“I’m sorry, Captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry. But I, too, am in desperate need of Theo.”

“…!”

Julius’s face stiffened.

The Mistress of plum Blossom Palace deliberately avoided his gaze as she continued.

“If someone is truly needed, then they deserve the proper treatment. Therefore, I, Osa Ragnar Prunus, not only propose offering Theo Ragnar the position of disciple once more, but I also promise him the position of the Young Mistress of plum Blossom Palace.”

The room erupted into chaos.

– Y-Young Lord…?

– But… doesn’t the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace have no children?

– So, does this mean…?

– She’s practically saying she’ll adopt him!

– The successor to the First Lady!

The weight the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace held within the House of Ragnar was immense.

She was the Matriarch.

The mother who cradled the vast world that was Ragnar.

She was the first wife, a position of prestige, a swordswoman with such exceptional skill that even Kyle respected her, and she had a warm, generous nature.

There was widespread opinion that, had she had children, the competition for the position of successor might never have fully developed.

This was because the entire population of Winterer would have supported her child.

And now, was Theo about to be adopted by such a person?

It would instantly eliminate the limitations that had quietly bound Theo as an illegitimate child.

It was like giving wings to Theo.

There had been rumors for some time that the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace coveted Theo, but now that it was publicly announced, the shock was immense.

The faces of the five main candidates sitting in the executive seats stiffened at the news.

「I’m sorry. This is the best I can offer to help you. I was inadequate, and I made you suffer.」

Theo glanced at the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace, who had sent the telepathic message.

「I just wanted to make sure to tell you that.」

It was her way of apologizing for what Felix and his group had done.

Even though it wasn’t her fault, the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace didn’t offer any excuses.

She was the type of person who shouldered the mistakes of her subordinates without casting them aside.

「I am fine. Please don’t worry too much. In fact, I’m just grateful that you’ve considered my feelings.」

Theo shook his head and mouthed the words softly.

The Mistress of plum Blossom Palace, surprised that Theo could already use telepathic communication, nodded.

「Don’t feel burdened about making your decision. No matter what choice you make, I will always be on your side.」

Theo bowed his head again in gratitude.

She said she would always be on his side.

The sincerity in her words touched him deeply.

– So, the Soaring Dragon offers the position of Deputy Director, and the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace offers the title of Young Lord? They both practically want him as their successor.

– Two of the Nine Dragons are already backing him…!

– Theo Ragnar announced he’d join the power struggle, but it seems he’s had an incredible backing from the very start.

– Indeed. It’s unlikely that any other unit leaders or organization heads will even dare speak up now.

The crowd whispered as they glanced toward the executive seats.

As expected, the faces of the Gale Sword Unit’s captain and the Director of Security had bitter smiles.

It was practically a concession.

To bring Theo to their side, they would need to secure a position worthy of him first.

– So, the choice of where Theo Ragnar will go is now narrowed down to those two, then?

Someone posed that question, and just then, a harsh echo resounded from the sky.

「I’d appreciate it if you included me as well!」

All eyes turned upward.

Boom!

A black lightning bolt struck the top of the flagpole that stood in the center of the platform, and soon, a figure dressed entirely in a pitch-black robe appeared.

His long white hair flowed down, and his face was hidden behind a jet-black mask.

– It’s the Black Dragon!

– The Black Emperor! The Black Emperor has appeared!

– There is a dragon in the sky, and the Black Emperor on the ground, and nothing will stop Ragnar’s era from coming…!

The appearance of the figure who, along with Kyle, was said to have ushered in Ragnar’s golden age, sent shockwaves through the gathering.

Even Ed’s expression stiffened in response.

‘Why is he here?’

Theo was just as surprised.

The image of the old man who had gone fishing with Griffin flashed in his mind.

Thump, thump, thump!

His heart began to race wildly.

– The Black Emperor has appeared in person…!

– Is he here to recruit Theo Ragnar as well?

“Theo Ragnar.”

It was only his name being called, but even so—

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

For some reason, Theo’s heartbeat quickened even more.

It felt as if the cold gaze behind the pitch-black mask was piercing through him, seeing everything.

This feeling was completely different from when he had faced Kyle.

‘Stay calm. Stay calm. He knows nothing about me.’

Theo took a slow, deep breath.

His heart rate began to slow down, but the tension still kept his spine stiff and alert.

“I have been watching you throughout the Blossoming Ceremony.”

‘He’s been… watching me?’

Since when had he been observing?

Had he also seen what happened with Lodbrok?

“And I am certain of one thing. Your nature closely resembles that of our Black Snow.”

Having spent so much time within Black Snow, it seemed certain habits had unconsciously revealed themselves.

“That is why I am offering you the rank of No Snow.”

“…!”

“You understand what that means, don’t you?”

Theo knew very well the significance of No Snow within Black Snow.

‘He’s offering to let me walk in the sunlight.’

No Snow was a kind of elite agent.

Unlike other agents of Black Snow, who were destined to live their entire lives in the shadows, those with the rank of No Snow were allowed to reveal their identity to the outside world.

They could build reputations, accumulate merit, and even gain power.

At the same time, they would continue to benefit from Black Snow’s vast information network, making it an incredible privilege.

There were only eight such individuals currently.

It was the position Theo had longed for in his previous life.

Thump, thump, thump, thump…!

His heart raced with excitement at the realization that the position he had always dreamed of was now within his reach.

“So you do understand. It seems you like the offer, don’t you?”

From behind the mask, the Black Dragon’s eyes curved slightly in a smile.

It reminded Theo of the look a fisherman gives when spotting a fish about to bite the bait.

– That’s already three of the Nine Dragons…

– He barely shows his face for the other candidates, but for this…!

– Will the other dragons join in as well?

The crowd murmured excitedly.

A tense and deadly atmosphere lingered between Ed, the Mistress of plum Blossom Palace, and the Black Dragon.

「Both of you, step aside. No matter what happens, I will be the one to take Theo Ragnar.」

「Do you seriously believe that Theo will choose the Director of Central Intelligence?」

「He’s a smart and ambitious child. He knows well enough which choice would benefit him the most.」

「If that’s the case, wouldn’t Black Snow be a better choice than the Central Intelligence Bureau or the Plum Blossom Palace, where betrayal could strike at any moment?」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

「Director of Black Snow! How dare you say such things…!」

「Did I say something wrong, Osa?」

None of them were backing down an inch.

It seemed like a fight could break out at any moment to determine who would prevail.

“The Soaring Dragon, the Sword Dragon, and now even the Black Dragon? I don’t know if the weight of the Nine Dragons has ever felt this light,”

Tsk!

Watching the rising tension, the Overseer clicked his tongue.

He could hear every bit of the unspoken insults passing between the three Dragons.

Finally,

Boom…!

He stomped the ground fiercely.

Rumble—

The force rippled outwards, not only pushing back the fierce auras of the three Dragons but also silencing the restless crowd.

Whoosh!

A tremendous bloodlust emanated from the Overseer, filling the space in front of the tribunal building.

The oppressive silence that followed was so suffocating that even swallowing became difficult.

“What is this disgraceful behavior! In front of everyone, you’re squabbling over a child, flaring your killing intent like this. You who lead Ragnar—how dare you show such shameful conduct!”

The Overseer, the eldest among the Nine Dragons and the senior-most figure among all the officers, didn’t hold back his harsh rebuke.

Naturally, even the high-ranking officials shrank back in response to his sharp scolding.

The Mistress of plum Blossom Palace bowed her head deeply, filled with shame, while Ed averted his gaze. The Black Dragon remained silent.

“There are still other candidates waiting their turn, so instead of dragging this out, if anyone wants to take the top candidate, step forward now! The top candidate will make their decision!”

Of course, no one dared to step forward in such an atmosphere.

Everyone was too busy gauging the situation.

“Ahem! And unlike these disrespectful ones, I’m not bound to any particular faction, which gives me the freedom to act independently. That means I can do plenty on my own to support you in the race for the throne, hmm?”

Then, the Overseer cleared his throat and casually directed those words at Theo.

The crowd, at first unsure of what was happening, soon realized with shock that the Overseer was attempting to sway Theo in his favor.

– Even the Overseer…?

– That’s just unfair…!

“Although you refused last time, I’ll always leave the opportunity open for you, so take your time and think it over.”

The Overseer gave a playful wink as he spoke.

Theo scratched his cheek awkwardly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

– So, what’s happening now? Four of the Nine Dragons…? Is that nearly half?

– No, wait. There’s still one more.

– Oh!

The crowd’s gaze naturally shifted towards Julius.

Everyone knew.

It was Julius who had first discovered Theo.

What kind of offer would he make?

But then,

“Our White Armored Dragon Cavalry, of course, wishes to recruit Theo Ragnar more than anything. However, what we can firmly promise is our full support in helping him excel as a training knight and the pride that comes with being a Dragon Knight. We cannot offer special privileges that would go against the fairness towards our other recruits.”

He still desired Theo, but his firm stance was that the rules could not be bent.

– What? Does this mean the White Armored Dragon Cavalry is stepping back in this Designation?

– It seems that way.

– That’s a shame. The captain of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry can be stubborn in situations like this. He could have just made a bold move.

– Exactly. If you want talent, you have to invest in it.

– But isn’t he right, too? If he gave special treatment, it would only create resentment among the ranks. It seems he’s trying to avoid that.

The crowd, knowing how much Julius valued Theo, showed expressions of regret.

A few, however, snickered in amusement.

Yet, there wasn’t a trace of hesitation on Julius’ face.

His expression held firm resolve, as if he would never yield.

That attitude—

It only resonated more deeply with Theo.

‘As expected… If anyone’s worthy of being called the Dark Dragon, it’s him.’

Stubborn? Maybe.

But Theo understood that Julius’ decision was about preserving the organization’s integrity and the unity among his subordinates.

Julius cherished Theo, but he cared for the White Armored Dragon Cavalry just as deeply.

Moreover, one particular word Julius had spoken kept echoing within Theo’s heart.

– The pride of being a Dragon Knight.

Dragon Knight.

A position every knight of Ragnar aspired to. And it was right before Theo’s eyes.

‘It’s also the true identity of Ragnar.’

After a long moment of contemplation,

Theo made his final decision.

“I will…!”