Tsk, what a filthy deal.
At the city gates of Endymion, capital of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
A contemptuous gleam flickered in the Clear Light Dragon Lord's jewel-bright eyes as he glanced sideways at Fluder.
He had always scorned despicable behavior like taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position.
But never in his wildest dreams had he expected the man before him to actually pull it off!
The realization stabbed into his heart like a sharp dagger, instantly setting his anger ablaze.
This really made a dragon envious... no, furious!
A Legendary-class weapon!
Sure, he had one himself, but he only had temporary rights to use it. Ultimately, ownership still belonged to the Floating Castle.
Whenever he thought about how those Floor Guardians guarded against him as if he were some kind of thief, how could the Clear Light Dragon Lord not feel both furious and deeply wronged?
Had even the most basic shred of trust between people disappeared?
Granted, he wasn't human. He was a dragon. But so what?
Could a mere difference in race deny the yearning for beauty buried deep within his heart?
The Clear Light Dragon Lord had always firmly believed that even as a member of the Dragon Race, his character remained pure and unblemished.
His passionate heart beat for one purpose alone, to appreciate all the beautiful things this world had to offer.
(Such as the imported Forest Elf abalone from the Sorcerer Kingdom.)
And yet, what truly infuriated him was that those Floor Guardians not only failed to understand him, they even dared to malign his noble dragon character with their malicious suspicions!
For the past several years, he had tirelessly traveled far and wide, all in search of the Guild weapons.
And after all that work, he had not received so much as the tiniest reward.
Was that reasonable?
Of course it wasn't!
Then look at this weak human beside him. All he had done was run his mouth a little, and just like that, he had effortlessly secured two Legendary-class weapons.
Sigh! How tragic. Truly lamentable!
Could the old saying really be true, that a kind dragon was destined to be bullied?
Thinking back, perhaps he really had been far too kind, gentle, and easy to talk to.
After giving the matter careful thought, the Clear Light Dragon Lord finally came to a decision.
From now on, he would become a cold and aloof dragon. He would leave those people desperately wanting what only he could provide, forcing them to watch his expression and beg for his favor!
"Haha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
The thought sent the Clear Light Dragon Lord into a smug fit of laughter, drawing strange looks from everyone around him.
"Hey, what are you standing there grinning like an idiot for? Hurry up and pay. There are people waiting behind you."
The Quagoa soldier collecting the payment frowned at the Dragonoid in front of him.
The soldier muttered inwardly.
This guy... why does he seem like such an idiot?
"Ahem. Watch how you speak. Which law of the Sorcerer Kingdom says people aren't allowed to laugh? Careful, or I'll report you for obstructing my pursuit of happiness."
The Clear Light Dragon Lord suddenly came back to his senses and realized he had gotten a little carried away.
He cleared his throat, composed himself, then spoke with a perfectly serious expression.
"I was merely in a good mood for a moment. Am I not even allowed that much freedom?"
And while he was at it, he did not forget to slap an accusation on the soldier.
"The Sorcerer Kingdom does indeed have no explicit law forbidding people from laughing. However, there is a written regulation stating that anyone who disrupts public order may be arrested on the spot."
"Of course, you are completely within your rights to resist arrest. If you did, that would make things... absolutely terrible!"
The Quagoa soldier replied calmly.
Once he finished speaking, he casually raised a hand and gave a small wave. Almost immediately, the sound of rapid, orderly footsteps came from the distance.
A patrol squad of Quagoa guards was charging toward them at full speed.
Every one of them looked eager for action, practically rubbing their hands together, with undisguised excitement shining in their eyes.
Fluder stood off to the side, watching the scene with great interest.
He found himself wondering how this True Dragon Lord would deal with the situation.
Would he lose his temper and recklessly fight back?
Or would he obediently submit?
In Fluder's opinion, the former was clearly more likely.
Some of the True Dragon Lord's behavior was admittedly baffling, such as that completely inexplicable foolish grin just now, but wasn't having such a distinctive personality perfectly in character for a True Dragon Lord?
Meanwhile, the many people waiting in line behind them also turned their curious gazes toward the commotion and began whispering among themselves.
The atmosphere quickly grew tense and strangely expectant.
"Fight! Fight!"
Excited shouts could faintly be heard from the crowd.
Apparently, watching the excitement was not enough for them. Some people were even hiding in the crowd and deliberately fanning the flames.
Damn it, these unruly rabble!
Being surrounded and stared at like some performing monkey left the Clear Light Dragon Lord furious.
"All of you, shut up! Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy. I'll slaughter every last one of you!"
With an angry roar, the Clear Light Dragon Lord glared viciously at the crowd, unconsciously releasing a trace of his Dragon Aura.
In an instant, the previously clamorous area fell completely silent.
However, the nearby Quagoa soldiers were not intimidated in the slightest.
With expressionless faces, they watched everything happening before them, quietly pulled small notebooks from their clothes, and swiftly began recording what they had seen and heard.
The pages were already densely packed with entries.
Confronting law enforcement officers, disrupting public order, openly threatening to kill everyone present, seriously challenging the authority of the Sorcerer Kingdom, suspected dangerous terrorist...
In the space of just a few seconds, the Quagoa soldiers had already compiled a jaw-dropping list of charges.
When the Clear Light Dragon Lord turned his gaze back toward them, they promptly added another.
Suspect appears to be preparing to launch an attack.
The Clear Light Dragon Lord lifted his left foot.
Hmm...
Conclusive evidence. Suspect confirmed to have launched an attack.
The Quagoa soldiers' eyes lit up, and they immediately readied their weapons.
Knowing how to carry out their duties in a reasonable manner was an art in itself.
From here, there were really only two possible outcomes.
First, they arrested him and later discovered they had made a mistake. However, since the arrest had been prompted by their high level of vigilance, they would merely receive a verbal reprimand. Their side would then proactively apologize, provide the other party with generous compensation, and leave everyone with a favorable impression of the Quagoa guards as fair and impartial law enforcement officers.
Second, they arrested him and discovered they had gotten the right person. Then their exceptional vigilance would earn them a major commendation.
Hmm. No matter how they looked at it, they came out ahead.
Of course, there was also the possibility that their entire squad might get wiped out. But with every member possessing the strength of the Realm of Heroes, that possibility was practically negligible.
And if it really did happen, that would be even better. They could apply for workplace injury benefits and free subsidies afterward.
Whichever way it went, they simply couldn't lose.
"You people..."
Seeing the Quagoa soldiers surrounding him on all sides, the Clear Light Dragon Lord suddenly had a bad feeling.
It seemed he had walked straight into a trap.
The longer he stared at the Quagoa leading them, the more familiar the fellow looked.
Wasn't this the same guy who had stopped him the first time he came to the Sorcerer Kingdom?
Enemies really did meet on a narrow road!
Fine! Fine!
So this was how they wanted to play it?
Then they had no one to blame but themselves when this Dragon Lord unleashed his ultimate move!
"Stop! You there, the one in charge. Open those rat eyes of yours and take a good look at this!"
The pale-gold badge on his chest gleamed conspicuously beneath the sunlight.
The Quagoa soldier's pupils contracted sharply.
"This is...!"
That familiar luster, the scent of that rare ore, that unique magical signature. There was no mistaking it.
The man before him was actually...!
"Esteemed Mentor Ilsayas, I apologize for causing this unnecessary misunderstanding. Please forgive us."
"Hmph!!!"
The Clear Light Dragon Lord tossed the identification badge in his hand and proudly tilted his head upward.
Why?
Why did it have to come to this?!
Why did they insist on forcing his hand?
Sigh. Perhaps all of this had been destined from the beginning.
How could someone like the Clear Light Dragon Lord ever remain an ordinary fish trapped in a pond?
He had never been destined for an ordinary life.
What he had not expected was that the badge he had pulled out as a last resort would actually still work.
How strange.
Logically, after his true identity had been exposed, his right to use the thing should have been revoked immediately.
The Clear Light Dragon Lord found this somewhat puzzling, but the moment he sensed the incredulous gazes surrounding him, he threw the question straight out of his mind.
At that moment, he fully immersed himself in the attention and astonishment of the crowd, savoring the unfamiliar sensation to his heart's content.
Yes!
Exactly like that!
Those are the expressions I want!
Perfect! How the tables have turned!
After three long years, he had finally set foot in the Sorcerer Kingdom once again.
The Dragon Lord had returned, and the wind itself seemed to howl in welcome.
Wonderful!
Absolutely wonderful!
He struggled to control his expression, desperately trying to force down the corners of his mouth, which had already curled high into a grin.
But it did not seem to be working.
They kept trying to escape his control and rise again.
The Clear Light Dragon Lord forced himself to put on a cold, aloof expression, as though nothing around him mattered in the slightest.
Then, under Fluder's peculiar gaze, he raised his head, puffed out his chest, and strode boldly through the city gates.
Every step was firm and forceful, as though he intended to stamp a deep footprint into the road beneath his feet.
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