Chapter 128: Dragon Blood (3)


    The House of Romellin, one of the Three Shipping Families, had long dered neutrality in the political rivalry between Spin and Grimahl.


    Some criticized Romellin’s stance as being akin to that of a bat, wavering between sides.


    But the head of the family, Vittorio, had always been confident in his choice.


    Standing firm without being swayed by any side—


    He believed it was for the future of his family and the Floating Archipgo.


    However,


    It now felt like the time hade to finally move from his longstanding position.


    “…All of this happened overnight, you say? I knew there had been a great disturbance, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.”


    Vittorio adjusted the magnifying sses perched on his nose as he meticulously examined the documents in his hand.


    The copse of the Central Temple.


    The change in the magical wind system that sustains the archipgo.


    The harm done to the residents of the archipgo.


    Simply addressing this disaster would require a considerable sacrifice.


    “And this was resolved by an outsider named Lant, correct? We owe him a great debt.”


    “It’s Theo Ragnar.”


    “Ah, yes, that’s his real name. Ragnar.”


    Vittorio lowered his magnifying sses and looked across at his granddaughter, Marti.


    After losing his son and daughter-inw in a shipping ident during his younger years, Marti had be an irreceable treasure and a mirror of himself.


    “It’s like we chased away a wolf only to bring a tiger into the house. Who knows what kind of trouble they might cause next? And to think he is the sessor of Kriemhild.”


    Public opinion on Troyban within the archipgo was already at its lowest.


    Some were even voicing calls to go to war.


    Would it be any different with the great house of Ragnar?


    Inwardly, he was skeptical.


    However,


    “Ragnar as a whole cannot be trusted. But at the very least, I believe he can be trusted.”


    “Based on what?”


    “…”


    “For now, he might be ying a certain role to gain power. But once he has it? What true face will he show then?”


    A bitter smile twisted on Vittorio’s wrinkled lips.


    “As a sailor, I spent countless years wandering across the world. And what I learned was that apart from my family and my people, no one is to be trusted. Everyone is busy securing their interests. So why would this boy be any different?”


    Tap, tap—


    Vittorio tapped the document with his forefinger and continued speaking.


    “Of course, I might concede a little and agree with you that for now, this boy might be trustworthy. But, ultimately, he remains bound to follow the orders of Ragnar. In the end, he’ll be a heavy burden for our Floating Archipgo.”


    It was a firm deration.


    Theo would be no different from Troyban and his cohorts.


    A certainty that he would ultimately reveal his ambition to consume the Floating Archipgo.


    “Still, I believe Theo Ragnar is different.”


    “So, I ask again—on what grounds?”


    Marti vividly recalled it.


    In the chaos of those moments, as they plunged toward the sea’s surface, Theo had fought fiercely to save even one more person.


    That unwavering vignce, as if expecting Noyl’s retaliation at any moment, never allowing himself to rx.


    That intensity.


    That pulsating drive.


    That tension.


    How could she ever forget it?


    “Meet him.”


    Yet, expressing all of that in mere words felt impossible, so she could only say,


    “Meet him, and you’ll understand what I mean.”


    “…”


    This time, Vittorio gazed at Marti for a long while, and then,


    “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you insist so strongly, not since you joined the Knights of the Temple.”


    Finally, Vittorio relented, rising from his seat.


    “Grandfather.”


    “We’ll know soon enough. Whether he’s someone worthy of staking the fate of Romellin and Venota.”


    A sharp gleam shed in Vittorio’s eyes.


    * * *


    Theo was caught in a long dream.


    Memories of his previous life, slowly fading over time.


    A life where he had fought desperately to survive, yet found survival impossible.


    One particr memory he had long since buried and forgotten.


    – It’s been a while since I’ve had such a young visitor. Well then, what brings you to seek out an old man like me? What is it you’re so curious about?


    It was on a walk.


    By chance, he’d encountered a group of traveling gypsies and decided to have his fortune told when he heard the price was cheap.


    However, he couldn’t quite recall the question he had asked back then.


    Instead, he remembered the answer he had received with strange rity.


    – So, that’s what you’re curious about? An unusual soul, aren’t you? Wait a moment. Let me cast a divination for you. Here, draw three cards.


    – Like this?


    – Hmm, let’s see.


    – What do they say?


    From the moment he saw the faces of the cards, he couldn’t shake a bad feeling.


    The Wheel of Death.


    A knight impaled by dozens of swords.


    A queenying down her crown.


    Each one seemed to carry a sinister omen.


    – You’ve drawn only the strangest cards, ones that rarely show up. Heh heh. Let’s begin with this one. This card signifies…


    The first: the Wheel of Death.


    Its meaning…


    “Theo, Theo!”


    Theo forced his eyes open at the sound calling his name.


    Where… was this ce?


    “Are you awake?”


    Ray was staring at him intently with concern on her face.


    Theo wondered why she looked so worried, then quickly recalled his memories from just before he’d fallen asleep.


    ‘Ah, right. I copsed on top of Umbra from mana exhaustion.’


    It seemed she had been startled since he hadn’t been able to say anything before passing out.


    Come to think of it, the room he was in looked unfamiliar.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    “Yeah. I’m fine. Ray, but where is this?”


    “Marti’s house. She helped us. She also helped with your treatment.”


    “Treatment?”


    “Looks like you don’t remember. You’ve beenid up for four full days, you know. You had everyone worried sick. Geez!”


    Right on cue, Selperd and Arin approached, shaking their heads.


    It seemed they had rushed over the moment they sensed Theo’s presence while keeping watch outside.


    Selperd’s exnation was straightforward.


    After Theo copsed without a word, Marti urgently brought him to Romellin’s mansion for treatment.


    Then, as rumors spread that the hero had been injured, all the best healers in the Floating Archipgo flocked in, while every herbalist brought rare elixirs.


    In front of the ruined temple, residents had gathered in such numbers to pray for Theo’s recovery that it was impossible to find a space to stand.


    “Fortunately, the doctors who checked your pulse said your recovery speed was so good that you avoided any real crisis without much difficulty. Guess the medicine was effective, huh?”


    Theo smiled silently.


    How could he exin that, thanks to unlocking Dragonblood, he could now heal from most injuries on his own?


    “Do you feel any pain? Any dizziness?” Arin asked.


    Theo shook his head.


    “I’m fine. Just feeling a bit heavy, that’s all.”


    “That’s a relief. I was just about to file a report to headquarters, considering whether to request support.”


    “No. Not right now. Please wait a little longer.”


    “Ha! Look at this greedy fellow. Afraid the old guys will barge in and take credit for all the groundwork you’veid, huh?”


    “I won’t deny it,” Theo said, smiling at Selperd.


    “While we’re on the subject, what’s the situation outside? It seems like it’d be pretty chaotic.”


    “Chaotic would be putting it mildly. It’s aplete mess.”


    “Stop beating around the bush and give me the full picture.”


    “Hey, you’re supposed to be a patient, you know? Just take it easy. Already thinking about work again? You could wait until you’ve fully recovered, right?”


    “For me, this is resting.”


    “…Honestly, workaholics are just beyond my understanding.”


    Selperd shook his head and continued exining.


    “Marti, that youngdy, is incredibly busy right now. She raided the Security Headquarters tounch a full-scale seizure and search, swept through the Grimahl estate, and arrested all the officials and merchants connected to them…”


    Currently, a state of martialw had been dered across the Floating Archipgo.


    All ports were blocked to sever any connection with the outside world, making it impossible for any locals to escape.


    Marti led the surviving members of the Temple Knights to capture all those attempting to flee.


    With the Ghost yer Squad disbanded and the Security Force discredited, the Temple Knights remained the only active military unit, allowing such a crackdown to proceed.


    If there was even slight resistance, the judgment was immediate, and anyone with the faintest trace of wrongdoing was thrown into prison, which created some administrative voids.


    The House of Romellin, thest of the Three Shipping Families, stepped in to supply manpower and helped fill the gaps.


    “It seems Grimahl has been nearly torn apart; what about Spin?”


    “It’s no different over there. After all, Grimahl’s charges were ‘attempted assassination of the hero,’ right? They seized the opportunity to implicate Spin along with them.”


    Theo let out a wryugh. Now, it seemed the only family left among the Three Shipping Families was Romellin.


    “The prisons must be bursting.”


    “Don’t even mention it. It’s chaos here with people begging for leniency…”


    Selperd’s exnation was cut short.


    Crash, bang!


    Amotion erupted outside, and the door suddenly burst open.


    “Hero! Please! You must save us! Weren’t we on your side?”


    A man threw himself before Theo’s bed, pleading desperately.


    The Romellin guards who followed him looked bewildered.


    “You bastard!”


    “This is a ce where the hero is resting! Get out now!”


    “Please! Please, spare me!”


    “Hold on a moment.”


    The guards that were about to drag the man out by the scruff of his neck paused.


    Theo looked at the man, who was sobbing and sniffling.


    The face was familiar.


    One of the ck Skull officers.


    “So you finally showed up. Good grief.”


    Selperd, as if expecting this, covered his face with his hand and shook his head.


    ‘So, in the end, he’s been cast aside.’


    Theo quickly pieced together the situation.


    It seemed Marti had also severed ties with ck Skull, just as he had nned to.


    Of course, from her perspective, there was no reason to support those who’d once been ready to betray her behind her back.


    Naturally, ck Skull had been blindsided, expecting to secure a solid position with Theo’s help.


    It seemed that for the past four days, he had been desperately begging for just one chance to see Theo’s face.


    Theo gave the guards a silent nod, signaling that they could leave, and they withdrew with a crisp salute.


    Thud!


    The door closed.


    The man, who had been pleading moments earlier, now appeared restless, unable to meet Theo’s gaze.


    In thest four days, Theo’s standing within the Floating Archipgo had risen to nearly rival that of the Commandant.


    “Sir… Hero. We, we stood by your side against the Ghost Sword Formation to the end, hoping to…”


    “Do you want to live?”


    Theo cut off the man’s rambling exnation with a firm voice.


    The man quickly gathered himself, nodding furiously.


    “Yes, yes! I do!”


    “There is one way.”


    “One way… you say?”


    “Senior.”


    Theo looked at Selperd.


    Selperd gave a small smile as he guarded the door. Arin stood by the window, while Ray kept watch outside.


    A pulse of magical energy flowed from Theo, transforming the room into a sealed space.


    Gulp!


    The man swallowed nervously, his anxiety evident.


    Even sitting in bed,


    Theo’s eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a dragon’s.


    “Be a dog.”


    “…!”


    “A dog that barks when told to bark, and wags when told to wag.”


    “…”


    “Can you do that?”


    There was only one thing Theo desired from what remained of ck Skull.


    Absolute obedience.


    To serve as his hands and feet in mobilizing the Floating Archipgo.


    What response could the man possibly offer here?


    All he could do was bow his head.


    [‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ has activated, imprinting trauma into the target’s subconscious mind.]


    [Attempting indoctrination.]


    Shiver, shiver…


    The man’s body trembled uncontrobly.


    “I… I’ll do anything. All of us share the same thoughts.”


    [Indoctrination sessful.]


    [The target will now feel intense fear toward you and will obey yourmands unconditionally.]


    [You have discovered a new application for ‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization.’ Skill rank has improved.]


    “Good.”


    Theo smiled coldly.


    If Hatchling Synchronization could read thoughts, he’d wondered if it might even be possible to imnt specific thoughts in return.


    Fortunately, it had worked, thanks to the man’s psychological instability and fear towards Theo.


    It felt as if he’d gained a new key to build his power base moving forward.


    “Then, here is your firstmand.”


    “Please, just say the word!”


    “Have the remaining members of ck Skull join the Temple Knights.”


    “I-I will obey yourmand.”


    The man didn’t ask for reasons.


    He was merely a dog, moving as ordered.


    ‘With this, I can not onlypensate for the losses in the Temple Knights but also strengthen Marti’s position.’


    If needed, it would also serve as a means to keep Marti in check.


    Though he didn’t believe she would betray him, as the heir of Kriemhild, it never hurt to be prepared.


    “Say that I gave this to you and bring it to the Temple Knights. You should be able to join without difficulty.”


    Theo casually tossed a booklet in front of the man.


    “What is this?”


    “Nibelung.”


    Theo spoke with emphasis.


    “It’s Lady Kriemhild’s secret technique.”


    “…!”


    He intended to transform the Temple Knights into aplete Kriemhild Order.


    To gain their absolute loyalty, making them his base of power.


    And through this, gaining full control over the Floating Archipgo.


    The Floating Archipgo’s economic influence on the empire through its banking, shipping, trade, and brokerage services was immense via the Shipping Alliance.


    Wealth.


    Seizing it entirely was—


    Theo’s ultimate scenario.


    At that moment.


    “Seems like you’re painting quite the grand picture. Would this old man be able to join in, perhaps?”


    A low chuckle sounded from behind him.