Chapter 151: Justice's Alliance
Slaud’s speech finally ended. The crowd surged with fury, slamming their fists on the tables.
“We must make that Evil Dragon pay!”
“The tyranny of the Kingdom of Ashen must come to an end!”
“The Justice and Order of the Northern Regions must not be broken!”
“One day, his dragon head will be severed and hung as a decoration!”
Slaud scanned the room, satisfied that the atmosphere had been perfectly set. Then, in a low, measured tone, he said:
"Now, I have discovered a unique method to trap that Red Dragon. But I am but one man—I need your assistance."
Silence fell instantly.
The very people who had just roared with righteous anger now fell into stunned stillness, as if a silence spell had been cast upon them. After all, speaking of justice was one thing; risking your life to enact it was another. That Dragon had destroyed thirty thousand Allied Forces alone. Everyone wanted to slay him—but no one was foolish enough to volunteer.
Slaud sensed their hesitation, yet his face betrayed no disappointment. These low-level spellcasters were never his true target. His gaze drifted toward the "Stellar" lady.
Her blue-gray eyes flickered with annoyance, utterly unresponsive. Slaud, a master of reading people, had already noticed: though her magical power was undeniable, she was naïve, hesitant—almost childish in her decision-making. That was why he had dared interrupt her earlier. A strong, high-ranking spellcaster would have silenced him on the spot. But this woman? She was no threat. And now that she’d questioned him, she was definitely not the ally he sought.
His eyes settled on the "Ember" gentleman.
The noble youth with black hair and golden eyes wore an expression of seething rage, as if he were already envisioning the Red Dragon’s head rolling at his feet.
Yes. Him.
Powerful spellcaster. Strong backing. A heart burning with justice. The perfect daitou—the ideal pawn.
In truth, Slaud had already detected the flaw in Polymorph’s disguise—and the arrogance that leaked through during their conversation. It all pointed to one truth: this man was almost certainly a Gold Dragon.
Justice. That was the creed etched into every drop of Gold Dragon blood. These fanatics spent most of their lives disguised, feigning humility to lure their prey—then striking with merciless precision. Many a lone assassin or bandit, believing they had found an easy victim, had been swiftly terminated the moment their disguise was revealed.
Gold Dragons did not rest until evil was utterly destroyed. They demanded total victory—nothing less would satisfy them.
Slaud had deliberately stirred despair, knowing full well the atmosphere would be perfect to lure in a dragon like this. And now, it had worked.
"Slam!"
Lord Ember rose from his seat, contempt dripping from his voice as he swept his gaze across the room.
"Is the Justice you all claimed to uphold nothing more than empty words?"
"Gray Hawk," he declared, "I—along with my entire faction—will give every ounce of support to help you defeat this Brutal Red Dragon!"
"Lord Ember, your courage is commendable. You are already making vital contributions to Justice and Order in the Northern Regions."
"Gray Hawk, no need for further words. Eliminating this Evil Dragon is not just my duty—it is the sacred responsibility of every soul who holds justice dear."
"You… you’ve left me speechless," Slaud stammered, stepping forward and gripping Kai Xiusu’s hand with trembling emotion.
What a gullible Gold Dragon, Slaud thought triumphantly. Once they’re exhausted from fighting each other, I’ll take them both down. Then I’ll be the hero of the entire Northern Regions.
"I will do everything I can… to help," Kai Xiusu whispered in return, his golden eyes glinting with a flicker of amusement too subtle to be noticed.
Two hands clasped tightly, sealing a pact to destroy the Ruthless Red Dragon ravaging the Northern Regions—at all costs. The moment was as epic as any minstrel’s ballad, brimming with heroic grandeur.
Yet beneath the surface, it was absurd.
A vampire’s agent—Slaud—shaking hands with the Red Dragon’s true form, swearing to slay the very beast they both served. All in the name of Justice.
How utterly grotesque.
The meeting ended in celebration. People praised Lord Ember’s noble spirit, wished him success in his mission, and prayed for peace across the Northern People—though more importantly, for the preservation of their noble privileges.
As the guests departed, Slaud left behind a teleportation coordinate, inviting Kai Xiusu to a secret location in the Bosk Duchy the next morning to discuss the plan.
But Kai Xiusu didn’t leave right away. He stayed behind.
Sure enough, the "Silver Star" Olivia called out to him.
She hurried over, her blue-gray eyes filled with worry.
"Anher, you cannot trust that human. He’s lying. My Divination Spell tells me he’s likely a servant of the Vampire Duke—no good man at all."
"I know," Kai Xiusu replied calmly.
Olivia blinked. "Then why did you agree?"
Kai Xiusu looked up at the sky, his golden eyes gleaming with resolve.
"Because a greater evil now looms over Anzeta. I must unite every force I can—no matter the cost—to destroy the Ravaging Red Dragon."
He turned to her, eyebrows slightly raised.
"Rest assured, I will not let any evil go unpunished. Once Gray Hawk helps me kill the Red Dragon, I will eliminate him without hesitation."
"I will bring true Justice and Order to Anzeta… and to all of Ailezegai. That has always been my purpose."
"Y-you…" Olivia was stunned.
In her short seventy-year lifespan, she had met few Gold Dragons. Most of her kin were Silver Dragons—peaceful, fond of living among mortals, only stepping in when faced with outright invasion. They rarely pursued evil with fanatical zeal.
But this Gold Dragon before her? His obsession with purging evil was unnerving. It felt strange… yet deeply moving.
Seeing Olivia’s bewilderment, Kai Xiusu unleashed his full Charmer aura.
"My father, the Ancient Golden Dragon Castro, once told me: ‘The greater the power, the greater the responsibility.’"
"The world grants us powers beyond the reach of mortal beings. And with that power comes the duty to destroy all evil. That is the natural order."
Olivia sighed in awe. "Anher… your father was truly a great and wise Gold Dragon."
Kai Xiusu stared into her eyes, his voice heavy.
"Olivia, I’ve already investigated. That Red Dragon is stronger than you can imagine. He can cast a Nine-Ring Spell."
Olivia’s eyes widened in shock.
"Impossible! Only the most elite spellcasters can master such a level—most never even reach it in a lifetime!"
"And yet," Kai Xiusu said coldly, "a young Red Dragon—no natural spellcaster—has mastered it. There’s nothing impossible."
He paused.
"If I don’t show up at the next Arcane Hermitage… it means the mission has failed. I’ll leave a message at Northwind Keep’s battlefield—information I’ve gathered at the cost of my life. I’ll need you to find it… and deliver it to those who stand for righteousness."
"...Alright," Olivia whispered after a long silence. "Anher… don’t always assume the worst. King Bahamut will protect you. I hope to see you again at the next Hermitage."
"Let’s hope so," Kai Xiusu replied with a casual shrug, as if his life meant nothing to him.
He gazed at Olivia’s faintly glowing blue-gray eyes.
Finally, I’ve convinced her. Now I just wait for her to bring the goods herself.
...
Stravburg, Revenge Vault
A hidden sanctuary, meticulously concealed within the Bosk Duchy—only Duke Leo had known of its existence. Even the spies of the Kingdom of Ashen had no clue it existed.
Slaud stood with six former Lakanman Court Mages, awaiting their ally.
The air twisted. A portal tore open.
Kai Xiusu stepped through, his noble form scanning the room. To him, these were merely mid-tier mages—fourth-level at best. Not worth his attention.
Slaud rushed forward, beaming.
"Lord Ember! Welcome! We’ve waited for this moment for far too long."
Kai Xiusu remained calm. "Time is short. As long as that Red Dragon remains, the Northern Regions are in constant danger."
He paused, suspicion in his voice.
"I want to know—what makes you think you can stand against him? Just you and six mages?"
"Of course not!" Slaud chuckled nervously. "Please, be patient."
From a hidden cabinet, he pulled out an ancient parchment scroll.
Kai Xiusu’s eyes narrowed. A chill ran through him. He felt the aura of a forbidden spell—one designed to bind dragons.
[Wagner’s Dragon Binding Array]
8th-level Arcane Spell
"Black Wizard of Dragon Madness" Wagner
A spell born of obsession. To bind a dragon below Ancient Stage, it requires twenty spellcasters—or a legendary caster—along with True Dragon’s Blood and Scales as catalysts.
Kai Xiusu recognized the name.
Wagner. A notorious figure from Anzeta’s past. A hundred years ago, he was captured by the Dragon Cult, forced to serve dark dragons and dragon wights. Then, when a starving Red Dragon devoured his wife, Wagner lost his mind.
From then on, he became obsessed with dragon power. He captured white dragons, built the Tower of Eternal Night, and even turned his own daughter into a half-dragon abomination—earning the title "Black Wizard of Dragon Madness."
Kai Xiusu’s brow furrowed. "That’s from the Tower of Eternal Night?"
"You’re… you’re not serious. You’re working with that madman?"
Slaud stammered, "N-no! We don’t know where it came from—we just want to use it against the Red Dragon!"
Kai Xiusu’s voice turned icy. "Gray Hawk, I believe you understand my true nature."
A wave of overwhelming intimidation rolled from him. Cold sweat broke across Slaud’s forehead.
"Y-yes… of course. You are a Gold Dragon—the Guardian of Justice and Order."
Kai Xiusu sneered, playing the part perfectly.
"Good. Then you know what happens if you try any tricks."
"Y-yes, Lord Ember!"
Slaud wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "Our plan is simple. You return to your True Form, confront the Red Dragon directly, lure him to a pre-agreed location—then I activate the Rune Array to bind him."
"Of course," Kai Xiusu said. "But I’ll need your scales and blood as well."
He glanced sideways, relieved to see no reaction.
"By the way," Kai Xiusu asked, "you don’t have enough mages to cast an 8th-level spell, do you?"
Schneider bowed. "We’re summoning spellcasters from across the region, but responses are few. It may take months."
Kai Xiusu cut in sharply. "We don’t have months. The people are in danger."
Slaud sighed. "There simply aren’t enough mages…"
"Then I’ll provide them," Kai Xiusu said without hesitation. "I have dozens of spellcasters ready to be summoned. And I have a contact at Northwind Keep—safe ground where you can place the array."
"So… when can we begin?"
"One month," Slaud admitted. "It takes at least a month to train common mages to draw the array. It’s a one-time spell—once drawn, it’s forgotten. And I’ll be the controller."
"Perfect," Kai Xiusu said. "I’ll gradually transport my subordinates here. I expect you to be ready in a month."
"Yes, Lord Ember."
...
Northwind Keep – Anzeta Chapter, [Magic Coin] Guild Hall
"Five hundred one… five hundred two…"
"We’re getting rich again!"
Charlotte, the guild leader and a fourth-tier mage, beamed as he counted the gold coins in the warehouse. Their recent jobs had brought in a fortune.
Suddenly, his character sheet flashed with a new faction quest.
[Hidden Mage]
Former Court Mage Slaud of the Duchy of Lakanman is plotting revenge against the Flame King Kai Xiusu. Summon 20 players, disguised as followers of the Gold Dragon Anher, to infiltrate the Revenge Vault in the Bosk Duchy.
Reward: 15,000 Faction Contribution each, 2,500 gold coins total.
"Ugh, not another double-cross mission," Charlotte grumbled—then froze.
His eyes widened.
"Wait… what? The reward’s that high?!"
The [Magic Coin] Guild had built their reputation on betrayal. They were pros at infiltration, deception, and backstabbing.
This time, they might actually get rich—fast.
"Woo-hoo! Let’s go!"
"Brothers, follow me!"
"Magic Coin, charge into battle!"
Ignoring the stares of bewildered townsfolk—some whispering "Madman!"—Charlotte roared through the guild hall.
(End of Chapter)
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