Chapter 434: Shadow Dragon Thief

Chapter 434: Shadow Dragon Thief

As the hands of time swiftly ticked by, twenty-four hours passed, and all participants of the Secret Realm's second trial, along with the remaining task executors, were individually teleported back to the first floor of the Astrologist's Platform.

The Arida Sisters, guided by a tracking chip, were also teleported to the Astrologist's Platform.

"Lord Reign," said Tatia, leading the two slightly nervous sisters to Reign's resting room.

Reign glanced at the two women, noticing signs of combat on their bodies but no apparent injuries.

They must have encountered enemies but managed to resolve the situation successfully.

"Indeed, we encountered two groups of enemies. One was Kliua, one of the 'Four Black Flame Knights' of the Black Flame Cult, and the other was a legendary strongman from the Plague Sect."

"With the assistance of Sir Baldwin, we successfully eliminated Kliua and the legendary Plague Sect strongman," Sister Arida briefly explained.

"Yes, Lord Reign, the dark plague of that legendary Plague Sect strongman was quite troublesome. We were almost infected ourselves," Sister Ailia added, still seemingly shaken by the experience.

"Oh? The Plague Sect?" Reign nodded.

This cult has a long history, and it is said to be connected to many famous plagues in the Empire's history, such as the Black Death, the Undead Plague, and the Insect Plague.

However, their activities are primarily in the southern provinces of the Empire, so Reign hadn't encountered many of their members during his time in the coastal area of the Empire's central Munster Province.

"Lord Reign, one of your golems has returned, and the other... well, it self-destructed," Captain Tatia informed him.

"I understand," Reign waved his hand with a smile.

The other golem had self-destructed after being pushed into the outer void by the Void Dragon. He immediately ordered the golem carrying the Black Robed Maiden to self-destruct to avoid attracting more Void Beasts.

He was well aware that the near-death state of Barnes and his companions had already drawn the attention of numerous Void Beasts. If he had left the Black Robed Maiden, the container of the Dark Sea Goddess Hela, in the Secret Realm, it would have attracted a massive swarm within minutes.

Moreover, this process could be incredibly fast, and even if Lambert or the Arida Sisters returned, it would likely be too late.

If the Black Robed Maiden were to be infected, the consequences would be unpredictable and potentially catastrophic.

Therefore, Reign made a swift decision and ordered the Hellfire Enhanced Golem to self-destruct.

"By the way, Lady Tatia, this is Sister Arida, and this is Sister Ailia. They are now my followers. I'd appreciate it if you could help them obtain legal identities."

"No problem, Lord Reign. Leave it to me, but it might take two to three days to complete the process. It requires some paperwork," Tatia said with a smile after glancing at the charming faces of the Arida Sisters and Reign.

These two women were even more beautiful than they appeared in the oval stone platform's footage.

Thinking of Olenna, the capable woman Reign had specifically transferred from the Munster branch, Tatia couldn't help but ponder a little more.

"Is there a problem?" Reign asked upon noticing Tatia's meaningful gaze.

"The main issue is that the ladies' original identities are sensitive, so we need headquarters' guarantee for the paperwork. But rest assured, Lord Reign, it will take no more than three days. I'll take care of it," Tatia assured him with a smile.

"Thank you, Lady Tatia," Reign smiled.

However, Tatia's words made the Arida Sisters feel anxious, and they immediately began communicating through telepathy.

"Sister, do you think the Empire will accept us?" Arida asked.

"It shouldn't be a problem. Look at how respectfully this female captain addresses you, Lord Reign. I don't think we need to worry," Ailia replied.

"Mmm-hmm."

"To be honest, if I had to worry, I'd be more concerned about the Serpent Sect," Arida frowned.

"By the way, Lord Reign, Marshal Alfred asked me to convey a message to you."

"Oh? Please do, Lady Tatia."

"You have expended a lot of effort for the Empire's interests, defeating the Dark Sea Goddess's incarnation and the Void Dragon. However, you were unable to complete your Dragon Language Mark task, which might affect your second trial score. But you need not worry."

"Headquarters will communicate with the examiners to ensure you can participate in the final Dragon Knight selection. Your spot will not be counted in the six selected from this trial, so you don't have to worry about any controversy."

"Additionally, once you become an Imperial Guardian, you can request communication with dragons that have not yet signed contracts with the Empire."

"Thank you, Lady Tatia. Please convey my gratitude to the Marshal," Reign bowed slightly.

Reign initially felt a bit disappointed that he had teleported out early and missed the opportunity to obtain Dragon Language Marks from the dragon heirs.

Of course, this was the best outcome.

"Thank you, Lord Reign."

A few minutes later, Reign and the Arida Sisters boarded the luxurious carriage that had been waiting at the entrance and departed from the Astrologist's Platform, heading towards Reign's mansion on Saint Paul Avenue.

However, just a few minutes into the journey, the carriage slowed down.

"Lord Reign, there's a carriage with the royal emblem parked on the side of the road. Count Buchanan is waving at us. He seems to want to chat," Mateo, the short man sitting in the carriage's front driver's seat, informed Reign.

Reign thought for a moment and said, "Let's leave quickly. Ignore him."

He was no longer interested in dealing with Buchanan.

Soon, the other party would learn of Barnes and his companions' deaths in the Secret Realm, effectively severing all ties.

"Halt!"

Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt, and Mateo, the short man, exclaimed in a rush, "Lord Reign, their carriage has blocked our path!"

"Lord Reign, there's an important matter I must discuss," Buchanan's voice echoed from beside Reign's carriage.

"Oh? So, Count Buchanan has blocked my carriage on the road?" Reign asked.

"Please don't be angry, Sir Reign. The Second Prince's groom is rather impulsive! Please forgive him." Buchanan deliberately mentioned the words 'Second Prince', and his intentions were clear.

"Creak!"

The carriage door opened, but Reign didn't get off the carriage or invite Buchanan in. Instead, he sat with his legs apart, casually observing Buchanan and said, "Well, Sir Buchanan?"

The meaning behind Reign's posture was clear to the cunning Buchanan, but he maintained a smile despite his annoyance as he had a mission to fulfill. "Ah, Sir Reign, I heard that you had a bountiful harvest in the Secret Realm, especially obtaining the Void Dragonling Blood Essence."

As he spoke, Buchanan glanced at the box by Reign's feet, recognizing the mark on it as the symbol of the Draconic Scales Brotherhood.

The informant's information was indeed accurate.

"Oh? Sir Buchanan, you are indeed well-informed," Reign replied, neither confirming nor denying.

"I'd like to purchase the Void Dragonling Blood Essence you have," Buchanan said.

"Is that so? Well, I'm sorry, Sir Buchanan, but I refuse," Reign interrupted with a wave of his hand.

"Goodbye!"

"Slap!" Ailia immediately closed the carriage door again.

This made Buchanan tremble with anger! Since becoming the Second Prince Everett's butler, he had never been treated this way.

However, soon a smile appeared on Buchanan's face. He saw a graceful figure ahead, disappearing into thin air.

He knew Quinna was in action!

At the same time, inside the carriage.

A slender hand appeared out of thin air and swiftly grasped the box by Reign's feet.

Just as the thief was about to disappear with the box, a loud "Slap!" echoed as an iron-like hand gripped the thief's wrist.

Reign's arm trembled, and a powerful force pulled the person who had been about to enter the shadows.

The revealed upper body belonged to a curvy woman in leather armor.

Since Reign had merged with the Void Dragon bloodline, his perception of space had become even sharper.

So, as soon as Quinna's hand emerged from the shadows, Reign noticed it.

Quinna, her wrist held by Reign, was astonished beyond words.

She had calculated her own speed to be around 0.01 seconds, several times faster than a cat. Ordinary people couldn't even see her movements, and even for a titled knight, this speed was too fast.

Although a titled knight could see and react visually, adding muscle reaction time would make it nearly impossible to keep up.

Yet, the person before her had effortlessly grabbed her wrist in an instant, leaving her shocked.

However, Quinna wasn't one to surrender easily. As she was pulled out of the shadows, she held a dagger in her other hand and swiftly stabbed at Reign's abdomen.

"Careful!"

Aida's reaction was equally swift. She grasped the dagger's hilt and slashed at the sudden 'assassin' to block the attack.

But the resistance from the dagger made her realize that the carriage's interior was too cramped, and her blade was about to slice through it!

In the blink of an eye.

Reign maintained his smile and, with lightning speed, grasped Quinna's other hand, holding the dagger, in the same manner.

This caused Quinna's face to pale.

She knew she was facing a top-tier expert.

At this moment, both of Quinna's hands were held by Reign, and due to his earlier show of strength, she continued to fly towards Reign's embrace. In this situation, the only counterattack Quinna could think of was to activate her bloodline transformation.

However, before she could activate it, she felt herself falling like a meteor.

"Slap!" She penetrated the wooden floor of the carriage.

Before she could feel the pain on her face.

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Another "Boom!" Her pretty face slammed into the Imperial City's main road, paved with small granite slabs.

Instantly, Quinna's face stung with pain, and her entire body felt like it was falling apart.

Forget about transforming, even moving was difficult!

Reign had suddenly sensed a familiar aura rising from Quinna, knowing she was about to perform some kind of bloodline transformation. He applied a slight force with his hands, interrupting her transformation.

The disintegrating carriage and the scattered granite fragments attracted the attention of passersby, who exclaimed and screamed.

Buchanan, who had been watching Reign's carriage from a distance, saw the smoke clear, revealing Reign slowly rising with Quinna in his hand, motionless like a puppet.

The mission had failed!

They hadn't obtained the box, and Quinna had been caught red-handed by Reign. At this moment, Reign turned to Buchanan and said, "So, Sir Buchanan, after your communication failed, you sent someone to steal it?"

"Ah, Sir Reign, you're joking. I don't know this person," Buchanan said, his eyes flickering and his face darkening.

"Oh? I thought this person was your subordinate, and I was going to go easy on them. Seems I don't need to. Later, I'll send her to the Swordsmen Headquarters. I'm sure she'll give me some surprises."

Reign smiled faintly.

"Cough, that's up to you, Sir Reign. I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave." Buchanan's face darkened, and he turned to leave.

"Lord Reign, do you need another carriage?" Matteo asked respectfully.

"No, go to the Astrologist's Platform and ask Captain Tatia to send someone over. Also, arrange for a carriage." Reign was carrying a person, so it was more appropriate to travel by carriage.

"Yes, Lord Reign."

The commotion naturally attracted the attention of the City Watch, and soon a group of guards surrounded them.

As he witnessed Ren's imposing aura and noticed a person being carried by him, the Captain of the Guards bowed slightly and addressed him, "This person, sir..."

"I am a Swordsman of the Empire, and this person attacked me. Soon, someone from the Swordsmen Headquarters will be here to handle the matter," Ren replied, presenting his Swordsmen insignia.

"Yes, sir," the Captain of the Guards immediately saluted.

At that moment, Arida spoke to Ren, "Sir Reign, do you wish to interrogate this person? My sister and I can handle it; we are quite skilled in interrogation methods."

"Indeed, Sir Reign," her sister Elara quickly chimed in, "My sister is knowledgeable in mind-altering sorcery, and I am quite adept at various interrogation techniques."

As followers, they had not played a significant role in the previous situation, and now their hearts were filled with unease.

"Not for now, we'll deal with it in a couple of days," Ren smiled and nodded.

Soon, a carriage from the Swordsmen Headquarters arrived.

Accompanying the carriage was Captain Tatia and several Mithril-ranked Swordsmen.

"Sir Reign, you were attacked?" Captain Tatia examined Ren, who showed no signs of injury, and then glanced at the 'assassin' lying on the ground, encased in hardened Tempered Gold like a cocoon. She was perplexed.

Who would be so foolish as to send an assassin to target a 'Quasi-Guardian' like Sir Reign?

"Consider her a thief, Lady Tatia. Please detain her at the Swordsmen Headquarters, and I'll deal with it in a couple of days," Ren said, lifting the already subdued Quinna and handing her over to the Swordsmen behind Captain Tatia.

Ren had already obtained the answer he sought from Buchanan's gaze.

This 'female thief' must be connected to Buchanan, and judging by the faint trace of Draconic Bloodline aura, she was likely from the Draconic Scales Brotherhood.

Additionally, Ren was concerned that imprisoning this 'female thief' in his residence might attract a rescue attempt, endangering his family's safety. Therefore, he suggested to Captain Tatia that the thief be held at the Swordsmen Headquarters.

"No problem, Sir Reign," Captain Tatia assured him.

Soon, Ren was escorted back to his residence in a carriage arranged by the Swordsmen Headquarters.

Ren learned that the barbarian girl Ragla had accompanied the beautiful Jennifer to Munster.

After introducing the Arida sisters to the household, Ren had dinner with his family and then retired to his study to contemplate his next move.

First, he had to choose a new profession.

Ever since his successful transition to the legendary profession of Draconic Blood Mage, he had gained an additional profession slot, increasing from (6/6) to (6/7).

Similar to his previous consideration when transitioning to the Thousand Blade King, Ren wanted to choose a profession with more advancement stages.

His goal was to acquire as many skill points and attribute points as possible.

Just as the Blacksmith Advancement Path, starting from Apprentice Blacksmith to Blacksmith and eventually Grand Armorsmith, or the Seamstress Advancement Path, from Apprentice Seamstress to Seamstress and Master Seamstress, these paths offered abundant skill points and attribute points, greatly facilitating Ren's acquisition of Sorcery and Superb Battle Skills.

As Ren was deep in thought, a servant's voice interrupted him from outside the study.

"Sir Reign, there's a visitor named Hamadi here to see you."

Hamadi? Ren immediately recognized the visitor.

"Please show him in."

"Yes, Sir Reign."

Soon, Hamadi entered the study with a smile.

After some pleasantries, Hamadi produced a deep brown wooden box, "Sir Reign, this is a gift entrusted to me by Councilor Treena."

This was Hamadi's well-rehearsed line.

In Hamadi's opinion, since Sir Reign had a favorable impression of the high-ranking and beautiful Councilor Treena, it was only natural to take advantage of this.

Even if it was impossible for a noble female councilor to do anything personally, using her name for convenience was perfectly acceptable, after all, it was all for the Federation.

"Oh? What is this?" Sir Reign's eyebrows rose in curiosity.

Hamadi smiled enigmatically and opened the wooden box on the tea table, revealing three ancient scrolls with increasingly dense Sorcery Auras.

"Sir Reign, have you heard of Sorcery Strikes?"

"Of course, could these three sorceries combine into a Sorcery Strike?" Sir Reign's thoughts raced as he nodded.

"Indeed, once mastered, these three sorceries can combine into a Sorcery Strike. Sir Reign, why don't you take a look?" Hamadi smiled.

"This is too precious, even as a personal gift from Councilor Treena, I cannot accept it," Sir Reign shook his head.

Ren was well aware that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The other party was either trying to curry favor or had a request.

"Sir Reign, Councilor Treena values her friendship with you. This Metal Sorcery Strike took considerable effort to find, and it's a personal gift."

"Councilor Treena is thoughtful, is this Metal Sorcery?" Sir Reign's eyebrows rose, his heart stirring.

This surprised Ren.

Metal Sorcery was notoriously rare, and even rarer were those that could be combined into a Sorcery Strike.

Another reason that moved Ren was his successful transition to the Draconic Blood Mage profession. Acquiring more powerful sorceries, especially in the Metal element, would undoubtedly enhance his strength.

This...

After some thought, Ren decided to examine them first.

He picked up one of the scrolls and began reading.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end