Chapter 13: Casmode, Hero of the Dragon Clan! ( Part 2 )
Olette continued, “However before we could celebrate, the Iron-Wing Dragon King, Fael, stole part of our findings and disappeared.”
“Fael, huh… Iron-Wing Dragons rival Silver Dragons in speed. It would be easy for him to shake off most pursuers,” Rosvitha said.
“Sigh, it’s troubling.”
Olette sighed and paused for a moment. “Oh, I’ll go make you some tea.”
“Ah, thank you, Headmistress.”
“It’s no trouble.”
Olette got up to prepare tea.
Taking advantage of the moment, the couple whispered to each other.
“Do you think this Iron-Wing Dragon King might also be working with the human empire?” Rosvitha asked in a low voice.
Leon frowned slightly. “You mean he stole part of your grandmother’s research findings and handed them over to the empire?”
Rosvitha nodded. “That’s very likely. After all, Ravi was one of the Dragon Kings collaborating with the empire, wasn’t he?”
“True.”
Leon’s eyes flickered as he added, “But from what Olette said, she suspects Ravi and Fael were working for some organization, but she doesn’t realize that this ‘organization’ is the human empire.”
“Mm, that’s right. But if the principal finds out that Ravi and the others are cooperating with the Empire, then she should also easily deduce that the Silver Dragon Sanctuary has been hiding a certain human all along.”
Rosvitha looked at Leon and said, “Because from Constantine to Star, Ravi, and even Bly not long ago, those Dragon Kings wouldn’t have attacked the Silver Dragon Sanctuary for no reason. There must be a common purpose behind their actions. And once it’s discovered that the Empire’s influence is behind this shared purpose, it won’t be hard to guess who they were after.”
Rosvitha’s analysis was reasonable and easy to understand.
So far, only a handful of people knew the secret that the human Empire and the dragons were working together in secret.
And once this secret was exposed, the consequences for the Empire would be catastrophic—mere chaos in the world would be a light punishment.
Even Leon couldn’t predict how things would unfold. That was why he hadn’t recklessly exposed this conspiracy but instead conducted an undercover investigation. Only when he had solid evidence and an advantage could he overthrow the Empire’s absurd rule in one fell swoop.
As for the dragons, once they discovered that Constantine, Ravi, and the others were “dragon traitors” (lóng jiān, 龙奸) who had collaborated with humans—and that they had repeatedly attacked the Silver Dragon Sanctuary—it wouldn’t be difficult for them to suspect that the Silver Dragon Clan also had some connection with humans.
If that happened, not only Leon but also Rosvitha and the children would become the primary targets of the entire dragon race.
Leon himself wasn’t worried—however many dragons came after him, he would kill just as many.
But his wife and children were a different matter.
If anything happened to them, what would be the point of his strength?
In that sense, Leon, the Empire, and those “dragon traitors” were all tied to the same fate—if one was exposed, it would be bad for everyone.
This was a dangerous game, where both sides walked a narrow tightrope, trying to ensure they had a foothold while also attempting to push the other off.
“I understand.”
Leon nodded. “But… your grandmother and Olette are quite the cryptic types. They’ve gone in circles, yet they still won’t say what exactly they’ve discovered in the Far North. If they told us, we might be able to predict the Empire’s next move.”
Rosvitha shrugged helplessly. “Maybe, like us, they have certain concerns and can’t say it outright.”
“Makes sense. Well, it’s no big deal. Anyway, Master and the others are acting as informants inside the Empire, so getting intel shouldn’t be too hard. Let’s see if the Master can figure out what exactly the Empire has put so much effort into acquiring next time we meet.”
Rosvitha smiled. “Indeed.”
“You’ve waited long enough—tea is ready.”
Olette brought over three cups of hot tea and continued chatting with the couple.
She didn’t reveal much about the events in the Far North. When Rosvitha asked where her grandmother was, Olette simply said that she would return in a while.
“By the way, your grandmother repeatedly told me that you must wear this wedding gift at all times,” Olette said.
Rosvitha ‘s gaze fell on the pendant necklace. “Wear it at all times?”
“Yes. It’s said to be made from a magical crystal that, when worn long-term, can absorb impurities and toxins from the body, resulting in a whitening and beautifying effect.”
“…I’m only two hundred years old. I don’t think I need such meticulous skincare just yet.”
Rosvitha smiled bitterly and shook her head, but she still accepted the necklace and carefully put it away. “I’ll follow Grandma’s instructions. If you see her, please let her know.”
“Of course.”
After that, Olette chatted with the couple about Noa’s studies and some family matters.
With a cup of tea finished, their conversation also came to an end.
“We’ve disturbed you for long enough, Principal. Please don’t see us off.” Rosvitha gave a slight nod.
“Mm, take care, both of you.”
The couple turned and left the principal’s office, one after the other.
After they were gone, Principal Olette let out a long sigh of relief.
Once she confirmed that their footsteps had faded into the distance, she walked over to the bookshelf in her office and gently turned a nearby chandelier.
With a soft click, the bookshelf split open on both sides, revealing a hidden chamber behind it.
Principal Olette stepped inside.
Inside the secret chamber stood a silver-haired woman.
“I’ve already given the Original Crystal (yuánchū shuǐjīng, 原初水晶) to your granddaughter,” Olette said. “Sigh, couldn’t you have given it to her yourself and told her what it is?”
Veronica Melkway stood quietly in front of a magic formation, her back to Olette. She spoke softly, “Did you forget what I told you before? Little Luo’s husband is very mysterious—I don’t want him to know too much about the Far North.”
…
Footnotes:
- 龙奸 (lóng jiān) – “Dragon traitor”
- A derogatory term for dragons who betray their kind by working with humans. The term plays on 汉奸 (hàn jiān), which historically referred to Chinese traitors collaborating with foreign powers.
- 原初水晶 (yuánchū shuǐjīng) – “Original Crystal”
- A rare and powerful magical artifact implied to hold significant energy or abilities. The name suggests it is an ancient or primal source of magic.
