Luken realized that Gavin was more and more annoyed.
He was having a hard time finding a fire-breathing smallish imp that he always used to light Luken's cigarette.
Gavin finally let up and just summoned the closest fire-based creature he could find after flicking several pages with anger.
"Luken. Stick your mouth out."
He said with a lifeless yet annoyed expression.
"I-I can just smoke later, you know? We should get going to the Grand Castle now, the grumpy old sages like Willis are waiting for us there…"
Luken said in an apologetic way.
"Just do it."
Luken had no choice but to adhere to Gavin. He did not want to be on the other side of his rage, after all.
Vale rolled her eyes.
"Man, you guys are still the same after all these years."
Gavin lifted his right hand while his left held the grimoire tightly.
A large blast sent shock waves which shook the carriage and the nearby town.
Gavin had just summoned an Elder Wyrm Dragon.
Its scales were black and red.
Seemingly burnt themselves.
As soon as the Elder Wyrm opened its mouth, Vale took out her switchblade just in case.
Luken's eyes were wide.
"Crap, he actually summoned Ryoko. Is this where my life ends? The Commander of the Slayer Corps, an SS Rank Slayer, eaten alive or roasted by a Dragon summoned by my beloved friend?!"
He thought to himself.
The Commander stood his ground, although it was fairly obvious that his complexion turned white long ago due to fear.
"What is thy bidding, Master Gavin?"
A growling, low voice spoke out, mist came out of the Dragon's mouth as it spoke.
It was the Elder Wyrm itself.
"Greetings, Ryoko. I apologize for summoning you out of nowhere in an instant."
Gavin scratched his head and smiled.
"Apologize not, Master Gavin. You may call upon my aid whenever and wherever you may be."
The Wyrm replied.
"Thanks, Ryoko, you're the best. I summoned you before me so you can light this guy's cigarette ablaze."
Gavin said as he pointed towards Luken, who was pointing his mouth and snout out.
"H-Hello, Ryoko!"
The Dragon scoffed.
"First off, I would really like to say sorry for bothering you with stuff like this, I mean it is not like I was the one who summoned you in the first place, right? So, I, uhm-"
Luken got cut off with a fiery belch of fire from Ryoko's mouth.
In the aftermath of this belch, there was nothing left of the cigarette that Luken kept biting with his teeth.
"It is done, Master Gavin."
The Dragon bowed down and Gavin scratched its head.
"I knew I could always count on you, Ryoko."
Gavin laughed.
"Well, you kind of burnt my– "
Ryoko's green gaze locked with Luken's.
"Never mind, I'm good."
Luken replied with little to no life in his voice.
Vale Ashford was surprised at what she just saw transpired.
"The Serpent Summoner still has no chill."
She thought to himself.
Gavin opened his grimoire again and sent Ryoko home.
"I will be seeing you later, Ryoko."
"Till next time that you might implore my aid, Master Gavin."
After a bright flashing light seemingly condensed Ryoko the Dragon's entire body back into the magical book that Gavin held in his hand, he started walking back to the carriage.
"I thought I was going to die, you know!?"
Luken's voice made the coachman place his palms in his ears.
That is how painful and loud it was.
"Why does Ryoko not like me? I mean we've known each other for how long now? How many decades? You have to tell her I am trustworthy, Gavin, come on!"
Gavin sighed.
He continued walking towards the carriage.
"You know you did not only light his cigarette up. His face almost got burnt and roasted."
Vale said.
"Oh, really?" Gavin turned his head and saw Luken's annoyed face. "My bad."
"By the way, Vale, where is Dunham? Shouldn't he be with you at all times?"
Vale gulped.
She was visibly tensed up now.
"I'll tell you at the meeting, come aboard, we have to go."
She said.
After an hour of travelling, they finally arrived at the heart of Niflheim.
It was not different from the last time they were here, although it was not that long ago.
Luken, Gavin, and Vale hung around outside the castle.
They waited for the other S Rank Slayers to arrive.
As soon as they arrived, they all went upstairs into the dining hall all at once.
The S Ranked and other Slayers were greeted by the Emperor Nicholas and Willis Zafron, the head of the High Council.
"Where is the Specter?"
The Emperor asked them.
"I am here, sire."
Vale walked out of the crowd towards the Emperor who was summoning her.
She knelt in front of the Emperor.
"Tell me dear, do you swear the information you will disclose is truthful and reliable?"
Nicholas asked.
"I swear upon the reliability of the information with all my life, sire."
She replied.
"Very well then, rise, S Rank Slayer, Vale Ashford, also known as the Specter of Niflheim. An expert of reconnaissance and stealth as well as a Wind Slayer. Tell your fellow S Rank Slayers about what you have found out."
He said as Vale slowly rose up and faced the fifty plus Slayers present.
Not a single Slayer here was weak.
They were all hardened soldiers.
Warriors who have laid their lives for humanity and have continued to survive time and time again.
Humanity's greatest and most powerful soldiers, S Rank Slayers.
Just as Vale was about to reveal the important information which caused all of them to gather in the Grand Castle in the first place, Willis stopped her with a question.
"Before that, Specter, where is your partner, Dunham Miller?"
Willis asked her.
"Dunham is…"
Silence.
Everyone knew what she was about to say, but they all respected Vale enough to let her say it herself.
"Dunham Miller gave his life in service of humanity and Niflheim!"
She shouted.
Gavin looked down in grief.
"But I will not let his death be in vain. Our joint mission has revealed something that will aid humanity's war against the wretched Angels!"