William gazed down at the small fire dragon nestled in his palm. The creature trembled, its round golden eyes wide with fear, dreading the return of soul control that had tormented it before.
But there was no escape for it.
William had no intention of parting with the little fire dragon, even if it had cost a staggering 100 million Gold Coins. Whether it was an elemental dragon or a gem dragon, it made no difference. William had used soul control over 300 times, imprinting his dominance deep within the little fire dragon's heart.
Now, he handed over the trembling creature, nearly on the verge of death, to Sacario, who may have had an adult body but was far from mature in mind. It was time for the scrawny Dusk Dragon, Xiaohei, to educate the young dragon, Xiaohong.
William's plan was clear: he was willing to lose 100 million Gold Coins to expose the truth of dragon egg trading in the Royal Beast City. This revelation had ignited conflicts within the city.
Yet, despite Jerot's anger and his journey to explain the situation to the other three Legendary dragon families, he did not make a move to claim the little fire dragon. This served as clear evidence that the rift between the Metal Dragons and Elemental Dragons was deep and wide.
However, the matter of the dragon's dignity remained unresolved. William could harbor resentment against the Elemental Dragons and even watch them perish, but he would not allow the Royal Beast City to sell them.
It was akin to criticizing one's own country, yet defending it fiercely when invaded.
Nock, William's personal guard, approached his distracted Highness and Pointed to the hole in the conference hall's wall. "Your Highness, should we patch it up?"
"Patch it up? Why bother? Let them have a good laugh," William replied with irritation, leaving the scene. His plans were in motion, and everyone was playing their part online.
Unbeknownst to them, Jerot had indeed discovered the truth of the situation and stormed through the conference hall in a fit of rage.
Three days later, within the Royal Beast City located in the Legendary Continent's Beast Forest, a catastrophic event shook the earth.
Just three nights after the dragon egg trade, the city, a bustling mix of humans and Beast, descended into chaos. The Legendary Dragons' influence spread over hundreds of kilometers, turning both the wild Beast outside the city and the city's disciplined Beast Master's creatures into bloodthirsty and savage beasts.
In a short span of time, the city suffered tremendous losses. Day and night, the city was bathed in bloodshed.
Dragon breath filled the air, and the city's inhabitants, both human and Beast, were engulfed in a disaster. This massacre surpassed the scale of any previous conflict.
More than 800000 civilians and Professionals lost their lives in the city's half. Among the 300000 troops stationed in the Beast City, over 100000 perished under the relentless onslaught of dragon breath, regardless of whether they resisted or surrendered. Merely catching sight of a dragon Spelled doom.
Kanir, the Lord of the Royal Beast City, remained in hiding and dared not show himself. Nevertheless, his city Lord's mansion was obliterated, and hundreds of servants met their end.
The city's three Guardian Beasts, the three dragons, stood idly by, unmoved by the chaos around them. Only two of them unleashed their wrath upon the city.
No one dared to intervene.
Even Legendary warriors, informed of the turmoil, chose to remain apathetic. It was evident that the Royal Beast City had mishandled diplomacy, as no one was willing to come to its aid.
The Royal Beast City could have become a potent ally to the Great Prince, establishing a significant presence among various factions. The fact that three Legendary dragons had stood behind Kanir attested to its potential. However, the city's civil strife, met with Kanir's indecision, Spelled its inevitable decline.
For those with discerning eyes, it was becoming clear: the Dragon Clan had uncovered the illicit trade of young dragons and dragon eggs within the Royal Beast City. Otherwise, such a massive upheaval could not have occurred without evidence.
Meanwhile, in the palace of the Great Emperor of the War-Ending Empire, Prince Peter watched the unfolding chaos through a water mirror, relishing every moment.
The Legendary Dragons' mighty breath, capable of engulfing several kilometers at once, brought devastation wherever it touched. Buildings crumbled and turned to ashes under their fiery exhalations, creating a horrifying spectacle.
Beside him stood a young man with an unremarkable appearance but keen eyes. He spoke calmly, "The Royal Beast City is on the brink of collapse. They've suffered immense losses, and their pain will surely make them more pliable. Your Highness, what is your plan?"
Prince Peter sneered, showing no sign of concern. "I'll support Kanir, offering him assistance in his time of need. This will make him wholly loyal to me, and I won't lack for a legion of Beast. Or I could simply wait for the Royal Beast City to crumble and seize it afterward." His indifference was evident, and he had yet to decide on his course of action.
After all, gaining Kanir's loyalty was one option, but so was seizing the opportunity to take the Royal Beast City for himself.
The alternative option is to gain direct control of the formidable Beast City, which undoubtedly holds greater appeal for him.
However, the current status of the original Beast City Lord, whether living or deceased, remains uncertain.
Moreover, should others dare to attempt annexing the Beast City, it would chill the support of numerous factions that stand behind him.
Hence, discretion is paramount in this endeavor. It would be most advantageous to engage a Lord from a neutral faction to carry out this task on his behalf.
For instance, the young man standing before him.
Paul Bain appeared to grasp the prince's intent and offered a confident smile. "Your Highness, if there are any tasks you'd prefer to keep discreet, you can entrust them to me."
Prince Peter raised an eyebrow. "You represent the newly established neutral faction in the eastern region, situated near the Beast forest. I assume you harbor some grievances with the Royal Beast City?"
Paul Bain chuckled. "The Royal Beast City charges exorbitant prices for their Beast, causing plenty of discontent among the populace."
"Very well, then. Proceed with your mission, but avoid returning here too soon to prevent arousing suspicion of our connection," Prince Peter advised. "Eliminate Kanir, and if possible, uncover the Beast Master's legacy."
"Understood," Paul Bain nodded before departing, his demeanor radiating an unshakable confidence.
As Prince Peter watched Paul's receding figure, he felt a surge of emotion within him.
This man was once a protege he had supported, not with grand gestures, but with the belief that Paul possessed significant talent. He had provided Paul with a solid combat script and a hundred Gold Coins, and Paul had proven himself worthy. It was a reminder of how his father, The Great War-Ending Empire, had similarly won the loyalty of a Legendary Professional through small favors.
What Prince Peter hadn't anticipated was just how fortunate he had been. Paul Bain had ascended the ranks, becoming a formidable epic Professional, and had even established himself as the new Lord of a neutral faction. This turn of events not only delighted Prince Peter but also led him to consider Paul as the ideal candidate to inherit the throne.
However, Peter had always maintained a discreet distance from Paul, treating him as a hidden son, concealing their connection from everyone else.
Paul Bain, the founder of the Eastern Mercenary Alliance, had emerged as a force to be reckoned with. When Dawn City introduced its diverse mercenary model, many factions in the Legendary Continent had sought to emulate and surpass it. Among these, the Eastern Mercenary Alliance stood out as the most similar and well-developed force.
Established just three years ago, the alliance had formed only a year after Dawn City. Thanks to its strategic location, the neutral faction led by Paul Bain had become the largest mercenary corps in the Eastern Region. While the War-Ending Empire seldom hired their services, numerous kingdoms, grand duchies, and smaller duchies in the region considered them their trusted contractors.
The Eastern Region Mercenary Alliance lacked a Legendary figurehead, but it managed to win the favor of various forces, primarily because it was believed to have ties to the Empire. This unspoken connection deterred potential adversaries and allowed the alliance's growth to proceed smoothly, making it one of the Eastern Region's four leading neutral factions.
The first neutral faction was undoubtedly the Chaotic City, which had existed even before the founding of the War-Ending Empire. Rumors suggested that the Chaotic City's leader possessed power rivaling that of Sages, although such tales were often met with skepticism.
The second faction was the Royal Beast City, boasting hundreds of thousands of Beast creatures and three Legendary dragons. Despite its past glory, recent events had left it weakened, raising doubts about its potential resurgence.
The third faction was led by the owner of East Sea Metropolis Island, a figure with Legendary personal strength. With hundreds of warships and powerful sea creatures at his disposal, he had managed to maintain peaceful relations with neighboring forces. Although his territory was situated on a vast island in the East Sea Metropolis, it held a neutral stance and even housed civilians.
The fourth faction, Paul Bain's Eastern Mercenary Alliance, had risen rapidly. By integrating various mercenary groups in the region through his charisma and personal strength, Paul had forged an unconventional path to success. This faction lacked a Legendary leader but boasted five Epic Level Professionals.
The recent devastation of the Beast City at the hands of two Legendary dragons had drawn the attention of many factions. Those with sufficient power harbored ambitious plans, though the ultimate victor remained uncertain.
Amid the influx of outsiders into the ravaged Beast City, one figure stood out, the handsome master of Dawn City. After all, in any conflict, obtaining the favor of the Natural God was a priority.
In this manner, even if the Beast City couldn't be completely conquered, it wouldn't result in a total loss.