Chapter 127. The Dragon Hides Its Offspring (4)
After acquiring the orichalcum frying pan from Del, Minjun had contacted the Dragon Lord, testing the waters for a sale.
The Lord had told him to bring it the next time they met in person. In hindsight, it seemed like the Lord had already planned to invite Minjun to the dragon meeting at that time.
The two of them met today, but there was one problem.
Minjun's thoughts had changed since the time he sent that message.
'Looks like I've gotten his hopes up too much.'
The Lord's eyes sparkled with interest. He was clearly excited about the item Minjun had offered.
"A frying pan made of orichalcum! When I heard about it, I was shocked, as if I'd been hit on the back of the head. Who could possibly be the artist behind such a bold idea? I don't know what race they belong to, but I've decided that I must see it with my own eyes."
His voice was tinged with enthusiasm. Seeing this reaction, Minjun thought to himself that he was in trouble.
"This is a fundamental challenge to the concept and essence of tools. I could sense it just from hearing about it. A work that combines a playful intent and a sharp critique of the world! I expect it to be a masterpiece that harmonizes the skill of shaping magical metals with artistic imagination that knows no bounds. Well, you brought it with you, didn't you? Go ahead and show it to me."
There was an unmistakable excitement in his tone. The Dragon Lord, a lover of art, had misunderstood.
He didn't believe that the orichalcum cookware was actually made for cooking.
He could never imagine that it was actually a blunt weapon and a shield.
The Lord was convinced that the item Minjun was offering was a pure work of art.
'It wasn't made to be admired, but to bash in the heads of bad guys,' Minjun thought to himself as he spoke.
"…I'm sorry, but I don't think I can go through with the transaction."
"What?! Why not?"
It might seem like he was going back on his word, but there was no helping it.
When he had first contacted the Lord, Minjun hadn't yet fully understood the true function of the item.
Who would have imagined it? A frying pan that could crush the neck of a weapon master with a light swing, and shave off a mountain if you used it to deflect an attack.
Minjun had no intention of selling it now, so he made up an excuse.
"Upon closer inspection, I've decided it's not quite up to the standards I would want to offer you."
Another dragon might have been furious with a supplier who withdrew an offer after making a proposal, but Minjun knew that this explanation would likely be enough to satisfy the Lord.
And he was right.
"Is that so? Well, that's a shame, but I understand."
His response was surprisingly cool, contrasting with the anticipation he had shown earlier.
When they first met, this old dragon had shown him an unusual degree of friendliness, a memory Minjun still vividly recalled. The Lord had smiled warmly and said, 'I think we could be good friends.'
Coming from a dragon, especially one so ancient, it had been a surprising statement. Minjun realized that if the Lord had been closer to Jenkinson's age, his fellow dragons would have considered him eccentric, peculiar, or just plain odd.
In any case, since then, the Lord had only ever been helpful to him, never causing harm. Minjun, on occasion, had to cross borders and operate in other dragons' territories while handling committee missions, which sometimes led to messy situations. Each time, it was the Lord who mediated the flood of complaints from ancient dragons.
Knowing this well, Minjun politely apologized.
He focused on the part of himself that saw the Lord as an equal, a fellow sentient being, rather than as mere livestock. That was the right mindset to have now.
"I'm sorry if you came all this way just for that."
"No, that's not it."
The Lord shook his head.
"I have a different reason for wanting to meet you."
He didn't press further about the transaction. Instead, the topic shifted abruptly.
The Lord asked Minjun about the four cases he had resolved. He would testify at the upcoming meeting, but he wanted to hear about them one-on-one first.
This was the real reason the Lord had sought Minjun out today.
Minjun recalled the events and shared what he had seen and felt as honestly as possible. He recounted the Jang Taejun incident, the Princess Dermi incident, the Changcheon incident, and the Yonggeomi incident.
Listening attentively, the Lord's eyes grew sharper.
"So, in three out of four cases, there was testimony implicating the Carbite?"
There was no concrete evidence yet. If there had been, it would have been made public to the committee by now.
"They're up to something dirty. Think about it. Why else would they be interested in a virus that only infects dragons?"
"It's a reasonable suspicion."
"The dragons need to wake up to this situation. But everyone is ignoring it because there's no solid proof yet. They won't move unless they see signs of their own power and wealth being threatened. It's frustrating."
The Lord was resolute.
"That can't happen. If we wait for evidence to surface before acting, it'll be too late. We need to take preemptive measures. And if necessary, we may have to unite not just within our dimension but also with dragon clans from other dimensions."
He looked Minjun in the eyes as he spoke.
"Your testimony will be crucial in getting them to move. You witnessed all these incidents firsthand and resolved them. Please, testify at the meeting exactly as you've told me today. I understand it may pose some risk for you as a convict. But I assure you, you will be compensated."
Minjun had already made his decision before coming to Hong Kong.
The Carbite had produced many high-ranking officials and deputies within the committee. This issue might not be limited to one race but could also involve the committee. If tensions between the dragons and them deepened, it would benefit Minjun.
Moreover, it was common for convicts to collaborate with residents of different dimensions in a give-and-take manner. He had enough justification to back his actions.
So, he nodded and promised to do so.
All the while, he couldn't help but wonder.
'If it's such an important meeting, why have they dragged it out for so long? No matter how crucial reproduction is for dragons…'
After that, the two spent time chatting casually, enjoying their long-overdue reunion.
They exchanged drinks, and the Lord seemed in high spirits, bursting into loud laughter several times.
Minjun, too, found himself intrigued by the dragon-related stories from around the world that he heard. It was an odd experience, hearing what had once seemed like tales of 'love and war' among the dragons, now sounding more like watching an episode of Animal Kingdom.
Their conversation continued until the lounge closed for the night.
Jungpal was feeling extremely conflicted these days.
Assemblyman Choi Panseok hadn't pressed him again after their meeting. It was likely because there was a deadline he had in mind. Jungpal thought he needed to give an answer, one way or another, by then. But he still hadn't made up his mind.
He repeated it to himself: My God, a party nomination.
'I… running for a National Assembly seat?'
His mother had thrown a party when he became a police officer. Back then, just like now, there were very few orc police officers. He recalled that day vividly. She had been so happy.
If he ended up winning a seat and wearing that golden badge, she might faint from the shock.
'But can I really do it?'
Assemblyman Choi Panseok's words had left a lasting impression on him. Rather than just holding on as a police officer for a few more years, this could be a way to have a much larger and more positive impact.
Perhaps this was the path that could clarify and effectively resolve his inner conflicts.
Of course, this all depended on winning the election.
But by doing so, he could bring change to the lives of the people in this neighborhood, where imagining the worst possible life was often a reality for the residents.
A place that reeked of a stench, indistinguishably from animals or people, litter strewn everywhere, public facilities in disrepair, and where drunken brawls among young men were a common sight even in broad daylight.
As he pondered this, Jungpal asked the vigilante in the driver's seat, in a casual tone.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You're a local here, right?"
"That's right."
"If you had the chance to work for the government, what would you do for this neighborhood?"
"We're working for the government right now, aren't we? Isn't lying in wait to catch that perverted vampire rapist doing the government's work?"
"I mean if you got to a higher position."
"Why? Am I getting promoted? Are you finally transferring me to a different neighborhood?"
"Stop talking nonsense and try to use your imagination."
The vigilante rolled his eyes for a moment before responding.
"Ugh, if I got promoted, I'd leave this neighborhood immediately and completely forget about it. I wouldn't even piss on this place afterward."
Jungpal gave up on hearing a plausible answer and sighed. However, the vigilante seemed to remain silent for a while, continuing to think. Then he said,
"Ugh, damn it. I don't know about anything else, but I'd at least get some streetlights installed here."
The alley where they were staking out was pitch black. The few streetlights that were installed were mostly broken and had not been repaired for a long time. It was a blatant sign of neglect towards this poorly maintained neighborhood.
"After all, we're staking out here because that bastard is operating around here so actively. If this alley were as well-lit at night as a normal neighborhood, he'd probably be too scared to show his face."
There were numerous studies showing that even a slight increase in alley lighting significantly reduces crime rates. Yet, administrative efforts did not extend this far.
"And install some CCTV cameras around here, please. If just a few of them were working, we might have already caught that bastard. And whether it's the police or vigilantes, we need more heads on the ground. Is it even reasonable to cover this wide area with the current manpower?"
The two were on a stakeout to catch a suspect wanted for multiple reports of vampire assaults in the area.
These days, with even the heir of a conglomerate openly declaring their vampiric nature and appearing confidently in the media, public perceptions have changed considerably. Yet, many still view them as potential rapists, a stereotype that attracts such criminals to neighborhoods like this one.
"I agree."
The orc nodded, voicing his thoughts. Having served in the orc community as a police officer for a long time, his voice carried a lot of weight.
Not long ago, when he sought Minjun's advice, Minjun's reaction had been very telling. Even when he heard about Assemblyman Choi Panseok's offer, Minjun had responded calmly. His lack of visible surprise had actually surprised Jungpal more.
And his response was positive.
Jungpal recalled their conversation.
'He kept turning me down when I tried to work with him, but now he's swayed by the National Assembly badge? That's disappointing.'
'I'm sorry.'
'I'm just kidding. Anyway, do what you feel is right. Choi Panseok won't betray you or screw you over. He'll support you properly.'
'Really? To be honest, there were times when I felt his gaze was a bit cold.'
'When did you last see him?'
'Two days ago.'
'Oh, then it should be fine.'
'...?'
'Anyway, my instincts are good. It should be fine now, so don't worry.'
While Jungpal was lost in thought, the vigilante, feeling bored, was looking at his phone. Just as Jungpal was about to tell him not to do that during a stakeout, the vigilante said,
"Huh?"
Looking at the screen, the vigilante said,
"The group chat is going crazy!"
"Is everyone awake at this hour?"
"There are a lot of unemployed folks with their days and nights mixed up. Anyway, it seems like a major incident has occurred."
"What? Where?!"
Jungpal's eyes hardened. But he quickly relaxed after hearing the next words.
"It's abroad. Hong Kong. They're saying it's no joke. The atmosphere there is almost like a warzone."
A situation in a foreign country that was hours away by plane, literally a problem on the other side of the world. Just as he was trying to shift his thoughts,
'...!'
Jungpal suddenly remembered that Minjun, who was currently out of Korea, was headed to… Hong Kong.
"Could it be?"
The orc's expression slowly hardened.
Minjun didn't know why he had woken up.
It was past three in the morning. The moment he got out of bed, sensations that had been distant surged back like a flood, and his mind cleared. A perfect awakening.
Immediately after, Minjun realized why he had awoken.
"······!"
He immediately began chanting a spell.
Pop!
The next moment, Minjun was standing on the hotel rooftop.
Whoosh!
The wind was fierce. His hair was being whipped around uncontrollably. The once brilliant Hong Kong skyline was partially faded, but it was still distinct enough to make out the skyline.
Minjun focused on the western part of Kowloon Peninsula. There stood Hong Kong's tallest building, the 118-story International Commerce Centre (ICC).
=Did you notice as well?=
A mental wave echoed from the sky.
Minjun did not look up. His senses informed him without needing to see with his eyes. A large, heavy object had suddenly appeared above him.
A living fortress, reflecting the moonlight subtly. The difference in the shades between the deep darkness and relatively lighter darkness outlined its shape. It was an enormously huge outline. Wings, six pairs, spread wide, as if carving through the black void. On its long, elegant neck was a head like rock. Twelve eyes mounted on it gazed down at Minjun.
He could not have expected the entity to return in its true form before the meeting had even begun. Especially in such a public place.
But the situation was indeed exceptional.
Elder Dragon Jenkinson spoke to Minjun.
=That's the hotel where Dragon Lord is staying.=
From the 102nd to the 118th floors of the ICC building, the entire area is occupied by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The source of the anomaly that had awakened them was in the vicinity of the highest part of that building.
Zing!
Minjun felt every nerve in his body tense.
The wind grew stronger. It felt as if a storm, unforeseen in the weather forecast, was raging. Minjun knew this was no ordinary wind.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The wind carried a bizarre power. It was immense. At this moment, not just Hong Kong but all nearby cities' supernaturals would have been jolted awake, overwhelmed by this overwhelming energy.
At the center was the ICC building. It was the eye of the storm created by the swirling force. The hotel where the Dragon Lord was staying was located there.
"What the hell is going on?"
=I've been trying to contact the Lord since earlier, but there's no response.=
Pop! Pop!
Shapes resembling or slightly different from Jenkinson began appearing in the night sky. The number of massive flying entities increased. These were dragons who had taken up accommodation in Hong Kong to attend the Dragon Kin Conference and were spending the night there. All of them sensed that something was seriously wrong. Instead of maintaining their polymorph form, they appeared in their true forms as if it had been agreed upon.
As a result, a sight that overshadowed Hong Kong's night view unfolded in the sky. Hundreds of dragons were fixed in the air, all gazing at the same spot. Although there were few pedestrians at this hour, screams and loud voices could be heard from the ground. Citizens looked up in horror, their heads nearly craned back.
A swarm of dragons filled the sky. It was the grand spectacle Minjun had dreamt of, but it was far from thrilling.
Mental waves rapidly exchanged among the dragons.
=Someone teleport in and check! What is that old man doing at this hour? Is he planning to drop a meteor on the city?=
=Impossible! The space around the hotel is distorted.=
=A barrier?=
=It's not an intentional spatial blockade. It seems to have naturally resulted from preparing some enormous spell…=
=What? That's even more dangerous than doing it deliberately!=
As the panicked dragons exchanged words, Minjun detected something.
"······!"
Just as he was about to shout,
Boom!
The top of the ICC building exploded in front of the eyes of hundreds of dragons.
< 127. 드래곤이 새끼를 숨김 (4) > End