CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 268: THE DEAD (PART 2)

Inside the Stone Tower, both the Flame Turtle and the Dragon Taming Lady fell silent.

Just as Andrew planned, the Dragon Taming Lady and the Flame Turtle were both bewildered by this completely unorthodox move!

Through "Water Prison Training," the trace amount of water magic injected into Yorkshire’s body successfully evaded the Dragon Taming Lady’s "Hunting Style."

This is precisely the cleverness of "Water Prison Training": before it is truly activated, Andrew’s water magic is merely dispersed within Yorkshire’s body. Only at the moment of true activation would it coalesce into a magic mark, controlling Yorkshire’s actions in an instant.

As for now, the completely scattered trace amount of water magic, coupled with the "Invisible Enchantment," would not reveal anything unusual unless someone had truly reached the "Realm of Magic"!

"...Did the Warm Fire Commerce Association have any message for you?" the Flame Turtle asked Yorkshire.

"No." Yorkshire shook his head. Secretly thinking that he had just been released from the Ice Prison and was knocked out by Andrew, and when he woke up, Andrew had already disappeared, there was no time to deliver any message.

"...Hmph, a vain attempt to mystify, utterly foolish!" The Dragon Taming Lady sneered after a moment of silence, glancing at Capella, calmly saying, "Use ’Fire God Space’ to contact Tiago immediately and have him come over!"

She had already decided that it didn’t matter what strategy the Warm Fire Commerce Association was playing by releasing Yorkshire.

As a precaution, Yorkshire wouldn’t continue to represent the Magic Guild in the upcoming negotiation match.

Tiago must be the one to come!

Yorkshire started, immediately understanding, and urgently said, "Wait a moment, I can—"

"Shut up." The Dragon Taming Lady coldly glared at Yorkshire, then turned to Capella, "Contact Tiago now, and don’t give me any excuses about ’forgetting’; hurry!"

Capella pouted, seemingly still reluctant, still thinking about fighting two against two in the match.

However, she knew that if she continued to "pretend to forget," the Dragon Taming Lady would indeed be angered and punish her severely. So although she was unwilling in her heart, she obediently activated the "Fire God Space," preparing to contact Tiago.

The Magic Guild’s "Fire God Space" is similar to the Warm Fire Commerce Association’s "Heart Net" and Andrew’s "Seagull" magic communication device, but far more advanced than both.

Capella closed her eyes, her mind approaching a door that was entirely fiery red—not the dark red of normal earth fire, but like the hue of warm fire.

This door was a portal of the "Fire God Space." By entering it, she could access a virtual world-like place to quickly contact Tiago.

Capella was about to enter it.

But she found: she couldn’t enter!

It seemed there was a gentle yet irresistible force, erecting an invisible high wall between Capella and that door, blocking her steps!

"This is..." Capella’s expression changed rarely.

She knew very well that stopping someone from entering "Fire God Space" was a move more difficult than the recent instant defeat of the Tier Eight peak Frost Knight Commander by Catherine in front of the Royal Court.

And in the entire Royal Court, only one person’s strength surpasses Catherine’s!

"—There’s no need to call more people." A deep, hoarse, and highly magnetic voice sounded, "In the face of absolute power, any stratagem is empty and meaningless. There’s no need for you all to overthink or be alarmed."

As this voice sounded, in the room within the Stone Tower, a light-emitting portal emanating a strong chill appeared.

Compared to the portal of the Fire God Space, this one was much larger, as if intended for a giant titan rather than typical humans.

An extremely stout figure stepped out from that portal.

It was a brawny man nearly three meters tall, with a face and muscle lines as perfect as marble. Under his fair skin, mysterious markings unique to the Royal Family, the "Eternal Frost Ice Pattern," subtly appeared.

This was the contemporary king of the Royal Court, Catherine’s husband, Capella’s fiancé—

Dedman.

Dedman, that’s the name of this generation’s king.

To many ordinary people in the Flame Realm, this name held no weight, simply because very few knew Dedman’s true strength.

Only those who knew he was, in fact, a War God-level powerhouse, understood his influence on the current Royal Court’s situation and the negotiation match.

The Dragon Taming Lady, Flame Turtle, Capella, and Yorkshire all looked towards Dedman.

In Capella’s beautiful, childlike eyes, a peculiar emotion flickered, as if saying, "Is this really the person I’m supposed to marry soon?" But there seemed to be more behind that look.

The Dragon Taming Lady sighed in relief, saying, "You... You are finally out of retreat."

Initially using "you," she quickly corrected to "You" in the respectful form.

This is because each War God-level being deserves such respect. Not just the Dragon Taming Lady, even the three Magic Guild Earth Fire Scholars reaching the "Realm of Magic" would treat Dedman with great courtesy.

If people at the Realm of Magic are the peak of the Flame Realm’s power hierarchy, then War God-level is just below one, above ten thousand. Advancing just one step further would put them on par with Earth Fire Scholars and Guild Master Beiru!

How could one not respect that?

"Yes, I’m out of retreat; sorry to keep you waiting." Dedman smiled slightly.

With the ancient titan blood flowing through him, his physique completely surpassed normal human standards; even Ivan and Susan would appear "petite and charming" beside him. Despite such a powerful build, Dedman’s voice harmonized perfectly, making one inclined to draw near.

He stretched out his limbs, not wasting more words, and said directly, "I’ve gotten a general understanding of the situation. There’s no need to call Tiago as well. Besides, I think there’s no reason to delay the negotiation match until tomorrow now that I’ve emerged."

The Dragon Taming Lady was startled at first, then delighted: "You mean—"

Dedman gave a slight smile, raised his hand, spreading his five fingers then clenching them into a sandbag-sized fist.

With a punch forward, aiming at... Capella!

Faced with the sudden punch, Capella’s small face remained unchanged, her feet rooted like she wouldn’t move.

Only to see a massive ice-blue war drum manifesting between her and Dedman, directly facing Dedman’s fist.

The moment the war drum formed, it coincided with the king’s fist arriving.

The fist slammed heavily onto the drum surface—

A dull drum sound, as if originating from ancient times, like muffled thunder, instantly echoed throughout the entire Royal Court!

"Hmm?"

At the same time, in the East District of the Royal Court.

Having returned to the Commerce Association’s residence after releasing Yorkshire, Andrew heard that drum sound and suddenly looked up.

After returning to the East District, Andrew had been communicating with Barbara: "...That’s about it. I will activate the mark by then, and it’s up to you. I certainly believe you can defeat Capella, but relatively speaking, Yorkshire is indeed an easier opponent."

Barbara waved her hand, calmly saying, "I don’t necessarily have to face Capella one-on-one; you don’t have to feel any guilt..."

Saying this, both of them lifted their heads simultaneously, both hearing the drum sound.

Not only Barbara and Andrew, but Principal Charlie, Susan, Havier, and Sabye also heard that drum sound. Amidst the wind and snow, the Frost Guards stationed throughout the Royal Court also heard it, each expressing various emotions—serious, excited, or apprehensive.

Just like the bell sound of Warm Fire City has its special meaning, the drum sound of the Royal Court also holds significance.

The drum sound at this moment conveys a clear and simple message—

The official commencement of the Royal Court negotiations.

And it begins immediately, at once!