CHAPTER 621: CHAPTER 417: RED MEANS...

Colluding with the Demon Clan?

Eliphas glanced at Dorian from the corner of his eye; the latter shook his head, so he turned his gaze back.

Why would the Minister send someone over?

Eliphas was momentarily stunned, but he quickly suppressed his panic before it surfaced, asking:

"What’s going on? Tell me in detail."

"Yes," Sali nodded nervously and said, "the Minister sent a guard inviting you to the Royal Palace."

"Not long ago, news suddenly came from the Warrior Country, claiming that a Demon Clan caused a disturbance in their Imperial Capital. The demon eventually escaped, but before being exposed, it was asking passersby about the location of the Light Eagle Group. So, the people of the Warrior Country speculated that you have connections with the Demon Clan."

Sali’s voice grew softer as he spoke, then he furiously exclaimed, "This is utterly nonsense! Who knows if this is just a rumor the Warrior Country made up to slander you? Without any evidence, it’s completely unfounded! The Minister too, to act on such a rumor is just..."

"Ha ha ha."

Eliphas suddenly chuckled and glanced at Dorian, who was visibly shocked and then lowered his head in shame, presumably understanding the situation now.

Feeling both shame and frustration, he hit the table hard, but a sense of relief washed over him as he was glad the opponent wasn’t captured by the Warrior Country’s people; otherwise, it would have been a dead end.

"There’s no need to panic; the Minister didn’t intend to do anything to me. Instead, he sent someone as a warning."

"If he truly believed that claim, it wouldn’t be a guard but the Kingdom’s army."

Eliphas calmly walked out of the house, preparing to follow Sali in meeting the guard sent by the Minister.

However, as he stepped out, he suddenly stopped, frowned, and ordered everyone to wait there for the moment. He then turned and headed to where the mercenaries resided.

A moment later, he returned while wiping his hands and casually tossed aside the handkerchief, saying, "Let’s go."

"Lord Eliphas, the Minister is waiting for you at the Royal Palace."

The guard sent by the Minister said politely; as expected, it was just one person, and he wasn’t even armed.

On horseback, along with Sali and two captains, they departed; the guard was quite adept at making conversation, lightening the otherwise tense atmosphere.

"The Warrior Country dispatched a Dragon Blood Warrior to spread the message; Minister Oro is taking this matter seriously," the guard said. "We all trust you, sir, but since it involves the Demon Clan, it’s being taken with utmost seriousness. Therefore, you need to personally visit the Royal Palace to alleviate people’s concerns."

Before he finished, he added, "To target one of our country’s legions with such disruptive news shows the Warrior Country’s malevolence. However, their methods are crude; not a single demon body was left behind, nor any images—just words that no one would believe."

"Hmm."

Eliphas nodded, understanding from the guard’s behavior the Minister’s stance. Naturally, he wouldn’t be fazed by this issue.

As for how to allay the concerns, he’d figure it out once he arrived.

Entering the Royal Palace, they turned into a castle where the Minister awaited.

But before entering, at the castle gate lay a peculiar creature—a Flying Dragon.

It was clearly a Flying Dragon specialized in speed, larger than a person but smaller than a Griffin, allowing it to achieve higher velocities, equipped with various enchanted gear to assist it.

This was the "means of transportation" nurtured by the Warrior Country.

Eliphas’ eyes flickered, indicating the Dragon Blood Warrior from the Warrior Country was inside.

He glanced around, sensing no danger, and no ambush; the guards and attendants they encountered all greeted him with the usual reverence, unchanged from before.

Indeed, Minister Oro was still on his side.

Oro, Eliphas once considered fully controlling this guy but found the other had an extraordinary will, making it impossible to make him loyal like others under his sway in a short time. Oro often had strong guards around him, so he only exerted his influence briefly during each interaction.

Through numerous encounters, Eliphas confirmed Oro had been captivated by his abilities but couldn’t find an opportunity to use the Fallen Demon Egg on him, feeling the control was still incomplete.

But even if it wasn’t complete, he trusted the Minister wouldn’t harm him.

Because that guy wasn’t loyal to the King; he only cared about the country. As long as the country could be strong, he didn’t care whom he pledged allegiance to.

Eliphas believed he was the best choice for this country; Oro also favored him in previous interactions and wouldn’t be swayed by unsubstantiated "rumors" from the Warrior Country.

The doors slowly opened; inside the castle, people turned to look, including the Minister and his guards, the Kingdom’s two generals, several officials, but the Dragon Blood Warrior wasn’t there.

"Eliphas, you’ve finally come." Oro displayed a kindly smile, and if it wasn’t an illusion, it seemed his corpulent figure slightly reduced.

"It’s been a while, Oro," Eliphas nodded in response and paused when his gaze settled on the guards accompanying Oro.

These guards weren’t the usual faces that followed Oro, but stranger, stronger individuals, equaling the open strength of the Light Eagle Group Captain, maybe even stronger.

Are these the private soldiers Oro has been harboring? Why surface them now, wary of the Dragon Blood Warrior?

No, it’s possible that...

Just as he entered the hall, Eliphas sensed something was off.

He maintained a composed face and said, "To call me here over the enemy nation’s rumors, Oro, what are you scheming?"

"After all, it’s linked to the Demon Clan; it’s best to thoroughly investigate to rest easy. But I completely trust you,"

The general next to Oro suddenly pulled out a Crystal Ball, saying:

"That demon attacked the Warrior Country’s Imperial Capital and was searching for the Light Eagle Group’s base before then. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but Eliphas, this is a Crystal Ball for detecting demon presence. Both demons and those who’ve come in contact with them can be identified. If you want to verify yourself, give it a try."

Eliphas sneered, "Ridiculous, demanding self-verification based on the enemy nation’s baseless rumors—is our Kingdom going to grovel before them?"

"So you’re feeling guilty then?" the general asked.

"Heh, what nonsense."

He responded calmly, but his mind was already suspicious. Based on Oro’s character, it was impossible for the general to pull this stunt unless he also supported the other side.

"Eliphas, why not give it a try? It might help ease people’s concerns." At this moment, Oro suddenly spoke, persuading with a cheerful smile.

"...."

Eliphas suddenly fell silent, staring at Oro, trying to glean something from that plump face.

"If you are worried about traps in the Crystal Ball, I have an identical one here," the minister added, as his privately trained guards took out a readily prepared Crystal Ball.

So that’s how it is.

Eliphas suddenly understood why today’s Oro felt somewhat unusual to him.

This was a pressure tactic, a warning for him.

The control he exerted over Oro seemed to have failed, no wonder Oro felt different from usual.

About this, Eliphas was slightly surprised, but then again, considering that the minister was quite powerful, it did not seem strange for him to find something to counteract a mental control.

Having reached this point, instead of wondering why the other party escaped mental influence, he should think about what the other party plans to do now.

Based on the other’s character, perhaps he could notice something, and luckily he never behaved out of line in front of Oro while controlling him. Hence, the other party would probably only sense something amiss and be on guard against him.

Now, aside from Oro’s private guards, there were two other generals in the hall, secretly tensing, and with both of them together, Eliphas could not take them down quickly.

This was a dangerous situation, but not yet to the point of breaking all ties.

Eliphas could even guess what Oro was thinking.

That guy must be both wary of him and think he is the best choice for this country, so he set up this banquet, showcasing force while warning him not to act recklessly or do anything outrageous, trying to tell him:

"Behave and the position of King’s Consort of the Queen will be yours eventually."

Thinking about this, Eliphas, aside from feeling relieved, felt an emotion — humiliation.

He climbed to a high position, his lifetime goal was to become the one who controls everything, yet now he was still being threatened and warned by the minister, making him feel humiliated and...

A desire to control everything.

Indeed, waiting obediently for the King to die and the Princess to succeed is too slow, and too many variables arise in between. He needs to accelerate this process.

He must gain more power!

Eliphas suddenly smiled, a disdainful smile, calmly taking the Crystal Ball.

Luckily, he anticipated something like this might happen and had prepared in advance.

Under the eyes of all present, he injected Magic Power into the Crystal Ball. The sphere slowly changed color, and the faces of the people gradually changed too.

It was... an extremely dangerous red!

————————————————————

Sain Dungeon, Ancient Dragon Peak.

When defeating the Ancient Flying Dragon, Selene and her group were teleported to an unknown place, and a bonfire appeared before them.

Beside the bonfire was a two-story room filled with sitting Little Dragon People, packed with various items with a religious aura. Though they couldn’t understand it, people still felt a certain solemnity.

Hawkwood was gone, nowhere to be found, so everyone went into the two-story room.

And hence, the battle ensued.

"Why do these people keep coming out endlessly, no matter how much we kill!"

Selene yelled, dodging attacks from the Spiritual Bodies, running towards Fingerley and the others.

Upon entering the two-story room, they were immediately invaded by beings known as [Heroic Spirit Dragon Blood Knights]. And these guys, once killed, were swiftly replaced by newly summoned ones. They seemed unstoppable.

Now everyone was almost tired of fighting, and they were all somewhat scratched and bruised.

"Look up there, there’s a fat Snake-man!"

Fingerley noticed a Snake-man jumping around upstairs like a Shaman, and as it jumped new Dragon Blood Knights appeared!

"Sure enough, it’s that guy causing trouble, go up and kill her!"

Upon finding the culprit, he couldn’t be happier, rushing towards the second floor two steps at a time.

The Snake-man saw him charging but wasn’t flustered, merely summoning new Spiritual Bodies beside her.

More Dragon Blood Knights?

Wait, something seems off.

Fingerley suddenly stopped, cautiously watching the slowly forming new Spiritual Bodies. He took out a Flying Knife and experimentally tossed it.

"Bang!"

The Flying Knife was deflected as though it hit Solid Stone, which was acquired from the Painting Messenger, known for its extreme sharpness, ordinary Armor couldn’t possibly resist it.

The newly emerging Spiritual Body, wearing Armor excessively grand for adventurers, wielding an overly heavy Big Shield, swinging an enormous Dragon Tooth as a weapon, looked like a fortress made of solid rock. This was no Dragon Blood Knight, this was —

[Havier Warrior]