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Chapter 143: White Dragon III
Chapter 143: White Dragon III
Chapter 143: White Dragon III
The room was filled with people. Among them were those classified as strong within the Imperial Guards, several adventurers, and members of Predators, who had come along with Bahamut.
“My lady, have you been well? I know you were with that Tilda in our previous meeting,” one of them remarked.
“Well… that’s true,” the response came, carrying the formal tone of a standard greeting.
Echid, slightly confused, accepted the greeting nonetheless. She had grasped her opponent’s skills to some extent during her previous sparring sessions with both Tilda and this man. From her point of view, extending minimal courtesy to a talented person seemed appropriate.
However, unlike the two who exchanged greetings, the rest of the Imperial Guards did not regard the Predator members as kindly.
“Those guys… can’t be…”
“Um… I heard they were Mr. Bahamut’s subordinates, but… weren’t they part of… the assassins belonging to the Sakiel Knights?”
Aside from Epicher, who had little involvement, there were several reasons why the presence of the Predator members, including Echid, made the Imperial Guards uneasy. Since the nobles of the Holy Empire had often been assassination targets, the Predator and Imperial Guards had clashed frequently. Some of the guards had even vowed to capture them someday.
“Cheh… if it weren’t for the wartime situation and the fact that they’re Mr. Bahamut’s subordinates, I’d take those guys down right now…”
“Be patient. No matter what you think, they are Mr. Bahamut’s subordinates now. In other words, they are allies, not enemies.”“Cheh! I’d rather trust the Rose Empress than leave my back to these guys.”
Despite knowing the truth, they struggled to hide their discomfort. At that moment, Misa, watching the Imperial Guards with her usual harsh expression, spoke up.
“So, does that mean the people here right now don’t believe in Mr. Bahamut after all?”
“Ah… no…”
“It’s not that, but…”
Though they were part of the same Imperial Guards, Misa’s words controlled the atmosphere, causing the guards to shrink a little. Capitalizing on that momentum, Misa continued.
“I understand some of you feel uneasy around these people. But no matter what the past may have been, they are now under Mr. Bahamut’s command. If you can’t trust them, does that mean you don’t trust Mr. Bahamut either?”
“Ummm…”
“That… that’s…”
Unable to argue, the Imperial Guards fell silent, acknowledging the point she had made. The situation surrounding them began to resolve, and the Predator members quietly sighed in relief.
‘I’m glad… I think I passed this somehow…’
‘If things had gotten worse, I wouldn’t have stood by, but it worked out peacefully.’
‘I have no excuses since I’ve committed my own sins.’
‘Hehehe, the value of Mr. Bahamut’s name is amazing… Accepting Yuria’s proposal back then and choosing this path was the right move.’
Honestly, without the protection of Bahamut’s name, they could have easily been thrown into a cell. Now, with their concerns easing, they felt a sense of relief.
“Now pay attention. Let’s stop chatting and move on to the outline of the operation,” Isaac announced, clapping his hands as he stood before the group.
At once, the eyes of the Predator members and Imperial Guards focused on Isaac. The distracted atmosphere subsided as Isaac began speaking in a calm tone.
“Everyone gathered here: His Majesty’s personal guard, Mr. Bahamut’s subordinates, and specially selected advanced adventurers. You are among the most skilled of the 30,000-strong army gathered in this city.”
Around 200 people were present in the room. While there could have been more guards, only the most talented had been chosen, leaving just this many. Everyone here had their own unique mastery of mana.
After surveying the elites of the Holy Empire, Isaac spoke in a slightly tense tone.
“And now, I will deliver the Imperial Order issued directly by His Majesty the Emperor.”
With that, Isaac looked down at the paper hanging on the wooden wall. As he did so, tension filled the room, and Isaac read the Emperor’s words with unwavering determination.
“We are at war. Our mission is to capture the White Dragon Princess.”
“The White Dragon Princess?!”
“That monster…and us?”
“Isn’t that too much? No matter how skilled we are, she’s on a completely different level.”
Everyone here was confident in their abilities, yet even the bravest among them shuddered at the mention of the White Dragon Princess. Her name carried immense weight, and she was feared by all.
But seeing them so agitated, Isaac raised his voice.
“Of course, I understand the gravity of her power. It won’t be easy to face her, even with all of us. But our mission isn’t to fight her directly.”
Isaac then outlined the plan. Slowly, the group began to set aside their fears and focused intently on what he was saying.
“As you know, Andersen, who can match the White Dragon Princess, is here in this castle. She will deal with the Princess directly. Our role is different.”
Relieved that they wouldn’t be facing the fearsome dragon head-on, some let out quiet sighs. Watching them, Isaac thought that while the Imperial Guards and others might not show it, a bit of courage would go a long way.
Even Isaac, the strongest in the room, felt burdened by the prospect of fighting the White Dragon Princess. But for now, his priority was ensuring the team followed through on their tasks effectively.
‘We may not be able to handle the White Dragon Princess alone, but we can set the right conditions to capture her.’
Though the Princess was formidable, she wasn’t invincible. With the right strategy and a bit of luck, capturing her was possible—especially this time. Isaac, keeping the mission’s secrecy in mind, knew they had reliable assets on their side.
‘If she, who is said to rival Andersen’s power, takes the lead, then this time…’
The biggest reason for their past failures in capturing the White Dragon Princess was her overwhelming strength. With only Andersen able to counter her, their attempts had always ended in failure. But now, in addition to Andersen, they had another powerful ally: Ophelia Crimson.
Success felt within reach. With anticipation and tension swirling inside him, Isaac began laying out the strategy step by step, determined to drive their prey into a cage.
***
Elios stood before Slava Castle, gazing at her target.
All her enemies were there. Slowly, she scanned the surroundings. Unlike the past, entering the castle alone and opening the gate was no longer an option. The military force defending it was too strong.
‘It’s not ideal, but I’ll have to make significant sacrifices this time… The enemy’s strength will be formidable…’
The emperor’s presence meant the damn guards were here too. With that in mind, Elios slowly drew her sword.
“All-arms attack!”
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