Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 552 The Dragon Father is Just a Tool for Deception
Orotarra, Rocky Plains.

The sun was setting in the west, the sky was burned to a bright red, and the edges of the clouds were edged with molten gold. The wind blew from the north, carrying the smell of blood and burnt odors that made one want to vomit.

On the distant horizon, a group of black dots are circling.

Like vultures, or something worse, drawn by the smell of the battlefield.

They fly very high, like floating ashes against the backdrop of the sky. Occasionally, one or two will swoop down and then shriek as they rise again, as if they are fighting for something.

Meanwhile, somewhere.

A red dragon is gliding at an altitude of 1,000 meters.

Laria folded its wings, adjusted its angle, and swooped down, the airflow creating visible ripples on its scales, leaving a whooshing sound behind it.

His pupils contracted to vertical slits as he stared intently at the target on the ground.

Five rock-backed hyenas, consumed by mad fire, are tearing apart the carcass of a giant deer.

The bone spurs on the backs of these ferocious beasts glowed with an abnormal red light, like lava flowing under their skin.

They were nearly half again as large as their normal counterparts, with muscles bulging like rocks. Each bite tore off large chunks of flesh and blood. The giant deer was already dead, its abdomen ripped open, its internal organs scattered all over the ground, and the air was filled with a strong stench of blood.

When they were still 300 meters from the ground, a sharp-sensed hyena noticed something amiss.

Its ears twitched first, then it suddenly raised its head, its eyes reflecting an ever-growing red dragon's image.

The beast immediately arched its back, the red light on its bone spikes suddenly brightened, and it bared its mouth, letting out a threatening growl from deep in its throat.

The other four hyenas, upon hearing the warning, simultaneously raised their heads and roared.

At the same time, the red dragon spoke.

The rapid chanting of incantations echoed between heaven and earth, the syllables short and abrupt.

Countless fire elements converged from all directions, swirling, compressing, and solidifying in front of Laria.

call!
As the last syllable faded, Laria's wings stretched to their limit, its dive speed abruptly slowing, its massive body tracing an arc in the low sky.

At the same time, the ball of flame in front of him had compressed into the shape of a spear.

Whoosh!
It drew a straight line of fire in the air, as fast as lightning.

The structure was built just a second ago, and the next second it was already within reach of the target.

The hyena that was locked on didn't even have time to scream before the spear pierced its open throat.

boom!
Its body exploded from the inside, and fragments of bone, brain matter, and blood splattered all over the hyenas nearby.

Laria hovered slightly in the low sky, adjusted its posture, and landed gracefully, its four paws touching the ground without kicking up any dust.

At the same time, he folded his wings, lowered his body slightly, and calmly watched the remaining four prey like a warrior about to draw his sword.

The remaining four hyenas stared intently at the red dragon.

The crimson light on their bodies intensified, their eyes turned into two burning lumps of coal, and saliva dripped from the corners of their mouths, scalding the ground and creating hissing white smoke.

These ferocious beasts have been completely dominated by the mad fire; they have no fear, only the instinct to kill.

The first one pounced.

It charged straight at us from the front, at an astonishing speed, its gaping maw revealing jagged fangs that reeked of a foul stench.

The red dragon only turned to the side at the very last moment.

The left claw lashed upwards, cutting into the hyena's lower jaw. The claw tore through the flesh and then sliced ​​open the chest and abdomen, spilling hot entrails onto the red dragon's claws and arms.

Laria's claws clenched inside her abdomen, gripped her spine, and then pulled outwards with force.

puff!

Half of the spine, along with nerves and flesh, was forcibly pulled out.

A gust of wind came from behind my head.

Without turning its head, the red dragon swept its tail out horizontally, the tip of which, like a long spear, pierced the beast's eye socket and emerged from the back of its head.

He whipped his tail, shredding the corpse's head, which flew out like a rag doll and crashed into the nearby rocks with a dull thud.

The third and fourth heads attacked from both sides simultaneously.

They worked in perfect coordination, one on the left and one on the right, blocking all escape routes. The one on the left lunged at the throat, while the one on the right bit at the ribs. If either one succeeded, it would cause considerable trouble.

Instead of retreating, Laria charged forward.

He shoved his forehead into the open mouth on the left.

The dragon's horn pierced the jaw, causing blood to gush out. At the same time, its right claw plunging upwards into the throat, gripping tightly and pulling hard in the hot, narrow esophagus.

He ripped out a bloody, mangled organ.

That's the trachea, which is also connected to part of the lung.

The hyena on the left stared blankly, and its body went limp.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the last hyena pounced.

Its fangs landed on the back of the red dragon's neck, the sharp fangs piercing the scales, trying to cut into the flesh.

However, the dragon scales lit up the moment the teeth and scales touched.

hum!
A dazzling light burst forth from the surface of the scales, transforming into an invisible wave of vibration that spread outwards in all directions from the point of contact.

The hyena was thrown into the air by the force, tumbling several times before crashing heavily to the ground.

It roared as it rose to its feet, its red light flickering on and off.

Before it could attack again, a torrent of fiery dragon breath rolled in.

Laria took a deep breath, his chest expanding, and then he opened his mouth. Searing flames surged from the depths of his throat, forming a cone-shaped pillar of fire that enveloped the hyena's entire body.

The flames were extremely hot, and the rocks began to melt.

The ferocious beast screamed and howled, turning into a charred mess in the flames.

Snapped.

Laria closed its snout and flicked its tail, making a sound like snapping fingers.

The cleansing spell swept over his entire body, washing away all the dust and bloodstains. Even the bloodstains in the crevices of his scales were cleaned. His scales reflected a red glow in the afterglow of the setting sun, completely spotless.

The entire process, from landing to now, took no more than a minute.

He looked down at the corpses scattered at his feet, then looked up at the black dots still hovering on the distant horizon, his eyes showing little emotion.

Five high-level ferocious beasts corrupted by mad fire posed no threat to a dragon of his level.

But looking at his fighting style alone—elegant, efficient, and decisive—it's hard to imagine that he's a red dragon.

In the perception of most intelligent beings, the red dragon race represents arrogance, irritability, bloodthirstiness, and greed. They like to confront enemies head-on, crush them with brute force, and enjoy roaring and breathing fire in battle, relishing the fear and pain of their enemies.

But Laria is different.

"The hunt has only just begun."

The red dragon murmured, spread its wings, and with a powerful flap, soared into the sky. The air currents lifted its massive body, causing it to rise rapidly. The corpses on the ground grew smaller and smaller until they became just a few inconspicuous black dots.

Two hours later, the sun had quietly set, and the last rays of its light disappeared below the horizon.

Stars hang in the night sky.

On Aurotara, the stars are exceptionally clear and bright, and among them, there are two bright moons, one large and one small.

Laria pulled a dragon claw from the carcass of a giant beast and shook off the blood.

This is a Clefthoof beast corrupted by the curse of rage. After some kind of mutation, it is twice the size of a normal beast, with muscles bulging like rocks all over its body, and blood vessels bulging under its fur with an abnormal red hue.

Its eyes remained wide open even after death, with madness still lingering deep within its pupils.

There were more than a dozen similar corpses lying around.

Some were charred, leaving only blackened skeletons; some were torn apart, with internal organs and flesh scattered all over the ground; some were still twitching slightly, which was a nerve reflex, and the corpse itself had long since died.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the occasional roar of beasts and the mournful whistling of the wind.

Laria raised her head and looked up at the sky.

The Elven Moon was several times larger and brighter than the one he had seen on the land of Atlanta, and it was breathtakingly beautiful, but he knew very well that beneath its beauty lay a danger that could frighten even legendary beings.

call!
The red dragon spread its wings and flew towards a nearby high cliff.

He landed on the most prominent rock at the top of the cliff and looked up into the distance.

At the edge of the plain, wisps of smoke rose from the base, clearly visible against the night sky. On the horizon behind him lay the territory he and his soldiers had just cleared. Within a radius of thirty miles, all the high-level magical beasts had been annihilated. The remaining ones posed little threat and could be kept as a source of meat for the future and as prey to hone the skills of the rank-and-file soldiers.

Further away lies the area that will need to be cleared tomorrow.

Not long after, a dragon emerged from the night, folded its wings, and landed on the cliff top.

That was his scout captain, a robust young dragon with blood and dust still on its scales, clearly having just finished a battle and rushed over.

He landed in front of Laria and bowed his head respectfully.

"Your Highness, the last batch has been cleared out."

"There are thirty-seven in total, twelve of which show obvious signs of a raging curse, making them much more ferocious than normal beasts."

"As you previously instructed, we kept our distance from the raging beasts, lured them in batches, and then surrounded and killed them. Although those infected by the Mad Fire are ferocious and powerful, they are not very bright. They come out as soon as they are lured out, and they have no tactics to speak of."

Laria nodded.

What about casualties?

"Six were lightly wounded, and none were killed."

The scout captain paused, then added, "Four of the six minor injuries were caused by the raging beasts. We have followed the procedures to clean them up and then placed them in isolation for observation. Everything is normal so far, and there are no signs of infection from the raging beasts."

"The other warriors who fought the raging beasts have also been checked as you instructed."

Epilepsy is highly contagious, mainly through blood and intangible emotional influences. However, with strict precautions and proper handling, small-scale outbreaks can be managed.

"Well done."

Honglong said, "Let the soldiers clean up the mess and go back to rest. We'll continue the cleanup as planned tomorrow. Tonight, we'll have an extra meal and process those few beasts with good meat to reward them."

He has been in Orotara for some time now.

This base, located north of the Green Field Kingdom, is an unclaimed territory. It is nominally not owned by any power, and in reality, no power is willing to truly occupy it.

But unclaimed land does not mean it has no value.

On the contrary, this place is rich in resources, with numerous mineral veins, dense forests, and lakes. As long as the ferocious beasts and monsters entrenched here can be cleared out, it will be an excellent enclave.

The problem is that many of the ferocious beasts and monsters that inhabit this area are infected with the Mad Fire.

Infected beings gradually lose their minds, becoming frenzied and bloodthirsty. Their bodies also undergo mutations, with their strength, speed, and endurance greatly increased. The price is that they eventually become monsters who only know how to kill.

They are not easy to clean up, and you also have to be careful not to get infected by the fire yourself.

The Flying Dragon scout raised his head and asked, "Your Highness, is there anything else to instruct?"

Laria pondered for a moment and said, "When we carry out the mission tomorrow, mark all the mineral veins and beast lairs along the way."

“The type, scale, and mining difficulty of the mineral veins should be marked; the types, number, and threat level of the ferocious beast lairs should be marked. The pace of advancement should not be too fast. We should proceed steadily and surely. After clearing each area, we should establish a temporary supply point on the spot, which should at least have a water source, simple defensive fortifications, and material reserves.”

"Yes."

Laria then looked at another dragon that had landed on the edge of the cliff.

"You, go back and tell the quartermaster to compile all the recent patrol reports, resource consumption lists, and surrounding terrain maps, and put them in my lair. I want to review them personally."

"All of them?"

"All of them."

Laria spoke calmly, her voice devoid of emotion, but her unquestionable tone made the dragon instinctively straighten its back.

"We are no longer just enforcers, we are pioneers."

"In the future, this enclave will be used to build fortresses, station troops, and become the kingdom's claws extending into Aurotara."

"If we don't lay a solid foundation now, we'll have plenty of trouble later."

“Resource consumption must be clearly calculated, identifying what is necessary and what can be saved; patrol reports must be thoroughly analyzed, determining which areas are safe and which still pose potential risks; topographic maps must be memorized, showing where it is suitable to build fortresses and where it is suitable to set up ambushes. These are not trivial matters.”

The two dragons exchanged a glance and simultaneously lowered their heads in awe.

They had genuine respect for the emperor's son before them.

Under his leadership, the construction of the territory proceeded in an orderly and highly efficient manner, with few casualties among the soldiers.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

They withdrew.

Soon after, Laria spread its wings and leaped into the air, circling and soaring high above.

He lowered his eyes and looked down, his gaze sweeping across the land inch by inch, surveying his territory.

The key is the traces of those enraged beasts.

No beast or monster infected by the mad fire can be spared; they must all be annihilated.

Otherwise, before long, even more raging beasts will be born. This thing is like a plague; if left unchecked, it will only get worse.

Another hour passed.

After confirming that nothing had been missed, a weary Laria turned and returned to her base.

The outpost was located beside a large freshwater lake on the edge of the Rocky Plains, backed by the lake and facing the plains, with an open terrain that was easy to defend.

After this period of construction, it has taken initial shape.

The outer perimeter is a city wall reinforced with runes, the inner perimeter consists of neatly arranged tents and simple houses, the middle is a square reserved as a gathering point and a storage area for supplies, and a dock and water collection point have been built near the lake.

The people of Aura are still busy working in a great mood.

Some were moving supplies, some were reinforcing fences, and some were processing the carcasses of the ferocious beasts hunted during the day, skinning, deboning, and cutting the meat into pieces—each step was carried out in an orderly manner.

Some craftsmen were building new structures, and the sounds of hammering rose and fell, creating a lively atmosphere in the night.

When they landed in Laria, no one stopped what they were doing.

In the past, they would always stop what they were doing and bow to him.

Normally, Laria would enjoy this awe, after all, she is a dragon, and her innate pride is ingrained in her bones.

But now, he focuses more on efficiency.

So when they first arrived in this enclave, Laria gave the order that they didn't need to bow while working; they should just do what they were supposed to do to save time and increase efficiency.

When they returned to the lair, the reports were already piled up there.

His lair was located at the heart of the camp, right next to the lake, which made it easy to defend and get water. The interior was large enough to accommodate the red dragon's massive body. The ground was covered with dry grass mats, some supplies were piled up in the corners, and at the very back was a huge stone bed, where he rested.

The reports were piled up next to the stone bed.

Fighting fiercely during the day, and then staying up late at night to review reports.

Ordinary dragons would find this kind of life extremely unpleasant.

In their view, fighting is fun, rest is enjoyment, and reading reports is a waste of time.

But Laria felt satisfied and pleased by it.

In his eyes, the development of the territory was more important than anything else.

Every report is a record of the territory's growth, and every piece of data is a basis for decision-making. Often, integrating this information is more important than fighting; becoming familiar with it paves the way for the future.

He walked to the stone bed, lowered his head, and prepared to open the first document.

Just then, a presence came from afar.

The aura of dragons.

It is different from the aura of the Aura Dragon. It is as rich as the morning mist in the depths of the forest, with the crispness of grass and wood sap and the fragrance of flowers. It is gentle yet profound, as if it contains some ancient and powerful force.

Laria's expression turned serious as she turned and left the lair.

On the open ground outside the camp, a green dragon was folding its wings.

Her entire body was covered in emerald green scales that shimmered with a warm luster under the moonlight, like the finest jade.

She was enormous, larger than any of the dragons in the base, yet her overall lines were long and elegant, each scale arranged neatly, as if meticulously polished and maintained. The Green Dragon Queen, Throl.

She came in person.

Laria showed no surprise, folded its wings, and slowly walked over.

He stopped a few dozen meters away from the green dragon, bowed his head slightly, and expressed his respect to it.

"Your Majesty."

Serol waved her paw, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite, then looked around, her gaze sweeping over the nascent buildings, the patrolling guards, the neatly stacked supplies, and finally settling on the red dragon in front of her.

"Laria, the fourth son of Garros."

She spoke, saying, "You are much smarter than ordinary red dragons. I don't see any of the arrogance and recklessness that red dragons have in you. Instead, you are cautious, efficient, planned, and farsighted—qualities that are rarely seen in red dragons."

Among common dragon species, the red dragon ranks among the most handsome males.

However, their ferocity and rage always deterred other dragons.

Laria is different.

His father was different.

Laria looked up and gazed at her calmly.

"Your Majesty flatters me. May I ask what brings Your Majesty here in person?"

"Nothing else to instruct me."

Serol flicked her tail and looked around again.

"I just came to see how Garus's son is doing here."

Her tone was casual, like she was chatting, but Laria knew that the queen wouldn't make a personal trip without a reason.

The Green Kingdom has many affairs to attend to, and as queen, she has plenty to do.

There must be a reason why someone would specifically take time to fly here.

He roughly knew the reason.

"The enclave I've given you is already considered quite safe in Aurotara. Compared to other areas severely eroded by the Mad Fire, it's safe here."

Therrol withdrew her gaze and looked at Laria again.

"Even so, the fact that you were able to clear this chaotic area so quickly, establish a base that is both offensive and defensive, would make your father very satisfied and proud of you."

Laria's expression remained unchanged, and her tone remained calm: "It is thanks to Father's excellent teaching."

Serol chuckled softly. "You certainly know how to talk."

She raised her right paw and flicked it gently.

In the night sky, the outlines of several giant dragons emerged.

They emerged from the clouds, folded their wings, and swooped down, landing on the open ground outside the camp, each dragon clutching crates of supplies in its claws.

They put the box down, then took off again, flying into the distance and quickly disappearing into the night.

"These are for you."

Serol raised her paw and pointed at the pile of supplies.

"Refined metal ingots are of much higher quality than those from ordinary mines and can be used to forge weapons and armor."

"There are also some medicines and scrolls for emergency use. I know you're new here and your supplies are probably not enough. Consider this my support."

Laria glanced at the pile of supplies, then looked at Therrol.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You deserve it."

Serol took two steps forward, her gaze becoming serious, and her tone no longer as casual as before.

"I have something else to ask you."

"please say."

"Your father..."

Seror paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Besides being obsessed with exercise, what other interests does he have?"

Laria was not surprised.

In fact, he knew very well why this Green Queen had come, and he was willing to exchange some unimportant information for some urgently needed supplies from her.

The fact that Dragon's father was obsessed with training himself was something he revealed.

This is no secret; anyone who has spent time in Aura knows it, but it is clearly of great value to Serol.

Laria looked up at the green dragon queen before her.

"Besides exercise... what else do you mean?"

Serol smiled slightly, a smile that appeared exceptionally gentle in the moonlight.

"I mean his daily life, I mean, what does he like to do? What does he like to eat? What kind of... way does he like to interact with others?"

Laria thought for a moment.

These questions may seem simple, but answering them requires careful consideration.

Saying too much is bad, and saying too little is also bad.

After all, the woman before him was the Queen of the Green Fields, the leader of one of the most powerful forces on this continent. He couldn't brush off her questions, but he also couldn't reveal everything.

After a moment's consideration, he decided to sell a little more information about his father.

"Father..."

Laria carefully chose her words and said, "He may seem tough and even a bit cold on the surface, but that's because he's been through a lot. He's survived on his own since he was a child and has gotten to where he is today through caution and suspicion."

"In short, my father was like someone standing on thin ice, taking every step with extreme caution, but capable of suddenly attacking and hurting people at any moment."

"Walking on thin ice...that's an interesting description."

"How can we make him feel relaxed in that situation?" Serol asked.

“I know he’s wary of me. Green Dragon, after all, doesn’t have a good reputation, so his reaction is normal. I just want him to feel more at ease, at least not to have to be constantly on guard around me.”

Laria grinned.

"Your Majesty need not be anxious. Although my father is tough and aloof, he also knows how to appreciate the subtle beauty of roses. Deep down, he is actually a very sensitive person, but he just doesn't show it easily. As for getting close to him..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "There's no need for any roundabout methods."

"Be more sincere and enthusiastic."

“With my father’s keen senses, as long as he senses that the other party really has no ill intentions, he will not resist much. On the contrary, anyone who approaches with malice will only end up suffering the consequences. I have seen too much of this.”

Serol's eyes lit up, like two pools of molten jade, shimmering in the moonlight.

"You mean I should pester him more?"

"almost."

Laria nodded and said, "Of course, you have to be careful not to go too far, or he will be disgusted; if you are too indifferent, it won't be effective. But with your status and wisdom, this shouldn't be difficult to handle."

Serol raised her right paw and flicked it gently.

A lustrous gem flew from her claws, arcing through the air before being caught steadily by Laria.

It is emerald green all over, with a faint glow flowing inside. When you hold it in your hand, you feel a warm touch, like holding a ball of living energy.

"This is a reward for you."

Serol said, "A specialty of the Green Kingdom, a special gem I created that allows dragons to sleep more comfortably, improves their sleep efficiency, and also has a certain weakening effect on the Fury Curse."

"This stuff is produced in very small quantities; not all of my dragons are equipped with it. Consider this a reward for the information you provided."

Laria glanced down at the gem in her claws, then looked up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"No need to thank me, just like I said, this is what you deserve."

As soon as he finished speaking, the green dragon took a step forward.

Her scales began to emit a dreamlike glow, and a green halo rippled from the surface of the scales, growing brighter and brighter. When the light faded, her enormous body had vanished, as if she had never been there.

Laria stood there, looking at the gem in her claws and then at the boxes of supplies.

"My dear father, don't blame me for betraying you."

He muttered to himself as he deftly stored the gemstones into his storage space.

"I'm looking for a new partner for you. This queen is quite good. She's the ruler of the Green Field Kingdom. She's powerful and beautiful. She's a perfect match for you."

"Besides, you have keen eyes; whether she has malicious intent or not, you will eventually find out."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice resounded in his heart.

"Laria".

Deep, resonant—he knew it all too well.

The red dragon's scales exploded instantly.

He suddenly took half a step back, his tail knocking over the weapon rack next to him with a loud cracking sound.

"Father...Father?"

Laria sounded a little guilty.

"Ah."

Galos's voice was calm and expressionless, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"How are things over there?"

Laria took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Everything is going smoothly. The stronghold has been established, the most dangerous area has been cleared, and follow-up plans are proceeding in an orderly manner. Supplies are plentiful, and the morale of the soldiers is high."

There was a two-second silence.

"Have you gotten any results regarding the matter I asked you to investigate?"

"Have."

Laria steadied herself and tried to keep her tone calm.

"It can be basically confirmed that the young dragons around the Queen are generally of a higher level, and not just one or two levels, but a very obvious level difference."

Tell me more.

"For example, the middle-aged green dragons around her, all of whom followed her for a long time, have already become legends, and there are quite a few of them."

Galos remained silent.

Laria continued, "In addition, there is a widely circulated rumor around the Green Kingdom."

"explain."

"It is said that the Queen of the Green Fields can shorten the sleeping time of dragons and increase their sleeping efficiency. For this reason, many wild dragons have taken the initiative to come to the Green Fields Kingdom. Now the number of dragons in the Green Fields Kingdom is quite large."

"Where did the rumor originate?"

"I don't know, but this rumor has been circulating since she rose to power. Moreover, the dragons of the Green Kingdom don't show many signs of training and can't compare to our Aura dragons, but their levels are generally much higher than dragons of the same age. I think it's at least somewhat credible."

Silence again.

This time the silence lasted longer than before.

Laria held her breath, waiting for her father's response.

"Ah."

Finally, Galos's voice rang out again.

"Be careful. After all, that's a foreign land, and the kingdom is having difficulty providing support. Report any situation immediately."

"Yes, Father, that's settled then."

"Oh, right."

Laria's heart skipped a beat.

"The Green Dragon Queen, Therol."

"She seems to know my preferences very well, do you know how that is?"

Laria opened her mouth, feeling even more guilty.

"...I knew, I told her."

"When I first arrived in Aurotara, she came to ask me about it, and she also brought a lot of gifts to help us expand and stabilize our territory. At the time, I thought that since some information wasn't a secret, I might as well tell her, and at least I could exchange it for some supplies."

"So, you unfilial son used your father's information to exchange for supplies?"

Hong Tielong's voice drifted over, its tone ambiguous, neither clear whether he was angry nor teasing.

Laria quickly explained.

"What I'm talking about isn't a real secret."

"You are ambitious, cautious, intuitive, and have experienced many hardships. These are things that can be summarized with a little time and are not classified information."

“Even if I don’t tell her, she’ll find out from other places.”

"Instead of letting her learn from people who don't know the details, it's better for her to learn from me. At least I can guarantee that the information I give her is what she needs, but it won't harm you."

He paused, then added:
"Besides, with your vision, wisdom, and invincible intelligence, Father, you will surely see through her true intentions. My little tricks won't fool you."

The silence lasted for a few more seconds.

Then, the sound rang out again.

“Tell me exactly what you told Serol.”

"Yes! I was planning to contact you, but I had too many things to take care of here, so I put it off for a while..."

Laria repeated exactly what she had just said.

"Later, she might ask you for my information again."

"You should know your limits. Say what you should say and don't say what you shouldn't say."

Laria's eyes lit up.

This means... it has been authorized?

"Yes! Father, please rest assured! I guarantee I will complete the mission!"

Shortly after, the link was broken.

Laria stood still and let out a long breath.

"They can guess it was me even though they're on different continents?"

He muttered to himself, the image of his father's deep, unfathomable eyes appearing in his mind, as if they could see through everything, and no matter how far apart they were, they could not escape his gaze.

"Nothing can be hidden from Father's eyes."

"Next time something like this happens, I'll tell my father right away. It's much better than getting caught red-handed."

He turned and headed toward his lair, preparing to continue reviewing the situation report of his territory.

The overt danger of Orotra is now even greater than that of Atlantis, and we must be on high alert and not take it lightly.

Behind them, the night grew darker.

Two bright moons hung in the night sky, casting a cool glow. A cold wind, carrying the roars of an unknown monster, swept by, causing the trees to sway and tremble.

(End of this chapter)