I, Valon, am frantically searching for my mother.

To be honest, Wayne wasn't entirely satisfied with the arrangements he had made for himself.

Time was too tight, so many arrangements were made too hastily.

Although Daphne used her overwhelming power to crush Cody and Bella in that public competition and temporarily secured her position as acting emperor, this power structure was still not stable enough.

Cody's personality—a combination of admiration for strength, extreme pride, and occasional erratic lapses in judgment—is a ticking time bomb. Even if she's been subdued this time and declared her allegiance to the Red Dragon Emperor, who can guarantee she won't suddenly have another idea or be provoked by something else and start causing trouble again?

After all, this guy could cause trouble even when Anna was still around, and Wayne didn't believe that Daphne could control this demon.

At this point, Lyle, a blue dragon with considerable strength, intelligence, and cunning, is needed to maneuver and restrain the situation.

Furthermore, given that Daphne's mental age is basically that of an eight-year-old child, making her naive and easily influenced, Wayne estimates that it won't be long before Lyle, with his methods, effectively sidelines or even takes control of White Old Feng.

Rather than waiting for Lyle to do it secretly, it's better to make things clear beforehand and stage a scene of entrusting someone with a child to warn them in advance, so that Lyle doesn't go too far.

Of course, one cannot completely trust the morality of the five-colored dragons in such matters, so Wayne also left himself a backup plan.

He left one of his scales for Daphne.

This scale is no ordinary souvenir.

In fact, while trying to master the power of the talismans, Wayne had been secretly researching whether he could project and solidify the power of the talismans in some way, making them into things like magic scrolls, amulets, or disposable items.

Firstly, if the corresponding mother were to disappear one day, Wayne could still use the corresponding ability; secondly, he might be able to develop a side business through this and accumulate more treasure.

Unfortunately, this research has essentially been a failure so far.

One issue is the materials.

Wayne tried using leaves, stones, animal hides, and even the shed scales of other dragons, only to find that ordinary objects simply could not withstand the powerful and unique force of the talisman.

It would either shatter instantly upon injection, or if it managed to take shape, it would be extremely unstable and could explode at any moment. The only material he could find that could relatively stably bear the power of the talisman was the scales that had shed from his own body.

It is probably because they share the same origin and similar nature that they are compatible to a certain extent.

On the other hand, there's the issue of effectiveness and duration. Even when using one's own scales as a carrier, the effects of the resulting talisman scales are greatly diminished and extremely unstable.

It's not that the power has weakened too much, but the duration is outrageously short—only about half a second.

No matter how powerful the force, it's difficult to change the course of a battle in half a second.

Therefore, Wayne temporarily shelved this side business plan.

However, although the attempt to mass-produce talisman items failed, it did not stop Wayne from making the most of them and giving the scales away as special gifts.

What he gave Daphne was a golden-green scale infused with the speed-enhancing power of the Rabbit Charm.

Wayne used his claws to carve a simple mark on it that only Daphne could understand, and told her that when she felt extremely dangerous and unable to cope, she could grip the scale tightly with her claws and think about running, and she would gain a moment of extremely fast speed.

For young white dragons who lack combat experience and are physically weaker than other dragons, this one-time burst of speed might have a miraculous effect in critical life-saving moments.

For example, dodging a fatal blow, or instantly creating distance to escape danger.

If possible, Wayne wouldn't want Daphne to risk her life.

He only hoped that, in the worst-case scenario, she would have even the slightest chance to escape and survive.

Wayne's other "gift" was for the damp little female dragon Bella.

This is not some magical item, nor is it anything particularly precious.

It was just an ordinary little rabbit.

Wayne caught it on the edge of the wasteland before he left.

He wrapped it in clean leaves and placed it on a relatively dry, conspicuous rock near Bella's swamp nest.

The reason why Wayne was willing to leave a gift for Bella was quite simple.

On the one hand, he did feel a little sorry for this gloomy, self-conscious, and twisted black dragon of landmines, who was desperately trying to be needed and recognized in his own way.

Seeing her break down in tears today, her worldview shattered, Wayne was reminded of his middle school days in his past life, of that gloomy female classmate who showed him her scarred arms in the corner of the classroom...

To be honest, Wayne could probably understand Bella's feelings.

After all, the simple-packaged fountain pen that gloomy female classmate gave him back then actually contained a small, folded, unsigned love letter with trembling handwriting.

However, Li Wei'en was quite frightened by the starchy arm at the time, so she never used the pen until many years later when she accidentally discovered its secret while sorting through old things.

Of course, although he could understand the feelings involved, Wayne could not accept them.

He hasn't even been in a relationship for three months yet! It's way too early for him to be considering such a complicated emotional relationship!

Now, he needs to focus his main energy on finding his mother.

So, this rabbit is a small consolation.

As for the little devil Cody...

Wayne left nothing behind.

Yes, he lied to Lyle.

But for a green dragon, lying is practically a basic skill.

Speaking in a more mysterious and elaborate way can help a clever dragon like Lyle, who likes to overthink, to get himself tangled up in the situation, making him more cautious and less prone to making any rash moves.

Everything seemed to be ready.

The dragon clan now had a nominal emperor and a de facto ruler.

All the gifts that were due have been given.

Those who needed to be reprimanded were reprimanded, and those who needed to be appeased were appeased.

Even the direction and possible information about the next target—the Golden Dragon Territory—were extracted from Lyle.

It's really time to leave now.

Wayne stood at the boundary between the oasis and the wasteland, taking one last look at the scene that was blurred in the twilight.

"It's time to leave... Russell's Dragon Swarm..."

He muttered to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

This is the second time Wayne has experienced the emotion of parting, and it will most likely not be the last.

A complex and indescribable emotion surged within him, a kind of... faint melancholy that even Wayne himself couldn't quite put his finger on.

A gentle breeze seemed to carry the sound of a white dragon sitting on its throne in the distance, clutching its golden scales as it sobbed.

Further away, in the swamp, a black dragon was cradling a terrified little rabbit, muttering to itself.

He raised one of his front paws and gently waved it toward the direction from which the faint sounds of commotion were coming from the center of the oasis.

Goodbye, Daphne…

Goodbye, Bella…

"Goodbye, Cody, Lyle..."

"Goodbye... Russell's Dragon Horde..."

next second.

hum-

The stealth power of the Serpent Charm was quietly activated, and Wayne's golden-green scales instantly became transparent and ethereal, as if they had blended into the air and the twilight.

at the same time--

The rabbit charm's speed-enhancing power flowed through his limbs!

"Whoosh—!"

A faint, almost imperceptible whooshing sound rang out.

All that remained were a few wisps of dust stirred up by the gentle breeze and an empty, desolate wasteland in the twilight.

Wayne's figure had vanished without a trace, just as abruptly as his arrival.

Wayne cast aside his last trace of disappointment, for he remained steadfast in his belief.

Parting is never the end, but a new beginning!