Evil Red Dragon

"You're a day late, Helena."

Helena stepped out of the magic circle and raised an eyebrow slightly at Elena:

"The operation hasn't even started yet, how can you say I'm late?"

Elena didn't refute it, but simply said:

"Isai told me your place was demolished?"

Helena's gaze swept over Isa and Cinsella behind her, her brows furrowing slightly, but she remained expressionless as she said:

"Yeah, he's too reckless; he even managed to destroy someone's house..."

"Stop! I'm not interested in knowing this, and it's fine if you don't want to talk about it."

Elena gave her a deep look:

"Now, Twin Moon City is the priority. The purge of the nobles has entered a critical stage. We need you to use mind control to pry open the mouths of a few old stubborns."

Helena's expression gradually became serious:

"Understood, I will cooperate fully."

"That would be best."

Elena looked at Issa and Cinsera behind her and instructed them:

"Isa, take Cincera to the vault and settle her in first."

Isa nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Cinsera, who was standing nearby, was about to complain to Elena, but all her grievances vanished the moment she heard the words "vault."

She wants to go to the vault right now!

After making the arrangements, Elena turned around and gestured for Helena to follow:

"Tina and the other members are already waiting in the conference room. This operation in Twin Moon City cannot afford to fail. Put your personal matters aside for now."

Helena didn't say anything, she just silently followed behind Elena.

After passing through the ornately decorated corridors and ascending the spiral staircase, you finally arrive at the conference room on the top floor of the mansion.

Pushing open the door, several figures were already sitting inside.

The most eye-catching was a glamorous woman with long, fiery red hair and wearing revealing leather armor.

She sat with her legs crossed at the long table, playing with a miniature three-headed dog in her hand. When she saw Helena come in, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

"Yo yo yo~ Our great mage has finally arrived~"

Tina drawled out her words:

"I heard you were completely outmaneuvered by a little red dragon, and your house was even torn down? That's hilarious!"

Helena gave her a cold glance and sat down at the other end of the long table:

"If you want to fight, just say so. You don't have to disgust me like this."

"I was just concerned about my teammates~"

Tina feigned grievance:

"After all, there aren't many targets that can make Helena lose face. That little red dragon must be quite special, right?"

Special? Of course it's special.

But Helena wouldn't admit this to Tina.

"None of your business, just do your own thing, Tina."

She didn't want to give this bitch a kind look at all.

"If the operation fails because of your negligence, I won't hesitate to get rid of you for the boss."

Tina's smile froze for a moment, then she snorted coldly:

"You should worry about yourself first. If you can't even handle a little red dragon, I'm starting to doubt your abilities. What if you can't even control the old man in the end?"

The tension between the two men made the atmosphere in the meeting room awkward.

The other members of the Witches' Guild wisely chose to remain silent, keeping their eyes closed.

These two rivals always have to fight whenever they meet, and only the boss can calm them down, but right now the boss is on her way from the Empire...

Let them argue, just don't let them fight.

Elena sat down in the main seat and tapped the table:

"Enough, the meeting is now beginning. We need to formulate the next steps before the boss arrives..."

Helena then focused her attention and engaged in the meeting discussion.

Alector, we will definitely meet again.

By then, you will have no more chances.

I promise.

The night sky over Chifeng was exceptionally clear.

Alecto stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down at the scattered campfires below, the night wind sweeping across the cliff face.

Firelight flickered along the mountain path as the trolls methodically carried charred cattle and sheep to their lair.

He looked down at his forepaws. The scabs between the dragon scales had healed, but the magic corridor was still aching, and every breath aggravated his internal injuries.

It still needs to be repaired gradually.

Alecto turned and went back into the depths of his lair, where he lay down on the mountain of treasure and swallowed the charred flesh.

Although the meat was burnt, it still suited his taste quite well.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that red dragons like to use their dragon breath to roast their prey until it's charred and crispy before eating.

But Alecto was an exception; he didn't like food that was overcooked or burnt.

After a simple meal, Alecto's consciousness became absorbed in observing the corridor.

In the middle of the second corridor, cracks run through the entire passage, causing magic to dissipate and lose its flow as it passes through, making it impossible to circulate.

He could only mend each crack little by little, like repairing broken porcelain.

The repair process is accompanied by a continuous dull pain, as if countless fine needles are slowly passing through the meridians, and each advancement brings indescribable soreness, numbness and tingling.

This was extreme torture; Alexo's muscles twitched intermittently.

But he didn't stop.

Avoiding problems solves nothing; this is the price we must pay.

After an unknown amount of time, the deepest crack in the middle of the corridor was finally one-third healed.

Although there is still a long way to go before it is fully repaired, at least the rate of magic loss has been reduced by about half.

Alecto breathed a sigh of relief and temporarily halted the repairs.

He opened his eyes. The scene inside the nest had not changed, but the elements he could perceive were clearer.

This is a sign that the corridor has initially stabilized and its perception of the outside world has partially returned to normal.

He spread his wings and examined once again the gold patterns that stretched from the wing roots to the wingtips.

According to scattered records in the inherited memory, this peculiar pattern on my body is called a talent imprint.

Only a very few dragons have magical runes on their bodies that undergo this mutation.

Each talent imprint is unique and is a manifestation of one's potential.

Some engravings can enhance breath control, some can strengthen the body, and some can grant special magic.

The golden markings on his feet currently demonstrate the ability of elemental control.

It's not just simple manipulation, it's domination.

His forced fusion of the three elements of fire, earth, and metal in the laboratory is proof of this.

That level of elemental fusion has touched upon the core mysteries of magic.

Alecto vaguely sensed that this was not yet his limit.

The abilities he has developed so far are just the tip of the iceberg. If he can fully master them, his combat power will increase by at least one level.

He was mentally planning his upcoming schedule.

Just then, the sound of flapping wings came from outside the nest.

Oliveira poked her head in through the hole and asked cautiously:

"Brother, are you awake?"

Alecto looked up at her:

"What is it?"

"The half-elf has awakened."

Oliveira entered the lair and paused slightly when she saw the piled-up treasure. She was immediately captivated, her tail swaying behind her.

"I used the healing scroll on her as you instructed. She can speak now, but she's still a little weak. Shall I bring her to see you?"

Alecto pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something.

Odette also fell into Helena's hands. Could there have been some hidden traps left on her as well?

He was a bit stumped; how come he hadn't thought of that?

But Helena hasn't appeared yet, so she probably didn't leave a mark on Odette.

Just in case, Alecto gritted his teeth and said:

"Bring her over here, I need to give her a check-up."

Oliveira nodded and flew out of the nest, looking back every few steps.

A moment later, she returned with Odette.

Odette's condition is much better than before.

Her light green hair was neatly combed, and although she was still wearing that tattered white dress, the dirt on her face had been washed away, revealing her delicate features.

Most noticeably, Odette's emerald eyes now seemed to come alive.

She stopped in front of Alecto, bowed slightly, and her voice, as melodious as a lark's, rang out:

"Thank you for your help, Lord Red Dragon."

Alecto did not respond, but instead directly began to perceive.

The magic swept over Odette's entire body like tentacles, from the tips of her hair to her toes, leaving no inch of skin or every ripple untouched.

The inspection was very thorough.

Odette's body trembled slightly, but she did not resist.

She knew it was necessary.

From the moment she was imprisoned by humans, she lost the right to refuse.

Being able to stand here completely intact is already countless times better than the best outcome she had ever imagined.

A moment later, Alecto withdrew his senses.

There was no spiritual imprint, no hidden contract, and not even a trace of tracking techniques.

Helena seems to really only treat Odette as a normal experimental subject, intending to discard her after use.

That suits that woman's personality.

However, just to be on the safe side, Alector used his purifying fire to purify Odette three times, inside and out.

As he purified the items, he suddenly realized something and blurted out:

"Huh? You're still innocent? How could those slave traders resist?"

Odette was completely stunned by Alecto's eagle-like words.

She lowered her head, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to bleed.

Alector's question was so blunt that she wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground.

"They... dare not."

Her voice was barely audible.

"I bear the protective mark of the Elven royal family; any... violation will trigger a backlash."

Alector's dragon eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at her with great interest:

"The guardian mark of the elven royal family? Interesting. So, those slave traders only realized you were a hot potato after capturing you?"

Odette nodded, a bitter look flashing in her eyes:

"They tried to remove the mark, but failed. Then... they decided to sell me as a rare commodity to nobles or mages with special needs."

Alecto seemed lost in thought.

No wonder Helena was interested in this half-elf; the guardian mark of the elven royal family is itself a highly valuable subject of research.

However, it seems that Helena hasn't spent too much time on this yet, otherwise Odette wouldn't still be standing here.

Alecto suddenly asked.

"How did you acquire your guardian mark?"

Odette remained silent for a moment, hesitating whether to tell the truth.

But looking at the enormous red dragon before her, she knew there was no point in hiding it.

My father is a pure-blooded elf, and my mother is a human.

She finally said:

"My mother passed away shortly after giving birth to me. Before she died, she transferred the protective mark that my father left her to me. This is... the only thing she could leave me."