Kill Wellington?
Theo froze at the sudden and shocking directive.
"What do you mean by that...?"
"Do you remember apprehending the Deputy Tower Master of the Magic Tower on your way back from the White Tower?"
"Yes. I happened to discover him and brought him in alive. I handed him over to Sir Dragon..."
"The Dragon has disappeared, taking the Deputy Tower Master with him."
"...!"
"The Magic Tower has been showing signs of aligning with Troyban. Deputy Tower Master Nazarion Monte was caught conducting espionage in our territory before. We’ve been tracking their movements."
Theo thought back to Kleve, who had been assigned to follow Dragon.
"Did something happen to Sir Kleve...?"
"On the same day you and Dragon—no, calling him a 'dragon' disgusts me—on the same day you and Farell Ragnar parted ways, Kleve and eight agents of Black Snow were killed."
Theo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The Black Dragon's face was etched with fury.
"At the same time, the previous generation’s family head, Hilda Ragnar, also went missing."
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Theo’s heartbeat accelerated, pounding in his chest.
"As of yesterday, under the lord’s orders, an execution decree has been issued for Hilda Ragnar and Farell Ragnar."
"Wait, wait!"
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Theo interrupted, his voice urgent.
"Are we certain that Sir Dragon killed the Black Snow agents?"
"Yes. The precision and lethality of techniques like Blade of the Surface can only belong to him. The magical residue and direction of the attacks all point to him. We’ve confirmed it multiple times."
"..."
"Moreover, Farell Ragnar’s sole disciple, Wellington Narcio, is under the same execution decree. Since you are his closest friend, we want to hear your thoughts."
The Black Dragon’s gaze deepened, piercing Theo’s own.
"What will you do? If the execution decree were entrusted to you, could you strike them down yourself? Lie to me, and I will know."
The Black Dragon’s pupils turned a deep crimson, splitting into concentric rings—a technique known as The Eye of Truth.
This ability, one of the Black Dragon’s most prized techniques, analyzed subtle physiological reactions to distinguish lies from the truth.
"Humans cannot entirely suppress unconscious responses to stress or deception—pupil dilation, heartbeat, breathing rate, neural tension, sweat glands, blood pressure... I will read it all to determine your honesty. Do you agree?"
"...Yes."
Theo swallowed hard and nodded.
"Good. First, let me ask: When you last parted ways with Farell, did he leave any kind of message?"
Theo hesitated for a moment before replying.
"He didn’t say much, but..."
"But?"
"He asked me to think positively of Hilda."
"The old fool... Was he planning rebellion even then?"
The Black Dragon sneered.
Having once stood at the forefront of Ragnar's battles alongside Kyle, overthrowing the tyrant of the Light Dragon Empire, the mention of Hilda’s resurgence filled him with disdain.
"And what else?"
"Nothing else."
"Did he mention where he was going?"
"No."
"So far, every word you’ve said is true."
"There’s no need to reveal the part about the Nest of Naga just yet."
Theo debated for a split second whether to disclose the full extent of what he knew.
But the fact that Hilda and Dragon were now considered traitors was unprecedented.
This was clearly a ripple effect caused by some butterfly wing Theo had flapped in this life.
He resolved to uncover the truth himself—whether Dragon had truly betrayed Ragnar or was simply a scapegoat in a larger political game.
"And finally, I ask you: If the situation arises, could you execute your friend with your own hands?"
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Theo nodded firmly.
There was no room for doubt in his voice.
Ragnar’s commands were absolute, and Theo had no intention of letting anything hinder his path forward.
More importantly, Theo trusted Wellington.
"In my previous life, Wellington Narcio betrayed Ragnar. But in this life, he has no reason to."
Wellington’s favorite phrase lingered in Theo’s mind:
"Theo, I’m curious to see the kind of Ragnar you’ll create. I imagine it will look vastly different from what we have now."
"Wellington wouldn’t turn his blade against me, not until he sees the Ragnar I build. If there’s a misunderstanding, I’ll resolve it."
Theo’s faith in Wellington was unwavering, and the sincerity of his belief resonated with The Eye of Truth.
The Black Dragon nodded slowly.
"Good. Your answers are without falsehood. You truly are a Ragnar, through and through. You’re ready to take the Dragon Warden advancement trial."
"Then... am I to track down Hilda and Dragon?"
Theo asked, expecting that to be his assigned trial.
But the Black Dragon’s next words caught him off guard.
"No. That task has already been assigned to another as part of their own advancement trial."
Theo glanced at Julius, a thought crossing his mind.
Julius responded with a heavy nod.
"Evelyn is pursuing them. A few agents from Black Snow and members of the White Scales accompany her."
"...!"
"Your trial will be different."
The Black Dragon’s voice turned steely.
"Theo Ragnar, you were already eligible to become a senior inspector. If you pass this trial, you’ll gain the rank of squad leader."
He produced a scroll and tossed it to Theo.
Unrolling it, Theo’s eyes widened slightly at its contents.
"This is..."
"Tomorrow at dawn, you will lead a newly formed squad in a special operation. However, that operation is merely a cover. The true mission is written there."
The mission details were simple yet weighty:
The mission seemed straightforward. With his dragon legion and a precise ambush, the Sacred Demon Cult would take a severe hit.
But the Black Dragon wasn’t done.
"While you disrupt the ritual, the White Scales and Black Iron will arrive as reinforcements to uproot the cult entirely. The chaos will be substantial, and in that chaos..."
The Black Dragon’s next words were as sharp as a blade.
"Kill Torkel Ragnar."
"...!"
Theo shot to his feet, stunned by the unexpected directive.
Julius, the Plum Blossom Lord, and Niel remained silent, their expressions unreadable.
"If you succeed, your advancement to Dragon Warden will be assured. Moreover, Black Snow will formally pledge its support to you."
***
As Ansio stood up, the atmosphere between her and Torkel was tinged with tension. Their conversation had revealed much, yet left more unsaid.
“Feel free to reach out anytime,” Ansio said with a sly smile before heading for the door.
Torkel raised his glass and, in a low voice, called after her.
"May I ask one last question, Sister?"
“Of course. What is it?”
“Your brother, Gishar... I haven’t seen him around.”
Ansio paused at the door, turning slightly, her lips curving into a faint, knowing grin.
“Oh, him? He’s dead.”
And with that casual declaration, she left, waving as she disappeared into the distance.
Torkel remained seated, staring blankly at the door through which Ansio had exited. The room was heavy with an unspoken tension.
Finally, Aiyan, one of his trusted lieutenants, broke the silence, cautiously approaching him.
"Captain..."
Torkel chuckled softly, swirling the drink in his glass.
"Ansio said something interesting earlier. She proposed an alliance—her and the Fallen Dragon faction, combining their forces with ours. She said we could bring together the Black Iron Corps, the Red Blade Knights, and even the Council of Elders. With that power, we could eliminate Reze and Theo, and even drag Kinkarnon down from his pedestal."
"Really?"
"Yes. But I declined outright."
"...I see."
"Do you think that was foolish?"
Aiyan tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"I wouldn’t know. I’ve been called foolish all my life. I don’t know what’s good or bad. All I care about is being with people who make me happy and avoiding those who don’t. But one thing is certain."
"And that is?"
"Being with you, Captain, is always fun. And we always win. What more could a soldier ask for?"
Torkel stared at Aiyan, her simple yet heartfelt words striking a chord deep within him.
"...I really do have the best subordinates," he murmured with a dry laugh.
Aiyan grinned.
"Only just realizing that now?"
Torkel shook his head, the hint of a genuine smile tugging at his lips.
"No. I’ve known it all along. I just didn’t realize to what extent." He set his glass down, his expression hardening as a strange aura began to emanate from him. "Well, let me repay you for your faith. I’ll show you what I’ve been keeping to myself."
Aiyan’s playful smile faded as an unsettling presence began to fill the room.
“Captain... this energy...?”
Suddenly, the room trembled as dark tendrils of energy spilled out from Torkel, intertwining with another force—a distinct, draconic presence.
"Is that... magic? But there’s also... dragonforce? How is that possible?"
Aiyan’s voice quivered as the two energies clashed and blended, defying her understanding of the natural order.
And then, a third force emerged—a maddening, chaotic energy that twisted reality around it.
"Madness..."
Her breath hitched as her senses were overwhelmed. The sheer weight of the energy bore down on her, threatening to crush her will. Her mind raced with fragments of an ancient memory, one that she had long buried.
Years ago, before Kyle ascended to the throne, there was a figure whose hunger for power defied comprehension. A man who mastered both dragonforce and the dark arts of the Abyss, whose unrelenting ambition nearly brought Ragnar to its knees.
The Mad Dragon Emperor.
Aiyan’s knees buckled as she realized the truth.
"Captain... you...?"
Torkel’s eyes glowed with a sinister black hue as he gazed down at her.
"Aiyan, how much do you trust me?"
"...More than my own life," she whispered, trembling.
"I despise my father," Torkel said coldly. "And I despise those who surround him. The Black Dragon, the Flame Dragon, the Sword Dragon. The Elders and their petty politics. Kinkarnon, Ansio, Reze... and even that naive brat, Theo. I reject everything Ragnar stands for."
His voice grew darker, his aura more oppressive.
"I will destroy them all and build a new Ragnar, one that belongs to me alone."
He extended his hand toward her, his voice softening yet carrying a dangerous edge.
"Will you stand by me?"
Aiyan, though shaken to her core, felt the weight of Torkel’s conviction. Despite the terror, she reached out and took his hand.
"Always."
In that moment, Torkel’s path was set—a path steeped in chaos, madness, and defiance against the Ragnar name.