Westminster Bank

Chapter 289: Chapter 175: Since It Has Come to This, Might as Well Rob Them

"Some ’Master Jack.’ He’s either just chasing fame or a phony out to scam money."

"I thought he was some kind of genius, but he’s just a novice. He couldn’t even sense such an obvious aura from a Dragon Species. He should just be fired..."

"The name itself sounds fake. There are only a dozen or so Silver Dragon Guides in the whole world. When did a ’Master Jack’ suddenly pop up?"

"I really don’t get why the two Silver Masks are protecting him... Is it to eliminate the competition early?"

"The aura of the Dragon Species on the middle path is so thick—it must be the habitat of a Dragon Descendant Tribe. Yet that guy led Miss Isabella right in without a moment’s hesitation. There’s no other explanation. The guy is definitely a fraud."

On various paths, groups of Dragon Guides and their employers joked and chatted as they walked. Their words were filled with scorn and mockery for Baron, the one in the White Mask.

Dragon Guides despised charlatans like ’Master Jack’ who deceived the public for fame.

On one of the paths, Windsor quietly asked her Dragon Guide if it was all true. Was that Master Jack really an impostor?

As she spoke, her gentle gaze held a trace of uncertainty, as if she was trying to confirm something.

Although some of the Trial Takers present, led by Dewey of the Frank Family, were hostile toward the Constantine Family, the Dragon Guides weren’t bothered by such politics. They respectfully shared their complete assessment.

Windsor listened, lost in thought.

Just then, her brother Pound suddenly signaled for her to stop. "Something’s up."

The Dragon Guides on the path also came to a halt, their expressions changing abruptly as they all looked in one direction.

There, the Silver Dragon Guide they had all revered was running and leaping in an utterly wretched state, like a monkey being stung by a swarm of hornets after stealing their hive.

Behind the Silver Mask, Young Master Jose, a top contender in this Dragon Spear Trial, was also running back, his face grim. You could practically read the words "Fucking hell" on his incomparably handsome face.

Before the crowd could realize what was happening, they suddenly felt the ground begin to shake, and a terrifying aura washed over them from not far away.

Everyone’s faces changed, eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, as their gazes locked onto the horde of Thunder Wolf Dragons sweeping toward them from the distance.

And then...

"Run!"

They scattered in all directions.

On the other main road, Tune, his Dragon Guide, and the Trial Takers he had bribed to act as his Dragon Hunting assistants in the ceremony also began a race for their lives.

Tune’s face was grim as he asked his Dragon Guide, "What’s going on? Weren’t the Thunder Wolf Dragon Group’s nesting grounds supposed to be on the middle path? Why..."

’I don’t know either! No, this should be impossible. I remember from my survey that the Thunder Wolf Dragon Group had made their habitat in the middle of that path... It’s not spring yet, they shouldn’t be migrating.’

’Unless...’

The Dragon Guide’s voice was strained. "It’s possible that Miss Isabella’s group disturbed the dragons, and the Thunder Wolf Dragon Group fled in a panic..."

"You mean all three paths might be flooded by the Dragon Tide?" Hearing this, Tune felt a sudden, inexplicable flicker of joy.

’Does this mean Isabella might already be... No, with that woman’s strength, even if she can’t fight the Dragon Tide head-on, she’d have other ways to deal with it. But since there are only two of them, their progress will be slowed down considerably.’

’This could be my chance.’

At this thought, Tune glanced back at the Dragon Tide. Although they were numerous, they were only seventh or eighth-generation specimens, still within a manageable range.

He immediately told the people with him, "We’ll regroup with the other Trial Takers on the main road. After that, it’s every man for himself. Hunt the Dragon Descendants in the tide and take their Reverse Scales."

He could feel the surging aura of the Dragon Tide behind him, and his heart still tightened with a bit of fear.

But Tune couldn’t suppress a cold sneer. ’Elder Sister, it seems Heaven has finally stopped favoring you.’

...

「Outside the Barrier.」

After hearing the Trial Takers’ explanations, Lidton realized the key to the situation might lie with the Dragon Guide Isabella had hired.

The Lidton Family Head immediately gave an order, demanding to know all relevant information about this Master Jack within three minutes.

Soon, an Attendant who had finished gathering information came over and explained in a low voice to the Lidton Family Head that he had confirmed with the Dragon Guide Association; there was no one by that name among the registered Silver Masters.

"Furthermore, during a logistics check just now, the captain of the guard unit responsible for the Beowulf Manor’s Barrier discovered his Boundary Stone was missing... That Master Jack had tried to take someone across the boundary earlier and happened to have a Boundary Stone on him. We suspect it’s the same one stolen from the guard captain..."

’That man wants to escape the Beowulf Family. He’s very likely the Taboo Item Thief from last night.’ The Lidton Family Head instantly understood the implications.

Then, he realized something else.

"Why wasn’t something like this reported!?"

The Lidton Family Head’s face was dark. It was bad enough that an anomaly during a major family event like the Dragon Hunting Ceremony wasn’t reported beforehand, but now someone was actively covering it up!

The Guard was startled and quickly said, "Mister Bass said it was the young miss’s request."

"Isabella? What is she trying to do?"

Lidton suddenly seemed to realize something and ordered the Guard, "Go to the butler and get a list of what was stolen last night. Quickly!"

When the list of stolen items was in his hands, Lidton’s gaze stopped on one particular item, and he sighed deeply to himself.

’Just as I thought. She was after *it*.’

It was Petra’s Helmet of Cowardice, an item that could only be used by making an exchange with a Blood Curse after activating the bloodline of a Beowulf Dragon Slayer. However, after undergoing the Dragon Spear Baptism in this ceremony, it might just ascend into the legendary Dragon Helmet, which only the Beowulf ancestor themselves was said to be able to wield.