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Chapter 733 - Chapter 733: I'll Be a Bootlicker, and No One Can Stop Me

"You're undergoing dragonification." The Tulip Marquess' expression changed drastically as he stared at his son's transformed hand. Ever since Bernard had successfully tamed a dragon, the marquess had learned a great deal about dragons.

Thanks to Bernard's red dragon, the Tulip family had also bred several dragonborn warriors using its blood. These warriors were eternally loyal to the red dragon because of the blood that coursed through their veins.

"Golden dragon scales... You've become a dragonborn of a golden dragon. What on earth have you been through these past few days?" The Tulip Marquess' face showed deep concern. The pride of their family, the one who had led them to prominence, had now become a slave to a dragon. How could he not be furious? He had dreams of being the father of a grand duke, enjoying the prestige that came with it.

"It's not just dragonification; there's also gigantification!" Bernard stepped back, and before his father's eyes, his body swelled from nearly two meters tall to three meters, with bulging muscles that made him look like a devilish bodybuilder.

"A while ago, an entity that seemed to be an ancient dragon appeared in my territory. Driven by greed, I used a Dragon Enchantment Fruit, but it had no effect on him." Bernard's expression turned bitter as he spoke.

"And now, this is the result, Father. This is the punishment that entity gave me for trying to offend him. I've become his slave, and the Thorn Territory is now entirely his."

"You were too greedy." The Tulip Marquess slammed his teacup down on the table, his face showing a mix of anger and exhaustion. "You haven't even reached the Legendary rank, yet you dared to target an ancient dragon. Such arrogance! Your past successes made you overconfident. Even if this hadn't happened, you would've likely faced an even greater setback later on. Becoming the dragonborn of a golden dragon isn't the worst outcome; at least you're still alive."

The marquess's words were meant to comfort his son, but they were also meant to comfort himself. With his son now a servant to someone else, his dream of becoming the father of a nation's founder was shattered.

Still, the situation wasn't entirely bleak. The Tulip Marquess was already one of the most powerful nobles in the duchy, having achieved the dreams of his youth.

But the more he tried to console himself, the more he felt unsatisfied. Human nature is to desire more once something is achieved. He had once dreamed of being the father of a nation's ruler, but now he had to settle for being a noble in a small duchy. The contrast was unbearable.

"How much power do you still have? Is there any chance of leaving the Thorn Territory and finding a barren land to rebuild and establish a new kingdom?" he asked.

"My forces have all been taken over." Bernard's face grew even more desolate. All the non-human races he had painstakingly subdued were gone. The hill giants, dwarves, and elves had all been taken away on floating ships soon after the giants arrived. Even the bronze dragon he had spent so much effort taming was released from its contract and taken away by Muria.

That wasn't the end of it. The sea tribes he had subdued with the help of sea elves were also taken over by a legendary Naga sent by Muria. The ocean was no longer under his control. Even the sea elf he had intended to marry was taken away.

Now, the only ones he could command were the servants in his castle, the three knight orders he had formed, and a few officials. Aside from them, no one else would listen to him. While this might still be a respectable force, it was insignificant compared to the entire Synaps.

"However, it might still be possible to establish a kingdom." Bernard's mind turned to Muria's earlier words, and a small flame of hope ignited in his heart. This land needed a ruler, and he still had some influence here. Especially since that powerful being valued his farming abilities, even if he had little regard for his combat skills.

"You can still establish a kingdom?" The Tulip Marquess looked surprised.

"Well, if I break through to the Legendary rank, it wouldn't be impossible. And if my strength grows further, with my master's help, founding a kingdom wouldn't be out of the question."

Bernard recalled what he had seen two days ago when he was teleported to Synaps. The awe he felt left him with no doubts about the source of that drop of blood in his body.

"The golden dragon that forced you into servitude is that powerful?"

"I initially thought he was just an ancient gold dragon, but I later realized his identity was far beyond my imagination. He's not a pureblooded gold dragon; he's a hybrid with the blood of another legendary race—Titans!" Bernard spoke with deep reverence. He had witnessed the incredible power of Muria's Titan bloodline, particularly its unbelievable influence over giants.

The hill giants he had painstakingly recruited had all prostrated themselves before Muria the moment they saw him. When they heard Muria wanted to recruit them, they were ecstatic.

That scene was something Bernard could never forget. He had spent countless resources to recruit those hill giants, but all Muria had to do was stand there and release his aura. The difference was so stark that it made Bernard feel too envious even to be jealous.

"Titans! Do such legendary beings really exist?" Like his son, the Tulip Marquess was also in disbelief. He had always considered Titans to be mere myths, existing only in stories.

"They exist. Titans have always existed. It's just that our level is too low to know about them. Our vision is too narrow. Father, let me tell you, Titans are the first and foremost race of our world."

Bernard recalled how, upon arriving in Synaps, he had been surrounded by a group of cloud giants who enthusiastically told him about the Titans' great deeds. Seeing his father's stunned expression as he recounted these stories filled Bernard with a strange sense of satisfaction.

"Wait a moment. Are you saying that the cataclysmic event of the gods falling forty years ago was related to the Titans?" The Tulip Marquess was shocked and dazed by the secrets his son had revealed.

"Those gods who fell or went into slumber did so because they angered the Titans, who then punished them," Bernard said, looking at his father's almost dumbstruck face with mixed emotions.

After all, he had reacted the same way when he first heard this. The cloud giants who had told him these stories must have enjoyed seeing his stunned reaction as well.

"Why have we never heard of this?"

"Of course we haven't. Titans don't care about their reputation in the mortal world, and the gods would never allow such a scandal to spread. The information was sealed, known only to those in the highest circles. We, who are small fry, naturally wouldn't know."

"Wait a minute." The Tulip Marquess's dazed expression suddenly turned to one of ecstatic joy. "If the Titan race is so powerful, and you are now a servant of a Titan, does that mean our Tulip family is now associated with the world's most powerful race?"

"Yes, that's right." Seeing his father's face, now full of joy to the point of near madness, Bernard could only sigh in resignation.

"In that case, we won't need to bow and scrape before the king anymore, will we?"

"The king is nothing. Father, my master has promised that if I perform well, he will recommend the outstanding members of our Tulip family to study at the Imperial Academy."

"Study at the Imperial Academy! Ha-ha!" The Tulip Marquess laughed like a fool, now realizing the benefits of being associated with the world's most powerful race. He picked up his teacup, but his hand shook so much that the tea spilled onto his clothes. By the time he brought the cup to his lips, most of the tea was gone, yet he still didn't notice and pretended to take a sip as if nothing had happened.

"My son, you truly are the pride of the Tulip family! What's a mere Thorn Territory compared to being connected to the Titans?" The Tulip Marquess was now extraordinarily open-minded. He had been heartbroken when he first heard his son had lost the Thorn Territory, but now his face was flushed with joy, and he was so excited he wanted to dance.

"Father, you must keep this a secret. My master doesn't like to be in the spotlight. It seems he has business on the mainland, and he is currently sailing to our family's port. You must prepare to receive him properly. Do not let his identity be exposed to the public; just knowing it yourself is enough."

"The Titan lord is coming? Very well, I will personally welcome him." The Tulip Marquess's expression turned anxious and excited, like an impatient youth. "Don't worry, I will receive him with the highest honors. No, that still seems too small. Son, help me think. What kind of ceremony would satisfy this Titan lord?"

Seeing his father eagerly turn into a bootlicker, Bernard felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. If they could please that lord, his family, and himself, they would benefit immensely. So, there was no reason to stop him.

"As long as the lord sees our family's respect for him, that will be enough. After all, no matter how grand we make the ceremony, it won't impress him with our family's wealth."

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