"This might be the fastest second board meeting in history. Gentlemen, let us celebrate. We are witnessing history once again."
Anjou chuckled as he spoke.
"Anjou, you know exactly why this meeting was convened so quickly," Frost said coldly. "Why did you withdraw before the operation even began? We have reason to believe you were protecting the dragons and have already reached some sort of agreement with them, violating the core principles of the Secret Party!"
"That sounds quite logical," Anjou replied, spreading his hands. "May I ask if there is any concrete evidence?"
"The fact that you let multiple Dragon Kings leave unharmed isn't evidence enough?" Frost snapped.
"It seems Mr. Frost's brain is still functional-at least enough to count," Anjou said mockingly. "Do you need me to count for you? The King of Bronze and Fire twins. The King of Oceans and Water. And a second-generation dragon servant. Setting aside the servant, who was clearly weakened for unknown reasons, the other three were all at full strength."
He paused.
"Even if we mobilized the entire Secret Party, that lineup could not have been defeated. I am a sworn enemy of dragons, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to send my students to die when there isn't even a sliver of hope."
"So even the great Anjou admits defeat without trying?" Frost sneered.
"Yes," Anjou answered calmly. "After all, I am an old man now. Being cautious comes naturally. Since you've realized I'm too old, why don't you replace me?"
His tone was casual, almost careless.
"You-!" Frost was furious.
Anjou was deliberately acting like a rogue, hiding behind seniority.
And the most infuriating part was that Frost had no counter.
"Enough." The monk-like old man rang his bell. "Anjou is correct. With that level of enemy strength, sending four elite students would have accomplished nothing. Time was insufficient to assemble a force capable of meaningful resistance. There is no precedent for multiple Dragon Kings reviving simultaneously. Sacrificing people pointlessly is not wisdom."
He continued calmly.
"Furthermore, the location was far too sensitive. The Party maintains a cooperative relationship with China. Deploying large-scale forces there was never an option."
"But those Dragon Kings simply left," Frost insisted. "At full strength. The only reason such beings wouldn't slaughter humans is because a deal was struck!"
As if anticipating Anjou brushing this off, Frost signaled to an assistant.
A laptop was brought forward.
"I have proof."
The video began to play.
"If they dare fire you, tell me next time we meet and I'll help you assassinate them. Any family, any power-ten thousand dollars per head. Friendship price!"
Morin's water-form voice echoed clearly.
Then came Anjou's response.
"That would be awkward... I've actually been eyeing one... cough... let's discuss it privately."
If one ignored the water needles surrounding Anjou at the time, the exchange looked almost friendly.
Collusive.
The room fell silent.
Several board members looked at Frost with complicated expressions. So that was it.
No wonder he was panicking.
Frost had always opposed Anjou. If this accusation held, Frost would be the first target.
And with the King of Oceans' ability to manipulate water-appearing anywhere, anytime-it was a terrifying assassination method.
Frost couldn't guarantee he'd spend his entire life in a waterless environment.
The human body itself was mostly water.
To survive, he'd practically need to become silicon-based.
"This was obviously a joke," Anjou said, shaking his head, completely unfazed. "Mr. Frost, just how low does your emotional intelligence have to be to take that seriously?"
"If it were real, trust me-you wouldn't be sitting here right now."
"Are you threatening me?" Frost asked sharply.
"No. Just stating a fact."
"Enough," the monk said again, ringing his bell. "This is a board meeting, not a place for personal grudges. Given the enemy's strength, internal division is the last thing we need."
"I do not believe Anjou would ever collaborate with dragons. Compromise was forced by circumstance."
"Then let's discuss what truly matters," Anjou said, clapping his hands once. "Japan."
"The information provided by the so-called King of Oceans indicates the White King exists there. They are heading there now. Their objective remains unknown."
"Japan..." the monk murmured. "We have a Cassell College branch there. They must be warned."
"That will be difficult," Anjou nodded. "The Japanese branch has been drifting away from headquarters for years. Any warning would be seen as interference."
"So I'll send a team of specialists. If necessary, I'll go myself."
He paused.
"In case this is a feint."
"Even if it isn't," the monk said, "if the remains of the White King truly lie there, it is an opportunity."
"Agreed." Anjou nodded. "And since this won't be happening in China, I suggest the board prepare everything-forces, weapons, contingencies."
"If his words are true, this will be a battle that shakes the world."
"We must also prepare for information leaks... and even the possible use of weapons of mass destruction."
"Now," Anjou said calmly, "let's vote."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
The emergency board meeting held the day after the Kui Gate incident ended swiftly.
For the first time in years, the massive machine known as the Secret Party began to turn at full speed.
Information was gathered worldwide.
Forces were mobilized.
The storm was coming.
"Brother, what is that?"
"A lamp. It's used for lighting."
"Shouldn't lighting use candles? What kind of oil does that use?"
"That isn't a lantern... well, maybe a little. It runs on electricity."
"Human alchemy has reached such a level?"
"That's not alchemy... but close enough. You can think of it that way."
Norton opened his mouth, intending to explain science.
Then he realized he didn't actually know how light bulbs worked either.
"Oh..."
Constantine nodded, half-understanding. Seeing that his brother didn't want to elaborate, he wisely stayed quiet.
In human form, Constantine looked thirteen or fourteen. Soft hair. Gentle voice. Clear eyes.
Extremely... harmless.
No one would associate this boy with a Dragon King.
"My King, where are we going next?" Samson asked, carrying a bag and suitcase filled with clothes. His eyes kept drifting to the towering skyscrapers, awe barely concealed.
"To a hotel," Norton replied.
He glanced at Samson, then sighed, rubbing his forehead.
He'd seen the same look in Constantine's eyes.
A bunch of country dragons in the city.
"A hotel? Is that where humans sell wine?" Constantine asked eagerly.
"It's basically an inn," Norton said tiredly.
"Then why is it called a hotel?"
"I'll take you for hot pot later," Norton said, changing the subject. At the same time, he made a mental note to buy encyclopedias. Two of them.
"Brother..." Constantine lowered his voice, cheeks flushing. "Why are the girls here dressed so... boldly?"
"What?" Norton turned and froze.
Several girls in short shorts and tight tops were openly winking at Constantine.
Dragons shared a trait.
The purer the bloodline, the more striking the appearance.
All hybrids were good-looking.
As for Lu Mingfei... he just hid his looks with bad posture.
As first- and second-generation dragons, Norton, Constantine, and Samson were all top-tier.
And Constantine's gentle, fragile aura was devastating.
"Human customs have changed over thousands of years," Norton said stiffly, covering Constantine's eyes and turning his head away. "Don't stare."
"Oh..." Constantine obeyed.
"My King," Samson whispered, "we don't seem to have any silver."
"Staying at a hotel... won't that expose us?"
"We have money." Norton pulled out a black card.
"Brother, what's that?"
"A credit card. Like a silver note."
Constantine stared at it in awe.
His brother knew so much about humans.
A few minutes later.
At the hotel front desk.
"What do you mean the card can't be used?" Norton frowned.
"I'm very sorry, sir. The card appears to be frozen. You may want to check-"
The receptionist maintained a flawless smile.
At that moment, Norton turned his head.
Time stopped.
Everyone except the three dragons froze in place.
"I really don't know what to say," Morin's water-form said calmly, placing a different card on the counter. "Even if your memories are still fragmented, you should know your human identity was exposed long ago."
"A frozen account is trivial. The moment you tried to use that card, the information was transmitted across countless monitoring systems."
"In the next second, no fewer than ten major organizations would know the King of Bronze and Fire was trying to check into a Tokyo hotel."
He smiled faintly.
"But since we're partners, I handled it."
"This is an anonymous card. Use it however you like. Surveillance, satellites-leave those to me."
"Enjoy yourselves. When it's time to work, I'll let you know."
"...I understand you less and less," Norton said.
"At least I'm not here to harm you," Morin replied. "Otherwise this would've been unnecessary."
"...That much, I believe."
Norton took the card.
"What's the limit?"
"Ever played StarCraft?" Morin asked. "The 'showmethemoney' cheat gives you ten thousand resources."
"I tweaked it."
"Ten million yen. Refreshes every time you spend one million. Unlimited uses."
"There's always a limit," Norton said.
"True." Morin nodded. "I can rewrite data, not human suspicion."
"If you use it too often, people will notice."
"But by then, I doubt you'll need to care."
"The news I released will force Cassell College and the Japanese factions to act."
"They'll help us find what we're looking for."
"And now..."
Morin smiled.
"We wait."