Snow fell heavily over the northern frontier.

The walls of Elarion’s outer settlement stood half-covered beneath layers of white while smoke from furnaces and hearthfires rose endlessly into the dark winter skies above the valley. Workers moved between buildings carrying lumber, coal, and refined steel beneath torchlight while patrol groups rotated constantly along the outer defensive routes.

The territory no longer resembled a dying exile post.

It was becoming alive.

Slowly.

Relentlessly.

And because of that—

It was becoming dangerous.

Inside the upper administrative halls of the restored fortress, Lucien stood near the large northern map table reviewing supply movement reports while Lucas Marcus organized trade documents nearby beneath warm lantern light.

The administrator still looked exhausted from handling both territorial governance and industrial secrecy simultaneously.

"Merchant activity increased again this week," Lucas reported while adjusting several papers carefully. "Especially southern caravans."

Lucien nodded slightly.

"Expected."

Industrial growth consumed resources rapidly.

Iron.

Food.

Wood.

Livestock.

Tools.

The territory needed everything.

Lucas hesitated briefly afterward before continuing.

"There is another issue."

Lucien looked up immediately.

The administrator rarely hesitated without reason.

"A frontier checkpoint sent a coded message this morning."

Another pause.

"Royal investigators entered northern territory three days ago."

The room became silent.

Even the furnace crackling near the far wall suddenly sounded louder.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So they came personally.

Faster than expected.

Lucas spoke carefully.

"They are traveling with crown escorts under official authority."

"Names?"

"Lead investigator is Seraphin Vale."

Interesting.

The name meant little personally, but Lucien remembered hearing.he was-

Efficient.

Intelligent.

Difficult to manipulate.

Not ideal,not ideal at all neither for him not for the territory.

Lucas exhaled quietly afterward.

"My Lord..."

Lucien already understood the concern.

The territory was not ready for direct royal inspection.

Not fully.

The industrial district alone would trigger immediate questions.

Gunpowder research was worse.

And Aurethar—

Lucien rubbed his forehead slightly.

The dragon might actually become the largest problem somehow.

A knock echoed sharply against the chamber doors moments later.

"Enter."

Malen stepped inside first followed closely by Gandalf while snow still clung lightly to their cloaks from outside patrol inspections.

The Peak Knight noticed the atmosphere instantly.

"Problem?"

Lucien answered directly.

"Royal investigators."

Malen’s expression hardened immediately.

"When?"

"Soon."

Lucas placed another document onto the table.

"Based on travel speed, possibly tomorrow evening."

Gandalf’s beard shifted slightly as the old mage frowned.

"That is... inconvenient."

Lucien moved toward the large valley map afterward while thinking rapidly.

The investigators arriving now threatened multiple secrets simultaneously:

industrial development

firearm prototypes

hidden headquarters construction

dragon presence

demon-sealed lower ruins

Too many risks.

Malen crossed his arms.

"We could deny them access."

Lucas immediately shook his head.

"That would confirm suspicion."

Correct.

Royal investigators operated with direct crown authority.

Obstructing them openly would create political disaster.

Lucien remained silent briefly.

Then—

"We control what they see."

The others looked toward him.

Lucien continued calmly.

"The outer territory is legitimate."

Farms.

Fortifications.

Trade growth.

Frontier recovery.

Nothing illegal there.

Lucas slowly understood first.

"We isolate the industrial district."

"Yes."

Gandalf nodded thoughtfully afterward.

"Concealment magic can obscure mana signatures temporarily."

"Good."

Malen frowned slightly.

"And the dragon?"

Silence.

Everyone looked upward instinctively.

As if expecting Aurethar to suddenly crash through the ceiling dramatically.

Which—

Honestly remained possible.

Almost on cue—

Golden light flashed briefly beyond the fortress windows before a massive shadow swept across the snowy courtyard outside.

Lucas closed his eyes tiredly.

"Of course."

Moments later the chamber doors opened again without permission.

Aurethar entered proudly.

Or rather—

Forced himself partially through the oversized stone entrance while folding his wings awkwardly behind him.

The Dragon Lord looked deeply pleased with himself.

"I sensed tension."

Golden eyes shifted between them curiously.

"Who are we intimidating today?"

Lucien answered flatly.

"No one."

Aurethar looked disappointed instantly.

Malen sighed.

"Royal investigators are coming north."

The dragon blinked once.

Then grinned.

"Oh."

That grin worried everyone immediately.

"Can I threaten them?"

"No."

"Can I appear dramatically above the fortress?"

"No."

"Can I accidentally set something on fire while making eye contact?"

Lucien stared silently at him.

Aurethar considered carefully afterward.

"...Hypothetically?"

"No."

The dragon looked genuinely oppressed afterward.

Gandalf rubbed his forehead slowly.

"Why did fate bind us to this creature?"

Aurethar looked offended.

"I am majestic."

"You are a disaster."

"Majestic disaster."

Fair correction,everyone agreed.

Lucien stepped toward the fortress windows afterward while observing the valley below.

Workers still moved through the industrial quarter despite the late hour while distant furnace smoke continued rising endlessly into the winter sky.

Too visible.

And too active.

If Seraphin Vale truly possessed strong investigative instincts—

He would notice inconsistencies quickly.

Lucien thought carefully for several moments.

Then—

"We accelerate the relocation."

Lucas looked toward him immediately.

"The hidden headquarters?"

"Yes."

The administrator nodded slowly afterward.

Makes sense.

Some operations could no longer remain near the surface settlement safely.

Especially firearms.

Malen spoke next.

"I’ll increase patrols near the western routes."

"Discreetly."

"Understood."

Gandalf meanwhile looked thoughtful.

"The investigators may also possess mage support."

Lucien nodded once.

"Then avoid direct magical interference unless necessary."

The old mage agreed.

Because once royal mages detected concealment spells—

Questions multiplied rapidly.

Aurethar eventually lowered his enormous head toward Lucien curiously.

"So."

The Dragon Lord’s golden eyes gleamed brightly beneath the chamber light.

"Who exactly are these investigators?"

Lucien answered calmly.

"People capable of creating serious problems."

Aurethar immediately looked interested again.

"Oh."

Then very slowly—

The dragon smiled.

"I wish to meet them."

That sentence alone nearly gave Lucas visible emotional damage.

Meanwhile far south along the frozen mountain road—

Royal Investigator Seraphin Vale finally reached the final ridge overlooking the northern frontier territory.

The carriage stopped briefly near the cliffside path while snowstorms weakened beneath the evening sky.

Seraphin stepped outside calmly afterward.

Then paused.

Because below the mountains—

Smoke rose.

Not ordinary settlement smoke.

Too much.

Too constant.

Industrial smoke.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Farther below, torchlights illuminated expanding roads, moving caravans, patrol routes, and signs of growing infrastructure surrounding the restored frontier fortress.

Alive.

Organized.

Developing rapidly.

This was not the territory of a dying exile lord.

The younger investigator beside him stared downward in disbelief.

"...That’s impossible."

Perhaps.

But Seraphin trusted what he saw more than rumors.

And what he currently saw—

Concerned him deeply.

Far below, hidden beneath snow, smoke, steel, and ancient stone, Elarion waited quietly for the arrival of the crown.

End of Chapter 37