Ocean along with the three Underworld City Lords visited the royal palace the next day with their plan.

Roger was satisfied with it and had agreed to it but since it was the future of the kingdom that was going to be decided that’s why some of the Esmertia clan people had also tried to involve themselves. They weren’t going to be directly involved in the selection but as per the King’s orders they would be there to overlook the preparations done for the trials.

As for the Queen, then she had fallen sick. The royal physicians didn’t know what it was so they claimed it was fatigue and weakness brought on by the overworking. She was presently bedridden and having no head the Esmertia family couldn’t do much than they were already doing.

Besides, from his inside sources Ocean was still trying to locate the woman in black who had come to visit the Queen.

The trials were decided to be started at the beginning of the second month so, Ocean had enough time to prepare. He had suppressed the Queen’s further moves successfully but he still had no information about the witch or Princess Colette’s next moves.

He could have interrogated the Golden Serpent about the witch but it seemed like she was cursed with the spell of secrecy too. Though, she had no idea about it. The proud Queen had ended up becoming a pawn and she had no idea. It was funny for Ocean.

Still, with her beloved Prince in his hands now, he at least had no need to worry about Esmertia family’s interference in his plans.

Besides that, Queen of Mordino Miera and Grand Duchess of Frosthail Dahlia were presently having a spar in the Ryujin mansion’s training ground. The betting was equally tough to decided as both the ladies seemed like they could win.

Miri was adept in using her earth magoc while Dahlia was an expert in spear wielding. It was an exciting match that everyone had been watching.

Since it was happening in the interior training ground so, even Ocean was watching from the corridor above. The two looked like they were holding back a great deal but it was still enough to damage the training hall. Ocean sighed and then noticed the slight disturbance in the mana around him.

He wasn’t alarmed as a person warped right beside him.

"It’s been a while, Uncle." Ocean spoke without even looking.

Silas sighed and stepped beside Ocean with his hands on the railing overlooking the spar below.

"Did you do something to the Queen? She’s been bedridden for days and had ordered for the trials to go smoothly." Silas asked right away.

"Yes, I went over and warned her."

"What did you do?" Silas asked narrowing his eyes at him.

"I just told her that I know about her plans and also have a little bit of evidence that can shatter her glass palace." Ocean spoke resting his elbow over the sandstone railing and placing his chin over his palm.

"That’s it?" Silas cocked his brow and Ocean looked at him.

In their family, Silas was probably the only one who saw the unfiltered version of Reina who wouldn’t think before staining her hands with blood or doing a crime in order to get her plans done. So he very well knew that she wouldn’t just stop at the simple warning.

Ocean looked at Silas and noticed that he was still giving him the look that demanded details.

Ocean sighed, "I showed her the cursed leg that was retrieved from Denril and told her the whole body was with me and I’ll reverse her spell on her and take her son hostage if she dared to do anything anymore."

Silas stared at him for a moment before he pressed his hand over his head.

"You..." He couldn’t say anything and Ocean turned his focus back on the spar.

"It might be a low move but she was meeting a witch and getting involved with demons. If I don’t stop her here she will summon a demon by getting swayed by the witch. And I don’t want another demon running around, especially not here." Ocean said.

Just then Dahlia broke through Miri’s created sand beast and slashed her spear over Miri making her fall on her back. Defeated.

Ocean smirked, as he watched Dahila hold the tip of her spear’s blade at Miri’s neck and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Ocean clapped slowly as Davian walked up to the training ground next and Ocean leaned in to see the next spar that was between Dahlia and Davian now.

"And what will do with that cursed body?" Silas asked in the background.

"I have it safely stored." Ocean said not moving his eyes from Davian and Dahlia’s spar.

"You do realise that it’s a curse to bring disasters, Reina." Silas reminded.

"I know, but that grimoire also had the ways written in them to preserve the cursed body. Besides, my mana is enough to keep the curse at bay. All I need to do is find that witch and kill her to put an end to this." Ocean said watching as the spear clashed against the sword.

The auras of two different colors were present on the training ground, one was fiery red while other was deep violet. Davian was indeed improving faster under Sol’s guidance.

"What are you planning to do about Alys?" Silas asked.

Ocean hummed, "What to do about her?"

"Didn’t you say you were going to introduce her soon?"

"Yes, but with the Queen taking a back seat we can keep Aunt out of the equation for some more time. Besides, I needed to talk to you about something."

"What is it?" Silas asked.

"It’s about Elvenland." Ocean said.

"I need more details but considering that only Zale can provide me with some information I need to leave for that place soon."

Silas’ eyes widened, "So, you are going to Elvenland!"

"I have to, Uncle. Being a Dragon it’s my responsibility."

"You aren’t the only Dragon alive on earth, Reina there are more of them, aren’t there?" Silas asked and Ocean sighed.

"Yes, there are but considering what we got to know from the present circumstances, do you really think it’s a coincidence that the witch came into contact with the Queen and had just happened to use the disaster curse spell. Do you really think this is all just for the succession fight?"

Silas had no words, he had been thinking about this too. Keeping the history in mind, the curses and the demons had gone extinct but with them resurfacing and a witch finding her way in Sestia just in the time that there was a Dragon here wasn’t simple enough to call a coincidence. It might just be a beginning of the new war.

"That’s why, I am planning on recruiting the help of Merfolk, Elves of Elvenland and even the Dwarves. If we manage to get these three allies then in future Eric might be strong enough to help me out in finishing off the demons who would try to find their way over here."

Silas stared at Ocean, he could see no doubt in that face. Ocean was sure his plans were going to work out, he was sure that Eric would be the King and the war might just break out again but this time, the humans night have the strength to work this war on their own. In past there was a whole army of Dragons needed to fight off the demons but this time there was a Dragon here to stand by the humanity’s side from the beginning so, he couldn’t imagine how much of a burden was on Reina’s shoulders at this point.

Silas closed his eyes for a moment, "And how are you going to do that?"

Ocean watched as Dahlia defeated Davian but the fight was still quite a tough one for both and it was obvious that Dahlia had a hard time but she looked more happy and proud.

Ocean then turned to Silas and touched his earstud, turning into his beautiful elf’s form.

"Remember this?" Ocean asked.

"What about this? Are you going to go there like this? They would know in an instant that you’re a Dragon even if you go like this." Silas said and Ocean nodded reverting back.

"I know that’s why, I am keeping this form only to fool the people here."

Silas frowned a little, "What do you mean?"

"I’m not going to the Elvenland alone, Uncle."

Silas frowned a little but then the words became clear as he realised what Reina actually meant.

"Wait, you don’t mean that-"

Ocean simply smirked and Silas massaged his temples. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"And, I’m probably taking your wife too. Since we’ll need an explosives expert." Ocean said and Silas was at a loss for words.

"You’ve gone mad, Reina!" Silas almost shouted and Ocean laughed.

"I’ll take that as a compliment, Uncle. But we have to take some measures to make sure that everyone is kept on check and of course, the useless trash also comes in handy once in a while."

"Didn’t you tell us your plan before?" Silas asked and Ocean smiled.

"This is a last minute things that I needed to do, besides, I’ll have to run back and forth for some while so, I might be unavailable physically." Ocean said as he slowly climbed over the railing watching as Davian was grinning widely.

"Is there anyone who would challenge me?" He announced.

"I’ll keep in touch with the communication device- wait, what are you doing?" Silas asked looking as Ocean had gotten over the railing ready to jump.

"Then, I’ll leave for now. See you later, Uncle."

With that said, Ocean leapt down and landed softly on the training ground in front of Davian with a smirk, announcing.

"I challenge you, Davian."