Baron, on the ground, was stunned. "Why?"

’Does this mean I can’t go home if I don’t meet my performance quota? If that’s really the case, then don’t blame me for making a run for it.’

"The condition for entering the dreamscape is the presence of fog, because the fog blurs the boundary between the two worlds, reducing the dreamscape’s energy consumption.

This time, however, there was no fog. Bringing you into the dreamscape, my lord, consumed its own energy, so it will need some time to recover."

The Shepherdess’s dress transformed into a hunting outfit. "Therefore, during the time you are to remain in the dreamscape, I will continue to hone your skills..."

"However..." Two blood-red longspears appeared in her hands. She thrust one into the ground beside Baron. "This time," she said, looking down at him, "you will not be able to revive."

——————

Inner Side, London, British Museum / Hestia Family.

Elder Pence frowned as he looked at Roy Hestia. "The search of Ben Mountain, on both the Outer and Inner Sides, has been underway for three days. Have you still found no trace of Baron Constantin?"

"There’s no need to worry, Elder. He’s just a Bloodless. So what if he got lucky and became a Dragon Knight?"

Roy said, "A mere Black Iron Tier isn’t worth so much of your concern, Elder."

"But he is a Dragon Knight, after all..."

"At best, he’s the Rider of a subspecies Dragon!" Roy interrupted. "I know exactly what kind of person Baron Constantin is! I knew what he was like when we were at school in London!"

"His father, Fran Constantin, became a madman obsessed with Alchemy after his mother’s death. He and his sister, Yelena, are just as crazy!"

"I know him. There’s no way any member of the Dragon Race would acknowledge him... The report said the aura of the Dragon Witch was present at the scene of his attempted capture. Is it possible the Witch used some method to let him control a Dragon’s flames..."

Roy suddenly fell silent. "My apologies, Elder. I got carried away."

"No, it’s quite normal, Young Master Roy," said Elder Pence. "Those influenced by a Dragon gain not only its power but also its imperious nature. It’s a perfectly normal reaction."

"What you need to do now is compose yourself, then go back to Ben Mountain and search for Baron’s trail... If you find him, kill him before the courts and other Law Enforcer organizations can arrive. Bring his body back."

"If you don’t find him, it’s no matter. The Beowulf Clan will soon hold their Dragon Hunting Ceremony in the Dracul Mountain Range. All the Old Blood Clans will be invited. We want you to attend in place of your brother, Jill."

Roy said, "The Dragon Hunting Ceremony... that’s the one..."

"The ceremony to see who can draw the Dragon-slaying Weapon, the Dragon Spear. Normally, it’s just a way for the Beowulf Clan to select the next leader for their Dragon Slayers. What we need from you, however, is to absorb as much of the aura on the Dragon Spear as you can—the aura of the Pure-blood Dragon Race, or even that of a Dragon King or Dragon God."

Elder Pence said, "Both the Patriarch and I have great faith in you, Young Master Roy. A twenty-five-year-old Bronze Knight is a dazzling talent anywhere in the world."

"Baron Constantin can’t stop me," Roy said. "He used to be a madman who only wanted to find his mom, and now he’s nothing more than a Black Iron Tier fool."

He gave Elder Pence an ancient knightly salute.

Then, he turned and strode from the altar.

Elder Pence closed his eyes and sank back into the Blood Pool made of Dragon Bone.

Under the baptism of Dragon Blood, his aged skin instantly became smooth and firm... so much so that the blue of his veins was clearly visible.

’It’s not enough. The Dragon Blood isn’t enough... At this rate, I’ll never be able to fully merge with him. I’m not even halfway there, not even halfway... I’m missing a soul steeped in the aura.’

Then, as if sensing something, his eyes suddenly flashed with immense delight.

’The last thread of connection to the ruined body... severed at this very moment? Who found and killed him?’

No one answered. Elder Pence looked at his reflection in the Dragon Blood—one half old, one half young.

——————

In the forest outside Fude City, several factions were still locked in a tense standoff.

Ultimately, it was Director Sonny who arrived on the scene to mediate.

When he asked what had happened, Victor, Knight Order Leader of the Glorious Knight Order, showed a flicker of expression but said nothing.

Thunderbolt, the Barbarian Bear Knight, however, spoke up. "It’s nothing. We just found traces of those Palmer Witch Riders and figured they must have fought the Azure Fire Dragon... Oh, right, where’s Gawain?"

Thunderbolt turned to the silent knights. "Does anyone know where that guy Gawain is? He’s an Azure Fire Dragon Knight; he might know what happened..."

"Watch out!"

Galahad, her hair tied back, interrupted Thunderbolt. She suddenly drew her longsword, leaped forward, and slashed through the nearby bushes.

All eyes snapped to the spot.

Behind the bushes stood a knight, covered in wounds and leaning on a longspear. It was none other than Gawain Lannier!

The moment Gawain Lannier saw them, he collapsed.

He was clearly in immense pain. His face was twisted, and he was drenched in a cold sweat, unconsciously mumbling an indistinct word.

Everyone heard it clearly: "Dragon Knight..."

Later, however, after they had all returned and Gawain had recovered from his wounds, he couldn’t remember what he had encountered in the forest, no matter how they questioned him.

He also had no idea why the Azure Fire Dragon had kept appearing in the Fude City area.

Furthermore, when he went to look for clues himself, he was horrified to discover that not only were his life savings—all of ten Gold Coins—missing, but the *Dragon Spear* technique manual, a gift from the Knight King, had also vanished!

...

Meanwhile, in the dreamscape, a thoroughly beaten Baron was squatting in a corner. Bored, he had idly picked up a notebook and started writing in it.