It was nearing noon the next day when they finally checked out.
Unlike their âmaintaining distanceâ stance from the night before, by the time they were checking out, Leon and Rosvisser were close enough to be inseparable. Leon had his arm around her slender waist, and Rosvisser leaned against him like a delicate bird nestling beside her mate.
Who could tell that, just last night, theyâd both insisted on separate rooms? To a stranger, it mightâve looked like they were there for a divorce!
The receptionist from last night was still on duty, her eyes widening slightly as she observed the refreshed couple. With her years of experience, she could tell theyâd had quite a⊠passionate night. The fact that it was already almost noon suggested either theyâd indulged until late, or theyâd had another round in the morningâ
The receptionist quickly shook her head, stopping herself from speculating on their private life.
Normally, she wasnât like this. Having worked at the hotel front desk for so long, sheâd seen all kinds of couples.
But something about this particular pair was strange, unique even.
And yet, beneath that strangeness, there was an unmistakable sense of deep love and affection between them.
âYour check-out process is complete. We look forward to your next stay,â she said politely.
Rosvisser nodded and followed Leon out of the hotel lobby.
Once on the bustling street, they dropped their intimate pose and held hands more casually.
After an intense night together, they often dropped their usual guard, acting more like a true married couple, sharing gentle moments like hugging, holding hands, and small talk.
Indeedâ
âRegular bonding helps keep post-marital passion alive.â
Turns out, this saying wasnât wrong at all.
âSo, are we heading home, orâŠ?â
âLetâs grab something to eat first.â
Truth be told, Rosvisserâs legs were still feeling a bit weak.
Leon had gone all out last nightâwell, actually, he always didâwhich had left her in need of some extra energy.
*Ah,* she thought, a bit nostalgic for the days when sheâd been the one to drain the life out of a certain top dragon slayer.
Now, here she was, turned into his âcream puff.â
Shaking her head, Rosvisser dismissed these wandering thoughts.
After turning a few corners, they arrived at the food street.
Both suffered from a bit of decision paralysis.
With so many enticing options on display, they didnât know which one to choose.
âAh, I donât know where to go,â Rosvisser murmured.
Leon scratched his head. âHow about I pick at random?â
âI donât like chicken,â she said, misinterpreting him.
âNo, no, I meant âpick at randomâ likeâŠâ He raised his hand and pointed at various restaurants while muttering, âEenie, meenie, miny, moeâokay, this one.â
Rosvisser raised an eyebrow. *So childish!*
But⊠cute.
Hehe. :)
*What?*
*You think I was charmed? Donât be absurd. âCuteâ is practically an insult among dragons.*
âAlright, letâs go with this one.â
However, just as they were about to step inside, someone blocked their path.
Looking up, they saw a somewhat familiar face.
Leon sized him up, then recognized him.
âArenât you the one from yesterdayâs meeting at the Twilight Tower?â
The man wore a perfectly tailored suit, his hair neatly styled, hands gloved in white, shoes polished to a mirror shineâeither a doorman or a high-ranking attendant.
The man bowed slightly and introduced himself as âa servant of the Twilight Towerâs master.â
âYes, thatâs right. Itâs a pleasure to meet you again.â
Leon and Rosvisser exchanged a glance before shaking their heads slightly.
Neither of them understood why the Twilight Towerâs servant would seek them out after the Dragon Kingsâ meeting.
âWhatâs this about?â Rosvisser asked coolly.
âMy master requests the honor of your company for lunch, if you have the time.â
Lunch with the Twilight Towerâs master?
Could this be a trap?
After all, during the meeting, several Dragon Kings, led by Alres, had suggested eliminating Konstantin under the guise of âmaintaining stability within the dragon clans,â hoping to seize his Primordial Power for themselves.
As Thunder Dragon King Odin had hinted, those Dragon Kings were no strangers to such schemes.
Since the Twilight Towerâs master had organized the meeting, it was likely he was involved as well.
Leon looked at Rosvisser.
It was clear she was considering this possibility too.
With a quick exchange of glances, they began a silent, internal conversation.
Leon: *What do you think? Should we go?*
Rosvisser: *If this is indeed about Konstantin, I think itâs worth going. Primordial Power isnât something to take lightly. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be dire.*
After the meeting, Leon had shared his thoughts on Konstantin with Rosvisser.
Cruel, talkative, vengeful, and violent.
But principledâhe didnât harm children or involve innocent parties.
Even Noah, to Konstantin, had no role in his revenge against Leon.
So, if Konstantin held the Primordial Power, heâd likely only turn it against Leon and the empire.
But if someone else took it, who knew where it might end up.
The former was something Leon could manage; the latter⊠he had no such confidence.
So, if the Twilight Towerâs master wanted to discuss this matter, it was worth their time.
âAlright, lead the way.â
âThis way, please,â the attendant gestured, then led them away from the bustling food street.
After about half an hour, they arrived at a charming, standalone villa.
âThis is as far as I go; my master awaits inside.â
âUnderstood.â
The couple entered the villa.
They had expected an extravagant and luxurious interior, but to their surprise, the spacious room held only a single dining table.
Amidst the large, empty space, the lone table placed dead center gave the room an odd, almost unsettling feel.
It was as if the entire villa had been built solely for this meal.
At the far end of the table sat a middle-aged man.
He carried himself with a calm and dignified air.
Seeing Leon and Rosvisser, he stood up and greeted them,
âThank you for coming. Please, have a seat.â
Two chairs were placed on the opposite side, clearly set out for them.
Leon and Rosvisser took their seats, and Leon leaned over, asking softly,
âYouâre the Twilight Towerâs master?â
âYes, I am, Mr. Cosmod.â
The master merely confirmed his identity without further introduction, which made Leon and Rosvisser feel slightly at a disadvantage.
Not that it was unexpected; after all, the Twilight Towerâs masterâthe founder of Sky Cityâwas famously mysterious.
âLetâs enjoy the meal first,â he offered with a friendly smile.
However, neither Leon nor Rosvisser so much as glanced at the sumptuous dishes on the table.
âIf thereâs something you want to discuss, letâs be straightforward about it,â Leon said bluntly, wanting to seize control of the conversation.
The master looked slightly surprised, then chuckled, shaking his head. âDirect, just as people describe you, Prince of Silver Dragons.â
âPeople?â Leon scoffed, leaning back slightly. âSo many people keep tabs on me?â
âLetâs not sour the mood, Mr. Cosmod.â
The master loosened the scarf around his neck, setting it on the table, entering a more serious tone.
âI asked you both here to discuss the events of yesterdayâs Dragon Kingsâ meeting.â
Just as theyâd suspected, he was here to talk about the meeting.
With that confirmation, Leon and Rosvisser now had a better sense of how to respond.
âWhat does the master wish to discuss?â Rosvisser asked.
âI understand that, Mr. Cosmod, your proposal concerning Konstantin was supported by Odin and most others, leading to a consensus for action, correct?â
âThatâs right.â
The masterâs choice to separate âOdinâ from âmost othersâ indicated his understanding of Odinâs unique status among the Dragon Kings.
Leon noted this but decided to let the master proceed.
âNormally, Mr. Cosmod, the final decision on actions has always been made by the Mountain Sea Dragon King, Alres,â the master said.
Alresâthe very Dragon King advocating for seizing the Primordial Power.
âIs the master suggesting we negotiate privately to support Alresâ plan?â Leon asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
He saw the foxâs tail poking out, and he didnât intend to play coy any longer.
But the master shook his head, surprising Leon with his reply,
âI donât care if Alresâ plan is carried out or not. Heâs exploited the Dragon Kingsâ meetings for personal gain before, and Iâve never interfered.â
âThe Twilight Tower remains strictly neutral, merely providing a forum for the Dragon Kings to discuss matters.â
âWhatever actions follow and whatever results they bringâthose are for the Dragon Kings to bear.â
âAs a result⊠the fractured dragon clans have only grown more unstable over the centuries.â
âThough, who really cares?â The masterâs tone turned slightly sardonic as he continued.
âEveryone has always lived for themselves.â
Leonâs thoughts shiftedâ*So, heâs not aligned with Alres?*
Still, he decided to probe further.
âSelf-preservation is an age-old truth. Thatâs hardly new, master.â
âIndeed, self-preservation is one thing, but when it begins to affect others or when others bear the consequencesâthat is a different story, wouldnât you agree, Mr. Cosmod?â
Leonâs brows relaxed slightly. *Not
bad, heâs someone we can work with.*
âMaster, since youâve opposed Alresâ methods, as the powerful founder of Sky City, why tolerate or even condone him?â Rosvisser asked.
âWe dragons need a neutral force like Sky City, a middle ground where we can talk without resorting to violence. Or perhaps⊠we need order.â
The master explained, âIf I take sides, the balance is broken. At that point, more Dragon Kings might incite conflict, creating an even worse situation.â
It made sense.
If those in power couldnât be satisfied, those below would receive even less.
For Sky City, neutrality was non-negotiable; it was a steadfast equilibrium, tilting toward no side.
After all that talk, the master had voiced his frustration with Alresâ conduct. So, was he hoping for Leonâs help?
That didnât quite align with his strict neutrality, though.
âSo, master, I doubt you asked us here just to say this?â
âNo, Mr. Cosmod, I invited you here with a request.â
âA request?â
âOdin rarely attends the meetings, and this was your first time, yet despite that, you managed to prevent an internal dragon war by standing up to Alres.â
âOdinâs influence is well-known; many vote in line with him.â
âAnd you, Mr. Cosmod, are the opposite of Alres.â
âThe meetings need someone like you to counterbalance Alres. Only then can the dragon clans sustain themselves over time.â
âSo, my request is that you attend future meetings whenever possible.â
Ah, so it was to counterbalance Alres.
It didnât violate the masterâs neutrality, after all.
âWhy donât you just ask Odin? You yourself said he has sway over the others.â
The master shook his head. âI spoke with Odin last night, but he said he only attended to express his gratitude to you.â
âOdinâs exact words were, âI find that kid interesting. If it werenât for him, I wouldnât attend such boring meetings.ââ
âSo⊠Mr. Cosmod, I must turn to you. Without you, Odin wonât attend.â
Leon: ââŠ.â
So now he was a prized asset for the dragons?
Once upon a time, slaying a big shot like Odin wouldâve granted him a lifetime of riches.
*But times have changed,* Leon thought. Now he had to sit alongside this big-shot, balancing the scales against Alres, who hoarded every coin.
âSo, Mr. Cosmod, whatâs your answer?â
Leon stood up. âIâll need to discuss it with my wife. Youâll have your answer at the next meeting, master.â
The masterâs gaze flickered, and he nodded. âVery well, Mr. Cosmod.â
âThen weâll be on our way. Thank you for the lunch.â
Even though neither of them had touched a bite, they still expressed their gratitude.
As he watched the Silver Dragon couple leave, the masterâs polite smile faded, replaced by a cold, contemplative expression.
Just then, his servant entered, bowing respectfully.
âMaster, how did it go?â
The master narrowed his eyes, looking toward where Leon had disappeared.
âAs Odin said, heâs an interesting fellow.â
âBut âinterestingâ wonât be enough, will it?â
âConsidering he held his ground against Konstantin in the northern ruins, even after Konstantin gained Primordial Power, his strength must be formidable.â
The master recalled, âAnd⊠for the past few years, every time the Silver Dragon Clan faced incursions from their kin, Leon Cosmod single-handedly resolved it. That alone shows heâs at least preliminarily qualified.â
The servant pondered for a moment, then asked,
âBut, master, Leon Cosmodâs background is unclear. My investigation shows he practically appeared out of thin air among the Silver Dragons, eventually marrying the Silver Dragon Queen. Could someone like him⊠really be the one foretold?â
âWho knows?â
The master lowered his gaze to the floor, feeling the steady pulse of Sky City beneath him, and closed his eyes.
âBalance, neutrality, order⊠these ideals are too abstract for most dragons.â
âIf not for the prophecy and the âultimate fear,â I wouldnât have kept Sky City and the Twilight Tower standing all these years.â
âLetâs hope. Letâs hope that hot-blooded soul, Leon CosmodâŠâ
âIs the one foretold in the prophecyâŠâ