Vol 8. Chapter 6: Lord Fuyan

At the city gates, the couple reported their identities to the Blazing Sun guards. Not long after, a small troop rode out from the main city.

Leon narrowed his eyes, noting that their means of transport resembled horse-drawn carriages—except that the Blazing Sun Clan had replaced the horses with a dangerous breed bred by warlike tribes. The creatures were similar in shape to horses but clad in steel, like weapons of war.

At the head of the troop rode a young girl, who appeared to be in her teens at most.

But as the descendants of gods were all long-lived, this girl could easily have been several hundred years old.

When they reached the gates, the girl swung her long legs, leaping lightly down from the beast. Turning gracefully, she offered a gesture unique to the Blazing Sun Clan.

She was tall and slender, with golden hair and blue eyes. At her waist hung a long sword. From her attire and bearing, she had the air of a knight.

After her salute, the girl spoke.

“I am Orion, captain of the City Lord’s Guard of the Blazing Sun Clan. By order of the Lord, I have come to receive you.”

With that, Orion stepped aside and gestured invitingly.

“Please board the carriage.”

The couple exchanged glances, then got into the carriage without protest.

Captain Orion swiftly remounted her war-beast, leading the troop back toward the city.

Inside the simple carriage, Leon and Rosvisser sat side by side.

“They let us in this easily,” Leon murmured.

“I find it strange too. Normally, entering the main city of another race requires layer upon layer of procedures.”

But from the moment they landed to the moment they entered the city, less than half an hour had passed.

“They’re efficient, this Blazing Sun Clan.”

“Mm... it might be connected to Poseidon.”

Leon said, “When we first talked about gathering other descendants of the primordial gods, we also inquired a little about the Blazing Sun Clan. Not long after, we got more detailed information from Poseidon. He probably obtained it when he dealt with them while searching for Apollo’s relic.”

To prevent the Void Realm’s return, Leon had recently sought to gather more allies, and as descendants of a primordial god, the Blazing Sun Clan were naturally among his first choices.

He had initially gleaned scraps of information from Hera, but it wasn’t enough.

Later, he recalled that when Poseidon, Vida, and Cecilia went searching for relics to seal the Void Gate, they must have had contact with the Blazing Sun Clan—after all, the relic of child of the Blazing Sun, had once been guarded by a half–Blazing Sun youth named Apollo.

So, after sending Muse to the Empire to study archery, Leon had gone to visit the Sea Dragons.

That trip served two purposes: letting his daughters greet their long-unseen master and mistress, and allowing him and Rosvisser to ask Poseidon for intelligence on the Blazing Sun Clan.

As expected, they obtained far more specific information there.

“Anyway, from what was carved on Poseidon’s Sword Stele, the Blazing Sun aren’t easy to deal with,” Leon said slowly. “Which fits what you said—any race that picks its leaders through constant trials has a bad temper.”

“But the impression we had of the Blazing Sun back then, when Poseidon recorded them, was of a mild and peaceful race.”

“Even the mildest race can be hardened by what they’ve been through.”

Rosvisser paused. She too had not imagined the [N O V E L I G H T] Blazing Sun to be gentle simply because of their smooth entry. So she added,

“Let’s hope our meeting with their Lord goes as smoothly.”

About half an hour later, the convoy halted. Outside, Orion’s voice sounded.

“We’ve reached the inner city. Please disembark.”

Leon pushed open the door, leaping down lightly before turning to offer his hand to Rosvisser.

Of course, the Silver Dragon Queen was no frail heiress tottering out of a carriage. The couple simply never missed an opportunity to show affection.

Orion placed one hand on her sword hilt, raising the other.

“Please, follow me.”

With that, she strode ahead into the inner city.

Leon and Rosvisser followed close behind.

Watching Orion’s back, Rosvisser whispered:

“Did you notice? This girl hasn’t exchanged a single unnecessary word with us from beginning to end. She hasn’t even waited for us to reply.”

Leon nodded slightly.

“Not a shred of wasted motion. She’s like a finely tuned mechanism—responds only to orders, nothing else.”

As a seasoned warrior, Leon could instantly distinguish between a battlefield drunkard and a well-trained soldier.

Even without any real interaction, he could already feel the calm precision radiating from this captain.

Just as he said—like a machine built only to execute commands.

And every ruler needs such machines.

It was no wonder Orion had become captain of the Guard at such a young age.

Following her lead, the couple entered the inner city’s reception hall.

“The Lord will arrive shortly. Please rest here for a while. I’ll wait outside the door—call me if you need anything.”

“Alright, thank you.”

At last, they had exchanged their first words with the cool, stoic knight.

Her response, however, was only a simple nod.

Clearly, she intended to carry her aloofness through to the end.

The couple said nothing more and stepped into the reception hall.

After a short wait, heavy footsteps echoed from outside.

They drew closer, until finally stopping just beyond the door.

Orion’s voice came: “Reporting to Lord Fuyan, the two honored guests are waiting inside.”

“Mm, I know.” A middle-aged man’s voice, deep and stern.

As he reached for the door, he paused, turned, and said to Orion:

“The Old Lord is calling for you. Go.”

“Yes.”

With that settled, Fuyan pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Leon and Rosvisser rose politely. As guests, they began to introduce themselves.

“Lord, we are from the Silver Dragon Clan—”

“I know. The Silver Dragon Queen and Prince Leon.”

Fuyan raised a hand, cutting them off.

He strode to the main seat of the hall and sat down.

“Spare me the formalities. Say what you came to say.”

He hadn’t even given his own name.

If Orion hadn’t already warned them that the Lord hated empty words, the couple might have been caught off guard by such bluntness.

But since he didn’t wish to waste time on pleasantries, Leon and Rosvisser followed his lead.

“Lord, have you heard of the recent Void invasion?” Leon asked.

Fuyan nodded.

“The Void invaded, Atos descended, and you—Leon Casmod, Prince of the Silver Dragons—joined with the Dragon Kings to repel him. I know. What then?”

Taken at face value, his words sounded disdainful, almost mocking.

But in his tone, there was no actual contempt. Instead... impatience.

The aura reminded Leon of Old Constantine.

Rosvisser stiffened slightly and hurried to fill the gap.

“Lord, we have come seeking divine relics left behind by the Void. Do you know of any clues?”

“No formalities. If you’ve something to say, say it. If you keep hemming and hawing, it’s bothersome. Otherwise, we can always step outside and fight. If the fight’s satisfying, anything can be discussed.”

At that, Leon cut straight to the point.

“Atos was driven back into the Void, but his Demon Sword remained in Samael. Now its fragments are scattered across the continent, silently voidifying their surroundings. Creatures are being affected too. We believe this was Atos’s contingency plan—his groundwork for a return. The dragons have already begun searching for the fragments. But we don’t know how many there are, nor are they likely limited to dragon lands. So we’ve come to ask you, Lord, to lend your hand and join us in seeking the Demon Sword fragments.”

When Leon finished, Fuyan’s expression had hardly changed.

Leaning on the armrest of the main seat, he asked quietly:

“Samael has countless races. Why come to the Blazing Sun?”

Leon froze for a moment. Why... come to you?

For heaven’s sake, your ancestor sacrificed himself to light the sun and seal the Void, gave his very life for Samael—and now that the Void has returned, you’re asking why we came to you?

Suppressing his irritation, Leon answered in a level voice.

“They truly don’t feel much recognition toward their divine heritage. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be asking such a thing.”

Rosvisser whispered back:

“Don’t push too hard to make them help, or it’ll sound like moral coercion. We prepared for this. Fuyan’s attitude... it was within expectations.”

Leon nodded with a sigh. He understood.

Smoothing his words, he continued to Fuyan.

“Seeking the fragments is an extremely dangerous task. Though Samael has many races, few are truly capable of such a mission. In other words: I came to you because your Blazing Sun Clan is strong.”

Whether or not Leon actually held them in such regard, the diplomacy was necessary.

“I understand what you mean, Prince.”

Fuyan spoke slowly.

“But perhaps we really don’t intend to get involved with you, or with your troubles.”

“I’m sorry. Unlike your dragons... we Blazing Sun are not so ‘great.’”

Whether his earlier tone had been provocation was uncertain. But this statement—this was nakedly sarcastic.

Leon locked eyes with Fuyan, trying to read what was behind this man’s cryptic hostility.

But the gaze lasted only a few seconds before Fuyan rose to his feet.

“Very well. We’re finished. Someone will escort you out shortly. Goodbye to you both.”

With that, he turned to leave.

The couple were left baffled.

They had expected resistance. But resistance with no reason at all? That was harder to swallow.

And just as they tried to gather their thoughts, an aged yet resonant voice called from outside the hall.

“Fuyan, do not be rude.”

At once, Orion opened the door and stepped in.

Behind her was an elderly man with a snow-white beard.

“...Old Lord.”