Глава 7

I can return her to you, Wei.

Stop!

...Don't do it.

Oh? You and your mighty executioners have made my life hell.

Of course I'm willing to return her to you... But the cuffs on her body will tear Lungmen in half.

Damn you...

Wei, this is the method you used against me. The way you forced me out of Lungmen.

But now, our roles are reversed. I'm the guest, as well as the poisoner.

Kashchey. You killed my brother.

No, no, Wei. You slew your own brother.

My role is irrelevant. Your brother's tragedy may have come from a Unicorn's secret orders, or from the wrath of a Lung. Whether it was me who leaked the news... ultimately, does not matter.

What's important, Wei, the one thing you mustn't forget... is that your Chi Xiao drank his blood. You did it.

Chi Xiao, the dragonslaying sword. And who is it that this blade slew? Your friends. Your family. Your people.

Dragonslaying sword? How ironic that your people forged a weapon that would be turned against its own kind.

You've gone too far.

Very well. I offer you a choice.

Choose. Slay me, and take back your niece, but lose your city as a result. Or, let us walk free.

Don't draw that sword. You know the consequences.

(Grinds teeth audibly)

Relax, Wei. I've let you choose your own fate. If you don't take my generous offer, then you and I both, all your citizens, and these two lovely sisters... will all perish.

What are you scheming?

Wei, old Wei... I know you well. Too well.

You've always had a choice, isn't that right?

What will your precious citizens think when they hear that their lives have been placed upon a scale? And on the other side... is a young dragon whose name they've never heard.

As for me, I don't even have a reason to hurt her.

...Since I was negligent enough to let you step foot back into this city, there's no reason to let you leave again.

Tal!

Oh really?

I'll kill you myself.

Now, now. There's no need for that.

My life is not yours to take.

By the way, you can save her before I put the handcuffs on her.

But you'll also have to think about defending against me. Defeating me. Striking me down. Annihilating me... And, what I am going to do next.

Wei, you're actually afraid of me, aren't you?

She's here.

Finally.

I'll kill her myself.

Confessarius, answer me.

The Leader of Reunion, is there any value in forming an alliance?

Why ask me about things that you know very well, Your Majesty?

A youth with no possessions, background, or capital cannot possibly seek to take an important Ursus city alone.

The uninfected rulers know not what to make of her actions.

They will panic, overreact, and try to resolve the chaos through more destruction — and use the chaos caused by the Infected as a front.

But, we Sarkaz know better.

What do you think of the team she finally left here?

They are unworthy, Your Majesty. As you foresaw, there is no hope for them. They are not trained soldiers, unable to cause the violence that we seek.

Eliminating them will not sever Talulah's power. We lack an opportunity to take her out.

Right, Your Majesty.

The situation that she fomented and the power she wielded to force the issue... shows that she is no one-eyed leader among the blind, or some pampered princeling awaiting the throne.

She is a conspirator.

Even if that is the case, I require a comprehensive response from the Sarkaz.

In that case, I have two bits of good news. First, we already have a lead on our search for the Lord of Fiends.

Rhodes Island hasn't yet been manipulated by foreign forces.

Don't waste time. We need her to begin right now.

Please do not be angered, and hear me out.

'She' is ready.

That power is rightfully ours.

The true King of Sarkaz is mightier than the heir of any unknown name.