"I recently compiled my insights and created a martial arts manual."
Glenn forced a serious expression into his eyes and lowered his voice slightly.
"I intend to give that book to the Light Wind Palace Master, who has achieved unprecedented results."
He nodded, saying he would give Raon a book containing his insights as a reward.
"Hmm?"
Raon's eyes widened upon hearing Glenn's words.
'It's lighter than I expected.'
He had been worried about what to do if Glenn gave him all the treasures that existed in Zieghart, but it was a much more ordinary reward than expected.
'Not bad.'
Honestly, artifacts or elixirs wouldn't be of much help to his current martial prowess. It wasn't meant to disparage Glenn's insights, but a single book wasn't a burdensome reward.
-Huh?
Wrath tilted his head in confusion.
-What's with that old geezer? He definitely had eyes filled with madness, as if it wouldn't be strange for him to give away the entire family?
He blinked, saying it was strange.
"Hmm..."
"Isn't it a bit little?"
"Right. He killed the Dragon Lord, but the reward feels smaller than expected."
"No way! It's a book containing the Head of House's insights. You can't get that anywhere!"
"Even so, it's an achievement that changed the tide of war, so it's a bit little."
"But it's also true that there's no proper reward to give to the Light Wind Palace Master. What do you give to a martial artist who has surpassed even most transcendants?"
The executives also tilted their heads, saying Glenn's reward seemed too stingy compared to Raon's achievements.
"Kuhehe-hem!"
Glenn cleared his throat as if he had been waiting for those words, his eyes gleaming.
"As you say, it does seem insufficient compared to the Light Wind Palace Master's achievements. Moreover..."
Unlike usual, he licked his lips, saying he would fully reflect the executives' opinions.
"Thinking about it, the book I'm giving to the Light Wind Palace Master isn't meant to be shown to others, but something I wrote for my own reflection and improvement, so it would be difficult to understand by reading alone."
Glenn shook his head, saying that even for Raon, it would be difficult to understand the martial arts manual he created by himself.
"In that case, it would be better for me to go personally and provide teachings. Until the Light Wind Palace Master fully absorbs the book's contents." (E/N: That sly old geezer)
His lips trembled with excitement, as if he had planned from the beginning to personally teach Raon.
"The Head of House will teach personally?"
"And not at the great training ground, but by visiting the annex building directly?"
"Wow, that's acceptable!"
"Since the Light Wind Palace Master killed the Dragon Lord, it's not strange for the Head of House to make a move!"
"The annex building will become even stronger, won't it?"
The executives smiled, saying it had now become an acceptable reward.
"Father's one-on-one teaching, how enviable! So when will my martial arts manual come out?"
Balder said everything was fine, but asked for his martial arts manual to be made, spinning his thick fingers in circles.
"That level is certainly needed..."
Karoon also seemed to think it was acceptable, closing his eyes with his arms crossed.
'Grandfather's teachings...'
Raon licked his lips as he watched Glenn's shoulders trembling with excitement. (E/N: he has been personally taught by Glenn for 1000 chapters so it doesn't feel like a big deal tbh...)
'It will be a very helpful reward.'
Glenn was still an absolute martial artist standing far above him. Just having him explain the path he had walked first would allow him to build a very large and high foundation.
'However...'
It seems like a reward that Glenn would enjoy more than Raon himself. Glenn, being the head of Zieghart before being his grandfather, restrains himself from showing too much favoritism to one side. But this time, it seemed he was planning to stay at the annex building under the pretext of reward and spend a lot of time with him and Sia.
-As expected, he's a doting old geezer!
Wrath snorted as if he knew Glenn would be like this.
-Looking at him, it seems like he's planning to stick to you like cheese on toast and never leave!
He clicked his tongue, saying it would be tiresome for a while.
-But why didn't he say that from the beginning? Why did he drag it out!
Wrath frowned, saying he didn't understand Glenn's intention.
'It's because of me.'
Raon drew a gentle smile as he received Glenn's affectionate gaze.
'He seems to want to enjoy seeing me being recognized by the other executives.'
Glenn had definitely planned this not to propose himself, but because he wanted to see the executives first recognize him and want to give a bigger reward. He could feel his heart, which made him smile naturally.
"Additionally, I'll also give you the authority to enter Zieghart's treasury ten times."
Glenn brought out additional rewards for Raon as if it was still a bit insufficient.
"Ten times in the treasury."
"Honestly, it wouldn't be strange to give him the entire treasury."
"Since there's the reward of the Head of House's teachings, that would be secondary."
The swordsmen nodded, saying that was also an acceptable reward.
"Hmm! Then in addition to that, I'll also expand the Light Wind Palace's territory. I'll allow expansion equal to the territory currently possessed. First, we'll build the buildings, and simultaneously give priority to receive Shadow Agents' information..."
Glenn continued listing additional rewards while folding his fingers as if it was still insufficient. His eyes gradually began to be tinged with madness.
"Stop!"
-Stop!
Raon and Wrath simultaneously shouted while looking at Glenn's mouth that was opened so wide that drool seemed about to flow.
"That's enough!"
-Stop it already! You old geezer!
***
Knock knock. Kubara knocked on the door of the black study while wearing an elegant ceremonial dress.
"Come in."
A calm voice came from inside the door that was polished like oil.
"..."
Kubara took a moment to catch her breath, then opened the heavy door and entered the study.
"What is it?"
Derus Robert, a beautiful middle-aged man with long silver hair reading a nameless book, gestured with his chin without even lifting his gaze.
"I should have told you not to disturb me unless it's important?"
He openly displayed his displeasure as if reading the nameless book was more important than anything else.
"I apologize."
Kubara bowed her head without even wiping the cold sweat flowing from her forehead.
"However, this is something I must report."
She lifted her gaze directly, saying it was something that couldn't be ignored.
"You certainly have never spoken nonsense."
Derus briefly licked his lips and turned his gaze to Kubara.
"Speak."
He closed the nameless book as if he would listen properly.
"The signal from Trosowr, the leader of the Black Dragon clan who regularly contacted us, has been cut off."
Kubara shook her head, saying they couldn't contact Trosowr, the leader of the Black Dragons.
"That can't be all?"
Derus narrowed his eyes thread-thin as if wanting more.
"Yes. To assess the situation, I went to Trosowr's lair. On the surface, there seemed to be no problems, but..."
Kubara continued speaking with a cold gaze.
"There were traces of battle remaining. It seems someone killed Trosowr."
She nodded while holding up an orb that emanated divine power.
"Just in case, I also checked the other clan leaders, but the Red clan and Blue clan couldn't be reached either."
Kubara frowned, saying it seemed three clan leaders had died in an impossibly short time.
"In my estimation..."
"You're saying even the Dragon Lord is dead."
Derus Robert pressed down on the nameless book with his finger.
"I know that Igni Serpang, Azgoros, and Trosowr were hiding the Lord in another dimension. If those three disappeared simultaneously, there's a high possibility the Dragon Lord is also dead."
His eyes flashed with intelligence as if he had grasped everything from just the limited information while sitting.
"...That's correct."
Kubara nodded as if Derus's words were accurate.
"Whose doing is this?"
Derus slightly lowered his eyebrows as if he couldn't figure out that much.
"I couldn't properly determine if the Dragon Lord died, but the person suspected of killing Trosowr, the leader of the Black clan, is..."
Kubara held out a glass orb and bowed her head.
"Raon Zieghart."
She let out a low breath, saying Raon Zieghart's aura remained around Trosowr's lair.
"Raon Zieghart."
Derus drew a thin smile.
"That guy again."
He calmly nodded even though Raon's name came up.
"The Dragon Lord and Ancient Dragons were important forces to face the Transcendents in the final war. It's regrettable."
He maintained a calm expression even while saying it was a big problem.
"Where did the information leak from?"
Derus furrowed his brows, wondering how Raon had cut down the clan leaders and sought out the Dragon Lord.
"I'll find out immediately."
Kubara bowed, saying she would gather information about Zieghart.
"No, there's something more important."
Derus raised his hand to Kubara who was about to leave the study.
"If the Dragon Lord and Ancient Dragons are gone, the war's outcome might change. Rather than spending time gathering information on Raon, collect more sacrifices instead."
He clenched his fist, saying sacrifices were more important now.
"It doesn't matter if we're discovered now. Squeeze the humans so we can extract as much divine power as possible."
Derus shook his head, saying he would handle Raon personally.
"Understood."
Kubara bowed as if she would move immediately, then left Derus's study.
"Raon Zieghart"
As soon as Kubara left the study, Derus raised his fist and struck down on the desk. Unlike before, explosive killing intent rippled in his eyes.
"Should I kill him right now? If it's just that bastard, I could kill him easily, even now."
Derus chewed his lips while looking at the desk that had disappeared without even leaving dust.
"No. He must survive and do that task."
He drew a sinister smile as he watched blood flow from inside his black leather gloves.
"Because it's really not far off now..."
***
-What?
Wrath's eyes widened.
-What did you just say?
He tilted his head as if he couldn't understand.
"If it's Derus Robert, he would be able to know that the clan leaders died and that the Dragon Lord died too."
Raon took off his clothes and hung them up while nodding to Wrath.
-That's impossible...
Wrath frowned, saying it hadn't even been a week since the Dragon Lord died.
-Isn't that too fast!
He shook his head, saying that no matter how special Derus was, it wouldn't be to that extent.
"No, if it's that bastard, he would know. He's that kind of bastard."
Raon smiled as if he knew everything about Derus Robert's condition.
-Then the surprise attack will also fail...
"That's different."
He firmly waved his hand.
"If it's Derus, even while angry, he'll try to make new plans to recover the lost forces. In other words, he'll be focused on other things, so it'll actually become easier to target that bastard."
Raon clenched his fist, saying they should aim for that opportunity.
-Hah...
Wrath let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
-Both you and that bastard are really strange.
He shook his head, saying he couldn't understand neither Raon nor Derus.
"Of course, Evelyn, the Shadow Agents, and the Black Market would need to move properly."
If it was Evelyn, she might be able to find Derus Robert's location based on the black book the Dragon Lord left behind. He couldn't miss this chance to stab a dagger into that bastard's heart after such a long time.
"I also..."
"Don't worry!"
Just as Raon was about to speak consecutively, the eyes of a doll standing in the room flashed purple and Evelyn's voice burst out.
"Gasp!"
-Kyaaaaaaah!
Raon and Wrath screamed at Evelyn's sudden appearance.
"Just trust me!"
The doll that Evelyn had inhabited left those words and its eyes dimmed as if she had disappeared.
-Ahh...
Wrath tapped the doll while pressing his lips down tightly.
-Th-that's really an impossible pervert!
He swallowed dry saliva, saying he didn't know he was being observed through a doll.
'Right. Now she's going beyond animals to inanimate objects...'
Raon stroked his churning chest and let out a sigh.
'Even when alone, it would be better to speak inwardly.'
Since he didn't know where Evelyn might be watching from, it seemed better to always converse with Wrath only inwardly.
'My chest still hurts. I should relax by tasting something good.'
He lowered his hand, saying he needed to calm his tense heart because of Evelyn.
-Go-good things to taste? This king wants to eat too!
Wrath licked his lips, asking what he had prepared.
'You'll like it too.'
Raon smiled broadly as he spread his hand.
[You have slain the King of Dragons!]
[You have toyed with
[You have achieved a great feat!]
[All stats increase by 100 points.]
[New trait...]
He brought up the rewards he had received for killing the Dragon Lord but hadn't properly checked.
-Ueouk!
Wrath screamed while looking at the reward message that appeared before his eyes as if he hadn't expected it.
-Go-good food to taste, you said, so why are you suddenly bringing that up!
'I never said food. And it is something good.'
Raon licked his lips long while looking at the rewards filling his vision.
'Because it's a very sweet reward.'
-Stop teasing! After that crazy woman, my heart is really going to stop!
Wrath screamed, begging him to please stay still.
'You don't have a heart right now.'
Raon tilted his head while looking at Wrath's faint spirit form.
-You bastard, you are worse than a demon king!