Amid the cheers of the crowd and the applause of the nobles, while Laurent shyly leaned on his arm, a cold mechanical voice echoed inside James' mind, shutting out all the noise of the outside world.
A transparent system window appeared before him, announcing a bombshell revelation:
[Second wife of the host successfully detected]
[Reward granted: 500 years of pure internal energy]
[Legendary item granted: Royal Golden Dragon Blood Drop]
[Explanation: This drop does not grant a full beast transformation. Instead, it bestows upon your body the "Human-Dragon Form." Once activated, golden, sacred, unbreakable scales will cover your body from neck to toe, forming a mythical armor impermeable to any attack. This form grants you overwhelming physical and magical might capable of shattering mountains—power far beyond human limits. Usage limit: Once every 24 hours due to the extreme strain.]
James froze on the spot, his pupils widening in shock he could not hide.
The rewards exceeded all logical expectations; five hundred years of internal energy was not just a number—it was a tidal wave of power large enough to shatter the bottleneck he had struggled with for so long.
It would easily push him into the fifth level of High Knight Rank—and perhaps even beyond.
But what truly made his heart tremble was the description of that golden blood drop.
He imagined it in his inventory: a dense, heavy droplet glowing like molten gold, exuding the aura of an ancient beast that once ruled the heavens and the earth.
It was a promise of absolute strength—and a promise of a bloodline that could rule the world with the might of dragons.
His mind raced at terrifying speed, connecting the dots into a tempting and terrifying equation:
"Touching my wives gives me energy… sharing the bed floods me with even more… and now marriage grants me dragon blood and legendary treasures that immortalize my bloodline!"
He swallowed hard, overwhelmed by limitless possibilities.
"My god… if marriage gives this much, then what would I get from having a child? Would I become ruler of the universe?"
He gazed into the distance with a strange, wide smile, and spoke with a decisive tone, as if he had discovered his ultimate fate:
"It seems there's no escaping this destiny… I'll have to walk the Path of a Thousand Wives."
In the quiet room wrapped in the shadows of night, Laurent sat at the edge of the wide bed, curled into herself like a shy white flower afraid to unfold its petals. Her heart pounded so loudly she felt it might echo in the silence.
Her wait didn't last long. James slipped behind her silently, pressing his solid body against her back, surrounding her with overwhelming warmth. His arms slid around her waist, his hands settling possessively over her stomach as he pulled her closer until her back met the firmness of his chest.
His lips brushed her ear, and he whispered in a deep, husky tone that sent a delicious shiver through her:
"What is it, Laurent… don't you want me to be your husband?"
She trembled and tried to speak, her voice quivering with tension:
"No… not like this, but…"
He didn't let her finish. He turned her face toward him with a firm motion and captured her lips in a hungry kiss, teasing her lower lip before plunging his tongue into her mouth, savoring her sweetness. Her eyes widened for a heartbeat at the shock of his closeness before she surrendered, closing her eyes and returning the kiss with growing passion.
As their lips remained locked, James' hand moved with practiced ease, loosening the ribbons of her dress until the silk slid from her shoulders, revealing a marble-sculpted body. Her skin was snowy white, flushed faintly pink from embarrassment and desire.
James pulled back to admire his new treasure, his eyes devouring every inch. His rough hand cupped her soft chest, kneading gently as he relished the smoothness of her skin.
"What a stunning body… more beautiful than I imagined," he murmured, voice dripping with desire.
Laurent let out a soft, breathy laugh, all her fears melting under his touch.
After a long battle of passion, James sat on the edge of the bed, sweat dripping down his bare body like he had stepped out of a steam bath.
He glanced at Laurent and saw she had fallen asleep instantly, completely drained.
"She's stronger than I thought… damn," he muttered, wiping his brow.
He focused his mind and spoke into the empty air:
"System, give me all unused stored years of energy."
A brief silence followed—then a reply so unlike the cold mechanical tone he expected that he flinched. It was a voice dripping with sarcasm and annoyance:
[Take your crap and get out… how much do you even have? 640 years? Damn you, what a nuisance.]
James' brows knitted in confusion.
This was the second time the system spoke like that—like a living being with mood swings, not a program.
"You sound a little too human today… what changed?"
The response came immediately, harsh and dismissive:
[I said TAKE YOUR CRAP!]
Before he could speak again, power exploded within him like a ruptured dam.
A violent surge flooded through his meridians, rivers of pure energy crashing through him.
The barrier of the fifth level shattered instantly—then the next one shattered too.
Fifth tier…
Sixth tier…
In just minutes, James ascended two entire levels, landing firmly at the Sixth Tier of the Transcendent Knight Realm.
"Whew… very good," he exhaled as the aura around him calmed.
But his greed for power had only grown.
"Give me the Dragon Blood drop too," he ordered.
The air rippled, and the golden drop floated before him—radiant like a miniature sun.
Without hesitation, he swallowed it.
Ecstasy turned into agony.
He collapsed onto the bed clutching his stomach, rolling onto the floor as waves of torment tore through him.
It felt as if his insides were burning, muscles and organs ripping under the monstrous expansion of energy.
"AAAAAAAH!"
His scream shattered the silence.
Golden scales burst from beneath his skin, spreading from his feet to his neck, forming an impenetrable living armor while his head remained human.
Then suddenly, the pain vanished.
James rose slowly, staring at his transformed body—like a living golden statue radiating impossible might.
"Such terrifying power… I must test it," he thought, leaping toward the open window.
But he halted abruptly.
"Idiot… you'll destroy the city. Not at night. Tomorrow."
He drew the massive energy inward, and the scales sank beneath his skin.
Back to normal.
He returned to the bed and slid beside Laurent, pulling her tightly into his arms and waking her with bold touches.
Laurent blinked sleepily—only to gasp in shock as James began another round instantly.
But this time was different.
The remnants of the dragon blood and his rise to Tier Six had filled him with bottomless stamina and frightening strength.
Laurent could only surrender as the wild force of his new body overwhelmed her completely.
Two Months Later
Life settled into routine. One morning, James stood before the Adventurer Guild task board when a panicked voice cried out:
"Sir… please! Come to the baron's mansion at once!"
He turned to see Robin, pale, sweating, breathless.
Alarm bells rang in James' mind.
"What happened?"
Robin didn't look back as he practically ran:
"Follow me, sir… you'll understand soon. There's no time."
They reached the mansion quickly and hurried to Baron Lorin's chambers.
Cold silence greeted them.
Inside the room, sorrow hung thick.
Feline sat quietly holding the children, while Laurent was collapsed over her father's body, sobbing uncontrollably.
The baron lay pale and still—lifeless.
"What is this…?" James whispered, though the truth was obvious.
Laurent heard his voice and ran into his arms, shaking as she clung to him.
"James… you finally came," she cried.
He held her tightly.
"What happened, Laurent?"
Through tears, she choked:
"My father… he's dead, James."
Shock froze James.
He genuinely respected the baron—his cunning politics aside, the man had always treated him with warmth and dignity.
He was like a second father.
James exhaled heavily, mind racing.
"Damn it… may he rest in peace, but this is going to drag me into a whirlwind of trouble."
No male heir.
Laurent was the only child.
James, the strongest knight, married to her.
He was now the inevitable successor—and the biggest target.
Robin approached and whispered:
"Sir James… you know what this means."
James nodded slowly:
"Yes… I know."
Power.
Wealth.
Responsibility.
And enemies.
James straightened, his expression hardening.
"We will hold a grand funeral first… then we'll deal with everything else."
The baron's death spread quickly.
The city dressed in black.
Nobles gathered.
Everyone whispered the same name:
James.
The funeral was massive and solemn.
James stood tall before the baron's grave, dressed in black, flanked by Philip and Robin.
The scene said everything.
The old baron's era had ended.
The era of Baron James had begun.