Taming the Protagonist

Volume 3

Chapter 5 : He Will Return Like the Blazing Sun

Anselm outlined the Empire’s map in different periods in his mind.

The reason the “deaths” of the Emperor and Ivora were necessary was that only with the demise of the Divine Species that overrides everything, could change be possible.

And in the originally destined future, exactly how did the Emperor on the verge of madness and the Grand Princess craving power decline?

That naturally could not be the influence of external forces, because at that time Hydra had long entered a state of reclusion, Flamel spent all his remaining time accompanying his wife and son, that Anselm also temporarily put down the blood hatred in his heart, staying by his parents’ side all along.

Ephithand’s end similarly stemmed from her morbid pursuit of self-preservation—but not because her rationality completely collapsed and was incinerated by the Source Flame, this Emperor who could be called the most absurd in the late ruling period of all Emperors, made a choice no one expected.

She threw herself into the Lost Sea, hoping to find a slim chance of survival from the Callers of the Deep.

The clues to this inconceivable action could be seen from what Ephithand had done before—don’t forget, she also thought about turning Ivora’s hunting ground into the Callers of the Deep’s ranch.

Only in this timeline, Anselm’s power was obviously much more reliable than the Callers of the Deep, Ephithand who regarded Anselm as the main path, naturally only kept a thought on the Callers of the Deep’s side, and did not put it into action too much.

And at that time, facing Ephithand throwing herself towards the Lost Sea, Ivora had two choices.

One was to wait for Ephithand to fail, wait for the Source Flame to reclaim her power, the second was to find a way to intercept and kill her delirious mother, intercepting the power of the Divine Species.

Ivora dared not gamble, she dared not gamble on what exactly would result from the combination of the Callers of the Deep and Ephithand, and where the power of the Flame-Feasting Royalty would go, so the proud and decisive Grand Princess, also resolutely charged into the Lost Sea.

Thus, the Empire’s Emperor and successor, just fell silent in the boundless ocean like this.

And regarding subsequent matters, Anselm could only see a few fragments—because this was a story belonging to the Brave, under the circumstance that the vast majority of memories related to the Brave were burned, Anselm only knew that the Brave Isha Zli, as the Heavenly Will, successfully subjugated the Callers of the Deep.

And what exactly the entity of this “Callers of the Deep” was, whether it was the Emperor or the Grand Princess who went deep into the Lost Sea, was still unknown.

This was also the matter Anselm cared about most right now.

That was whether the killing move fate dealt to Ephithand and Ivora, besides destroying the Empire’s eternal rule and plunging everything into chaos, had any other... more important purpose?

The Callers of the Deep had been silent in the Lost Sea for endless ages, posing little threat to the land; why would the Brave risk the huge danger of capsizing the continent to start a sixth-tier war?

Was this related to that Flame-Feasting mother and daughter pair?

At the break of dawn that day, even with the Source Flame entangling her body, Ephithand still fought to the death, turning into flowing fire falling towards the east.

“...She should have been burned to nothingness by the Source Flame, where would the Callers of the Deep utilize her power from?”

Anselm heading to the reception room muttered to himself in his heart, gently rubbing the cold snake head.

“And if Ephithand lost the possibility of being utilized by you under my calculation, then your gaze... can only turn to Ivora.”

“Ivora... hehe.”

Even though due to Mingfuluo’s “utterly stupid” sacrifice, the most important plan went bankrupt, and Anselm lost the possibility of dominating the entire Empire with absolute power, this did not mean he didn't know what to do next.

The young Hydra placed his hand on the door.

Come, a new round, decide the victory or defeat again.

He carried no manic gloom, no delirious resentment, whispering resolutely in his heart, then pushed the door to enter.

“Lord Hydra!”

In the reception room, the dignified woman sitting on the sofa immediately stood up, curtsying to Anselm: “Namo truly cannot get away, please forgive him for failing to come in person.”

The Namo in the woman’s mouth was exactly the West Kingdom’s Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, Namo Lapis Lazuli. And being able to address Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke so intimately, her identity was of course also extraordinary.

Yulis Lapis Lazuli, Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s third official wife, and also, hmm... Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s younger sister.

Ms. Yulis showed a very clear attitude right from the start—only Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke himself was qualified to talk to Anselm, only because he truly could not get away, so he had to let her meet Anselm on his behalf.

And her address to Anselm was even more thought-provoking... whether this attitude was purely respectful, or out of some kind of probing, was hard to say.

“The situation in the West Kingdom is indeed chaotic, I naturally can understand Lord Lapis Lazuli’s difficulties.”

Anselm smiled and signaled Yulis to sit down, he sat on the sofa opposite Yulis, leaning back slightly sinking into the cushion, crossing his legs, fingertips touching, appearing leisurely and calm.

“Moreover, Madam’s visit is enough to prove Lord Lapis Lazuli’s sincerity.”

Yulis, sitting sideways with legs slanted together, gently tucked the hair at her temples behind her ear, every movement revealing full mature woman charm, she spoke softly: “But you are the great Lord Hydra, the entire Empire needs to hold respect for you, it is still our lack of etiquette, therefore...”

She pushed forward the black box placed on the coffee table in advance.

“A small apology.” The woman folded her hands on her legs, bowing her head slightly in a disciplined and respectful manner, “Also ask Lord Hydra to forgive Namo’s rudeness.”

Anselm did not decline, even directly opening the box in front of Yulis, inside lay an old spherical object, and a pure black crystal core.

“Celestial Conquest Relic and Dark Dragon Magic Crystal...”

Anselm closed the box with a faint smile: “Just an apology, requires spending such a large sum?”

Yulis answered softly: “Can be considered a small token of regard from Namo and me, after all in the business of these past few years, Namo received quite a lot of help from you, we always have to think of a way to repay.”

Quite a few treasures produced from the West Kingdom were sold at higher prices in various ways through Anselm’s hands.

At the same time, the flow of some resources and talents was not small.

Anselm had dealt with nobles of the entire Empire since he was ten, speaking of partners, they could be said to be everywhere.

“Just small matters of mutual benefit.” The young Hydra said so, but did not refuse, accepting this gift.

That Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke who liked doing business was as keen as always, this gift was obviously not directly given to Anselm, but given to those two “favored” beautiful Contract Heads.

Such a gift was obviously easier for Anselm to accept.

Now, the respect, humility, and benefit-currying on the surface were all in place, it was also time to get straight to the subject.

“You and Lord Lapis Lazuli are both business people who cherish time.”

Anselm leaning back on the sofa again raised his chin slightly, very considerately helping Yulis open the topic: “Coming this time, what business is to be done again?”

Yulis smiled gently: “Then I will also not say inconsequential words anymore... Lord Anselm, there is something, please look over.”

The ring on her ring finger flashed a faint light, and in her palm appeared a... broken tooth?

“Such a small dragon tooth.” Anselm raised his eyebrows slightly, “A young dragon just hatched?”

“Yes, this is a dragon tooth of a Molten Dragon hatchling... and, this was not obtained by poaching.”

“...” Anselm’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Dragons, as the apex of beasts, had almost no natural enemies in the world, but this did not mean they could ignore even the most basic biological instinct—that is, protecting their young.

Dragons mostly entrenched in the Tianlu Mountain Range, there were also scattered Dragon Clans distributed everywhere on the continent, but in any case, the safety of young dragons was guaranteed to a great extent.

If this dragon tooth did not come from poaching, it meant... the young dragon appeared on a battlefield proving conflict.

And this could only explain one thing—

“Dragon Calamity.”

Anselm tapped his index finger lightly, staring at the dragon tooth in Yulis’s palm: “Only three years’ time... going to start a Dragon Calamity again?”

The four gods located at the top all suffered the torture of abyss erosion, the Flame-Feasting Royalty burned and devoured Hydra’s abyss element to seek the possibility of ascending to the seventh tier, Hydra maintained rationality through the burning of the Flame-Feasting fire, the two could be considered an alternative mutual assistance and coexistence.

Then... the King of Ten Thousand Dragons, how did it continue rationality under the abyss erosion?

The answer was simple—slaughter.

As the apex of beasts, the method to vent that endless pain lingering around it, besides hunting and slaughter, what else could it be?

When the Dragon King’s erosion reached a threshold, it would transmit this madness to all Dragon Clans, giant dragons would attack the human world from the Tianlu Mountain Range, even young dragons would go mad because of this, setting off a terrible disaster named Dragon Calamity.

And the Dragon King itself, mostly roamed in the Zero Point Labyrinth, recklessly squandering its own power, bringing down endless destruction.

Of course, the Dragon King choosing this way to slow down its own erosion was not entirely due to the existence of the Emperor and Hydra, although the Empire’s two Divine Species made it impossible for the Dragon King to launch a massacre, it also knew clearly itself, if the humans with the most potential were exterminated, who should it pour its tyranny on, and who could become the best prey for the giant dragons?

Only, in the present where the Emperor was highly likely dead, Flamel fell from the sixth tier, falling into a deep sleep...

The monster entrenched on the peak of Aling Peak had already cast its hungry gaze towards the human world.

“Yes... don’t you find it absurd.”

Yulis sighed: “The Dragon King’s threat is close at hand, yet more than ten Grand Dukes who supposedly inherited the Empire’s glory, only think about fighting for power and profit, fighting and killing each other in chaos.”

“Because they also know the Dragon King will not completely destroy the Empire, at most it will only regard the Empire as a hunting ground.”

Anselm twitched the corner of his mouth: “Hunting matters have always been done by giant dragons, the Dragon King itself will not participate in it, so even if setting off an endless Dragon Calamity, they also have the spare energy to protect themselves.”

“Rather say, under these kinds of chaotic times, can their power, their strength be highlighted even more.”

Would transcendent beings care? No, not at all.

The Dragon King was not human, it did not care about secular authority, it only needed prey that could delay abyss erosion. In this aspect, it was not the enemy of transcendent beings.

Even so, it was much more stable than the Emperor of the Flame-Feasting clan—as long as the desire for slaughter was satisfied, the giant dragons would return to the Tianlu Mountain Range.

The Dragon King disdained squandering power in this main plane which was a bit narrow for it, soaring freely without restraint in the endless Zero Point Labyrinth fit the nature of a beast more.

Since it was just like this, then what was there to worry about? Just a Dragon Calamity once every dozen years... even as Anselm said, without strong enemies, how could the transcendent beings’ power be reflected?

So the Grand Dukes actually did not take the potential disaster brought by the Dragon King too much to heart—if you insisted the Dragon King could kill them all at any time, then which Divine Species wouldn’t do this?

The Dragon King would go mad suddenly like this, would the Emperor, Hydra, not?

Since thousands of years had passed like this, then there was nothing to worry about, or rather worrying was useless.

Due to being closest to the Tianlu Mountain Range, the West Kingdom was most seriously affected by the Dragon Calamity, and at the same time profited most handsomely.

Said to be a disaster, but when giant dragons full of treasures rushed towards you madly, how was it not an opportunity befalling?

Precisely because of this, plus being the region where temporary entrances to the Zero Point Labyrinth opened most frequently, the West Kingdom became a paradise for adventurers, with fully four Grand Dukes enfeoffed here.

West Kingdom, a wonderful land where every inch of soil could give birth to opportunities.

And the West Kingdom’s most famous businessman Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, naturally could not be for the common people to let his wife do business with Anselm.

“You also know, Lord Anselm.”

Yulis put away the young dragon’s broken tooth, saying incomparably seriously: “Originally when the Dragon Calamity descended, the West Kingdom would more or less unite to resist those mad dragons. But the current situation... Blood Dust and Sky Soil are fighting to the death, absolutely impossible to cease fire and join hands. And Dragon Tongue always has the most advantage in the Dragon Calamity, always standing by watching. Namo and I are hard pressed to support alone... in this way, the mad dragons are very likely to tear the West Kingdom’s barrier, sweeping through the entire Empire, ravaging countless commoners.”

“I think... you definitely do not wish to see such a scene.”

Anselm did not express anything about this funny polite talk, only smilingly asked back: “Then what does Lord Lapis Lazuli think is better to do? Do you need me to help you resist the giant dragons?”

“No no no... you misunderstood, Lord Anselm.”

Yulis said extremely sincerely: “Resisting the Dragon Calamity is the responsibility inherited for generations by the Dukes guarding the West Kingdom, how can we trouble you to act? We only hope you can provide some help on a certain matter...”

Her body leaned forward slightly, her bulging chest ready to come out, on the delicate and mature beautiful face was a deep and sincere expectation.

“As long as we can seize Dragon Tongue Grand Duke’s imprint, even if only Namo and I, we can also withstand the Dragon Calamity... even, with Dragon Tongue missing to intensify the intensity wantonly between Blood Dust and Sky Soil, the war might end early.”

“In this way.” Yulis pursed her lips smiling, “The Dragon Calamity will not be a problem, and you can also gain the friends most loyal to you in the West Kingdom.”

“Namo and I are willing to accept all your demands... all.”

The woman’s voice seemed to become wet, moist as if water could drip out, her hands pressed on the table, her body leaned forward again a bit, the tight bulging things hung down, like huge spindles.

Anselm supported his cheek, looking at this beautiful woman’s face close at hand gradually turning crimson, the corner of his mouth raised slightly.

Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke was the most special among the thirteen Grand Dukes, the three Grand Dukes of Eastern Port were also enthusiastic about doing business, but also had a deep desire for authority.

But Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke was different—he really just wanted to do business, loving the touch of endless money flowing through his fingertips.

In the originally destined future, he defected to the Revolutionary Army led by the Brave in the late stage of the war, providing countless resources, also considered contributing to ending the Empire.

This businessman did not care who rode on his head, so he could make this kind of promise like selling himself.

Of course, there was another more important reason, that was the image Anselm shaped in the eyes of all Grand Dukes was very perfect, perfect to the point that such a businessman also found it hard to pick out any faults.

Cooperating with Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke, seizing the imprint held by Dragon Tongue Grand Duke, resisting the Dragon Calamity, ending the West Kingdom’s war chaos, and gaining an incomparably huge resource warehouse...

Sounds truly wonderful to the extreme, doesn’t it?

Lapis Lazuli Territory, Nightless City.

As the main city of Lapis Lazuli Territory, located in the area with the most fertile land conditions in the West Kingdom, it was the largest money-squandering den in the entire West Kingdom, and also a famous place of debauchery in this chaotic land.

At the highest point of Nightless City, in that castle accumulated with unknown wealth, the robustly built Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke was sunbathing in the castle’s garden.

Behind him, Yulis was coldly explaining the result of this transaction.

“So... he refused?”

Namo Lapis Lazuli with hands folded behind his head muttered to himself: “This isn’t quite like him... or is it that you didn’t do well somewhere, didn’t let him feel your sincerity?”

“Do you insist I strip naked in front of him like a slut to count as sincere?”

Yulis sneered.

“Ha, you still got angry? Being looked upon by that young Hydra is your honor, Yulis, really getting to bed, you might scream more excitedly than anyone.”

Namo however laughed loudly: “Those few gigolos you keep, can they compare to him?”

“At any other time, I have the mood to do this kind of thing, only when doing transactions, I have no interest in treating myself as a bargaining chip.”

Yulis said word by word: “This is a manifestation of being inferior.”

“You are indeed inferior to him, no, several levels inferior, is it strange?” Namo said lazily, “Oh... in front of a more valuable, truly heart-moving male, instead want to pick up the chastity and dignity that have long been worthless, understandable.”

He shrugged: “If I meet a heart-moving girl, I will also become more decent.”

“Hmm... back to the main topic. Besides this matter, how were other things completed?”

“He had no special reaction to the address ‘Lord Hydra’, seemed to acquiesce.”

“Is that so...” Namo rubbed his chin, “Our great Lord Flamel, exactly what happened to him? Did he really just disappear silently like this...?”

“But Anselm did not inherit the power of the Divine Species.”

“Ha, don’t forget, he is the most special Hydra.”

Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke grinned: “Maybe in his view, compared to that so-called Divine Might, spending a life without abyss intrusion is more valuable, moreover... isn’t he still enjoying a status no different from the Divine Species now?”

Transcendent beings wanting to obtain true freedom, the best choice was still to join forces immediately, besieging and killing Anselm.

But it was simply impossible to do this easily.

They dared to bet on the Emperor and Hydra killing each other, because the destruction caused by the sixth-tier war was indiscriminate, who could survive depended on ability, entirely up to heaven’s will.

But... if going up to besiege Anselm, fighting to the death with the Deus Ex Machina that could briefly clash with the Emperor that night, although fighting to the end might really kill Anselm, the problem was, wasn’t this whoever went first died?

What if someone picked up scraps behind? What if someone vacillating struck a blow from behind? Thinking like this, who would go up?

Offering up this anomaly among Hydras, this young Hydra is so easy to get along with, easy to cooperate with, with a nature not brutal at all, isn’t it better?

Maybe, he would even become the biggest help!

Unless he wanted to proclaim himself Emperor, wanted to become an existence overriding everything like the Emperor, but without the inheritance of power, even a Divine Species could not climb from the fifth tier to the sixth tier by himself, since he could not become that absolute... why think hard to become that cannon fodder sending himself to death?

As long as one person thought this way, the fifth-tier transcendent beings could not unite to strangle Anselm.

Moreover, absolutely not only one person would think this way.

“This transaction failed, that is a bit troublesome...”

Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke for a moment also couldn’t think clearly, he even said words equivalent to surrender like “can agree to any conditions”, why would Anselm still refuse.

According to his own saying, this whole process is down, shouldn’t it be hundred benefits without one harm to Anselm?

He was the most qualified businessman, never cheating or playing tricks on paying remuneration, if possessing this land of miracles and opportunities, the West Kingdom, not only owning a production place of massive secret treasures, but also holding many Adventurer Associations, Mercenary Legions... this young Lord Hydra, how could he refuse?

“What reason did our Lord Hydra give?” The man couldn't help asking.

“Currently, he will not give any Grand Duke... decisive help on any important matters, whether open or secret, whether known by others or not.”

“...”

Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s brows furrowed slightly: “What meaning, absolute neutrality? Hydra has deep foundations, his own strategy and vision are extremely transcendent, so neither needing time accumulation nor needing to watch development quietly to judge the situation... What is his reason for neutrality?”

Just as Namo was murmuring, thinking about the reason for Anselm’s stance, Yulis spoke again:

“He gave me a... very important message, and said, this is compensation for failing to reach cooperation in the end.”

“Very important...” Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke became interested, “What message?”

Yulis’s expression changed slightly, seemingly because when recalling this sentence, she still couldn’t suppress the shock in her heart:

“He said...”

“‘I once encountered an adventurer entangled by a devil, almost dying’”

“‘But he eventually defeated the devil, destined to return like the blazing sun’”