Westminster Bank

In stark contrast to the Walter Family, who were also one of the Four Great Demon-Hunting Clans, the Van Helsing Family had always been known on the Inner Side for their frugal, resolute, and straightforward ways.

Thus, motivated by money, blood, and some unknown mixture of fear and hesitation, the Dragon Guides charged forward, one after another.

Some Dragon Guides lived and some died, but judging by the visibly dwindling swarm of Comet Dragons at the Dragon Gate, the situation was looking very favorable.

A sense of anticipation began to spread among the Trial Takers.

But an inopportune voice cut through the expectant atmosphere. "I forfeit."

Everyone turned to look. Miss Windsor was at a loss, while her Black Iron Dragon Guide stood with his arms crossed. "I’m not going on a suicide mission..."

Seeing all eyes fall on him and his sister, Pound grabbed the Black Iron Dragon Guide by the collar and said furiously, "What did you say?"

"I said I forfeit... I’ll just pay you the compensation afterward, alright? Now please let go of my collar, Mr. Pound Constantin. I’m just an ordinary member of the Old Race... I wouldn’t dare go against a noble Law Enforcer like you." The Black Iron Dragon Guide’s tone was laced with mockery.

His words elicited a round of derisive laughter from the crowd.

"You!"

Noticing the silent, appraising, amused, and scornful gazes of the onlookers, Pound was so enraged he wanted to smash the Dragon Guide’s mask with his Magic Staff. Windsor had just come up to tell him not to be rash when Pound’s Bronze Dragon Guide stepped forward as well. "My apologies, Mr. Pound Constantin, but I forfeit too."

"You both!"

Pound was seething, grinding his teeth in fury. If they were in the Plains, he would have unleashed the lions of Lake Castle to tear these two to shreds!

His sister, Windsor, grabbed his hand and comforted him in a low voice, "Pound, let them go. It’s their choice. We have no reason to force them to their deaths."

"Miss Windsor, perhaps you’ve misunderstood. This isn’t about sending them to their deaths or not. I’d say... this is a slap in the face to the Constantines."

A meddler in the crowd finished the thought, and a wave of roaring laughter erupted from the onlookers.

Pound was practically dying of shame and anger. Just then, another voice spoke up from the side, dripping with sarcasm,

"Mr. Pound, even a member of the Constantine Family should show a bit of courtesy and civility to their own Dragon Guides."

It was Dewey Frank.

Pound’s head snapped up. "This is your doing!"

Dewey sneered. "My doing, Mr. Pound? Don’t make baseless accusations. I’ve been with Young Master Jose and Young Master Tune this whole time... I merely came over to register the forfeitures I heard about."

Pound said venomously, "No wonder you caught up to us when we were hunting the Wooden Beard Dragon Beast... You sent both of these Dragon Guides!"

Dewey gave a faint smile. "Words are not proof."

Rage severed the last of his reason. Pound whipped out his Magic Staff and, ignoring Windsor’s protests, prepared to cast a spell at Dewey in front of everyone.

[Black Iron Magic: Condensed Thunder]

A purple Thunder Ball began to coalesce at the tip of his staff. The crackling lightning made the surrounding Trial Takers squint, and they subconsciously analyzed how they would dodge or counter the spell themselves.

The Black Iron Tier Milton Mage from the Merlin Family immediately jumped out to intervene, but Dewey stopped him.

He watched Pound quietly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. ’This Pound is as hot-headed as ever.’

’As long as I can confirm that he attacked me in public, the Frank Clan will have a few more bargaining chips at the negotiating table when it comes to carving up the Constantine Family’s interests.’

At the same time, he felt a little disappointed. ’Is this all the younger generation of the Constantine Family amounts to? For a historic Contract Knight Clan, it was bad enough that their Direct Lineage were Bloodless, but now they’ve let a bunch of Wizards usurp their place.’

’What a shame.’

Long Ice Bear Claws silently grew from his hands. He was waiting for the perfect moment—a moment where he could both humiliate the Constantine Clan and seize the chance to kill Pound Constantin, avenging his good-for-nothing little brother while emerging completely unscathed.

To be honest, Dewey didn’t really think of it as avenging Bill.

His little brother was a good-for-nothing anyway. If he was dead, he was dead.

The only reason he wanted to kill Pound was that he was annoyed by the incessant yapping of this weakling. A mere Tier One Black Iron was always clamoring about killing him, a Bronze.

’Even though I started this conflict, the weak should know their place!’

Facing the swelling Thunder Ball, Dewey—who had begun his Tier One Beastification, his hands turning into Bear Claws—smiled in full view of the crowd.

"Brother!"

Windsor saw Dewey’s intent and tried to stop Pound, but he rebuked her. "Windsor! You are a daughter of the Constantine Family! You should be standing with me to defend our family’s reputation! Always crying... how can you live up to your own name, to the Patriarch’s teachings!"

Windsor froze on the spot.

SCHRRRIP...

The sound of something being torn.

The crowd of onlookers froze. Pound, Magic Staff in hand, was stunned. Dewey, whose hands had transformed into Ice Bear Claws, narrowed his eyes.

The Thunder Ball dissipated, scattering sparks of lightning.

Adam Van Helsing had sliced through the Thunder Ball with his Wolf Claw. He said flatly, "I don’t like glowing spheres."

With that, he turned and disappeared back into the crowd.

Jose and Tune, who had been observing from the sidelines, now came forward. A quick glance at the scene was all they needed to understand what had happened.

Jose pondered for a moment before speaking. "Since the two Dragon Guides have forfeited, please leave the Dracul Mountain Range. Once you are outside the Barrier, members of the Beowulf Family will receive you. Explain the situation, and you can pay the compensation as required."

He then turned to the Pound Siblings, who looked like they wanted to say something but held back.