Westminster Bank

Tune was quite satisfied with his current results, but he didn’t dare to show it. He barely responded to the compliments from others, because as far as he was concerned, his two greatest rivals had yet to step up and attempt to pull the spear.

Finally, as the crowd of Trial Takers watched with bated breath, Jose Beowulf took the stage.

.........

At that very moment, at the World Tree Yggdrasil, the Black Dragon Nidhogg was still gnawing on the tree’s roots.

Governor Hoover was drinking Japanese sake with his deputy, Governor Howard, and watching the latest Hong Kong kung fu movie his secretary had prepared for him. Suddenly, an old and wise voice spoke from beside them.

"You seem to be in high spirits, Governor Hoover."

Hoover replied nonchalantly, "Mr. Newton, what brings you here? The Beowulf Family’s Dragon Hunting Ceremony started early. They say a Dragon Calamity might break out. According to the Red Dragon Ordinance, shouldn’t you be there overseeing things?"

An old man with a hoary beard and white robes had appeared beside the two at some unknown time. His features were distinguished and handsome, and despite his white hair, he lacked the weariness of old age. On the contrary, the tortoiseshell reading glasses on his face gave him an air of erudite wisdom that only time could bestow.

Two books floated beside him: one was the newly published *Stewart Calculus* by James Stewart, and the other was the latest monograph from the Alchemy world’s Soul School, *Practical Applications of the Twin Experiment*.

His hands, with knuckles still as distinct as sections of jade bamboo, held the latest edition of the *Westminster Times*.

Golden Wizard Newton paid Governor Hoover’s words no mind, replying casually as he scanned the newspaper in his hand.

"The me from an hour in the future is already there. The descendants of the Beowulf Clan are no simple folk. As long as someone can manifest six or more Dragon Patterns during the ceremony, they can use the Dragon Spear’s power to temporarily halt and delay the eruption of the Dragon Tide."

"Does that mean you’ve seen someone use the Dragon Spear to stop the Dragon Tide in the future, Mr. Newton?" Howard asked, his interest piqued.

But Newton shook his head. "No, no one can see the future. I am merely making a guess based on the clues available in the present."

"No one has been able to pull out the Dragon Spear yet, but according to my deductions, someone has come very close. There’s a high probability that person will help us kill the Mad Dragon at the base of Traitor’s Cliff."

"Someone from the Beowulf Family?"

"If so, Westminster Cathedral may need to change its strategy for collaborating with the Beowulf Family. After all, for someone who can hunt a Mad Dragon, helping me deal with this situation Nidhogg has created should be a trivial matter," Governor Hoover said.

"But people like that never appear so easily," said Newton.

Just then, a faint ripple of Spiritual Power emanated nearby. Governor Hoover’s private secretary stepped forward to report the latest intelligence Westminster Cathedral had gathered on the Beowulf Dragon Hunting Ceremony to the three men.

The secretary had originally intended to relay this classified information only to Hoover and Howard, but Governor Hoover just smiled and said:

"The world’s strongest Golden Wizard is right here. There are no secrets he isn’t permitted to know."

The secretary therefore no longer withheld the valuable intelligence, which had cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain. "Eight Dragon Patterns have appeared at the Beowulf Family’s Dragon Spear Trial."

Eight Dragon Patterns. Just one more, and the spear could be pulled. If no one else managed to pull out the Dragon Spear, this person would have essentially secured the title of Patriarch of the Beowulf Family.

Hoover and Howard exchanged a look, then turned to the old man, who had produced a wooden lounge chair from thin air and was already reclining in it. Recalling what Newton had said, they wondered if this was him—the legendary Dragon Slayer who would kill the Mad Dragon and end the Madness.

"Who is it? Who manifested Eight Dragon Patterns on the Dragon Spear? Jose? Tune? Or that Isabella?"

"It was Jose..."

"I want all his information within five minutes."

"And Isabella."

"I want her complete file as well... Wait, what did you say? Are you telling me two people manifested Eight Dragon Patterns?"

"Yes. If the intelligence is correct, the two of them have already begun to fight, as per the rules of the Dragon Spear Trial. A final result should be determined shortly. The victor will not only absorb the draconic aura from the Dragon Spear but will also become the next Patriarch of the Beowulf Clan."

"Who will win?"

"The consensus is Isabella. During the Dragon Spear Baptism, the quality of her Spiritual Power reached the Silver level."

"Quick, check if she has any of our bank’s insurance policies. If not, get one for her. Find out what she likes..." Governor Howard ordered directly.

Newton stroked his beard. "Westminster Cathedral’s efficiency is certainly as impressive as the rumors say."

"Everything is for the sake of greater profit," Hoover said with a thin smile. "That has been the founding principle of Westminster Cathedral from the very beginning."

"If Westminster Cathedral were a religious organization, then all our agents would be disciples of Gold."

............

Back on Dragon Spear Plaza, everyone had been frozen in a state of shock ever since Jose took the stage to attempt the pull, and their expressions hadn’t changed.

The only change was their shock deepening into utter stupefaction.

This was especially true for the Beowulf Family’s third son, Tune Beowulf.

He was a living demonstration for the onlookers, transitioning from utter despair when Jose manifested Eight Dragon Patterns, to a soul-crushing grief when his older sister did the same.

The whispers from the crowd were the last straw, leaving him able to respond only with a numb, awkward smile. His older sister and second brother had both manifested Eight Dragon Patterns and, according to the rules, had begun their battle for the position of Patriarch. Now, all eyes were on him—the third son, once a strong contender himself. The Trial Takers and even the Dragon Guides were all curious to see his reaction.

But soon, his numb expression shifted as the battle came to an end.

First, it was placid, then astonished, followed by a sense of shared misfortune... and then a flicker of secret delight.

The battle began as quickly as it ended.

It was over so fast that no one had time to react. The explosive roar and shower of sparks ceased abruptly. As the dust settled, Jose Beowulf was revealed, half-covered in blood and kneeling on the ground, with his older sister Isabella’s Red Spear resting on his shoulder.

Isabella had visible injuries as well, but they were not severe.

Everyone, both in the plaza and watching from outside the mountains, was stunned by this scene.

Not because a victor had been decided, but because it had been decided so quickly.

Outside the mountain range, the Lidton Family Head watched the scene and sighed. "My niece has certainly given me a surprise."

A clan Elder, who had wanted to support Isabella but ultimately abstained, stepped forward and said, "To manifest Eight Dragon Patterns without the aid of the clan sigil... If we had chosen to support her from the beginning, she might have even been able to pull out the Dragon Spear entirely with its help."

"But her mother is a Bloodless! The Beowulf Clan must ensure the purity of its Old Blood!" retorted an Elder who supported Jose.

Lidton cut off the two Elders’ argument. "Regardless, Isabella has won the final Trial. According to the rules, the title of Patriarch of the Beowulf Family should now pass to her."

"The specific arrangements are a matter for later."

"The most important thing right now is that, judging by the outcome, only she has earned the right to wield the Dragon Spear’s power in Dragon Spear Plaza to hold back the Dragon Tide. We need her."

.........

Jose looked up at the spearhead hovering before him and sighed. "I guess I’m still no match for you."

"You’re still holding the Dragon Blood. You’ve also awakened the Beowulf Family’s Dragon Slayer bloodline. Why didn’t you drink it and fight me?" Isabella’s gaze fell to the glass vial clutched tightly in Jose’s hand.

"Even if I’d won that way, it would have been a dishonorable victory." A mocking smile touched Jose’s lips. "The bloodline of a Beowulf Dragon Slayer should be used to hunt Dragon Descendants, not one’s own kin."

"I’ve lost," Jose said.

At his words, the crowd fell silent. The only sound was the clamorous rumbling from the valley as the Dragon Tide surged through.

The rumbling grew closer, like the hooves of ten thousand wild horses stampeding across a great drum, the beat shaking the very earth.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd cried out in alarm.

"The Dragon Tide is coming up the mountain!"