Chapter 72: Mind Force - III

’A Dragonkin, huh?’

Looking at the humanoid figure before me, with his long draconic horns and leathery wings tucked behind his back, I was able to admire the uniqueness of Dragon blood.

With [Absolute Awareness], I was able to identify the nature of these Dragonkin at a glance.

There were apparently two types:

Dragonkin who were born from a Dragon and some other race.

And Dragonkin who were transformed from external sources or rituals.

Although Dragonkin did not discriminate based on the nature of their origins, the person I was meeting was of the first kind, and his name was Tejjan. He was eight feet tall, and more muscular than any bodybuilder I’d seen on Earth.

Also...

He was seven hundred and eighty-nine years old. Just entering adulthood.

Prideful and truly the embodiment of the Empire’s Guards.

’Indeed, only those related to the Dragons could be allowed to become figures that represented the <Primordial Dragon Empress’s> will.’

The Dragonkin were simply the closest one could get without actually being of the Dragon race.

"Good evening, Master Tejjan."

Despite being the local lord of the surrounding area, Hau’goth bowed.

"I’ve brought someone capable of helping with the investigation into <Bliekon the Manipulator>. He was the first one to report to me about her puppets, so I can guarantee his abilities."

Seeing Hau’goth bow, I did the same. I enjoyed acting like a simple D-Rank Adventurer whose name as the Info-Hunter is gaining quite the renown.

Tejjan looked at me for a brief moment and nodded.

"Take this. We move out in five."

In his gaze, not even a hint of disdain was present. Upon observing his surface thoughts, it was clear that he did all that he could to complete his task.

While working as one of the Empire’s Guards, Tejjan was an emotionless machine.

So, I accepted the box he handed to me with both hands. I already knew what was in it and what its functions were, but I made the effort to feign amazement.

"Whoa."

It was dubbed the <True Star Astrolabe>, an artifact capable of enhancing one’s ability to divine the location and true identity of a target.

To the D-Rank Adventurer, <Info-Hunter>, it should have been a godly tool.

However, to me... it was basically a glorified calculator while I was a supercomputer in comparison.

’Oh well, I guess this helps me act a little better...’

Still, I felt a certain urge.

The <True Star Astrolabe> was the very definition of shiny and magical. It even had a mystical air that could let me upgrade my demeanor and become a more enigmatic character.

That kind of branding could help me gain more fame and higher-paying clients.

Mm...

Perhaps I could buy the astrolabe from the Empire’s Guards or request it as my reward.

Ah, the temptation was so great! Alas, I had to keep it close to my heart for now.

In the depths of my daydreams, five minutes went by in an instant. I said goodbye to Hau’goth and stepped into a sleek, black carriage. A pair of well-behaved wyverns were harnessed up front, awaiting commands to take to the skies.

When I sat down, a bunch of Dragonkin instantly assessed my capabilities.

I dipped my head to acknowledge their stares and sat down, opting to just do my work. These Dragonkin guards were as professional as they could get.

Was it the draconic pride?

They deemed it beneath them to even display doubt and disdain.

If their captain approved of me, so did they.

It seemed like the mere act of questioning my capabilities, despite the assessment of their leader, was tantamount to a great act of disrespect.

Pride and respect.

What a beautiful combination of ideals.

’I wonder how much they can handle before they break? How badly can a Dragonkin’s ego crumble that they turn on the very thing that defined their bloodline?’

For a moment, I was curious.

But the moment I had those thoughts, a lethal premonition crossed my senses, and I ceased all vile intentions.

"...Damn,"

I cursed under my breath.

** *

When the wyvern-drawn carriage took to the skies, I took a moment to admire the aerial view of the Imperial Guardhouse. It was composed of three concentric circles of pure black stone buildings.

Every part of the guardhouse was akin to the walls of a fortress, but there was no keep to be protected at the center.

Instead, an open field lay at the center, spacious enough for visiting true Dragons to land and rest. Various spires also rose to the sky, with wide footholds for their enjoyment.

It was, in essence, a rest house for the highest class of beings in Walvaskaz.

Anyways.

As the carriage stabilized itself above even the tallest skyscrapers, a faint resonance pulsed throughout its interior.

—Bwoop!

Space bent in weird ways, and the inside of the carriage expanded to quadruple its size. The Dragonkin, each standing above the 2-meter threshold, could now move freely, with more than enough headroom.

The benches turned into platforms, and the windows were suddenly taller than me.

It was quite the experience.

Tejjan walked in from the front; his aura exerted a subtle pressure.

"""Captain!"""

The Dragonkin guards all sprang to their feet and crossed their arms behind them. They saluted with the mana in their bodies, blazing with a collective pulse.

With their bodies straight as a lightning rod, all moving in perfect synchronicity, admiration flashed in my gaze.

An impossible display of discipline.

Still playing the part of an adventurer, I rose to my feet a beat late. Instead of a salute, I bowed.

"Master Tejjan."

Tejjan looked at me for half a second before directing his gaze towards his subordinates.

"Prepare your weapons. We’re going puppet hunting."

"""Yes, Captain!"""

All of the Dragonkin stepped off the raised platform and summoned a bunch of boxes hidden beneath.

With a click, they retrieved their weapons.

A shortsword akin to a Roman gladius.

A spear more than twice my height.

And a pair of flexible shields that hugged their wings.

It took them three breaths of time to equip themselves, and after confirming their status, Tejjan looked at me.

"Activate the artifact and use your abilities. With your keen senses and your familiarity with the targets, it should allow you to locate all of Bliekon’s puppets within the range of half a minute’s roar."

Half a minute’s roar?

Ah, right.

This was a different world with its own measurement systems. The Dragonkin used the speed of sound, so that meant a little bit past 10 kilometers.

Therefore, by using this sphere, my sensing abilities would span nearly the entirety of Hau’goth’s fiefdom.

How convenient.