Chapter 168: Charcoal, Containment, And Cleansed Of Negative Energies

The charcoal moved in Ginsei’s steady hand, carving precise geometric patterns into the cracked plaster.

Unlike Mochi’s theatrical scribbles, these sigils held Bureau-grade precision—intersecting circles within hexagons, runic inscriptions flowing between containment barriers.

"Ward of Spiritual Equilibrium, class seven containment protocol," Ginsei muttered, adding the final flourish.

"If we’re doing this ridiculous cleansing ritual, we’re doing it properly."

Kane watched from the couch, recognizing the familiar BSA markings from training manuals.

"That’s way more advanced than shop-grade warding."

"Some of us take our craft seriously," Ginsei replied coolly, stepping back to admire his handiwork.

He pressed his palm against the central sigil, channeling serpentine energy into the ward.

The reaction was immediate and violent.

Silver light erupted from the sigil like a flare, followed by answering crimson fire that blazed across every line and curve.

The two energies crashed together in the center of the shop, creating a blinding maelstrom of power.

"Everyone down!" Cyrus shouted, but the light was already overwhelming.

Kane threw his arms over his face, the dragon egg burning hot against his ribs as if responding to the magical chaos.

Mochi yelped and dove behind the broken fortune-telling machine. Ginsei stumbled backward, ice-blue eyes wide with shock.

The ward’s chaotic energy gradually subsided, leaving the shop bathed in a gentle, steady glow.

Kane blinked away the afterimage, his hand instinctively reaching for the source of heat against his chest.

The dragon egg had slipped free during the magical explosion and was now resting in his open palm, where everyone could see it.

"What the hell is that?" Mochi’s voice squeaked from behind the fortune machine.

Ginsei straightened slowly, ice-blue eyes fixed on the egg with growing recognition.

Kane’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. There was no hiding it now.

Mochi’s jaw dropped. "Is that a dragon egg?"

Ginsei stared, ice-blue eyes narrowing as pieces clicked together. "That’s what I’ve been sensing. The secondary magical signature I couldn’t identify."

"Oh my, did you two make it?" Mochi asked, bouncing on his toes with excitement. "Is this why you’ve been glowing differently? Are you two nesting already? Should I start knitting tiny dragon-fox sweaters?"

Cyrus pressed his palm against his forehead with a long, suffering sigh.

"We did not reproduce, Mochi."

"Then where—"

"Elias had it," Kane interrupted, shooting a warning glance at Cyrus. "In an incubator. I couldn’t leave it there."

Ginsei shook his head slowly.

"I should have noticed immediately. A real dragon egg throws off enough magical interference to mask a small army." His expression shifted to grudging respect.

"You’ve been carrying that since the hospital?"

Kane nodded, protective instincts flaring around the precious burden.

Mochi’s eyes gleamed with unmistakable wonder as he stared at the obsidian egg.

"So what’s the plan, Kane? You keeping it as a pet?"

Kane placed the egg gently on the cluttered table, its dark surface reflecting the shop’s overhead lights.

"I honestly don’t know. It’s dormant right now, but theoretically..." He trailed off, studying the intricate patterns etched into the shell.

"We could hatch it."

The four of them arranged themselves around the table like some bizarre war council—Kane protecting the egg with his body language, Cyrus radiating disapproval, Ginsei analyzing it, and Mochi practically vibrating with greed.

Cyrus leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

"My position hasn’t changed. That thing is too dangerous to exist. One dragon is enough chaos for this city."

"We should report it to the BSA," Ginsei countered, his serpentine eyes fixed on the egg. "They have protocols for handling extinct species artifacts. Proper containment facilities."

"Containment?" Kane’s nine tails bristled. "You mean a cage."

"I mean responsible custody—"

"Or," Mochi interjected with a sly grin, "we could auction it off. Do you have any idea what collectors would pay for an actual dragon egg? We’re talking generational wealth here."

Kane, Cyrus, and Ginsei turned to stare at him with identical expressions of horror.

"What?" Mochi shrugged defensively. "I’m just saying, economically speaking—"

"No," Kane said firmly.

"Absolutely not," Cyrus growled.

"That’s how we ended up in this mess to begin with," Ginsei added with disgust.

Mochi raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine, fine. Keep your moral high ground. I was just exploring all the options."

Kane’s hand hovered protectively over the egg.

"This isn’t some artifact to be bought and sold. There’s a life in there."

The egg pulsed faintly under his touch, as if responding to his voice.

"The question is, what kind of life do we want it to have?"

Kane’s protective stance around the egg spoke volumes—his decision was already made, regardless of their opinions.

Ginsei studied Kane’s determined expression, then turned to Cyrus with calculating eyes.

"It’s your call, dragon. Kane’s clearly committed to this insanity."

Mochi nodded sagely, suddenly playing mediator despite his earlier auction suggestion.

"Yeah, Scaley Daddy. You two are basically co-parenting at this point."

"The egg chose Kane," Cyrus interrupted quietly, watching the way the shell seemed to pulse brighter under Kane’s touch.

"Dragons bond with their guardians before hatching. The choice was made the moment Kane picked it up."

He exhaled slowly, the weight of decision settling on his shoulders.

"Fine. But if it becomes a threat to this city or anyone in it, I’ll end it myself."

Kane met his gaze steadily, understanding the gravity of that promise.

"I know. And I’ll hold you to that."

Ginsei straightened, pulling out his phone with bureaucratic efficiency.

"I’ll file something in my Bureau report—unauthorized spirit research facility, dangerous experiments, multiple containment breaches. But the egg stays off the record." His ice-blue eyes narrowed. "For now."

Kane nodded gratefully. "Thank you."

Mochi clapped his hands together, breaking the tension with theatrical flair.

"Well! With that settled, I hereby declare this shop officially cleansed of negative energy, synthetic binding agents, and general bad vibes." He gestured grandly at Ginsei’s still-glowing ward sigils.

"Who wants pizza? I’m thinking this calls for a proper celebration. You know, like a pizza party for our little apocalypse prevention squad."

"Pizza sounds perfect," Kane agreed.

Through the shop’s cracked front window, a pair of amber eyes gleamed in the darkened alley across the street.

The shadowy wolf spirit pressed closer to the glass, watching the four figures.

Its lips pulled back in a silent snarl before melting into the shadows between streetlights.