Chapter 329

Chapter 329. Those Who Took Power Illegitimately

Moran ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍lowered his head.

Under ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that terrifying pressure that seemed to come from the deepest abyss, cold enough to freeze the soul, he did not even dare make the slightest sound of rebuttal.

His ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍massive half-dragonized body was now like an insect clutched by an invisible giant hand, crawling humbly on the ground while that power raged through his body and controlled him.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍closed his eyes, his eyelids trembling violently, and forcibly suppressed the humiliation and unwillingness that were almost burning his reason to ashes deep into the depths of his soul.

When ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he opened his eyes again, his dark-red vertical pupils had already regained their former coldness and rationality.

He ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knew very clearly that he was now nothing more than a revenge-seeker dependent on someone else’s shelter.

Black Dragon King Noxarum had lent him power, but not so he could rage incompetently like a fool.

CREAK—

At that moment, the heavy stone doors of the great hall were slowly pushed open from the outside, and the dull sound of friction echoed through the empty hall.

The Regent of the Demi-Human Empire, Remington, strode inside.

He wore an ornate and magnificent purple-gold robe, its hem embroidered with dark patterns of roaring dragon scales. The pair of thick coiled horns atop his head gleamed with a cold, bone-like luster in the dim light.

His eyes carried the majesty of one who had long occupied a high position. When his gaze landed on Moran’s deformed half-dragon body, an extremely complex emotion flashed through the depths of his eyes—a concealed covetousness mixed with fanaticism and greed.

“Lord Moran, it seems the newspapers from your homeland have brought you some... rather unpleasant news.”

Remington stopped below the steps.

In his hand, he was waving that copy of Astrelia Daily printed with absurd accusations, his tone carrying undisguised mockery.

Moran sneered and casually threw aside the remains of the newspaper, which had already been crushed into a ball of paper in his hand.

A trace of sinister malice flashed through his dark-red vertical pupils, but it was quickly concealed by unfathomable calculation.

“Nothing more than childish tricks.” Moran’s voice was hoarse and low, like two rocks grinding against each other. “That girl Sylvia needs an excuse to purge dissidents, and I happen to be the perfect target.”

He abruptly leaned down, and that ferocious, twisted head instantly drew close to Remington. His scorching breath, carrying a dense sulfurous smell, surged toward him with tremendous pressure.

“Your Highness the Regent, let us discuss proper business.”

“I need the Demi-Human Empire’s army. Immediately! Right now! The entire army must march south!”

“Seize this perfect opportunity while Astrelia is changing hands and has yet to find its footing. Break through that damned pass in the Northern Territory in one stroke!”

Moran was unwilling. He was deeply unwilling!

For decades, he had walked on thin ice, meticulously weaving a net throughout Astrelia’s center of power, one that covered the entire kingdom.

He had murdered the King, hollowed out the Cabinet, and manipulated the powerful nobles. He had been just about to completely take that thousand-year kingdom into his hands and taste the supreme fruit of power.

Yet at the final moment, Logaris and Sylvia, two young people whose ages did not even add up to fifty, had overturned the entire chessboard with a few swift moves.

He had been forced to sacrifice half his soul and flee in panic like a stray dog driven from its home.

How could he endure the humiliation and resentment of seeing decades of painstaking effort go up in smoke?

He, Moran, had to wash away this disgrace with a war that swept across the entire kingdom, and with the blood of the Astrelia royal family.

Moreover, he could sense that the Black Dragon King within him also seemed happy to see this happen.

That ancient monster seemed to have something it desired in the Royal Capital of Astrelia as well... something closely connected to the throne.

This was also the reason that monster supported him.

Facing Moran’s threat from so close at hand, Remington did not even blink.

He did not retreat. Instead, he met Moran’s sulfurous vertical pupils and unhurriedly raised his hand to straighten the flawless cuff of his purple-gold robe.

Looking at the half-human, half-dragon monster before him, Remington’s thoughts could not help returning to that late night a few days ago.

This man, who claimed to be the former Prime Minister of Astrelia, had appeared like a ghost in the depths of the heavily guarded Demi-Human Empire’s imperial palace with this deformed body that nevertheless radiated the pure pressure of a high-ranking dragon race.

Not only had he ignored the layers of guards outside, he had also casually exposed several fatal secrets that the Demi-Human Empire’s royal family had passed down for a thousand years—including the true reason why Remington’s bloodline had stagnated in purity.

Not only that, Moran had arrogantly claimed that he bore the will of the “Great Dragon God” and had come to grant the Demi-Human Empire the true path of evolution.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Remington’s lips curved into a faint smile that was not quite a smile.

“Sending troops? Lord Moran, your appetite is rather too large.”

Remington ground the newspaper at his feet in an insulting manner. His tone was gentle, but every word he spoke struck at the heart.

“You said you descended bearing the will of the ‘Dragon God.’ Logically speaking, I should be filled with awe toward you. But... look at you now.”

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Moran’s broken dragon horn and the wounds on his body that had yet to heal.

“You were beaten until you discarded your armor and fled by a new monarch in her early twenties and an equally young Mage, even splitting your soul in the process.”

“Now you have fled to my territory in such a sorry state, like a stray dog driven out of its home. Yet the moment you open your mouth, you ask me to mobilize the entire nation’s army to avenge that pitiful self-esteem of yours?”

Remington leaned forward slightly, his shadow enveloping Moran. His gaze was sharp as a blade.

“Your words, and your ‘Dragon God’s will,’ seem... not very credible.”

“Roar!”

A suppressed, deep rumble escaped Moran’s throat, and the surrounding air became scorching and distorted due to the violent fluctuations in his emotions.

But in the end, he was still Moran, the man who had schemed for an entire lifetime.

He was not enraged. Instead, he parted that massive mouth full of fangs and let out a hoarse laugh that made one’s hair stand on end.

“A stray dog driven from home? Heh... perhaps.”

Moran slowly straightened his body. His enormous frame cast a vast shadow as he looked down at Remington from above.

“But Your Highness, that Regent’s throne beneath you... are you truly sitting on it securely?”

Moran raised the sharp claw covered in black scales and casually pointed outside the great hall, stabbing straight into Remington’s deepest weakness with a single stroke.

“Although the rightful prince, Alectos, was forced away by you, his prestige among the empire’s other factions has not completely dispersed.”

“Ulzok, Kane, Leonard... among those legion commanders under your command who hold heavy military power, how many are truly loyal to you? It does not feel good when they obey your summons but not your orders, does it?”

Moran’s vertical pupils narrowed into a dangerous slit. His tone was filled with temptation and mockery, like the whisper of a demon.

“You took power illegitimately. That is a fact. You have served as Regent for a year without any achievements. That is also a fact. Most importantly, the purity of your bloodline is stuck at a bottleneck, and you have still been unable to even touch the threshold of the Sixth Tier. That is the fact among facts!”

“If you do not have a great external victory to divert internal conflicts, and if you do not have higher-tier dragon blood to suppress those arrogant and fierce generals... Remington, how much longer can you sit on your throne?”