Chapter 210: The Youth Is a Red Dragon Royal?

Lance stood where he was, his gaze resting on the registration supervisor who had rushed out and maintained a deferential posture the entire time.

He had already prepared for the worst-case scenario.

If the man insisted on embezzling the quota, he was absolutely prepared to cause a huge scene inside the Veterans’ Institute.

After all, the loopholes in their scheme were glaringly obvious. Once the matter escalated and a thorough investigation was launched, everyone involved would suffer severe consequences.

Even considering the possibility of officials protecting one another within the Veterans’ Institute, he could always reveal his Dragon-blooded identity as a last resort.

Uncle Ryan had already told him that on this continent, all legitimate Dragon-blooded individuals originated from the bloodlines of several ancient great noble houses.

There was no such thing as a completely wild Dragon-blooded person appearing out of nowhere.

Unless he was a first-generation Dragon Slayer.

Otherwise, there would always be a traceable source.

As long as he revealed his Dragon-blooded status and borrowed the authority associated with it—

These local Veterans’ Institute officials would have no choice but to swallow their anger and obediently return the quota.

What he never expected—

Was that before his stage had even been fully set and before the performance could begin—

This supervisor had already rushed out and forcefully stopped his subordinate's stupidity.

Various possibilities flashed through Lance's mind.

He quickly deduced the reason.

Such a dramatic one-hundred-and-eighty-degree change in attitude could not possibly be the result of a sudden awakening of conscience.

The problem undoubtedly lay with the Heroic Spirit Baptism quota itself.

The only thing capable of making a local authority figure this fearful—

Was Uncle Ryan's military background.

However, Lance's expression remained completely unchanged.

Only a cold “Mm” escaped from his throat.

Ironically, that reaction only further convinced Vance that the young man before him was an untouchable figure.

Vance secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Holding the newly stamped parchment with both hands, he respectfully returned it to Lance.

“The mechanical malfunction has already been resolved as a priority.”

“You may rest assured. Tomorrow evening, you will directly enter the first batch's core baptism array without any delay whatsoever.”

“And furthermore...”

As he spoke, Vance reached beneath the counter and viciously yanked Ilya, who was still standing there in shock.

Though stupid, the subordinate had helped him perform plenty of dirty money-making work over the years.

If he failed to save him today, many future matters would become inconvenient.

“You idiot! What are you standing there for? Apologize immediately!”

Vance barked sharply.

Only then did Ilya snap back to reality.

His face was drenched in sweat.

By now he had completely realized that anyone capable of making his superior act this humbly—

Must be someone who could casually crush both of them.

Without hesitation, he bent forward in a bow so deep it looked as though his spine might snap.

If military regulations had not explicitly abolished kneeling etiquette, he would probably have dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.

Vance knew perfectly well that a verbal apology alone would never extinguish the young man's anger.

They needed real compensation.

“Due to the deterioration of our equipment, your valuable time was wasted.”

Vance presented his offer.

“According to the military's special compensation mechanism, and to express our sincerest apologies—”

“After tomorrow evening's baptism ceremony concludes, you may use an authorization order personally signed by me to enter the Veterans’ Institute's underground Level One Treasury.”

“There, you may freely select one enchanted piece of equipment as compensation.”

The moment he spoke those words, Vance felt his heart bleeding.

Of course, this compensation was not part of any military regulation.

He would have to exchange it using his own military merits and personal gold.

Every legitimate enchanted item was an expensive treasure worth a significant sum.

Still, if it could resolve this disaster, then the price was worthwhile.

Hearing the offer, Lance was quite satisfied.

It was essentially a free rare piece of equipment.

After entering the Professional Rank, enchanted equipment held an entirely different significance.

Many special items crafted by high-level alchemists existed in this world.

They were not merely sharper or sturdier.

They granted all sorts of extraordinary enhancements to their users.

However, there was one strict requirement.

Only true professionals could use them.

For example, melee professionals needed to successfully establish a Source Furnace before they could activate and benefit from such enhancements.

Ordinary mortals, no matter how divine the weapon they held, could only use it as a normal weapon.

Since he had already obtained compensation, Lance had no intention of pursuing the matter further.

More importantly, he still did not fully understand Uncle Ryan's background.

He did not want a moment of impulsiveness on his part to bring unnecessary trouble to a retired veteran who had spent years peacefully living in the countryside.

As long as the primary objective of his trip to White River City—the Heroic Spirit Baptism quota—remained intact, there was no need to create further complications.

Lance calmed himself.

The suffocating 【Dragon Might】 filling the room gradually faded away.

“Very good.”

Lance accepted the parchment and casually offered a warning.

“Then I'll leave the arrangements in Commander Vance's hands.”

“I only hope that during tomorrow's baptism ceremony, no similar ‘malfunctions’ occur again.”

Hearing those words—

For some reason, a powerful thought emerged within Vance's mind.

Tomorrow, even if the sky collapsed—

He absolutely could not allow the slightest issue to occur during this young man's ceremony.

He understood that the youth had chosen to let them off.

Only then did Vance finally breathe a complete sigh of relief.

For the first time, he dared to straighten the back that had become sore from tension.

At that moment, he finally raised his head and properly saw Lance's face.

And the instant their eyes met—

Something felt wrong.

The black-haired youth standing before him was simply too handsome.

It wasn't merely a matter of refined facial features.

More terrifying was the aura that radiated from within.

The natural authority he had displayed earlier.

The inexplicable urge toward obedience that arose from a single sentence...

Vance swallowed hard.

A memory from many years ago suddenly resurfaced.

Back when he had first joined the military, he had once accompanied his superior to the royal capital.

At the central plaza, he had witnessed a public royal speech from afar.

The feeling this young man gave him...

Was astonishingly similar to the members of the Pendragon Royal Family, who were said to carry the “Red Dragon Blood.”

That innate supernatural charisma.

That inexplicable ability to inspire trust.

Wasn't that the most natural proof of royal blood?

A youth from the remote frontier town of Graystone Town...

A transfer quota carrying a top-secret background...

And that unmistakable Red Dragon aura...

Several crucial clues collided violently within Vance's mind.

Instantly, he constructed an explosive political story in his imagination.