However, Lord Valerius did not show much excitement. He merely asked in a calm tone, "The three you originally had your eye on—are they among them?"
"Yes, my lord. The three brothers performed exceptionally well."
"Good. This project is entirely in your hands, and I expect results that will satisfy me. Do not be like that useless fool Nacho—incapable of accomplishing anything. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord," Scott answered respectfully, the weight of his superior's expectations settling firmly upon his shoulders. He understood the unspoken consequences of failure.
Lord Valerius was notorious for his ruthlessness; subordinates who failed were discarded like broken chess pieces, just as Nacho Salaman had been. But success promised limitless power and wealth. The world had never been short of gamblers, and Scott was one of them.
His gaze grew more determined. He was confident he could seize this opportunity and mold the Blade Special Forces into the Empire's most lethal unit.
After a short pause, Scott continued his report. "By the way, my lord, I have made some progress on the investigation you ordered regarding Tiger Lawrence and Rebecca Clement."
"Speak."
"Although I have yet to uncover their movements within the Empire, I did discover a pattern—every three months, they disappear for about twenty days before resurfacing."
Scott added, "While we still don't know exactly what they are doing during those twenty days, following this trail might lead to something useful. There is also a high possibility that it is connected to Leon Cosmodeous."
Upon hearing this, Lord Valerius nodded subtly. "Good. Continue the investigation. If you need more personnel, I will assign them to you."
"Thank you, my lord," Scott said with a slight bow.
Lord Valerius's gaze returned to the dragon's severed head within the cultivation chamber, its silent, decaying majesty a constant presence in the room.
"After Nacho's repeated failures, I now understand just what kind of monster the Empire has created. Defeating Leon Cosmodeous head-on is nearly impossible. But fortunately… I have never been one to shy away from using unorthodox tactics in war."
Scott's eyes gleamed with cunning. "My lord, if I may be so bold, I believe your choice of words is not quite appropriate."
Lord Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how so?"
"Whether a tactic is 'unorthodox' or not is decided by the victor. And, in this battle, the one who will lose is Leon Cosmodeous. A hundred years from now, who will even remember what happens today? People will only pass down your glorious achievements."
Scott grinned slyly. "As for Leon? Who is that? When historians look back, they'll see that he was nothing more than a foolish obstacle standing in the way of the Empire's ascent to greatness."
Despite knowing full well that Scott was a smooth talker, Lord Valerius still found himself enjoying the flattery. He chuckled and shook his head.
"I must admit, not only are you more reliable than Nacho, but you're also much better at… managing expectations."
"My lord flatters me—I merely speak the truth," Scott replied with a smirk.
"However," he added, "if you truly wish to use Tiger and Rebecca to threaten Leon, we may need to wait a while longer. Those two are highly elusive, and our men have had a difficult time capturing them."
"I know," Lord Valerius responded. "After all, Tiger was once one of the top dragon slayers of the previous generation. He left the Dragon Slayers' Corps for certain reasons and has since chosen to live a quiet life among ordinary people. He understands the Empire's methods well—it's no surprise that you haven't been able to catch him."
Lord Valerius's expression darkened slightly as his mind shifted to another possibility. "But… even if Tiger and Rebecca are difficult to track down, we can always target someone else."
Scott quickly followed his train of thought. "My lord, are you referring to Leon's other comrade—Martin? But Martin is currently clean, and he is also the son of a royal minister. Investigating him would be difficult."
"No, I'm not talking about Martin." Lord Valerius shook his head. "In fact… I'm not even talking about a human."
Scott's eyes widened slightly. "Not… a human?"
Lord Valerius nodded. He raised a hand and tapped his finger against the cultivation chamber before him.
"The owner of this head once told me that dragons, too, have 'family relationships.' And right now, the Dragon Queen of the Silver Dragon Clan—the one Leon is associated with—has a biological sister who rules another clan."
Scott's eyes flickered with realization. "If she is related to the Silver Dragon Queen… then if she were to run into trouble, Leon would most likely intervene. That would create the perfect opportunity for us to take him down."
He paused briefly before adding, "But after failing so many times before, I believe that if we truly wish to use this Dragon Queen against Leon, we must be certain of our plan."
"Of course." Lord Valerius tilted his chin toward the dragon's severed head inside the cultivation chamber. "He will be our first move—our stone to test the waters."
Scott's eyes gleamed with fervor, unable to conceal his growing excitement. The completion of this technology would mark a major leap forward in the Empire's power. It meant they were standing at the threshold of a new era.
"My lord, has the 'Fusion Ritual' been completed?" Scott asked tentatively, his heartbeat quickening with anticipation.
Lord Valerius's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "Yes, we are only one step away."
He gestured to the grotesque apparatus. "Once we place the head—symbolizing 'burning'—into the chamber… awaken its dormant will using the power of the Heart-Protecting Dragon Scales… and fuse it with the bodies of countless S-class dangerous creatures…"
A cold, triumphant smile finally touched his lips. "Then we will have created the ultimate weapon of slaughter."
Lord Valerius pressed his palm against the transparent wall of the cultivation chamber, his gaze locked onto the dragon's remains within.
His voice grew heavier, and the rising intensity of his emotions seemed to make the very air in the chamber tremble.
"A war machine that is invincible, tireless, and capable of dragging Leon Cosmodeous straight into hell!"
Lord Valerius's voice was filled with ambition for the future and an insatiable hunger for power. He raised his other hand, mirroring his previous gesture, forming a point of support against the cultivation chamber as if declaring his absolute control over the slumbering Dragon King.
A solemn expression flickered across Lord Valerius's face before transforming into unwavering resolve.
"Crimson Flame Dragon King—Constantine, your fire of vengeance shall be rekindled by the Empire!" His voice echoed through the sealed space.
Yet, what he failed to realize…Was that the soul that had returned from hell and had long since seen through his every move?