Game World: I Can Share Talents-Chapter 37: We Will Win

"If Duke Qinghui and the Fourth Princess have really infiltrated the Demon Dragon’s camp, forget about completing the mission—we’ll probably never get a chance to claim Prince Yaligong’s bounty."

Some people gloated, glancing toward Yaligong to see what kind of flustered, furious expression the noble member of the Royal Family would wear after this setback.

After all, using Reiya’s mixed-blood identity was a dangerous, unorthodox gambit. But from the looks of it, Westheid was completely confident, making a screw-up seem unlikely.

In the absolute worst-case scenario, they would just spend this Trial safely inside the Dragon Tower. They might even be able to use their advantageous position deep in enemy territory to pull a few clever tricks and earn plenty of merit.

However, to the disappointment of those hoping for drama, Prince Yaligong didn’t seem particularly heated. He merely watched on with a cold expression.

’Using a Demon Dragon’s bloodline to pull a fast one... that’s just like that bastard. But do they really think they can just sit back and relax now?’

’I refuse to believe their luck will last. So what if that stupid Dragon was fooled? Once a Legendary Dragon Species arrives, this will all be over.’

’Using the Celestial Vault Kingdom as a cover? The Celestial Vault Kingdom has never had any large-scale wars with the Dragon Realm! A lie that flimsy will fall apart under the slightest pressure!’

Yaligong always assumed the worst of his enemies. The more lies one told, the more one had to spin to cover them up. A deception built on fabrications couldn’t be maintained forever, and this Secret Realm Trial... would likely last for a very, very long time. Especially a lie with such far-reaching implications.

.........

After several hours of enduring the cold wind on Tudor’s back, Westheid and his two companions finally reached the place Tudor called the Dragon Tower.

It was a stronghold the Dragon Race had built upon the land, modeled after the Dragon’s Will Peak in the Land of Ancestors.

The proud Dragon Race, who considered themselves Celestial Dragons, would almost never deign to touch the soil. Thus, even when ruling the world, they wouldn’t actually live among mortals. The Dragon Towers, built with hoarded resources, served as their local habitations.

The sky-piercing tower seemed to stretch endlessly into the clouds. Though called a tower, it was nothing like the pitiful, slender spires of mortal conception. On the contrary, the Dragon Tower was magnificent, almost a castle built vertically, with a town for Dragon Descendants and servants nestled at its base.

Every Dragon Tower was built on a key Magic Node of a Magic Pool and shrouded in an atmosphere saturated with Magic Power. If necessary, a tower could drain the entire Magic Pool dry. Compared to any natural geographic stronghold, these Magic Nodes were the true strategic points for which armies vied.

"Your Esteemed Highness, please rest for a moment within the tower. I have already instructed the servants to obey your commands. I must now go at once to request an audience with Scorching Wings. Please forgive me for being unable to attend to you personally."

After leading Reiya and her companions up the tower, Tudor shifted into his Dragon Descendant form—a burly man with a great mane of coarse black hair. He knelt on one knee before the Silver-haired Dragon Lady.

"Then what are you still standing around for? Hurry up and go! This place is absolutely pathetic. If not for my mission, why would I ever come to this backwater?" Westheid said, his voice deliberately sharp and full of disgust.

Tudor clenched his fists, forcing down his rage and humiliation. He glanced at Reiya, but she remained cold and expressionless, her gaze fixed on the side of Westheid’s face.

’Her lack of objection was a sign of tacit approval.’

"...Yes."

The Giant Dragon lowered his head in compliance. Not wanting to linger for a second longer, he turned, transformed, and shot into the clouds with a furious roar.

Once Tudor was gone, the trio turned and entered the tower.

Although Westheid had called it a pathetic residence, as a stronghold for True Dragons, the Dragon Tower had been built with immense resources and painstaking effort, creating a luxurious courtyard that rivaled even the Holy Tree Palace.

Or perhaps, the Holy Tree Palace was the later imitator.

Around floor tiles polished to a mirror sheen, clusters of vibrant flowers in every shade of red and purple bloomed along golden fences.

Servants in magnificent attire bustled about the exquisitely decorated courtyard. All of them, men and women alike, were strikingly beautiful. Some were Dragon Descendants, others human.

As Reiya and her companions passed, the servants would immediately stop what they were doing and prostrate themselves respectfully, their gazes never daring to rise above the trio’s feet.

"You! Get up," Westheid said imperiously, pointing casually at a Dragon Descendant servant. "Lead the way. This tower must have rooms suitable for a noble True Dragon."

"Yes, My Lord."

The Dragon Descendant servant responded at once, leading Westheid and the others into the High Court.

Though the tower was vast, most of its space was dedicated to the framework supporting the Magic Pool. The remaining lower section, the High Court, was where the True Dragons and their servants resided. Consequently, the rooms were mostly suited for those in Dragon Descendant form and weren’t absurdly large.

After all, lesser Dragon Beasts, unable to even freely switch forms, had no right to set foot in the High Court.

The Dragon Descendant servant led the trio to a set of magnificent doors before excusing himself and departing. Westheid immediately pushed them open, stepping into an exceptionally spacious room.

A crimson velvet carpet covered the jade floor tiles. A luxurious chandelier cast a warm, amber glow, and the air was filled with the scent of a soothing incense.

As soon as they were inside the room and had repeatedly checked for listening devices, Yolanda finally couldn’t help but quip, "Your arrogant act seemed a little *too* genuine, Brother."

Westheid replied, "That’s an unfair critique. It’s called method acting. The most crucial part is to have conviction. The slightest hesitation or insecurity would be seen right through by the Giant Dragon. To put it bluntly, *we’re* the ones who could be crushed at any moment."

"You both performed very well. Keeping your composure without knowing the situation is commendable."

"It’s hard to feel happy about your praise," Yolanda said with a sigh, her tone strange.

"And you just had to... Forget it. I’ll just chalk it up to your twisted sense of humor."

The platinum-blonde girl thought for a moment. ’Being Westheid’s "Star Fury Power" is much better than being Reiya’s "Star Fury Power." It’s a disguise I can live with.’

"What’s our next move, West?"

Reiya had been watching the black-haired, purple-eyed young man’s every move. She always got straight to the point.

"Are we just using this as a temporary escape, or are we going to maintain this disguise?"

Westheid said, "Of course we’re going to press this advantage as much as possible. If we want to earn the Divine Ancestor’s grace, we have to accomplish deeds beyond the ordinary."

"But the risk of being exposed is high. Honestly, even though you seem confident and familiar with all this, West, we know almost nothing. We can get by for now by staying silent, but that can’t last."

Reiya calmly pointed out,

"According to that Giant Dragon, he’s going to summon his master, Scorching Wings. If we have to fight him, West, are you confident you can win?"

The moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Scorching Wings... The name alone revealed that this was a True Dragon bearing a "Winged Name." Such Dragons were the pillars of the Dragon Race, every single one of them an undeniable Legendary Tier being.

And a Legend... was the pinnacle of power imaginable in the Mortal World. While perhaps insignificant in the eyes of a Celestial God, a Legendary Celestial Position Holder truly possessed world-shattering might.

’In this Secret Realm Trial, Scorching Wings has to be the strongest boss we could possibly face. Meeting the final boss right at the start of the Trial... isn’t that a bit... much?’

Westheid rubbed his chin, deep in thought, before saying,

"Given our current condition, facing a Legendary Dragon Species will be... a little tricky."

Reiya’s eyes fell, disappointed. "So, we’ll lose?"

The handsome young man smiled. "We’ll win."

Westheid picked up a carved porcelain vase from the table. An exquisite antique like this would be considered priceless in the Empire.

He threw it.

CRASH—

The vase shattered in the corner with a sharp crack.

Westheid slapped the notebook he’d been carrying onto the table.

"A Legendary True Dragon isn’t invincible. We just need to approach this step-by-step to plot our path to victory... First, it’s time for a study session!"