Identity Exposed (Part 2)

To avoid revealing his identity, before returning to Fostadu, Sordil transformed from his human form into his dragon form, adopting his original dragon appearance, not some other Number Two -like figure. Moments later, Sordil arrived at Fostadu's location. Looking at the people bustling about on and below the mountain, he felt a surge of warmth, a sense of coming home.

Just as Sordil was observing the situation in Fostadu, the people of Fostadu also spotted the enormous object in the sky.

"Look, isn't that dragon in the sky our young master?"

"Wait a minute, let me take a closer look! Hey, it really is the young master, the young master is back!"

"Young Master is back!"

"Everyone, come quick! The young master is back!"

"Really? Young Master has really returned?"

"It's true! It's true! The young master has really returned!"

Hearing the commotion outside, Seraf, who was handling some business, impatiently shouted, "Carl, go check it out! What's all the noise outside?!"

"Yes, Lord Seraf!"

After a while, the noise outside the door not only didn't subside, but intensified, making it impossible for Seraph to concentrate on his work. Just as he was about to go out and check it himself, Carl rushed into his room, shouting incoherently.

"Lord Seraf, good news! The sky... the dragon... the man... has returned... Young Master... is calling..."

"Carl, don't rush, talk it out slowly, the sky isn't going to fall!"

With Seraf's reassurance, Carl's restless heart began to calm down. After organizing his observations and carefully crafting his words, he said, "Lord Seraf, the young master has returned! People outside are shouting!"

"Young Master? Which young master?"

"Which other young master could it be? Of course, it's Young Master Sordil!"

"Master is back? You mean Master is back?"

"Yes! Everyone is..."

Before Carl could finish speaking, Seraf had vanished from his sight, leaving only a pile of scattered papers and dust. Looking at the empty room, Carl muttered to himself, "He told me to be more composed, but you rushed off to see the young master yourself! Oh, right! I need to hurry and see the young master too, Lord Seraf, wait for me!"

After saying that, Carl rushed out the door and ran towards where Sordil was.

When Seraf reached the summit, Sordil was already engulfed in a sea of people. Seraf attempted to break through the outer perimeter of Sordil's encirclement several times, but all attempts failed. In desperation, he resorted to using his status to intimidate others in hopes of getting closer to Sordil, who was located in the center.

"I am Seraf Ornn, the current garrison commander of Fostadu. Please make way for me!"

"Please make way, everyone. I am Garrison Commander Seraf. Thank you!"

Seraf continued forward, relying on his special status. However, he miscalculated one thing: his direction of travel and Sordil's speed. As a result, Seraf walked in a 'U' shape on the outskirts of the encirclement and perfectly missed his target.

Has anyone seen that guy Seraf?

Upon hearing Sordil's question, the onlookers began to offer a cacophony of answers, and then (imagine the scene—what would happen if you got caught up in it? You'd be dizzy, of course!) Sordil became lost amidst countless friendly reminders. Seeing that this method wouldn't work, another plan came to Sordil's mind. He said to the crowd, "Now let's all look for Seraf together. Whoever finds him can come with me to the Kingdom of Donagunov later and have dinner with me and Queen Irene!"

After receiving Sordil's promise, the crowd's enthusiasm was instantly mobilized, and everyone turned into Sherlock Holmes, searching the surrounding area. Before long, Seraf was 'hiding' on the outskirts, was found and brought before Sordil.

"Seraf, I've been back for so long, why haven't you come to see me?"

Upon hearing Sordil's question, Seraf said with tears streaming down his face, "Master, I tried everything I could to get closer to you, but there were just too many people around you, and I couldn't squeeze in!"

Seeing the pitiful Seraf, Sordil patted him on the shoulder and then gently comforted him, "Oh! Oh! It's alright, it's alright! It's all over now!"

After appeasing Seraf, Sordil took out the ingredients he had prepared from his storage space and handed them to Seraf.

"These are some ingredients I salvaged from the Western Continent. Have someone prepare them later and host a banquet so everyone can relax and unwind!"

"Don't worry, Master, I'll have someone take care of it right away. We'll eat soon!"

"No! No! No! I won't eat here. Irene and the others are waiting for me at the palace. If I get back late, I'll be in big trouble!"

As one of the few members who knew Sordil's other identity, Seraf certainly understood the meaning of those words, so he stopped trying to persuade Sordil to stay.

"In that case, I won't keep you any longer. I hope you have a wonderful night in the Kingdom of Donagunov!"

Sordil accepted Seraf's sincere blessings, then pointed to the man who had found Seraf earlier and said, "Young man, come here quickly, we should get going!"

Carl looked at Sordil, who was pointing at him, with great excitement. He scrambled to Sordil's side and let him carry him into the sky, flying towards the outer edge of the Cuyis Tree Sea.

That evening, everyone in the entire Fostadu was immersed in the feast prepared by their young master. Even Seraf, who rarely drank alcohol, got completely drunk and his tongue was slurred when he spoke.

"Seraf, Young Master Sordil is so good to you. Not only did he entrust the entire Fostadu to you, but he also always remembers you when there's something delicious or fun to do. Tell me, why does the young master favor you so much, but he doesn't see us?"

Hearing his friend's complaint, Seraf slurred, "Hiccup! You... what do you know? What kind of relationship do I have with the young master? You think you can compare to me? Dream on!"

"Tch! So what if you served the young master back in the Western Continent? What's the big deal?"

"I don't like what you're saying! The young master saved my life, and I accompanied him through dangerous situations. Of course he can see me, but he can't see you!"

"Blow... burp... goo... you goo... keo... keep blowing!"

"Who... who's bragging? I'm telling the truth! Back in the Moens Canyon on the Western Continent, it was the young master who exposed the traitor Chival and saved my life. Later, I accompanied the young master into the royal palace of the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu, negotiated with King Belmod, and seized this Cuyis Tree Sea from him as our new home. After that, I accompanied the young master back to the Western Continent to find his friend. After returning from the Western Continent, I followed the young master, disguised as Oddek, to Philiers and gain the king's trust."

At this point, Seraf suddenly realized that he might have inadvertently revealed something important. He quickly covered his mouth to avoid leaking any more crucial information. Unfortunately, once information is spoken, it cannot be taken back, especially since Seraf had overlooked a very important danger: there was a traitor 'lurking' among his own ranks.

Having intercepted such shocking intelligence, Yeruzisi dared not linger there any longer. Disregarding his undercover identity, he rushed directly to the old intelligence exchange point.