Decided! Lick Him to Death!

Not to mention Master Famite, even the other proud and fierce warriors nodded seriously.

Not just Master Famit—even the other proud warriors nodded with equal seriousness.

In this world, dignity is relative.

In this world, dignity was relative.

They could certainly maintain their dignity by pretending not to understand and slinking back in disgrace. But if they kept their dignity, the king would lose his in no time.

They could certainly save face by pretending not to understand a thing and slinking back in disgrace. But if they kept their dignity, the king would lose his in no time.

If the legendary archmage ever stormed the palace to demand an accounting, His Majesty would likely find himself "dignifiedly" enjoying an otherworldly version of Louis XVI's happy platform—the guillotine.

If the Legendary Archmage ever stormed the palace to demand an accounting, His Majesty would likely have them "dignifiedly" enjoy the otherworldly version of the Louis XVI Happy Stage—the guillotine.

At the end of the day, dignity depends on strength.

In the end, dignity was all about strength.

Before a true peerless powerhouse, being allowed to act like a dog or run errands is already a favor.

Before a true Peerless Strong, letting you be a dog or run errands was already a great honor.

How many people would kill for the chance to wash a legendary master's feet but can't find the door?

Countless people couldn't even find a way to bring the legendary bigshot his foot-washing water.

They even believed that if not for their envoy flag, that lord would have struck them with lightning too.

They even believed that if they hadn't been holding high the embassy flag, that lord would have struck them down with lightning too.

Gannis walked before Downs and bowed deeply.

Ganis walked up to Downs and bowed deeply.

"Sir, what are you..." Downs was startled.

"Milord, what are you..." Downs was startled.

"Lord Quixote! A thousand apologies! We misjudged your master's strength, taking him for an ordinary archmage. Clearly, our actions were extremely rude to a true legendary archmage. We nearly caused a serious international incident. If this affects your master's view of our kingdom, we deserve death ten thousand times over."

"Lord Quijote! A thousand apologies! We misjudged your master's strength and treated him as an ordinary archmage. Clearly, our actions were extremely rude toward a true Legendary Archmage. We nearly caused a serious international incident. If this affects your respected master's view of our kingdom, we would be guilty beyond death."

"Ah! No, just now, that..." Downs was too young to grasp all the twists and turns those old foxes like Gannis had spun from that one scene.

"Ah! No, just now, that..." Downs was too young. How could he know that a single scene had made old foxes like Ganis think through so many twists and turns?

In his heart, Downs was overjoyed, because he'd heard from this kingdom's great figure that his master was a true legendary archmage.

Downs was actually quite happy inside, because he'd personally confirmed from this kingdom's bigshot that his master was a true Legendary Archmage.

But after the joy, he felt a little worried—his master seemed to be in a bad mood!

After the joy, he felt a little worried—his master's mood seemed pretty bad!

Gannis continued, "Your master killed the white dragon before us to let us atone. We'll handle everything and let you bring the spoils to him."

Ganis continued: "Your respected master killed the White Dragon before our eyes to let us atone. We'll handle everything and let you bring the spoils to your master."

"Ah, this..."

"Ah, this..."

"Lord, please don't refuse. Your humility will make things difficult for us." Master Famite chimed in.

"Lord, please don't refuse. Your modesty will make things difficult for us." Master Famit chimed in too.

"Yes! Serving a legendary archmage is our honor." The others said in unison.

"Yes! Serving a Legendary Archmage is our honor." The others said in unison.

This envoy team had two master-level powerhouses, and the rest were all high-tier professionals. Being praised and awed by so many strong warriors for his master made Downs feel proud, excited, and a little nervous.

This embassy had two Master-level experts, and the rest of the guards were all high-rank professionals. Being praised and revered by so many strong men for his master, Downs felt both proud and excited, with just a hint of nervousness.

With everyone saying so, Downs had to go along, letting these usually arrogant powerhouses do the roughest work.

Since everyone said so, Downs could only go along with it, letting these usually arrogant strong men do the roughest work.

Famite's great axe, which had once slain a legendary tiger—if this were a game, its challenge rating would be 9, requiring a high-tier party to match—was now used as a butcher's cleaver.

The great axe in Famit's hands—which had once slain a legendary tiger (if put in a game, its Challenge Level would be 9, needing a high-rank party to contend with)—was used as a butcher's cleaver.

Even though Famite winced at the chipped edge on the axe blade while cutting off the white dragon's head, he still insisted on finishing the job.

Even though Famit visibly winced when the axe blade chipped while chopping off the White Dragon's head, he still insisted on finishing the job.

The white dragon's blood was the strongest freezing agent; some even got frostbite, but they just warmed by the fire and kept working without a single complaint.

White Dragon blood was the strongest freezing agent; some even got frostbite, but they warmed up by the fire and didn't utter a single complaint before continuing.

Such a huge dragon took the group of powerhouses half a day to fully dismember.

Such a huge dragon took the group of strong men half a day to fully dismember.

Staring at the mountain of white dragon parts, Downs felt at a loss.

Looking at the mountain-like pile of White Dragon parts, Downs was at a loss.

The bald, burly warrior Famite walked over, wiping his sweat: "Lord Quixote! All done. The white dragon meat has a natural freezing property; unless you thaw it with intense heat, it won't spoil for a year at room temperature. You can bury it somewhere for now and deal with it later. What about the head?"

This bald tough-guy warrior Famit walked over, wiped his sweat: "Lord Quijote! All done. White Dragon meat has a natural freezing property; unless you roast it with intense fire to thaw it, the meat won't spoil at room temperature for a year. You can find a place to bury it for now and deal with it later. How should we handle the dragon head?"

"I... I don't know." Downs answered honestly.

"I... I don't know." Downs answered honestly.

Gannis pondered for a moment: "From what you said, your master is in seclusion. He probably doesn't want to be disturbed. In that case, the head can be hung at the only entrance. Pure-blood dragons have an innate dragon might; after death, it doesn't vanish. The resentment formed before death becomes the strongest warning, intimidating all weaker beings. Of course, it might provoke other passing white dragons, but with your master's strength, he likely doesn't care."

Ganis pondered for a moment: "From what you said, your respected master is in seclusion. He likely doesn't want to be disturbed. In that case, the dragon head can be hung at the only entrance. Because pure-blooded dragons carry Dragon's Might, after a dragon is killed, the Dragon's Might doesn't disappear—the resentment formed before its death becomes the strongest warning, intimidating all beings of insufficient strength. Of course, this might anger other passing White Dragons, but with your master's power, he probably doesn't care."

Gannis was too presumptuous. If a certain transmigrator heard that, he'd angrily shout, "I really fucking thank you for that!"

Ganis was too presumptuous. If a certain transmigrator heard this, he'd angrily shout: "I really fucking thank you!"

To Downs' ears, though, it sounded great.

To Downs' ears, this sounded great.

Right!

Right!

Master was too low-key!

Master was too low-key!

He could one-shot a dragon, so why fear dragon revenge?

He could one-shot a dragon, so why fear some dragon revenge!

Hang them! Hang them all!

Hang it! Hang it all!

Downs excitedly fantasized about one day covering both cliff walls of the waterfall he was about to jump from with dragon heads.

Downs excitedly fantasized about one day covering both cliff walls of the waterfall he was about to jump from with dragon heads.

And so, the envoy team respectfully carried the fully dismembered white dragon to the waterfall pool. As Downs requested, they fixed the wide-eyed, unyielding white dragon head onto a cliff face.

And so, the embassy respectfully carried the fully dismembered White Dragon brother to that waterfall pool, and according to Downs' request, fixed the wide-eyed, unyielding White Dragon head onto a cliff wall.

"That's it then. Since your master seems a bit displeased, we won't risk angering him. Farewell for now. Next time we come, I'm sure His Majesty will bring a gift of sufficient weight." Gannis bowed deeply again.

"Let it be. Since your respected master is a bit displeased, we won't go and anger him further. Then let us part here. Next time we come, His Majesty will surely bring a gift of sufficient weight." Ganis bowed deeply again.

"Sorry, my master has a bit of a temper."

"Sorry, my master has a bit of a temper."

"No, no! Only the most resolute can become legendary powerhouses. Your master is right to be so; we were the ones who overstepped. We'll leave this small gift here too. If you find it acceptable, take it to him." With that, they set down the kingdom's offering.

"No, no, no! Only those with the strongest will can become legendary strong men. Your respected master is right to be so; it was our offense. We've left this small gift here too. If you find it acceptable, take it to him." With that, they set down the kingdom's greeting gift as well.

If you're weak, it's a bad temper—we won't indulge you. Go cool off somewhere.

If you're weak, it's a bad temper—we won't indulge you, go cool off somewhere.

If your fist is big, it's personality. Not only will we kiss your ass, we'll do front flips to lick your boots.

If you have big fists, it's personality—not only will we kiss your stinky feet, we'll do front flips and grovel.

Envoys always have flexible moral standards.

Being an envoy meant having flexible moral standards.

After parting from Downs, watching the youth's figure disappear from sight, Gannis let out a long sigh.

After parting from Downs, watching the youth's back disappear from his sight, Ganis let out a long sigh.

Famite asked, "Sir, what's wrong?"

Famit asked: "Milord, what's wrong?"

"I'm both happy and sad!"

"I'm both happy and sad!"

"How so?"

"How so?"

"That one didn't close the door completely, so there's still room to negotiate. But his attitude makes it clear he's not our kingdom's subject. Without a 'friendship discount,' we'll have to compete with other nations on equal terms."

"That one didn't block the path completely, so there's still room to talk. But this attitude clearly shows he's not our kingdom's subject. Without a 'friendship price,' negotiations will have to be 'fair bidding' with the various countries."

Famite and the others fell silent.

Famit and the others fell silent.

The Kingdom of Cervantes was just a small nation. In this age of declining magic, a rare talent who could train qualified mages could easily prop up a royal magic academy. If he really wanted to pick a backer, the great empires would fight tooth and nail over him. What chance did their little kingdom have?

Cervantes Kingdom was, after all, just a small nation. In this Age of the End of Dharma, a rare talent like this who could teach qualified mages could easily support a Royal Magic Academy. If that person really wanted to find a patron, the great empires would fight tooth and nail over him. How could a tiny kingdom like theirs compete?

"Then should we... keep it a secret?"

"Then... do we hide the news?"

Ganis smiled bitterly. "What does 'that one' mean by releasing Downs Quijote? It's clearly an intention to openly take on a disciple."

"This..."

Ganis turned back, cast a reluctant glance, then withdrew his gaze. His eyes grew resolute.

"Relax, Famite. Broaden your perspective! Since that lord has shown us his power and magnanimity, we naturally ought to repay him with fairness and goodwill! He is human! A Legendary Archmage willing to help the entire human world revive the Way of Magic! If we can gain a promise of a single strike from him through our service and assistance, then everything we do will be worth it."

The crowd all grew solemn, then nodded in unison.

There was no helping it. In the Age of the End of Dharma, a living Legendary Archmage was just that precious.

Even if this advisor's opinion was to grovel before that archmage—and grovel to the death—it would still be worth every bit.

That certain transmigrator, however, had no idea... this wave... the misunderstanding was huge.