Nefer shot Thoth a look. Sure enough, he was a liar. He'd said before that he was already used to staying in Aaru.
Still, it wasn't impossible that she might drag Thoth's true form over someday.
"Boss! Boss!"
Hearing the voice, Nefer turned around and, sure enough, saw Jahoda.
Jahoda hurried over and threw her arms around Nefer.
"Thank goodness, Boss. You really are here."
"Jahoda, hehe, you came too. The Grand Sage finally did something right. Since you're here, get to work!"
"Huh? Boss, I just got here and already have to work?"
"No work, no pay. Now, keep an eye on things here. If anyone comes by asking questions, see to them."
"Oh! Got it, Boss. I'll get the job done!"
Jahoda had barely arrived before Nefer roped her into covering for her. There was something amusing about their boss-and-employee relationship.
Meanwhile, in a secret chamber inside Pope's Palace in Spirit City, Bibi Dong was imprisoned within a diamond-shaped crystal formed from Electro and Anemo energy.
She slumped on the floor, her eyes vacant. There was none of the imposing aura of a god about her, and no one around her paid her any mind.
Scaramouche was currently discussing the establishment of an Akademiya Branch in Spirit Hall with Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu.
"I don't think you'll object to this, will you?"
Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu certainly wouldn't dare object. Still, they wanted to ask about the details and secure some benefits for Spirit Hall.
"Mr. Scaramouche, we naturally wouldn't dare oppose the establishment of an Akademiya Branch in Spirit City. We just need to discuss where and how it'll be built, and how much Spirit Hall will have to contribute."
"That has nothing to do with me. As long as you agree, someone will come discuss the details with you later.
"However, they'll probably have to wait until the branch in Heaven Dou City is up and running, so you'll have plenty of time to think about what you can offer in exchange.
"But I should warn you: that Grand Sage isn't the sort to take a loss."
Qian Daoliu smiled awkwardly. This conversation was entirely pointless. Scaramouche might not have Nahida's power to see into people's hearts, but years of experience had taught him how to read them.
"Scaramouche! Scaramouche!"
At the sudden sound of someone calling his name, Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue, and Scaramouche all froze.
"What's he doing here too?"
Scaramouche flashed out of the Worship Hall, and Little Durin swooped down from the sky at once.
"Scaramouche, I finally found you."
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to play with you! Do you have something to do? I didn't interrupt you, did I?"
Scaramouche shook his head helplessly.
"No. It's already over."
Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue also walked out of the Worship Hall and naturally saw Little Durin.
Little Durin greeted them too.
"Hello! My name's Durin. Scaramouche, are they your new friends?"
"No. They're the people in charge of this city. I was negotiating with them about setting up an Akademiya Branch. We're done now."
Little Durin was just about the only person Scaramouche would bother explaining things to.
"Mr. Durin, pleased to meet you. I'm Qian Daoliu, and this is my granddaughter, Qian Renxue."
Looking at Little Durin's wings and horns, Qian Renxue recalled that the Sky Screen's introduction of Scaramouche had mentioned a little dragon. She asked, "Mr. Durin, are you part of the Dragon Sovereign Clan?"
"Yeah, I'm part of the Dragon Sovereign Clan. Scaramouche, when I was coming here, I saw a big green dragon wrapped around the whole city. Let's go find her and play!"
At Little Durin's words, Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue couldn't help but look startled.
"Hm? Did that dragon come here with you?"
"I think so. Scaramouche, do you know her?"
"Could it be Grass Dragon King Apep? Did the Grand Sage summon her too?"
Scaramouche muttered under his breath, then saw Little Durin's hopeful expression and couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"Someone from the Akademiya will come to coordinate with you. Let's go!"
Little Durin politely waved to Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu, then left Spirit City with Scaramouche.
Only after they vanished from sight did Qian Daoliu let out a small sigh of relief.
"Grandpa, maybe it's time for us to make a choice."
"Xiao Xue, you mean..."
"Going all in is its own kind of wisdom!"
Qian Renxue wanted to take a gamble and put all of Spirit Hall under the Akademiya's authority. She made it sound easy, but whether the Akademiya would accept them was another matter.
The scene shifted to the Akademiya's main campus. By the Lake of Life, a group of Ferocious Beasts led by Di Tian waited.
Suddenly, a piercing dragon's cry rang out, shattering the heavens. A silver dragon burst from the Lake of Life.
Her cry brimmed with the joy of being reborn. After soaring through the sky, the Silver Dragon King landed and transformed into human form.
The Silver Dragon King took the form of a mature, beautiful woman with silver hair and white clothes. There was also an air of an overlord in her features.
"Greetings, my lord!" ×N
Led by Di Tian, the Ferocious Beasts bowed to the Silver Dragon King in unison.
At the Akademiya's main campus, Alhaitham, who was keeping watch over the place, had his eyes fixed on them. If the Silver Dragon King made any move, he would notify Lesser Lord Kusanali and the Grand Sage at once.
The Silver Dragon King noticed Alhaitham's gaze and glanced toward the Akademiya.
But before she could say anything, her expression suddenly changed. She looked up at the sky as a vast draconic aura swept over her. The pressure of it weighed even on her.
"Impossible! Impossible! I'm the Silver Dragon King. How could any dragon have blood nobler than mine?"
Whether or not the Silver Dragon King believed it, the facts were right before her. A colossal green figure descended from the sky, and in an instant, her body encircled the entire Lake of Life.
Apep's gaze fell on the Silver Dragon King, then flicked toward Di Tian and Zi JI.
"The dragons of this world have grown so weak, and they even appear in the form of ants. Where is your pride as dragons?"
"Who are you? Since when has the Dragon Sovereign Clan had anyone like you?"
The Silver Dragon King challenged Apep.
"Hmph. I am Grass Dragon King Apep. You are of the same race as me, so you are worthy of hearing my name."
"I am the Silver Dragon King, one half of the Dragon God. There has never been a Grass Dragon King among the Ten Dragon Kings."
"It's understandable that dragons from another world don't know of my existence. As for this Dragon God you speak of, don't make me laugh."
The only one Apep would acknowledge as a Dragon God was probably Nibelung. But as far as she knew, Nibelung had never been called a Dragon God.
Apep's derision toward the Dragon God the Silver Dragon King spoke of enraged her.
"How dare you insult my father! You'll pay for that!"
The Silver Dragon King reverted to her true form and let out a dragon's cry. But as soon as she took flight, a beam condensed from Dendro energy shot down and smashed her to the ground.
The mighty Silver Dragon King had fully recovered from her injuries, yet she couldn't withstand even a single blow from Apep.
"Alas! Dragons from another world are so feeble."
Before you continue