Killing Intent

"Merlin, let me ask you something. You don't mean the Dragon of Albion, do you? I thought all that was left of him now was his corpse?"

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Merlin helplessly.

"My king has heard of him? Then that's even better." Merlin nodded firmly.

The last dragon left on the island of Britain was known as the Dragon of Albion. A phantasmal life-form that had existed since the birth of the planet, it possessed 4.6 billion years of life data and was the most primordial, most advanced of all beings.

Unlike dragons that had appeared because of dragon factors left behind on the surface, the Dragon of Albion was a true pureblood dragon. If compared to the heroes among humans, he was the Grand of the Dragon Kind.

When the Age of Gods ended, many Phantasmal Species chose to venture into the Inner Sea of the Planet. As the last pureblood dragon, Albion stayed behind to witness the dawn of the human era. By the time he left, the passage to the Inner Sea of the Planet had already closed. He tried to dig through the layers of earth and return by physical means, but eventually died of exhaustion.

Leon found it amusing that this primordial dragon had died of exhaustion in both the present world and the Lostbelt. At the same time, he was a little puzzled. He looked at Merlin and asked, "If he's already dead, what do I need him for? Don't tell me you can bring him back to life?"

Merlin shook his head. "Albion isn't dead. His soul returned to the Inner Sea of the Planet, leaving only his body in the present world. His remains became a vast labyrinth, preserving the mysteries that had vanished long ago in the age of humanity. Many long-lost phantasmal beasts still wander within it. It's known as Spirit Tomb Albion."

"The magi built a Magecraft city on top of the Spirit Tomb and have been excavating and exploring this treasure trove. Just now, the magi discovered a dragon hatchling inside. It may not compare to Albion, but it's still a mystery beyond anything else in the world."

"And so, the magi obtained the hatchling. Knowing that you've always wanted a mount, they hope to make a deal with you."

It wasn't a pureblood dragon, but having a giant dragon for a mount would still be great. Leon was interested, but he was also a little annoyed. Those magi had no sense of propriety. If they had something good, shouldn't they have presented it to him at once?

Did they even remember that he was their king?

"What deal?"

"They hope you'll destroy those little toys you made yourself and promise never to make them again."

At Merlin's words, Leon's expression instantly returned to normal. His annoyance vanished, and his killing intent surged.

His eyes held an unreadable look as he turned to Merlin.

"Merlin, whose side are you on?"

"Haha, I am, of course, your subject." Merlin spoke slowly and calmly. "My king, I only happened to see this in secret. The magi of Londinium have considered it, but they haven't acted on it yet."

"That's good."

Merlin's answer dispelled Leon's suspicions, putting him considerably at ease. Merlin might be unreliable in all sorts of ways, but he was extremely capable. Leon would be sorry to lose him if he had to kill him.

"Merlin, I don't want to make a deal with them, but I also want that dragon. What do you think I should do?"

A bunch of fools who didn't know when to quit. They actually dared to try and sway his decision. They were asking for death.

"You already have an idea in mind, my king."

Merlin bowed slightly. Judging by what he knew of Leon, another storm of bloodshed was probably about to begin.

"Now that my king knows about this, I'll take my leave."

Leon nodded. As he watched Merlin leave, an unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes. He was more wary of Merlin alone than of those insignificant magi. His mind churned as he considered Merlin's motive for telling him about this.

Merlin was far too mysterious, and he lacked the emotions of an ordinary person. Even his expressions were only imitations of human ones. Leon had always found it difficult to read his thoughts.

Could Merlin really be so devoted to him that he was eager to solve his problems?

Ha. As if.

Still, what Merlin had told him presented an opportunity.

As soon as Leon returned to his bedchamber, his daughter came clambering over to him.

"Ya-ya, yi-ya."

Mordred sat on his enormous palm, clinging tightly to his forearm with all four limbs. His forearm rocked gently back and forth like a swing while the little girl babbled without stopping.

After playing with Mordred for a long while, he saw that she was getting sleepy and handed her over to the maid.

Lying half-reclined on the bed, Leon gently stroked his wife's still-flat belly and asked, "Morgan, what do you think of those magi in Londinium?"

"They're nothing but a bunch of ordinary people without either talent or imagination."

Morgan's expression was full of contempt. She didn't think much of them at all; she didn't even consider them magi.

That made sense. Morgan was of noble birth, the true inheritor of the power of the island of Britain. She was herself an embodiment of mystery, both a Fairy and a goddess.

The mysteries those magi devoted their entire lives to studying were things she could achieve with a mere flick of her finger. They weren't worth mentioning.

Hearing his wife say that, Leon's killing intent solidified.

Morgan asked curiously, "Leon, why are you suddenly interested in them?"

"I wouldn't say I'm interested. I was just wondering whether I should wipe them out."

There was a strong note of bloodshed in Leon's words, but Morgan didn't seem to notice. Instead, her expression turned knowing. "Is it to seize their territory, or because of the Spirit Tomb?"

"More or less."

Previously, because of his agreement with the Old Man of Jewels, Leon had temporarily allowed these people to exist. But he wouldn't keep putting up with them forever. There was actually a force within Britain that refused to obey him.

The Spirit Tomb Albion was another reason. Now that he knew such a fine place existed in Britain, how could he tolerate others stealing it and claiming it for themselves?

Besides that, those magi were arrogant enough to try to bargain with him as equals. Their disrespect was unforgivable; by law, they deserved death.

And the terms of their deal were that he destroy the Steam Engine and Spinning Jenny he had just invented? Did they have any idea what those things meant to Britain before they dared to speak so insolently? They might as well have thrown themselves onto his blade.

For all these reasons, Leon really didn't want to let them off.

"Leon, I want to ask you something." Morgan clasped Leon's enormous hand in both of hers and rubbed her face against it, her voice soft and gentle. "Could you destroy those little toys you made?"

Leon abruptly turned his head to look at Morgan, his eyes full of disbelief.

"W-what's wrong?" Morgan was startled by her husband's sudden movement. When she recovered, she lightly punched him in the chest. "Don't startle me like that. You scared me."

"Nothing. I just thought you looked beautiful." Leon caressed his wife's cheek, his peripheral vision passing over her belly. With a smile as casual as ever, he said, "I made those little things to relax when I wasn't handling state affairs. You don't like them?"

"Mm. I really don't like them."

"If you don't like them, then I'll get rid of them. Don't think too much about anything right now. Taking care of yourself and staying in a good mood are what matter most."

Leon's voice was gentle as he soothed his newly pregnant wife.

But inside, he was in turmoil. He didn't know whether this was just a coincidence or whether the magi had managed to get to Morgan through their connections. Either way, he couldn't put up with it for another moment.

In the middle of the night, Leon tossed and turned. Unable to sleep, he got up and looked around the empty bedchamber. A chill swept over him.

He took a gemstone from his hand. It glimmered with a faint red light in the night as he stared at it, his face slowly twisting under the weight of his killing intent.