No one knew your innocence better than those who falsely accused you. With only twelve contestants left, the Rat King and Black Pearl meeting now could hardly be called a setup.
The Rat King stepped through the gate. Once Black Pearl emerged from hers, she resumed her fearsome true form as a black dragon.
Scalding steam spilled from her nostrils and mouth. Her golden pupils narrowed to slits as she murmured, "Ratfolk, I'll win. I have a reason I can't afford to lose."
If Annan hadn't accepted ten thousand Gold Narls from Black Pearl, he would have taken her for a warmonger like Rus.
The Rat King answered by arching its spine. A series of cracks rang out as its fourteen-meter-tall body coiled like a spring.
"Who do you think will win?"
"I'll make sure the Rat King wins." Annan's answer carried a hint of command that brooked no refusal.
Before meeting the Rat King, Annan would have been happy with any of the three—Rat King, Rus, or Black Pearl. Now he believed the Rat King had to be the Legion Commander.
Black Pearl had said she would bring the Ratfolk Legion to Free City as her "dowry," but she wasn't prepared to lead it.
All that would do was add millions more mouths, perhaps even more, to Free City and bring chaos with them. It would do no good.
But after meeting the newly born Rat King, Annan realized that if it became Legion Commander, with Philos's younger siblings to help it, he would have a force of his own within the McKennan Clan.
Beludona didn't quite understand, so Annan explained it his own way. "Say the Reeves Family's numbers are dwindling and it needs newborns. If you choose Black Pearl, she gives birth to 114,514 in one litter.