Chapter 111: Chapter 111

“You won’t be left unrewarded, Sokram.” Lucien flashed a reassuring look before he walked away.

Before leaving, though, he asked Hannah, “Grand Duchess, do me a favor and keep an eye on them until I return.”

“By your will, Sire!” Hannah's lips morphed into a menacing grin, her fist thudding against her heart.

Licarus followed the King, and while they waited, Kamus and Neloph remained still.

The two Generals of the army stood like frozen statues, their faces ashen.

Their breathing became shallow, almost imperceptible.

Their muscles locked tightly, afraid of even twitching.

Their fear was as palpable as the crushing weight emanating from Kamus and Neloph’s presence.

Even if they were on the same Level of Existence and Tier, only death would find them the moment the intent to move formed in their minds.

Tiers and Levels of Existence would only tip the scales of a battle against weaker opponents.

Those on equal grounds could only be beaten by true skill, and in terms of skill, Kamus and Neloph were unmatched at the Exalted level. Follow current novels on novel·fiɾe·net

Sokram and his family remained seated in silence while the crowd behind them conversed in low, hushed tones.

Some glared at the Steelhearts with disdain, while others studied the Dracnakrid family with curiosity, many remembering and quoting rumors about Sokram finding Emperor Drokmin’s inheritance.

Though a small group still believed it was Hannah or Miralyn who changed their fate, as it all started only after their arrival.

After almost two hours, the King returned with Licarus, who rushed to his seat, not meeting anyone’s gaze.

Once the hall was quiet and everyone was seated, the King started his ruling over the trial, “After carefully going through the pieces of evidence presented, I doubt there is anything that can be said in your defense.”

Lucien's gaze shifted toward Marcel; he didn’t even bother trying to hide his hatred.

“But if you wish to try and defend yourself, here is your turn.”

Suddenly, Nhiria's Force that was holding Marcel vanished, and being able to speak, he decided to go by the book:

“I’ll not speak in my defense until a proper accusation is raised. And as a noble of high standing, I can only be judged in the Royal City. For that is the law.”

Lucien took a deep breath and then turned to the two Generals, who still did not dare to move, “The two of you, I won’t forget your years of service to Norwinter if you collaborate in the investigations, helping me uncover how deep this web of betrayal truly is. If your help proves fruitful, I may feel inclined to show you lenience.”

Carl remained unwavering and replied curtly, “I’ll only speak in front of the Grand General in the Martial Court according to the law, and only after an official accusation has been issued.”

He didn’t even mind being cordial and reverent.

But Collen, seeing her chance of repentance, collapsed to her knees, her voice cracking, catching both her husband and Marcel by surprise.

“Your Highness, I’ll even Oath myself as your eternal servant if it’s your will. But please spare my son and our family.”

“Colleen! What are you doing?!” Carl panicked, about to rush over to Colleen, when a sharp, dented old katana abruptly appeared at his throat, stopping him cold.

Lucien nodded and told Neloph, “Seal their Cores.”

Neloph nodded and took out from his spatial ring a set of enchanted chains.

Colleen didn’t resist and was chained.

Carl, too, not daring to move, was easily chained.

But before Neloph could get close to the Count, the half-gnome, forced by his slave contract, emerged from the shadows and attacked the King.

Marcel's plan was simple: Create a distraction by wounding or killing Lucien and flee toward Whiteland using a teleportation crystal he had in his spatial ring.

He expected Hannah or even Kamus to save the King.

But when a very familiar six-tailed fox-kin woman easily subdued Dnoll after materializing from the shadows, and another Exalted-level fox-kin woman barred the entrance, he realized his escape plan was futile.

With Dnoll being captured, he had just given his enemies another piece of evidence if they managed to free him from the slave mark.

All he needed was to say the safe word, and Dnoll would die.

But as soon as he tried to open his mouth, he strained, every muscle in his body rigid, a furious tremor running through his limbs, but no sound came out.

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It was as if an invisible wall of Mithranium had enclosed every cell on his body.

His frantic struggle produced nothing but the agonizing realization that he was utterly, irrevocably paralyzed.

He sensed the person behind this standing right beside him.

Hannah’s sharp, cold gaze bore down on Marcel, a predatory grin on her face.

With a subtle twitch of her fingers, an unseen Force rippled, and Marcel's rings, one by one, slid from his fingers as if taken by an invisible hand as they flew toward Hannah’s.

“Slavery is such a despicable thing. Yet, you human purists think I’m the disgusting one? Haha, ridiculous.”

Hannah took all the rings she could sense from Sandra as well.

And after searching one by one, she found not only many slave contracts but also the Draconic Suppression poison.

“Heh, to think something would be in your hands,” Hannah scoffed. “Too bad you never got to use it, you’d have seen how useless it is against dragons above Flawless.”

And to prove her words, she drank the whole bottle in front of him without flinching, “See? Nothing.”

With Hannah suppressing him, Neloph finally managed to restrain Marcel and Sandra.

But while that was happening, the King and Kamus were shocked to see Sayuri there; they knew she hated the Steelhearts more than anyone, but they couldn’t understand why she would be there.

Their questions were answered soon after: after she knocked out Dnoll and Neloph restrained him, instead of disappearing into the shadows, she stood beside Sokram.

The message was clear: The Purple Pavilion also stood with the Dracnakrid family.

When Hannah handed the rings to Lucien and advised him, “Don’t rip or destroy the slave contracts until after the investigation. Just replace your blood with his. Slaves can’t lie to their masters.”

Understanding Hannah’s intention, Lucien only nodded but didn’t say anything.

A few minutes later, the four traitors were kneeling before the King as he issued his decree, “By my right as King, you’re under arrest and stripped of your noble and military ranks. You will be given a fair trial, a privilege granted to you by the laws of Norwinter that you despise so much. The irony, hm?”

The crowd watching couldn’t help but be amazed.

The Steelhearts, famed for being as corrupt as they were untouchable, had been taken down in such a manner that they even lost their rank as nobles.

As soon as the sentence was passed, merchants, nobles, and even soldiers excused themselves with their communication crystals already in hand.

That day would be forever recorded in Norwinter’s history: The day a young dragon defeated the giant of steel that many other noble souls failed to take down before him.

The King's gaze met Colleen's, and he continued, “Your collaboration with the investigations will be considered in your favor on the day of your sentencing.”

Lucien then turned to Sokram with a proud and satisfied smile, “As for you, Sokram, I judge you not guilty. As for the reward for bringing these traitors to me, is there anything you wish to receive?”

“Although I was just doing what I must as a citizen of Norwinter, Your Highness. If I could ask for anything, I would only ask for knowledge and friendship. If those are too hard to give, then gold would be good, too. One can never have too much of it, right?”

Sokram’s eyes met the King’s as he flashed his usual confident grin.

“Knowledge, hm? Madalyn told me you’re an avid reader. With my blessing, she has been transcribing books from the Royal Library to bring to you. I’ll order the other Court Mages to do the same, so when she brings you your birthday gift, you will receive a lot more. But I’ll also send something else along with those books.”

Lucien couldn’t help but be amazed by that boy.

He wished Sokram and his son could become friends one day; he knew Sokram would be a good influence on the prince.

After the traitors were placed into a temporary cell, the Royal Army was sent back ahead of the King.

He wouldn’t go by horse, nor would he teleport, as the formation became defective again as soon as he arrived.

Instead, he asked the Grand Duchess to take him.

Mainly because he needed her power in the capital to ensure no one would try to free the Count.

Hannah was very unwilling to leave Sokram alone.

She glanced toward Sayuri, who only shook her head; Sayuri also had her obligations, especially now that the Steelhearts were weakened, and with the gift she received from Sokram, she couldn’t let this opportunity to avenge her long-lost daughter escape.

The King, sensing her worries, told her, “You don’t have to worry about him. If you wish, I can send people whom I trust with my life to stay here to protect him. Besides, this investigation will take a few weeks at the longest.”

Margiory interjected too, “No need, he is safe here, Hannah. We are no longer as weak as we were before your arrival, and neither is he.”

Kamus’s reassurance added a final push, “Go, and I’ll stay until you return. I also want to test him, and my disciple told me there are things I could learn from him, too.”

After so much insistence, Hannah relented and agreed to go.

Sokram, too, assured her, “Don’t worry, Nana. I’ll be fine, we’ll be fine. What is the worst that could happen? Fate is clearly on our side.”

“Alright, you little wise dragon,” Hannah gave him a tight hug and handed him a ring.

“I don’t know if these few weeks will extend to more than that. Legal matters involving nobility often take longer; Still, your studies shouldn’t be held back because of it. In there is everything I know of Alchemy, including the spells I still have to teach you. But also everything on my Draconic Enchanting Art, and Geomancy.”

“You don’t have to leave an inheritance behind; nothing will happen to you.” Sokram's brow furrowed, a cold knot tightening in his stomach.

Her actions opened old wounds as bitter memories flashed across his mind.

Echoes from a past he had returned to erase, yet they still haunted him.

"Oh, look who’s worried now,” Hannah chuckled, hugging him tightly and kissing his forehead.

Sokram hugged her back as tightly as he could, afraid of letting go.

Once they broke their long hug, Hannah also bid farewell to the others; she knew that with Kamus, Miralyn, and Alain, the chance of anything life-threatening happening was minimal, but her maternal heart still worried.

Sayuri also bid farewell to Sokram.

Before she left, Sokram handed her a ring.

That ring carried everything she needed to master the use of Magi through Spirit Magic and some spells he had created especially for her.

Sayuri's eyes widened, a breathless gasp escaping her lips as she examined the ring's contents.

Her hands trembled slightly.

A profound warmth spread through her chest, a feeling so overwhelming she almost swayed, her mind screaming to abandon vengeance and stay by his side, forever.

Seeing the contents, Sayuri felt so moved that she almost chose to stay by his side and never leave.

But Sokram told her, “Go, take care of your matters, let me grow up first, because the next time we meet, I’ll not let you go.”

Sokram pulled Sayuri and kissed her lips.

But just as their kiss was about to deepen, Hannah pulled Sayuri back by the tail, “That’s enough.”

Seeing the jealousy in her eyes, Sokram approached her with a mischievous smile that made his intentions clear, so Hannah didn’t even try to resist when he pulled her into a kiss.

To their surprise, Hilda was the one who broke their kiss apart, repeating Hannah’s words: “That’s enough.”

Soon after that, Sokram and his family were waving goodbye to Hannah’s draconic form as she carried an elegant wagon toward the Royal City.

In the wagon were the King; Neloph, who found an excuse to join them but truly wanted to ensure the King's safety; Sayuri, who, before leaving, made Sokram’s safety the top priority for the Pavilion in Eversnow; and the four chained traitors.

With Hannah’s departure, the city regained its sense of unrest.

Because, despite the recent events, no one forgot about the enemy troops still stationed near the border.