[Vol. 7] Chapter 137: The One Who Stole Secrets
"Even after the Dragonkin lands were fused into the Empire and renamed Lannas Province, the Empire never stopped trying to infiltrate and subdue us. They attempted to manipulate and bribe smaller Dragonkin tribes, stirring up internal conflicts to weaken our unity and tighten their control over Lannas."
"At the same time, they encouraged large-scale migration into our lands and promoted intermarriage with our people. By spreading imperial culture to the next generations and gradually eroding the worship of Dragons, they aimed to reduce the number of pure-blooded Dragonkin, both in body and spirit, until our homeland could never return to what it once was."
"Besides that, the Empire used various subtle cultural assimilation tactics, always careful not to cross our breaking point. Some of their attempts we managed to counter, but others we were powerless against and could only endure in silence. After all, we couldn’t risk completely turning against the Empire and violating the treaty we had agreed to."
"Feeling hopeless about the future, many high-ranking Dragonkin chose to preserve their bloodline by scattering across different countries over the past century. As a result, the strength of the Dragonkin in Lannas Province steadily declined… That included both myself and Kurt."
"But then… about a year ago, everything changed."
The priestess raised an eyebrow, as if she had already sensed where this was going. However, Claire didn’t seem to notice her subtle reaction. Or perhaps she was too caught up in the moment, her excitement rising as she continued.
"After over three centuries, our sacred faith, the legacy of the Dragon Sovereign, has returned to its people! Her noble bloodline matches the ancient records perfectly. The moment Her magnificent form descended, even the sky itself nearly shattered, and the entire land trembled beneath the presence of the Supreme Dragon!"
"As a Dragon Priestess, I’ve seen a few remnants of great Dragons and ruins scattered across the world, but never before have I felt such an overwhelming reverence, a fear that shook me to my very soul. This was beyond any ordinary Dragon, without a doubt, She is the legendary Dragon God, standing at the very peak of Dragons, rivaling even the gods themselves!"
"The Dragon God…"
Xiao Guang murmured the words as if deeply intrigued. Hearing this, Lenka, who had returned to her side, nodded enthusiastically, her face full of admiration.
"That’s right, Sister Light! The Dragon God truly exists! I heard that after She descended more than a year ago, She took residence in a sacred mountain near the Dragon Temple. Although She has only revealed Herself to the public twice, and usually only allows a few priests to visit Her, She has already gained the full devotion of all Dragonkin tribes!"
"Mom originally planned to take me to pay respects to the Dragon God, but… something unexpected happened along the way. Well, you already know what happened after that…"
"Exactly."
Claire nodded in agreement and continued.
"The arrival of the Dragon God is beyond words in its significance to our people. Even though the other Dragons did not return alongside Her, Her presence alone was enough. Those tribes that had been endlessly fighting amongst themselves, manipulated by the Empire’s schemes, suddenly fell silent and united almost overnight, stronger than ever before."
"The once-fading temples, built long ago to honor the Dragons, were revived at an astonishing pace. Many Dragon Priests and Guardians who had scattered across the world, having lost hope, returned home the moment they heard the news, gathering around the Dragon God."
"The Empire’s plans to erode our culture, schemes they had been cultivating for over a century, began unraveling at an unbelievable speed under His divine presence. The Dragonkin of Lannas Province had never been more united, and naturally, this drastic change caught the Empire’s attention."
Claire paused, taking a moment to steady herself after speaking so much so passionately. Seeing this, the Dragon Guardian, Kurt, took over in a low, steady voice.
"When the resistance war ended in a truce over a hundred years ago, our people signed the [Lannas Armistice Treaty] with the reigning Austre Empire’s Emperor. That agreement clearly stated that while the Dragonkin lands would be renamed Lannas Province and become part of the Empire, paying taxes like any other province, we would still retain a certain degree of autonomy and full freedom of worship."
"Because of this, under the official terms of the treaty, the Empire has no legal right to interfere with our worship of the Dragon God. But of course, they have no intention of allowing such a powerful and unified force to exist within their borders. If they can’t suppress us openly, they will turn to the shadows, just like they did a century ago."
"Ever since the Dragon God’s arrival and the drastic shift in Lannas, the Empire has flooded the province with additional troops under various excuses. Their spies have also become more active than ever, trying to tighten their grip and gather as much information as possible, especially regarding Her."
"As our savior and divine ruler, everything about the Dragon God is our most sacred and closely guarded secret. We do not wish to reignite a war with the Empire and drag our people into conflict, but at the same time, we will never allow them to defile our faith, not even a little. That is our bottom line. But…"
"Oh… so the Empire’s spy managed to steal this information using some method, and once you realized it, you hurried here to block off the group they were hiding in and tried to find them… is that right?"
As Miss Violet smiled knowingly, Claire and Kurt exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
"That’s basically the situation. As for Lenka’s kidnapping, it’s very likely that the Empire was behind it as a distraction. They probably wanted to divert our attention so their spy could act more easily… but we don’t have solid proof yet."
"As for the exact details, we really can’t share too much. The information they stole is extremely important to the Dragon God. If the Empire finds out, they might take extreme measures. No matter what, we have to stop that information from leaking."
"Hmm…"
Violet now had a good grasp of the situation.
From what the Dragonkin had shared, the spy wasn’t just carrying a simple message that could be written down in a few words. It was something much more complex. Perhaps even requiring specific items to interpret. On top of that, it seemed like spatial magic couldn't be used for quick transport.
That meant the spy couldn’t just send the information back easily. Instead, they had to sneak into a trade caravan heading toward Sainz and use its advanced magical and technological systems to report back to the high-ranking officials who had sent them.
As for where the Dragon God had come from…
Well, that much was clear now.
"Got it. I’ll help you find the Empire’s spy."
Hearing the priest’s direct offer of assistance, the two Dragonkin brightened, but then hesitated.
"It would be a huge help if you’re willing to assist, Lady Violet… but this is no small task. The group they’re hiding in has thousands of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Many of them aren’t even from the Empire, they’re here for the upcoming World Academy Joint Exchange Conference. Because of the international implications, we can’t act too aggressively. We have to be careful and…"
"Oh, no need to worry about that~ I have my own ways~"
The priestess gave a sly smile, a hint of mischief flashing across her face.
"But I’ll need more details. You must have at least some suspicions about who they are, right? Even if you don’t have solid proof, any guesses would help. Tell me everything you know."