Westminster Bank

Chapter 266: Chapter 165: Banquet (Part 2)

They say only the hilt of the Dragon Spear is ever exposed. Whoever reveals the most Dragon Patterns on the shaft as they draw it is qualified to become the next Patriarch of the Beowulf Family. That’s also why most of the Alchemy Weapons used by the scions of the Beowulf Clan are spears.

As for pulling the Dragon Spear out completely...

"That’s impossible. I doubt even the ancestors of the Beowulf Family could manage it."

Pound answered his sister Windsor’s confused look with a dismissive tone. "The Dragon Spear’s shaft was forged from the spine of the Poison Dragon Glanville. Then they added a tip forged from a Red Dragon Scale and the Nine Dragon Pattern, which is said to hold the very aura of the Dragon King. If you want the Dragon Spear to acknowledge you, the only way is for the Dragon King himself to come and draw it."

"Otherwise, not even a member of the Pure-blood Dragon Race could do it."

"That’s not necessarily true... The legendary Dragon Witch who killed the Red Dragon might be able to... And that outcast from the Constantine Clan who was involved with the Dragon Witch? He might have a shot, too."

A sinister voice chimed in. It was a young man with a grim face and sharp, hawk-like eyes. Pound and Windsor recognized him immediately.

It was Dewey Frank, a Bronze Demon Hunter and the eldest son of the Frank Family, a Demon Hunter Clan. He was the older brother of Bill Frank, the one who had been burned to death by a mysterious assailant at the Lancelot’s Family estate.

’He must be taking advantage of Uncle Field’s absence to stir up trouble.’

Pound’s expression darkened, but he spoke nonetheless.

"Baron Constantin was exiled from the Constantine Clan six years ago. Everything he does now is his own affair and has nothing to do with our family. I suggest you show some respect, Mr. Frank."

"I am deeply sorry for what happened to Bill, but that man killed my younger brother, Soron, as well..." Pound said in a low voice, ignoring his sister as she tugged on his arm. "That makes him our common enemy."

Dewey sneered. "But his surname is still Constantine, and a pure-blooded one at that. Even as a Bloodless, he’s from the Direct Lineage. Whereas the rest of you... without the Constantine name... you’re nothing."

After saying this, he snatched a glass from a passing Dragon Guide and "accidentally" poured the fine red wine all over Pound.

To be disgraced in front of everyone like this... This act wasn’t just aimed at Pound; it was an attempt to utterly humiliate the Constantine Family, to drag their name through the mud.

"You bastard!"

Seething with rage, Pound shook off his sister’s restraining hand, pulling his Magic Staff from his coat and preparing to strike.

A cold smirk played on Dewey’s lips. The Branding on the back of his hand flared, and as he crushed the wine glass, his hand transformed, revealing an Ice Bear Claw and Dragon Crocodile Scale.

Ice Bears are Magical Beasts from the Arctic. A full-grown one possesses the strength to go head-to-head with a Bronze Demon Hunter. Besides their thick hides, their power comes from their claws, which can rend iron like mud.

When Dewey ascended to the Bronze Tier, he had chosen to use the Ice Bear Claw and Dragon Crocodile Scale, which he had gone to great lengths to hunt and acquire, for the Tier Two Beastification of his arms.

It was a build that balanced both high offense and high defense.

He didn’t mind using this opportunity to put the Constantine Family in their place and show them the consequences of provoking the Frank Family.

’As for that useless brother of mine, Bill, good riddance.’

’He called himself a Bronze Tier Demon Hunter, but he was just a failure posturing as something he wasn’t. Otherwise, how could he have let that Black Iron Tier nobody, Baron Constantin, escape?’

’His only remaining value was in death, giving our family an entry ticket to fight for the Constantine’s territory—and its rumored buried secrets of Alchemy.’

The sudden eruption of conflict drew everyone’s gaze.

’A clash between the Constantine and Frank Families? It seems to be because of that notorious Bloodless.’

’But if I remember correctly, that other Constantine is just a Black Iron Tier Wizard, while Pound has been a veteran Bronze Tier of the Beast Faction’s Crocodile Sect for ages.’

Many of the scions from the Old Blood families wore mocking expressions, settling in to watch the show.

’The Dragon Hunting Ceremony hasn’t even begun, and we’re already getting a free show. Interesting.’

Caught off guard when her brother Pound suddenly shrugged her off, Windsor stumbled, twisted her ankle, and started to fall—right toward the pile of sharp glass shards from the goblet Dewey had just crushed.

Everyone knows that while a Mage might be powerful, they are fragile up close.

Windsor cried out, her head snapping up. She saw that the people around her, those who had the time and ability to save her, all wore cold and indifferent expressions. Clearly, no one wanted to get involved in this mess.

Some of the noble ladies in the crowd even looked pleased, a hint of schadenfreude on their faces. They seemed to relish the thought of seeing the glass shards tear into the girl’s pretty face.

A flash of despair crossed her eyes.

Just as the Ice Bear Claw was about to smash into the Magic Staff, just as the girl was about to fall onto the broken glass...

A spear suddenly materialized between the claw and the staff, blocking the attack. At the same time, a firm, powerful hand caught the girl by the shoulder, steadying her.

The spear belonged to Isabella, the eldest daughter of the Beowulf Family, who was a figure of great prominence at this Dragon Hunting Ceremony.

The hand that had caught Windsor belonged to a Silver Dragon Guide.

...

「A short while ago.」

In the women’s dormitory, Baron and a reluctant Jack bid farewell to Miss Wanda, who had helped with their cover. They changed into the suits and overcoats they had prepared, donned their Dragon Guide masks—Baron’s was Silver, Jack’s was Bronze—and followed the route given to them by the Chief Steward. With Jack leading the way, they arrived at the site of the Dragon Hunting Ceremony.

The venue was crowded. Many people wore the same Sun Masks exclusive to Dragon Guides. But unlike Baron and Jack’s Silver and Bronze masks, most of the other Dragon Guides were Black Iron, with only three or four Bronze scattered amongst them.