Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 167

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 167
I had recovered Tus.
I had achieved one of my most critical objectives.
And regarding my other goal—obtaining materials to cure Father’s illness—I had accomplished it smoothly while the Black Panthers were in disarray.
All my plans had succeeded brilliantly. It could not have gone better.
But because I was the Dragon’s Bride, I could not simply leave so easily.
Of course, I had already anticipated this as well.
However, before that, just a moment.
“Listen carefully, everyone. The Black Panthers will soon attempt their final measure.”
When I read the original work, the Black Panthers’ “Power of the Earth” was nearly broken in its strength.
One of those abilities was—
“They will believe they have nowhere left to retreat, so they will pay an enormous price to activate one ability.”
It was the ability to sense everything that had contact with the ground.
This included both objects and people.
‘In the original work, Lili would be kidnapped, and they would use this ability often.’
However, even they could not activate this ability easily.
As I said, it required an enormous price.
“Setting aside how you know this… you also know the cost?”
“Yes. So I also know it’s not an ability they can use carelessly.”
I explained to Levai while lost in thought.
‘They probably used it once to search for Lili.’
Since they could not extend the detection range infinitely, they would have only discovered that Lili was not in the Dragon’s City.
But now that they had judged it impossible to find the Dragon Duke by running about on foot—
They would be anxious.
Whether the Dragon Duke was in the Dragon’s City or nearby, they would have no choice but to use this ability once more to determine it.
“Father, I have a request.”
“Speak.”
“From now on, keep Tus, Ekion, and Lili’s feet constantly lifted off the ground.”
However, even such a broken ability becomes useless once you know how to counter it.
Why?
‘Because only beings in contact with the ground would be detected.’
It was certain.
They would definitely use this ability to find the Dragon Duke.
And they would realize one crucial fact and become bewildered.
The Dragon Duke would not be felt anywhere in this city.
“Since we’re on the subject, let’s execute it immediately.”
As Father waved his hand, Tus, Ekion, and Lili all floated gently into the air.
“Eek!”
“It’s fine, Lili. There’s no danger.”
When I said this to Lili, who was looking at me with a distressed expression, the child’s face relaxed.
Tus and Ekion—regardless of what happened to their bodies, their eyes sparkled with trust as they looked toward me.
“…These identical-looking beasts even share the same expressions.”
They were practically twins.
Tus, under the guise of teaching Ekion, had taken on an identical appearance to him.
Atlant quietly shook his head in disapproval. He saw everything but pretended not to.
“Good. Keep it up like this the whole time, Father. And Drex.”
“Yes.”
“Did you find the person I mentioned? Have you made contact?”
“Yes. I found him, but contact hasn’t been established yet.”
“Is that so? Can I meet him right away?”
“Yes. I’ve identified his location and movements, so it’s possible anytime you wish.”
The person I’d asked about was none other than the Black Panther family’s Second Brother, Palaya Panterion.
“Good. Then make contact with Palaya Panterion.”
He was the only one who’d managed to help Lili escape and flee, wasn’t he?
The moment Palaya’s name came up, Lili’s expression brightened noticeably.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement and anticipation, and she had something to say but held back out of consideration for the situation.
“And Levai, you’ve investigated what I asked you to look into with Atlant, right?”
“You mean the structure of the Dragon’s retainers.”
Levai nodded once and continued.
“Yes, I investigated it and found individuals matching the details you mentioned….”
As I thought of Ekion’s situation, I’d been troubled by something all along.
The Dragon’s City and the Dragon’s Castle weren’t built overnight.
They possessed countless histories, and the citizens and retainers took pride in them, revering their lord to an extreme degree. They were the Dragon Duke’s hands and feet—a formidable force in themselves.
So why, when the Dragon Duke had secluded himself due to illness, were there no retainers at his side?
And why were the Imperial Palace and the land-dwelling beastkin from the capital monitoring his confinement?
‘There must have been a power struggle.’
This was my hypothesis.
Surely the Imperial Palace had initially stepped forward to protect the Dragon Duke, and there must have been retainers who opposed such decisions and attitudes.
‘The Dragon’s City has a strongly independent character.’
And if the Imperial Palace and the land-dwelling beastkin had long since purged or suppressed these zealous retainers?
“It’s exactly as you and the Noble Lady predicted.”
While the Black Panthers and land-dwelling beastkin were busy searching for the Dragon Duke, investigating wasn’t difficult.
“About eight years ago, there was an incident where many meritorious officials and retainers of this place were driven out.”
“Predictable.”
To seize control of any organization, you must first sever the leader’s hands and feet.
And if that leader was a child barely old enough to walk, for these beasts it would have been easier than chewing raw meat.
I was nauseated by their depravity.
“Some were driven out of the city, and others, as you predicted, were pushed to the outskirts.”
“Since the appearance wasn’t good, they probably waited for an opportunity to quietly drive them out further and clean up the situation. Predictable.”
I frowned and pressed my brow repeatedly. Don’t get angry. Don’t get angry.
‘Right now, we have the advantage anyway.’
“Among them, which humans are worth using?”
“I won’t know until I meet them, but… there is one person who seems to fit your conditions.”
I glanced at Ekion.
I asked Ekion first.
“Ekion, back when you were very young—before you got trapped in that damned building—do you remember anyone who was always by your side? Even just one person?”
Ekion tilted his head in confusion for a long moment.
“Tus, remember! There was quite a bit!”
“Really? What about you, Ekion?”
After a long pause, Ekion finally spoke.
“…Brown hair.”
Ekion was fundamentally indifferent to his surroundings and the people in them.
If someone had left an impression on Ekion’s memory, it meant they had made quite an effort.
“The person I’ve identified is a Land Turtle Beastkin living on the outskirts of this city.”
Upon investigation, it turned out that the original head retainer of this castle was not the human who greeted us each time we arrived.
‘No wonder something felt off. All those expelled people had their own schemes.’
Their resentment would be immense, and now it was my turn to use that hatred to deliver the final blow.
Yes, that would be it.
‘The fact that the Orcas are here will become your worst nightmare.’
* * *
“You’re going to use your ability?”
“Yes, Father.”
The Dragon Duke fell into deep thought for a long time.
“You understand the price of that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
Assel nodded with an expressionless face.
Yet in the eyes of my usually cold Eldest Brother, flames of anger and resentment flickered.
“Father has already used that ability once to find Lili, so this time I will use it.”
The father and son were living through a day that felt like ten days.
Not only the Black Panther father and son, but also the members of other land beast families who had come here under the Emperor’s secret orders would be equally anxious.
The situation was absurd for a first encounter, but resolving it was the priority.
“I will search for the Dragon Duke using my detection ability through the power of the earth.”
Fortunately, despite his reputation as a powerful heir, Assel Panterion’s body had not yet fully matured, but his potential in the power of the earth was exceptional.
“Father, will you grant me permission?”
Of course, it was also possible to search through the Dragon’s city.
“I grant it.”
Assel had not forgotten the humiliation he experienced in Peseum. That would likely follow him like a shackle on his ankle until he repaid it.
Sharp fangs clenched against his lower teeth, producing a chilling grinding sound.
Yet the one grinding his teeth remained expressionless.
There was one watching the Dragon Duke, who was seized by the same anger as Assel but remained cold and composed.
A young boy stood quietly in one corner of the room, his face contorted with displeasure.
‘Hmm, what are they all doing?’
The young boy’s name was Palaya Panterion.
‘It’s strange that they’d say they’re looking for Lili. Well, it’s not a bad situation for me, though.’
Palaya thought to himself.
‘I hope my little squirrel managed to escape well? I wish she’d gotten far away.’
It seemed like he was the one most worried about Lili here.
* * *
The power of earth and the power of water are opposing forces.
Because of this, strangely enough, after experiencing each other’s power countless times, one instinctively feels, ‘Ah, so that’s what kind of power that bastard uses.’
‘It’s like we become each other’s detection radar?’
Unfortunately, the Black Panthers of this generation had not yet experienced war.
And they had not sufficiently experienced the water power of the Orcas, whom they looked down upon as inferior.
This would be their weakness, if anything was.
“…Can you feel it?”
“Yeah. Can you?”
Because I felt it the moment those beasts began their detection using earth power.
I let out a quiet laugh.
‘Just as expected.’
Atlant stared at me with a reluctant expression. True to his nature as the Second Brother who had stood at the very front lines of war.
He had fought viciously with the Black Panther, specifically the Second Brother on their side, Palaya Panterion.
“It’s faint, but there’s something? A sense of aversion, a feeling of displeasure. Is this it?”
“Something like that.”
Even if not to the extent I felt it, he seemed to have sensed the earth power beginning its detection.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s just go. We’re busy today.”
I looked at the building before us, my arms crossed.
“Yeah…. Okay.”
It was a house that was practically falling apart.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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