[The heads of the families who were involved in the incident ten years ago have begun to gather their will. If they are not stopped, a great bloodbath will befall the empire.

They are trying to reclaim their land. Our Astrid family will not lend our strength to their will, and we believe that the Rodrigo County will do the same. Please help Count Cibie to keep his will.]

Lucas, who saw the contents of the note, could tell at a glance what they were trying to say without having to dig deep.

The incident ten years ago was clearly referring to the incident when the first prince was assassinated and the second prince ascended to the throne.

And the heads of the families who were involved in that incident were probably the other families who had stood on the side of the first prince, not the second prince, and had been driven out to another continent to avoid the destruction of their families.

The girl who had just come had come to see him on behalf of the Astrid family. That meant that someone had already come to Citata to persuade his father, Cibie.

'Damn it.'

It was a family that had just started to make a living. It had not even been a year since peace had settled in their hearts.

But already, flies were flying in and trying to eat away at his family.

He was angry.

The rumors of humans are faster than the wind of Zephyrus. He once again felt the power of that proverb.

As soon as the emperor became a half-wit and the sweet smell of Citata began to waft, they were moving.

To reclaim their land? It was a rebellion disguised with fine words.

'Now that the news has come to me, I can't just stand by and watch.'

Lucas turned his body and entered a quiet alley.

-Flash!

The place Lucas arrived at after casting a teleportation was Aman's office.

A few minutes had passed. Aman appeared in a corner of the room.

"Lord?"

"I'm sorry. I know you're busy, but it's an urgent matter, so I couldn't help it."

"It's okay. Everything is being handled well. More importantly, what is it?"

Lucas, who was about to take out the note from his pocket at Aman's question, hesitated.

'I can't burden him with this too.'

Lucas, who had finished his thought, naturally withdrew the hand that was heading to his pocket and looked at Aman.

"There's a problem that needs to be solved. I'd like you to fill in for my absence."

"What do you mean by that? Is it a problem that I can't solve?"

"No, no. What problem in human affairs can't you solve? It's a much easier problem, so I'm thinking of moving alone."

Aman's eyes narrowed at Lucas's words. As if he couldn't believe his words.

"Hoho. You don't believe me?"

"Yes. I don't believe you. And what's that on the Lord's arm? When were you going to tell me about that? Am I a hindrance to the Lord's life?"

Aman's gaze was sharp. But the corners of his eyes were drooping, as if he were very sad.

"This... there was a situation I couldn't help. And a hindrance? It's a life that might have ended long ago if it weren't for you. Even if it hadn't ended, it would have been very difficult."

"Then why do you keep hiding it and not telling me?"

"I'm not hiding it. It's just..."

Although he said he wasn't hiding it, he couldn't think of any other words.

'Because it's true that I'm hiding it.'

Now Aman's lips began to pout.

"Then why aren't you telling me?"

"I'm asking you. Please fill in for my absence. And can you come when I ask for help? I'll look for you if a dangerous moment comes."

"How will I know when the Lord is in a dangerous moment and come to find you? Are you going to call me with a crystal ball when you're in danger?"

He couldn't think of a rebuttal.

'Because I can't refute it.'

As Lucas just moved his mouth and couldn't continue, Aman began to stomp his feet.

"Why aren't you telling me!!! What is it!!!"

Aman, who seemed to have reached his limit, now began to jump up and down.

"S-stop!"

Aman glared at him, panting, at Lucas's shout.

"Let's make a contract."

"...Really?"

Aman's mouth fell open at Lucas's words.

"Yes."

A contract. The meaning of that was enormous.

Just as it was possible to make a contract with a spirit, it was also possible to make a contract with a dragon.

Sometimes, when a dragon met a race it liked on the earth, it would proceed with a contract with it. But that was no different from a complete master-servant relationship.

The price for sharing one's power was complete subordination.

Proceeding with a contract with a race one liked was also no different from protecting it, which was no different from a pet.

But it was surprising that the word 'contract' came out of the mouth of Lucas, who had been a dragon lord in his previous life.

"I-is that really okay?"

"Yes. I'm the one who wants to do it. If a dangerous moment comes for me, you'll be able to know anytime, and since I can use your mana, isn't it a win-win situation?"

In fact, it wasn't okay. He was also a dragon, so he knew the meaning of a contract better than anyone else.

To humans and other races, it would be a great blessing and fortune, but to a dragon, it was no different from getting a cute pet.

"Are you sure...?"

Aman also knew the meaning well, so he was confirming it again.

"Yes. Stop asking and let's proceed with the contract."

"How dare I... make a contract with the Lord..."

"It's okay."

Although he was frustrated because Aman kept hesitating when he was in a hurry, he tried to show a calm expression as much as possible.

"Then..."

At Lucas's firm answer, Aman's cheeks flushed and he fiddled with his mouth, as if he was so happy.

'What is that crazy bastard thinking?'

He wanted to hit him on the forehead right away, but if he did, time would be further delayed.

Lucas, who had held back his annoyance, forced a smile, and Aman began to draw a magic circle, giggling.

[The one who stands here, Lucas Rodrigo. You shall receive my power by making a contract with me, Amarok Teridion, and you shall obey me until the moment your breath is cut off...]

"Amarok? I know you don't have to do that. Just leave a mark."

The words that were chanted before the contract were actually an unnecessary procedure. It was just a useless procedure to clarify the relationship by chanting to the contractor.

But the cheerful dragon in front of him was doing that for his own pleasure.

[Yes... I thought, when else would I get to make a contract with the Lord...]

It was also cute in a way to see him chanting with dragon language, as if to show his dignity.

-Saaak

As the light that stretched out from Aman's hand enveloped Lucas once, a faint mark was engraved on the back of his right hand.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"W-what?"

"I mean the location of the mark."

"T-that can't be. I can only do it on the back of the hand?"

He really wanted to kill him. The location of the mark could also be decided and left by the dragon who was proceeding with the contract, but Aman had intentionally left it on the back of the hand, a location that was easy to see.

"Contractor. Your first mission. Hide the emblem with a polymorph. And maintain it until I die."

"Yes!?"

The emblem that had been engraved once could not be moved or erased unless the contract was broken.

"The breaking of the contract is only the death of the contractor, so you have no choice but to suffer."

As Lucas smiled brightly, Aman's expression became like a dead man's, as if he were about to cry.

"Or I'll just die."

"No..."

As Aman cast a polymorph, the emblem disappeared without a trace.

"Then I'll be counting on you. Amarok Teridion."

"Yes..."

"I have to go. Ah, one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Polymorph me. I can do it myself, but it's annoying to maintain it."

"...Yes."

As Aman's magic power enveloped Lucas again, his appearance changed, except for his hair and eye color.

"Please fill in for my absence well."

"Yes. I'll make a good excuse. And if a dangerous moment comes, I'll come anytime."

"Right. I'm reassured thanks to you."

Lucas patted Aman's shoulder.

***

-Flash!

Thanks to the contract with Aman, Lucas could use magic to his heart's content without worrying about his mana.

'This is good.'

That's why Lucas, who had teleported to Citata in a flash while maintaining his transparency magic, looked around.

Citata was not much different from when he had left a while ago.

Of course, the appearance had changed a lot. The county estate had also undergone quite a bit of renovation, and the clean walls and the appearance of the garden were very surprising.

'Money is good, after all.'

As the mine was developed, the Gold Nine Trading Company, which Aman had connected him to, seemed to be showing tremendous speed and skill as rumored.

Lucas, who had looked around for a while, moved his feet and headed inside the county estate.

'As expected.'

As he entered the county estate, a few unfamiliar people came into view.

Rough skin and a different style of clothing from the continent.

'Are they people from Veneta?'

The Veneta continent. The place located at the northernmost tip was a barren land, so much so that Citata could be said to be fertile.

The Lodrata city-state, which was on par with it, was also second to none in terms of barrenness, but it was in a better situation than Veneta.

The frozen land did not melt all year round, and the sea barely melted and the ships could move only in summer, which was said to be the warmest of the four seasons.

'Is Veneta where the exiled people went?'

A sense of pity appeared and disappeared in a corner of his heart for a moment.

He understood the feelings of those who had been driven out to that cold and barren place.

They, who had stood up against the second prince's rebellion, must have had a hellish every day.

It was a place where they had to risk their lives just to get there, and the place they had barely arrived at was also a place where they had to risk their lives every day, so every day must have been miserable.

Even if they had barely settled down and had gotten used to it, they would have had to fight against the bandits who plundered and fought every day, and even that would have been more like enduring a day than blocking them.

As he entered the drawing room, the bundles placed in a corner came into view.

They must be the things they had brought to offer to his father, Cibie.

Then the drawing room door opened and unfamiliar men came in with Cibie.

"Thank you again. Count."

"Hoho. Not at all. I'm grateful that you've made the difficult journey."

The men, who sat down as Cibie offered them a seat, picked up their teacups with their rough hands.

"The aroma is good. I wonder how long it's been since I've smelled the aroma of black tea..."

"You must have had a hard time. You can stay as long as you want."

"No, no. We just stopped by to ask about the Count's well-being on our way, not to impose on you. And our Baron Traver... ah, I should just say Mr. Traver now..."

As the man corrected himself awkwardly, the Count waved his hand as if it were okay.

"Not at all. We're the only ones here, so please speak comfortably."

The man smiled brightly at the Count's words and continued.

"Thank you. Baron Traver was very curious about the Count's well-being. Even though Veneta is a region with little human traffic, there are trading companies that cross the portal from time to time, so we also hear news of the continent from time to time."

"Is that so? That's a relief. I was also always curious about the news of the people who had left. I should have looked for them first... I'm sorry that my situation was not favorable."

"Don't say that. None of us blame the Count. It was just a coincidence."

The Count smiled bitterly at the man's words.

"Since you've made the precious and difficult journey, you can ask for anything you need. As you know, Citata is a rugged and barren land, so there are many lands that no one is interested in except for this area."

The Count's meaning was clear. It meant that they could come here anytime, leaving Veneta.

"Thank you for your words... but I'm afraid I'll be a burden to the Count."

"You don't have to worry. It's a land that I don't even know."

Even at the Count's clear expression of his intention, the man was hesitating, beating around the bush.

"It's getting late. Let's rest for today."

The Count, who had noticed the man's purpose, quickly wrapped up the meeting.

"Ah, I see. Then I'll impose on you today."

"Impose? Not at all. If you need anything anytime, please feel free to ask. I'll help with anything I can."

The man smiled bitterly and nodded his head at the Count's repeated request.

(End of Chapter)