Dragon Monarch System Chapter 960:- Reunion [III]

"I will keep this debt in mind," Mateo declared with gravity as his physical state returned to its peak. Being of noble birth, Mateo possessed deep-seated pride. However, his dignity was not the type to manifest as arrogance toward others; rather, it was a personal code that forbade him from accepting anything as mere charity.

Laura, however, simply dismissed his concern with a lighthearted wave and a grin.

"Don't bother! This alchemical healing potion was crafted by the goddess. It was provided by your Dragon Monarch." Mateo was struck with sudden disbelief upon hearing this. Even Bree was stunned. It was mind-boggling to think that their exiled Crown Prince maintained such a close relationship with the Goddess of Alchemy that he could freely distribute her personal concoctions.

The elixirs and Pills produced by the Goddess of Alchemy were so prized and scarce that a massive demand for them existed even across the Main Continent. In contrast to several years ago, when her products occasionally appeared on the black market, not a single pill or potion had surfaced in the Main Continent's trade hubs recently.

Unknown to Julia, the Pills and Potions she had gifted to others in the past had somehow trickled down to the Main Continent. Shrewd traders had previously dispatched agents to her residence to commission her work.

Julia's motivation was to refine her alchemy while providing aid to others. Her previous arrangement required anyone seeking her expertise to supply surplus materials for the production of the pill or potion. This surplus allowed her more than enough resources to hone her craft and build up her private inventory.

After all, the path of alchemy is an expensive endeavor. Creating top-tier pills and potions necessitates ingredients of the highest caliber. Realizing that her father, who was a mere Duke, would find it difficult to fund her alchemical studies, she adopted this strategy. Over time, this practice also established her formidable reputation.

"Your Highness!!!"

At those words, Bree and Mateo turned their gaze toward Aditya. They had harbored suspicions that this individual was their exiled Crown Prince, yet they had lacked certainty.

The Aditya who had been sent into exile was notorious for being a failure who couldn't even trigger his family’s Dragon Bloodline. He hadn't even been a cultivator. Yet this man, despite his resemblance to the exiled prince, was a Beginner 5th-order Cultivator capable of defeating a Peak 6th-order powerhouse.

Now, however, all doubt was erased.

Alfred moved slowly toward Aditya.

Deactivating his passive skills, Aditya met Alfred’s eyes.

His sharp expression softened instantly. This elderly man had never shown him anything but kindness, and Aditya held only warm memories of him.

"Uncle Alfred, you seem to have thinned down!" Aditya remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Hearing that specific address, the final shred of uncertainty in Alfred’s heart vanished. Only Aditya ever referred to him as Uncle Alfred.

"Your Highness, the transformation you have undergone these past few years is immense." His eyes were swimming with complex emotions. As the butler to Aditya’s father, Alfred was a pillar of the Royal Family.

In many ways, Alfred had been like a grandfather to Aditya. Witnessing the once-trembling boy, who had been cast out to a distant land with nothing, now standing tall with such overwhelming power moved Alfred to his core.

He felt an immense sense of pride for the man the Prince had become, nearly losing his battle against tears.

Aditya stepped forward to pull Alfred into a hug. He too felt the weight of the moment, never imagining that destiny would reunite them.

During their last encounter, Aditya had been destitute. He had been stripped of everything—his status, his strength, and his right to inherit the throne as Emperor.

Back then, Aditya barely reached the old man's chest. Now, he stood several inches taller than him.

"Fate has dealt you a difficult hand," Alfred whispered softly into Aditya’s ear.

"It is no matter! It was because of that exile that I managed to accomplish so much through my own strength." His tone was filled with pride regarding his achievements over such a brief period. He had taken a minor Dynasty and forged it into a titanic Empire, arguably the most powerful within the Six Continents. Not even the formidable sects or powers of the Main Continent could intimidate it.

He would never have found his companions without that exile.

He would never have attained this level of power.

The Dragon Monarch might never have risen had he not been cast out. While the pain of his past treatment remained, he took immense pride in the fact that, without the backing of his original Empire or parents, he had achieved a level of success that others couldn't even halfway replicate in a hundred thousand years.

Laura, Athena, Bree, and Mateo observed the embrace from a distance, choosing not to interrupt. They understood the profound emotional significance of this reunion.

Athena looked over at Laura.

Sensing the gaze, Laura looked back.

The two women slowly turned to face one another.

Athena was the first to approach, her expression bordering on emotional. She had maintained a facade of cold, brave composure throughout the ordeal, but seeing her other half—who was essentially her own sister—caused her resolve to waver.

Laura could see the struggle the Goddess was having in masking her feelings.

"How have you been feeling lately?" Athena inquired gently, taking Laura’s hands in hers.

For Laura, who possessed no memories of their shared past, the situation felt surreal. Athena seemed like a stranger, yet Laura could sense an undeniable, powerful bond with her.

They shared the same blood, the same essence, and even the same soul, though Athena’s physical form differed from Laura’s.

"I have been feeling quite drained recently," Laura confessed with a strained smile.

Had it not been for this weakness, she wouldn't have put Aditya in such peril. Yet, a part of her realized that without this crisis, she wouldn't have found her counterpart or deepened her bond with Aditya.

"This is caused by the extended separation from the primary soul—which is me. If this continues, your half of the soul will fade away, and I will lose you forever."

"To remedy this, you must reintegrate with me. What was divided so many centuries ago must be joined once more to resolve this."

"When you say merge, do you mean the fusion of two souls?" Aditya asked as he and Alfred approached.

"Yes and no. I am the source, and Laura is a fragment of the soul I split and manifested. Therefore, I must reclaim my soul." Aditya felt a surge of alarm at those words.

"Does that imply Laura will cease to exist?" he asked with urgency. He could not bear that thought, yet there seemed to be no alternative. Laura would perish regardless if her soul faded.

"It’s okay, Aditya! I have been preparing myself for this since we began this quest." She looked mournful, but they were trapped by circumstance.

"But...!!"

Seeing his distress, Athena offered a small smile. She now fully grasped the depth of their connection.

"We need to depart. There are too many witnesses here." Athena had no desire to proceed under the gaze of a crowd. News would spread quickly regardless, creating a ripple effect that could not be stopped. The best they could do was leave to avoid further scrutiny.

"Alfred, who are these people?" Aditya finally asked the question on his mind.

"This is Bree, my granddaughter."

"And this is Mateo. He is the son of Duke Boleyn." Aditya remembered the Duke from the times he had visited the Royal Capital to see his father.

"I would still be a prisoner if not for these two." Aditya’s brow furrowed at the statement.

"A prisoner?"

"It is a long tale. I will clarify everything once we reach a secluded location. For now, let us leave."

"One moment! I need to take these corpses. They might provide clues about the Organization." He placed the bodies of the deceased Organization members into his storage ring.

As he prepared to depart, he felt the presence of his Dragonians nearby and paused.

"Why has His Highness stopped?" Bree asked, looking puzzled.

"Let’s just wait."

Shortly after, the Dragonians arrived, accompanied by several Dragons in human form.

"Your Majesty?" The Dragonians immediately dropped to their knees before their ruler.

This display left Bree, Mateo, Alfred, and Athena in shock.

'Their auras clearly mark them as potent Dragons.' Strangely, Athena could no longer detect Aditya’s Dragon bloodline. She had felt it during the battle, but it was now hidden. This puzzled her, as her senses were sharp enough to typically detect any cultivator's rank or special bloodline.

"Return to the Capital and await my arrival. Tell Watson that my companion and I will return shortly. Our work here is finished."

"As you command!"

"As for the three of you...!!" Aditya turned his attention to the three Dragons. He wasn't sure where the Organization had snatched them from across the Six Continents, or if they were even from this realm at all.

"My King, please permit us to serve you." They wished to pledge their loyalty to the Dragon Monarch.

All three shared this desire.

Aditya started to speak, but noting the surrounding crowd, he adjusted his instructions.

"Travel back with the Dragonians. I shall meet you in the Capital."

"Your Majesty, we have recovered the bodies of those you slew." Aditya nodded in approval. He had overlooked the corpses of Zoros, Wolf, and the others he had dealt with inside the Route.

After taking the storage ring, he gave a final nod.

The group bowed one last time to their Monarch before departing back the way they had come.

"Let’s go. I know of a secure location." In this Tunnel World, he believed Brightmor City was their safest bet. Being an ally of the dwarf tribe meant they would be protected within the city walls, where tracking them would be nearly impossible.

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