The Dragon Lord's Aide Wants to Quit [BL] Chapter 398: Casual Destruction

The explanation of how the children managed to cleverly extort free food had initially been perplexing.

Kael simply couldn't grasp the necessity of it all.

Why would they even need to go to such lengths?

Naturally, as a man of considerable wealth, he wouldn't understand. Yet, witnessing the children's immense pride in their accomplishment at the time had made Riley reluctant to intervene.

So, he let the matter pass.

But now—

Now that there was a genuine possibility this man was Orien’s father, Riley felt a far greater justification for the children’s actions.

It could simply be classified as child support.

"Besides," Riley added, turning another page in the document, "if it truly is this individual... and considering his activities whilst under duress..."

He paused, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"...well, perhaps reconciliation between them isn't entirely out of the question."

"Oh?"

The dragon lord's eyebrows lifted as he observed Riley.

His mate appeared quite pleased.

Perhaps a touch too pleased, considering the subject had no direct relation to Kael, his own husband.

And that gentle tone?

The one Riley reserved for subjects of personal fondness—

Yes, Kael certainly noticed.

Without even diverting his gaze, Riley remarked, "Now, now, there's no need for you to get worked up, darling."

He then held the folder open, tilting it towards Kael.

"My observation is solely based on this."

Kael had no desire to appear intrigued.

He truly didn't.

However, he was incapable of disregarding anything his mate drew his attention to.

Therefore, against his better judgment, he looked.

"...?"

His expression remained unchanged.

"And what precisely am I meant to be observing here?"

Riley let out a soft chuckle.

"A burgeoning food and beverage empire," he declared, his grin widening as he shook his head. "Knowing Orien, a sincere apology will be necessary, even if he himself was wronged."

A brief silence followed.

"However, if he approaches the situation prepared, with appropriate tokens of goodwill... the path forward might be considerably smoother."

"..."

Kael offered no immediate reply.

He simply studied Riley, quietly assimilating the information.

So, if an apology was to be tendered...

Appropriate gifts were essential.

...Did this imply an urgent need to acquire a coffee shop?

Fortunately, that line of thought was quickly dispelled as Riley spoke again.

"Now," he said, closing the folder, "let's hope I can ascertain the method to break this seal."

The golden dragon gave a slight nod as they resumed their movement.

"Darling, you mentioned the seal wasn't broken by him, but that it was already weakening before his rampage began?"

"Correct," Kael confirmed. "And since you recalled meeting him previously, it's possible that encounter is connected."

"It’s conceivable the issue originated from that very moment."

Riley suddenly turned to him.

"Wait? What do you mean?"

"You will understand once you've examined him," Kael stated calmly.

They continued down the corridor, proceeding towards the chamber where the red dragon was being detained.

"The seal they employed on him..." Kael added after a moment, his tone growing noticeably colder.

"...was nothing short of an insult."

__

Indeed, Kael had not been exaggerating about the insulting nature of the seal.

Initially, Riley had assumed his mate was merely expressing general frustration and had sarcastically labeled the seal as insulting. Such a reaction wouldn't have been unexpected, given the inherent difficulties of the situation.

However, the moment he began his examination of the red dragon, that perception shifted.

Kael's assessment was literal.

Perhaps due to the brief examination, the man who had been regaining consciousness was now fully alert. Yet, instead of projecting confidence, he appeared jumpy—wary, as if anticipating harm the instant he let his guard down.

This behavior struck the black dragon as deeply unsettling.

Riley let out a sigh and tilted his head back slightly, clearly struggling to maintain his composure.

"Perhaps we should simply eliminate the clan head and her offspring," he suggested, his tone casual but carrying a palpable undercurrent of seriousness.

He glanced towards Kael.

"If that is your desire, I have no objections," Kael responded with similar ease, as though discussing a trivial matter.

Now, this was hardly the sort of discourse one would expect upon awakening.

At the very least, Simon Mercer, a law-abiding individual who had always adhered strictly to the rules, certainly did not.

__

Every part of him ached.

His body throbbed in ways he hadn't realized were possible, and his head felt as though it might fracture at any moment. Even the room's subdued lighting seemed excessively harsh, compelling him to squint.

Then, the voices reached him.

They possessed a familiar quality, yet for reasons he couldn't pinpoint, their origin eluded him.

However, he had no time to dwell on this upon catching certain phrases.

"...exterminate..."

"...if that is your desire..."

These words pierced through the muddled state of his mind.

Simon was, by no means, unintelligent.

Even in his current compromised state, with his entire body screaming in agony, he retained sufficient awareness to comprehend the perilous implications of those statements.

His breath caught as he compelled himself to move. Dragging himself slowly and with great pain toward the wall, he acted as if that would somehow change his dire circumstances.

Naturally, it offered no aid, especially since he had only managed to crawl to the very edge of the bed.

Yet, he persisted.

Remaining inactive felt far worse than any exertion.

Then, the surrounding voices altered their pitch.

They drew nearer.

They became distinct.

And this time, their words were directed specifically at him.

"Well, hello there, sir," Riley stated, his voice retaining a polite, almost pleasant cadence. "It's good that you have finally awakened."

"...!"

Though he had not endured any physical blows or scratches, that remarkably businesslike tone unnerved him even more for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Simon instinctively flinched, his hand immediately darting to his chest, as if an unseen force were crushing his heart.

"W-who are you? A-and where have I been brought?" he stammered, his voice emerging in short, gasping breaths.

He harbored a distinct suspicion that these were not the most pertinent inquiries, particularly given the imposing postures of the two individuals clad in suits who stood before him.

Furthermore, considering his final recollection involved a violent assault within his own residence, the presence of these unfamiliar individuals did not instill any sense of security.

Or, perhaps, were they truly strangers to him...?