"Right now?" Lucian scanned Kara from head to toe, a pang of worry in his chest. "You should rest instead. You haven't looked well the past few days. How about I handle the groceries and the cooking?"

  "Once you're feeling better, we can test if the food you make has any extra attributes."

  Kara felt another wave of warmth at Lucian’s concern.

  She offered a soft smile and swept her hair up into a bun. "If I'm not feeling well, it's only because I was worried sick about what might happen to you out there in the wild," she teased.

  Guilt flickered across Lucian’s face, but before he could get a word out, Kara reached up to cup his cheek. "Alright, no need for apologies," she said gently. "In the end, you didn't really do anything wrong."

  "Whatever the case, I’m just gd you’re back. Just promise me that from now on, you won't just disappear without saying goodbye. Understood?"

  "I promise. I won't do it again," Lucian replied, his voice firm and sincere.

  Kara’s smile widened, her face radiating beauty. "Good. Just seeing you back safe makes me feel much better."

  "And that Css Advancement Scroll of yours seems to have boosted my stats a bit. The fatigue is gone."

  She wrinkled her nose and gave him a pyful, scolding look. "Honestly, you clearly can't take care of yourself out there."

  "Go upstairs and take a shower. Change into some fresh clothes and get some rest. I’ll come get you once dinner is ready."

  Her complexion was noticeably rosier than before, and her Spirit seemed high. Reassured, Lucian finally relented and let her head out to shop for groceries.

  Once Kara was gone, Lucian realized that while he had been preoccupied with his aunt, Nyx had been busy wreaking absolute havoc on the first floor.

  His forehead creased with annoyance as he called out her name.

  "Ang!" Nyx’s head popped out from inside a rge pot, a bamboo steamer tray banced precariously on her head. She looked the picture of innocence.

  "You little terror. I look away for five minutes and you’ve already smashed half the shop's equipment!" Lucian marched over, snatched Nyx up, and set the steamer tray aside.

  Nyx let out another "Ang," compining that he had ignored her for too long. She had only started chewing on things because she was bored.

  Lucian sighed, exasperated. Then again, he was wealthy enough now that Kara didn't really need to keep running this bun shop anyway. If a few steamers got ruined, so be it.

  "I'll let it slide this time," he said, keeping his expression stern. "But from now on, you have to be on your best behavior at home. No tearing the pce apart!"

  Nyx let out a soft whine, signaling her understanding.

  It was time for Lucian to wash up and change, but Nyx stuck to his heels, refusing to let him out of her sight for even a second.

  He sighed. He couldn't exactly take a dragon into the shower with him, could he?

  On second thought, it wasn't like it mattered.

  Sure, Nyx was a female dragon, but they were entirely different species. Sharing a bath shouldn't be an issue.

  Since she seemed dead-set on following him anyway, Lucian stopped overthinking it. He brought her along and they enjoyed a long, rexing soak together.

  Meanwhile, in a study within a luxurious vil elsewhere in Riverport City...

  Chloe sat on a plush sofa, still wearing her Twilight Holy Robe.

  A handsome, middle-aged man sat across from her.

  His features bore a striking resembnce to Chloe’s. This was her father, Sis, the Lord Mayor of Riverport City.

  Sis held a cup of hot tea, listening intently until Chloe had finished her story.

  After a long silence, he took a sip of tea and spoke thoughtfully. "So, you're saying this young man, Lucian, didn't just awaken as a Dragon Tamer, but actually possesses a true dragon as a pet? And that he’s already mastered the full potential of that css?"

  Chloe nodded, her expression grave. "He's incredibly strong. Compared to him, the difference between us is like a flickering firefly next to the moon."

  "When we first entered the Secret Realms, he didn't even summon his dragon. Even then, the strength he dispyed was already far beyond Uncle Gareth’s. We all assumed he was some kind of powerful Hidden Css from the warrior tree."

  She let out a self-deprecating ugh. "Who would have guessed that his true power doesn't even come from himself, but from his pet?"

  "I have no idea what breed that dragon is, but I'm certain it’s a true dragon."

  "Only a dragon could be that powerful. It killed a Level 25 Nightmare Difficulty BOSS with ease while it was only Level 9."

  Sis took a deep breath. "To have that kind of combat power at Level 9... only a dragon’s bloodline Strength could expin it."

  "This young man is truly remarkable. I never imagined a Dragon Tamer could reach such heights once they actually secured a dragon."

  "It’s not just the pet that’s unfathomably strong. The Dragon Tamer themselves receives a feedback of Strength from the dragon, making them far superior to standard Hidden Csses."

  "Dragon Tamer... it truly deserves its reputation as one of the three strongest Hidden Csses."

  Chloe couldn't have agreed more with her father’s assessment.

  Memories of Lucian’s overwhelming performance in the Vilge of Despair flickered through her mind, still leaving her reeling with shock.

  A heavy silence settled over the room. Sis took a slow sip of his tea before breaking it. "Have you mentioned this to anyone else?"

  "No," Chloe replied. "In fact, I told Gareth and the others that news of Lucian possessing a dragon must never go further. Not even to the rest of House Sterling."

  Sis gave a satisfied nod. "You did well. Anything involving dragons is a deep secret. If word got out that this young man possesses a dragon, people would swarm him, desperate for any shred of information regarding the Great Dragons."

  "After all, to humanity, dragons are nothing short of deities. And who wouldn't want to possess—or even ensve—a god?"

  Chloe’s brow furrowed slightly as she asked tentatively, "Dad, you aren't pnning on trying to pry the dragon’s location out of Lucian, are you?"

  Sis gnced at his daughter and let out a chuckle. "Is that really what you think of me?"

  Chloe considered it for a moment before shaking her head.

  She knew her father well. Sis held the position of Lord Mayor of Riverport City and commanded such widespread respect precisely because of his integrity. He was a man with firm principles and an unwavering moral compass.

  The secret Lucian carried was an inexhaustible treasure trove. If they could truly unearth it, House Sterling might very well soar to the pinnacle of the Dragon Federation.

  But Sis wasn't that kind of man.

  Reading the thoughts written on Chloe’s face, Sis set his teacup down and spoke calmly. "As for the secrets of the Great Dragons... I won't lie, it’s tempting. But first, that doesn't belong to House Sterling. If we try to seize it, we’ll likely only succeed in setting ourselves on fire."

  "Second, it's the boy's secret. Prying into it would be an unforgivable viotion of his trust."

  "The choice facing House Sterling is simple: a Dragon Tamer with staggering potential, or a nebulous, uncertain secret. For me, that’s an easy decision."

  He paused, then continued, "Lucian has limitless potential. House Sterling certainly can't act as if we know nothing, but a man like that—a dragon among men—isn't someone we can ever hope to subordinate."

  "On the contrary, the fact that he's even willing to associate with us is enough to elevate House Sterling’s standing within the Dragon Federation. Therefore, before he fully comes into his own, I’ve decided that House Sterling will provide him with every possible assistance. Consider it an investment."

  Chloe felt a wave of relief wash over her.

  She had truly feared her father might harbor ulterior motives regarding the secrets of the Dragonflight. If that had happened, House Sterling and Lucian would have ended up on opposite sides. She was deeply grateful to Lucian for saving her life multiple times and held him in high regard; the st thing she wanted was to be his enemy.

  So, hearing Sis speak of investing in Lucian and building a rapport, Chloe found herself in complete agreement.

  "I think you're absolutely right," Chloe said, a smile finally touching her lips. "Back in the Stony Barrens, I promised him a fee and a gift for saving my life."

  "I think this is the perfect opportunity for House Sterling to show its sincerity. We can have the gratitude delivered to his home first thing tomorrow morning."

  "That works," Sis nodded. "How much did you promise him?"

  "Well... at the time, I didn't realize how powerful he was. I thought he was just a normal materials hunter, so I only promised him a hundred thousand Draco-marks..." Chloe’s face flushed slightly. Looking back, that amount felt like an insult to Lucian’s true strength.

  Sis looked at his embarrassed daughter and gave a helpless smile. After a moment of thought, he said, "Tell you what. Tomorrow, take a Purple Thorn Card to his house to personally deliver our thanks."

  A single Purple Thorn Card represented ten million Draco-marks.

  For an ordinary family, it was a fortune they could never earn in a lifetime. As a thank-you gift for Lucian, it was finally something respectable.

  Chloe nodded in agreement, then asked, "Will you be coming with me tomorrow?"

  Sis waved a hand dismissively. "If I could, I’d certainly want to go and see this young Dragon Tamer for myself."

  "However, I just received word that a young princess from the Taegeuk Kingdom has arrived in the Dragon Federation. Apparently, she’s here to study abroad and has chosen Riverport City as her temporary base."

  "As the Lord Mayor, I have to be there to welcome her. We can't afford to be slow with international retions. I won't be able to get away."

  Chloe found the news hard to believe. "A princess from the Taegeuk Kingdom coming here to study? Why Riverport City of all pces?"

  "It's not like Riverport City has any prestigious academies, does it?"