Chapter 377 - 375: Contract Scroll

Chapter 377: Chapter 375: Contract Scroll

This time, King Eric did not summon Duane and Count Kais to the Royal Palace Hall. Instead, he chose the rear garden of the palace as the meeting place.

As soon as Duane entered the area, he felt a biting chill. He focused his gaze and saw a giant python, dozens of meters long, coiled on the rockery in the Scenic Pool ahead. It was none other than the Black-eyed Cyan Snake, the symbol of the Royal Family.

Sensing the arrival of outsiders, the Black-eyed Cyan Snake opened its eyes.

It sensed a rather kindred aura from Duane and couldn’t resist slithering down from the rockery.

Although the Black-eyed Cyan Snake was massive, its speed was astonishing. It quickly crossed the Scenic Pool, reached the shore, and began circling around Duane.

Count Kais, also encircled, went on high alert and took a defensive stance.

Duane reminded him, "Don’t be nervous. It won’t hurt us."

’That’s true,’ the Count thought. With Duane by his side, his safety was guaranteed. If he had come alone, he would have suspected the King had lethal intentions toward him.

Duane scanned the garden, but there was no sign of the King. Unsure of the reason for his absence, Duane decided to reveal a sliver of his bloodline’s aura.

In that instant, the Black-eyed Cyan Snake sensed intense danger and the suppressive pressure of a superior bloodline. It froze for a moment, then shot away like a bolt of lightning, returning to its perch on the rockery to stare warily at Duane.

The Count whispered, "What did you do?"

The corners of Duane’s mouth lifted slightly. "Just revealing a little of my presence."

The Count was secretly amazed. ’A Demon Beast’s perception of danger is so much stronger than a human’s. I didn’t feel any fluctuation in Duane’s aura at all.’

"What Level is the Black-eyed Cyan Snake? Can you tell?"

Duane nodded. Back at the Kingdom’s founding ceremony, he had guessed the Black-eyed Cyan Snake was a Level 6 or Level 7 Demon Beast. Today, his Perception was stronger, and he was even more certain.

"It’s a Level 7 Demon Beast, and it seems to be on the verge of a breakthrough."

The Count glanced at the Black-eyed Cyan Snake with apprehension. Demon Beasts were generally stronger than Extraordinary of the Same Tier.

Although he was now at the Celestial Tier, he was no match for this snake.

Just then, the sound of footsteps rang out as King Eric strode toward them.

"My apologies, my apologies! Something suddenly came up, and I was delayed. I’m late!"

Duane and Count Kais gave a slight bow. The latter said, "Duane and I have only just arrived. Your Majesty, is there something important you wished to announce by summoning us here?"

Eric was about to speak when he felt a jolt in his mind. He then gave Duane a strange look.

"The black snake is complaining to me about you. It says you just gave it a fright!"

Seeing no displeasure on the King’s face, Duane said innocently, "Your Majesty must see clearly. I didn’t do a thing!"

Eric chuckled. "As an Ascension-level Warrior, if you leak even a hint of your presence, this little Level 7 snake is bound to get scared."

"Come, come. Let’s sit and talk."

Eric was an easygoing man. At this moment, he put on no airs, completely unlike the King who usually sat upon the throne.

Hearing this, Duane understood. The King had apparently used some special method to communicate with the Black-eyed Cyan Snake and had learned everything that just transpired.

He was quite curious. "I heard that when the previous King was alive, he used a Spell Scroll to form a contract with the Black-eyed Cyan Snake. I wonder what kind of Scroll that was?"

Eric heard the interest in Duane’s voice regarding the Spell Scroll, and he didn’t mind elaborating.

"Back then, the Elemental Tide had only recently descended upon the Shadow Mist Continent. Most people’s strength was at the Middle or Advanced Level. Even my father, Joseph, hailed as a genius, was only at the Celestial Tier. Thus, obtaining a Level 6 Contracted Demon Beast was like gaining a powerful ally!"

Although King Joseph was no match for King Tyron, he was incredibly powerful for his era. That was how he managed to unite the many noble factions within the Kingdom.

"As it happened, he had just obtained two Contract Scrolls from a Relic Secret Realm. He gathered a force of a hundred men to besiege the Black-eyed Cyan Snake, and so it became the Kingdom’s National Guardian Divine Beast."

At this, the Black-eyed Cyan Snake on the rockery let out a hiss, as if voicing its displeasure at the memory of being besieged.

Eric smiled resignedly. "It’s just that the Contract Scrolls are all used up now. To create new ones, one must supposedly be a Grand Mage, and the Kingdom has no such talent."

He looked at the Black-eyed Cyan Snake. "After I die and Sigmund inherits my throne, if the Black-eyed Cyan Snake wishes to remain in the palace, it may. If not, we can only let it leave."

The Black-eyed Cyan Snake had told him that as long as the Royal Family was willing to provide for it, it would continue to guard this place. This put Eric at ease.

Sometimes, Demon Beasts were easier to get along with than people. Once affection and trust were established, they would not betray you easily.

But that was in the past.

Now, with the support of the Holy Radiance Court, creating Contract Scrolls was no longer an impossible task for the Pruck Kingdom.

Duane was very interested in this Contract Scroll.

’At my current rate of Cultivation, I’ll soon be able to become a Level 9 Grand Mage.’

’If I could create Contract Scrolls, I’d have a better way to deal with that Giant Lynx on Black Forest Island.’

He spoke up, "Your Majesty, I’m very interested in the method for creating Contract Scrolls. I wonder if you would be willing to sell it to me?"

Eric had already noticed Duane’s keen interest in the Contract Scrolls.

"I know you have considerable talent in Magic as well. Don’t tell me you’re not only an Ascension-level Warrior, but also a Level 9 Grand Mage?"

Duane laughed. "You jest, Your Majesty. I don’t have that kind of power. But as you know, my wife, Natalia, is a magical genius. She might reach that level in the future. Then, perhaps she could attempt to create Contract Scrolls."

Eric nodded and turned to the Count. "Kais, your daughter has found a good match. You’re a very lucky father!"

Only then did Count Kais speak. He could see that the King was far more interested in Duane during this meeting.

"My daughter is the truly lucky one, Your Majesty!" he said with a smile.

Eric laughed heartily. ’With an opportunity like this, it would be difficult for the Kennedy family not to prosper.’

"It’s all just knowledge we can’t use. If you want it, take it."

The King said to a Clerk nearby, "Dave, go to the Library Pavilion and have Craft bring the book on creating Contract Scrolls to Duane."

Duane quickly rose to thank him, but he didn’t want to be in the King’s debt. "I cannot accept such a great favor so lightly, Your Majesty. Please, name your price. No matter how high, I can certainly repay it."

Eric waved his hand dismissively. "In that case, consider it a congratulatory gift for you and Natalia. If your wife ever truly manages to create them in the future, just give me two Contract Scrolls in return."

He gave it away so readily because he wasn’t worried about how much power Duane might amass with Contract Scrolls.

Firstly, these Scrolls were extremely difficult to create, as they involved Magic at the soul level.

Secondly, the Scrolls required very specific materials—at a minimum, the hide of a Level 7 Demon Beast, which made mass production impossible.

Third, each person could only contract a single Demon Beast. This hard-and-fast rule also limited the widespread use of Contract Scrolls.

And fourth, although the Elemental Tide on the Shadow Mist Continent had reached an intensity rivaling that of the Sunset Continent, Demon Beasts grew in strength more slowly than humans. There were no overwhelmingly powerful Demon Beasts on the continent yet; even Level 7 ones were a rare sight.

Therefore, even if Duane did manage to create Contract Scrolls, their utility would be extremely limited.

King Eric was also using the goodwill generated by this gift to set the stage for his upcoming plans.

"Alright, Duane, Kais, I didn’t summon you here today just to talk about Contract Scrolls."

The King’s expression turned serious. "In the past, whenever my father faced matters of war, he would gather his followers to hold discussions in the presence of the Black-eyed Cyan Snake."

Duane and Count Kais exchanged a glance. The King’s words had revealed the purpose of their summons.

"You want to start a war?"

The Count asked, "Against whom?"

He wondered internally, ’The Akutas Kingdom, or Marquis Sean?’

It was a question of whether to handle external threats or internal ones first.

Duane also grew attentive. The King’s next decision would influence his own course of action.

"I am going to declare war on the Akutas Kingdom!"

King Eric’s voice was grim. "More than twenty years ago, my father died at the hands of Tyron. This is a blood feud Pruck has never forgotten, and now the time has come to pay that debt in blood!"