Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1076 - 1075 - Duke Petryn

It had been months since the bloodline array had been broken. While much of the world was in chaos as memories or clearer heads asserted themselves, it had been nothing compared to the supreme and high powers cracking down on criminal organizations that had taken up open residence in their borders!

Shandor Syndicate and others suddenly found themselves under severe pressure to pull back to their centers of power.

Lind had smiled to hear that Ogros Kingdom had been freed from them.

The Starhide Wolves were officially recognized as the overlords of the former Kun City area as they were not responsible for its destruction. The Eternal Flame Sect was not only expelled from the righteous sects but destroyed outright as many crimes had been recalled once the array was broken.

They were not alone as once arrogant sects and kingdoms had fallen far from the righteous path but enjoyed its protections as the array hid away the truth of the world. Lind had severely underestimated the bloodshed going on behind the scenes.

He only knew about a lot of it thanks to Prince Petryn.

Emperor Fionan had sent forces to support his son and reclaiming Crescent City. Petryn was given the provisional title of Duke which meant he was not only to rebuild the city but to reorganize the surrounding lands as well.

It was only provisional as there was simply not time to go through the official process. Further, frankly, Petryn may not want such a title and responsibility given he was engaged to a powerful dragon.

Teegan had briefly returned to her city to make sure it was fine but there were no issues. Unlike many places, there were no problems with the residents or history to deal with in her city due to how new it was.

She also could now stay in contact thanks to communication jade stones working far better than before.

Her mountainous region was not so easy to spread out nor endanger so she could leave it for extended periods of time as she could entrust her leadership to her subordinates. Lind had heard a certain group of demonesses and a few humans had cried foul when they learned he was in Crescent City.

Lind had smiled but visited a few times via the gateway.

Peace was welcome as no further attacks came. Bandits did not exist either due to the fact all their bases were exposed instantly. All the suppressed memories had let them be exposed at the same time so many powers wiped them out to reclaim resources and vengeance.

It was a bad time to be a criminal as the bloodline array seemed to automatically suppress memories of organizations that acted in bloodthirsty ways. Anything that could feed the array was protected.

Once it was gone, all those powers paid the price of their past.

Lind was sitting in one of the completed war towers on the top floor. They remained in effect as the defenses of the city were still lacking. The Heavenly Maiden Sect had sent fresh members to operate them.

At the moment he was examining a patient fidgeting on a bed setup for her. Her once robust figure was weakened considerably but she was still lively.

"I could go for a walk–" He looked at her harshly as she rubbed her extended belly gently before nodding.

"You are doing better than we hoped but there is not much more I can do for you." He sighed as he knew he was giving her a death sentence. Ranger knew the truth long ago so it was not shocking but he had become a bit annoying about his missions lately.

Lind understood why but the fact remained almost no one was able to scout as large an area as he could. His Art was taught to a few other demons from the Maidens but they were still mastering it.

Once they were able to cover a similar area in groups, he would be able to stay at the tower until his child was born.

The Maidens were both excited and sad. War Maiden Katara was highly respected but the loss of her lifespan was impossible to overcome. There were no treasures nor methods to restore it.

At least, not good ones.

Lind knew some were desperate to save her life but both Katara and he rejected such methods outright. They were all vile things no matter what might be left behind from the fall of so many criminal organizations.

"How is the baby?" She was such a powerful warrior but the gentle look on her face as she looked at her belly made him smile.

"Perfectly healthy. They will be a handful I am sure." He knew the gender but did not reveal it as requested. He was about to continue when both of them turned to the closed double door.

It was opened instantly as a woman entered with dark fur ears twitching and tail swishing in irritation before she huffed into a chair. The pair looked at the woman in question until she noticed them and had the decency to blush as her pale skin darkened.

"I am sorry for intruding. I thought the exam was over." Lind crossed his arms and waited for an actual explanation but that came from another voice echoing up the stairwell.

"Priestess Chu! Duke Petryn needs you to–" A young man in blue and silver livery paused as he saw Lind looking at him. A gulp came from him as he bowed low before trying to proceed into the room only to be repelled by the weaving across the doorway.

"Maester Cord, please let me in your quarters." Lind looked at Chu and needed no words to sigh in a tired fashion.

"It is not the Duke but his head minister that is demanding my wife to work with the non-human residents. He is shirking his responsibilities again?" Lind's words made the man look stern but he was only a Gold Tier World Realm. He could not contradict a Crystal Tier no matter what!

"The people trust Lady Chu so it is only right that she–" Lind felt her aura rise but she kept it contained in the room. Still, the man was not dumb. Her anger was clear as day on her face.

"I take it he had some new rules to have her explain to them?" Sweat now broke out on the man's brow and a giggle was heard from the bed behind Lind. He put a hand to his forehead before sighing again.

He seemed to do that a lot recently.

[Duke Petryn, can you hear me?] Lind made his message privy to the young man who paled instantly.

[Lord Cord? I can hear you fine. Is there something wrong?] Petryn's voice came through loud and clear but Lind felt like it was fainter than it should be for being so close to him. It seemed there was still something affecting Immortals in the Corruption alone.

[Minister Deacon is imposing on my wife again. I believe we discussed this issue.] He said nothing else but he was able to feel a spike of frustration.

[We did indeed. Which assistant am I speaking to?] Petryn's frustration was clear and the slim man fell to the floor in a bow.

[This one is Bastion, Duke Petryn!] Lind could hear him loud and clear but Petryn was still muffled a bit. Still he acted as the relay as Petryn made his displeasure clear.

[You will return to Minister Deacon and have him report directly to me. If you bother Priestess Chu again, I will let Lord Cord deal with you as he pleases.] All the blood drained from the man's face and Chu joined Katara in giggling.

Both could hear the conversation perfectly well.

"PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" Bastion was shivering now but Lind let him leave without further issue. Petryn would not be forgiving. His own orders had been countermanded after all.

Crescent City was under the Fionan Empire so administering the rising population was the minister's job. The man had a clear distaste for non-humans though and often pushed interactions on to Chu and others.

Petryn was not used to giving orders but he was picking it up quickly enough. Lind had a lot of experience in running an empire, several forms of it. Compared to that or a sect, rebuilding a city was child's play!

The issue was he had no respect from the men yet. They only saw him as a mouthpiece in many ways.

The refugees were different. Petryn had fought with some and been seen working hard by the rest. Even the Maidens had respect for him as he had understood the war towers were still needed as the city was rebuilt.

He had negotiated a good deal with them without appearing weak. Lind had been impressed as he had not helped with that part at all!

"Well, interruptions aside, I have to finish–" Lind was about to turn back when his eyes narrowed. Both women noticed the change in his face.

"We will be having rather rowdy guests soon. Chu, can you feel them?" He turned to her but she shook her head. She felt nothing.

He sighed once more and quickly finished Katara's check up. It seemed they only wanted him to know they were coming but he quickly relayed to Petryn to expect troublesome guests.

Peace was nice so why could he not enjoy it?!