Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 976 - 975 - Maester Emerges

The head butler of the Golden Vermillion Inn had seen almost every twist life had to offer. The near death of Felicia had been avoided but a powerful elixir from a Triple Maester.

She was a daughter of the owner of their branch and an expert formation master. Her loss would have been felt deeply but he had also watched her grow up as a niece to him. She had happily shown off her skill to him like all kids who started on the cultivation path.

It made him so proud!

Her brother was a bit less talented but a powerful cultivator nevertheless. He had made the much more rare breakthrough to the Star Tier after 1500 years.

Felicia, by comparison, was only a few centuries old but much farther along than he had been. The head butler had only advanced to his current Moon Tier Realm thanks to the generosity of his master.

All of that he recalled fondly as he grimly looked out at a dozen soldiers sent by the Lord of Kun City. Midas Throne, like all other powers, tracked their members' lives as a standard practice.

The most common was soul lanterns but there was a variety of such objects. The key thing in the present was efficiency since corrupted materials made high grade items much harder to create.

Unlike other groups, however, Midas Throne worked with the local power they based their branch in to enforce punishments.

The old man stood at the entrance as a well armed man held out the missive to search their grounds for a dead man.

"I am sorry, but even your authority cannot extend to here. However–" The guard in a helmet and armor flared his Sky Realm aura and the old man had to suppress a sneer. Did he think that was impressive?

"You dare to defy the supreme authority of Kun City?!" The rattle of swords did not phase the butler but while he had the position of strength, he also had some restrictions. The Golden Vermillion Inn was just a business no matter how high end it served.

He knew the owner would expel any criminal but the soldier wanted to flaunt his authority. In other words, he was told to give the Golden Vermillion Inn a hard time.

"Perhaps your commander did not warn you. There are some place not to cross–" The old man tried once more to warn the leader of the soldiers but an armored fist flew at him. To his senses, it was in slow motion but to lower realms and mortals, it would be like the wind.

The old man was about to react when a much more powerful aura swept out from within the lobby behind him.

It was an Immortal aura!

The butler was about to bow when he realized he recognized that aura! It was burned into his memory as the man that saved Felicia. A cold sweat broke out as he went down on one knee while the soldiers were flattened onto their backs.

"I dislike doing this kind of thing, but if you act like a fool, expect to be treated as such." A man with long emerald hair emerged but the head butler frowned to see a withered corpse in his grasp.

Surely, a Triple Maester would not need to kill someone and brag about it?

The crimson robes were austere but of high quality, yet it was his eyes that froze all in place. They were bottomless pools of power!

"I–am–here–to–arrest–you!" The leader spoke but most could only stare at him. Did he think he had any real power here?

"Sigh, I expected you and was on my way to inform the front desk of an incident. It was rather delicate but since you want to do things this way, fine." The corpse was tossed out but not only that. Vile Qi swirled around it as an artifact contained it inside!

A Fiend agent?! The robes revealed it was someone from Midas Throne.

"It is a roundabout way to act, Fellow Daoist. I have the necessary samples to prove what that man was and how he died. I am happy to expose it all if you wish to continue." Blood drained from all in range of the Maester's voice!

The term 'Fellow Daosit' meant equal rank! Another Immortal was nearby!

The air distorted on the street to reveal a balding man with a neatly trimmed beard and golden robes. The golden hand on his right breast revealed to those in the know who he was!

"I am but a humble junior, Senior." Another Immortal but the difference between Tiers was still acknowledged. The head butler felt actual fear as even the owner of the inn could not stop 2 Immortals if they fought.

The Maester smiled but tossed a bracelet at Administrator Bernard. The silence felt tense while the soldiers were still suppressed by the Maester.

"Maester Cord, the soldiers were just doing their job, could you release them please?" The head butler's request made the Maester look at him before slowly nodding.

"Since it is a request of my host, I am happy to fulfill your request." The butler had to suppress a chuckle. With those words and him asking for the favor left no honor for the soldiers at all.

They were basically treated as children! It would make the Lord of Kun City retaliate but not immediately as it would only compound the loss of face.

In other words, the Maester also snubbed the Lord of Kun City.

Senior Bernard coughed and then bowed low which made all pause.

"I apologize for this vile creature getting close to you. Its death matches other such agents caught in the last million years." Those words made even the soldiers back away from the corpse.

Fiends may have vanished at large but their shadow loomed ever present in the Corruption itself. Their agents were still alive and well also.

They had wreaked havoc in many places during the chaos after the Corruption swept the lands but they had become far quieter in recent times.

No one knew why but a few thousand years ago, something changed once more and it was like all activity stopped.

"I have questions about that, but first–" The Maester glanced at the still laid out soldiers who were unsure if they should even flinch between the 2 Immortals. Bernard nodded once more.

"It is confirmed this man was an agent of the Fiends. No crime has been committed." The soldiers seemed to deflate in relief but the butler noticed the leader actually seemed disappointed.

He noted that for later.

"One last thing, Administrator Bernard. Your message was delivered but I wish to confirm, another of your members wants my services?" Bernard nodded and that caused a stir not only in the crowd but the head butler as well.

Midas Throne requesting an expert was a high honor. It was an acknowledgement of skill few could match!

"I see. Then I have an unpleasant task for you. I have confirmed but Midas Throne does not employ certain beings?" Once more Bernard nodded but much more slowly than before.

The head butler was confused. Why would certain races be banned?

Before anyone could move, an emerald clawed arm slammed out and caught the leading soldier harshly.

"Honestly, you are like cockroaches." Before long a vile mist began to emerge from the soldier's armor! Another Fiend agent. "I only make a mistake once, never again!"

A flare of emerald flashed and the danger was contained as the telltale signature death occurred in public. The other soldiers panicked but the head butler was more focused on the limb.

Shining emerald scales left several possibilities but the only one that was problematic was the most likely. A dragon!

Realization flashed in Bernard's eyes but he seemed resigned.

"My counterpart is not limited by the usual rules. She is insistent on you alone." His words seemed to ignore the disturbing event that just happened!

"Even so, I have a more immediate purpose. You have an infestation. I specialize in extermination of it. I will not leave after 3 attempts on my life. I also understand any specialist of divine beast bloodlines have been targeted constantly. This ends today." As if summoned, the black cloaked assistant appeared.

"You are certain you want to act so openly?" The butler noticed a shift in tone from the first encounter. The female voice was no longer subservient but as of an equal.

"They have answers as well as the truth of the issue. I am now a target and I am but one man. We cannot protect the younglings at all times and they will go after them or someone else we meet later. If nothing else, this is a bit nostalgic for me." A gentle laugh came from the black hood.

"Very well, let me make things a bit easier for you." The Maester now turned in surprise but bowed to his 'assistant.'

The black cloak was pulled back to reveal a stock woman of great beauty but the badge on her made the head butler floored. Another Law Maester of Forging!

That was not the end of the surprises as an Imperial badge appeared that made all bow instantly, even Bernard!

"By my authority of the Fionan Empire, this man will act with impunity. Fear not, he hunts only Fiends and their ilk. I swear by my life he will do no harm to the innocent." A glance at the soldiers made her consider something. "Inform the Lord of Kun City to seal all lines of communication and teleportation as of this moment. No one leaves or arrives until we are done."

As soon as she spoke those words, formations activated in response to her badge to make her will a fact! The badge was real! Using it in that way was an extreme risk of the owner acted improperly. It was the price to make them effective.

Only someone 100% certain would risk their cultivation to invoke it. Just who had they let into the Golden Vermillion Inn?