Chapter4 The Nightmare of the White House

The dilapidated White House welcomed another ordinary day. A few elders sat leisurely in the hall, sipping tea, chatting, and playing mahjong. Yes, you heard that right. The so-called Supreme Council was more like a retirement home for various trade associations of the Free City Federation. The sound of clattering mahjong tiles and the gentle fragrance of tea filled the air with a peaceful calm.

Unfortunately, "Elder Manning!" A near-screeching voice tore through the tranquility as the elders watched a half-orc stumble into the first room on the right.

"Ah, these youngsters today, no manners whatsoever. The world is going downhill, downhill indeed..." Elder Yan sighed and continued playing chess.

"Hey, wasn't my horse just here? Tell me, you old rascal, did you move my piece?"

"Who moved it? Stop making excuses just because you're losing!"

"You…"

"Excuse me, is this the Supreme Council of the Free Federation?" A clear and melodious voice interjected.

*Cough cough cough*—three sharp coughs, and the hall immediately became solemn and proper. The mahjong, the poker, the chess—all seemed to vanish as if they had never existed. At the center was a long table, around which sat twelve elders in robes of various colors, now dignified and grave.

"Pretentious!" Lankster rolled his eyes upward.

"My dear young man, this is indeed the Supreme Council of the Free City Federation. How can we help you?"

"We're here to collect the bounty." Lankster produced a yellowed notice and placed it on the table.

The elder nearest to them glanced at it. "Bu-Buchilis?"

*Swoosh swoosh swoosh*—all heads craned forward.

"No way!" "Impossible!" "I was betting on how long it'd take for that notice to naturally decay!"

*Cough cough*—"Young man, are you certain it was Buchilis?" Elder Yan asked.

"Did you tear down the wrong notice?" a faint voice piped up from the back.

"Shut up!" Eleven fists came down on one head.

"Isn't this the only bounty for 10,000 Brin? I wouldn't bother with anything less than a thousand or two!" Lankster said arrogantly.

The elders exchanged glances. "This…"

Elder Dan lifted his head. "Do you have any proof?"

"What kind of proof?" Lankster was puzzled.

"Like a dark creature from Buchilis, or a branch from a man-eating tree? How else can we believe you?" Elder Dan asked cautiously.

Inwardly, Lankster cursed Elder Dan's ancestors but outwardly maintained respect for the elders whose combined ages easily exceeded his by hundreds of years. "Apologies, I overlooked that. But Buchilis has been razed to the ground by me; isn't that proof enough?"

"Ah!" The elders' jaws dropped, and Lankster couldn't help but close his eyes to avoid seeing their loose, wobbling teeth.

"We haven't received any news of that." The elders exchanged glances again, wondering if they were still dreaming, or if the handsome blond man before them was delirious with fever.

"So, are you planning to refuse payment?" a previously silent Sacre stepped forward, wearing a smile that Lankster found unbearably irritating.

The elders involuntarily took a step back, unable to meet Sacre's gaze as a palpable aura of menace emanated from him. Though he stood still, it seemed entirely possible he could send them all to meet Tal in the next second.

Elder Yan hurriedly forced a smile. "No, no, we wouldn't dare! It's just…"

"To reassure the citizens of the Federation, we need evidence. After all, this 10,000 Brin is their money!" Elder Dan added quickly.

"Yes, yes. Maybe a dragon claw or some scales, or even that famously wealthy and beautiful princess would suffice," another elder chimed in.

Sacre's expression darkened further, and the elders bowed their heads lower and lower, feeling as though the hall was filling with dangerous energy. One tiny spark could blow them all to pieces.

"Hmm, asking for his claws and scales? These fools really must have a death wish!" Sacre silently formed a seal with his hands, ready to teach the elders a lesson.

"Wait," Lankster extended a hand, stopping Sacre. "Is that all you need?"

The pressure suddenly lifted, and the elders felt as though the clouds had parted, allowing a few rays of sunlight to peek through. They quickly nodded. "Yes, yes!"

Lankster pulled Sacre aside and whispered something in his ear.

The clouds on Sacre's face gradually cleared, replaced by a wicked smile.

"But, my queen, this is so exhausting. How about a little reward?" Sacre grinned mischievously.

"What do you want?" Lankster asked warily.

"A kiss?" Sacre leaned in playfully.

"In your dreams, you pig!" Lankster grabbed his ear and twisted it.

"Ouch, ouch! That hurts! Wahhh!" Sacre grimaced in pain.

"Do you agree or not?"

"Fine." Sacre sulked, his earlier intimidation vanishing, and he even seemed to have a tail drooping in defeat. Lankster felt a twinge of guilt, as if he had scolded a helpless little animal.

Heavens knew why he ever associated this dragon with the word "little."

"All right, I'll let you into my room tonight, but you're sleeping on the floor!" Lankster said, patting Sacre's head.

"Oh, my queen, you're so generous!" Sacre gave him a big hug.

He then approached the elders and tossed a stack of papers in front of them. "You wanted proof? Here it is. But sign your names first."

The elders looked at the papers—there was a waiver and a pile of insurance forms.

The waiver declared that neither Lankster nor Sacre would be responsible for any incidents that occurred in the center of Lorita in the next hour. The insurance forms ranged from medical coverage to accidental death policies, with Lankster listed as the sole beneficiary.

"What is this?" Elder Yan asked, puzzled.

"You wanted proof, didn't you?" Sacre said coldly, his aura reasserting itself.

"We'll sign, we'll sign!" The elders obediently signed their names, though they couldn't understand why, if they were to die, all their wealth would go to Lankster.

Bah, bah, bah—why were they even thinking about dying?

Satisfied, Sacre tucked the signed forms into his robe. "Watch closely!"

"Wait, what exactly are you going to show us?" Elder Li braved to ask, sensing the situation was growing increasingly bizarre.

"How could we possibly stoop to presenting something as petty as dragon claws and scales? No, you're going to see the dragon itself!"

With a thunderous crash, the most shocking news of the year for the Free City Federation broke. The Supreme Council headquarters, known as the White House, which had stood for over 700 years, was reduced to rubble before the eyes of thousands of onlookers. Standing amidst the ruins was an enormous blue dragon.

He gazed down coldly at the people below, like an uncrowned king. The sunlight glinted off his sapphire scales, making them shimmer brilliantly. He stamped his foot impatiently, toppling several towering buildings nearby.

Lankster strolled up to the only elder still standing, Elder Dan, and silently extended his hand.

Elder Dan pulled out a checkbook, hastily wrote a check for 10,000 Brin, signed his name, and handed it to Lankster.

"Thanks! Sacre, you can come back now!"

A cloud of mist rose and then dissipated. The ruins were empty, save for a lone wall that wobbled briefly before crumbling silently.

"Where'd they go?" "Did I just see a dragon?" "Maybe…we all did." "Or maybe we were just seeing things."

The passersby were left in confusion.

"The Dragon in the White House" quickly became one of the Seven Wonders of the Free City Federation, much to the delight of all.

In the woods on the outskirts of Lorita:

"So, there's something I'd like to discuss with you elders. Dragons cannot allow outsiders to see their true form. When that happens, the witnesses must be killed. This time, I'll make an exception for you, in deference to your age. But if I hear any rumors…"

Sacre left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was unmistakable.

The elders didn't dare say a word, nodding vigorously in agreement.

"Alright then, let's go, my queen!" Sacre leaned his head on Lankster's shoulder, wearing his usual innocent smile. "Transforming into a dragon is so tiring!"

"Get lost, you lazy pig!"

"I'm a dragon, not a pig!"

"I don't care!"

Lankster turned to the elders. "If I'm not mistaken, there's another reward, isn't there?"

The Free Knight, a title coveted by every knight across the continent.

"Well, about that…"

"What now?" Sacre asked.

Elder Yan, who had just managed to stand, collapsed again. "We really can't make that decision!"

"Wasn't the notice posted by you?"

"Well, we…"

"Gentlemen, how about participating in the Knight's Festival instead?" A gentle and elegant voice intervened at just the right moment.