Subordinate

There was an uproar in the Royal Blue barracks as they watched their Chief get beat up by the Ambrose.

The latter didn't even try to hide his annoyance or save face for the fool as he pummeled him repeatedly in front of his subordinates without pause.

Meanwhile, Madeline and another Enforcer stood at the side, watching the scene play out without reacting.

They could still recall how furious were when Ambrose left the western district to come here.

He had sworn to beat up Melvin Gordon, who was the Chief of Police for BoneHaven and also an aristocrat with a known dislike for peasants.

One might think that was why Ambrose was beating him up, however, it wasn't that simple.

After landing one last punch, Ambrose tossed Melvin back into his office and closed the door behind him.

"Do you know why I hit you so much?" Ambrose asked as he massaged his fists.

Melvin crawled away with a battered face, still terrified that Ambrose would hit him again.

"Answer me, you buffoon!" Ambrose bellowed.

Melvin shuddered as he replied. "Madhound…"

"So you know." Ambrose nodded. "I thought you'd want to lie about it."

Melvin gulped audibly. "You have to understand Ambrose, there was no other choice. The Emperor's birthday is around the corner and…"

"And so you decided to wipe out the western district?" Ambrose scowled.

Melvin shook his head. "The rebels are surely hiding somewhere there. Even if they aren't, who would care if a few peasants die?... That way we can at least eliminate one of the possibilities of where the rebels could be hiding."

"You bastard!" Ambrose rushed toward the blond-haired imbecile and after grabbing him, landed three more consecutive blows.

It was a miracle that Melvin was still conscious, judging from the state of his face.

"Do you know the implications of such an action?" Ambrose remarked with a heavy breath. "No one asked you to do anything about the rebels, so why exactly did you think that inciting the western district and then purging them would help the case?"

Melvin was on the verge of tears as he tried to explain himself.

But how could he say that he was trying to one-up Ambrose by solving a case that he couldn't?

Of course, the Royal Blues and Enforcers were distinct in their responsibilities but sometimes intersected like with the rebel case in which both had to join hands since there was no resident army to deploy.

Melvin saw it as a great opportunity to earn merits for himself if he could solve the case since the Royal Blues failed to solve the Butcher case.

As an ardent peasant hater, he naturally assumed the rebels to be nowhere else but the western district.

The initial plan had been to kill the ringleaders of the protest and then when the western district rise in protest, label them as the rebels and then wipe them out.

That way, if the rebels are indeed amongst them, they would be caught. if they aren't, who would care about the deaths of a few peasants?

He had thought that Ambrose would never find out about his scheme but who would have known that the idiot Madhound had kept the telegram he had sent over instructing him on what to do?

Melvin shuddered. "Please, I'm sorry. I'll mend my ways cousin, don't hit me again."

"Bastard." Ambrose scowled. "If you weren't uncle's son, I would have killed you. I already have enough on my hands and you were never fit to lead the Royal Blues anyway."

"Ah." Melvin couldn't even bother with a response as he tried to hide his face.

"Using my authority as Head of D.O.D for BoneHaven, I officially strip you of your position as Chief of Police."

Melvin was stunned but couldn't even say anything as he watched everything get taken away from him.

"You will be kept in solitary confinement and from now onwards, you dare not do anything without asking me first." Ambrose glared at Melvin as he spoke.

Knowing what was good for him, Melvin could only nod in response.

Snorting, Ambrose left the office before making his way down the stairs.

The barracks had long since settled down as he walked over to join Madeline and the Enforcer beside her.

"Done?"

"Not yet," Ambrose replied while massaging his fist. "Assign a few Enforcers to watch over those kidnapped by Madhound. We need to be sure that none of them have been tainted by the Hunter."

Madeline frowned. "Sir…"

"I don't want to hear another word, Madeline." Ambrose glared at her. "Melvin had already upset me enough today. Don't add to my annoyance."

Looking at his bloodshot eyes, Madeline could only take a step back.

"The order will be carried out."

Ambrose nodded in satisfaction. "That's all I wanted to hear."

Taking a moment to breathe, he added. "Also, I want Natasha in my office as soon as possible. She would be the one tackling this Hunter nonsense."

With that, Ambrose left the barracks without saying another word.

***

"Excitement," Anastasia said with a bright smile on her face.

Alex revealed a pleasant gaze. "Excitement?"

"Yes." Anastasia nodded as she turned away from Alex. "Tell me… do you know how old I am?"

"More than a thousand years, I believe."

"1200 to be exact," Anastasia remarked. "I was hatched when the 12 Great Families first came to Ra'as at a time when it was known as the Dark Continent. At that time, humans were treated as second-class citizens here with monstrous creatures ruling the lands.

"I didn't know much when I awakened. Just a little hatchling looking for a home… and the Great Families offered it but with a price."

"What price?" Alex asked.

"I would always stay by their side. I will always obey their authority. I can't go anywhere without their express permission…" Anastasia listed a few.

"That…"

"At that time, I only thought it understandable but as time went on, I realized I was placed on a leash. A leash I can never break free from on my own. I sort to roam the skies, seeking adventure but due to my vows, I couldn't easily break them."

"So you sought refuge in books?"

Anastasia revealed a sad gaze. "... It showed me a time when dragons could go wherever they wanted unhindered. I'm tired of living under the rule of the Great Families. I want to travel the world, exploring and experiencing the wonders it holds…."

"So how does you becoming my subordinate help you escape your vows and experience the excitement you crave?" Alex inquired.

Anastasia stood in place for a long time, unwilling to respond immediately.

At this moment, it felt like she had to say the right words.

It was strange, a mighty dragon like her begging to be the subordinate of an unknown man with unknown goals.