Chapter 263
The Dragon's Snare: Unveiling the Trap
“As you command!”
“Yes, Third Master!”
The subordinates began to act, but Andy grew anxious. He snapped at Balu, who was inspecting his backpack, crying out: “Hey! These are all the food and sleeping gear my master prepared for me! Be careful, if you ruin one piece, even selling you wouldn't cover the cost!”
Balu smiled respectfully, “Please understand, young master. Third Master's status compels us to do this. Rest assured, I will be very careful!”
Snap!
Balu snapped several white jade pillars, casually tossing them aside. Embedded within these pillars were Aberrant Beast cores, capable of emitting fluctuations that attracted other tracking Aberrant Beast cores! Each one was worth at least three hundred Gold Coins!
“My bed!” Andy wailed! Then, he pinched his nose, displeased, “Balu, you're carrying too much Seablue Grass! Damn it, Lord Harry won't track us by scent...”
Perhaps Constantine was being overly cautious, but for a being who had survived decades of pursuit, it was not excessive in the slightest!
Proceeding with utmost care, Constantine and his entourage traveled for seven or eight days with Andy. Not only had they moved far from Du Chen's territory, but they were now even beyond Lanning's borders. Gradually, Constantine began to believe that Francis was indeed a human who genuinely cared for Andy!
Andy had dutifully stayed by Constantine's side, appearing downcast from leaving his master. Yet, in his heart, he continually replayed the events of that night, many days ago, when he ‘bid farewell’ to Miss Beibei in the Lord's Manor's underground secret chamber...
...
Porter's slender fingers traced a path across the map of the Aethelgard Continent. He spoke calmly, “Andy, this task falls to you! Constantine has eluded the Dragon Clan's pursuit for decades; his caution undoubtedly far surpasses that of ordinary beings! I need you to follow them for a considerable distance, then seize the opportune moment to act, ensuring the battle does not take place on Lanning's soil!”
“Po-Porter, Head Steward, won't that be exhausting?”
“There will certainly be some fatigue, but once you succeed, your master will reward you with the most lavish feast!” Porter chuckled. “North of Durkes City lies Lanning's interior, a densely populated region with complex powers. Constantine's cautious nature and his status as a rebel dictate that he will not take this route! Therefore, he will either take the Great Desolate Lands to the west or the sea routes to the southeast! Tomorrow, Harry will prepare many exquisite foods for you, enough to last half a month! Pace yourself, eat slowly, and don't devour everything at once! You must give Constantine and the others the illusion that the food will last you a very long time! If Constantine takes the Great Desolate Lands route, then on the second day after entering, you will suddenly unleash your appetite and consume all the food you desire! If Constantine forbids it, you will cry out, ‘Father, I'm hungry!’... Once you've finished everything, wait another half an hour, then demand more food! And then...”
...
That day, Constantine's group arrived at a secluded Mountain Hollow. All around them were only barren mountains and trees. The map showed no sparsely populated villages within a hundred-mile radius!
This place was called the Great Desolate Lands!
And here, Andy lay spread-eagled, howling incessantly, “I can't go on! I'm starving to death! Andy is going to starve to death!”
Balu and his brothers exchanged glances, their expressions suddenly turning grim!
Damn it, just half an hour ago, Young Master Andy's stomach had suddenly unleashed its fury, devouring all the food Francis had provided with an appetite beyond anyone's imagination!
But barely half an hour later, he was hungry again...
“I don't care! I want food! I don't want black bread!” Andy threw a tantrum like a child, rolling on the ground.
Yet, in his mind, he was frantically recalling Porter's instructions.
...
“Next, you will beg Constantine, have his subordinates find you food, and in the most filial manner, tell Constantine – you wish to personally prepare a roasted meal for him to honor your father!”
Porter lightly rubbed his forehead, as if deep in thought, then a knowing smile played on his lips.
“When you send those subordinates to search for food, be sure to assign the simplest, quickest task – the one that gets them back fastest – to... Brockman's younger brother, Adams! Once Adams returns, you'll dismiss him again, then roast the meat for Constantine...”
...
In the Great Desolate Lands, mid-roll, Andy suddenly paused, quickly got up, and ran to Constantine, “I'm hungry... Father!”
Father!?
Constantine's tightly furrowed brow suddenly smoothed out! Ha, this was the second time Andy had called him 'Father' since leaving the Lord's Manor!
Although Andy was impudent and clearly spoiled by Francis, he was still his own biological son, lost for Thirteen years!
Constantine spoke gently, “Andy, look, there's really nothing you'd like to eat around here...”
“I'm hungry... I won't eat black bread!”
“Andy...” Constantine's brow furrowed again!
Andy's eyes darted around. “Then what about game meat? Go hunt some for me! Adams, you go catch a Tiger for me! Balu, you go catch a few fish... You, go find a village for seasonings...” In one breath, he assigned tasks to most of the group, then timidly brushed Constantine's calf with his tail, whispering, “I learned how to barbeque from Young Master Alex, Father. Later, you can try my cooking, hehe!”
Suddenly, a warm current surged from Constantine's spine to the crown of his head.
My son wants to cook for me? Haha, my son wants to cook for me to eat? Has this day come too late, or is it simply too anticipated!
What a filial son!
Constantine immediately ordered, “What are you waiting for? Go quickly!” Watching his subordinates disperse, Constantine lovingly stroked Andy's forehead, a look of profound satisfaction on his face.
Andy also smiled. But inwardly, he was trembling!
However, among those departing, some wore grim expressions, especially Balu. “Damn it, catch fish in these barren mountains? How did the young master come up with that order?” Adams, though, was all smiles. “Catch a Tiger? Too simple, I'll be back in minutes!”
At this point, in the Great Desolate Lands, only two subordinates remained by Constantine's side. The Master's like Adams and Balu had all been dispatched!
Before long, Adams, who had been assigned the ‘simplest’ task – catching a Tiger in the mountains – was the first to return. But with a single remark, ‘The Tiger isn't big enough,’ Andy dismissed him again. Andy haphazardly prepared the dead Tiger, asked Constantine to start a fire, then, holding the skewered Tiger meat in his mouth, began to roast it.
Constantine watched Andy barbeque with emotion, a warmth spreading through his heart. “Be careful not to get sparked. Andy, your father is of the Dragon Clan; we can eat raw food, so just roast it a little, don't overexert yourself... Andy, what's wrong with your ear? Why do you keep scratching it?”
“Oh, a spark just hit it!” Andy said, his back to Constantine, cold sweat trickling down his face. “Damn it, this is my first time doing something like this! Stay calm, I must stay calm! Master... why did you give such an important task to me?”
...
Days ago, in the Lord's Manor, Porter's gaze fell upon Du Chen. “Francis, your fifth Sacred Artifact can control other Sacred Artifacts from thousands of miles away, and though it cannot speak, it understands human words, yes?”
“Of course!”
“Very well then. Have it manipulate one of your Lotus Sacred Artifacts, shrinking it down to hide inside Andy's ear, and travel with Constantine! At the same time, bring Mr. Brook!”
Du Chen stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Porter, staring at the map of Lanning. “Have Andy roast meat, and please have Brook conceal himself within the Lotus... Porter, do you intend to send Brook inside Constantine's belly?”
Porter nodded with a smile.
Deboning, however, shook his head. “Porter, attacking Constantine from the inside is utterly impossible! When you become a Six-Star Battle God, you'll understand that the power of a Battle Soul generates protective shields even within the body! Their defensive capabilities are no less formidable than external ones! Battle Gods, furthermore, completely fuse their bodies with elements, allowing them to channel elemental combat both externally and internally!”
“Oh? Is that so?” Porter smiled faintly.
Deboning continued, “Yes, the young master has used this internal attack tactic before, but it's only effective against Battle-Warriors without a Battle Soul. Against Battle Gods, especially High-level Battle Gods... it's largely useless!”
“So, Mr. Brook, your battle with Constantine, whether it occurs externally or internally, the process should be much the same, yes?”
“Indeed!”
Porter smiled, “Then let me ask Mr. Brook another question: you are of the same rank as Constantine, and you cannot defeat him in a direct confrontation. But what if you were given a perfect opportunity to ambush him?”
“It depends on how perfect this opportunity is. Constantine's protective qi shield already activates automatically. Even ambushing him from within, I wouldn't have absolute certainty of success! The moment my battle qi stirs, his protective qi shield will activate on its own! Moreover, he is a Divine Dragon skilled in metallic sound waves; his reaction speed could very well be faster than my strike, allowing him to anticipate and counter, trapping me dead inside his belly!”
“Good. Then come and hear if this opportunity is perfect enough!” Porter calmly pointed to the Snow Wolf. “Andy, Mr. Brook will perform some adjustments on you before you mix yourself and the Lotus Sacred Artifact into the roasted meat, making it appear as if you've been severely poisoned! Then, what you must do is...”
...
The Great Desolate Lands.
After a long period of composure, Andy took a few deep breaths, then cheerfully scampered back to Constantine, a large chunk of Tiger meat still clenched in his mouth. He leaped up, offering the meat to Constantine's lips!
Constantine didn't show any distaste, taking a bite. Andy eagerly added, “Young Master Alex said this kind of roasted Tiger meat tastes best when swallowed whole...”
Watching Constantine obediently follow his ‘son's’ advice, swallowing the Tiger meat whole without even chewing, Andy collapsed weakly onto Constantine, as if all strength had left him, panting heavily. He, too, with a frown, ate the piece of Tiger meat he held in his mouth!
Phew!!! It's finally done!
Mr. Brook had been swallowed into Constantine's belly along with the Tiger meat!
But Mr. Brook had also ‘made adjustments’ to him...
Constantine smacked his lips. Truth be told, Balu and the others who went for seasonings hadn't returned yet, and this unseasoned, half-cooked Tiger meat was indeed hard to swallow. However, as a member of the Dragon Clan, accustomed to raw food, he didn't find Andy's cooking particularly bad. Instead, he savored the taste in his mouth and throat, exclaiming delightedly, “Haha, Andy, your skill truly is excellent, it's almost as good as your mother's...”
At the mention of Sophia, he lowered his head mournfully, gritting his teeth. “Once I've taught you all the Secret Techniques of Mount Miglio, we'll go find your mother. Then, when our family is reunited, it should be... Andy!!”
Immersed in the fantasy of family reunion, Constantine's heart was overflowing with warmth, but then, all of a sudden...
“Ah!”
Andy shrieked, clutching his belly with all four paws, rolling on the ground in agony, blood foam incessantly spilling from the corners of his mouth!
It seemed he was teetering on the brink of life and death!
Constantine's heart instantly lurched. At that moment, the two subordinates guarding him also rushed over, “What's wrong with the young master?”
Andy struggled agonizingly, gathering his last vestiges of strength to shout, “Adams, what was in the Tiger meat you brought?! Why did my stomach start hurting the moment I took a bite!?”
Adams!?
Constantine's expression flickered. He told himself, ‘Impossible. Adams wouldn't betray me. Even if he did, he wouldn't be foolish enough to use such a crude method, would he?’
No, Adams *was* a thick-headed brute to begin with...
Numerous thoughts flashed through Constantine's mind in an instant, but his heart was solely focused on Andy! Without hesitation, Constantine unleashed all his battle qi, employing the life-preserving Secret Technique of Mount Miglio, instantly protecting Andy's heart. As long as the poison didn't reach his heart, there would be no danger!
...
Late that night, at the Lord's Manor.
“With things at this stage, Constantine should be in utter disarray, his mind a tangled web of thoughts, also wondering about the loyalty of his subordinates! Crucially, his entire attention will be on Andy, all his battle qi channeled into protecting his seemingly poisoned son's life. At the same time, believing himself a Divine Dragon immune to dark poisons, he will surely pay no heed to the ‘Tiger meat’ he himself consumed!”
Pausing, Porter looked up, smiling at the much taller Brook. “Under these circumstances, you will launch a sudden attack from inside his belly! Extremely sudden, with fierce moves and unparalleled speed, using battle qi of the same rank as Constantine to strike his internal organs... Is this, then, perfect enough?”
Deboning curled his lip. “If even this isn't enough for me to succeed, then I'd have no face to return and see the young master!” He gave a sinister smile.
Porter took off his glasses, breathed on them, and carefully wiped them clean.
“Before arranging the next steps, Francis, you still haven't told me: regarding one of the Five Peaks of Myriad Streams, the head of the Five Great Divine Dragons, do you wish to capture him alive, or slay him?”
...
Just as he was fully focused on saving Andy, Constantine suddenly felt...
His own stomach began to ache!
“Damn it, could the Tiger meat Adams brought really be tainted? No, I am a Divine Dragon, immune to most poisons! What is this feeling? It's too dangerous!”
But the instincts of the Dragon Clan told Constantine: danger!
A Master of his own rank was ambushing him—a life-or-death crisis!
“Andy, beware! Protect the Young Master!” Constantine's head snapped up like lightning, and he let out a sky-shattering roar. The deafening sound waves solidified into several impenetrable barriers, shielding Andy. Simultaneously, the two remaining brothers moved, swiftly taking battle stances to his left and right!
However, these two brothers witnessed a sight they could not believe...
“Awoo...”
Constantine shrieked in agony, his arms shaking. His robes tore from his back as a pair of dark golden Dragon wings burst forth from his body! Then, his form shifted, transforming into a hundred-meter-long rampaging Divine Dragon, soaring into the sky!
And then... with a mournful cry, he plummeted headfirst!
Constantine was defeated! The head of the Five Great Divine Dragons, defeated without a single warning!
But what followed left them even more incredulous!
A beam of bloody light suddenly burst from the back of the falling Divine Dragon, crimson blood searing against the azure sky! Then, a golden flash. Just as they tried to discern what the golden light was, a cloud of black mist rose into the sky – Deboning's mist!
The mist was fleeting, yet with the mist, the golden light, and Constantine, everything vanished!
“Heavens, what just happened?! Did a god come to capture Third Master?”
The two brothers stared blankly at each other!
...
...
“You wish to capture Constantine alive? Very well!”
Porter put his glasses back on. “Then, Mr. Brook, please break Constantine's spine, cripple his Battle Soul, and then bring him back using the Lotus Sacred Artifact!”
Andy asked anxiously, “What about me? When do I return?”
Porter patted the Snow Wolf's head. “You cannot return with Mr. Brook. You have an even more important task!”
...
An even more important task! Andy silently recited Porter's instructions, though inwardly he grumbled, “Damn it, to make it look convincing, Lord Deboning really did poison me! Ow, now I'm genuinely spitting blood foam!”
Fortunately, before Constantine was captured, he used all his strength to heal me, already expelling the poison with his Divine Dragon's Secret Technique!
After a bout of wailing, seeing Balu and Adams and the others rush over to provide aid upon hearing the dragon's roar, Andy weakly struggled to his feet and roared at the two still-stunned brothers, “What are you gawking at?! Ow!”
He raised a paw, pointing at Adams flying in from the sky!
“Didn't you hear my father's last words?! Could the Tiger meat Adams brought back really have been poisoned?!”
The two brothers' expressions changed. “Big Brother Balu, seize Adams! Third Master has been captured! Adams might be compromised!”
Balu had already heard Andy's furious shouts. Appearing frantic, he bellowed, “Form ranks!”
“Me? I'm compromised?” Adams was utterly bewildered. “Young Master Andy, what in the world is happening!?”
“You damn well surrender now and explain yourself clearly!” Without Constantine, Andy was naturally the master of the group. He loudly barked orders, and it must be said, the noble Snow Wolf portrayed a young master, furious after losing his father and eager to flay a traitor alive, with astonishing realism!
“Damn it, I didn't do anything!?”
Adams, helpless, gritted his teeth, his survival instinct prompting him to turn and flee! Balu left two men to protect Andy and immediately led the pursuit. Andy, after cursing and urging them for a while, curled up, saying fearfully, “You, you quickly take me home! It's not safe here! Quickly take me back to my master's side! This is an order, Young Master Andy's order! Father isn't here, you must obey me!”
He shivered for a moment, then recalling Porter's instructions, hastily added, “Did you hear? Adams is compromised. We cannot return to Thornwood Valley as planned. We must turn back quickly! Once I'm with my master, you immediately return to Thornwood Valley and seek the First Boss's help to save my father!”
...
Days ago, inside the Lord's Manor, Porter folded up the map hanging on the wall and smiled at Andy. “This way, you can return. Understand?”
Andy's face was pale. “Good, so complicated. Let me think... You had me assign the simplest, quickest task to the dimmest among them, Adams, to frame him? To cause internal strife, and then I'd have an excuse to return!”
“Yes. And so, when your master goes to meet Constantine, he will appear as someone Constantine can completely trust, a genuinely good person who cares for you... Francis, don't look at me like that. I know you truly are such a good person, hehe!”
Porter stroked the soft fur on the back of Andy's head. “However, I also had another layer of meaning – making the battle occur outside of Lanning, days later, was also for this reason! Can you guess why?”
Andy thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up. “This way, the First Boss of Thornwood Valley will absolutely not suspect my master! He will... he will follow Adams's trail! He might suspect Adams of treason, or that someone impersonated Adams – perhaps his identical twin brother, Brockman... Oh, heavens, poor Brockman! Hehe, in any case, it has nothing to do with master!”
“Andy, you are quite intelligent, actually!” Porter chuckled.
Du Chen shrugged. “Everyone, let's begin! Porter, it's a good thing you're my Head Steward!”
“Merely exploiting a ‘father's’ love for his son!” Watching Du Chen depart, Porter pursed his lips, shrugging with a knowing smile.
A short while later, Du Chen returned. He settled comfortably into a chair, gazing at Porter with a smile. “Everything has begun. Sigh, do I not need to make a move this time?” He rubbed his nose. “I really am a bit too idle!”
“Too idle, you say?” Porter took a Harp from the wall. “If you have nothing to do, would you be interested in hearing me play a tune?”
Du Chen grinned mischievously, “Listen to a tune, and one of the Five Peaks of Myriad Streams, the head of the Divine Dragons, will be captured alive and brought back. What a comfortable life this is! Heh, if the one playing the Harp were a beauty, it would be even better!”
“Dream on!” Porter rolled his eyes at Du Chen, a wave of amusement rising in his heart.
Francis, as you wished...
In the underground secret chamber of Durkes City's Lord's Manor, a pleasant Harp melody began to play!