Chapter 151: For a Fee
Ren’s eyes opened. He was still on his knee there, William stood near him and watched. When William saw his eyes open, he expected it to be that the spider had taken over the body and now would continue the plan.
"Well, that was a doozy," Ren said as he stood and stretched.
William noticed at this point that something was wrong. He very quickly stepped back.
"It did not work," he muttered in disbelief.
"You expected it to?" Ren asked, looking at him with eyes that said it all.
William began backing up, every step putting him farther away from Ren. His eyes trembled and hands shook. "You... you are a monster."
"Did you think otherwise? I am your better, a dragon, a being you should always look up to."
As Ren spoke, an effect took place, intimidation, domination. It caused William to feel an unprecedented amount of fear.
Ren raised his hand and pointed at William. "I guess this is goodbye, William. It was a pleasure." As the words left Ren’s mouth, a purple sphere gathered in his palm. It grew in size and compressed, and then repeated multiple times.
William continued to back up, then he turned to run, but Ren unleashed the attack. The ball of energy ripped through the air and slammed into him. An explosion followed, a huge ball of flames that covered more than twenty meters and left a huge crater in the ground.
When the smoke cleared up, Ren did not see William anymore, but he also did not get any notification for killing William, so he knew that William was still alive and had somehow gotten away.
"Tch." Ren clicked his tongue before throwing his hands behind his head and walking out, throwing his legs in the air as he walked.
"I guess this situation has gotten to the level where I cannot keep taking it easy. We have to stop Ophelia before she does what she plans to," he spoke to himself as he walked, running the whole issue through his head. It had escalated a lot now.
He made his way back to the center of town where the others were. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Ren was still alive and okay.
Luan rushed over to him and grabbed his hand. Ezra came close. She looked at Luna on him and frowned, but she wiped it off a second later and then turned her attention to Ren.
"Master Ren, is everything done?" she asked.
"Pretty much. I managed to handle most of it. This town should be relatively safe now," he said and then turned to look at Liam.
"So what’s the step you have planned after this?"
"As much as I would love to handle this situation on my own and take all the glory for it when it’s done, it has gone beyond what I can do myself.
This is a kingdom-wide threat. Someone is trying to kill the entire kingdom by bringing infection.
I’ll have to report to higher authorities and prepare the kingdom for what is happening. I’ll also inform them of what you have done for us as a kingdom," he explained, making sure he said that last part so that Ren knew that he was no longer an enemy to them.
"Honestly, I do not care," Ren replied. Liam was stunned.
"Let me tell you how this will play out if things go well. The kingdom will choose to allow me to help or thank me for what I have done. But at the same time, they will be plotting on how to handle me.
"Do not forget I am a dragon that’s building a developed civilization, also a dragon that has killed quite a bit of humans and is now a forest lord, above all, a dragon that took one of the armaments.
It’s safe to say they will want me dead or captured. That being said, they can come at me and I’ll handle myself."
Liam understood all that Ren was saying, and he could see how all of it would be true. He took a deep breath. "Fine, I’ll keep your name under wraps."
"Still, do not care, and it would also be bad for you if you did that. Before you gather the needed resources to locate an infected, they may have spread farther than what you expect.
Luna and I are most likely your easiest and fastest way to find them. You can choose to keep it hidden and have to find a new way while people are dying, or you could ask us."
Ren said that and started walking away.
"Wait, you are confusing me. Do you want to be known or not?" Liam asked.
"Like I said before, I do not care at all," Ren replied.
"Well then, can you help us carry it out and ensure that no more people have to die?" he finally asked.
"Good, I am willing to help you very much, but it will not come free. The help will be under the name of Primordial Crimson, which is my organization, which means you have to pay us somehow," Ren said. He turned around and smiled, the kind of smile a salesman had when he caught a potential buyer.
Liam saw the change in expression and was taken aback. It was as if Ren had been manipulating him into this result.
"Fine, I’ll speak to the kingdom and see if they are willing to speak with him and have an agreement of some sort," Liam agreed to it.
"Good, then when you do, come find me. Lia can help you. My organization is open to you at any time as long as you come with the intention of peace and no war." Ren turned around after that and started walking away.
"Ren, wait," Liam called out to him again.
"Huh? What happened now?" Ren asked.
"Uhm, we kind of do not have a way to get back. So I was kind of wondering if you would."