Chapter 297
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Why Should I?
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Seven Dragon Conclave.
Its origins stretched back to time immemorial.
All the way to the Bronze Age.
Just as the Seven Dragon Society of today operated with each clan going its own way, the seven dragons who ruled the Bronze Age were much the same—each acting independently.
No, in a sense, it was even more pronounced.
They were like America, China, and Britain—different nations.
Having dominated separate continents, they were rivals before they were kin.
But the seven dragons were not so foolish as to engage in reckless competition.
Thus, they established a means to cooperate.
A gathering where the seven dragons would convene in one place to hash out their differences whenever a major issue arose.
That was the Seven Dragon Society's grandest event: the Seven Dragon Conclave.
Even after the Bronze Age ended, this tradition was passed down through the generations in the Seven Dragon Society.
Nearly a thousand years had passed, and it was largely thanks to the Conclave that the Society remained tied together, even if only nominally, as a single organization.
All princesses were obligated to attend the Seven Dragon Conclave, of course.
And the decisions made there were absolute, not to be defied.
For even a princess, ignoring the authority of the Conclave—established by the seven dragons themselves—was akin to sacrilege.
As such, every time the Conclave was held, it shook the world.
The Seven Dragon Society's uprising that rocked Asia.
The birth of the Seven Dragon Group.
The establishment of the World Peace Plan, and more.
All those grand schemes had been decided at the Conclave.
However, after the Iron Age dawned, the Conclave's significance had somewhat changed.
With the dragons taking human form, business coordination became necessary.
And to maintain the World Peace Plan, meetings were held every few months, turning it into something of a regular event.
In recent years, it had even become a mere formality, often replaced by video calls.
But at this very moment.
In the space beneath Hotel Leviathan.
In the vast inverted-pyramid underground dragon palace, the true Seven Dragon Conclave was being held for the first time in nearly thirty years.
The hall at the lowest level of the underground dragon palace.
Arranged around a round table were seats of gold, silver, ruby, sapphire, emerald, white jade, and obsidian, lined up in a row.
It was the pinnacle of opulence.
A lavish display of unsparing wealth.
Yet even those seats paled in comparison to the figures seated in them.
Fafnir, ruler of finance.
Bahamut, sovereign of technology and manufacturing.
Jörmungandr, lord of logistics and transport.
Quetzalcoatl, mistress of medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Tiamat, queen of culture and the arts.
Apophis, emperor of grains and energy.
And Leviathan, empress of hotels and services.
These seven princesses—apex figures of the Seven Dragon Group, which controlled all the world's wealth—occupied each seat.
The mere fact that they had gathered here, each possessing fortunes surpassing even the Golden Lord, was astonishing in itself.
But at this moment, no one viewed the assembly as a mere business affair.
Behind each princess stood their clan's mightiest warriors—the Seven Dragon Guard.
Martial artists, sorcerers, knights, apothecaries, warriors, fighters, gunners.
They emanated psionic energy, ready to fight at any instant.
Above all, the taut tension permeating the air made it clear:
These women were here first and foremost as princesses of the Seven Dragon Society, not as corporate chairwomen.
Was it the weight of the atmosphere?
Or the gravity of the matters to discuss?
More than ten minutes had passed since the meeting began.
The silence was so profound that the drop of a pin would echo.
Then, a calm voice broke it.
"It's been a while since we've all seen each other in person."
A smiling face, beaming cheerfully.
And a casual tone to match.
Li Chingwei's demeanor was so natural, she seemed like she was greeting old friends she hadn't met in ages.
But no one responded.
There was no fool who would indulge her—the very cause of this Conclave.
"Indeed. It's been quite some time."
...Except there was one.
As if they hadn't met since the last Conclave.
Li Chingwei smiled faintly at the white-haired girl who emphasized the point despite her expressionless face.
She had caught on to Ainsha's intent.
It wasn't a bad choice.
In this situation, pretending ignorance and staying neutral as a third party was best for everyone.
The problem was how direct the method was.
'It would've been better if she'd just stayed quiet.'
Li Chingwei thought to herself.
It seemed even Ainsha hadn't foreseen how this meeting would unfold.
If she had properly divined it, she would've known someone would call her out.
"A long time?"
A silver-haired girl tilted her head quizzically.
Just like Ekaterina.
"Ainsha, you met Li Chingwei just recently, didn't you? So why say it's been ages?"
"I have not met her recently. Do not nitpick."
"Did I get it wrong?"
"Of course."
She must have prepared for this.
Ainsha answered without hesitation.
Her signature blank face paired with her rare blunt tone—a perfect poker face.
Tata, watching from behind, was inwardly impressed by the masterful response.
"Hmm, that's unexpected. I figured you'd met her at that violinist's concert not long ago."
"...!"
"Plus, I heard rumors you were dating someone, even preparing to marry. I wondered if you'd cut in line ahead of us."
...Until Ekaterina's playful jab made her eyes widen in shock.
"I'm innocent. It's a false accusation. I plead not guilty."
That she could sound so desperately defensive in her usual curt voice was a talent in itself.
It even made Rose, listening in, want to cover her face.
"Oh, really? Guess I got it wrong then."
But Ekaterina didn't call out the absurd excuse.
As if apologetic for the misunderstanding.
She clapped her palms together in a sorry gesture, then continued teasingly.
"Well, I don't get it, but if you say so, I'll believe you. We're not Black Dragon Clan, after all."
"...Yes. Trust is important."
"But if it turns out to be a lie after I go out of my way to believe you, I'll be so hurt I'll get mad. Not that it'd happen between us, right?"
"... ."
Under the premise that she wouldn't trust Li Chingwei's word.
Ainsha's eyes darted as Ekaterina warned her to brace for consequences if she contradicted later.
Words delivered lightly, like a joke.
But Ainsha knew they were 100% sincere.
Unsure how to respond.
Unable to find an answer, Ainsha subtly glanced around, sending out a plea for help.
'Tata, I need assistance.'
'You can do it, Princess. Tata believes in you.'
'...Li Chingwei, save me.'
'Sorry, but I'm barely hanging on myself right now.'
Unfortunately, no one heeded Ainsha's SOS.
For anyone else, interrupting the Silver Dragon Princess mid-Conclave would require steeling oneself—even for another princess.
"Enough idle chatter."
One exception.
Too arrogant to care for others' opinions.
The Golden Princess, who sat with legs crossed confidently and addressed the others condescendingly.
"It's not idle. It's important to me."
"Save your jests for later. My time is not so cheap to indulge your foul hobby."
"Foul hobby? That's harsh."
Only Ekaterina could grumble back at her like that.
For the Silver Dragon Princess was the only one who could match the Golden Dragon Princess, long hailed as the mightiest in the Society's history.
Ignoring Ekaterina's complaint.
Charlotte slowly turned her head.
With eyes radiant as the sun, she fixed Li Chingwei in her gaze and asked in a haughty voice.
"Li Chingwei, have you any excuses?"
"Excuses for what?"
"For you and your clan knowing Sword Duke Rimon Asfelder's secret yet concealing it."
As if she didn't understand.
Li Chingwei innocently countered, and Charlotte continued in a languid tone.
"And for deceiving us to forge a marriage pact with the Sword Duke, seeking to monopolize the eighth dragon psionic alone."
At that moment.
The air grew heavy.
Not just the other princesses, but even the Seven Dragon Guard elites standing silently behind.
All focused their awareness on Li Chingwei as immense psionic pressure crushed the air.
It was only natural.
That was the core of the letter Charlotte had sent the other princesses.
The reason for summoning the Conclave to condemn Li Chingwei—and if proven true, a scandal that could upend the entire Seven Dragon Society.
'What will you do, Li Chingwei?'
Thus, Rose worried.
How would Li Chingwei navigate this?
'I wonder how she'll excuse herself?'
And Ekaterina smirked.
Looking forward to poking holes in whatever answer came, cornering her.
The others watched too: Ainsha anxious behind her mask, Maya with a cold sneer, Hasneti silent with a cigarette in her mouth.
As all the princesses observed her with their own thoughts.
"Sorry, but I still don't get it."
As if she'd heard something absurd.
Li Chingwei tilted her head.
"Why should I have to explain that?"
"... ."
Perhaps because no one expected such brazenness.
The other princesses stared in disbelief or with sharpened glares.
But Charlotte merely smiled.
As if genuinely intrigued.
And asked.
"Are you denying that the Sword Duke possesses the eighth dragon psionic?"
"No. He definitely has it."
Ekaterina blinked at the unexpectedly straightforward affirmation, the brazenness from before replaced by crisp honesty, and Hasneti bit down on her cigarette.
Charlotte's smile deepened.
"Then you'll claim you didn't know?"
"It's true I didn't know from the start, but I have no intention of proving it."
"Since no one would believe you anyway, sparing us the pointless waste of time... How very like you."
A girl who deceived everyone.
Trusting no one.
And seeking no one's trust.
Smiling at Li Chingwei, Charlotte asked as if truly curious.
"So, how does that make it a reason for us to forgive you?"
"There's no reason for that."
"No reason?"
"Because I haven't done anything that requires your forgiveness."
Even Charlotte narrowed her eyes at the nonchalant reply.
Li Chingwei turned her head.
"On the contrary, I have a question of my own."
With eyes dark and sunken like obsidian.
She looked at Charlotte, then Ekaterina, Hasneti, Maya, Rose, and Ainsha.
One by one.
Then, smiling faintly, she asked.
"Why shouldn't I monopolize the eighth dragon psionic?"