Chapter 298
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: Spit It Out Again
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‘Li Chingwei, you…!’
Was it because she’d heard something so utterly absurd?
In the midst of everyone’s silence…
Rose groaned inwardly.
Why had she so readily accepted all the facts—and what did she plan to do next?
She’d finally realized it.
‘Planning to flip the board?’
And Rose wasn’t the only one who’d grasped Li Chingwei’s intentions.
“Why can’t you monopolize the eighth Dragon Psionic… What an amusing point.”
They hadn’t expected her to surrender meekly, but no one had anticipated it going this far.
After a brief chuckle…
Charlotte leaned obliquely against the armrest.
And, as if watching a comedy, she propped her chin on one hand and gazed at Li Chingwei.
“If it weren’t the key to fulfilling our Seven Dragon Society’s long-cherished wish, I might’ve rewarded that audacity by granting it to you.”
“Charlotte, watch your words.”
Watching Charlotte like that…
Li Chingwei smiled brightly.
Bestowing meant giving away what was yours.
By phrasing it that way, she’d unconsciously revealed her possessiveness over the eighth Dragon Psionic.
Li Chingwei added lightly.
“The eighth Dragon Psionic isn’t yours.”
“It’s no one’s here.”
“You picked it up off the street, so you claim ownership too?”
“At least I never stole it from any of you.”
The eighth Dragon Psionic was merely the Seven Dragon Society’s aspiration from the start.
Not their property.
So finding it first and hiding it wasn’t wrong, and monopolizing it gave no cause for blame.
Li Chingwei declared, placing one hand over her chest.
“From the beginning, if anyone among us could claim ownership, it’d only be me.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m qualified. A qualification you all directly acknowledged and granted me—including you, Charlotte.”
“I never granted you such a thing.”
“No, you did.”
Li Chingwei smiled gently.
Light and soft, as always.
Yet with an irresistibly seductive smile.
“Forgot already?”
Meeting Charlotte’s golden eyes head-on, she continued.
“The Leviathan shares you all hold—that’s proof you sold me that qualification.”
At that moment.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
The other princesses hardened their expressions.
They’d finally realized what qualification she meant.
The world peace plan proposed by the previous Black Dragon Princess to bring down Rimon.
To sustain it—nearly abandoned due to massive losses—Li Chingwei had sold off nearly half her Leviathan stake.
The sole reward for that mad act?
“…The right to make first contact with the Sword Duke.”
Ekaterina murmured as if amused, and Li Chingwei smiled as if confirming.
“Exactly. The sole privilege granted to me alone among all seven clans’ princesses since the Iron Age dawned.”
The princesses fell silent.
It wasn’t some grand authority.
Merely a safeguard against anyone rashly provoking Rimon out of petty grudge.
In fact, it was why Rimon hadn’t tangled with the Seven Dragon Society directly for decades.
Back then, the other princesses had thought:
It’d be used for revenge on Rimon.
That Li Chingwei, blinded by vengeance, had foolishly sacrificed over half her clan.
No one imagined Rimon held a Dragon Psionic—or that she’d use the right to betroth him.
“A distortion.”
Thus, Charlotte pointed out.
What they’d granted was contact rights—not monopoly over the Dragon Psionic.
“Fair point.”
Li Chingwei countered.
What separated the right to first contact with a treasure from the right to monopolize it?
“That’s called fraud.”
“If buying treasures cheaply because only you know their worth is fraud, then we’re all fraudsters.”
“…”
She’d stood by the Black Dragon Clan’s fall for that flimsy qualification and reaped huge gains.
Now outraged that Rimon’s value had skyrocketed, claiming she’d tricked them to hoard the profit alone—was that just?
Li Chingwei asked with a smile.
Even Charlotte couldn’t answer this time.
The haughtiest of the Seven Dragon Society couldn’t spout empty lies.
“Conceding a hundred times, suppose I hadn’t hidden it and told everyone.”
But Li Chingwei didn’t stop.
As if Charlotte’s hesitation was her sole chance.
She presented a sharp rebuttal in a calm, steady voice.
“What then?”
“Would we have divided it fairly?”
“Regrettably, you know better than anyone that’s impossible, Charlotte.”
If it were divisible like money…
They might’ve found compromise.
But only Rimon held the eighth Dragon Psionic—and likely would forever.
Thus, Li Chingwei asserted confidently.
“The only outcome you’d accept is me delivering it to you intact.”
If she hadn’t monopolized it, Charlotte would’ve anyway.
Li Chingwei was certain.
She was the greediest princess in the Society.
And it wasn’t just Charlotte.
“Ahaha! Indeed, spot on.”
“…Ekaterina.”
“Why? It’s true. You, me—if we’d found the eighth Dragon Psionic first, we’d have monopolized it.”
Ekaterina giggled in agreement.
Then turned.
“Same for the others.”
The others flinched.
Stoic Aynsha.
Composed Rose.
Sneering Maya.
None could refute Ekaterina’s jab—or they just sneered back.
After learning of the eighth Dragon Psionic…
Their own secrecy proved her words.
“…Petty nonsense.”
But one.
The red-haired princess who’d stayed silent.
Hasneti crushed her cigarette without hesitation.
“Regardless, it’s for the Seven Dragon Council to decide. Hiding it is betrayal.”
Whether acknowledging her qualification.
Or negotiating over years.
Even dueling for ownership or warring till one clan remained.
It required discussion—and solo monopoly demanded fitting punishment.
With a raspy voice and blood-red eyes fixed on Li Chingwei.
“Yeah, agreed. Understanding the circumstances doesn’t justify it.”
“…”
“But wait, the Seven Dragon Society’s punishment for traitors… Oh? Isn’t there just one?”
Cheerfully agreeing, then tilting her head as if just recalling.
Ekaterina looked at Li Chingwei regretfully.
“Li Chingwei, you’ll have to die after all.”
Charlotte, chin propped, glanced at Ekaterina and Hasneti.
Confirming the clear killing intent in their eyes, she smirked and turned her golden gaze back to Li Chingwei.
“At least three of us have no patience for your sophistry.”
Hearing that…
Rose quietly closed her eyes.
‘In the end.’
Instead of flimsy excuses, Li Chingwei claimed legitimate monopoly rights.
A desperate bid to overturn the situation.
And her argument held minimal logic.
That was the problem.
At any other time, maybe.
But the princesses, furious over the eighth Dragon Psionic, couldn’t be swayed by logic alone.
Why Rose couldn’t intervene.
Like Aynsha’s grilling over one misspoken word.
Her defense would only stoke their rage.
Even she’d have, without London and her prior talk with Li Chingwei.
Thus, the next moment.
Rose was stunned.
“But I’ll concede your words hold some persuasive power.”
“…?”
“So I’ll give you a chance.”
So unexpected.
Aynsha blinked blankly.
Maya raised a brow.
Li Chingwei asked calmly.
“What chance?”
“Hand over the eighth Dragon Psionic now and beg forgiveness. Then I’ll let the Black Dragon Clan’s line continue.”
“Oh? Not killing her?”
“Even if we kill you, we should allow an heir. Though we’ll select the consort.”
“Hmm. No real need, but… if Charlotte insists.”
Ekaterina sounded reluctant but didn’t object; Hasneti stayed silent.
With tacit approval from the others, Charlotte pressed Li Chingwei.
“Well? What’ll it be?”
Like a king asking a routed enemy general before execution: join me and live?
Gazing haughtily at Charlotte briefly…
Li Chingwei asked calmly.
“One thing I’d like to confirm.”
“What?”
“If you kill me here, what then with the eighth Dragon Psionic?”
“We’ll use it for our Seven Dragon Society’s wish, of course.”
“Not easy, is it?”
“Irrelevant.”
As if too obvious to ponder.
Charlotte answered instantly.
Then continued in a languid tone.
“If he won’t cooperate willingly, we’ll force him.”
“Agreed. Wonder if that Sword Duke can keep blustering after chopping limbs and light brain torture.”
“Nonsense. We can’t ruin such a valuable asset like that.”
“Then what?”
“Chain him and raise him like a pet?”
“Ah, taming a Sword Master like a dog does sound fun.”
Genuinely eager.
Ekaterina readily agreed with Charlotte.
Hasneti didn’t voice it, but her stance was obvious.
The Red Dragon Clan never shunned blood or battle.
Glancing at the three in turn.
Noting the others’ stiff faces, clenched fists, sneers…
Li Chingwei replied.
[No more mercy.]
No—she tried to.
…If not for a low voice suddenly echoing from somewhere.
Boom!
Right after.
The Subterranean Dragon Palace’s ceiling shattered.
Amid steel and concrete debris smashing the round table into the floor.
Landing squarely among them, astride the wreckage: one man.
“Try spouting it again.”
As expected of each clan’s strongest enforcers.
Before debris fell…
The Seven Dragon Guards blocked the princesses like lightning.
Even as table shards turned to dust and piled on the ground…
He stared straight at unflinching Charlotte with sunset-still golden eyes.
Asking.
“Who’re you giving what chance to?”
“…Eavesdropping? Beneath your reputation—such pettiness.”
Faded white hair gleaming clean.
Scar by one eye.
Sword at his waist.
Unmistakable to any Seven Dragon Society princess, she met his sun-brilliant golden eyes.
Charlotte smiled.
Not just from the sudden twist.
The moment he appeared.
Filling the palace.
Seeping into instinct, not nose.
Stirring her greed—a dizzyingly deep, subtle scent.
She’d anticipated it.
But this temptation, far beyond imagination, thrilled her instinctively.
With ecstatic smile.
Charlotte called.
“Sword Duke.”