Chapter 306
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 306
Chapter Title: The Meaning of Qualifications
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Rose wasn't the only one left stunned.
The majority of the Seven Dragon Society executives watching the meeting were all staring at Rimon in utter disbelief.
"Kyahahahahaha!"
But at least one person.
The silver-haired princess who was worlds away from rationality even in her clearest state of mind.
Ekaterina burst into roaring laughter.
And after rolling off her silver seat and laughing so hard she tumbled across the floor, she gasped for breath and asked,
"S-So, you're telling us to kill each other just to claim you? Until only one winner remains?"
"I've never said to kill each other until only one is left."
"It's still telling us to have a death match anyway!"
"......"
"Fine, I love it!"
Making Rimon's carefully worded response seem pointless, Ekaterina giggled.
Then, from her position rolling on the floor, she sprang up like a coiled spring and thrust her thumb high toward Rimon.
"Sword Duke! I'm starting to really like you for real."
Separate from the Dragon Psionic, she wanted to make him her consort no matter what it took.
Rimon said nothing more as he watched Ekaterina beam innocently.
He simply gazed at the Silver Dragon Princess spouting words befitting her clan, his golden eyes utterly unwavering.
"A death match......"
And another one.
The red-haired princess innately detached from rational judgment.
Hasneti took out a fresh cigarette, lit it with a snap of her fingers, and murmured softly.
"Not bad."
"......Hasneti, you're agreeing with Ekaterina too?"
"It's better than quibbling over shares in some pointless debate."
Rose groaned at Hasneti’s gravelly voice.
Because she knew.
Any other princess might hesitate,
but those two would absolutely spark a civil war within the Seven Dragon Society.
That would be fortunate, relatively speaking.
It might even escalate beyond a world war,
into a massacre where the princesses slaughtered each other.
'Li Chingwei, what are you thinking?'
That was why Rose turned to Li Chingwei.
They had tolerated Rimon's Dragon Psionic precisely to prevent such a worst-case scenario.
She couldn't fathom why they were now stoking conflict instead.
'Looking at me won't help. This isn't a plan I devised.'
Li Chingwei replied with a wry smile.
Seeing that subtle reaction, Rose turned to Rimon with a gasp—and groaned again, this time for an entirely different reason.
Whether they waged war on each other,
or carried out a death match,
it was all just their way of proving their qualifications.
Rimon watched the two rampaging princesses without so much as twitching an eyebrow, his chin resting on his hand atop the steel chair.
Only after seeing those serene golden eyes did she realize.
This wasn't Li Chingwei's scheme—it was entirely Rimon's plan and decision.
"Quite the entertaining tale."
Perhaps realizing the same thing,
Charlotte wore a deep, intrigued smile.
If it had been Li Chingwei's plot, she would have scoffed and crushed it outright. But Rimon's proposal intrigued her in many ways.
However, to even consider it, one thing needed confirmation.
"Sword Duke, one final question."
"What is it?"
"If I hand over half of the Seven Dragon Society's shares, can you guarantee you'll become my consort without resistance?"
"I swear it on my sword."
"And if that's not enough?"
An insultingly provocative question for a Sword Master.
But Charlotte didn't care.
Handing over one clan's shares was worlds apart from ceding half of the entire Seven Dragon Society's holdings.
It was enough to make even a Sword Master suspect he might break his oath.
Thus, Rimon didn't get angry.
He simply answered calmly.
"My former master over there can vouch for that."
"......Former master?"
"She can testify that I have a means to force me into upholding any contract, as long as the price is fair."
Charlotte's expression turned peculiar, more at the odd title than the content.
Receiving her gaze, Maia sneered coldly.
"You can trust it. I've tested it myself."
The power of the scales Rimon possessed.
Its basic principles and coercive force.
Even that she had once used it to impose unreasonable commands on him.
Hearing Maia's matter-of-fact testimony, Charlotte looked even more intrigued, while Ekaterina's eyes sparkled.
Especially at the part about treating him as a slave.
"Indeed. I might doubt Li Chingwei, but your word carries weight."
"......Even I wouldn't perjure myself at the Seven Dragon Society."
Charlotte neatly ignored Li Chingwei's protest.
She merely nodded.
"Then, very well."
What exactly was "very well"?
She didn't elaborate.
Instead, she locked eyes with Rimon's golden gaze and spoke softly.
"Ekaterina, Hasneti, Einsha, Rose, Maia."
"Yes, Teacher! Ekaterina's right here. But why call us?"
"Transfer your controlling shares to me immediately."
"......Pardon?"
Ekaterina blinked dumbly, her earlier playfulness forgotten.
Charlotte smiled seductively and explained.
"Isn't it basic to pool funds and tech for ventures too big for one?"
"You're saying form a consortium for the Sword Duke?"
"Think of it as investment. Including Leviathan's shares, 49% each would suffice."
Rose's face twisted oddly.
In a normal business, Charlotte's proposal made perfect sense.
The Seven Dragon Group had conquered the world precisely by collaborating when needed.
The problem was this consortium differed vastly from past ones.
"You take the Sword Duke, and we just foot the bill?"
"What? That's total dictatorship! Boo!"
At Maia's sarcasm, Ekaterina raised her fist, chanting for the dictator to step down.
And Hasneti glared at Charlotte with blood-red eyes.
"Charlotte, no reason to let only you benefit."
The reactions were fiercely intense.
But understandable.
The dragons' revival was every clan's deepest wish.
They had tried to punish Li Chingwei just for monopolizing the chance—there was no way they'd yield Rimon to Charlotte easily.
"No need for concern."
But even under their murderous glares, Charlotte remained unfazed.
She continued proudly,
"Should I secure the Sword Duke, I swear on my name to grant you all satisfying opportunities."
Lend Rimon in turn.
Hold a tournament, awarding him to the victor.
Or offer Dragon Psionic access 'fairly,' proportional to investment.
Rose couldn't hide her incredulous expression at Charlotte's brazen nonsense.
"......You're saying you won't monopolize the Sword Duke? You, Charlotte?"
Any other princess, maybe.
But among all Seven Dragon Society princesses, the greediest Charlotte yielding a shot at the Dragon Psionic?
Unbelievable.
"Didn't the Sword Duke tell us? Prove our own worth."
"That's for proving bride qualifications. Unrelated to this proposal."
"Don't you see? It's not just about being a mere bride."
Charlotte chuckled.
Then continued in a languid tone.
"He's demanding we prove if we're truly qualified to revive the dragons with him—and seize world hegemony together."
"......!"
Far from shaken,
Rimon let out a soft scoff.
As if she'd obviously realized this much.
Under his gaze, Charlotte pressed on with a deep smile.
"That's why he demands over half the Seven Dragon Society's shares."
Cooperate with others,
or dominate by force.
Gather the shares and show him.
Prove you have the vessel to lead the fractious seven clans and rule the world.
Above all, convince him through actions—not words—that you can build the dragons' ideal utopia.
Then he'll decide how to treat you.
Some princesses had suspected as much.
But hearing Charlotte voice his true intent confirmed it. Rose asked hoarsely,
"So you're proving your own qualifications by abandoning your monopoly?"
"Precisely."
"......But if so, don't you need the Sword Duke's consent to share the Dragon Psionic?"
"Conversely, his consent is all it takes."
Persuade him.
Seduce him.
Bargain or threaten.
She'd obtain it somehow.
Arrogantly declaring this, Charlotte turned back to Rimon and continued.
"This too is something we must achieve to prove our worth. Isn't that right?"
If taming her desires was the price for Rimon, she'd suppress even the monopolistic greed inherited with the dragon's pure blood.
Watching the princess declare this, treating herself as the prize to test the Seven Dragon Society's worth,
the man replied calmly.
"If you can't even convince me, you might make me your consort—but becoming my bride would be impossible."
"Hmmm......"
"......"
Ekaterina narrowed her eyes at Rimon, while Hasneti fell silent.
Through this exchange, they grasped that war—their preferred method—wouldn't convince Rimon, no matter the shares seized.
Turning to them and the others, Charlotte asked softly,
"What say you? I've surely explained why I should hold your shares."
"......I get it, okay? But why assume you're our rep for proving qualifications?"
"An obvious question."
Charlotte snorted.
Then, legs crossed, she declared with utmost haughtiness.
"If I can't prove it, no one else could anyway."
"Ugh, so obnoxious......"
"Care to argue?"
"I'd love to say yes, but damn, you're not wrong, which makes it worse."
Ekaterina grumbled.
Regardless, Charlotte was the Gold Dragon Princess.
The strongest in the Seven Dragon Society and the only one fit to represent all clans.
The prophetic but weak White Dragon Clan.
The brilliant but mad Silver Dragon Clan.
The mighty but battle-obsessed Red Dragon Clan.
The just but uncompromising Blue Dragon Clan.
The thorough but narrow-minded Green Dragon Clan.
The clever but untrustworthy Black Dragon Clan.
The other clans had glaring flaws preventing them from leading.
Even Ekaterina supported war partly because it was the only way to consolidate shares otherwise.
But if they failed to prove their worth to Rimon?
If he interfered with their grand ambitions?
After war halved the Society, the remnants couldn't control him.
That might be fun, but even Ekaterina couldn't prioritize amusement over the dragons' revival.
That was why
she reluctantly decided.
"Fine, screw it. I delegate 49% of Bahamut shares and 7% of Leviathan! But don't forget—you owe me Sword Duke time proportional to that!"
"Worry not. False promises aren't in our clan's dictionary."
Charlotte answered calmly and turned to Hasneti.
Under that silent urging, Hasneti bit down hard on her cigarette.
Then rasped,
"One condition."
"What is it?"
"Let me decide the Dragon Psionic distribution. Then I entrust 100% of Apophis shares and 7% of Leviathan to you."
"Oh? All shares?"
"Didn't you say money can be remade?"
"True enough."
The girl in military uniform behind her looked faint,
but Hasneti handed over the shares without hesitation.
And Charlotte accepted gladly.
She knew exactly what distribution Hasneti would propose anyway.
Now her holdings exceeded 38% of the Seven Dragon Society.
Just one or two more clans, and she'd meet Rimon's 51% threshold.
Thus, Charlotte turned sideways.
"Your turn to decide."
The woman silent with a stern face.
Too rigid to ever betray the Seven Dragon Society.
Thus, her answer was predetermined. Charlotte softly called the blue-haired princess.
"Rose."