My Strange Savior - Chapter 141

Chapter 141

“I will deliver it after confirming.”

The security guard, suspecting the possible presence of a secretly sealed letter, raised an eyebrow, held a bead with a dubious expression, and disappeared. 

It was somewhat absurd, like the emperor’s whims. The air was filled with suspicion.

He’ll have to discuss what kind of alchemy was inscribed. The letters were bound to be scrutinized.

Gregory, with an anxious nod, forcibly focused his gaze on the heart in front of him.

Mana flowed as if alive, and the heartbeat incessantly. There was no mention of this in the journal. How could this be possible? The founder of alchemy, wouldn’t have omitted such a record.

What could be wrong?

There was no alchemist around to ask. He could only rely on the alchemical records passed down through generations. Moreover, documents related to dragons were woefully scarce.

A deep sigh escaped Gregory’s lips.

What would he do if he resented the emperor who had captured and killed all the master’s disciples? All his fellow students were executed.

Looking at himself practicing alchemy under such an emperor, a sense of unease overwhelmed him.

“Ah…”

Gregory squeezed his lungs and exhaled. It seemed that this stuffiness wouldn’t go away unless he did so.

“They… said he’s lying down due to illness. He’s bitten people around him, too.”

Even though Gregory was confined to the laboratory, it didn’t mean he was completely unaware of external affairs. He had to report to the emperor once a day. However, for some reason, the report was suspended after the hunting competition because the emperor’s health wasn’t good.

His Grandfather also stayed in the palace, but it was hard to see his face. Whether the emperor’s illness was serious or the movements of those aiming for the throne were getting busy, was unclear.

His Grandfather, along with the duke, was searching for the next emperor. Among them, it seemed that the fifth prince, who didn’t resemble his father the most and was neglected in the rankings due to weak support from relatives, was working quietly behind the scenes.

“Politics is not my field…”

Gregory could only believe that the duke and his grandfather Oscar saw people properly.

Gregory shook his long hair as if clearing the complex thoughts in his mind.

“Let’s focus on the problem at hand.”

Gregory pressed his wrinkled forehead with his fingers.

At the height of his concentration on research, the door opened with a bang. Startled, Gregory stood up.

“What’s this…”

Gregory’s sharp eyes glinted behind his glasses.

He had said not to be disturbed during experiments. Gregory, filled with irritation, approached with heavy steps.

“What’s going on… Gran- Grandfather.”

Gregory’s eyes widened as he stood on the railing of this floor. Oscar’s face, already covered in blood, showed signs of abuse by the emperor’s guards. Checking his grandfather, Gregory rushed down the stairs like a rolling stone.

“What is this nonsense?”

Gregory approached Oscar, chewing his frustration. The emotionless guards dropped Oscar to the ground as if he were a piece of luggage. Gregory startled, caught the falling body in his arms, appalled by the treatment his grandfather received.

“Greg… Greg…”

“Grandfather.”

Oscar’s breath was rough as if it could be cut off at any moment. Surprised, Gregory held Oscar in his arms and patted him with an angry voice.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

“Why don’t you ask him to explain?”

The emperor, who came with knights and attendants, stood in front of the collapsed Oscar and Gregory. Despite the deepening illness, the emperor seemed more energetic than ever. Whether it was due to alchemy or some other reason, the emperor looked younger than he remembered.

Seeing the emperor, Gregory widened his eyes. The emperor frowned as if belittling Gregory for being speechless in this bizarre situation.

“You’ll understand when you see His Majesty’s condition.”

“What do you mean?”

“You and even the dragon’s heart are no longer needed.”

What in the world is happening? Gregory’s eyes darted around.

“Confine them.”

As the emperor’s command fell, his guards surrounded Gregory and Oscar.

“What do you intend to do with us?”

The tense face of Gregory, who was surrounded, was closely observed by the emperor, who smiled as if dismissing him.

“Well, that… You’ll find out when the day comes.”

Watching Oscar and Gregory being cornered as if they were helpless, the emperor turned away.

“Shall we look for it?”

The emperor, now lighter than ever, rolled his steps to this floor. When he opened the frontmost door, a dragon’s heart was neatly placed on the experimental table.

“This is it…”

The emperor’s eyes, fulfilling Morrison’s command to bring him the dragon’s heart, gleamed with delight.

The emperor, who had been pretending to obey Morrison, now seemed to be planning something. His eyes, which flickered as if scheming something, roamed around.

“I wonder what will happen if I bring this to him.”

A sigh escaped from the emperor’s throat. Morrison’s intentions were not yet clear, whether he was interested in power or not. What Morrison currently desired were only two things: the dragon’s heart and the life of Yu Gia, who had come from the same world as him.

The emperor, gazing at the beating dragon’s heart, touched his chin.

As if reading his mind, Morrison promised that if he gave him only that, he would not only grant him eternal life but also unparalleled power.

Though he wasn’t entirely naive to believe him, the emperor had no other choice. Morrison was someone who could take away his life with just a flick of his finger.

Smirking at the incredulous emperor, Morrison laughed. Each time his smile deepened, the emperor’s abdomen trembled, and his organs surged.

As he recalled the palm that seemed ready to tear apart any moment, his bones strengthened.

The emperor’s cry quivered.

“It can’t be helped.”

The reason he didn’t deal with Gregory and Oscar immediately was in case there might be some use for them later. He couldn’t just execute all the alchemists who didn’t comply with his will. It was somewhat regrettable, so this time, he made a different choice.

As Oscar was a hostage, Gregory wouldn’t move easily either. The calculating emperor grasped the heart in both hands.

As he looked at the heart jumping around in his palm, his eyes narrowed.

“What on earth does he intend to do with this?”

Thinking of Morrison, the emperor pulled back his chin and made a disgusted expression.

Naturally, the grotesque figure that could hardly be considered human hovered in his mind. The man, covered in crimson veins, looked oddly abnormal, making it impossible to guess his age. His skin was both firm and saggy, like that of an 80-year-old man. The bald patch on his head reflected the light with a white sheen.

His smiling face was utterly sinister. What is he planning? As the emperor guessed his intentions, he descended slowly.

The attendant beside him approached, opening the lid of the box he held.

“Confine the two separately. Understood?”

“Yes.”

The attendant, aware of the situation with Gregory and Oscar, politely nodded.

“Handle them as I mentioned earlier.”

“Yes, understood.”

Swish. Passing by the attendant, the emperor swiftly left the room, holding the box containing the heart.

Confirming the emperor’s departure, the attendant gestured to the other attendants.

“Everyone, to your positions.”

“Yes.”

The attendants replied in unison, bustling around the mansion. Each of them carried a large white container.

Splash, splash.

The liquid pouring from inside thoroughly covered the mansion.

The scent of oil brushing against the nose made the attendant cover his nose with his sleeve.

“It’s done.”

“Have you checked outside as well?”

“Yes.”

Claiming to have become the chamberlain, the attendant bit everyone. Alone in the mansion after those who swiftly escaped, the chamberlain rummaged through the rooms.

The dragon’s carcass was also smeared with oil without exception. The chamberlain, without hesitation, threw small red pellets onto the rough skin.

Mana stones infused with the power of fire left the chamberlain’s hand and scattered throughout the house.

Confirming that the tiny pellets were in place, the chamberlain hurriedly exited the mansion.

The knight beside him, upon confirming the chamberlain’s signal, ignited the end of the arrow.

Sizzle.

The arrowhead, soaked in oil, instantly ignited, rising with bright red flames.

With the chamberlain’s signal, the flaming arrow drew an arc and fell onto the wide-open entrance of the mansion.

Boom.

An unprecedented explosion echoed consecutively as the mansion was engulfed in flames.

* * *

Arriving in the capital, Gia and Kalion promptly headed towards the family mansion. 

The news of a massive explosion at the imperial palace had spread as soon as they entered the capital. It was such a tremendous explosion that no one in the capital remained unaware.

What could have happened to the dragon’s heart, which might become the only weapon against Morrison? 

Moreover, what about Gregory? Gia felt a surge of worry.

Upon entering the Duke’s residence, the Duke hurriedly sought out Kalion and Gia.

As soon as Gia and Kalion entered the study, still filled with the fragrance of alcohol, the Duke urgently asked.

“What happened?”

“You’ve heard the news too, haven’t you?”

As Kalion took his seat, he quickly asked the Duke to confirm the facts.

It was indeed true that the laboratory had exploded. Unable to believe it, Kalion’s eyes widened with disbelief.

He waited with bated breath for the Duke’s next words.

“It seems there was an accident during Gregory’s process of refining the dragon’s heart.”

The Duke also seemed troubled by this perplexing news, rubbing his forehead with his finger, lost in thought. 

“If that’s the case…”

Gulp.

A dry sound echoed in Kalion’s parched mouth. What if the dragon’s heart was flawed? The ominous thought made Kalion clench the leather of the sofa as if to wring it out.

“Fortunately, it seems the dragon’s heart is intact, according to the story relayed by the emperor. It appears Gregory is unharmed as well. However, the more pressing matter now is Shannon’s condition.”

“The mentor?”

Kalion and Gia’s anxious eyes met at the mention of Oscar’s troubles.