The First Magic World War

Anne slept soundly for three hours before waking up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Charles, her heart filled with joy, and she hugged him again. They embraced for a while before Charles smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm very well!"

"You rest a bit longer, I'm going to interrogate a prisoner."

Puzzled, Anne asked, "A prisoner?"

Charles answered, "It's the beastman of the Sacred Order who was after you and Mama Karen!"

Anne was immediately startled and exclaimed, "You captured a Saint alive?"

Charles gave a slight smile and said, "After all, it was a joint effort of four Saints!"

Golden Ram Herolf relied purely on strength, almost on par with the lizardman Black Dragon. The Old Leopard Man boasted unmatched speed in the world, Sabastine was a Saintly archer skilled in long-distance attacks, and Mama Karen was a Dreamwalker; her Dreamscape was excellent support.

Although Charles didn't know the specifics of the battle, he still felt this outcome was "normal."

Anne, reluctant to let go but understanding that Charles had important matters to attend to, finally released Charles. Suddenly, she remembered something urgent and said, "I have something for you."

Anne took out a delicate, small makeup box, eagerly opened it, and then turned it over, pouring out a heap of weapons from the palm-sized case - at least twenty or thirty pieces.

To Charles' astonishment, all twenty or thirty weapons were Extraordinary, each of high quality, with five or six being High-Level Extraordinary Weapons.

Anne spoke in a quiet, somewhat embarrassed tone, "It was so rushed that I only took these from my father's study, but you can make do with them for now."

Charles had a feeling that Earl Brittany was probably polishing his weapons again.

He just didn't know which weapon the Earl might be polishing now.

Gently touching Anne's lovely face, he tenderly said, "Keep the items for now, we can discuss this matter when I get back."

Charles was concerned; although he knew Anne meant well, he also knew this would be quite an "ill will" towards Earl Brittany, who would probably have ill feelings towards him as well...

Well, that was not Charles.

After comforting Anne a bit, Charles hurried off, only to be surprised that he didn't see the Lizardman Black Dragon tied up, but instead, a middle-aged man who was having a pleasant chat with Golden Ram Herolf, Tumisen, the Leopard God, Sabastine, and Mama Karen. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

This beastman Saint had evidently put in great effort into mastering the Beast God Shapeshifting Art, presenting himself as a refined human male, the epitome of grace and nonchalance, much like a seasoned nobleman, without a trace of barbarity or crudeness.

Upon seeing Charles, the beastman Saint's eyes flashed a momentary scrutiny but then he quickly adjusted without showing his emotions and greeted Charles as if they were old acquaintances, "Mister Charles Meklen! We meet for the first time, but we should be quite familiar. I've read your novels and even wrote fan fiction about your first book."

As the saying goes, don't slap a smiling face.

Charles, not wanting to be impolite, also smiled slightly and said, "It's an honor for us to have Mister Black Dragon join our Westwind Knights! Please, feel free to make any request; I will do my utmost to fulfill it."

Black Dragon appeared slightly astounded, then with a smile said, "May I have a High-Level Extraordinary Weapon?"

Politely, Charles replied, "Just a moment, please!"

He turned around and soon came back with five High-Level Extraordinary Weapons, saying, "Charles is not sure which Martial Techniques Mister Black Dragon excels in or which weapons would pair best; therefore, I brought a few. Please choose at your leisure. If these are not to your satisfaction, I can search for others."

Black Dragon, still smiling, shook his head and said to Tumisen, "I now believe what you said. Mister Charles Meklen may indeed lead the beastmen out of adversity!"

He casually picked up a Rapier and handed it to Charles.

Charles was slightly delayed in his reaction, but then he grasped the Rapier by the blade and placed the hilt on Black Dragon's shoulder, saying, "Lord Black Dragon! From generations to come, you shall be a distinguished guest of the Meklen Family! As long as the Meklen Family endures, we shall forever honor Mister Black Dragon, through countless divine Eras."

Black Dragon took the Rapier with a grin, placed it gently across his chest, and said, "Mister Mecklen, I, Black Dragon, shall protect your family through the generations, where bloodlines are unbroken and friendships never end!"

These words were not literal promises but the standard vows made by great nobles when accepting servants.

Charles didn't know why Black Dragon had readily chosen to join him, but he certainly wouldn't refuse a Saint, especially one as powerful as the Old Goat!

Neither did he know that Black Dragon had changed his mind in an instant, placing a heavy bet on him.

This beastman Saint had been extremely terrified when surrounded by the four Saints, especially upon seeing Tumisen. Knowing that the old Leopard Man was the leader of the Orc Assassin Alliance, he thought someone had put a high price on his life.

Being a beastman himself, Tumisen didn't wish for Black Dragon's death, so he spoke a few persuasive words.

Already cornered, Black Dragon, who knew he could not withstand a prolonged struggle against Golden Ram Herolf, realized his unfavorable position. Sabastine and Mama Karen's support were too effective. Even if the Old Leopard Man didn't go all out, Black Dragon could last at most a day or two.

Black Dragon knew that once trapped in the Dreamscape, his only option was to endure attacks passively. He had to gather his Fighting Spirit continually to dispel the Dreamscape. But how could he fend off the Old Goat while distracted by Mama Karen's Dreamscape?

Therefore, when Tumishen persuaded for surrender, he was immediately tempted. Had it been someone else, the Black Dragon would never have trusted an enemy, but Tumishen and Septimius the Man-Eater enjoyed an extraordinary reputation among the beastmen, and the Black Dragon believed that Tumishen would not deceive him. This was the result of the Old Leopard Man's many years of accumulated credibility.

After half an hour of fierce fighting, seeing no opportunity for victory, the Black Dragon chose to surrender and was brought into Dubrovnik.

Tumishen did indeed plan to recruit the Black Dragon for Charles, but the Black Dragon neither agreed nor refused. His refusal to agree was because he couldn't bear to serve someone who wasn't of the Sacred Order, and his refusal to refuse was due to the attention of the four Sacred Order individuals watching him—how could he not be tactful?

When Charles appeared, he thought that the Black Dragon had already surrendered.

Nor can you blame him for such a misconception, for after all, as a transmigrator, there is always that inexplicable confidence in making the natives bow down upon one's imposing arrival, hailing him as "big brother..."

There is always that kind of blind self-confidence.

As Charles saw it, even if there was a misunderstanding, it would only mean a bit of embarrassment, and what big deal would that be?

Was Charles Meklen's skin not thick enough? Or was his math teacher's defense not high enough?

When the Black Dragon asked for a high-level extraordinary weapon, it was actually his way of giving Charles a step down, as such high-value extraordinary weapons were extremely rare, not something that could be readily provided. Among the four Sacred Order individuals besieging him, only the Old Leopard Man Tumishen possessed a Dao Hai sword.

The Golden Ram Herolf truly did not have one.

Sabastine did have one, but she did not think that it was necessary to use it for the battle they just fought.

Whether Mama Karen had one, Charles had no idea.

Moreover, even if Charles had a high-order extraordinary weapon, how could he possibly offer it to a beastman he had just met? Not long ago, they were still enemies. The Black Dragon contemplated that he had once hunted the man's loved one; what great enmity was that?

Even if Charles were magnanimous enough to put that aside, he couldn't just give away a high-order extraordinary weapon.

He truly didn't know that Charles, as a transmigrator, had a way of thinking that was out of sync with the people of this world.

In fact, a transmigrator would not normally have such a mindset in their own world either.

Charles thought that betting a high-order extraordinary weapon on the chance of winning over a Sacred Order individual was worth it—if he won, it would be a huge gain.

If he lost...

Then he would think about how to explain it to Earl Brittany.

Yep, that's very Charles of him.

The Black Dragon treasured the rapier he received and shook his head, suddenly letting out a bitter laugh, "I never thought the day would come when I would submit to humans."

Tumishen was shocked; he had only persuaded the Black Dragon to join them, not expecting the beast to so crisply and cleanly pledge allegiance, and to the Mekren Family at that.

Nobody had mentioned anything about this just now, right?

The Golden Ram Herolf had a blank look on his face, still trying to sort things out in his mind, "Wait a minute! Although Charles still has a mage contract, he didn't use it, did he? How has the Black Dragon already pledged his loyalty?"

"Is he that much of a wimp?"

"He's supposed to be a veteran beastman powerhouse!"

"Doesn't he have any pride?"

"Pfft! Why should this old lizard be of higher status than me?"

Sabastine and Mama Karen had even more complicated feelings. Sabastine was better off, as she knew Charles when he was already on the rise, particularly during his help for Menilman in capturing the Magical Alchemy Warship and St. Michael Island, shining brightly each time. Menilman, herself, and even Tumishen did not underestimate him for not being in the "Sacred Order," but instead treated him as an equal.

Charles had earned the respect of the upper echelons of the Imperial Rose Fleet purely by his own abilities.

Mama Karen was about five or six times more shocked than Sabastine; when she met Charles, he was just a low-rank transcendent, afforded extra care only because of Anne's fondness for him. Although Charles was quite pleasing to Mama Karen, and she hoped for a good romantic outcome for Anne, intending to support the young couple... well...

Mama Karen didn't have high hopes for them.

After all, there was a huge disparity in their statuses, Charles came from an insufficient background, had a low position, and although a transcendent, he was only a low-order one, having just advanced to a First Rank Transcendent at that time.

Mama Karen always thought that even if the two could be together, they would likely have to withstand countless trials. Yet now, Charles had a Sacred Order butler by his side, the recently pledged Black Dragon as a family Guardian, and followers like Tumishen and Sabastine. Although nominally they were not Charles's subordinates, with her years of experience managing the Brittany Family, and having met countless people, she could see a "respect" for Charles from the two Sacred Order individuals—which was quite frightening.

As for the pile of high-order extraordinary weapons which Charles had recently taken from the Earl's study...

Mama Karen even felt that it was justified!