Dragon King's Harem Chapter 326. Lizard And Dragon VIII

Dragon King's Harem Chapter 326. Lizard And Dragon VIII

I narrowed my eyes at him, frustrated by his casual dismissal. "The attack was orchestrated to create chaos and divert attention from the theft of the Wyvern's egg. It's not just a crime against my tribe; it's an affront to the peace between our tribes. If you continue to downplay these incidents, it will only strain our relations further," I warned, my tone holding a sense of urgency.

Viperax chuckled, waving off my concern. "Relations between tribes have always been good. A few incidents won't change that," he replied, taking another sip of his drink.

“A few incidents won't change that?” I echoed his words, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. “You've banned your people, yes, I get it. But they still do it despite your prohibition. Even your baron just committed that crime and blamed it on me. No one knows whether it will happen next. You should do something about that,” I explained, my voice maintaining a thin veil of calmness. Annoyed? Absolutely. The urge to put my sword against his neck and demand compliance danced at the edge of my restraint. This lizard ruler's feigned ignorance was grating on my nerves, but I held back my irritation.

“Tell me, what can I do?” he responded, spreading his arms wide as if he were offering himself up for whatever request I might make. A frown creased his face, and his other wife nonchalantly fed herself a piece of fruit. Like the drink, she had tested it for poison, confirming its safety.

At that moment, I couldn't help but wonder whether this indifference was a calculated act or a genuine display of his priorities. The line between feigned ignorance and genuine apathy had blurred, and I found myself grappling with the frustration of not knowing whether he was playing a game or simply didn't care, oblivious to the toll on my tribe. Was he purposely downplaying the severity of the situation, or did he truly lack the concern necessary for effective leadership? The uncertainty added fuel to my irritation, but I held my ground, determined to guide this conversation toward a resolution that would safeguard my tribe.

I inhaled deeply, attempting to maintain my composure in the face of Viperax's apparent indifference.

"Firstly, strengthen your law enforcement. Clearly, the existing measures are insufficient if your people continue to defy your orders. Set strict consequences for those who engage in illegal activities, and ensure they're enforced. Secondly, investigate and punish the criminals involved in the Wyvern's egg theft and subsequent attacks," I proposed, each word measured and deliberate. "You can do it by checking the black market or maybe merchants who have the potential to do things like this. They will need a professional group of hunters or mercenaries to fight the Wyverns. And I'm sure it's not much. You can track them," I suggested, my patience wearing thin as I laid out practical steps for him to take.

“Thank you for your input,” he responded, still adopting a nonchalant tone. His dismissive wave signaled for his assistant to record my suggestions. “Note down what the dragon king said,” he ordered.

The obedient aide swiftly acknowledged, “Yes, Your Majesty,” and diligently began noting down what Viperax deemed worthy of consideration.

Viperax leaned back, regarding me with a skeptical expression. "Strengthening the law is easier said than done. My people are not as obedient as yours," he retorted, a hint of defiance in his tone.

I sighed inwardly, realizing that convincing him would be an uphill battle. "If you can't control your people, how can we trust you to uphold any agreements between our tribes? Without trust, conflict will become inevitable. Think about the consequences for your people if that happens," I pressed, emphasizing the high stakes involved. It was also a threat.

Viperax's frown deepened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes. Whether it was genuine or just a play for my benefit, I couldn't be sure.

“Still, I need time to do it. I need to discuss it in court and stuff,” he stated. Viperax's nonchalant response grated on my nerves. The urgency of the matter seemed lost on him, buried beneath layers of bureaucratic procedure. The very idea that he, as a king, couldn't take decisive action in the face of an imminent threat struck me as absurd. But I reminded myself to keep my composure, even as frustration boiled beneath the surface.

"So, I should assume you want to let go if the next attack occurs?" I pressed, my words sharp and direct. I refused to dance around the issue.

“As long as the court hasn't made a decision, I can't do anything either,” he replied casually, punctuating his statement with a dismissive shrug. The weight of responsibility he bore as a ruler seemed to elude him, or perhaps he simply chose to disregard it. It was a stark contrast to the urgency I felt, knowing the lives hung in the balance.

Viperax's attempt to divert the conversation caught my attention, and I sensed an undercurrent of suspicion in his words. His lizard-like eyes bore into mine, curiosity etched across his reptilian features.

"You know… Rather than that, I'm more interested in where you got the factory's images from. Did you send spies to my place?" he inquired, his tone laden with scrutiny as he awaited my reaction.

"The survivor has given testimony, of course, I have to check whether he is telling the truth or not," I replied, maintaining eye contact to emphasize the sincerity in my words. The survivor's account had led us to the factory, and I had a responsibility to validate the information.

"Of course. But the question is, did you send spies to my territory?" Viperax probed further, attempting to find a vulnerability in my stance.

'I see… so he's trying to trap me,' I thought. His intentions became clear to me - a subtle attempt to cast doubt on the legitimacy of our findings. I could see the trap he was laying, a political maneuver to shift the focus from the evidence against his tribe to the means by which we had acquired it.