The SSS Legendary Dragon Chose Me On Rebirth

"Numbered Accord?" Jellyfish touched his mask. "So you've been digging about us, eh? I am part of the Numbered Accord."

Vacuse didn't say anything for a while as he studied Jellyfish. The man wasn't showing any killing intent, but he couldn't use that to judge, and he knew that if a fight was to happen, there was ninety-nine percent guarantee that he would die.

Jellyfish noticed his hesitation and shrugged. "I'm not here to kill you. The bounty on your head has been called off and we were paid for the damages."

But that only made Vacuse stiffen. If the bounty had been called off, then it really wasn't the Black Accord that was after him but someone else.

He thought about it, but he couldn't think of one person that wanted him dead. He could think of dozens, but not the same way as the Black Accord had tried.

He looked at Jellyfish. "Who is the one? The person that first wanted me captured alive and then later killed?"

Jellyfish shrugged again. "I was hoping you would tell me as well. You see, something suspicious came to this continent and it was him that wanted you to be captured..."

Vacuse stiffened. "Tell me."

Jellyfish laughed. "So you really don't know. What are you willing to pay for the information?"

Vacuse looked at him hard. "What do you want?"

"Information. Tell me truthfully, are you going to win this war with the other Dukes?"

"I will win it. The Vorrakyn would," he said quietly.

Jellyfish did a little clap. "I like your confidence. I will trust in the information you provided and bet my fortune on you winning the war!"

Vacuse felt cold inside. He couldn't figure out Jellyfish. The man was like a slippery fish.

And he was one of the reasons why Vacuse didn't disclose most of the plans he was making. He really didn't know who was who, and since it was a matter of survival for him, he had kept his cards to his chest.

So he said nothing more and merely waited.

"The dangerous person I was talking about is The Shadow. That is what they call him and what he allows everyone to call him. And what he literally is... a Shadow.

"His face and everything about him is a Shadow. And he is powerful. Very powerful."

Vacuse listened carefully. A Shadow... was it that thing that possessed Eldrin? "Who is The Shadow?"

"We don't know."

Vacuse raised his brows. "An organization like the Black Accord does not know about something like that? I find it hard to believe."

"The Shadow appeared one day in parts of the other continent. We can't say the exact time he appeared, but there was no past linking to him. All his intent was focused on gathering followers to himself and devouring Soulbearers.

"No, it is not a Law or Authority. It appears to be a special ability of his. Also, he can give the blessing of Shadow to his followers. But one curious thing happened. Just as a new Dragon was found here, The Shadow immediately came here and wanted to kidnap you. He is interested in you."

Vacuse stiffened. He controlled his expression as best as he could. The Shadow was after him and was the one that specifically tried to use the Black Accord to kidnap and kill him.

Something that is interested in Soulbearers... what is actually going on?

"So this is why you are here. You want to know why The Shadow is so interested in me and why he didn't come after me himself, someone that is so strong that even the Black Accord is wary."

The Jellyfish chuckled. "Oh my! You really are as smart as you appear! All of this war and stuff is your doing, right?"

Vacuse didn't smile. "So the Black Accord is wary of this Shadow."

The Jellyfish didn't answer.

Vacuse shrugged. "I don't know what The Shadow wants from me and why he is that afraid to show himself. But I am also interested."

The Jellyfish looked at him for a long time and then he sighed. "I can't be helped then. Vacuse Vorrakyn... join the Black Accord!"

Wait... what?

What??

Vacuse sat up, his eyes narrowed. "What nonsense are you talking about? I should join the Black Accord?"

Although his face showed his astonishment, he was seriously thinking furiously inside about what was actually going on. What did the Black Accord want? What did the Jellyfish want and how did it relate with The Shadow that wanted the Dragon?

"Your family is poor and weak. Even if you win this war, it's not going to change much, as the other Regions are already way ahead. At the end, you'll only get eaten. But the Black Accord is as strong as a nation."

Vacuse couldn't help himself. He smiled as if he heard something funny. "Let's cut to it. You want me in the Black Accord because they are wary of The Shadow and that probably means that The Shadow is now in the Black Accord himself!

"Since The Shadow didn't get close to me, you want to use me as a stepping stone for him."

Jellyfish didn't give anything away as he stood there, but he was thinking to himself, '...I really hate smart people...'

He cleared his throat. "Let me tell you about the Black Accord. We are powerful. We have one of the strongest Soulbearers among our ranks and we don't follow strict rules.

"Of course we have a leader, but we don't have one singular mission to accomplish. In some cases, we even conflict with each other.

"What then are the benefits of joining, you might say? Well, for one, we make our members powerful with the massive resources available to us.

"We have a wealth of information and knowledge that can help in crafting techniques. By being a member, you can also call on other members to fight for you. But you'll have to convince them yourself.

"And if you become a member of the Numbered Accord, then you'll have your purse in the Accord. You can have as many subordinates as you want.

"You can be feared. Besides, do you even know how many people... nobility and royalty in your empire are members?"