The SSS Legendary Dragon Chose Me On Rebirth

Vacuse smiled.

"...are you saying you are smart? And that's why you're the lord?"

Well, Vacuse did not mind. Smart people often knew what to do, so Vacuse only shrugged. "Alright then. I will assume that you know that I wish to hold a tournament here. Open the gate for all those in and below the third rank.

"My men will guard the city."

Of course, what Vacuse was saying was, "Don't get in my way." Joryth understood, and he clasped his hand into a bow. "As you wish, my lord."

Vacuse smiled as he looked at him. "You have a very strangely beautiful city, Joryth. It will be even more beautiful after. I hope you can accommodate us for the time being."

The true meaning was, "The city will be returned to you after I'm done with it." Joryth understood, and he bowed. "Thank you, Dragon heir. Welcome to Burnis City!"

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

Welcome to Burnis City.

Vacuse took residence in Joryth's own room, even after he said any room would do, but Joryth would not hear of it, so he allowed him to do what he wanted.

It was not like he really cared what type of room he got. As long as it was easily defendable, then it did not matter.

Currently, he was sitting cross-legged on the floor with Harkon and Kagerou.

Amros was following Vacuse's instructions to integrate the Soulbearers they brought with them into the city guard system to help.

With the wave of people bound to come in the coming days, they were going to need every hand they could get.

The room was peaceful when a knock came from the door, and with Vacuse's whispered permission, one of the guards entered to report that Lord Joryth Mveil was there to see him.

He allowed it, and seconds later, the man entered.

Joryth Mveil sank into a deep bow. "Dragon heir."

Vacuse opened his eyes from meditation, a thoughtful look appearing on his face. "Burnis City... your family has been lord here since the beginning?"

Joryth blinked. He did not expect Vacuse to be the first to ask questions, and what a strange one it was. "Yes, my lord. The Mveil family has been here since the very beginning, when the Dragon Lord came to personally clear the Great Dungeons here."

"A Dragon Lord came to clear a Great Dungeon? There was a Great Dungeon here?"

He nodded. "Yes, my lord. It was the beginning of it all. My ancestor was one of the Dragon Lord's soldiers, and it was said that he helped the Dragon Lord in the dungeon, so much so that he was given the title of Lord and to rule here.

"And for a while our family was truly prosperous because the Great Dungeon was filled with mines, but then, as all dungeons do, it all began to fade."

Vacuse listened quietly, then nodded before he asked again. "Then, in these past years, who have you been paying tribute to? From your explanation, you are a direct vassal of the Dragon Seat."

Joryth smiled bitterly, and his eyes suddenly hardened. "There is not enough to pay as tribute, and what little there is, I give it to Duke Lavi Ossuary. His sword is closer than that of the Vorrakyn."

"...ah... it seems they all truly expected the Dragon family to collapse. Nobody truly gives a fuck about us..."

Vacuse nodded. He was not angry. Truly, the Dragon's reach was shorter, very short before, but now... it covered the whole Western Region.

"I see. So why have you come here, Joryth Mveil?"

Joryth hesitated, then took a deep breath and sighed. "My lord, your life in Burnis City is going to be in a deal of great danger."

Harkon and Kagerou opened their eyes and fixed the lord with a sharp stare that made him shift in place.

Vacuse was amused though. When was his life ever not in danger? "Who is trying to kill me?"

Joryth shifted. "My lord... I might be the ruler of this city, but my hold is the weakest of all."

Vacuse raised his brows.

"The real rulers are the gangs."

"Go on."

Joryth took a deep breath and continued with a bitter voice. "It is known to all that this is a criminal city, overrun with gangs. It is true, and the two strongest gangs that stand above the others are the Ash Rats and the Smoke.

"The Smoke deals in drugs and substances that even Soulbearers get addicted to."

"The Ash Rats, on the other hand, deal in... illegal trafficking... human trafficking."

That got Vacuse's attention, and his eyes narrowed. "Human trafficking?"

Joryth was getting more and more uncomfortable as the attention on him sharpened. "Yes. He buys and sells humans, even Soulbearers, to those who need slaves... or for anything."

Vacuse stared at him for a long time, his eyes flat. "That is illegal by Imperial decree. Not even a Grand Duke can make it legal in their territory. Something like that is happening?"

Joryth shrugged. "It happens all the time, even throughout the Empire. Because it is against the law does not mean they will not do it. The Ash Rats are just the major suppliers in the Western Region."

Vacuse narrowed his eyes as he looked at him, his expression cold. Personally, he had hatred for those who chained others just because they were powerful.

It was the right of the strong to oppress the weak. But where should the line be drawn? To Vacuse, it was better to kill the weak than take their will from them.

It was the worst thing that could be done to a human.

"...I am a hypocrite... but then again, this is the land of the Dragons, and everyone must follow what was laid down..."

"You have gained my interest, Joryth Mveil. Tell me about these Ash Rats. But before that... if you knew about this, why was it not reported?"

A bitter smile appeared on his face. "I did report it. I told Duke Lavi, but it seems he was paid to look the other way. In the end, nothing was done."

Vacuse nodded. "Tell me about the Ash Rats."