Choices flashed across Theo’s mind as he closed his eyes.
What is the best thing to ask from Aquilo?
Original books? Dismissed. He didn’t know if she had any rare original books, and Aquilo didn’t seem like someone interested in magic books. If he requested that, he might inadvertently cause a disaster like having a dragon plunder all the libraries on the continent.
Smashing the Orcus Company… dismissed. The identity and structure of the organization behind it were still unclear. Not everyone who belonged to the Orcus Company would be warlocks, so innocent people might be crushed along with the company.
Should he demand a large amount of assets? … On hold. Getting gold coins for a dragon’s grace was a bit sad.
Then Theo came up with a good idea. It was difficult for him to make the decision, so he should leave it to the opponent. At the very least, the dragon wouldn’t cheat or deceive him when paying back the favor. Their pride didn’t tolerate such acts.
“… Give me what you think is the most valuable thing you own.”
It was an ambiguous favor. What was Aquilo’s most valuable item? It might be a rare ornament or beautiful jewelry. In a sense, it was a gamble for Theo. Aquilo’s eyes widened with amazement, before her expression became a little weird.
“Boy, are you serious?”
Theo was curious about her reaction and asked, “Is it okay?”
“Hrmm… No, well, if that’s what you want.” Aquilo bit her lips and shook her head. Then she rose from her seat and used a long finger to beckon Theo over.
“Okay, come closer. I’ll give you what you want.”
Why did her voice sound as bewitching as a devil? However, he was the one who had asked, so Theo rose and stood carefully in front of Aquilo. He was only a few steps closer than before, but his body had unconsciously tensed.
Aquilo’s hands slid over his shoulders.
What…?!
It seemed relaxed, but Theo couldn’t move under the force of her arms! However, he didn’t sense danger, so he didn’t struggle as Aquilo looked deep into his eyes. He could feel her breath on his nose, and he unconsciously held his breath.
Between her bright eyes and fragrant scent, he was starting to feel dizzy. It almost looked like she was about to lick his face. Theo had never seen a basilisk, but he imagined being petrified by it would feel like this. Theo’s body stiffened as Aquilo’s lips neared.
She whispered in a low voice, “Don’t be nervous. There might be pain at first…”
Shortly after that, Theo felt a sting on his neck.
“Ack?!”
She had bitten his neck.
Randolph yelled out before Theo could react, “What are you doing, dragon?”
Theo could feel blood welling up, but there was something else going on. Randolph unsheathed a sword, but an urgent voice made him pause.
“S-Stop!” It was the bite victim, Theo.
Randolph was astonished. “What? Young Master, aren’t you being attacked right now?”
“No. This isn’t an attack.” Theo tried to explain but couldn’t help falling silent. He could feel cold energy flowing into him from the wound. It felt like some type of magic power liquid.
The beautiful woman continued biting the young man’s neck, and the bizarre confrontation soon came to an end.
Smack.?
Aquilo’s wet lips made a sound as she let go. She licked the lips that were wet with Theo’s blood and nodded in satisfaction.
“It went well. There was no rejection, so this might be surprisingly good.”
Theo held a hand to his neck. “… What did you pour in?”
She cocked her head. “Huh? My blood, of course.”
“What-”
Theo looked down at his body with surprised eyes. Aquilo’s blood, a dragon’s blood, had been injected into his neck. Whether it was true or not, he felt something form around his collarbone. It was a tattoo which shone blue like Aquilo.
“This?”
“Blood mark.” Aquilo explained in a drowsy voice, “Of everything I possess, this is the most valuable thing. It is the only thing that fits the criteria, apart from myself.”
Theo might’ve saved her life once, but it wasn’t enough to make Aquilo his possession. So, Aquilo adjusted the reward according to Theo’s conditions.
“Boy, can you use summoning magic?” Without waiting for Theo to reply, Aquilo continued, “If you think you need my help, you can call me through the blood mark. I’ll help you unconditionally once. I will leave it to your discretion, okay?”
“… Do I have any other choice?”
“Ahaha! Well, you don’t have to use it. There are a few other effects, but you can look at those yourself.”
She playfully concealed the abilities, but unfortunately, Theo had Gluttony’s Appraisal ability. When Aquilo glanced away, the tongue emerged from Theo’s left hand and brushed against his neck. Simultaneously, the familiar information window appeared.
[+14 Aquilo’s Blood Mark (Imprint)]
[This is an imprint using the blood of the sea dragon, Aquilo. As their clans grew smaller in number, the dragons attempted to make more kin with their blood. This blood mark is the result of that attempt. The attempt to create more family members failed, but the act of granting a blood mark created a linked relationship. If the relationship with the partner of the blood mark becomes hostile, it will naturally be destroyed.
* The rating of this imprint is Treasure.
* The user’s water affinity will significantly increase.
* The user will be given the Sea Dragon’s Blessing.
* It is possible to summon the sea dragon, Aquilo. 𝙚𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙤𝙧𝒈
* The conditions of use for Dragon Words have not been met. (1/2)
– Own a certain amount of dragon’s blood. (O)
– Understand the system and principles of Dragon Words. (X)
– Once all of the above conditions are met, it is possible to use Dragon Words three times a day.]
At first, he was calm as he read through the information window, but he was trembling by the end. Affinity with water was natural, since she was a sea dragon, but Dragon Words were an entirely different matter.
If this allowed him to learn how to use Dragon Words, this blood mark’s value had just shot through the roof. He had also been given the right to call an adult dragon, a being equivalent to two masters. Theo was stunned at the incredible jackpot.
All of a sudden, Aquilo raised her hand, toward the horizon where the fog created by her power was located.
[отменен (Vanish).]
With one word, the fog in the horizon started to return to Aquilo.
It was the end of the barrier which had protected the Pirate Archipelago for decades. As requested by Theo, she took back all the privileges she had given to the Pirate Archipelago. The same was true of the ships docked at the harbor. The pirate ships would now have to go through the water with their own skills.
It had only taken her a few minutes. Aquilo shrugged and looked at the two men.
“It’s finished. Now, this is no longer my island. So, I’m going to move my lair.”
Randolph murmured, “… The Pirate Archipelago is done for.”
Theo nodded. “I guess so.”
An attachment might form when one stayed somewhere for decades, but Aquilo showed no signs of that. Rather, she was a notoriously fickle dragon and felt good about abandoning the pirates. For her, the pirates were just ants who gave her tribute. She could discard them at any time and collect more.
Aquilo agreed before rummaging through her space.
“Here, some change.” She threw out a pouch that Theo reflexively caught.
She smiled and turned away. “All three requests have been granted.”
The two men watched as Aquilo leaped onto the terrace handrail and playfully waved, “Then bye!”
She leaped into the air. The duo watched in amazement as she transformed into a dragon mid air and turned into an azure shadow that made for the horizon.
After that, Aquilo never returned to the Pirate Archipelago.
“Hah…” Theo watched with a bemused expression before opening the pouch.
Randolph approached and looked over his shoulder. “Heok!”
They both involuntarily choked.
***
The cruise ship arrived the next day and Theo and Randolph departed for Soldun Kingdom. Thanks to Theo’s Sea Dragon’s Blessing, they enjoyed a swift ride, and the two arrived at a coastal city of Soldun Kingdom in less than a week.
As for the Pirate Archipelago, understandably, it collapsed soon after they left. The four rulers panicked when they learned that their blessings had been removed. Soon, ambition reared its ugly head and the peacefully coexisting Pirate Archipelago was awash in blood and death as each sought to rule over the others.
The pirates split into four factions according to the four rulers, each seeking their own way to live. Some returned to their usual work of raiding. Others returned to land and hid in the shadows. However, either path didn’t make much difference in the end. The pirates who went raiding were eventually hunted down and killed by the naval forces in the area. Meanwhile, those who returned to land fell back on old habits and were eventually caught and tried as criminals.
It was the end of the Pirate Archipelago, once called the paradise of criminals and the land of pleasure.
One year had passed since Theo had left their shores.