「Dewensen, 186 Golden Oak Avenue.」
Roused by Shalaina, Tania yawned as she prepared to go downstairs for breakfast, only to almost jump out of her skin at the sight of her father—a massive Silver Dragon—standing in the living room.
After all, compared to her and David, this elven treehouse on the pricey Golden Oak Avenue was rather cramped. It felt especially constricting for their father's adolescent form, which measured six to seven meters long, not including his tail.
It was also the first time Tania had seen her father appear at home in his true Silver Dragon form. Connecting this to her brother, who seemed to have not returned all night, she immediately understood the reason and began to reassure him,
"Dad, David isn't a little dragon anymore. It's just one night he didn't come back; don't worry so much."
If David were here at this moment, he would likely recall the terrifying image of their father, belt in hand, waiting in the living room after he'd snuck out to an internet café for an all-nighter back in middle school.
Attilicia's reaction at the moment wasn't any better. His great tail swayed aimlessly, his eyes bloodshot—not from staying up all night, as Dragons could go months without sleep unless in deep slumber.
He was purely fraught with anxiety, on the verge of tears.
Not worry? How could I not worry! Do you know what your brother got into last night?
After the incident in Spider Nest City, that dragon child had nearly blown Dewensen sky-high again!
Last night, the entire city of Dewensen was under martial law, and it was likely the whole city had been searching for clues throughout the night.
He didn't dare lie down to sleep in peace.
He feared that the moment he opened his eyes in the morning, he would find David Uthos had become Dewensen's most wanted fugitive. Then, the city guards would investigate and round up his entire family.
As a result, he spent the entire night mentally ricocheting between the thought of fleeing with my daughter and the thought of simply waiting here for David to return.
If they didn't trace it back to his son, such actions on his part would be tantamount to a confession!
And it was a mess he couldn't discuss with other Dragons. He could only digest it himself.
It was absolutely stifling for him.
Seeing her father maintaining his silence with the air of the head of the household, Tania felt bored. She pouted and made a face behind his back, then merrily headed to the kitchen to ask Shalaina for some breakfast.
Just as Attilicia heaved a deep sigh, a Magic Owl landed on the windowsill, HOOTING, almost scaring him out of his scales.
Despite the fright, he first transformed back into the appearance of Mrs. Antonella and carefully accepted the message from the Magic Owl.
The message was from the Magic Academy of Dewensen.
He frowned as he read the content, which seemed like nonsense.
He then impatiently called out to his daughter,
"Tania, the Academy sent a message by Magic Messaging. You don't need to go to school today."
"Yay! I'm going back to sleep. I just dreamt that my brother took me to a grand banquet, and I want to continue that dream."
But just as Tania was about to run back to her room, she heard Attilicia continue,
"In Saeolus territory, Mirillian, the Duke of Silver, has led his army to a decisive victory over pirate invaders. The Academy is asking all students to dress neatly and gather at the East City Gate for a welcoming ceremony for their triumphant return."
"Huh? The High Elves won a victory. What does that have to do with us Silver Dragons?" Tania immediately complained.
"Exactly, those High Elves really do some baffling things."
Shalaina, emerging from the kitchen with a bandaged forehead, added her own comment, but then suddenly became alert.
"The Duke of Silver? The Duke of Silver Mirillian? Isn't that the Saeolus lord you were friendly with before, Attilicia?"
"Why don't we go take a look?"
Attilicia, who was utterly oblivious to political and other nuances, immediately got to his feet.
"Let's go. We'll get ready and go check it out."
Shalaina was left speechless.
Attilicia's reasoning was simple. Instead of suffering through meaningless internal torment here, it was better to meet his old friend.
Maybe Mirillian, with her many connections, could help him with something.
Moreover, in a sense, the more crowded the place, the safer it was for them, a few Silver Dragons.
As they finished tidying up and headed towards the city gate, they discovered that the number of High Elves gathered at the East City Gate was far greater than they had anticipated. The crowd was so dense they couldn't push through to the front.
However, Attilicia soon recognized a few familiar faces.
They were the families of Dewensen's Seventh Fleet.
There was no help for it. Ever since his son's involvement in the 'General Ahmed comes back to life' fiasco, families who similarly felt their kin in the Seventh Fleet had died under suspicious circumstances had gone to the military department demanding an explanation.
Some who were preparing for a long legal battle had even settled down in Dewensen, taking up odd jobs to support their stay.
Attilicia saw them frequently when he went grocery shopping. If he *still* wasn't familiar with their faces after all that, then as a Silver Dragon, he might as well gouge his own eyes out.
After all, he wasn't like a White Dragon, oblivious and cursed with a seven-second memory.
It was only then that Attilicia smacked his forehead in belated realization.
Right, at such a sensitive time, why would Mirillian come to Dewensen? And for a so-called triumphal ceremony?
Ah! This must be that old rascal Ailiando's conspiracy!