CCTnovel Chapter 464: Shy Aria
Chapter 464: Shy Aria
Countless eyes watched the dragon's figure descend, until it landed on the ground from overhead. Only when a figure jumped down from the dragon's back did the others secretly breathe a sigh of relief.It seemed this dragon truly wasn't a wild one, but belonged to a master.
Through the griffin-riding knight who had come to invite him, Gauss expressed his gratitude to the Guild Master for the invitation to meet, but also mentioned he needed to rest first and would visit the Guild Master to chat some other time.
In truth, he simply wanted to spend a moment with his teammates first.
As for the Guild Master, there probably wasn't anything urgent.
Just some concern about his trip, asking for details, whether the commission's objectives had been met, things like that.
Such conversations didn't need to be rushed.
"Gauss!"
Just as Gauss turned around, he saw Aria, her eyes slightly reddened, walking quickly toward him with the others.
"Aria…"
"You said ten days. Why did you only come back now?" Aria cut him off.
Before Gauss could explain, Aria threw her arms around him.
"But it's fine. As long as you're back."
Feeling the softness beside him, Gauss's body stiffened slightly.
"I'm sorry."
He knew that during the time he was unconscious, he must have worried his teammates terribly.
All he could say was that there were too many things in this world beyond his control.
Under normal circumstances, he could have returned within ten days. But unfortunately, right after completing the commission, his Intelligence attribute made a critical breakthrough.
While that was good for his strength, it forced him to stay in the monster-infested lands for some extra time.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed by the stares from his teammates and the distant strange adventurers watching them, after the initial surge of emotions subsided, Aria gradually became a little shy.
A faint blush crept from her chin up to her cheeks.
Pretending to be calm, she let go of her hands and spoke softly.
"Albenia and the others were terrified too."
Only Albenia shot a suspicious glance at Aria, but with her own emotions running high, she didn't think much of it.
"Welcome back, Lord Gauss."
She also gave Gauss a snug embrace like Aria had, though due to their size difference, the "snug" description was more fitting for her than for him.
"Alright, alright."
It wasn't until Gauss was almost out of breath, repeatedly patting Albenia's sturdy arms, that she reluctantly stopped.
"Huff…"
Gauss sighed in relief.
"Are you two coming too?"
Gauss then gave Shadow, Serlandul, and the others light hugs as well.
Only then did everyone's excitement finally settle.
Gauss didn't particularly enjoy being stared at in public.
He quickly dismissed Hephaestus and led the group back from the camp's open ground to the Red Dragon Guild's quarters.
Even though he had just returned and had never been here before, Gauss could still instantly locate where his members were.
Entering the quarters, Gauss immediately noticed that compared to before he left, the Red Dragon Guild now had many new faces.
Noticing Gauss looking at the newcomers, Aria explained.
"Since the war began, we've had some losses in the Red Dragon Guild. Plus, many adventurers who lost their teams wanted to join us, so after discussing it, we decided to take in more new people."
"That makes sense."
Gauss nodded, not particularly concerned.
After all, once someone joined the Red Dragon Guild, under the effect of his Proof of Leadership, as long as they weren't ill-intentioned, they would soon genuinely integrate into the big team. And those who joined with ulterior motives would have a hard time hiding from his 21-point Intelligence.
As for casualties, he knew they were unavoidable and couldn't blame Aria and the others.
Since the war began, this land had become a massive meat grinder.
Both humans and monsters had suffered heavy losses in this slaughter. But compared to the enormous numbers on both sides, this localized war was just a drop in the ocean.
Back at camp, Gauss began exchanging information with Aria and the others.
He listened to what had happened on the front lines while he was away, and roughly shared with everyone what he had encountered in the Emerald Forest and the Red Soil Land.
Through his understated account, Aria and the others could almost feel the danger he had faced.
Fortunately, danger turned to safety. Gauss had finally returned, and stronger than before.
Serlandul felt this most keenly.
Gauss's powerful bloodline aura was so intense that Serlandul's gradually awakening "Half-Snake Royal Bloodline," which had been swelling day by day, suddenly shrank back like a mouse seeing a cat, obediently retreating.
It no longer surged wildly in his blood or exerted additional influence.
This was the suppression that the gold-quality Racial Talent Dragon King's Progeny exerted over most creatures.
A slight influence from Gauss on his half-snake companion produced immediate, visible effects.
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah. Thank you, Gauss."
Serlandul's whole body felt a bit weak, yet there was also an indescribable comfort.
The feeling of regaining full control of his body and mind was wonderful.
To Serlandul, Gauss was like a miraculous medicine. Especially as Gauss continued to grow stronger—as long as he stayed by Gauss's side, the restless negative influence of the Snake King inside him would be continuously suppressed.
Serlandul felt conflicted about this.
On one hand, he didn't think relying on Gauss was a bad thing. On the other, he worried about causing trouble for the captain. He also feared that if he got used to Gauss's help, and when faced with a situation like Gauss leaving again, the rampaging power might return, and his resistance would be even weaker.
But this was hardly the time for overthinking.
After chatting with his teammates for a while, Gauss went to bathe and change clothes in the camp.
Once everything was done, he unhurriedly found the Adventurers Guild staff and had them lead him to find Guild Master Matthias Monroe.
Before even approaching the building, Gauss could hear voices coming from inside.
He turned to look at the staff member, signaling to ask if it was convenient for him to go in now.
"Lord Monroe instructed that when you arrived, you should go straight in."
"Alright."
Gauss had only been worried about disturbing others. Since Monroe himself didn't mind, he naturally wouldn't hold back.
With the staff member opening the door and guiding him, Gauss quickly entered the room.
Though it was the Adventurers Guild Master's frontline temporary office, the decor inside was still plain. There were no decorations or furnishings on the walls or floor.
Just a few sofas, a desk, and a classic silver tea set.
When Gauss entered, the big-bearded Guild Master was in conversation with another armored burly man sitting across from him.
Hearing footsteps, Matthias Monroe looked up and caught sight of Gauss, then stood up and waved.
"Gauss, you're back."
"Grab a seat wherever."
Gauss didn't stand on ceremony and chose a single sofa to sit on.
Strength emboldens a man.
Dragon Breed had evolved into Dragon King's Progeny. His Intelligence had broken past 21 points, and with it, he had awakened the time-related ability Future Sight.
One could say that even though he was only Level 9, in terms of actual strength, he far exceeded what his stats suggested.
He was at least stronger than most Transcendent professionals.
In this room right now, both Monroe and the military man sitting nearby gave him a faint sense of oppressive pressure. But compared to before, Monroe's oppressive presence was much weaker than it used to be.
It wasn't that the Guild Master had grown weaker—it was that Gauss had become far stronger in a short time.
Ever since Gauss sat down, the military man had stopped talking, instead staring at Gauss with curious eyes.
It was as if he wanted to see through Gauss's handsome exterior and feel the true power within.
Gauss turned his head and nodded calmly at him as a greeting.
This easygoing demeanor made Wynster Xavier raise an eyebrow involuntarily.
Before Gauss had entered, Matthias had been telling him about Gauss.
Of course, even if the old man hadn't introduced him, Wynster had already heard of Gauss's reputation. But this was indeed the first time the two had met face-to-face.
Gauss's first impression on him was far better than expected.
Before meeting him, Wynster's vague impression of Gauss was of a ridiculously handsome man with extraordinary magical talent who had also been lucky enough to earn the favor of a Red Dragon.
He had seen similar types of magical prodigies during his travels in the royal capital—all from good families, wearing luxurious magical robes, exuding an air of unapproachable nobility.
But…
Gauss seemed completely different from everyone he had met before.
He was too composed.
Though his Professional Level was only 9, sitting between two top-tier Transcendents, Level 15 professionals, his presence didn't pale in the slightest.
Don't underestimate that. It was impossible to achieve this by putting on airs. It only meant that his strength was far greater than Wynster had anticipated.
And when he closed his eyes, he felt as if a blazing heat was rising from the body of the man sitting nearby, like the man wasn't a human but a mighty dragon.
The only difference was that this dragon was still young, not yet at its peak, but its dangerous aura had already begun to show.
Especially considering Gauss was only in his early twenties—a terrifyingly young age. Put together, it was almost too shocking to believe.
If Gauss weren't a talent the Adventurers Guild was actively cultivating, Wynster might have been tempted to tie him up, take him back to the family, have him marry one of the family's young women, and make the marriage official before he could think twice.
But now, even if he wanted to recruit a son-in-law, it was probably too late…
This prodigy seemed to have already grown into his own.
As the two sized each other up, Monroe spoke first, formally introducing them.
"Wynster Xavier, this is the absolute genius I was telling you about, Gauss."
"And Brother Gauss, this is the younger brother of the current Count of the Xavier family, Captain of the Iron Guard Knights, Wynster Xavier."
"Captain Wynster, it's an honor. I've heard much about you."
"Not at all. I just regret that military duties keep me busy. Otherwise, I would have loved to meet Brother Gauss sooner."
"By the way, Brother Gauss, are you engaged? The Xavier family has many beautiful young women."
Wynster said this with complete sincerity. Out of some feeling, he truly regretted not meeting Gauss before his strength had grown.
But regretting it now was useless.
He could only force a smile. Perhaps because he didn't smile often, the expression on his face was very stiff.
So stiff that even his friend Matthias Monroe could barely stand it.
He could roughly guess what his old friend was thinking.
Though he was the second son of the Xavier family's main line, Wynster's desire to revitalize the family was no less than that of his brother, Count Augustine Xavier.
Faced with Wynster's question, Gauss just smiled awkwardly. He hadn't expected someone to bring up such a private topic in this setting, right after they had just met.
"Alright, Brother Gauss is such a talented young man, a pillar of the nation. His marriage doesn't need you, a rough fellow, to worry about."
Monroe pushed Wynster back down.
In truth, he had spoken up because he had caught Gauss's subtly rejecting expression when Wynster extended the olive branch.
Seeing Gauss's lukewarm reaction, Wynster sighed inwardly.
He didn't understand why the most talented prodigies were often the coldest toward marriage alliances with nobles, treating them like poison to be avoided.
Whether they were afraid of gossip, or looked down on local powers like his family, wanting to join a stronger faction instead…
Word had it that the Third Princess was also of marriageable age…
"Well, Brother Gauss, Monroe, you two talk. I won't disturb you. I still have military work waiting for me."
After seeing Wynster off, Gauss began discussing the commission with Monroe.
First, he returned the Silent Birdcage that the Guild had lent him.
"As for this large storage bracelet, I might need some more time before I can return it."
"No rush, no rush."
Monroe waved his hand.
Of course, he understood what Gauss meant. He also guessed that Gauss's bracelet probably contained several priceless True Dragon corpses, and he couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
True Dragon corpses were extremely precious even to a Level 15 professional like him.
With his strength, even if he faced those Juvenile Dragons head-on, he could likely kill them one by one without much trouble.
But such an opportunity would almost never arise.
No True Dragon would recklessly appear in human territory. And because of racial differences, humans could hardly use causal prophecy or similar means to locate these young dragons. They could only rely on the most primitive, crude methods.
And even with hard-won intelligence, killing a True Dragon was still fraught with danger.
He was only envious of Gauss's success, not jealous. He quickly hid the emotions that had surfaced in his eyes.
He knew that perhaps only Gauss could have completed this mission. If he himself had gone, it would only have alerted the enemy and ended in failure.
"How did the mission go?"
"Fortunate to have completed it. Four in total, all killed. None escaped."
Hearing Gauss's formal reply, Monroe nodded with satisfaction.
He had originally expected that Gauss would manage to kill one or two in the limited time. He hadn't expected Gauss to kill all the Juvenile Dragons without exception.
This was naturally the best outcome. Every True Dragon left alive could, in the next few hundred years, grow into a Lord-level monster with an intense hatred of humans.
"But you'll need to be careful from now on. Even though the Green Dragon Queen has disappeared from the front lines, if she learns that you killed the Juvenile Dragons, she will inevitably turn her spearhead toward you."