Snow fell heavily over the northern frontier.
The walls of Elarion’s outer settlent stood half-covered beneath layers of white while smoke from furnaces and hearthfires rose endlessly into the dark winter skies above the valley. Workers moved between buildings carrying lumber, coal, and refined steel beneath torchlight while patrol groups rotated constantly along the outer defensive routes.
The territory no longer resembled a dying exile post.
It was becoming alive.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
And because of that—
It was becoming dangerous.
Inside the upper administrative halls of the restored fortress, Lucien stood near the large northern map table reviewing supply movent reports while Lucas Marcus organized trade docunts nearby beneath warm lantern light.
The administrator still looked exhausted from handling both territorial governance and industrial secrecy simultaneously.
"rchant activity increased again this week," Lucas reported while adjusting several papers carefully. "Especially southern caravans."
Lucien nodded slightly.
"Expected."
Industrial growth consud resources rapidly.
Iron.
Food.
Wood.
Livestock.
Tools.
The territory needed everything.
Lucas hesitated briefly afterward before continuing.
"There is another issue."
Lucien looked up imdiately.
The administrator rarely hesitated without reason.
"A frontier checkpoint sent a coded ssage this morning."
Another pause.
"Royal investigators entered northern territory three days ago."
The room beca silent.
Even the furnace crackling near the far wall suddenly sounded louder.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.
So they ca personally.
Faster than expected.
Lucas spoke carefully.
"They are traveling with crown escorts under official authority."
"Nas?"
"Lead investigator is Seraphin Vale."
Interesting.
The na ant little personally, but Lucien rembered hearing.he was-
Efficient.
Intelligent.
Difficult to manipulate.
Not ideal,not ideal at all neither for him not for the territory.
Lucas exhaled quietly afterward.
"My Lord..."
Lucien already understood the concern.
The territory was not ready for direct royal inspection.
Not fully.
The industrial district alone would trigger imdiate questions.
Gunpowder research was worse.
And Aurethar—
Lucien rubbed his forehead slightly.
The dragon might actually beco the largest problem sohow.
A knock echoed sharply against the chamber doors monts later.
"Enter."
Malen stepped inside first followed closely by Gandalf while snow still clung lightly to their cloaks from outside patrol inspections.
The Peak Knight noticed the atmosphere instantly.
"Problem?"
Lucien answered directly.
"Royal investigators."
Malen’s expression hardened imdiately.
"When?"
"Soon."
Lucas placed another docunt onto the table.
"Based on travel speed, possibly tomorrow evening."
Gandalf’s beard shifted slightly as the old mage frowned.
"That is... inconvenient."
Lucien moved toward the large valley map afterward while thinking rapidly.
The investigators arriving now threatened multiple secrets simultaneously:
industrial developnt
firearm prototypes
hidden headquarters construction
dragon presence
demon-sealed lower ruins
Too many risks.
Malen crossed his arms.
"We could deny them access."
Lucas imdiately shook his head.
"That would confirm suspicion."
Correct.
Royal investigators operated with direct crown authority.
Obstructing them openly would create political disaster.
Lucien remained silent briefly.
Then—
"We control what they see."
The others looked toward him.
Lucien continued calmly.
"The outer territory is legitimate."
Farms.
Fortifications.
Trade growth.
Frontier recovery.
Nothing illegal there.
Lucas slowly understood first.
"We isolate the industrial district."
"Yes."
Gandalf nodded thoughtfully afterward.
"Concealnt magic can obscure mana signatures temporarily."
"Good."
Malen frowned slightly.
"And the dragon?"
Silence.
Everyone looked upward instinctively.
As if expecting Aurethar to suddenly crash through the ceiling dramatically.
Which—
Honestly remained possible.
Almost on cue—
Golden light flashed briefly beyond the fortress windows before a massive shadow swept across the snowy courtyard outside.
Lucas closed his eyes tiredly.
"Of course."
Monts later the chamber doors opened again without permission.
Aurethar entered proudly.
Or rather—
Forced himself partially through the oversized stone entrance while folding his wings awkwardly behind him.
The Dragon Lord looked deeply pleased with himself.
"I sensed tension."
Golden eyes shifted between them curiously.
"Who are we intimidating today?"
Lucien answered flatly.
"No one."
Aurethar looked disappointed instantly.
Malen sighed.
"Royal investigators are coming north."
The dragon blinked once.
Then grinned.
"Oh."
That grin worried everyone imdiately.
"Can I threaten them?"
"No."
"Can I appear dramatically above the fortress?"
"No."
"Can I accidentally set sothing on fire while making eye contact?"
Lucien stared silently at him.
Aurethar considered carefully afterward.
"...Hypothetically?"
"No."
The dragon looked genuinely oppressed afterward.
Gandalf rubbed his forehead slowly.
"Why did fate bind us to this creature?"
Aurethar looked offended.
"I am majestic."
"You are a disaster."
"Majestic disaster."
Fair correction,everyone agreed.
Lucien stepped toward the fortress windows afterward while observing the valley below.
Workers still moved through the industrial quarter despite the late hour while distant furnace smoke continued rising endlessly into the winter sky.
Too visible.
And too active.
If Seraphin Vale truly possessed strong investigative instincts—
He would notice inconsistencies quickly.
Lucien thought carefully for several monts.
Then—
"We accelerate the relocation."
Lucas looked toward him imdiately.
"The hidden headquarters?"
"Yes."
The administrator nodded slowly afterward.
Makes sense.
So operations could no longer remain near the surface settlent safely.
Especially firearms.
Malen spoke next.
"I’ll increase patrols near the western routes."
"Discreetly."
"Understood."
Gandalf anwhile looked thoughtful.
"The investigators may also possess mage support."
Lucien nodded once.
"Then avoid direct magical interference unless necessary."
The old mage agreed.
Because once royal mages detected concealnt spells—
Questions multiplied rapidly.
Aurethar eventually lowered his enormous head toward Lucien curiously.
"So."
The Dragon Lord’s golden eyes glead brightly beneath the chamber light.
"Who exactly are these investigators?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"People capable of creating serious problems."
Aurethar imdiately looked interested again.
"Oh."
Then very slowly—
The dragon smiled.
"I wish to et them."
That sentence alone nearly gave Lucas visible emotional damage.
anwhile far south along the frozen mountain road—
Royal Investigator Seraphin Vale finally reached the final ridge overlooking the northern frontier territory.
The carriage stopped briefly near the cliffside path while snowstorms weakened beneath the evening sky.
Seraphin stepped outside calmly afterward.
Then paused.
Because below the mountains—
Smoke rose.
Not ordinary settlent smoke.
Too much.
Too constant.
Industrial smoke.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Farther below, torchlights illuminated expanding roads, moving caravans, patrol routes, and signs of growing infrastructure surrounding the restored frontier fortress.
Alive.
Organized.
Developing rapidly.
This was not the territory of a dying exile lord.
The younger investigator beside him stared downward in disbelief.
"...That’s impossible."
Perhaps.
But Seraphin trusted what he saw more than rumors.
And what he currently saw—
Concerned him deeply.
Far below, hidden beneath snow, smoke, steel, and ancient stone, Elarion waited quietly for the arrival of the crown.
End of Chapter 37
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