The Dragon King’s Harem System

Chapter 396. Who Is The Mastermind?

Dragon King’s Harem Chapter 396. Who Is The Mastermind?

’Damn it!’ I cursed internally. Despite my desire to dig deeper into the mystery, I hadn’t found anything beyond the structure itself. It was old, cursed, and meticulously designed, but there were no further clues. It felt like chasing shadows.

The trap, judging by its appearance, could’ve been sitting here for ages. Maybe the mastermind was long dead, or worse, maybe they’d forgotten about it entirely. Hell, it could’ve been a remnant from a war long gone, some leftover weapon from an ancient conflict. That would explain its age, its decaying state, but not why it was still active.

Still, it was a small relief that it wasn’t newly created. At least it wasn’t something I needed to worry about expanding or replicating in other places, for now. I sighed deeply, shaking my head. ’Better it be some old relic than a fresh problem.’

Our return journey was much quieter than expected. We encountered nothing. No monsters or problems, which meant... good. The suns were already setting, casting long shadows across the land, and the convoy was well ahead of us, likely already settled within the town walls.

Many minutes later, we approached the town gates, our massive dragon forms drew attention, just as I expected. The guards at the gates looked up, their eyes wide. They stiffened, their postures rigid with uncertainty as they watched us descend. All of them were from dragon tribes, but we used our dragon form just for battle. That was why they looked tense.

In unison, we shifted back into our humanoid forms, wings folding in and scales fading into skin. We landed softly on the ground, the tension in the guards’ shoulders eased, but their expressions remained wary.

"Your Majesty," one of the guards called out, bowing slightly as he stepped forward. "We weren’t expecting, well, not at this hour."

"The convoy arrived, yes?" I asked, my tone firm but casual.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard stammered, still looking a little nervous. "They’re at the inn. We were about to close the gates for the night, but you’re welcome to enter."

I nodded, gesturing for him to open the gate wider. "We’ll head in."

The guard signaled to his companions, and with a loud creak, the gates opened further, allowing us passage. I stepped through, Eir and the soldiers trailing close behind me. The streets were quiet, most of the citizens having retreated indoors for the evening. The glow of lanterns flickered in the windows of the houses lining the streets, casting soft, warm light onto the cobblestones. The soft orange hue gave the town a peaceful atmosphere.

We walked in silence for a bit, the rhythmic sound of our boots tapping against the stones blending with the distant rustle of wind through the trees.

The guard leading us was young, nervous, and kept glancing back at us every few steps. I could practically feel his unease radiating off of him, but I didn’t pay it much mind. Not everyone was used to seeing royals or nobles, let alone a king and his soldiers, walking through their quiet little town in the dead of night.

I took the opportunity to look around, noting how well-kept everything was. The streets were clean, the buildings sturdy. No sign of neglect, no abandoned homes. That was good. The owner of this place clearly took pride in maintaining it. For such a small town, it was rather impressive.

"It’s well-maintained," Eir murmured, echoing my own thoughts as his eyes scanned the surroundings. "Not what I expected for a place this size."

I nodded, agreeing. "Looks like they’ve got their priorities straight."

The guard in front of us, who had been nervously leading the way, cleared his throat. "The inn is just up ahead, Your Majesty. The convoy arrived not too long ago. They’re settled in and resting."

"Good," I replied, keeping my tone calm, though I could tell he was still on edge. I couldn’t exactly blame him.

We approached the inn. Fortunately, it was late enough that the townsfolk were already in their homes, tucked away for the evening, and we passed unnoticed. That was probably for the best. If the civilians had seen the King walking down their streets like it was just another evening stroll in the park, they might’ve panicked or made a fuss. I wasn’t in the mood for either.

The inn itself, though simple, caught my attention. Compared to the grand structures we were used to, it was modest, humble, even. There were no extravagant carvings, no gold leafing along the edges of the doors or windows. But despite its simplicity, it was in excellent condition.

’I hope this has room for all of us,’ I thought as I scanned the building. With the convoy and all the soldiers, we weren’t exactly a small group. But we’d make do. Worst case, I’d take a room, and the others could find somewhere else to sleep, or perhaps bunk together. Comfort wasn’t our priority tonight, rest was.

The guard leading us stopped at the door and hesitated, clearly unsure if he should enter first or let me lead. I waved him off, letting him know he could go in ahead of us. He gave a quick nod and pushed open the door, the warm glow of lantern light spilling out into the night as we stepped inside.

The interior of the inn was just as well-kept as the exterior. The wooden floors were clean, polished even, and the smell of burning wood from the hearth filled the air. It wasn’t fancy, but it was cozy. A few patrons sat near the fire, sharing quiet conversations over mugs of ale. None of them paid us much attention, though I could feel a few curious glances our way.

"Good evening," a soft voice greeted us from behind the counter.

The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile, stood at the front desk. Her apron was neatly tied, her hair pulled back into a simple bun.

"Evening," I replied, my voice calm but carrying the weight of my position. "We’re with the convoy that arrived earlier. I trust everything is in order?"

She nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. They’re all settled in for the night. We’ve got plenty of rooms prepared, and dinner’s still being served if you or your men are hungry."

I glanced around. The inn wasn’t particularly large, but it seemed big enough to accommodate everyone. I could already hear the faint murmurs of soldiers talking in the back, probably catching up after the long day.

"That’s good to hear," I said, turning back to her. "We’ll take a few moments to get situated, but I’ll check on my men first. I trust the rooms are ready for us?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," she answered, her voice steady and respectful. "All set. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask."

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