CHAPTER 33 THE TRUTH

Shadow looks at the town chief and scans his surroundings to be sure that no one is spying.

"Town chief-

"Don't call me the town chief; I don't deserve to be one. I couldn't even protect my town from a beast. Just call Drake."

Shadow just looked at him silently and said, "The Dragon Salamander is a contracted beast."

When Shadow said that, Drake was stunned and agitatedly asked Shadow, "Is it true that a damn beast is a pet of a person?"

Shadow nodded and looked at Drake with pity.

Drake just sat there looking like an idiot. After a couple of minutes, he recovered, but still, the information was just too painful to hear. He looked as if he had been aged 100 years.

"Do you know any enemy you might remember or any person that holds malice against this town?"

Drake thought deeply and shook his head. He said that he didn't have that many enemies, and if he did, they could never subdue a powerful beast such as the Dragon Salamander.

When the chief was deep in thought, little Annie came bursting into tears. "Grandpa, when will that big baddie leave? Because of him, many good aunts and uncles, even my friends, are gone."

Shadow looks at Annie. He feels very sorry for her. She was just a little girl, and yet she already experienced such a nightmare.

His grandpa hugs her and keeps consoling her, saying that a great hero will beat the beast.

When Shadow looks at the tender moment between them, he remembers that when he was just a little kid, it was also his grandpa who kept him from harm.

After consoling the little girl, she falls asleep, and Shadow and Drake continue their discussion.

"By the way, is there any particular reason why the Dragon Salamander chose this place as its target?"

Drake again shook his head and entered into his deep thinking. Shadow was also confused that Dragon Salamander chose this town with its bloodline; it should be greatly taken care of. Maybe the owner has a great grudge against this town.

Shadow was having a headache. Just thinking about it while he was sitting, he saw little Annie sleeping sneeze, but when she did, some fire elements burst.

Shadow immediately stands up. He looks at Drake and asks, "Drake, in this town, the population is mostly made up of Lizard demi-humans, right?"

Drake nodded and looked at Shadow suspiciously. "Then may I ask what kind of lizard bloodline do you have?"

"Nope, not lizard, but salamander. We have the fire salamander bloodline. Why?"

Shadow immediately got it. The mystery has been solved. The Dragon Salamander chose this town because of their bloodlines. The townspeople were a great source of nutrition for it.

When Shadow finished his conjecture, he was furious to treat people as supplements. He smacked the table, breaking it. The action startled Drake, and he woke up little Annie.

"Mister Shadow-san, is everything okay?" Drake asks curiously.

Shadow calmed himself and told Drake to call all the townspeople to gather. The children will be staying in another room, and only adults will be attending the meeting.

Drake nodded even though he did not know the reason why Shadow called for a meeting. He trusted Shadow even though he didn't know why.

After gathering the townspeople, Drake nodded at Shadow, indicating that he should proceed with what he wanted to say. The townspeople looked at Shadow confusedly.

"Everyone, I know that all of you are confused about why you were called here." The townspeople nodded.

"Earlier, I saw the Dragon Salamander. I use a secret technique to record its strength and ability." The townspeople were surprised to know a technique that can measure an enemy's strength and ability.

"I found out that the Dragon Salamander was a contracted beast." When Shadow told them the information, it was like a bomb was dropped in the room. Everyone became furious and kept swearing and cursing the contracted beast owner.

One of the townspeople raises her hand and asks, "Did you find out who the owner was?"

Shadow shook his head, indicating that he didn't know the townspeople had become depressed again.

"But I did find out the reason why it chose this town," the townspeople say, looking at Shadow nervously.

"The Dragon Salamander has a bloodline of Terror Flame Dragon, and it was using the townspeople as a supplement for purifying its bloodline."

When Shadow said that the whole atmosphere turned heavy and the townspeople were being silent, Shadow was confused. Looking at the townspeople and Drake, it seems weird. Aren't they angry knowing they were being used as livestock to strengthen the Dragon Salamander?

"Shadow-san, was it true that the Dragon Salamander has a Terror Flame Dragon Bloodline?" Drake solemnly asked.

"Yes, I am one hundred percent sure why."

"Shadow-san, you are not from this city, aren't you?"

"Yes, I just came here. I am planning to build a gang of mercenaries. Why?"

Drake let out a sorrowful sigh. "You didn't know, but the Terror Flame Dragon bloodline came from the City Lord family."

Shadow was shocked and also realised that only the City Lord family has the power to subdue such beasts.

One of the townspeople suddenly flips out, "Damn it, we were being loyal to the city lord, and yet they just see us as livestock to raise their pets."

"Yeah, yeah, all of the years of loyalty were wasted, goddammit."

The others also started yelling and cursing; some cried while punching the floor.

Drake suddenly shouted, "Silence!"

The townspeople look at Drake and say, "All of you, just please be quiet for a sec. I am going to ask Shadow-san a question."

The place quieted down. Drake nodded and looked at Shadow seriously. "Shadow-san, if I am not mistaken, you are also a city lord, aren't you?"

Shadow was shocked by Drake's question but still shook his head. "No, I am not."

"Please don't lie to me. With your great strength and charisma, you are surely a leading figure in a place." He looks at Shadow seriously again.

"Yes, I am, but not a city or a town." Drake looks into Shadow's eye and nods. It seems that he believes what Shadow said.

"Shadow, will you take us as your subordinates?"