Chapter 4

At the time I was arrested by police bursting into my home, Carlos returned to the manor.

He had assumed burning a Black Dragon janitor to death wouldn't be a major problem. But then his father summoned him to the office.

"Come here."

Adrian Meldred, current head of the Meldred family, sat in his high-backed chair, still wearing the formal attire from today's internal Council of Three Dragons meeting.

Carlos put down his phone and walked over.

"Our family park caught fire today. Everyone at the Council of Three Dragons is discussing this matter. Do you know what happened?"

"My dragon breath did it. Some Black Dragon janitor dared to talk back to me, so I locked him in the tool shed and burned him to death." Carlos keeps his hands in his pockets, his tone calm.

He doesn't think his father would criticize him over such a trivial matter.

Adrian doesn't respond immediately. He rests his hand on the chair's armrest, tapping his thumb twice.

"The police found no body. From the traces, the Black Dragon you mentioned has escaped."

"That's impossible!" Carlos looks up. "He couldn't have survived dragon breath!"

"But that's the fact." Adrian stands and moves to the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Did he use Black Dragon power?" Carlos steps forward. "Father, has the curse lost its ability to suppress them?"

"I want you to confirm this personally."

Adrian turns around and gives Carlos detailed instructions.

The trial I experienced was just a performance they carefully arranged—to test whether I could truly break through the curse and use Black Dragon power.

Carlos claps his hands. The prison guard drags me from my cell and throws me at his feet.

"Trash like you surviving is purely due to luck." Carlos curls his lip disdainfully. "I don't believe you have this ability. Tell me! How did you do it?"

His shoe presses down on my head.

"It was Hans..."

"Hans? What are you saying?" His shoe lifts.

I feign shock. "Didn't you notice? Right after you left, I escaped. Hans was walking behind you—he's a Blue Dragon. Quietly using high-pressure water to extinguish your dragon breath would be easy for him, wouldn't it?"

"How dare he! That idiot dared to save you!" Carlos grits his teeth and pulls out his phone.

"Don't worry, Dad! This Black Dragon trash only escaped because that Blue Dragon idiot interfered!"

"Very good." Adrian's voice comes through the phone. "Since the Black Dragon family's power has been completely lost, we can begin executing the elimination plan."

Elimination plan. These four words make my blood run cold.

"Hahaha! This will be quite an undertaking." Carlos waves his hand.

I'm locked in a cage, placed on a cart, and dragged out of the dungeon.

"Let's go. Remember why you were cleaning the Red Dragon District?" Carlos leads the way. "The real show is just beginning."

The Red Dragon District is holding a grand parade. Colorful floats pass through the streets, crowds cheering wave after wave.

Carlos climbs to the top of his family's float, proudly spreading his arms and blowing kisses in all directions.

I'm locked in a prison cart, chained behind the float. When humans and dragons see me, they boo and laugh.

"Look at that! Black Dragon family trash!"

"Arsonist!"

"Drop dead! You city garbage!"

Rotten tomatoes and eggs pelt me. I curl up in the cage.

"Teach them a lesson! Young Master Carlos!"

"Long live the Council of Three Dragons!"

After the parade ends, with a sea of onlookers watching, the Council of Three Dragons spokesman takes the stage to announce this year's decision—eliminate the Black Dragon residential area and completely drive the Black Dragons from Akado City.

The crowd below erupts in cheers.

I tremble as I look at the big screen. My home is marked with a huge red X on the map.

"This will be transformed into a landfill for more garbage."

"Move out!" Carlos walks to the cage, smugly commanding the demolition convoy.