Limitless Fortune: I Collect SSS-Rank Skills as Payment-Chapter 168: Lucien… are you a Dragon?

A week had passed since the day of the massacre at the Deepvale auction house. But the Edoria Kingdom was as silent as ever.

Only the faint gossip and rumors about Lionheart and the Goldveil family and Duke Castor could be heard in the streets.

Just like Lucien thought, Duke Castor was ruthless. The moment he heard the Lionheart family was related to demons, he directly killed everyone without giving them a chance to react.

He was so swift with his methods that the Lionheart family couldn't even mourn for their clan leader's death.

Poor Aldren, although he survived somehow, his family was ruined just because of his one mistake.

Like Lucien guessed, Duke Castor didn't publicize the involvement of demons anywhere. Rather, he just announced it was because the Lionheart family dared to plan to kill royals behind his back.

It was just a random reason he made up, but nobody cared to point at him anyway. After all, the people were already dead, and there was nothing left.

"I heard you are going to the Shadow Kingdom next?"

In a luxurious room, upon a bed, a young man was hugging a plump girl in his arms.

Scanty clothes, a red hue on her face…

It seemed they had done something intimate, as evidenced by her disheveled dress still clinging loosely to her form, and the way his hand rested possessively, as though unwilling to let go of those big, soft globes.

They were Lucien and the eldest princess of the Edoria Kingdom, Sera. If someone saw her like this, resting in a man's arms with a shy blush upon her face, they would be shocked beyond belief.

Even her brother wouldn't believe her state right now.

"Yeah, I am. Why? Do you want to go too?"

Lucien softly caressed the big globes in his hands while asking Sera, who was blushing profusely with heavy breath.

These days, the eldest princess visited him once a day, always with some random excuse.

To avoid suspicion, she came disguised as Helena, accompanied by her maid Clara.

She didn't know how, but Clara had actually agreed to her absurd request to meet him every day for an entire week.

Lucien wasn't complaining, of course. Though they could not cross a certain line due to her Phoenix origin and the incomplete awakening ritual, their closeness had deepened in every other way.

In fact, these days they had done everything in these closed rooms that they could think of. Not to mention, Lucien was quite surprised by how active Sera could get sometimes.

Really, she was one hot bimbo even during intimacy. It was just her feelings for him that made her look soft in front of him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

To be honest, Lucien liked her more and more. Sometimes, he even wanted to take her all the way out of restlessness.

"Umm… no, I can't. I have to enter the Phoenix Nest. It is… time."

Sera shook her head and lightly denied. Her face looked a little sad at the thought of the upcoming separation. These days spent with Lucien had been the best week of her life.

She had never felt so safe and warm before.

If possible, she really didn't want to leave his side, even if that meant leaving this kingdom. Well, not that she felt any connection with this kingdom or family anyway.

"Phoenix Nest? Are you trying to properly awaken? Isn't this dangerous?"

Lucien suddenly asked with deep worry after hearing her. Besides sharing moments together these past few days, Lucien had also learned everything about Sera from her.

So, he knew that Sera's Phoenix awakening during her childhood had been unsuccessful.

In fact, from her description, it seemed she had almost died during that process if not for Clara's help.

However, although she survived, her Phoenix origin hadn't left her alone.

According to her, if she didn't try to awaken her bloodline fully anytime soon, she might be burned alive by that very Phoenix essence inside her.

She said it was related to the higher forms of life from the World of Origin and couldn't be stopped by their power.

"Yeah, it is. But… I have no choice."

Sera didn't lie about the danger, as even lying wouldn't fool Lucien. After all, he had experienced that flame firsthand, though he had managed to absorb it somehow.

To be honest, she had managed to come to this place every day with Clara only because she had convinced her that Lucien had solutions to her problem.

Although she hadn't told her about their first meeting, she had given her enough hints. Only then did Clara help her come here sneakily.

"Sigh… it would have been far easier if I had abilities like yours. Maybe the danger would be far less. But, alas…"

Sera sighed, placing her head on Lucien's chest in a sad mood. She had already talked with Lucien about this on the first day.

After all, she didn't have any thought of hiding anything from him. That was also why Lucien's trust in her had increased so much.

Still, when she asked if Lucien could teach her the method of isolating the Phoenix fire, the answer she got was negative.

After all, Lucien used his Devourer class to perform such acts. How could he teach her?

Besides, he doubted even his 'void' could isolate a true Phoenix flame that would appear during the Awakening process.

"Don't lose hope. Unlike before, you aren't a child anymore and can withstand more power. Maybe this time, awakening will be successful."

Lucien didn't like her pessimistic attitude and cheered her up. But even he knew the chances seemed slim; otherwise, the King wouldn't have abandoned her as a failed test.

So, after caressing her back and consoling her, Lucien thought for a long time and finally decided to do something.

No matter what, he couldn't allow Sera to die. After all, she was his woman and quite loyal, unlike others.

He could feel that she genuinely liked him from her heart and had no ulterior thoughts. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come again and again after he denied her request on the first day.

"Wait a minute. Let me do something."

Once he decided, Lucien wasn't someone who would back down. He immediately released her from his embrace and stepped off the bed, intent on doing something.

"Hmm? Lucien… what are you doing?"

Sera was surprised by his behavior and asked, her eyes following his every action. Then she saw, after leaving the bedroom naked, Lucien suddenly wave his hand, producing a glass tube and a sharp needle.

To her astonishment, he took a deep breath and forcefully plunged the needle deep into his heart.

"What? Lucien, what are you trying to do?"

Sera was shocked by his strange action and immediately stood up from the bed, rushing toward him. Seeing the blood pouring from the wound, her face filled with worry, and she didn't even care about her naked figure.

She just couldn't understand why Lucien was suddenly doing something so reckless.

"Shhhh… let me concentrate."

Just as she was about to grab him and stop the flowing blood, Lucien shushed her and signaled for her not to disturb him.

Then, he began slowly pouring his mana into the needle, letting it dive deeper into the wound while completely ignoring the blood pouring out.

With his regeneration ability, this much blood loss was really nothing.

"W-why… what are you…?"

Sera was deeply confused by his behavior but stayed in her place, though anxious.

However, just when she couldn't take it anymore and wanted to stop Lucien from harming himself, she suddenly felt an ancient aura pouring out from his entire body.

The aura was subtle yet immeasurably strong. But Sera's attention wasn't on that. Rather, it was the sensation she felt as soon as the aura emerged.

In fact, not only she, but even her Phoenix bloodline reacted to this aura, and it was without a doubt…

"A dragon… essence of a dragon?"

Sera couldn't help but mumble in shock, looking at the crimson drop of blood shining impressively at the tip of the needle that Lucien had taken out.

How could Sera not recognize it? Although it was just a drop, it was without a doubt draconic essence, and a pure one at that.

Not to mention, she had seen Lucien take it from his own body just now. Does that mean…

"Lucien… are you a Dragon?"

Sera asked, dumbfounded, finding it absurd. After all, if he really was one, why hadn't she sensed it during all the intimate moments they had shared?