SSS Rank Dragon summoning! Only I can summon an army of dragons-Chapter 51: don’t unlock this -

A while after giving Herald the description of his desired weapon, Drake had immediately left. The blacksmith had made it clear that a weapon of such high quality would take at least a week to forge. That was fine by him. He could be patient when the reward was worth it.

Now, next on his agenda was finding a home for himself.

With the money he had, he could afford any type of apartment he wanted. A large penthouse sounded tempting—something with a grand view of the city, a balcony overlooking the skyline—but that wasn’t what he was aiming for.

Drake preferred to lay low, to have a place few people knew about or would even suspect belonged to him. Something comfortable, modern, and with a quiet richness to its design—but not excessive in space or show. He didn’t need a palace; he needed peace.

So this time, as he moved around the city, he made sure not to draw attention. He took several cabs, switching routes more than once just to be sure he wasn’t being followed. Eventually, he stopped in front of a large building that stood between two glass towers, its sign glinting faintly in the sunlight.

The bold words on the building read: Landing Agent.

Landing Agent was a well-known company that helped Awakened Talents—graduates from the various academies—relocate or purchase properties. It was practically the go-to agency for people like him who had recently left ALCRAN Academy. That was exactly why Drake had chosen them.

But unlike the popular, overcrowded branches scattered across the city, this one was smaller, more discreet. Hidden in a quiet district on the east end of ALCRAN, it was the perfect choice for someone avoiding attention.

He approached the glass doors, which slid open automatically with a soft hiss, giving him entry. Inside, the air was cool and faintly perfumed with lavender. The lighting was soft, reflecting against the white tiles of the floor, and the faint hum of an air conditioner was the only sound breaking the silence.

The hall he stepped into was almost empty. In fact, it was completely deserted except for a single woman seated behind a large desk—presumably the receptionist.

Drake took his time walking toward her. His footsteps echoed through the quiet lobby, sharp and rhythmic, the sound bouncing faintly off the marble walls. The woman didn’t look up, not even once. Her focus was buried in the stack of papers before her, a small pen between her fingers as she scanned through some digital listings.

When he reached the desk, Drake knocked lightly on it a few times. The sound was just loud enough to snap her attention upward.

She blinked once, her gaze meeting his. "Good morning, Mr. Drakon."

His expression instantly froze, conflicted between confusion and concern. Is it that obvious? he thought, his brows tightening slightly as he composed himself before speaking.

"Were you expecting me?"

The woman folded her lips, considering her words before replying. "You could say that. We received a tip earlier today that a certain Drake Drakon would be looking for a new home. In fact..."—she gave a faint smirk—"that’s why my colleagues aren’t here right now. They assumed you’d visit one of the larger branches, so they’re out there waiting for you instead."

Drake let out a long sigh. The price of fame. Even though he’d never sought attention, it seemed to follow him everywhere like a shadow that refused to die. If he had visited a larger branch, he probably would’ve been swarmed by admirers, reporters, and worse—agents from factions trying to recruit him.

"Did the person who gave the tip mention his name?"

She nodded. "Headmaster Stoick of ALCRAN Academy."

Drake exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slowly. That old gizzard... why is he suddenly after my life again?

Stoick knowing that he’d try to get a home was a simple deduction. But broadcasting it to others? That was another matter. Drake couldn’t guess his motive. Maybe the Headmaster was still bitter about the chaos Drake had caused back at the academy. Or maybe this was just his twisted sense of humor.

Unknown to him, Stoick had done it simply as payback—for the immeasurable stress Drake’s "misbehavior" had caused him.

"You don’t seem very excited to be here though?" Drake asked, tilting his head slightly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The woman gave a dry smile and shook her head. "Why would I?" She slid a small card across the desk. On it were eight digits—her personal number.

How pleasant, he thought, arching an eyebrow. She looked older than him by maybe three years—mature, composed, and undeniably beautiful, though her expression remained professional.

I’ll just be polite, he decided.

Drake took the card with a small smile and slipped it into his pocket.

"Now," he said, straightening up, "can we get to business?"

The woman nodded, tapping on her tablet. "Of course. What type of house do you have in mind?"

---

Outside, the world was changing fast.

The once bright sky had begun to fade under a blanket of thick clouds. The wind howled with a cold bite, carrying the scent of an approaching storm. Within minutes, the warm sunlight gave way to a gray gloom, and thunder began to grumble from afar.

"I guess it’s that time of the year again," Stoick whispered, raising a small glass of wine to his lips.

He was seated near a tall window in his office, watching the clouds roll over the horizon. The reflection of his weary face shimmered faintly against the glass—an old man burdened with too much knowledge and too little peace.

Across from him sat Kodri, the head general of the military. He wasn’t as refined with his drinking habits. A bottle of wine dangled loosely in his hand as he took deep swigs from it. A glass, as he liked to say, was too small for his problems.

Tonight, he preferred to be drunk. Normally, he was a man of discipline—sharp, calculating, always ready to act. But tonight wasn’t normal.

"Thank you for coming, Kodri," Stoick said, his voice breaking the silence.

The half-drunk general chuckled, a dry grin flashing for a moment before fading. "I needed it more... for old times’ sake," he teased weakly.

They both knew it wasn’t a time for jokes. The tension between them was as heavy as the thunder outside. The air reeked of dread—and despair. Whatever information they had learned recently was enough to shake even the strongest of men.

"With the way things are moving right now, Stoick—" Kodri began, but the words died halfway through his mouth. He couldn’t say them. The weight of it all was too much.

Stoick stared into his wine glass, swirling the crimson liquid before finishing the thought for him. "I know. War is inevitable. Sooner or later, all of Astra will be at war."

He set the glass down slowly, his voice lowering. "The military has failed to hold the world together. There’s a betrayer among the world powers. We must find out who it is..."

Kodri finished his wine in one heavy gulp, his tone grim. "That—or we all burn."

The rain began to fall, each droplet tapping against the glass like the ticking of a clock counting down to disaster.

Outside, the world was changing fast.

The once bright sky had begun to fade under a blanket of thick clouds. The wind howled with a cold bite, carrying the scent of an approaching storm. Within minutes, the warm sunlight gave way to a gray gloom, and thunder began to grumble from afar.

"I guess it’s that time of the year again," Stoick whispered, raising a small glass of wine to his lips.

He was seated near a tall window in his office, watching the clouds roll over the horizon. The reflection of his weary face shimmered faintly against the glass—an old man burdened with too much knowledge and too little peace.

Across from him sat Kodri, the head general of the military. He wasn’t as refined with his drinking habits. A bottle of wine dangled loosely in his hand as he took deep swigs from it. A glass, as he liked to say, was too small for his problems.

Tonight, he preferred to be drunk. Normally, he was a man of discipline—sharp, calculating, always ready to act. But tonight wasn’t normal.

"Thank you for coming, Kodri," Stoick said, his voice breaking the silence.

The half-drunk general chuckled, a dry grin flashing for a moment before fading. "I needed it more... for old times’ sake," he teased weakly.

They both knew it wasn’t a time for jokes. The tension between them was as heavy as the thunder outside. The air reeked of dread—and despair. Whatever information they had learned recently was enough to shake even the strongest of men.

"With the way things are moving right now, Stoick—" Kodri began, but the words died halfway through his mouth. He couldn’t say them. The weight of it all was too much.

Stoick stared into his wine glass, swirling the crimson liquid before finishing the thought for him. "I know. War is inevitable. Sooner or later, all of Astra will be at war."

He set the glass down slowly, his voice lowering. "The military has failed to hold the world together. There’s a betrayer among the world powers. We must find out who it is..."

Kodri finished his wine in one heavy gulp, his tone grim. "That—or we all burn."

The rain began to fall, each droplet tapping against the glass like the ticking of a clock counting down to disaster.