Chapter 72: SSS-Rank Glacial Dragon

"Duke Valendorf, please take the prisoner back to the main hunting grounds and have him secured for interrogation. I want the investigation started as soon as possible," Ephraim ordered.

His gaze shifted toward Sylvain. "Duke Valendorf, I’ll leave the arrangements in your hands. Lord Sylvain, please accompany him and ensure the prisoner reaches the Imperial Authority’s custody safely."

"Understood, Your Highness," Gilbert replied.

Sylvain bowed his head in acknowledgment. "We’ll handle it."

Although they were Lydia’s father and brother, neither man questioned the Crown Prince’s orders.

Ephraim was acting on official duty, and the naga’s link to Luanna’s missing Crown Prince had to be investigated at once.

Although Ephraim tried to remain

composed, seeing Lydia injured had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. He had always taken her presence for granted, believing she would always be there.

Now, the thought of losing his fiancée filled him with a fear he could barely control.

This was no longer just a search for Luanna’s missing Crown Prince. Someone had tried to kill Lydia.

After making sure for the tenth time that Lydia was okay, Sylvain gave her sapphire brooch back.

"Your brooch must have fallen there when the assassin attacked you. I found it nearby."

"How did you know that it was mine?"

Lydia’s question made Sylvain scrunched his face like a crumpled paper.

"Only members of House Valendorf are allowed to own one of these, especially with the family insignia. Besides, Vincent has been pestering me for advice about it every day. He commissioned it as your birthday gift months ago, but he was too embarrassed to give it to you himself."

Oh. That was new.

"Anyway, don’t tell him I told you about it. He’ll never stop complaining if he finds out!"

Gilbert mounted his horse while Sylvain secured the unconscious prisoner for transport.

Before leaving, Gilbert glanced at Lydia’s injured shoulder with worry. He was really reluctant to leave her but he really had to.

"Take care of yourself, Lydia."

"I will, Fa—Papa."

Gilbert looked at Lydia for another moment before turning his horse around. Sylvain followed, but not before giving his sister and father one last confused look. Then he rode after Gilbert.

Once the two men had departed, Zachary immediately turned his attention to Lydia.

"Let me see your shoulder, deerling."

He raised his bracelet and activated its scanner. A blue holographic screen appeared above his wrist, showing a three-dimensional image of Lydia’s upper body.

Blue lines of light swept across her shoulder as the device scanned the wound. Her vital signs and the severity of her injury appeared on the screen.

"Wow. That thing can even scan injuries? The Ludenbergs really do have money to burn."

"Money can’t buy back a life, Lydia." Zachary’s voice was unusually cold as he studied the scan. "I’d rather spend every last coin I have than see you hurt like this again."

A moment later, the scan finished. Zachary’s expression remained serious as he examined the results.

"Your wound needs proper treatment. I’ll have my medical team prepare a station at the central medical pavilion."

Zachary issued a voice command through his bracelet and contacted Ludenberg Hospital’s emergency department.

"They’ll be waiting for us at the central pavilion."

Ephraim helped Lydia onto his horse, careful not to put pressure on her injured shoulder.

Once she was settled in the saddle, he mounted behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her steady.

"Then let’s get Lydia back there immediately," Ephraim said, his voice tense with worry. "She needs treatment as soon as possible."

Ephraim took out a small vial from his bracelet and gave it to Lydia.

A faint blue light ran along its surface, and the thick liquid inside sparkled.

"Drink this Elixir. It might help with the pain and your recovery, but we still need to have your wounds examined later."

"Thank you, Ephraim." Lydia accepted the Elixir gratefully.

She had barely finished speaking when Zachary’s expression grew more serious.

"We can’t afford to endanger Lydia any further. We’re still in the Restricted Area. We should return to the main hunting grounds before something else happens. Something about this place made my Resonance restless."

Suddenly, a system notification appeared in front of their eyes, its red letters flashing urgently.

[Dimensional Rift Level: SSS-Rank]

[Please remain alert and seek assistance from a Sentinel.]

"What...?!" Lydia stared at the notification.

A gigantic Dimensional Rift stretched across the sky, its edges shimmering with unstable energy. Something enormous descended through the opening, casting a shadow over the entire Restricted Area.

A deafening roar tore through the sky. The sound was so powerful that Lydia instinctively covered her ears.

Both men immediately turned toward the source, their expressions changing as an enormous shadow swept across the ground.

A gigantic blue dragon descended through the Rift, casting a shadow over the entire Restricted Area.

Six enormous wings covered in icy blue scales stretched from its back, and two translucent horns glowed dark purple. Sunlight glittered across its scales like ice crystals as it released a deafening roar.

"An SSS-Rank Dimensional Rift..." she muttered. "Sure, the dragon is beautiful, but I’d rather not die a beautiful death today."

Before Ephraim and Zachary could respond, a translucent barrier spread outward from the Dimensional Rift.

It expanded across the Restricted Area, forming an enormous dome that sealed the entire battlefield.

"Why do things keep getting worse?!" She let out a dry laugh. "Is this some kind of nightmare?"

The barrier shimmered briefly before stabilizing.

Oh, wonderful. We’re trapped. Just wonderful.

Zachary raised his head, his usual playful expression disappeared as he studied the dragon.

"Well, we certainly hit the jackpot. A mutated SSS-Rank Glacial Dragon." He gave a humorless chuckle. "Should I prepare a funeral for the three of us? Free of charge, of course. My treat."

"How generous of you," Lydia replied weakly. "Can I request a refund instead?"

"Sorry, deerling. No refunds on funerals."

"Then I refuse to die!"

"That’s the spirit."