Chapter 466: Shut your mouth!

Lian said he would go, and Xarion insisted on tagging along as well. Vincent was already on the warship. In the end, Aren and Jasper stayed behind at home to help Nix pack—after all, part of what needed to be packed was things Rory would use tomorrow.

With Yuel away, Aren and Jasper really didn’t feel comfortable leaving Nix to pack by himself. They were terrified that he wouldn’t know how to organize things properly. What if his brain short-circuited and he ended up packing a bunch of mechas to bring to the Lion-Tiger Clan tomorrow? Word had it he had actually done something like that before.

The warship quickly lifted off into the skies above the castle and disappeared into the starry night in the blink of an eye.

Nix looked at his newly developed warship, immensely satisfied. "I knew it! The speed on this model is a massive leap forward. If only we could boost its defense just a bit more, it’d be absolute perfection."

"Stop staring at your warship. It’s already flown out of sight. Hurry up and get back inside to pack."

"Right, back inside to pack!" Nix nodded immediately and turned back into the castle at full speed.

On the warship.

Knowing Rory had to accompany Nix back to the Lion-Tiger Clan tomorrow, Lian was worried she wouldn’t get enough rest. As soon as they boarded, he urged her to turn in first.

"Rory, get some sleep first. We’ll call you once we catch up with Paros."

It really was time to build up her energy. Rory nodded and headed to the rest lounge.

The lounge on this warship had been custom-designed for Rory by Nix. It was spacious and decorated with cozy, warm touches—even better than the room she used to live in back at the villa on Planet F268.

Lian originally wanted to stay and keep Rory company, but Wen cut in and blocked his path. Xarion glanced at the two of them, bypassed them without a word, and walked straight into the lounge to accompany Rory himself.

Lian looked at Wen, utterly speechless. "Great. You stopped me from accompanying Rory, and now you don’t get the chance either."

Wen sneered. "Wasn’t my chance deliberately ruined by you in the first place?"

That stubborn dragon Paros wasn’t going to drop dead anytime soon anyway. Couldn’t this fox demon have spilled the beans at any other time? He just had to lay everything out for Rory tonight. Wasn’t it simply because he didn’t want him mating with Rory tonight? Rory might not have seen through it, but how could Wen miss Lian’s little tricks?

"Now you’re really doing me an injustice," Lian explained with a smile. "I had no intention of targeting you. I was merely worried about that dragon. After all, he saved Rory. If something happened to him tonight and Rory found out later, she would definitely be heartbroken."

Wen let out a cold laugh. "We know each other too well—no need for such hypocrisy." They had known each other for years; who was he trying to fool?

Lian said no more and turned toward the recreation area.

Vincent was sipping tea in the lounge area, holding a book in his hand. Seeing the two return, he looked up briefly without saying a word, then went back to reading.

Vangar was piloting the warship from the main control room, blissfully unaware of the drama taking place in the back.

A few hours later, aboard the Dragon Clan’s warship.

A clan member rushed over to report to the Grand Elder. "Grand Elder! The female Rory’s warship is catching up again!"

"What?" Shocked, the Grand Elder sprang up from his chair. "Are you sure it’s Lady Rory’s warship?"

The clan member nodded vigorously. "I saw that warship earlier today—there’s no mistaking it!"

"Quick, slow down our warship!" the Grand Elder ordered at once. "And remember—no one is allowed to inform the Dragon Lord!"

This time, if the Dragon Lord didn’t know Lady Rory was coming, he wouldn’t get the chance to take prohibited medicine in advance. In his current state, his body really couldn’t handle any more forbidden drugs.

No sooner had the Grand Elder finished giving instructions than Rory’s warship drew alongside them.

Having been woken up by Xarion, Rory watched the Dragon Clan warship drawing close, pondering how she should confront Paros to get him to return with her.

Before long, Rory’s warship slowed down, pulled up alongside the Dragon Clan vessel, and she immediately boarded.

The Grand Elder was already waiting on the deck for her. Seeing her arrive, he rushed forward with a warm smile. "Lady Rory, what brings you back so suddenly? Do you still have business to discuss with our Dragon Lord?"

Rory looked at him and said, "I do have something to find him for. Is he still in his room?"

"Yes, yes!" The Grand Elder nodded repeatedly. "Only, it’s quite late, so I didn’t notify our Dragon Lord of your arrival. He should be resting at the moment." The Grand Elder paused and flashed a kindly, beaming smile at Rory. "Lady Rory, what business do you have with our Dragon Lord? The door to his room isn’t locked—I’ll go report to him for you right now."

Hearing that the door wasn’t locked, Rory spoke directly: "No need to trouble you, Grand Elder. I’ll go find him myself."

With that, she headed straight for Paros’s room.

Watching the Grand Elder’s flustered eagerness, Lian shook his head with a light chuckle. "That Grand Elder really worries himself sick over that dragon."

Wen shot Lian a sideways glance. This guy is as annoying as ever.

Rory arrived at the door of Paros’s room. This time, she didn’t even bother knocking and pushed the door open directly.

The room was unlit and plunged in darkness. She remembered dragons loved gems and shiny things; every time she had visited Paros’s room before, even at night, it was always brightly lit.

Yet the dimness couldn’t block Rory’s vision. She could see the scene inside clearly.

Paros was lying on the bed, looking like an entirely different person from how he appeared earlier today. Not only had much of his hair turned stark white, but his complexion was appallingly pale.

Looking at him, Rory felt a mix of intense anger and heartbreak. He was already in this condition, yet he still refused to tell her the truth. What in the world was going through his head?

Gritting her teeth, Rory walked over to the bedside, just about to open her optical computer to call Lian over for a checkup.

Sensory awareness kicking in, the dragon on the bed suddenly snapped his eyes open. Paros assumed it was the Grand Elder coming in, but when he saw Rory, he thought for a moment that he was dreaming in a half-asleep daze.

"Rory...?"

Paros spoke, his voice so weak and frail that no amount of effort could fake the vibrant energy he had put on display earlier today.

"It’s me," Rory said, bending down to inspect his condition. Seeing that he wasn’t going to drop dead this very second, she figured there was no immediate rush to summon Lian just yet.

Realizing what was happening, Paros instinctively tried to cover his face and white hair, but couldn’t find anything within reach to shield himself. He had no choice but to avert his eyes from Rory’s gaze and ask in a cold, distant voice: "Why... why are you here again? Didn’t we make everything clear earlier today? I don’t want to see you anymore. We have nothing to do with each other now."

"Why am I here?" Hearing those words, the rage inside Rory flared up instantly like an ignited flame. "Why do you think I came looking for you again? You should know better than anyone! Take a look at yourself right now!"

Paros didn’t dare meet her eyes. Hearing her furious tone, he bit his lip softly and said, "My current appearance is only temporary. Once I get back to the Dragon Clan, I’ll be fine. It’s late—you should go back."

"Shut your mouth!"

Rory was so furious she could burst. "Not a single word coming out of your mouth is anything I want to hear!"

Before arriving, she had intended to talk things through calmly with Paros and find out why he would rather face death than mate with her. But hearing him talk like this now, she just wanted to slap some sense into him.

"Let me tell you something—now that I’m here, I’m not leaving so easily!"