“Could Julius be lying?” Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend the situation. Even Rufus appeared surprised.
Reston Rever was considered a legendary figure in the Black Dragon Army, sharing camaraderie with Rufus in battles that defended their homeland and achieved greatness together.
However, he disappeared ten years ago during the upheaval in Oakvale.
A charred corpse with Reston’s insignia was found in the midst of the blaze. Later, a ceremonial tomb was erected in the cemetery to commemorate him.
To their surprise, the familiar name resurfaced after many years, and even more shockingly, the person was alive. What in the world was happening?
“Surprised, aren’t you?” Julius grinned.
“When I first saw Reston, I was just as shocked as you are now. I never expected a person declared dead for ten years to stand before me alive.
“Curiosity got the better of me, so I had a good chat with him. Do you want to know what I found out?”
After scanning the crowd, Julius continued, building suspense, “The Reston from ten years ago is no more. He goes by Reagan Judd and is now the new guildmaster of the Dragon Guard.”
“What? Reston is the Dragon Guard’s guildmaster?” The revelation left the onlookers in renewed shock.
Although there was no clear evidence during the upheaval in Oakvale back then, many clues pointed to the mysterious organization known as the Dragon Guard hidden behind the royal family.
Due to their immense size and influence, even the then-mighty Prince of West Lucozia dared not openly engage in war. He had chosen to endure in silence instead.
No one could have imagined that the former Grand General of the Black Dragon Army would become the Dragon Guard’s guildmaster. This shift in identity was truly astonishing.
“Go on.” Dustin’s expression remained unchanged. He needed detailed information since he was already aware of Reston.
“After Reston-I mean, after Reagan came looking for me, he proposed a deal.
“He claimed that as long as I formed an alliance with him, we could enjoy the world together, becoming its co-rulers.
“I didn’t believe him at first. I even thought he was crazy. However, to convince me, he solemnly promised to support me in ascending to the throne of West Lucozia.
“Having been a Grand General for so many years, I must admit, I harbored a genuine desire to take that extra step and experience the life of the Prince of West Lucozia.
“So, I asked him how he planned to support my ascent. His plan involved assassinating Rufus, paving the way for my rebellion and the chance to claim the throne.
“I was hesitant at first. One, I didn’t believe him, and two, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So, I didn’t agree right away.
“However, the lunatic said that he already had it all planned out and just told me to make preparations.
“Of course, I didn’t believe he had that ability. After all, there have been countless attempts to assassinate the Prince of West Lucozia every year, but none have succeeded.
“I never dreamed that he actually managed to do it in less than three days!
“When I heard the news that the Prince of West Lucozia had been assassinated, my heart was mixed with emotions.
“On one hand, I felt sad for losing a brother. And on the other hand, I was consumed with desires for power and status.
“I knew that as long as I cooperated with Reagan, there was a great chance that I would not only become the Prince of West Lucozia but even the ruler of the world.
“So, I couldn’t resist the temptation, chose to form an alliance, and made such a foolish decision.” Having said this, Julius sighed deeply, looking regretful.
Of course, his regret wasn’t about rebelling. It stemmed from the fact that Rufus survived. Otherwise, he would have ascended to power by now.
