Looking at the silent blue-haired beauty suddenly appeared in front of her, Rebecca grew cautious.

She observed carefully for a moment. The beauty had a long tail behind her as well, just like her sister-in-law, but unlike Roswitha's, the color of her tail was sea blue.

So… this must be the one the captain had been yelling for toward the sea earlier… Claudia?

When Claudia appeared, Leon didn’t bother beating around the bush.

“Claudia, please, I need you to save my master.”

The beautiful woman raised her eyebrows and glanced at Tiger, who was lying on the ground. Her expression froze for a moment, and her gaze turned somewhat complex.

From the displeasure that surfaced at the mention of the word “master” to the shock and astonishment upon seeing Tiger himself, these emotions fleetingly crossed Claudia’s face in mere seconds.

Leon noticed these subtle expressions. It seemed his master indeed had intricate ties with the Sea Dragon Clan.

“And why should I save a human?”

She neither agreed nor directly refused but instead questioned Leon, using Tiger’s human identity as the focus.

“My… My master was murmuring before he fell unconscious about reaching the Sea Dragon Clan. I think… there might be a way here to save him.”

“That’s not the answer I was hoping for, Leon.”

Claudia spoke languidly. “Or perhaps, let me rephrase: you, and the little girl beside you, you’re both human, aren’t you?”

Leon pressed his lips together, his voice becoming softer.

He glanced at his master. At this point, there was no reason to keep hiding the truth.

“Yes, we’re both human.”

“So, let me get this straight—Leon Casmode, the so-called ‘hero’ who once helped seal the spatial rift and indirectly saved part of the Dragon Clan, the prince of the Silver Dragon Clan… is actually a human?”

Leon’s gaze wavered slightly, but in the end, he met Claudia’s eyes head-on and faced her elegant, almond-shaped eyes.

“You’re right, Claudia. But I’ll explain everything to you later. Please, I beg you, save my master first. He doesn’t have much time left.”

“Hmph, cheeky brat. At least you’re honest.”

Claudia snorted meaningfully before leaping down from the reef and walking over to them.

Rebecca, eyes glued to the elegant woman, stealthily leaned toward Leon and whispered,

“So, this is Claudia, the one we were yelling for earlier?”

“Mm-hmm,” Leon confirmed quietly.

“Wow, the sea is so vast, and she actually heard us calling her?”

“Don’t be naive, little human girl.”

Claudia stood next to Roswitha. “It’s Roswitha who released the magical pulse only a Dragon King of Queen can sense. That’s how I knew you were here. Otherwise, no matter how loudly you shouted, I wouldn’t have heard a thing.”

“Dragon King…? But isn’t Poseidon the Sea Dragon Clan’s Dragon King?”

“Of course. But my father is not home right now. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be me you’re seeing—it’d be the Sea Dragon Clan’s guards escorting you.”

Rebecca swallowed nervously and whispered under her breath, “This auntie seems… kind of impatient.”

Leon gritted his teeth. “If you know her temper, then for heaven’s sake, stop calling her ‘auntie.’”

“Ah, got it!”

Compared to Leon and Rebecca, Roswitha appeared far more composed.

She understood that the moment Claudia sensed her magical pulse, she already knew precisely who was coming.

If Claudia truly had no intention of helping, she wouldn’t have shown up in the first place. She could’ve completely ignored Leon and the girl shouting their voices hoarse well into the night.

Now that she was here, it meant Tiger still had hope.

Claudia crouched slightly, examining Tiger’s condition.

“His heart is severely damaged, and his other internal organs have varying degrees of injuries. Who did this to him?” Claudia’s tone was grave.

“A new elite squad trained by the Empire—the Spearhead Trio. They wield the power of Primordial Magic.”

“Ah, yes, I’ve heard of them. That trio has been making quite the mark on the frontline battles recently, causing a lot of trouble for different clans.”

Leon stepped forward eagerly. “How’s my master’s condition?”

“Not good,” Claudia replied bluntly.

She straightened up again. “I need to take him back for a more thorough examination to see if there’s any way to save his life.”

Leon’s eyes lit up, his joy and excitement barely concealed. “You’ll save my master?!”

“Don’t celebrate too soon, Leon.” Claudia’s gaze remained firm. “With injuries like his, all I can say is… I’ll do my best.”

She walked to the shore. “Follow my lead, everyone. We’re heading to the underwater palace of Atlantis.”

As her words fell, an immense burst of magical energy radiated outward from Claudia, surging like tidal waves.

In the next moment, a massive blue dragon shot upwards from the light, soaring into the sky.

However, the dragon’s form looked significantly different from the traditional Dragon Clan forms like Roswitha or Isa.

Claudia’s dragon form resembled a mythological flood dragon, sleek, agile, and serpentine.

“Wow… I’ve never seen a dragon like this before.”

Rebecca exclaimed in wonder. “It’s so beautiful.”

*Cough-cough.*

“Of course, sis-in-law’s dragon form is beautiful too! Everyone’s beautiful!”

Young people sure learn quickly. Thirty seconds ago, she had called her “auntie.” Thirty seconds later, she diplomatically balanced her compliments.

Claudia spiraled above the island, and before long, a massive magical bubble formed beneath their feet.

The bubble carried the group as it followed Claudia’s lead, diving straight into the ocean.

As they descended deeper, the breathtaking underwater world gradually unfolded before their eyes in vivid, shifting colors.

“So, the Sea Dragon Clan has lived here for generations?” Roswitha asked.

“Yes. To adapt to the underwater environment, our ancestors gradually evolved our dragon forms into what they are today.”

Claudia’s voice resonated through the magical ripples surrounding the bubble.

Leon’s thoughts stirred, and he spoke up, “Claudia, you know my master, don’t you?”

From Claudia’s earlier reactions and the two magic tomes his master had taken out before, their acquaintance seemed undeniable. Otherwise, Claudia wouldn’t have agreed so readily to save him.

Faced with Leon’s question, Claudia was silent for a few seconds before replying,

“You could say I do.”

“Then you and he are—”

“Don’t ask any more questions.” Claudia interrupted. “Someone else will explain everything to you shortly.”

Leon froze. “Someone else…?”

Could it be that besides Claudia, someone else in the Sea Dragon Clan knew either him or Tiger?

With doubt lingering in his heart, Leon and the others finally arrived at the depths of the ocean—

“Welcome to the palace of the Sea Dragon Clan—Atlantis.”

The scene before them suddenly transformed. Past the clusters of underwater reefs and yawning trenches lay an isolated and idyllic paradise.

Atlantis.

Claudia reverted to her human form and gave a small wave of her hand, causing the magical bubble around the group to vanish.

Rebecca quickly pinched her nose and spoke in a muffled voice, “Oh no! Captain, the blue-haired lady is trying to suffocate us!”

“...You’re standing here without being crushed into meat paste by the underwater pressure, and you’re worried about breathing?”

“Eh?”

Rebecca tentatively unpinched her nose and took a breath. “I… I can breathe normally?”

“The Sea Dragon Clan, being a branch of the Dragon Clan, cannot truly breathe underwater without restraint. So, Atlantis is surrounded by a barrier, with enough oxygen inside for us to breathe.” Claudia explained.

“Oh, I see…” Rebecca nodded, half-understanding.

Roswitha looked up at the barrier above them, mentally calculating the distance from here to the ocean’s surface. She couldn’t help but marvel,

“This really is an ideal place to seclude oneself.”

“Now come on, everyone. We need to save a life.”

Leon gave an affirming nod, hoisted his master onto his back, and quickly followed Claudia.

“Cough… Kid, are we… there yet…” Tiger asked feebly.

“Yes, Master, we’ve made it to the Sea Dragon Clan. You’ll be okay soon.”

“Ah… we’ve arrived. That’s good, that’s good.”

Hearing this, Leon found it slightly puzzling.

It seemed his master wasn’t particularly concerned about whether or not someone here could save him. What truly mattered to him was… simply reaching the Sea Dragon Clan.

It was as if coming here was his ultimate goal, not saving his own life.

But Leon didn’t have time to dwell on this. Whatever his master’s intentions, Leon was determined to save him.

Claudia led the group around the palace and went into a secret chamber at the back.

In the center of the chamber stood a bed made entirely of icy frost. Claudia gestured toward it. “Lay Tiger down on this.”

Leon obeyed and asked. “Is this some kind of magical material?”

“Deep Abyss Frost Ice. It’s used for life preservation,” Claudia explained succinctly.

As Tiger lay down, he started coughing up blood, the bright red liquid staining the icy bed beneath him.

Claudia immediately began a much more detailed examination of his condition.

“Leon, and you, human girl, go to that shelf over there and find two boxes for me. One is labeled ‘Ghost Lotus Herb,’ and the other says ‘Frost Bone Powder.’”

The two of them complied at once and quickly brought back the items Claudia needed.

“Ghost Lotus Herb… Frost Bone Powder… along with Deep Abyss Frost Ice… Your Sea Dragon Clan is indeed well-resourced. Ordinary Dragon Clans probably haven’t even heard of these things,” Roswitha remarked in admiration.

“One of the perks of living in the depths of the sea—you get to stumble upon treasures from tens of thousands of years ago.”

Using both the Ghost Lotus Herb and Frost Bone Powder simultaneously, Claudia infused precise amounts of magical energy into Tiger’s circuits to ensure his body could properly absorb the medicinal effects.

Claudia’s brows furrowed tightly. She dared not let her concentration waver.

If she made even the slightest mistake, it would lead to irreversible consequences.

Leon and the others fell silent, refraining from any interruptions, allowing Claudia to focus entirely on the treatment.

At this moment, both Leon and Rebecca felt their hearts in their throats.

If Tiger were to die like this, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to both of them.

For Leon, there was no need for much explanation. He had grown up under his master’s care and guidance, which had led to his achievements today.

As for Rebecca, her parents had passed away early, and it was Tiger who had extended a helping hand several times, enabling her to complete her studies at the Dragon Slayer Academy. Each time she called him "old man," it was with the affection of someone addressing a true family member.

He absolutely could not fall here, especially not on the eve of dawn.

When Claudia finished her treatment, she leaned exhaustedly on the edge of the icy bed, cold sweat dripping down her temple.

Yet there was no response from Tiger.

“Senior, my master—how is he? How is he?” Leon asked urgently.

Claudia slowly stood up. After a moment of silence, she shook her head.

“His heart has been damaged beyond repair. Even a supreme healing elixir like Ghost Lotus Grass cannot extend his life.”

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck. Leon froze in place.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it was as if something clogged his throat, preventing any words from coming out.

He knew what it was—despair and grief, mixed together.

Roswitha gently walked to his side and tightly held his hands.

She could clearly feel that these hands, which had slain countless enemies and weathered many storms, were trembling uncontrollably.

“No... it can’t be. My master won’t die like this—”

“Leon.”

Before his emotions could completely collapse, Claudia spoke.

“Tiger knew better than anyone that his wounds were beyond healing. When he came here, he wasn’t looking for salvation.”

“Then why? Why would my master insist on coming to the Sea Dragon Clan? There’s no cure for him here, so why?”

“Because—”

Before she could explain, a commotion arose at the entrance of the chamber.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, you can’t enter! Her Highness Claudia explicitly instructed us—”

“Let me in! Sister, he’s come for me, hasn’t he? I know he’s come for me! Let me in!”

“Your Highness, Your Highness Charlotte!”

Charlotte...

That name—

Leon turned toward the chamber entrance, his eyes widening as he saw the familiar figure barging in despite the guards’ attempts to restrain her.

He murmured, dumbstruck,

“Master’s wife...”