"If you want to gloat, then come closer. Let me bite your head off while you are at it," Tiemezzys mocked.
"You have lost," Jack said. "But we will let you go."
The others were surprised by Jack's declaration. So, what was all their effort fighting this yellow dragon for?
Hashi had the strongest reaction. "What the hell do you mean we let him go? He killed a number of my crews. No way I'm letting him go! He is also a level 90 eternal grade. If he decides to come back for revenge, it will be difficult to stop him. It's not every day we all gather like this."
'Not to mention we might not have the divine might potion the next time,' Hashi added in his mind.
"My faction has a sufficient stock of resurrection potion," Real Janus said. "Your members haven't died for more than an hour. I can get the potions and resurrect them."
As for the Young Januses who died, they were mere copies. It didn't matter even if they were not resurrected. There were still plenty of these copies lying around.
"I still don't understand why you want to spare him," Ragorth said.
"Heh! He is just bluffing," Tiemezzys laughed. "His kind is known for their greediness. You will get lots of exp and loots if you kill me. There is no way you let me go. I know what you are trying to do. You want to catch me off guard, don't you? You know I will take more of you down before I breathe my last. That's why you try to trick me with this bullshit. Well, guess what? I am not that stupid!"
"You were stupid enough to accept the deal for coming here," Jack returned. "But no, this is not a trick."
Jack walked toward Tiemezzys after finished speaking.
Eyrene came to his front, preventing him from advancing. Jack nodded at her and tapped her shoulder gently, telling her that it was okay. She reluctantly moved aside, but she followed beside Jack, ready for anything in case Tiemezzys made a move. The other royal agents also came to Jack's side.
Tiemezzys stared at Jack in bewilderment. Jack was very close now. He was in his human form without any defensive enchantment. Elayne had also stopped messing with his mind. It wouldn't be difficult to kill this human now.
He was very itchy to do so. Yet, he was surprised to find himself not moving. He just stared at the human as he arrived before him. He realized then that he believed Jack was telling the truth, and he was curious about why Jack did so.
He voiced his curiosity, "Why?"
"Because a friend of mine will be sad if you die," Jack replied.
"… A friend?"
"Broidrireg," Jack answered.
"You know Broidrireg?" Tiemezzys was surprised to hear the name.
"We not only know, but Broidrireg is also our country guardian!" Lindsey exclaimed. She was the weakest melee combatant among Jack's royal agents. Yet, she stood the closest to Jack. She was ready to use her body to cover Jack in case anything happened.
"Broidrireg? Lies…!! He will never be any country's guardian!" Tiemezzys bellowed. His head came dangerously close to Jack. Lindsey hurriedly put herself to the front. Eyrene and Robinson did the same.
Jack pushed at them gently. He moved forward right before Tiemezzys's head. He could touch the dragon's snout if he wanted to.
Tiemezzys stared into Jack's eyes. He didn't see any lies in them, but he also couldn't believe Jack's words. He had indeed been in seclusion all this time, so he might not know about the latest developments in the world. But Broidrireg supporting a country? That was an absurd proposition.
"You can go to Mount Thenias and see for yourself. He stays in your old lair. I'm sure he will be glad to see you," Jack said.
When Tiemezzys was still pondering Jack's words, he gestured to Janus, who made a series of hand movements. A light portal appeared near them then.
Tiemezzys turned to that portal. He could sense that this portal was the exit to the outside world. It was very close. If he dashed in that direction, no one would be able to stop him.
Tiemezzys looked back at Jack again. He still found it hard to believe everything this young king said. He was truly spared? Broidrireg was truly Themisphere's new country guardian?
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Tiemezzys started moving toward the portal. He still stared vigilantly at everybody, in case they made a sudden move.
Hashi was itching to move, but he saw that everyone stayed put. So, he also didn't move.
When Tiemezzys almost stepped into the portal, Jack's voice stopped him again.
"Tiemezzys!" Jack called. "I let you go this time for Broidrireg's sake. But if you come to cause me harm again, I won't show any more mercy the next time. I want us to be clear on this."
Tiemezzys sneered. "You only win this time because of your allies. You are not my match if you are alone."
"That's true," Jack said. "But I always have my allies backing me up."
Tiemezzys didn't give a response. He just gave Jack one last stare before he stepped into the exit portal.
After he was gone, everyone could finally relax.
Another light portal appeared, which caused almost everyone to tense again, but they saw it was another Young Janus. This Young Janus carried a bag with him.
"Inside this bag are the resurrection potions. Please administer them to your members," Real Janus said. These casualties happened because of his evil twin, so he felt responsible. He didn't think it was a pity to lose these valuable resurrection potions.
Ragorth and Hashi's aides immediately took the potions and went to their fallen comrades.
As for the ones who had been turned into stone earlier by Tiemezzys's earth pillars, their petrification ended once Tiemezzys walked out of the portal. Jonathan came to them with a bewildered look.
"Did we win? I don't see that giant dragon's corpse," he said.
The other royal agents filled him in on what had happened. Jack went to greet Ragorth and Hashi.
"Thank you for your help, Master Ragorth, Master Hashi," Jack said. "You have truly helped us. We would have surely lost if not for your timely arrival, but why have you come here? And how?"
Ragorth and Hashi looked at one another before answering, "It's because of one of your guild members. She was the one telling us that the murderer of the faction leaders was hiding here and you were in that murderer's captivity."
