From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 330 Board of Directors: Old man, is it you who brought the White King here?
Portofino, Italy.

Brightly colored houses surround the emerald bay, bathed in the warm Mediterranean sun, accompanied by the July sea breeze, as you stroll through the stone-paved alleys and among the green trees.

Nestled against lush, green mountains, stands a solitary, pure white fortress. Its exterior walls are made of hard marble, and it faces the bay, its detached structure weathered and aged, like an old man in his twilight years, bearing the heavy burden of time.

This place was once a place of ascetic practice for ancient monks. Later, it was purchased by the Gattuso family and used as the venue for the annual meetings of the European Secret Party.

This year, thanks to the mess caused by the Kassel commissioner in Japan, the board meeting was convened ahead of schedule.

In the dimly lit room, there was only a row of candlesticks on the long table. The flickering light illuminated four men and two women, who were now the family heads who held power in the Dragon Blood Secret Party.

The content of the usual meetings can be summarized as follows: a general thank you to all the board members for their contributions to the dragon-slaying cause. After all, without the support of these "suckers", Principal Angers would not have been able to spend millions of dollars more on bills every year, let alone travel the world in style.

Of course, the reason why the leaders of the Secret Society were willing to pay this expense was simply because they couldn't find anyone to replace Angers.

But today's situation is a little different.

Every member of the board of directors had a solemn expression, even a somewhat serious one. A low-pressure atmosphere filled the air, as if foreshadowing the calm before the storm.

The old man, leaning on a cane, had a gloomy face. He shook the brass bell beside him, his deep voice like the scraping of rust: "Angers, the briefing on the details of the Japanese mission says that the awakened White King was killed by 'divine retribution.' Is this true?"

The first to speak was Frost Gattuso, who was Caesar's uncle by blood and also the Gattuso family's representative.

Strangely enough, the Gattuso family's representative should have been Caesar's father, Pompey Gattuso, but due to the man's eccentric nature and his dissolute lifestyle, he invested large sums of money every year but was completely too lazy to participate in the school board meetings. Therefore, his brother Frost took over the power of the school board.

The Gattuso family holds the largest share of power on the board of directors, and their influence is equally significant among mixed-race families.

Faced with Frost's questioning, Angers, sitting at the head of the table, responded calmly, holding a martini and gently shaking it, saying, "Of course it's true, Frost, my old friend."

The old man, who was holding a string of sandalwood beads, rang a bell and said, "Angers, we have received some information that differs from what you have said. Would you like to hear it?"

Having said that, before Angers could answer, the old man, who was holding prayer beads, continued, "After the Skywatchers arrived above the coordinates and threw out all their tungsten rods, they were intercepted by an unknown force at an altitude of six thousand meters above the ground. They did not kill the White King as expected. So the question is, where did the White King go?"

"Oh? There is such a thing?"

Angers raised an eyebrow, looking quite surprised: "That's such a shame. I thought the White King was dead."

Frost rang the bell, his tone clearly angry, and said in a deep voice, "Angers, we are not joking with you. In the incident of the White King's awakening in the Tamagawa Mountains of Japan, you concealed something from the Board of Trustees. We invest a large sum of money every year and have the right to know the truth!"

"The truth?" Angers said calmly, "Didn't I submit a briefing? It should be very clear on it."

"Your briefing didn't mention the fact that the 'White King' is still alive!" Frost rang the bell, his already gloomy face now showing a hint of anger: "Adam Angelweid, you stole the White King's authority, do you need us to make it any clearer?"

The Dragonblood Secrets could tolerate Angers's extravagant lifestyle and even watch him expand his power and extend his influence into the Secrets themselves.

But that doesn't mean they can accept the existence of someone who is suspected to be the 'White King'!

"Oh, since you all already know, why are you asking me?" Angers said indifferently.

“Angers, we need an explanation.” The veiled girl, Elizabeth Laurent, shook a bell in her hand, her bright eyes slightly narrowed, and said softly, “The newly born White King Adam Angelweid is a student in Kassel, and you two seem to be very close.”

“Don’t use such easily misunderstood words.” Angers remained calm and rang the bell, saying, “To be precise, it should be considered ‘cooperation’.”

"Have you ever seen a jackal and a lamb cooperate?" Frost's eyes were extremely oppressive as he rang the bell. "Angers, you've grown old, even foolish. Now we have reason to doubt whether your stance is still on the side of humanity. Or... can we assume that you've been controlled by the White King?"

“It’s truly heartbreaking, my old friend, Frost.” Angers sighed regretfully and said, “For the sake of our long-standing relationship, I’ll offer an explanation: while cooperation is based on equality between the two parties, there’s an additional condition: that is, when their needs align.”

“What’s the need?” another school board member, Lisa, asked, ringing the bell.

"A belief, a religion, a symbol."

Angers said calmly, "Compared to those ethereal religions, you only need to pay some faith to completely end the era of the 'Dragon Race.' Don't you think this is a very worthwhile deal?"

The board of directors fell silent for a moment, their brows furrowing, their eyes revealing expressions of doubt, shock, or sneer.

"Ridiculous! We don't need any faith!"

Frost chuckled coldly and rang the bell, saying, "As for the White King's promise, it's an even bigger joke!"

"According to our intelligence, the newly born White King is suspected of having the power to manipulate people's minds."

The old man, who was holding prayer beads, slightly raised his eyelids, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "Therefore, we have decided to immediately relieve you of all your duties and place you under investigation and isolation. Frost will temporarily assume the position of Principal of Kassel and implement the policy of eliminating the new White King Adam Angelweid."

What if I say no?

Angers leaned back in his chair, one hand supporting his chin, and looked at the assembled board members with a half-smile, saying calmly, "What do you plan to do? Kill me, or start a war?"

“Angers, I must admit, you are very strong,” Frost said calmly. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t handle you, understand?”

“You’ve been brainwashed by the White King, Angers.”

The old man twirled the beads and said coldly, "Otherwise, I really can't believe that you, who once harbored such hatred for the dragon race, would actually be willing to cooperate with the White King, and in such a ridiculous way."

"It seems there's no room for negotiation."

Angers sighed and said regretfully, "To be honest, I don't think there's any loss. After all, all it takes is a little faith to win the future, isn't it?"

“Angers, have you ever considered that the future promised by the White King is to return humanity to a world ruled by Him?”

The veiled girl rang a bell, her voice soft yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Under no circumstances can we entrust the future of humanity to the promise of a dragon king."

"Of course I won't believe a promise that's just empty talk."

Angers said calmly, “However, Adam Angelweid gave me sufficient reasons and allowed me to witness the ‘truth’ of the world, so I decided to cooperate with Him.”

"What truth?"

Frost asked.

"Do you believe that so-called 'fate,' and even the history of dragons and humans, were created by a laughable quill pen?" Angers' eyes held a hint of self-mockery as he sighed, "The great Black King Nidhogg is merely a 'supporting character' in someone else's story. How ridiculous."

"I think you've really gone mad, Angers!" Frost opened his mouth, then finally roared, "This is utter nonsense! In my capacity as a member of the school board, I hereby formally announce your dismissal and that you be placed under investigation!"

The old man, fiddling with the beads, rang his bell and nodded, saying, "Agreed."

Elizabeth followed suit: "Agreed."

The man in the bright yellow tracksuit rang a bell: "Agreed."

The last mature woman, Lisa glanced at her regretfully, nodded, and rang the bell: "I agree."

"Unanimously approved, Hilbert Jean Angers, you are officially relieved of all duties and placed under quarantine for investigation." Frost said in a deep voice, "As for the White King Adam Angelweid, he must be executed. We cannot allow a dragon king to roam freely in human society!"

"The negotiations failed."

Angers rubbed his furrowed brow, looking somewhat troubled, and said, "It was precisely because I knew you were reacting strongly that I deliberately kept it from you, but it still turned out like this."

“Angers, don’t even think about resisting. We know the weaknesses of Time Zero very well.”

Frost, leaning on his cane, rose abruptly from his seat, staring intently at Angers, and said coldly, "From the moment you stepped into this house, a red-heat sensing trap was laid around it. Even if you possessed a Word of Power like 'Time Zero,' you couldn't possibly escape."

"Just as you said, it failed."

Angers showed no sign of nervousness. His gaze swept over each of the school board members before settling on a secluded corner. He sighed, "Then I'll leave the rest to you."

The school board members followed his gaze and discovered a figure suddenly appearing in a corner that no one had noticed.

The man was dressed in a simple, long priest's robe, with light golden hair cascading down his shoulders. His eyes were as pure and clear as a baby's, and a gentle, warm smile played on his lips. "Nice to meet you, esteemed board members. I am Adam Angelweid."

In an instant, the faces of the school board members changed, revealing expressions of utter horror.

We were just discussing how to eliminate the White King's board of directors, only to find out that the real White King was right next to us. This is practically suicide!
Frost's forehead veins bulged as he looked at Angers with a mixture of shock and anger, his eyes seeming to say: It was you, old man, who brought the White King here.

"No, it's impossible!"

The old man stared at the 'White King' in shock, the prayer beads falling from his hand. He exclaimed in horror, "How...how did you get in?"

"The White King. Adam Angelweid!"

The remaining school board members all wore expressions of horror, their pupils shrinking to the size of pinpoints.

"I've always been here, you just haven't 'noticed' it."

Adam slowly walked to the head seat, and Angers rose to offer him the seat. Adam slowly sat down, as if it were his right to sit there.

"Angers, are you...are you crazy?!" Even Lisa, who had always been on Angers' side, couldn't help but scream, her eyes filled with deep fear.

The secret agents who lead the mixed-race faction control the economic and political lifeline of Europe. These once high and mighty figures are now showing extreme fear when facing the 'White King,' completely losing their composure and mystery.

That bastard Angers is a complete madman! He actually brought the White King to the board of directors!

"Someone! Come quickly!"

Frost threw away his cane and shouted loudly.

The middle-aged man in cycling gear, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately stood up from his seat, pouncing towards the door of the room like a nimble cheetah.

The old man, who was holding prayer beads, swallowed hard, and his eyes shone with a pale golden light, as if he were using incantations.

However, all of this suddenly calmed down after Adam tapped his index finger on the table.

"Be quiet."

An invisible emotional fluctuation swept through the entire room.

The middle-aged man rushing towards the door seemed frozen in place, maintaining his motion as if trying to pull the door open; the old man holding prayer beads looked terrified, his mouth agape but unable to utter a sound; Frost's pupils shrank, and he stood rooted to the spot like a puppet; the remaining two female school board members were also as if silenced, only able to stare wide-eyed in fear.

"Originally, I didn't intend to be so rough."

Adam looked at the panicked expressions of the school board members and said calmly, "But there's this bastard who's always messing with me and provoking me again and again, so I've decided to consolidate the Secret Party."

"Integration. Secret Party?"

Upon hearing this, the school board members immediately felt a sense of foreboding.

"Yes, after all, I hate trouble."

Adam rested his cheek on his hand and chuckled, "Then please, all you board members, comply with my will."

As soon as he finished speaking, countless swirling ripples seemed to ripple deep within his pure and clear eyes. The board members present were unconsciously drawn to his gaze, their souls seemingly falling into the depths of the whirlpool. Their expressions gradually stiffened, and their empty eyes lost focus.

Through the vast ocean of collective unconsciousness, the mental entity was manipulated to directly infiltrate the unconscious ocean of the school board members, and a command of 'obedience' was implanted deep within the island of their minds.

Without a sound, the school board, which held the greatest power over the mixed-race population, was completely reduced to a puppet.

Angers, watching this scene, felt a complex mix of emotions: "Now, you are one of the most powerful people in the world."

The Dragonblood Secret Society's power is astonishing. For example, Elizabeth Laurent, one of the most famous syndicates in Britain, controls a large amount of mineral resources. Another example is Frost, the de facto ruler of the Gattuso family. It can be said that Adam, who possesses this power, is equivalent to the 'uncrowned emperor' of the hybrid race!
With such terrifying power, overthrowing the rule of a country would be as easy as turning one's hand.

"Power is the most useless thing, isn't it?" Adam said calmly.

“Yes, power truly means nothing to you.” Angers sighed, looking down at the person in the main seat, and asked, “What do you plan to do next?”

"Of course, it's time to settle the final accounts."

Adam's eyes were half-closed, and he gave a cold laugh, saying, "Odin, the King of the Sky and the Wind!"

(End of this chapter)