The Zorah Magdaros capture operation finally came to an end.
The Research Commission had made history.
For the first time ever, they had successfully captured a super–large Elder Dragon.
Everyone was celebrating the victory.
Bai Chen stood atop the barricade, gazing down at Zorah Magdaros, now completely restrained by binding shots.
"If this big guy regains his strength, these binders won't be able to hold him much longer. Still, the Commission should be able to uncover some critical clues from this—such as the fact that Zorah Magdaros is already nearing the end of his lifespan."
Lost in thought, Bai Chen suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he saw the Commander walking toward him alone.
│ "How are your injuries? Do you need medical assistance?"
Bai Chen's battle with Nergigante had been extremely dangerous.
The fact that he was still alive was nothing short of a miracle in the eyes of the hunters.
│ "No need. I'm confident in my physical condition. A bit of rest will be enough."
│ "Truly monstrous resilience," the Commander sighed.
│ "How are your companions doing?"
│ "Basarios took the heaviest damage, but after Indeedee's treatment, he's already recovered quite a bit. Zinogre is fine—he'll heal himself in a day or two. Cosmog and Tinkatuff didn't directly participate in intense combat, so they're all safe."
The Commander paused, then suddenly asked,
│ "And your Nergigante partner—how is she now?"
The question was shockingly direct.
Bai Chen seemed to have expected it.
He let out a soft sigh.
│ "Commander… when did you realize it?"
│ "So you really do have an Elder Dragon as a partner," the Commander murmured in awe, a faint smile appearing.
│ "An Elder Dragon… you actually managed to tame a living natural disaster."
Bai Chen complained inwardly.
If you knew my Nergigante was Calamity-tier…
If you knew Cosmog could one day alter the balance of light and darkness itself…
I wonder if you'd still be smiling.
│ "Didn't you already confirm it before?" Bai Chen asked.
│ "Not with absolute certainty. I only had suspicions."
│ "Then how did you figure it out?"
│ "Simple. The number of monster balls on your belt—and the traces left on the monsters you captured."
The monster balls part made sense.
Each ball represented a companion.
By elimination, it was obvious one partner had never appeared publicly.
But the captured monsters puzzled Bai Chen.
He had meticulously cleaned every trace left by Nergigante.
The Commander read his thoughts and explained,
│ "You erased most of the evidence, but some unique traces always remain. I didn't know who your final partner was—until today, when that Nergigante appeared. That confirmed everything."
│ "I see."
│ "I wondered what kind of monster was worthy of such secrecy," the Commander said quietly.
│ "Now I understand. An Elder Dragon of that caliber… caution is only natural."
Bai Chen sighed again and said earnestly,
│ "Commander, since no other hunters have approached me, that means you're the only one who knows. I hope you'll keep this secret. I don't want scholars swarming my partner, nor people coveting her for their own ambitions."
The Commander fell silent for a moment, then asked solemnly,
│ "Can you guarantee complete control over that Nergigante?"
│ "We don't have a relationship of control," Bai Chen replied calmly.
│ "We grow together. They're my family."
│ "My apologies," the Commander corrected himself.
│ "Then can you guarantee she won't harm humans?"
│ "Let me put it this way," Bai Chen said steadily.
│ "Nergigante was my first companion. She's my most important family—and the one I trust the most. Even if Zinogre betrayed me one day, she never would. As long as no one deliberately harms her, she won't harm others."
The Commander studied Bai Chen's eyes.
│ "Very well."
Silence followed.
The Commander weighed the implications.
Bai Chen waited for the verdict.
After a long while, the Commander finally spoke again,
│ "I'm sorry. This matter must be reported to the Guild."
Bai Chen let out a quiet breath—
But the next words reignited hope.
│ "However, this is the New World—and I am the Commander. As long as you haven't exposed this to everyone, I can decide when it gets reported."
Bai Chen's eyes lit up.
│ "So you're agreeing to help me keep it secret?"
│ "My mission is to explore the New World and uncover the mystery of the Elder Crossing," the Commander replied.
│ "If you and your Elder Dragon can aid the Commission, you're more than welcome."
│ "Thank you, Commander," Bai Chen said sincerely.
│ "No need. I'm merely keeping you at Astera," the Commander smiled faintly.
│ "Had I refused, you would have left with your companions, wouldn't you?"
The world was vast.
If Bai Chen truly wished to vanish, no one could stop him.
│ "I'll also help suppress information going forward," the Commander added.
│ "By the way… may I meet your partner?"
Astera – Fourth Floor, Starship VIP Room
The Commander sat across from Bai Chen.
Nergigante lay quietly across Bai Chen's lap.
Seeing her so docile left the Commander stunned.
The Research Commission had crossed blades with Nergigante many times.
The so-called Most Wicked Dragon—
Yet now she lay like a tame house pet.
│ "Could you tell me more about Nergigante?" the Commander asked.
│ "Their species doesn't excel at elemental control, nor do they create natural disasters," Bai Chen explained.
│ "Instead, they deal with disasters."
│ "Deal with… disasters?"
│ "Simply put, they're pure Elder Dragon hunters. Driven by their hunger for massive energy, they hunt other Elder Dragons. You could see them as nature's self-cleansing mechanism—though they act purely on instinct, not altruism."
│ "That explains it…" the Commander murmured.
│ "No wonder we often observe them near other Elder Dragons."
│ "Compared to Elder Dragons, humans don't interest them much," Bai Chen added.
│ "Killing humans simply isn't worth the energy."
The Commander had no reason to doubt him.
As the world's first knight to raise Nergigante, Bai Chen understood her better than anyone.
│ "Then she truly is the perfect partner for you," the Commander concluded.
An Elder Dragon hunter guided by a human—
She could become the greatest ecological regulator of all.
They talked for two full hours.
By the end, the Commander had promised to shield Bai Chen and protect his secret.
Back home, Bai Chen chose not to train that night.
Everyone had given everything during the capture operation.
Tinkatuff, Indeedee, and the others were already asleep on the floor cushions.
Even Zinogre—the most diligent of them—was snoring softly.
Bai Chen pulled out a chair and opened his Hunter's Notes.
Nergigante hopped onto his shoulder.
│ "Roar?"
│ "The system rewarded me with a Pure Elder Dragon Egg," Bai Chen explained.
│ "I need to carefully plan our eighth companion."
The egg required only gene fragments to activate.
Low entry barrier—but limited results.
│ "Only Normal-tier Elder Dragons…"
Based on his past-life knowledge, the New World housed eight Normal-tier Elder Dragons besides Nergigante:
Kirin
Frost Kirin
Kushala Daora
Teostra
Lunastra
Vaal Hazak
Velkhana
Namielle
And possibly—
Chameleos
Malzeno
Shagaru Magala
Though the last two were highly unlikely.
│ "That makes nine choices…" Bai Chen muttered.
│ "Which one should I choose?"
The most precious first decision.
It has to be perfect.
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