Marcella, seated elegantly at the head of a long wooden table, let her fingertips trace the delicate edge of her teacup. Each nail, painted with her special Enchanted polish, shimmered and changed colors subtly as her fingers moved. It had taken her years of trial and error to perfect this Enchantment, but the rewards had been beyond anyone's expectations.

Opposite her sat a tall man, his chiseled features illuminated by the soft candlelight. As he perused the report in his hands, the silver ring on his finger caught the light, revealing a family crest. After a moment, the parchment in his hands went up in flames with a mere snap of his fingers, leaving nothing but ash that floated gently onto the ornate carpet.

"Good," he murmured in a voice that resonated with authority. He reached for his teacup, inspecting its intricate patterns before indulging in a sip. The steam from the cup curled upwards, vanishing into the vastness above. "I'll ensure the resources are dispatched promptly for your subsequent endeavors—do not, however, allow them to run rogue."

Marcella responded with a mere nod, her face a mask of impassivity, betraying no emotion. As she set her teacup down, she prepared to steer the conversation into more pressing matters.

"They've decided to pin their blunders on the Human," she began, her voice soft yet firm.

The man's sharp eyes narrowed, clearly intrigued. "A cunning strategy," he admitted, leaning back into his plush chair.

"It is not unexpected from them," Marcella replied.

"They will be taken care of in due time. And as for the other prominent families, they're starting to make their moves, trying to tilt the scales in their favor," the man explained, gently placing the teacup down, making it clink on its little plate.

"I've heard," Marcella confessed with a slight frown, her thoughts racing. "But we cannot afford to lose the Human's allegiance."

The man's gaze drifted upwards, lost in the grandeur of the vaulted ceiling, an architectural marvel that stood testament to the unknown builders of the chamber. Not meant for a Human nor an Elf—the ceiling’s paint only showed Dragons flying, battling, and, well, accumulating treasures – their favorite pastime. After a contemplative moment, he took a deep breath, clicked his tongue, and replied, "The Gens Claudia is making dangerous moves. The Gens Valeria is..."

He did not finish the sentence, almost afraid.

The amber lighting of the chamber made the room look all the more solemn, reflecting off the polished surfaces and glinting in Marcella's eyes. The man, with an increasingly evident look of concern, adjusted his posture.

"Can we trust this information?" He asked, his voice layered with urgency as he lifted a report that Aureamanus had brought him. On it, there were several sketches of steaks.

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Marcella nodded slowly, "Our sources are reliable."

"And all of this came to light because of the Human’s experiments?" The man questioned, his eyebrow arched inquisitively.

"Indeed," Marcella confirmed. "He's proven invaluable in ways we hadn't initially considered."

The man sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What's the damage?"

"The details of the death have leaked, and now, more news leaked to the populace that the newly appointed [Captain] was killed by the Human and one of their [Chefs] who, apparently, had an intimate relationship with the victim."

The man leaned back, absorbing the gravity of the revelation. "Having gone through the initial reports, I need to know if intervening in this matter, in light of the current allegations, is worth the risk."

Marcella’s response was firm, her eyes unwavering. "Given the implications and the power dynamics at play, it’s a matter of utmost importance."

"Magical food," the man muttered, "does it actually work?"

Marcella’s expression conveyed a mix of frustration and determination. "You've seen the evidence, haven't you?"

The man waved his hand dismissively, trying to defuse her growing impatience. "Yes, I have. A Tier 4 rune incorporated into food..."

"Ethereal Cattle," Marcella specified. "And he has found magical wheat in the Dungeon. It's so powerful that not even the farmland around Amorium has been able to germinate its seeds. They have been conducting controlled experiments, but they are not even close to cracking it."

“Aureamanus, this is a welcome development, but are you sure we need the Human?”

“He is the forest that will prevent the mountain from crumbling upon us.”

"Is this food enough to act as a shield against sickness and plagues?” He folded his arms, exuding an aura of skepticism.

"I have asked the Human—he confirmed it under a truth-stone."

The vast room became wrapped in a tapestry of silence after those words. The chamber had seen countless discussions, some of which had changed the fate of their world. Today’s exchange seemed poised to join those ranks.

"Well, it would most certainly complement the fruits of the research from our other unfortunate investment," the man reasoned. "Plus, it's better if no one kicks the sleeping Dragon—we still need him to hatch eggs,” he added cryptically.

Marcella flinched.

The phrase 'sleeping Dragon' wasn’t just metaphorical. It was a codename, one that alluded to a particularly sensitive and longstanding issue the Royal Family had grappled with for generations.

"How many idiots had been extracted before the investment rotted?" The man asked.

"That information is confidential," Marcella sighed. "Neither of us should have access to it. Only a few handlers have the actual number. Not even His Majesty decided to be privy to it. The sleeping Dragon..."

"Could be a problem," the man finished her sentence, hissing.

"However, considering the Human’s indispensable contribution, should we substantially increase his funding? Bolster his research further?"

"The Human's bleeding money at the moment because of those arrogant idiots. He doesn't know about it. Let him sweat for a moment—even if we clear his name, let him need us," Marcella’s eyes sparkled with a hint of intrigue.

The man looked thoughtful for a moment, then replied, "Merely pouring gold into this venture won't suffice, then. It's about creating something that can flourish so we can later reap the reward. Coincidentally, I have a similar problem on my hands regarding another problematic individual."

Marcella nodded slowly. "So, what's our next move?"

A sly grin formed on the man’s face. "Leave that to me. I've just thought of a rather intriguing approach."