Speed Is King

"You want to buy ALL of it?" Autumn asked incredulously.

"Yes." Khellendra said resolutely. "Name your price. I will pay you anything."

"No." Khalendros said as firmly as Khellendra. "You're my wife, and I forbid you to sacrifice yourself this way."

"I am your wife, but my life is mine to give away!" Khellendra replied stubbornly.

"Your life has been given to me the moment we became one. I am yours as you are mine, Lendra! You cannot give it up without even talking to me about it first!" Khalendros said forcefully. "Do you not remember your vows to me?"

"I remember." Khellendra's face turned soft and gentle at that. But only for a moment. It turned hard once more within seconds. "But the clan is above us. It's larger than you or me. In fact, you should join me and pay the price as well! That way, we'll remain together, whatever happens!"

"No. Remember what you told me just this morning when I was thinking of signing that contract with Elliot? If we're able to win a new home for the clan, we don't even need Emperors anymore!" Khalendros grabbed his wife's hand and squeezed it hard.

"I remember! And I also remember saying that one Emperor won't solve our problems. But this… This wealth right here will give birth to multiple Emperors! One Emperor can't solve our problems, but FIFTY Emperors can!" Khellendra twisted her hand away from Khalendros'!

At that, the two dragons entered into one of their very rare arguments. They glared at each other angrily, both feeling slightly hurt at the other's lack of understanding.

"Hey, hey, why are you two arguing? I haven't even agreed to sell them to you." Autumn said loudly to break the awkward silence which was forming. "And I don't know about how marriages work, but what's with the "I am yours and you are mine" thing? It's so cheesy!"

"It's not cheesy!" Both Khalendros and Khellendra replied loudly in unison. At that, they turned to look at each other in surprise, before breaking into gentle smiles. And just like that, their quarrel was over.

"So cheesy." Autumn said under her breath as she shook her head at the two lovebirds. Ehm, lovedragons.

"Let's talk about it slowly. We'll cross the bridge when we get to it." Khalendros said gently.

"Alright." Khellendra said and leaned in for a quick hug.

After that, both of them turned to face Autumn with a united front.

"Autumn, I know we're being greedy and ungrateful at the already great kindness you're showing us." Khalendros began. "But for the clan, I must do this. Please sell us the knowledge of these runes which are merely "public property" for you, but which are so, very, very incredibly precious to us! These runes would mean that my clan can stand tall once more, and we wouldn't have to be bullied by others!"

"I understand. I'll sell them all to you." Autumn shrugged and dropped a massive bombshell on them very casually.

"WHAT? You will sell them to us? Just like that?!!" Khalendros couldn't believe his ears! He had merely unleashed the opening salvo of his "persuasion speech" and had many other things to say. He totally didn't expect to succeed with just one try!

"Yes. But in return, I would like the both of you to work for me for the next decade. How does that sound?" Autumn asked them.

Khalendros and Khellendra looked at each other, and saw the excitement within their eyes.

There was no need for discussion.

"We can work for you in the months after we rescue Elliot's sister. But after 10 months, we have to return for the Battle of Kings. Once that's over, we will do whatever you want for 10 years. How is that?" Khalendros asked.

"Deal. Let's seal it." Autumn agreed easily.

The two dragons went on to seal the deal with their bloods with dumbfounded looks on their faces. They couldn't believe the amount of wealth they had just received!

It was like a beggar falling down into a pond and realizing that the pond is full of gold!

"Alright. Here's the data. Remember to tell your elder that you two will die horrible deaths if these information were to be purposely leaked out." Autumn said as she passed them the pink device. "I've unlocked it completely so you guys can use it."

"Thank you, Autumn. The Tempest Dragon Clan now owes you a massive debt. You are officially our benefactor!!" Khellendra said fervently and gratefully as she clutched the pink device in her hand.

"Good. Please remember that when I come knocking on your doors for help." Autumn said with a smile.

"Definitely." Khellendra said.

"Let's meet here in three days on the day Elliot comes back. I'll join you in your rescue mission, and then you both can leave directly with me." Autumn said as she slipped into a superior position without even realizing it.

The two dragons were happy to oblige.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Scan the planet." Autumn's Second Senior Brother Dulak Damendu ordered.

He was standing on the bridge of a very large Dome Palace, one that was approximately the size of a football field. From his vantage point right at the very top of the dome, he could see a beautiful blue planet surrounded by fluffy white clouds.

At that moment, completely contrary to Autumn's predictions, he had already arrived! His Dome Palace was hovering just a hundred kilometers away from Earth!

Autumn had vastly underestimated the importance that Dulak Damendu had placed on Elliot's abilities. Dulak Damendu had instantly activated a large-size long distance teleportation spell that was powerful enough to instantly transport his Dome Palance a huge distance away.

And Earth just happened to be within its range.

"Scan complete. Two hundred eighty four Emperor level lifeforms detected. Seventy three thousand three hundred fourteen King level lifeforms detected." A gentle voice replied softly from behind him.

"Scan for Autumn Rosenbloom." Dulak Damendu ordered once more. "Get me her coordinates. Get me also the coordinates of the top fifty strongest Emperors."

"Scanning."