Galaxy's First Ruler

"With all due respect, Viscount Trifon, I would advise against that."

The expectant faces of the Mayor and his daughter crumbled as they heard Tomislav's words.

"I have already commanded. How dare you speak against that?"

Trifon was instantly outraged and stood up, throwing off the beauty on his lap. None dared to go against his wishes and yet a mere nobody had questioned his decision? The term Viscount wasn't empty but a Rank, bestowed by the RECORD.

Trifon took a step towards the calm-faced Tomislav, but a hand reached out from behind him and held down his shoulder.

"Sit down, Trifon! Let him speak."

This hand belonged to a middle-aged man with black hair and a light beard. One could see the traces of strands of white hair here and there, only if someone dared to stare at him for long to notice them. His clothing was the same as that of the young Viscount, yet not nearly white as that of him.

Only the deep black eyes spoke of the experiences that he must have gone through in his life.

"Uncle?"

This man was the older brother of Count Goranov, Viscount Rayko Goranov.

"Have you already forgotten what your father told you to do?"

Rayko narrowed his eyes at his nephew and Trifon couldn't help but slump back down on the sofa reluctantly. The trickles of hate towards Tomislav were still present in Trifon's eyes.

Rayko looked at Tomislav, his hand still on Trifon's shoulder, and said as if reciting a passage from a book.

"Beyond the 5th level in the Death Separation, there is the Sea of White Death. And none had crossed it since the beginning of time. But one man had seen the shore on the other side…"

"… Is it true, Tomislav, the Strongest Adventurer?"

Tomislav's eyes met with those of Rayko's. The silence ensued for a brief second before Tomislav put back his hat and shook his head.

"Even if it's true, my Lord, I wouldn't know about it. I am just a man who had seen a little of everything and got scared by the horrors hidden beneath the little rocks."

"HAHAHAHA!"

Viscount Rayko was about to say something when Trifon burst out with laughter.

"Strongest what now? Uncle, you are funny sometimes. If he is strong, then what am I? If he is strong, then what about you, who is on the brink of becoming a Count? And if he is strong, then what about them?"

Trifon pointed towards a corner of the hall. Three people with similar clothing as that of the pair of uncle and nephew were standing there. It seemed like they had nothing to do with what was going on around them.

They didn't have the insignia on their breast pocket but a plain white mask on their face. This mask didn't have any eyeholes, no mouth holes, and not even holes for breathing. Only a big rose with deep green liquid dripping from its thorns was on this mask.

"The RECORDLESS!"

The high pitch voice of the mayor's daughter rang out in the hall. She realized her mistake and put a hand over her mouth as soon as she had spoken out. Trifon looked at her with utter disgust, but then a smile appeared on his face.

"That's right, the Recordless!"

His hand reached out towards her and traced the edges of her beautiful face with his fingers as he continued his words.

"Humph! He isn't strong, Uncle. He is just another worm who didn't have the galls to become a Viscount."

Viscount Rayko heard his nephew's words and took his hand off his shoulder. Despite the harsh words, he too believed that the title given by other Dreamers to Tomislav had no real meaning. But he knew when it was the time to speak and when it was the time to listen. He looked at Tomislav and asked.

"Why do you think we should move out today?"

"The location of this Dungeon is almost on the boundary between 3rd and 4th level. Even with the fastest method, it would take 3 days to reach there."

Tomislav was about to continue when Trifon cut him off and scoffed at the blue-haired adventurer.

"3 days? Humph! Our spaceships are the fastest within 100 Solar Systems. You people can't even imagine how much one of them costs."

Tomislav, Christin, Berb, the mayor, and even Viscount Rayko looked at Trifon as if he was an idiot. But only Tomislav explained while all the others kept their opinion to themselves.

"My Lord, it doesn't matter how expensive any spaceship is or how fast it is. Once you enter the first level of the Death Separation, they would all be useless. The fog from the Sea reached up to the entrance of the first level, rotting any metal in the air or on the land. And during high tide, the Sea level came up to almost the same location as this Dungeon. If we want to avoid getting trapped, we must leave by tonight."

Tomislav took a deep breath following the long string of words and just hoped that at least half of it would get through Trifon's head. But hope had a fickle nature, to begin with.

"Trapped? Do you think a mare Baron-level Dungeon can trap me? Do you even know who I am? I am the future Lord of…"

ROARRRRRRRR!!!

A ground and space-shaking roar deafened the ears of all present in the hall and anything alive within 1000 miles around the town. It didn't matter if one was a mere guard or a Level 40 Viscount, all had their knees buckled under the sheer might of that roar.

Cough! Cough!!!

Tomislav struggled to stand up and coughed out a mouthful of blood, reddening his blue-beard. His legs shook in fear and terror as he found Viscount Rayko, also sprawled on the floor, with blood pouring out from all of his pores.

Except for the two of them, the others had completely passed out. Tomislav's and Rayko's eyes met as they both stuttered the same words simultaneously.

"A… A Dragon?!"