Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.-Chapter 213: The meeting.

"What?"

The entire place fell silent, all eyes glued to Dorian in that moment. The words hung in the air, heavy and impossible.

"I am the Dragon Monarch."

Those words continuously echoed in their heads like a thunderclap that refused to fade.

The High Priest Sandro had a look of pure, unadulterated shock on his face, his mouth slightly agape, wondering how Dorian could have the audacity to claim such a title.

To claim he was the very god-killer their scriptures warned about.

Duke Salvaina gave a small, knowing smile.

There was a look of acceptance on his face, almost as if the information didn’t surprise him—or perhaps, it simply explained everything about the anomaly that was Dorian Aurelian.

As for Duke Gorgia, he mirrored the priest’s expression, stunned and speechless.

It was bad enough the King was sitting comfortably on Dorian’s lap like a maiden in love, and now, the very same person was admitting to being the Dragon Monarch, a being so powerful he had slaughtered more gods than mortals had ever worshipped.

Alex and Ravina had their jaws dropped, surprised not by the truth, but by the fact that Dorian was willing to reveal it in front of them so casually.

[The Grand Priest is currently upset.]

Dorian smiled, turning his gaze towards the priest. It wasn’t hard for him to see the frown slowly etching itself into Sandro’s forehead.

"Do my words upset you, Head Priest?" Dorian proceeded, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of danger.

The priest flinched, his composure cracking. But then, he straightened his back, his religious pride forcing a response.

"Yes," he didn’t hold back. "How could you sit there and come up with the claim that you are the Dragon Monarch of legends? That being is a myth, a force of nature, not a... a man in a suit!"

Dorian was about to speak, but Ciel cut in.

"Are you trying to say my Master is a liar?"

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

The priest flinched once again, this time his attention directed at Ciel. The silver-haired girl’s eyes were glowing with a terrifying light.

"You..."

"Or perhaps you would like my Master to prove himself?" Ciel stepped forward, her humanoid dragon wings flaring out.

"Which way would that be? Shall he summon the Dragons of the World and have them bow to his feet? Or perhaps he summons a God down from the Heavenly Realm to grovel? Or maybe... you would like to tame me, the last child of Ragor, like the Dragon Monarch did to prove your point?"

"You are... the Child of Ragor?"

No one else in the room seemed to understand the weight of that title, except for the Head Priest and surprisingly, Ravina.

Ciel’s eyes narrowed. "Do you doubt me as well?"

The priest lowered his face, sweat beading on his forehead.

"The Books of Light spoke of a dragon being awakened by the Dragon Monarch... a dragon said to be the direct descendant of the Dragon Ragor, the Sky Render, a powerful entity serving the Monarch during the War. If you are able to take on such a form... there is no doubt that you might indeed be the Child of Ragor."

’Well, that didn’t take long at all,’ Dorian whispered in his mind. ’I didn’t expect Ciel to cover for me, but this works perfectly. Intimidation is often faster than explanation.’

As if that wasn’t enough, Ravina decided to chime in as well.

"Just as Ciel said, the Dragon Monarch is indeed Dorian Aurelian. And he is the true ruler of the Mortal Realm," she continued, her voice regaining its regal authority despite her compromising position.

"I did not expect him to reveal this to you all yet. But to insult him by calling him a liar is to make an enemy of me and the Kingdom itself."

Everyone was silent for a good while.

Sandro was slowly connecting the dots, and the terrifying picture was coming into focus. Dorian might actually be the Dragon Monarch.

If not, Ravina, a King who trusted no one, would not be defending him this fervently. It explained why she was sitting on his lap, why she deferred to him. It wasn’t just love; it was reverence.

"I figured you had to be an important figure to have the immense power you wield. And while the Dragon Monarch title never occurred to me... I am glad to know you are someone of substance. I don’t regret choosing to follow you."

That was Duke Salvaina speaking, choosing not to waste the opportunity to voice his loyalty. He was a survivor, and he knew which way the wind was blowing.

Duke Gorgia was still so stunned by the revelation that all he could do was stare internally at Dorian, his brain rebooting.

After hearing what Duke Salvaina had to say, Dorian smiled at him.

"Should I take it that none of you have doubts about me being the Dragon Monarch? Not that your opinion matters all that much."

"I have no doubt," Duke Salvaina was the first to respond, bowing his head slightly.

Then the priest followed, his voice trembling slightly. "Same here. I am afraid I cannot fight against the evidence already laid before me."

"I... agree as well," Gorgia stammered shortly after.

All three of the nobles had agreed. They were willing to believe—or at least, too terrified to deny—that Dorian was the Dragon Monarch.

Ravina’s face lit up with joy. They accepted him. And for some reason, that made her heart soar.

However—

[Raphael has detected a malicious thought from the Priest.]

Dorian’s eyes sharpened instantly. He moved his gaze towards Sandro, observing as the man looked around desperately, his eyes shifting like a trapped rat.

’Link thoughts.’

[Understood. Linking thoughts via Analysis Skill.]

["No, I shouldn’t panic yet. I can just speak to her to make sure all is well. But if the Witches are already coming after him, it must mean a large number of them are aware of his presence. If that’s the case... will they come looking for her too? I thought they were dead. This is bad. If they find her, everything I’ve built..."]