The Blithe King released James from his embrace and walked toward him.

"This is a military region. You shouldn't come here so often. No, scratch that. You shouldn't come here at all."

He implied he didn't want to see James, who often caused trouble. The Blithe King then boarded a military vehicle and departed, leaving a stunned Xara behind. It took Xara a moment to process the situation. When understanding dawned, she gasped for air. Hurriedly, she approached James and snatched her phone from him.

"Let me see! Let me see!"

She opened the photo album and saw the picture. In it, the Blithe King had his arms around her shoulders, wearing a compassionate expression, almost like a loving father.

"Ah" Xara cried, bursting into tears.

After all these years, her wish had finally come true. There stood the Blithe King, commander of the Western border and one of the Five Commanders. She crouched down and wept—tears of joy.

James frowned. It was just a photograph. "Alright, we're in a military region. We should leave, or someone might get us into trouble." Hearing this, Xara wiped her eyes and got into the car. James drove them home. Looking at the photo—the Blithe King's arms around her shoulders, his compassionate expression—Xara nearly cried again. After a while, she turned to James. "James, thank you. I truly believe you're the Black Dragon now." Only someone of comparable rank to the Blithe King could have orchestrated this.

"Tsk, Black Dragon? You have a wild imagination," James scoffed, pouting.

"Weren't you the one who said you were the real deal?" Xara asked. "Besides, if you aren't the Black Dragon, why did the Blithe King welcome us and agree to a picture with me?"

"I told you, we were taking a chance," James replied. "Just because he agreed to a photo, I'm suddenly the Black Dragon? He was just being nice. What does that have to do with me?"

"That's true," Xara said, nodding pensively. His words made sense. Besides, there was no way James could be the Black Dragon. If he were, why marry into the Callahans and tolerate their orders? Perhaps, as he said, the Blithe King was simply amiable, granting a military fan's request for a photo.

"Hey, don't tell Thea about this, and don't tell anyone else," James reminded her.

"Okay," Xara nodded.

Then, a thought struck her. Something about the Blithe King's succession ceremony…James had been driving freely in the military region, rumored to have borrowed a vehicle. But after today's meeting with Daniel and the photo incident, things seemed…off.

Xara looked at James. "James, you're no ordinary man. Be honest with me. Who are you? Don't worry, I won't tell Thea or anyone else."

"Who am I? I'm just a decommissioned military man," James said, smiling.

"Something's off," Xara mused. Although she hadn't been in Cansington, she'd heard about recent events, especially those involving Thea Callahan—like the group of men kneeling before her, begging forgiveness. Rumor had it this was connected to the ghost-masked man executed by the Blithe King—a man Thea had saved ten years ago, who'd made those men promise to protect her.

It couldn't be that simple, Xara thought. Was it because of James?

The more she considered it, the more likely it seemed. With gleaming eyes, she said, "James, don't worry. I won't tell anyone about your true identity."

James rolled his eyes. "What identity?"

"You came from the Southern Plains, so you must be a general too," Xara said, smiling. "James, if you ever get the chance, you have to introduce me to the Black Dragon."

(The final promotional lines have been removed as they are not part of the story text.)