Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 159 - 158 Troubles Galore

Chapter 159: Chapter 158 Troubles Galore

Leon really didn’t expect that a trivial Clothing and Undressing Skill could play a significant role under proper use.

He started to believe that old saying, "There are no weak classes, only weak players."

Leon originally wanted to fly straight back to Volcanic Island and have Efreeti arrange for someone to craft a set of equipment for him.

It had to be attack-oriented, then it must look cool, and defense was the last consideration, or even unnecessary to consider. After all, he already had the Vajra Body.

Reminded by Tassera, Leon noticed his hunger and had to suppress his impatience.

"Where is Cecilia?" As he left the room and passed through the corridor, Leon thought of a certain Green Dragon.

"She probably went off on her own, headed back to the forest... As a newcomer, she has to build a nest, subdue underlings, countless things to address," said Tassera. "She’s not an innocent kid; she’s a cunning Green Dragon, so we don’t need to worry about her safety."

"I’m not worried about her safety; just curious," Leon replied.

One could be casual about anything, except for eating and drinking. Not minding the expense, after enjoying a delicious meal, Leon carried Tassera to Volcanic Island... He felt no psychological pressure carrying Tassera now. Riding her during the day was harmless, and he could simply return the favor at night.

Originally, Volcanic Island only had one dormant volcano, home to some Molten Salamanders, lush with greenery. However, as Efreeti awakened the volcano, scorching Molten Lava flowed from the crater, burning a bunch of trees, now giving the landscape a somewhat Mediterranean haircut.

Salamanders were especially fond of ignited flames, liked to slide on erupting volcanoes, and enjoyed playing in the scorched, fire-encircled forests. Magma Land Sharks would even melt the solidified ground to create lava pools... Leon felt it was time to remind Efreeti about proper management, at least not to allow the burning of trees around his future seaside villa.

Leon calculated a bit. Volcanic Island was not small by any means, with a diameter of several kilometers—it had to be, to accommodate such a large tribe of Fire Melt Salamanders. Now that he occupied a quarter of the island, the remaining area should be sufficient for the Salamanders and Magma Land Sharks, as long as there was fire.

When Leon found Efreeti, he was directing the labor-reformed Fire Giants at work.

After discussing his needs with Efreeti, a Fire Giant was quickly brought before him.

Efreeti was the slavemaster and foreman, the Fire Giant was the craftsman and the one in charge.

Looking at the haggard Fire Giant covered in whip marks, who appeared to have suffered quite a bit, Leon consoled him briefly before detailing his requirements and enticing him with a promise: "As long as you forge a suit of equipment according to my specifications, I can set you free right away."

The Fire Giant looked up at Leon, without uttering a word.

"There’s no other way, might as well take a gamble. I am an honest Red Dragon... I promised you that as long as you lay down your weapons, I wouldn’t harm you, and so far I haven’t broken my word," said Leon. "As long as you agree to help me, I can ensure you’re fed and well-rested, otherwise you won’t be able to work."

"What’s the point of wasting words on him, my lord?" holding a curved knife in one hand and a whip in the other, Efreeti said, "This kind of slave only knows the whip."

Leon and Efreeti played good cop, bad cop, and the Fire Giant soon succumbed.

Then, Leon fully realized his naivety. Getting a set of equipment wasn’t so simple.

To have a Fire Giant forge equipment, a craftsmen workshop needs to be prepared for them.

First of all, to smelt ore into metal ingots a Melting Furnace is needed, maybe even a bellows... though the bellows could be substituted with Efreeti, who is the Lord of Blazing Flames, after all.

Besides that, an Anvil, hammers, Fire Pliers, shaping tools, forges, Quenching Tanks, cooling pools, and such are indispensable, and they have to be large enough for giants to use.

Leon looked towards Tassera.

"What are you looking at me for?" Tassera shrugged, "I couldn’t possibly help."

"Robbery, my lord can go plunder the Lost Plateau," Efreeti, a Plane Raider who relished in looting, said. "Aren’t there a bunch of Fire Giant settlements on the Lost Plateau?"

"It’s fair to say there are quite a few," Leon replied. "Not quite ’a bunch’ yet."

"And incidentally rob some refined gold and Mithril." Efreeti chuckled cruelly. "At least refined gold and Mithril equipment would be worthy of your stature."

"Of course the best would be refined gold and Mithril, but ordinary equipment wouldn’t be a big problem," said Leon, unconsciously swishing the tip of his tail, "You guys go ahead and be busy, I’ll think of something."

"There’s one more thing I need to tell you, my lord." The Fire Giant was about to leave, suddenly stopped, "We elemental creatures need only flames and Molten Lava to sustain us, but those slaves need food; they need to eat meat, they need bread..."

"I understand, I’ll figure something out." Another problem emerged before the last was solved, causing Leon’s head to ache. It felt like his past life when he was still a corporate drone, with work that was never done, one thing after another.

Of course, he’s not a corporate drone now, but a leader. Leon quickly came up with a solution — at least the issue of the slaves’ food could be negotiated with Cecilia and the Efreeti... The Volcanic Island was too small to provide that much food, but the forest’s yield was more than enough.

Tassera watched the Efreeti leave, then turned to Leon and asked, "Are you planning to plunder the Fire Giants?"

"It’s a viable option." By now, Leon had learned to think outside the box.

"Be careful of the smelters," Tassera said, "as long as you don’t run into those guys, you should be fine."

Smelters are Fire Giants who have mastered the traditional Rune Magic, controlling the heat in the volcanic environment and summoning primal elemental energies composed of Fierce Flame and Molten Lava.

Within the Fire Giant community, smelters usually serve as the priests of Surte, the main deity of Fire Giants, overseeing forging and defense efforts and are more powerful than adult Red Dragons.

"There aren’t that many smelters, and even if I do run into one, I’m not afraid," Leon bluffed. He wasn’t afraid of smelters, indeed, but a smelter coupled with a group of Fire Giants, including the Fire Giant Brave, was formidable, and he preferred not to invite trouble unnecessarily.

"Anvils, hammers, Fire Pliers aren’t hard to handle, but the Melting Furnace is a bit of a hassle... The Salamanders could build one, doesn’t seem like a big deal." Leon said, "Actually, I have another idea, which is to place an order directly, having those Fire Giants craft equipment for me."

"Those Fire Giants probably won’t be too happy about that," Tassera said, "It’s all good as long as the Red Dragons and Fire Giants don’t end up fighting. Moreover, I know you’ve saved up quite a bit of money over the years, but the Efreeti don’t fancy gold or silver coins, they prefer refined gold and mithril, and those are precisely what you need as well."

"I know a Cloud Giant who definitely wouldn’t mind acting as a middleman, and he likes gold and silver coins," Leon remembered a certain Cloud Giant with a particularly sharp mind.

Anyway, getting a suit of gear, gear for Dragon Form, looked like it wasn’t something that could be resolved in a short while and would require quite a bit of effort. Leon’s originally high spirits were crushed by the harsh reality.

While they were discussing a solution, Cecilia ran over, first glanced at Tassera’s glowing face, then reported to Leon how many followers she had recruited: a group of Kobolds and a bunch of Ogres, finally bemoaning, "I’m following Master’s advice, planning to start a newspaper at Watchtower Port..."

If there had been a newspaper in Watchtower Port, all would be well, but unfortunately, there wasn’t.

In such an "impoverished" state, it isn’t easy to start a newspaper just by deciding to do so on a whim.

Setting aside the matter of workers — workers can be trained — it would be impossible without printing equipment, paper, and ink.

"Starting a newspaper is impractical right now, just direct someone to spread the word; tell them a Red Dragon protects Watchtower Port, and the Red Dragon is the Divine Guardian of Watchtower Port... I believe you know how to promote this," Leon thought for a moment and said, "You can have a chat with the Mayor of Watchtower Port; he’s a man who understands the times."

No sooner had Cecilia left than Fiora came over.

"Miss Fiora graces us with her presence, what brings you here?" Leon already knew the reason behind Tassera’s sudden night attack; in some ways, he owed her thanks.

"Aren’t you the self-proclaimed Protector of Watchtower Port?" Fiora said, "You’ve taken protection fees, so you need to protect Watchtower Port."

"Hmm?" Leon said, "Is Watchtower Port in danger? I can help if pirates attack, but I can do nothing about underwater creatures."

"A Green Dragon has been spotted outside of Watchtower Port," Fiora said.

Tassera covered her mouth and laughed.

Leon’s expression twisted for a moment before he introduced Cecilia and the Fire Melt Salamander to Fiora to avoid future misunderstandings.

And so the day passed by.

Leon wanted to rule over Watchtower Port mainly because the desert lacked prospects for development, but that didn’t mean he had to rule over Watchtower Port. Now that he hadn’t even started ruling it, a lot of issues had already piled up — he dared not imagine the number of issues that would emerge once he truly began to rule.

"This isn’t the life I had in mind," Leon couldn’t help but complain to Tassera during their rest at night.

"What kind of life did you imagine?" Tassera leaned back on the bed, reading a book, and put it down upon hearing Leon.

Leon organized his thoughts and described the life he imagined — where a farm would be built at his command, a farm that provided ten population points, ten population points that could feed hundreds of people, wanting to start a newspaper for propaganda purposes that would be sorted after spending one thousand gold coins and about ten to fifteen days...

"Do you think you’re playing a game?" Tassera teased, "Ruling a city isn’t that easy, let alone its development."

"I need to think of a solution," Leon sat on the edge of the bed and seriously pondered the future.

"Such matters can be thought through slowly tomorrow," Tassera suddenly embraced Leon from behind, having developed a taste for it.

"You succubus."