Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 194 - 193: Meeting

Chapter 194: Chapter 193: Meeting

Tassera running a shop in Oasis City—Leon understood the reason.

Playing the role of a Divination Master was not only amusing but also a way to gather intelligence. After all, many adventurers liked to get their fortunes read before heading out on their quests. They wouldn’t dare lie to a divination master—who would want to risk dying faster out of bad luck?

Meanwhile, the shop dealt with buying and selling various magic items, antiques, and more. Using her exceptional insight, she purchased low and sold high to turn a profit. But her main goal was to acquire intriguing objects for research; after studying them, she would sell them again—or keep them if they turned out to be extraordinary.

Leon watched Tassera engrossed in her study of a uniquely crafted sword. She didn’t even lift her head or say a single word when Leon stepped through the tent’s curtain. Leon stayed silent, curious to see just how immersed she was, wondering if she cared about the shop at all anymore.

Leon wandered the shop and spotted a pair of gloves from a distance, said to be immune to fire, frost, and lightning damage—though only on protected areas. He employed Object Capture Skill to grab them, but before he could, an alarm went off, and the Stone Magic Statue’s eyes lit up.

"What a bold move."

"It’s been so long since someone dared steal from my shop."

"Stealing directly is one thing; using magic is downright arrogant..."

"Tell me, how would you prefer to die?"

Despite Tassera’s sharp words, she still didn’t lift her head, which only made Leon more curious about the sword’s allure.

Instead of revealing his identity, Leon conjured a mask and put it on—a collectible he had kept simply because it looked good. In a deliberately exaggerated tone, he said, "Can I die in the arms of a beautiful big sister?"

"If you had begged for mercy earlier, I might’ve spared you. Now that chance is gone... Alright, little brother, come home with big sister. I’ll let you die on my bed, crying, ’Spare me,’ ’I’ll never do it again,’ ’Please forgive me, sister.’ That would sound lovely." Tassera’s tone shifted suddenly from anger to seductive sweetness.

She finally lifted her gaze and recognized the little thief.

"Those pleas should come from you," Leon countered, keeping the mask on while examining himself in a mirror. He mused about playing the masked persona: with his growing fame, disguises might come in handy to avoid exposing his identity during future travels.

With so many eccentric roles and tactics, even succubi or dream demons couldn’t master them all. Defeated yet again, Tassera chose not to argue further and hummed dismissively. "Put my item back, or the alarm won’t stop... Why are you here? Do you need my help with something?"

"Can’t I just visit you without needing something?" Leon returned the gloves via Object Capture Skill, silencing the bothersome alarm. "We’ve been apart for almost two years, haven’t we? Do you miss me even a little?"

"It’s only two years. Not twenty," Tassera replied nonchalantly, her sense of time warped—nothing unusual for a dragon.

As a Silver Dragon, she favored dwelling in cities, engaging in real-form mating and nurturing offspring periodically, also managing her treasures and personal affairs. Often, she’d return from these activities to find her companions aged or deceased.

Leon’s soul was human, so while his sense of time slowly aligned with that of a dragon, two years still felt significant to him. Having witnessed long-distance relationships tragically unravel too often, he might’ve suspected Tassera of moving on—if not for the brightness in her eyes.

"True affection should mean constantly missing the other person, right? Maybe you’ve stopped loving me," Leon teased, casually approaching the counter to see what Tassera was investigating so intently. "What’s so fascinating about that sword?"

"This sword—" Tassera held it up for Leon to see. "Its craftsmanship is something I’ve never encountered before."

"And then?" Leon, unable to discern its significance, could only watch as an outsider.

"If I knew ’and then,’ why would I need to study it?" Tassera retorted.

Leon was momentarily at a loss for words. "Alright then."

Tassera resumed her examination of the sword, much to Leon’s dissatisfaction. Skirting around the counter, he snatched it from her hands, lifting her chin with one finger. "Research, research—can’t you research later? I traveled all the way from Watchtower Port to visit you, and this is the welcome I get?"

"You interrupted my research the moment you arrived." Tassera glanced at her now-empty hands.

"Should I leave then?" Leon raised an eyebrow, his irritation rising.

"Fine, my fault. Please, don’t leave, my love." Tassera stood up, lightly lifting her black dress to reveal firm, long legs capable of crushing someone, wrapped in stockings. "Does this make up for it?"

Tassera’s understanding of human desires left Leon struggling to suppress his smile. He replied, "Not enough."

"How about this?" Tassera wrapped her arms around Leon’s head, pressing him against her ample chest. "You used to love this place the most, remember?"

Leon tried to resist but failed, losing control of his body—soft, warm, suffocating. He couldn’t breathe.

A minute passed... Two minutes...

"No biting," Tassera abruptly pushed Leon away.

Finally, through his cleverness, Leon regained the ability to breathe.

"You’re such a rogue." Tassera crossed her arms over her chest.

"You can only blame your overwhelming beauty," Leon said, beginning to feel awkward about his overly smooth words. Spotting a Tarot Card deck on the counter, he switched topics. "Seeing these cards reminds me of the Impermanence Card... Do you still remember the Impermanence Card?"

"Of course I remember," Tassera said. "The underground city in the Talia Alliance... Someone went too far, snatching the Impermanence Card guarded by the female-faced Sphinx."

"Do you recall the phrase I often say?" Leon asked.

Tassera’s flushed face returned to normal. "Which phrase?"

"Those who kill should be ready to be killed."

"And what of it?"

"I ran into something similar," Leon said. "That is, I grabbed the female-faced Sphinx’s Impermanence Card, only for someone else to snatch it from me."

"Who would dare take the Impermanence Card from you?" Tassera asked in disbelief.

"Haven’t you heard rumors about me in the desert?" Leon asked, thinking of how his fame after the Lost Plateau battle had spread in Watchtower Port and beyond. It was hard to believe that the adjacent desert carried zero news.

"I just finished a retreat recently. I haven’t heard or seen anything," Tassera said. "I was going to come find you, but once this sword arrived, I couldn’t tear myself away."

"Then you’re off the hook," Leon said.

"Stop keeping me in suspense," Tassera said. "Who snatched your Impermanence Card?"

"Death Fear Punisher’s Death Horror Monarch," Leon described. "She was terrifyingly strong. Even Angmog couldn’t match her. I stood a chance as long as I had mana, but once it ran out, game over."

Leon briefly recounted what happened on the Lost Plateau, boasting a little about how his fame had grown—a fame so big that major forces greeted him first, and Watchtower Port pledged allegiance outright. Everyone had to show him respect.

"Speaking of cards, didn’t you draw the Flame Card?" Leon asked, recalling Tassera’s card-related experience. "Did you encounter any powerful evil demons?"

"I’ve been holed up in my lair researching spells ever since I returned, only venturing out occasionally to hunt when Tlincalli couldn’t find prey..." Tassera shook her head. "No, I haven’t encountered a single evil demon. Everything’s normal."

"Impossible. The Impermanence Card has already proven to be genuine—it even lured the Death Horror Monarch. Unfortunately, the female-faced Sphinx can never reclaim it," Leon mused. "Could it be that you’re a Blue Dragon, so strong that the demons weigh the risks and decide against attacking?"

"Possibly," Tassera said triumphantly. "I’m super powerful now."

"Want to duel?" Leon issued an impromptu challenge.

"What, fight my wife?" Tassera retorted. "Speaking of which, let me ask you: during the time I wasn’t around, how far have things progressed between you and Cecilia?"

Leon held firm. "Clean and innocent."

"And Fiora?" Tassera blinked at him.

"Cecilia’s fair game—she’s already of two minds. But Fiora? Just plain foolishness," Leon said, looking innocent.

"Not foolish, just naive," Tassera remarked fondly about the bronze dragon.

After a brief chat, the two decided to leave Oasis City—the tent’s conditions were far too modest.

They made their way to the Dragon Nest hidden beneath the ruins of an ancient city buried deep in the desert by sand dunes.

"Alright, now I believe you didn’t linger around Cecilia or Fiora."

"I think further proof is needed."

"I’m going to take a bath now."

"Surrender and admit defeat, and I’ll let you off."

Switching from human form to dragon form, then back again... Finally settling back into human form.

Leon lay on the bed, contemplating upon his return to arrange for constructing a Mage Tower for Tassera—should it be built on Volcanic Island or near Watchtower Port? If near Watchtower Port, it could help suppress the area.

Tassera went off to bathe and suddenly screamed, "I figured it out!"

"Figured what out?" Leon asked.

"That sword," Tassera said. "It’s Yugros Demon craftsmanship."