Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 220 - 219: Consideration

Chapter 220: Chapter 219: Consideration

Ever since she was young, she was overshadowed by her brother. She couldn’t beat him in a fight, nor could she compare in scales or stature.

To make matters worse, when she was only capable of using her sharp teeth and claws, her brother had already mastered spells. With just a flick of his paw, he could freeze her in place.

Sure, being an Innate Spellcaster was normal, but a baby dragon already proficient in spellcasting? That was utterly absurd. His Majesty Tiamat was so unfair!

Decades apart, and now seeing her brother again, he had grown even more powerful, so much so that she couldn’t even hope to match him—there was truly no chance. And what’s more, he was only a teenage dragon now. Once he became an adult, then middle-aged, and eventually an elder, who knows how strong he would become.

Of course she was jealous! But there was no use being defiant. He had a Volcanic Island, ruled over Watchtower Port, commanded a mighty Efreeti as a subordinate, had a castle atop the mountain, and owned a villa down below. What could crying day and night accomplish? Could tears kill someone like him?

If she couldn’t beat him, then she’d join him. Compared to their deadbeat father, whom she had never even met, living alongside her brother for at least a year made him seem like a more promising ally. And truth be told, her brother was actually quite reasonable.

Salovis was, in fact, rather quick-witted.

Meanwhile, Leon certainly understood the hints in his sister’s words. Coincidentally, he was in need of manpower, but he wasn’t about to accept her so easily.

Compared to the orderly Blue Dragons and Green Dragons, a chaotic and evil Red Dragon couldn’t just be thrown onto a job without proper observation and training. Mishandling her could create serious problems.

Moreover, the closer someone was—like relatives and friends—the more cautious one had to be. If possible, it was best not to mix family and business, or deal with relatives in any economic capacity whatsoever; otherwise, nine times out of ten, the family relationships would be ruined. That said, one couldn’t completely dismiss the significance of family ties either.

"I didn’t mistake you for someone else. It wasn’t in vain that I took care of you as a child," Leon pretended not to understand Salovis’s implications. "Just for saying that, when I build my empire one day, I’ll make you my Imperial Chancellor."

Was that a rejection?

Salovis refused to give up and continued, "I’ve been thinking about it. If you want to marry a General, you have to accompany him through thick and thin from the time he’s just a soldier. I want to stand by my brother as he builds his empire, not wait until it’s finished to come back and pick fruit."

Leon looked at his sister with amusement. It was hard to reconcile the red-haired young woman in front of him with the image of the baby dragon he remembered. Salovis, too, was not one to back down. The siblings locked eyes intensely for ten whole minutes.

"You’re currently Biska’s mount, aren’t you...?" Leon casually picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of red tea.

"Not a mount—partner. Partner, you understand? No one can make a Red Dragon a mount," Salovis corrected indignantly.

"Alright, alright, not a mount." Leon sipped the red tea. "I just want to ask—why did you quit working for the Githyanki? You had a decent gig. Honestly, working for them to pillage and plunder would surely earn you more than anything you could get with me."

Leon had built up some savings, primarily through robbing others—first Angmog, then Mind Flayer colonies. As the saying goes, a horse grows fat on nighttime grazing.

That’s not to say he lacked income streams. For example, Cecilia ruled over a forest and sent monthly tributes his way, while Watchtower Port’s monthly taxes were no small sum. However, his expenses were massive. Between investments and payroll alone, the costs were daunting.

Indeed, compared to other Red Dragons who only demanded tribute, who only consumed without producing, and insisted their subordinates perform labor for free, Leon was a "weirdo"—he actually paid his subordinates. He understood the logic: you can’t expect a horse to run without feeding it.

Precisely because of this, Leon trusted the loyalty of his subordinates. Leaving him meant they’d never find a better boss.

"You don’t understand; staying in the Star Realm doesn’t allow you to age or grow physically," Salovis muttered. "The ideal job when working for the Githyanki was guarding a Material Plane nursery. Not only would you be rewarded with treasures, but you could also grow normally, maturing faster than the dragon flocks stationed in Tunaras."

"If not for a lack of money—because without money you can’t build a lair—who would work for the Githyanki?" Salovis’s eyes lit up. "How about I guard your lair, brother? I’d only charge a thousand Gold Coins a month."

"A thousand Gold Coins per month... Why don’t you just rob me?" Leon blinked in surprise, thinking that his sister was essentially robbing others every day alongside the Githyanki. "You want to rob me now?"

"My monthly income is only about two or three thousand Gold Coins, and you think you can take away a third of it with one simple request?" Leon set down his teacup. "Do you think you deserve that?"

"I only have Watchtower Port; I can’t give it to you," Leon mused. "Near Watchtower Port, the northern forest is owned, and the coastline is spoken for... You can develop the Lost Plateau instead. Stake out a piece of land for your territory. As long as you provide tribute on time each month, I’ll allow you to use my name and even come to me for help if necessary."

Leon didn’t really care for feudal systems, but centralized rule wasn’t easy to achieve without the right conditions. He had to take things slow; rushing risked disaster.

"I have to pay you even as I establish my own territory?" Salovis’s eyes widened in disbelief at his words.

"What else?" Leon countered. "Without my permission and assistance, do you think you could peacefully establish your territory? If you were really that capable and fearless, why run to me, rather than establish a domain on your own and defend it as a small lord?"

"Why didn’t you do that? Because you fear enemies, you fear the day a party of adventurers might show up to slay a dragon," Leon explained. "I’m offering you protection under my name. I’m allowing you to seek my help—you think I’d do all this for free? A freeloader, are you?"

"Since you know I’m called the Cliff Sword, you should also know I command several dragons... Blue Dragon, Green Dragon, Bronze Dragon." Leon gave examples. "Green Dragon Cecilia now rules the northern forest near Watchtower Port; she provides monthly tributes which can include money, alchemical materials, food—all worth at least a thousand Gold Coins."

Leon was unapologetically blunt—business was business, even among family.

Salovis opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. Instead, she decided to play on sentiment. "I’m your sister."

"And so what? You know there’s no familial bond among Red Dragons." Red Dragons might disregard familial ties, but Leon didn’t. "Alright, since you’re my sister, I’ll make a concession: during the process of establishing your territory, I’ll help you against any formidable enemies—whether Fire Giants, Frost Giants, or White Dragons. For the first year, I won’t ask for tribute either."

Start with conditions the other party can’t accept and then offer compromises; that’s the art of negotiation. Leon didn’t enjoy haggling, but it wasn’t because he lacked the ability—he just found it tedious.

"Let me think about it," Salovis said hesitantly.

"Take your time. No hurry."

Leon was confident his sister wouldn’t refuse. Starting today, he’d have one more person at his disposal—and more would follow in the future.