Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 229 - 228: Talking Business

Chapter 229: Chapter 228: Talking Business

Unlike his usual impulsive behavior, Leon didn’t rush off to the Lost Plateau to find the Cloud Giant this time.

Transforming the Volcanic Island into a feng shui haven had taken half a year and completely exhausted Leon. He desperately needed a good rest. With his pockets empty, he was uneasy, but it wasn’t urgent enough to act immediately.

The Efreeti, having gained some degree of freedom, had already headed to the Lost Plateau first. Leon rested for about a month, but after losing terribly during a mahjong game—and almost falling short of paying his gambling debts—the next day he decided to make the trip.

Leon’s excellent memory easily guided him to the mountaintop castle of the Cloud Giant.

He had expected a modest and simple castle, but what greeted his eyes was extravagance beyond imagination. Gold and silver adorned every corner, the floors were carpeted with wool rugs, the curtains were silk, the vegetable garden brimming with pumpkins, and the Beast Pen housed Owlbears and Griffins.

"Did you rob someone or what?" Leon descended into the lower courtyard, where the Cloud Giant—wearing a gold chain, rings on both hands adorned with massive gemstones—had come out to greet him.

"What are you doing here?" Mankus cast Leon a glance. He felt utterly reassured when thinking about Leon, as if a Red Dragon truly handed back money already in its grasp, no one would believe such a tale. "I am a kind-hearted Cloud Giant, not like you evil Red Dragons who love pillaging."

"If it wasn’t stolen, how’d you rebuild the castle so quickly?" Leon looked around. "It seems even more lavish than before."

Mankus hesitated, then eventually chose honesty, saying: "Just putting on a show. My entire fortune is here for you to see; there’s nothing left in the Treasure Vault."

"So broke, yet decked out in gold and silver—bravo, truly!" Leon remarked bluntly.

"You don’t understand," Mankus said. "The poorer someone is, the more they must act rich. It’s not showing off; it’s about reputation. When you’re out there, your identity is what you make of it."

"If I don’t pretend to be wealthy, other Cloud Giants would look down on me and avoid associating with me, stripping me of my social status." Mankus continued, "Even the Frost Giants and Fire Giants would see me as down-and-out and despise me, ignoring my voice."

Leon found some truth in the Cloud Giant’s explanation. In his impression, countless bosses with little to their names insisted on driving luxury cars for the same reason. A boss in a fancy car garners far more trust and opportunities than one in a rusty old car. People love to bolster those already successful, not those needing help in dire times.

Mankus intended to impart some wisdom to this Red Dragon, but ultimately waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to dwell on wealth. Once a local tycoon, now reduced to faking appearances—it was a cruel reality indeed. He sighed and said, "Enough about that. What brings you here anyway?"

"Why I’m here..." Leon mulled over it. "Seeing you so poor is a relief!"

Mankus clenched his fists at those words but soon relaxed, remembering just how formidable this Red Dragon was. "Don’t tell me you came just to mock me."

"Am I that boring? Of course not." Leon said. "Not only did I not come here to laugh at you, but I also came to point you toward a path to riches."

"What path to riches?" Mankus asked, suspiciously eyeing Leon. "Are you planning to take me as a helper against some enemy? Tell me who the target is first before I respond."

"What do you take me for? I don’t enjoy stirring up trouble." Leon replied.

Mankus merely sneered.

"I’m not asking you to help me go after anyone," Leon clarified, organizing his thoughts. "What I want is to teach you how to make money as a merchant."

"A merchant?" Mankus seemed confused.

"Yes, a merchant—a buy-low, sell-high kind of merchant," Leon explained. "Those Frost Giants hunt in the Lost Plateau all the time. They must have plenty of Mammoth Ivory, Saber-toothed Tiger hides, and Arctic Bear pelts. You could easily buy these from them at a lower price, then sell them at Watchtower Port for a high profit."

"You make it sound simple," Mankus said. "Frost Giants don’t care about money. They only want food, steel, liquor, and gemstones. Where am I supposed to find those things to trade with them?"

"You may not have those supplies, but I do," Leon said. "You handle the purchases of Mammoth Ivory, Saber-toothed Tiger hides, and Arctic Bear pelts from the Frost Giants. I’ll provide you with food, steel, liquor, and gemstones. Together, we’ll take the profits, split fifty-fifty—fair deal, right?"

Mankus didn’t agree immediately. Instead, he asked, "Why the sudden interest in doing business with me? You’re not the type struggling for money. I remember you always saying you don’t care about wealth."

"If I don’t explain clearly, you won’t trust me," Leon replied. "To be honest, I’m in the same boat as you now—practically broke."

"You’ve plundered Angmog’s wealth... Even compared to Red Dragons your own age, or even middle-aged or elder Red Dragons far older than you, you rank among the richest. How could you possibly spend all that money?" Mankus was incredulous.

"Is it not possible that I, too, got robbed?" Leon retorted.

"Impossible," Mankus declared. "Who’s capable enough to rob you? There’s no way I wouldn’t have heard of it."

"Well, I spent it all on remodeling my house," Leon confessed.

"How can house renovations cost that much?" Mankus asked. "Did you build a palace of gold?"

"Even with all my money, I couldn’t manage a golden palace," said Leon. "Forget about where my money went—are you in or out?"

"You might not trust others," Leon said confidently, "but you can definitely trust me. My integrity is rock-solid."

Mankus responded with a sneer but seemed increasingly intrigued.

Typically, Cloud Giants relied on theft or plunder to acquire treasure—a risky and challenging path. Coupled with a penchant for high-stakes gambles, becoming a merchant was indeed uncharted territory for Mankus. "I don’t know how to do it," he admitted.

"If you’re interested, come find me at Watchtower Port. We’ll discuss the details there," Leon said, not being particularly skilled either. His plan was to draw Mankus to Watchtower Port, involve the Gold Shore Chamber of Commerce, and take a ten-percent cut on every deal they brokered.

Leon stayed half a day at the Cloud Giant’s castle and left in the afternoon, feeling optimistic about his side of things. He wondered how Cecilia was faring in discussions with the Elves.

In the evening, Leon returned to the Volcanic Island, only to find Cecilia covered in blood and wounds, leaving him stunned.