The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases
Chapter 68 - 67: The Ceremony

Chapter 68: Chapter 67: The Ceremony

Having resolved this core issue surrounding the ’Chromatic Dragons Vassal Promotion Ceremony Leak Crisis,’ David immediately offered verbal reassurances to the Barbarian who had shown an inclination to pledge loyalty. He flicked the tip of his tail, signaling Drow to first take down the Barbarian—whose face bore a smile of utter contentment, as if all his wishes had been fulfilled—and then dismissed everyone, including the Red Dragon, White Dragon, and others.

Only then did he slowly turn his head. His tail, like a whip, CRACKED as it shattered the wooden cage—a flimsy barrier for dragons of their size. Dragging the hefty chain, he pulled the young female Green Dragon before him. Two streams of hot, sulfur-scented breath puffed from his nostrils as he said gravely, "Alright, there are no other dragons here now. You can reveal your true purpose for coming here. Considering the lengths you went to please me, as long as your request isn’t too excessive, I might consider it."

He was also already prepared to introduce her to his mother, Pafila. Protecting his siblings was one thing, but safeguarding one more Dragon could be beneficial. He could receive gifts and Gold Coins, and it wouldn’t require much extra effort from his mother. If he played his cards right, he might even pocket a sum for himself. Why not, indeed?

If his mother were in deep slumber, such a matter would certainly be out of the question. No dragon forcibly awakened from deep slumber would be in a good mood. But since his sister Tania hadn’t returned yet, it meant his mother definitely wasn’t asleep. Right now, she was probably off somewhere, happily drinking Ailiando berry wine brewed by those High Elves. Hearing there was free money to be had would undoubtedly thrill her. And for David, being able to appease his Dragon Mother before setting off to the new Continent, while also gaining something for himself, was a triple win.

Just as David’s mental abacus was clattering away, practically shooting sparks from the furious calculations, the Green Dragon, Nifadora, swayed her long, powerful tail coquettishly. She lowered her shapely head and pleaded in a soft yet earnest voice,

"I, Green Dragon Negulrelia Nifadora Vereesa Areleth Alexandra.

"Admire Your Highness for resolving our mutual disaster among the Skanis Chromatic Dragons with such thunderous swiftness.

"Am inspired by Your Highness’s ambition to alter the plight of the Chromatic Dragons.

"Thereby, I hope to receive Your Highness David Uthos’ protection,

"And to follow at the tail of your steed.

"To express my sincerity, I, Nifadora, am willing to offer half of my treasure to Your Highness."

Having said this, Nifadora looked at David, who was visibly dazed by this sudden windfall, and asked with a smile, "This request is not too excessive, is it? Your Highness."

David immediately gaped, his eyes wide with disbelief. His head jerked back, and his honest mouth responded before his stalled brain could even process it, "Then you better not go back on your word!"

Greed

This blatant display of avarice promptly sent Nifadora into a fit of laughter, her haunches quivering. "Your Highness David Uthos, if you fear I might go back on my word, you can contact your Elf subordinates now. They shouldn’t have gone far. Have them pack up the treasure in my nest and bring it back."

David didn’t hesitate. He immediately took out the Soul Prism to summon Yevgeny and gather the High Elf prisoners of war to move the treasure.

With Yevgeny’s soul in his possession, those Elf prisoners of war couldn’t take any stolen treasure back to the new Continent, even if they tried. They couldn’t even hide it using the infamous methods of the Qing dynasty’s treasury guards. Even if they somehow stuffed the treasure inside themselves, both Elves and treasure would still be in his camp. They couldn’t make it vanish into thin air. But if he allowed fellow dragons like Lizrite and Mofei to escort the treasure, the situation would be entirely different. These damn Dragon Whelps, who would even dare to scheme against their own mothers’ hoards, would absolutely find a way to embezzle his treasure. By the time those two returned, every gap between their scales would likely be stuffed with Gold Coins, and their stomachs would be full of them too! Even if they digested some of it, the unabsorbable gold and silver would become part of their very scales and bones. He’d never get it out. The mere thought of that agonizing scenario made David prefer using the Elf prisoners of war, even if it took them longer to move the treasure to his Dragon Nest in the camp. He would rather do that, even if it meant he wouldn’t get to see his lovely, newfound treasure before departing for the new Continent.

Greed

After completing this ’property transfer,’ David seemed to belatedly come to his senses. He retracted his head slightly and asked Nifadora, "You’re even willing to offer treasure. I suddenly feel like there’s something more you’re not telling me, some ulterior motive you dragons wouldn’t disclose. But then again, as a Green Dragon, you wouldn’t tell me the truth anyway."

Nifadora’s pupils shifted. Just as she was about to offer a prepared answer to soothe his draconic heart, she heard David muttering to himself:

"Good heavens, this is half a young dragon’s hoard! Hell, I’d accept it even if you were after my body!" he mused. Anyway, with Dragon Mother Pafila and that ’adulthood ransom’ as his backing, he figured the other party wouldn’t dare try anything truly threatening. As for his own empty camp—never mind that it was in his mother Pafila’s territory—so what if this Green Dragon tried to play him for a fool or take advantage of him? Would she dare?

The sudden ’exposure of her innermost thoughts’ made Nifadora laugh charmingly, her seductive eyes sparkling as she said, "Your Highness Uthos, you really do have a sense of humor."

Gently, she veiled the truth that had almost been laid bare.

No longer dwelling on what a Green Dragon might be thinking, David casually began to converse with his new follower, "By the way, Nifadora, I want to know more details about the Vassal Promotion Ceremony. I’m planning to promote that Barbarian to be my first vassal. So, what do I need to prepare?"

This was a question for the right dragon. When it came to recruiting vassals, the attitudes of Chromatic Dragons varied. The naturally prideful and solitary Red Dragons and the cunning, manipulative Green Dragons were almost polar opposites in this regard. That was also why, despite David scouring his draconic heritage and lineage records, he found almost no proper guidance on the subject. Believe it or not, even his own mother, Pafila, was a lone dragon.

As a Red Dragon himself, David could somewhat understand this. Red Dragons generally preferred solitude and didn’t actively recruit vassals. Even if they considered it, they were more inclined to use force than enticement. And even if such masochistic vassals did exist, it would be incredibly difficult for them to survive around Red Dragons, who were constantly conjuring up volatile schemes and wreaking havoc.

Take, for example, the supervolcanic eruption his mother Pafila had caused not long ago. If Pafila had possessed any vassals then, that single eruption would likely have wiped them all out.

Under the patient tutelage of Nifadora—this kind, gentle, and shapely Green Dragon—David quickly grasped the not-so-complicated ceremony and began to connect the dots:

"So, the ritual materials are Dragon Blood, Dragon Scales, or perhaps shed Dragon Teeth and Dragon Claws?"

"Does that mean anything from our draconic bodies can be used as a medium for this ritual?"

For some reason, he suddenly recalled how the High Elves utilized every part of a dragon. He slapped his forehead and asked, "What about dragon dung? Can that be used?"

This question practically fried Nifadora’s brain. "...Well, um, I haven’t tried that..."

Not only had she never tried it, but tracing back eighteen generations of her draconic ancestors, none had ever attempted such an outrageous thing.

"Hmm, I wonder who I could get to test that out someday?" David mused, rubbing the scales on his chin with a claw. He looked quite serious, not at all like he was joking.

He definitely wasn’t joking. If he could resolve the limitations on ritual materials, he could mass-produce vassals in a militarized fashion, much like how the High Elves cheaply produced their Anger Potions. He could break through any numerical limits and create a true Vassal Legion!

"..." This time, even the usually elegant Nifadora was at a loss for words.

"Hiss... I have another question."

"...Hmm?" Nifadora responded, somewhat distractedly.

"This ritual... does it absolutely require the prospective vassal to swear an oath of eternal loyalty in front of *my* treasure?"

"...It’s mandatory. Our ancestors, who loved to flaunt their wealth, designed it that way."

"Alright then..." _{free.w e bn.ov(e)l(.)com}

David, feeling a bit awkward about his current lack of a substantial hoard, scuffed the ground with the tip of his tail.