The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases
Chapter 78 - 76: Silver

Chapter 78: Chapter 76: Silver

After leaving the Hall of Justice, David, too lazy to walk or fly, immediately led his companions back into the carriage. Brandishing his tail to intimidate the two shivering mares, they raced towards the territory of the Duke of Silver.

Twilight was just beginning to show. From a distance, at the edge of the territory, there hadn’t seemed much to see. But as their carriage drew nearer, the forest within the city seemed to shimmer. Ancient trees, hundreds or even thousands of years old, stood tall within, their leaves like emeralds gleaming with morning dew. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, sounding like little elves whispering prayers—an enchanting sight that made even David, who had become a Red Dragon, click his tongue in wonder.

Soon, their gaze was captured by the silver castle standing proudly on the mountain peak—the home of the Elf Lord, the Duke of Silver.

Viewed from afar, the castle materialized like a poem. Its high towers seemed to reach for the sky, its elegant spires appearing as sinuous branches. Scattered balconies, shimmering with golden and silver threads under the sunset, blended harmoniously with the graceful trees and natural rocks around. Even David, a Red Dragon, had to concede it was a marvel of divine craftsmanship.

"Rosinde, you were right. The scenery of the New Continent is indeed beautiful, especially here. It seems this Duke of Silver is an elf of taste," David remarked.

"HEH, HEH," Rosinde, the Barbarian, chortled upon being complimented by the Dragon Lord, his clumsy words failing to conjure any particularly fragrant flattery.

As he racked his brains for some words of agreement, the impatient Winter Wolf nearby was almost about to speak in its master’s stead when the Drow Mage at their side said, somewhat grudgingly, "Master, this place is nice, but our Drow city, Spider Nest City, isn’t bad either. You should visit the Gloomy Region sometime."

Ahmed, a High Elf and nephew of the Duke of Silver, immediately retorted as if his lifeblood had been stepped on, "You dare compare your goblin den of black-skinned Drow to my aunt’s Silver Fortress?"

Hiatt immediately covered her forehead in exasperation.

She didn’t even know how this Drow—who had been nearly killed, done in, or tricked to death by his own kin so many times—could have any sense of belonging or pride for that evil hometown of his.

Ah, it would have been good if I had just stabbed this fool to death when he was fleeing from the Crimson Calamity’s territory.

Just when she thought her Dragon Lord would be displeased by this noisy Drow disturbing the enjoyment of the scenery, David unexpectedly replied nonchalantly, "I look forward to visiting when I have the chance." He was actually thinking about when he could offload goods in the Gloomy Region.

Ahmed, the opportunistic High Elf, visibly deflated and quickly changed his tune. "I’ve heard that the design and construction of Spider Nest City do have some merit..."

"Shut up. Don’t spoil my mood while I’m enjoying the scenery."

"..." Ahmed.

The Drow Mage, unaware of how many times he had nearly been backstabbed to death by his ’boss’, held his head high like a victorious rooster. This greatly annoyed Ahmed, who had been put in his place but could do nothing about it.

Little did they know that David’s mood swing had nothing to do with their words.

Whether the Red Dragon was angry or happy was entirely unpredictable, like Schrödinger’s cat.

As dawn broke, the crunch of gravel underwheel and the clatter of hooves on the fine cobblestone road marked their progress. After a long night’s journey past scattered flowers and shrubs, a journey that seemed much longer than anticipated, they finally arrived at the foot of the Silver Castle.

Suddenly catching a whiff of a floral scent, David turned his neck, his eyes widening in surprise.

Looking down from the mountain peak, he saw nothing but a sea of blooms stretching as far as the eye could reach; the entire vast mountain meadow was a tapestry of multicolored flowers.

Especially on the east-facing slope, there lay an entire field of immaculate white flowers.

A gust of wind swept through, detaching thousands of pure white petals from their branches. They floated up towards the sky like the feathers of holy angels, a truly magnificent sight.

The faint fragrance permeating the air alone was enough to invigorate him, even as a Red Dragon.

At that moment, even though David had never seen them before, he knew these were what he had spent half a year planning and crossing oceans to find.

"Master, that is the Century Aroma we are here for," whispered Hiatt, leaning close to David’s ear frills.

"I know," David inhaled deeply, replying with outward calm.

But he was absorbing the breathtaking scene before him, vowing silently in his heart:

One day, I too will possess such a stunning field of flowers and a territory that will astound a dragon’s heart and soothe a dragon’s spirit.

[Greed]

Alas, such splendor wasn’t meant for him, a Red Dragon, to enjoy.

As he grew, the intense, wild magic power within a Red Dragon would transform his entire domain into molten lava, all vestiges of life vanishing like smoke.

But just as David was feeling the poignant solitude of a peerless master, he suddenly remembered he could transform into a Silver Dragon.

No, transforming into a Silver Dragon would also destroy this beautiful scene, freezing it solid.

Heh, worst case, I could just use [Jealousy] on some handsome Gold Dragon.

Heh! Simple as that.

David’s mood visibly brightened.

As the saying goes, pain and uncertainty don’t disappear; they merely transfer elsewhere.

Confronted by the Red Dragon Lord, whose mood changed faster than one could flip through a book, Ahmed, his fate gripped within the dragon’s claws, felt a desolate chill in his heart.

Who knew if one day he’d be slain on the spot for tweaking the Dragon Lord’s whiskers, or accidentally obliterated by a stray Dragon Breath?

If only...

It was too late!

As the former commander of the Seventh Fleet...

He had already boarded this pirate ship!

Perhaps news of Ahmed returning to report for duty with a young Silver Dragon in tow had already permeated the depths of the domain.

WITH A DULL THUD, the castle gates slowly opened as their carriage approached.

If the exterior of the castle presented the ultimate in natural beauty, then everything inside was the epitome of splendor.

The silver-white stone walls were adorned with exquisite carvings left by Elven masters. Stepping inside, even the air became noticeably fresher and pulsed with vitality, as if every breath carried nature’s sweet essence.

In the grand hall, spacious enough to house an ancient Red Dragon, sunlight filtered through openwork windows, its radiance rivaling the sparkling Elven crystals as it cast a subtle, elegant light.

In an age where volcanic ash constantly drifted across the skies of the plane, to bask in such brilliant sunlight was a luxury in itself, the ultimate symbol of wealth and power.

This Duke of Silver was likely a figure of such stature that even the Elf King Ailiando would have to treat her with considerable deference.

And everything Dewensen had experienced concerning this counterfeit Silver Dragon served as indirect proof of this.

Just as David expected attendants to appear—as was common in television dramas—to lead them to a side parlor for a brief rest before an audience with the Duke of the Silver Wheel, he suddenly felt the sensation of being watched from all directions.

Experts! And not just one, but a group of them.

Feeling threatened, David instinctively crouched slightly, his pupils narrowing to slits as he surveyed the empty surroundings. He saw nothing. However, he grumbled inwardly:

Could it be that the Duke of Silver has seen through my disguise? Impossible!

Or is it revenge for that Elven party that was annihilated because of ’me,’ this young Silver Dragon, and now they hold a grudge from the Old Continent over that potato-digging incident?

Surely, she’s not that petty?

He also prepared for the worst-case scenario.

If all else failed, it would just be a matter of unleashing [Wrath of Tiamat].

After all, right now I’m laughably poor; my entire net worth is just over a thousand Gold Coins jingling in that Drow’s pocket.

To summon the Dragon God across planes with just over a thousand Gold Coins...

That’s a deal I could barely accept.

The only pity would be this domain and castle I’m quite fond of.

Ah, if it came to that, I’d just consider it an early offering to my ultimate superior among the Chromatic Dragons—Tiamat, the Chromatic Dragon Queen.

Seeing their Dragon Lord’s guarded posture, Hiatt and the Barbarian, also sensing something amiss, drew their chain-linked dragon-tooth twin blades, moving to protect David. Beside the Barbarian, the Winter Wolf half-hid, its body low, emitting guttural GRROWLS and baring its teeth.

Only the oblivious Drow Mage and Ahmed stood there dumbfounded, their faces etched with confusion and helplessness.

A cold, reprimanding voice sounded from above. "All of you, stand down. You’re disturbing my esteemed guests." Only then did the prickling sensation of being watched finally vanish.

David looked up towards the source of the voice and saw a High Elf in a silver gown, her hand resting on a scepter, descending gracefully and steadily down the spiral staircase from the upper levels.

Following her was a noticeably younger Elf, resembling a younger sister, her dress flowing like a waterfall. Her bright, starry eyes first fell with curiosity on David, this ’young Silver Dragon,’ then scanned the diverse members of his entourage, before returning to him once more, seemingly brimming with interest.

Unfortunately, all that enthusiasm was wasted. David, the counterfeit Silver Dragon, had his attention entirely fixed on the High Elf walking in front.

Whether they were sisters or mother and daughter, it was clear: the one in front was more mature, more captivating, and possessed a greater allure!

Just the sight of her ample bosom, quivering gently with each step, was enough to make that merely handsome, flat-chested Silver Dragon priest pale into insignificance.

Indeed, when it comes to beauties, authentic and well-endowed is better.

No wonder she’s the Duke of Silver, renowned for her magnanimity!

Seeing her today, her reputation is truly well-deserved.

[Greed]