The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases
Chapter 91 - 88: Calm Your Fury

Chapter 91: Chapter 88: Calm Your Fury

David certainly understood the Drow’s meaning.

The quantity of goods they were dealing with was indeed large, so large that it somewhat exceeded their apparent strength. This was even after David had left all the Clarity Potions and some of the better-quality, unadulterated Anger Potions on the surface, overseen by the now-homeless Ahmed.

This was David’s carefully considered transaction plan.

Firstly, High Elves always pursued calm and wisdom. Would the Drow, who damn well treated hallucinogenic and stimulant potions like daily beverages, truly fear the residual side effects of an Anger Potion? Perhaps if I ever managed to weaken or outright eliminate these side effects, those thrill-seeking Drow would even complain that my Anger Potions weren’t genuine enough!

Therefore, apart from a select few high-ranking members of Spider Nest City, there wasn’t much demand for Clarity Potions; if the volume was too large, they wouldn’t fetch a high price. Market demand dictated the flow of manufacturing capacity.

For this reason, what the Drow needed were Anger Potions—large quantities of cheap Anger Potions.

Thanks to the Old Continent’s early dragon dung mining campaigns and the few Red Dragons raised by Spider Nest City’s Xiyate family, the Drow weren’t exactly lacking in Crimson Ash. The only constraint on their potion-making capabilities was that damned Century Aroma pollen.

The Drow weren’t short on Crimson Ash, and the High Elves weren’t short on Century Aroma. Thus, over the years, this had evolved into a strange smuggling cycle. The Drow smuggled Crimson Ash to the surface, while the High Elves tried every means to smuggle Century Aroma or already-prepared Anger Potions underground. Both sides were making a fortune but still couldn’t meet the market’s nearly insatiable demand.

Against such a backdrop, the Anger Potions David and his crew currently had on hand were essentially a windfall. This also indirectly increased the chance of the other party turning hostile, disavowing the Drow, and seizing them, the Dragon, and the merchandise. After all, this was the Gloomy Region, Drow territory, so the probability of such unpleasant incidents occurring was naturally much higher than elsewhere.

David had previously considered distributing the goods and supplying several houses simultaneously. However, after consulting with the Drow Xiyate, he received an answer that was expected yet still dumbfounded the Dragon:

"This might just increase the chances of unforeseen disputes or even all-out conflict.

"We Drow may be somewhat different from all the races you, our lord, are familiar with.

"When we trade with only one Drow, or even the Matron they serve, the transaction can be relatively secret and safe.

"As long as word doesn’t leak from within their clan, the only ones we need to watch out for are that one Drow family.

"But once a second Drow family is involved in the trade, we risk being dragged into disputes and conspiracies stemming from the power struggles between those two families.

"And as that number continues to grow, we’ll inevitably find ourselves caught up in the strife that has plagued Spider Nest City for thousands, even tens of thousands, of years."

This answer astounded David. These Drow are truly a chaotic mess, living up to their reputation, he thought.

With this sobering lesson learned, David figured, It’s better to deal with a single family directly—it’ll be a matter of arm-wrestling at worst. Problems that can be solved with force don’t require overthinking.

Holding such thoughts, David outright refused Xiyate’s suggestion that she go ahead alone with samples to initiate negotiations. Instead, the skilled and daring Dragon directly led all his goods and people into the somewhat rudimentary stone loft.

It wasn’t that he distrusted the Drow whose souls he held in his claws. However, Xiyate had wandered the Old Continent for nine long years. She had also taken her younger brother, Kraidian, away without permission. David was certain that if she went in to negotiate alone, problems would absolutely arise. Then, he would inevitably have to clean up the mess himself. It was a waste of both time and effort, and he had no patience for playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Indeed, the moment David, accompanied by two Drow, a Barbarian, and a Winter Wolf, stepped through the main entrance of the Flavia family’s stronghold, the bustling Drow inside fell silent. All eyes turned towards David and his unexpected entourage. Most Drow who might have initially objected wisely kept their mouths shut. They knew they couldn’t withstand a single blast of Dragon Breath, especially when they saw the leader was a young Red Dragon.

But there were still Drow who recognized Xiyate:

"Yo! Isn’t that the Shadow Dancer, Krista Xiyate, the defector from the dragon-taming family?

"I heard you’ve hidden your pretty little brother away as your personal plaything? That’s rather selfish of you.

"How about this: hand over your little brother to us for some fun, right here in this tavern, and we won’t call your family and your creditors. What do you think of that proposal, huh?"

"Hahahahaha, that’s not a bad suggestion! I heard that Kraidian is quite hot and good in bed too."

The entire tavern immediately erupted into an ocean of laughter and merriment. Even David laughed along. These rumored Drow are somewhat amusing, just for entertainment, he thought.

Then, the death-seeking fool’s gaze shifted, landing on her master, David.

"I heard you fled to the Old Continent with a bunch of grunts to steal Dragon Eggs to avoid your debts. This young Red Dragon couldn’t possibly be the son-and-lover you hatched with your own fiery ass, could he..."

But this time, the Drow didn’t get to finish his sentence. The crowd, still nursing their drinks and listening to the jokes, hadn’t even had a chance to laugh again.

Accompanied by a blinding flash of light.

With a deafening BOOM, the newly closed main door of the tavern stronghold, all its opaque windows, and even sections of the walls were blasted outward. The stone wall itself had a large hole blown through it, emitting wisps of acrid smoke.

After a long moment, the Drow who had instinctively dived under the tables began to peek out sheepishly. They saw the terrifying Red Dragon striding towards the bar, its gait both rugged and graceful. The tip of its swaying, unfurling tail took a glass of strong liquor mixed with a Hallucinatory Potion from the trembling hands of the Drow bartender, and the Dragon downed it in one gulp.

"GAH! PTUI!" He spat a mouthful of saliva mixed with stomach acid onto the ’Drow adept’ outside the hole in the wall, who was still enduring his fiery ordeal. The flames were extinguished, but the Drow’s flesh was corroded, exposing bone in places.

"Damn it, what kind of crap is this? Tastes like fucking piss."

Wrath

"To prevent a similar mishap from happening again, Xiyate, introduce yourself."

"Yes, Master!"

The Drow immediately lifted her head, her voice proud and self-assured as she introduced herself.

"I am Krista Xiyate, currently the Drow slave of the Red Dragon Lord, Master David Uthos."

"And I am also Master’s most loyal bitch."

Faced with the Red Dragon, nostrils still flaring with residual fury and twin streams of flame, and the Drow Shadow Dancer who proclaimed herself a slave and a dog, the entire tavern fell into absolute silence. No one dared to be presumptuous anymore.

"Lord David Uthos, please calm your anger. We have been too indulgent with these louts."

"Our mistress, Lady Alianna, invites you to the second floor for a conversation."