The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

A Silver Dragon, after being violated twice in a row, actually showed two completely different sides. The more resistant he was before, the more "addicted" he became now. At this moment, he was even willing to break his previous bottom line and attempt to conquer a Crimson Calamity through a roundabout approach? Truly sacrificing himself to feed a dragon! This really shocked David greatly.

However, he could somewhat understand. After all, Dragon Mother Pafila, the Crimson Calamity, might appear overwhelmingly domineering and formidable in the eyes of Humanoid Creatures, possibly even inciting a fear of colossal beings. But in the eyes of dragons, who generally worship absolute power and believe that bigger is more beautiful, combined with the mountainous and oceanic treasures behind her... That really is a breathtaking beauty to dragons. Provided, of course, that as a member of the opposite sex, one dared to look directly at this legendary Red Dragon, the Crimson Calamity, as David usually did.

Indeed, in the end... It's like they say: in youth, one doesn't know the allure of a wealthy woman, mistaking young girls for treasures. In youth, one doesn't appreciate the comfort of being supported, mistakenly pouring one's youth into arduous effort. And if age is strictly calculated, Dragon Mother Pafila is but a young dragon who has just reached adulthood. The combination of a young girl and a rich woman, this delectably easy life—who could resist it!

But both of them are still his, David Uthos's, parents, after all. After a decade of long-distance separation and mending rifts, there were signs of reconciliation. As their child, what more could he say? He could only wish them happiness... Alas.

Seeing that David had unexpectedly fallen silent, Attilicia became somewhat anxious. After all, in his past experiences, he was ultimately just an alchemist who knew how to make potions. Besides researching and making potions, he had never dealt with issues like sourcing raw materials, transportation, or sales. Last year, the Anger Potions that David concocted were distributed by Alianna, a Drow disguised as a High Elf, who sold them while working as a mercenary. Even so, they only managed to offload less than a quarter of the stock, and they were nearly exposed several times when the High Elves' inspection teams almost tracked them down by the scent.

Therefore, in his grand scheme to amass wealth, his own son—who could transform from a Red Dragon into a Silver Dragon—and his son's diverse array of retainers were absolutely indispensable. Without tackling these issues, what they were doing, after all, was an illicit and extremely dangerous business on the New Continent. If the High Elves got on their trail, whether they could escape by force or connections would all depend on his son. After all, in both respects, compared to the unbridled David, Attilicia was far behind.

There's no need to mention strength—his son had already proven himself in the Gloomy Region. Connections... oh, that seems to have been proven as well. Although he came from the Swietlanden clan, a name as renowned as Dragon Island itself, now... How could he still have the face to announce his family name and ask his clan dragons to retrieve him from Dewensen and bring him back to Dragon Island? Should he, like his son, claim to be the husband of the Crimson Calamity? Don't freaking embarrass the dragons!

The Chromatic Dragons have always been known for flaunting their parents' power, as long as they themselves are strong enough. Who ever heard of using one's spouse to take the fall? Even a mere mortal who has heard a few minstrels' tales knows this: Chromatic Dragons, especially Red Dragons, always just leave abruptly after indulging themselves, regardless of gender.

In comparison to his son, who seems to know a bit of everything, he, as a father, really didn't seem to have anything noteworthy to offer besides Alchemy.

Attilicia then asked with somewhat diminished confidence, "Son... well, the situation is like this... How about... you give it some thought?"

Faced with his Silver Dragon father's plea, which even seemed somewhat humbling, David really felt somewhat reluctant to refuse. After all, apart from the father-son relationship, this was a cooperation request from an Alchemy Grandmaster. Right before him was a living, walking money-printing machine! Although he had made a 'small profit' recently, what dragon ever felt it had too many ways to make money?

However, David smacked his lips and asked, "I don't really have any objections."

"Hmm!" His Silver Dragon father immediately beamed with joy. The figure that had begun to slump straightened visibly, and his head was raised to a degree befitting an Alchemy Grandmaster.

"But if I remember correctly, the flowering period for the Century Aroma has already passed this year, hasn't it?" David continued. "How about... we talk again next early autumn?"

Attilicia swung his tail. "Hey! Why wait until next year! We can get started right at the end of this autumn."

Ah? Could it be... A thought struck David.

"Mm-hmm! I am..." The proudly arrogant Silver Dragon father's head once again tilted up another five degrees, reaching a ridiculous angle.

CRACK.

"Ah... ah... my neck is twisted! Help me straighten it..."

...I've certainly seen something new today. David thought. He had never seen a dragon twist its own neck out of Pride before. If I could be as arrogant as you every day, I could probably use 'Unlimited Blade Works' as my basic attack.

Jealousy.

Greed.

"Hmph!" David immediately raised his chin arrogantly.

CRACK.

"Ah... ah... My neck is twisted! Dad, Dad, help me straighten it too..."

No more arrogance, no more arrogance! Such a superficial and tsundere-like Pride is not worth keeping! Better to let his dear old dad continue to be arrogant in front of Dragon Mother. It's all for show and not the least bit useful.

「A few minutes later.」

The father and son, both clutching their heads and gingerly twisting their necks, resumed their discussion.

"Over these years, I have actually made new research breakthroughs," Attilicia explained.

"Oh?" David perked up his reddish-white ear fins, indicating he was all ears.

Attilicia was very pleased with his son's expression of 'admiration mingled with a hint of expectation' and immediately confided in David, "I've researched a way to directly dissociate the Mana Energy catalyst enzyme from the mature seeds that form after the Century Aroma wilts. This achieves an effect similar to that of Century Aroma pollen.

"However, the High Elves, especially the Druids of the Earth Natural Sect who are responsible for cultivating the flower fields, harbor an almost pathological protectiveness towards Century Aroma seeds, which can grow into a new field of flowers after a hundred years.

"Even back when I was the personal magical advisor to the Duke of Silver, I couldn't get my hands on many Century Aroma seeds for quantitative verification.

"But I have already successfully produced Clarity Potions in my private Alchemy Workshop using these seeds, so..."

Hearing this, David had already made up his mind. "Good, then let's get started this year."

"I just need... Huh? Huh? You're agreeing just like that?" Attilicia's prepared speech was only just beginning; he hadn't even gotten around to explaining to David the unexpected incident that led to this discovery, nor his alchemical theory paper, now in its seventeenth revision, titled *'On the Possibility of Verifying the Use of Mature Century Aroma Seeds as an Alternative to Pollen for the Extraction of Mana Energy Catalyst Enzymes.'*

"When will the Century Aroma seeds mature?" David cut straight to the point.

"...Seven weeks and three days before the winter solstice," Attilicia, ever the scholar, responded with his habitual precision.

"A month and a half?" David mused. "That's enough."

David mentally organized the tasks he needed to handle in the near future, then looked back at his Silver Dragon father, ready to discuss business seriously. "So that leaves the final question: how do we split the profits?"

Attilicia instantly became nervous and embarrassed. While he could boldly state his demands to the Duke of Silver back in the day, now, faced with his son, he inexplicably struggled to assert himself. "Then... how about a seventy-thirty split?"

"You get thirty, and I get seventy? That works for me," David agreed swiftly.

Attilicia's scales practically flared out, his tail shot up high, and his voice rose in pitch. "I get thirty, and you get seventy? Don't push it too far, David Uthos! I'm the developer of this alchemical alternative! Without this technology, you'd have to wait patiently until next year!"

David was just as straightforward. "Then let's wait until early next autumn. I'm not in a rush anyway. There's a pile of things to do at the camp here."

"I..." Attilicia, who had just been thoroughly manhandled by Dragon Mother, nearly ran out of breath. Realizing that aside from the alchemical formula and production, everything else relied on his son, his arrogance plummeted from the clouds back down to earth. "Then what's your offer?"

"Let's do fifty-fifty," David stated directly, not wanting to bully his father, who was over sixty years old, any further.

"Fifty-fifty?!" Attilicia sounded like someone had stepped on his tail.

Do you know how much more product we can make and how many more Gold Coins we can earn with this alternative approach? he thought. A conservative estimate would be at least eight thousand pounds!

After mulling it over, he still couldn't bring himself to say it aloud and let out a resigned breath. "Alright, then. Fifty-fifty it is." He really didn't have the heart to continue arguing with his son, who was barely out of his wyrmling stage. After all, it was all for the sake of redeeming the family.

Once the final details were settled, David watched his father leave, tail swishing happily, and shook his head with a smile.

In fact, fifty-fifty was his original answer. But David knew that if he had proposed it outright, his dad would never have agreed. Dealing with an honest dragon like his Silver Dragon father had to be done this way: if you ask to open a window, he'll definitely be reluctant. But if you suggest tearing off the entire roof, he'll likely agree to opening the window, while secretly feeling relieved.

As soon as his Silver Dragon father left, Rosinde the Barbarian, who had stepped out earlier, came in.

"What is it? Spit it out." Dealing with his retainers, David didn't adopt the same 'gentle and amiable' tone he used with his father.

Rosinde knelt on one knee and stated his purpose directly. "I wish to request, my Lord, that we cease the raids and conquests against the surrounding Barbarian tribes.

"Instead, we should follow the example set by the High Elves in the past and open trade with them directly."

"Hmm?" Faced with the forthright Barbarian, David wasn't angered; instead, he had an epiphany. Indeed... Why bother with the trouble of raiding if you can have them eagerly bring money to you, just like the High Elves did?

But then, David suddenly considered a possibility and squinted at his first retainer. "Have the Barbarians sent someone to negotiate peace?"

"No, this is just my personal opinion," Rosinde replied, looking up at his Dragon Lord with hopeful eyes.

David grinned ferociously. "That won't do. Keep fighting until they come to us begging for peace."