The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

The Black Dragon Felicia, who had fully expected the child of the Crimson Calamity to come and 'demand something,' was taken aback. The Red Dragon Whelp, after accepting a Portable Cave from its 'Green Dragon servant,' actually took out a total of 1,100 Dewensen Gold Coins and pushed them towards her.

"This is a gift for our meeting."

"...This... This?" Black Dragon Felicia was completely thrown by David Euthyphro's maneuver.

It was indeed a tradition among dragons to carry treasures when seeking protection. But what kind of dragon is before me now? she wondered. The offspring of the Legendary Dragon, the Crimson Calamity. Does it really need the protection of an adult Black Dragon like me, one who has long sought entry to the gates of legend without success? What does all this mean?

One thousand one hundred Dewensen Gold. A treasure worth exactly 20 pounds of Gold in a dragon's eyes. Not an insignificant amount, but not overwhelmingly large either.

It certainly piqued her curiosity. Just as on Blue Star there was the preconceived notion that 'unwarranted kindness signals ill intent,' this sentiment was even stronger among dragons, who valued treasures immensely.

Moreover, after 10 years of effort, the name of David Euthyphro, the Flame Steel Dragon, had spread through the Barbarians. Even in the Old Continent of Skanis, he was now rather well-known.

Of course, his reputation was for cunning and valor in battle.

The latter was something any Red Dragon could claim, yet possessing the former made one undeniably more dangerous.

Felicia hesitated for a long time, then placed a claw upon the small pile of coins. She didn't immediately accept them but instead asked, "State your purpose first. I may not be able to fulfill your request."

David Euthyphro, however, responded with a firm smile, "I indeed come with a most presumptuous request. But whether you agree or not, this gift for our meeting is still for you, purely as a mark of respect from a junior."

Yet this very gesture made Felicia even more baffled.

Seeing the Black Dragon's face full of wary confusion, David Euthyphro no longer kept his intentions hidden but revealed his purpose, "I heard you had a brood of Black Dragon Whelps a few years back?"

"...Yes." What in the world does my accidental clutch of eggs have to do with you? Felicia thought. You can't possibly be here to give me a congratulatory gift.

For Metal Dragons, it would indeed be a celebratory event. But for Chromatic Dragons, for her, Felicia, it was merely the accidental product of an impulsive mating season—a debt and responsibility she had to begrudgingly acknowledge.

The smile on David Euthyphro's face grew even more radiant. "I would like to propose an arrangement."

An arrangement, not a transaction.

"What kind of arrangement?"

"I would like... to raise these children for you. Twenty pounds of Gold per child, half that for a dragon beast. During this period, the right to nurture them transfers to me, and you will have no say in it. Once they reach adolescence, if you wish for them to return to your side, you must pay the nurturing fee for 50 years in one lump sum. That amounts to 1,000 pounds of Gold. How does this arrangement sound to you?"

As David Euthyphro laid his cards on the table, not only did Black Dragon Felicia freeze in shock, but Nifadora, the Green Dragon behind him, was flabbergasted as well.

Is that even possible?!

It seemed to be perfectly feasible.

Twenty pounds of Gold was but a mere sweetener for any adult dragon. But to pay 1,000 pounds of Gold in one go—equivalent to a fifth of their own wealth—was akin to demanding their life.

Yet this couldn't exactly be called a transaction because David Euthyphro did plan on undertaking the duty of raising the dragons.

However, David Euthyphro had cleverly twisted this duty into a right, creating the impression for the other party that they had struck an incredibly good deal, while openly circumventing certain taboos.

In this way, Felicia fulfilled her obligation to the Chromatic Dragon Queen by producing offspring and also received a gift. The Chromatic Dragon Queen, seen as the ultimate 'mother' of their kind, thus had a new generation propagated. Meanwhile, David Euthyphro acquired the Dragon Whelps he desired—all for less than one-twentieth of the black market value! No, that was even less than the price for a Dragon Egg.

It was an obvious triple win, with everyone coming out ahead.

Indeed, Felicia narrowed her eyes, which glowed like red coals, and said with interest, "Of course, that's acceptable. But I would like to know, why are you interested in my children?"

Is it because he covets the talents in my bloodline?

"I need a group of followers loyal to me."

"I will forge an army sworn to my service."

"The Legion of Dragons," David Euthyphro answered with conviction.

Upon hearing this, Felicia's pupils involuntarily dilated before slowly narrowing again. Her expression remained unchanged as she shoved the stack of gold coins into the rotting swamp below the cliff face, her face a picture of admiration. "Son of the Crimson Calamity, your ambition and aspirations truly live up to your name; they are extraordinary indeed."

"However, to realize such a grand endeavor, the cost is not small."

"You must not give up halfway."

"If you don't believe me, we can sign a contract. We could even have the great Chromatic Dragon Queen come to witness it personally—it's not impossible," David Euthyphro said with a smile.

"That won't be necessary."

Felicia certainly didn't want to spend that unwarranted money, nor did she want to take the risk of being openly scrutinized by her boss for exploiting a 'loophole in the rules.'

"By the way, did you bring food? Otherwise, my children might get suspicious."

"Of course," David Euthyphro said, turning his head to look at Nifadora, who proceeded to dump out their Dragon Nest camp's specially made Dragon Food from the Portable Cave.

As the mother of the black dragons, Felicia curiously picked up a piece and tossed it into her mouth to taste. "Hmm, sea fish, beef, fat... and you've added some kind of alchemical concoction I don't recognize? It's quite nutritious; you are generous indeed."

The look she gave David Euthyphro was much like looking at a second-generation dragon spoiled by the Crimson Calamity.

However, as a mother who had fulfilled her breeding duty to the Dragon Queen without cost and with benefits to gain, she hesitated no further. She roared towards the outside of the cave, a prolonged, low "ROOOOAR!" that echoed at least 20 kilometers away.

David Euthyphro and his companion waited for a moment before they saw three little black dragons rush back from the wild, like kittens summoned by their mother.

Two in front, one behind.

Whenever they heard this sound, they knew their mother had, on a rare occasion, brought them food. And this time, they could smell the enticing aroma of the Dragon Food from a distance.

Dinner time!

But from afar, they also saw the silhouettes of two unfamiliar dragons, one red and one green, and instinctively grew alert. However, seeing their mother in front, each whelp lifted its little head and raised its tail with false bravado. They bypassed David Euthyphro and the others to reach their mother's side, rubbed her chest with their heads and tails, and then began voraciously digging into the Dragon Food.

"Two True Dragons, and even a dragon beast. Lady Felicia, you truly are merciful. Of course, this is the reward for mercy," David Euthyphro said with some admiration. "Here is the agreed-upon 50 pounds of treasure; please accept it."

"Wow! So much treasure!" the two black dragon siblings exclaimed in amazement. But why is this Red Dragon giving Mother treasure?

Sensing something awry, the black dragon siblings instinctively shrank their heads, ready to leap into the swamp behind them, but mid-flight, two dragon tails snatched them back.

With bewildered faces, they glanced at the Red and Green Dragons, who wore devilish smiles, and then pitifully turned to their own mother. "Mother, are you abandoning us?"

The black dragon sister's eyes welled with tears. "If you don't want us anymore, we can leave. Please don't sell us!"

"No, I haven't sold you. I have simply found you a path more suited for growth."

Felicia brushed the heads of her two children with her tail. Then, grabbing the slower-to-react dragon beast with her tail as if lifting a kitten, she tucked it into David Euthyphro's claws.

"David Euthyphro, please remember our 'agreement'," she said.

"Of course," said David Euthyphro, his smile broadening at the effortless capture of three dragons.

To the three little black dragons, however, his smile appeared devilish. "What... what do you want to do?"

"None of that 'what, what' business. From today onwards, you may call me Daddy, or Lord David Euthyphro, your adoptive father."

"..." The black dragon siblings were dumbstruck.

"..." Nifadora the Green Dragon was also stunned.

Only Felicia looked at David Euthyphro with a coquettish yet reproachful gaze.

This child really loves to take advantage of dragons, she thought. It's just a pity he's still a juvenile dragon. Otherwise, a young, successful, and wealthy Red Dragon... which mother dragon wouldn't love that?