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Translator: AnubisTL
Morning dew glistened on Garos's scales, reflecting the dawn's first light. He folded his wings, letting the rising sun gild his crimson-black armor with golden edges.
Watching the silver dragon's tail twitch slightly, Garos realized that the "humble words to defuse hostility" technique from theĀ Dragon Taming ArtĀ had utterly failed.
The glint in Edri's eyes was unmistakably the bitter, resentful anger of an overprotective father.
This kind of emotion was sometimes even harder to reconcile than simple factional conflict.
Now that things had come to this, Garos stopped overthinking.
He remained confident that the silver dragon would ultimately adhere to his lawful good principles.
Even with clear annoyance churning in the silver dragon's eyes, those elegant wings showed no real intent to kill.
After all, this "sparring match" was being framed as a training exercise.
The metallic dragon overlord still had to maintain a veneer of decorum.
With Deborah's connection to them, the silver dragon had no choice but to swallow his bitterness and displeasure.
For now, Garos just needed to avoid giving the silver dragon any excuses to pick a fight.
Later, when his strength surpassed the silver dragon's, if the silver dragon continued to cause trouble without changing his ways, Garos wouldn't hesitate to show his "straightforward" nature and ruthless combat skills. After all, strength ultimately determined the pecking order between dragons.
When reason fails, fists will prevail,Ā Garos thought, his dragon's maw curving into a secret grin.
Still, it's best to play it safe and behave for now.
I've already gained an advantage from this sparring match, but opportunities like this might not come again for a long time.
The red-iron dragon focused on the present, abandoning his fantasies of pummeling the adult silver dragon.
A true oak bends in the storm but does not break; a true sword remains sharp even in its sheath. Garos believed that adaptabilityāknowing when to yield and when to strikeāwas a vital virtue for dragonkind to learn.
With the sparring match concluded, regardless of the true circumstances, the red-iron dragon and the silver dragon had at least established a semblance of harmony on the surface.
The silver dragon Edri folded his wings and asked, "You said you would bring order to the Frontierlands. How's that progressing?"
Garos's scales shimmered with a black-red luster in the morning light. He replied steadily, "The goblins of the Gold Tooth Tribe have willingly submitted and are contributing to the order. As for the Poison Tail, Dawn, and Iron Blood Tribes..."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Their compliance won't be delayed for long."
Willingly?
The silver dragon stared at Garos, observing the thick, scale-covered dragon face. It remained utterly expressionless, calm, and matter-of-fact, as if he were stating the most ordinary of truths.
Having remained in Red Maple Valley for some time, the silver dragon's knowledge of the Frontierlands was somewhat outdated.
Yet he needed no confirmation to be certain that the goblins had likely not submitted willingly.
He knew the nature of those green-skinned creatures all too well.
These cunning beings would never willingly do anything detrimental to themselves unless a claw was pressed against their throats.
Meanwhile, the sun, now fully risen above the horizon, pierced through the morning mist. The red-iron dragon, with shameless audacity, declared, "Lord Edri, those vermin could never govern the Frontierlands properly. This land's order would be best maintained under dragonkind's rule."
"But I am too young and lack the strength."
"If you were to join me, it would be ideal. Metallic dragons have always been the guardians of order. Together, we could govern the Frontierlands and end the bloodshed and chaos."
Hearing Garos's words, the silver dragon sneered coldly.
That wretched red-iron dragon whelp! Using the pretense of order to make me solve his tribal problems?
Dream on!
He refused without hesitation, adopting a lecturing tone. "Young dragons should face challenges head-on, not constantly seek assistance."
"Hone your claws and fangs through hardship, and your scales will grow stronger."
Garos pondered for a few seconds, then shook his head, feigning regret. "Is that so? What a pity. I was planning to offer you a monthly share of gold coins or gems, enough to satisfy you, as a dividend for our alliance."
The silver dragon's expression froze.
On second thoughtā
Just then, he noticed Deborah using the tip of her wing to brush ice crystals from the red-iron dragon's shoulder armor. The silver dragon's pupils narrowed to slits.
On second thought, no.
All hesitation solidified.
His expression hardened, and he let out a muffled grunt, stubbornly resisting the allure of wealth.
Changing the subject, he turned to the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah. "Deborah, the clan is summoning all metallic dragons of age. We must return to the Boiling Sea Dragon Domain."
On Bernardo Planet, metallic dragons maintained a steadfast alliance.
However, they were divided into different Dragon Realms based on region, clan, lineage, and other factors, rather than all gathering in one place.
Each Dragon Realm was ruled by a Metallic Dragon King, and these kings frequently communicated with each other, readily seeking assistance when faced with trouble.
The relationship between different Dragon Realms was both decentralized and unified.
The Boiling Sea Dragon Domaināthe vast sea stretching west of the Atlantis Continentāwas the ancestral home of the silver dragon clan. It could be reached by traveling west from the Sierre Wilderness.
Frostmark Edri was a mature dragon, already a dominant force in the Frontierlands, a backward region.
Yet above him loomed elder dragons, ancient dragons, primordial dragons, and even more ancient beings. In the Dragon Realm, Edri was merely a young upstart.
But let's return to the matter at hand.
After hearing the Silver Dragon Father's words, Deborah blinked, her thoughts drifting to the elders, relatives, and friends she missed in the Dragon Realm.
"I want to go too," she declared.
Glancing at Garos, she added softly, "And... can Garos come with me? He's an innately evil hybrid dragon, but he yearns for order. The Dragon Realm would welcome him."
This wasn't entirely untrue.
The Dragon Realm was named for dragons, not metallic dragons, and it housed more than just metallic dragons.
Within the Boiling Sea Dragon Domain, some chromatic dragons had been adopted by metallic dragons as hatchlings. Through nurture and guidance, their alignments had shifted toward good.
Metallic dragons were always pleased to see evil dragons turn to good.
Conversely, evil dragons relished corrupting metallic dragons.
The silver dragon and red copper dragon exchanged a glance before the silver dragon spoke: "It would be best for him to remain in the Frontierlands."
Deborah bristled, her voice stubborn. "You're still prejudiced against Garos. If you won't take him, I won't go either."
The silver dragon nodded. "Perfect. We weren't planning to bring you back to the Dragon Realm this time anyway."
Huh?
This isn't going according to plan.
Deborah's eyes widened, completely taken aback by the silver dragon father's response.
"Little Deborah," Serena, the red copper dragon, said with a cheerful smile, though a hint of worry lingered in her eyes, "the Dragon Realm is summoning adult dragons only. You should stay put in the Frontierlands."
The silver dragon's sudden decision to locate Deborah wasn't a whim; he had deliberately contacted her before leaving to inform her of the situation.
The Dragon Realm's summons was urgent, calling upon all adult dragons to return immediately, suggesting a critical matter had arisen. With the red-iron dragon still present in the Frontierlands, it might be safer for Deborah to remain there.
Though the silver dragon disliked the red-iron dragon, he acknowledged his sharp instincts and quick reflexes.
A juvenile dragon who had clawed his way to survival in the wilderness, hacking through thorns and struggling to grow, might possess a sensitivity to danger that rivaled their own.
"Alright then, we'll visit the Dragon Realm when we have time later," Deborah said.
"And we should bring Garos along too," she added.
The silver dragon's face remained cold, but he reluctantly nodded.
"The younger generation in the Dragon Realm will surely welcome you warmly," he said, forcing a smile that softened his stern expression. He turned to the red-iron dragon.
That smile made the muscles beneath Garos's scales tense involuntarily. The adult silver dragon was likely up to no good again; the Dragon Realm probably wouldn't be very friendly to him.
But Garos had no particular desire to visit the Dragon Realm anyway.
Did the Dragon Realm have black oilfields?
Did it have familiars to command, with the power of life and death over them?
It probably only contained metallic dragons, each stronger than the last. If he went there, he'd have to abide by their endless rules. He'd rather remain the carefree local tyrant of the Frontierlands.
Garos was no longer a helpless young dragon.
He had like-minded dragon companions, an indomitable mental will, and the thriving Ironforged Tribe under his command. He didn't need to rely on other dragons. Having powerful allies would be nice, but their absence wouldn't discourage him.
(End of the Chapter)
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