Morning dew between the dragon scales refracted the dawn light, and Garros folded his wing membranes, allowing the early sun to gild his black-red scales.
He watched the Silver Dragon's slightly twitching tail tip, realizing that the strategy of "using humble words to resolve hostility" from the Dragon Taming Art was completely ineffective at this moment.
What flickered in Adrie's eyes was clearly the sour, angry fire unique to an old father.
This kind of emotion is sometimes harder to reconcile than simple factional opposition.
Since things had reached this point, Garros didn't overthink it.
He was certain that the Silver Dragon ultimately adhered to the iron law of Lawful Good.
Even if obvious annoyance churned in the Silver Dragon's eyes at this moment, those elegant silver wings had not truly revealed any killing intent.
After all, this "sparring" had to be conducted under the guise of an instructional battle.
This Metallic Dragon overlord still had to maintain his surface-level demeanor after all.
With the connection to Deborah, no matter how sour or displeased the Silver Dragon felt inside, there was nothing he could do.
Now, he just needed to guard against the Silver Dragon "picking a fight" and not give him a reason.
In the future, once his strength surpassed his, if the Silver Dragon continued to make trouble like this and never changed, then he shouldn't blame Garros for being "straightforward" and ruthless with his fists; after all, between dragons, one must ultimately speak with power.
Logic that cannot be reasoned with can be forced through with fists.
Garros secretly grinned with his dragon snout, thinking to himself.
"However, for now, I should just be obedient and well-behaved."
"I've already taken advantage this time during the sparring, but I'm afraid I won't have the chance for a long time."
The Red-Iron Dragon focused on the present and stopped fantasizing about beating up the Mature Adult Dragon.
A true oak bends in a storm but does not break; a true sword enters its sheath without losing its edge. Garros believed that the ability to bend and stretch is a virtue that Dragonkin very much need to learn.
After the sparring battle ended, regardless of the actual situation, at the very least, the Red-Iron Dragon and the Silver Dragon were getting along harmoniously on the surface.
The Silver Dragon Adrie folded his wings and asked: "You said you wanted to bring order to The Borderlands, how is the progress?"
Garros's scales shimmered with a black-red luster in the morning light, and he replied calmly: "The goblins of the Golden Tooth Tribe have already surrendered voluntarily, contributing their strength to order, as for the three major tribes of Poison Tail, Dawn, and Ironblood"
He paused slightly and said: "It won't take too long either."
Voluntarily?
The Silver Dragon stared at Garros, seeing that there was no change in expression on his thick, scale-covered dragon face; he was calm and composed, speaking as a matter of course, as if he were stating the most ordinary of facts.
The Silver Dragon had stayed in Red Maple Valley during this period without going out, so his understanding of information about The Borderlands was somewhat lagging.
But without needing to verify, he could be certain that the goblins were likely not surrendering voluntarily.
He knew the nature of those green-skinned goblins very well.
Unless these cunning creatures had sharp claws pressed against their throats, they would never voluntarily do anything detrimental to themselves.
At the same time, the sunlight that had fully leaped over the horizon pierced through the morning mist, and the Red-Iron Dragon thickened his face and said: "Your Excellency Adrie, those vermin cannot govern The Borderlands well; the order here is best placed under the rule of Dragonkin."
"But I am too young, and my strength is insufficient."
"It would be best if you were with me; Metallic Dragons have always been the guardians of order, and we can govern The Borderlands together, ending the bloodshed and chaos here."
Hearing Garros's words, the Silver Dragon sneered.
Detestable Red-Iron Dragon brat, is he using the banner of order to try to get me to help solve the other tribes?
As if!
He refused without hesitation and said in an educational tone: "Young Dragons should face difficulties head-on when they encounter trouble; don't always think about asking for help."
"Hone yourself more, only then can your claws and teeth be sharper, and your scales be harder."
Garros pondered for a few seconds, shook his head, and pretended to be regretful: "Is that so? What a pity; I had originally thought about giving you a share of gold coins or gems every month that would satisfy you, as a dividend for our alliance."
The Silver Dragon's expression froze.
Then again—
Just at this moment, he saw Deborah using her wingtip to brush ice crystals off the Red-Iron Dragon's shoulder armor, an action that made the Silver Dragon's pupils almost shrink into thin lines.
—It couldn't be taken back.
All wavering was solidified.
The Silver Dragon's expression was cold and rigid, a muffled snort emitted from his throat, as he forcibly resisted the temptation of wealth.
He changed the subject, looked at the Red-Silver Dragon Deborah, and said: "Deborah, the Family is summoning all Metallic Dragons above the age of adulthood; we need to return to the Boiling Sea Dragon Domain."
On Planet Bernardo, there is a firm alliance relationship between Metallic Dragons.
However, they have divided into different Dragon Domains based on region, Family, lineage, and the like, rather than all Metallic Dragons gathering in one place.
There is a Metallic Dragon King in the Dragon Domain, and the Dragon Kings are in frequent contact with each other, being very good at asking for help when encountering trouble.
The relationship between different Dragon Domains is both dispersed and united.
The Boiling Sea Dragon Domain—that vast sea area opposite the west coast of the Atlan continent—is the Foundation of the Silver Dragon Family, and it can be reached by traveling west from the Serel Wilderness.
Frosttrace Adrie is a Mature Adult Dragon, and in a backward region like The Borderlands, he is already an overlord.
But above him, there are Old Dragons, Very Old Dragons, Ancient Dragons, Ancient Dragons, and Ancient Dragons. Placed within the Dragon Domain, Adrie is only of the younger generation.
Back to the topic.
After hearing the Silver Dragon father's words, Deborah blinked, feeling a bit nostalgic for the elders and relatives and friends in the Dragon Domain.
"I want to go too."
She said.
After glancing at Garros, she whispered: "Um, can we take Garros with us? He is an innately evil Hybrid Dragon, but he yearns for order; the Dragon Domain will welcome him."
That was not a lie.
The Dragon Domain is named Dragon Domain, not Metallic Dragon Domain, and it does not only contain Metallic Dragons.
Inside the Boiling Sea Dragon Domain, there exist some Chromatic Dragons that were adopted by Metallic Dragons from a young age, and after Acquired cultivation and teaching, their alignment has shifted.
Metallic Dragons are very happy to see Evil Dragons turn toward good.
Correspondingly, Evil Dragons also like to guide Metallic Dragons to fall.
The Silver Dragon and the Copper Dragon first looked at each other, then said: "It is better for him to stay in The Borderlands."
Deborah was somewhat displeased and stubbornly said: "You all still have prejudices against Garros; if you don't take him, I won't go either."
The Silver Dragon nodded and said: "That's fine, I never intended to take you back to the Dragon Domain this time anyway."
Huh?
This script isn't quite what I expected.
Deborah widened her eyes, not expecting the Silver Dragon father to answer like that.
"Little Deborah, the Dragon Domain is summoning dragons above the age of adulthood; you should just honestly stay in The Borderlands."
The Copper Dragon Serena said with a giggle, though there was a hint of worry deep in her eyes.
The Silver Dragon suddenly locating Deborah's position was not a whim, but to notify her before leaving.
The Dragon Domain's summons order was very urgent, calling for all Dragonkin above the age of adulthood to go as soon as possible, as if something important had happened; under such circumstances, with the Red-Iron Dragon still here, it might be better for Deborah to stay in The Borderlands.
Although the Silver Dragon did not like the Red-Iron Dragon, he acknowledged his alertness and reaction.
A Young Dragon who had struggled to survive from the wilderness, hacking through brambles and thorns, and grew up with difficulty, might not be less sensitive to crises than the two of them.
"Alright then, I'll go to the Dragon Domain later when I'm free."
Deborah said: "And I'm bringing Garros with me."
The Silver Dragon kept a straight face, but in the end, he reluctantly nodded slightly.
"The younger generation in the Dragon Domain will surely welcome you."
He squeezed a smile onto his face, no longer looking cold and rigid, and turned to the Red-Iron Dragon.
That smile made the muscles under Garros's scales tighten involuntarily; he guessed that the Mature Adult Silver Dragon was up to no good again, and the Dragon Domain probably wouldn't welcome him very kindly.
However, he had no longing for the Dragon Domain either.
Are there Black Oil Fields in the Dragon Domain?
Are there subordinates to command and control the life and death of?
There are probably only Metallic Dragons stronger than the next, and if he went, he would have to follow their various rules; it would be better to be a local tyrant in The Borderlands, free and unrestrained.
Garros was no longer a helpless Young Dragon.
He had like-minded Dragonkin companions, possessed an unyielding spirit and will, and had the flourishing Molten Iron Tribe under his command; he did not need to rely on other dragons. It would be better to have a backer behind him, but it didn't matter if he didn't; it wouldn't discourage him.