Translator: AnubisTL
Just as the arrow was about to strike its tough, scale-covered body, a sudden transformation occurred.
"ROAAR—!!!"
From the mouth of the seemingly ordinary fish-like ferocious beast, a low, majestic, and oppressive—dragon's roar—suddenly erupted!
Under the terrified and tense gazes of the centaurs, ogres, and even the goblin laborers, the ferocious beast's body rapidly expanded, twisted, and deformed as if being inflated. The ordinary fish scales covering its body were replaced in the blink of an eye by dazzling, metallic dragon scales that flowed with the luster of liquid gold! Its thick dragon neck raised proudly, its majestic dragon horns pierced the night sky, and its broad dragon wings abruptly unfurled, blotting out the stars and moon.
A colossal, majestic, and terrifying giant beast, covered in brilliant golden light and radiating pure and powerful dragon majesty, had taken the place of the original fish-like ferocious beast, hovering above the waves.
A metallic dragon! And not just any metallic dragon, but the pinnacle among them—a gold dragon!
"Before a pointless and bloody conflict erupts, I would prefer to first have... a civilized conversation."
Alberto Aurelius's majestic, molten-gold dragon eyes slowly swept over the monster retainers on the shore, who were either frozen in shock or on high alert. His deep voice, like rolling thunder, echoed across the river's surface: "Slaughtering innocent river beasts at will, attacking a... noble dragon who was 'playing' with them..."
His massive dragon's maw parted slightly as he spoke slowly, "Monsters, you must prove to me that your actions do not stem from pure evil."
Silvermane Zachary took a deep breath of the cold night air, forcing himself to snap out of the dragon's overwhelming presence.
Damn it! How could it be a gold dragon?! We're in deep trouble!
Regardless, the immediate priority was to placate this gold dragon, which was clearly hostile and far too powerful for them to resist.
"Your... Your Excellency Gold Dragon!"
Silvermane Zachary suppressed the tremble in his voice, struggling to maintain a respectful posture as he called out, "Please hear us! These river beasts are anything but innocent! They have frequently attacked passing merchant ships, causing casualties and cargo losses. They are a threat we must eliminate."
He bowed slightly, lowering his posture even further. "As for our offense... this is an immense misunderstanding! We meant no disrespect! We simply failed to see through your noble disguise."
The centaur boss, well aware of dragonkind's temperament, spoke rapidly. At the same time, he waved his arm decisively toward the rear, hissing a low, urgent command: "Bring out the chest of finest gold coins from the warehouse!"
Several goblins, trembling so violently they nearly collapsed, scrambled and stumbled toward the storehouse. They quickly returned, straining together to carry out a heavy metal chest.
Silvermane Zachary stepped forward himself to present the treasure, his posture humbled to the extreme. "This is the Ironforged Tribe's deepest expression of respect and awe for your exalted status! A meager gift, which we beg you to accept to atone for our ignorant offense!"
However.
The golden dragon floating in the air did not soften his attitude at the sight of the treasure as expected.
"A gift?"
Alberto's voice turned abruptly cold.
"What do you take me for? A highwayman? Or some insatiable bandit?!"
The terrifying dragon might surged down like a physical tide, causing the familiars on the shore to buckle at the knees, nearly suffocating under the pressure.
Silvermane Zachary's mane was instantly soaked with cold sweat. He hastily lowered his posture even further, nearly prostrating himself on the ground. "Not at all, Your Excellency Gold Dragon! You misunderstand. This is by no means a ransom or a bribe. This is merely... merely a heartfelt expression of our profound awe and sincerest respect for your majesty. Please... please accept it!"
He practically roared at the goblins to bring out everything they could find—every valuable item, every recent spoil of war and trade—and pile it all on the shore. Before the gold dragon, they formed a small, shimmering "mountain of respect."
The brilliant gold dragon hovered silently, his gaze piercing like a physical probe, lingering on the centaur boss's forcedly composed face for several long seconds. The atmosphere grew as heavy and suffocating as a block of solid lead.
Suddenly.
"Hahaha!"
Alberto erupted into a thunderous, hearty laugh that seemed to scatter the darkness of the night, his draconic countenance beaming with delight.
"Awe? Respect? Excellent! I like that word!"
His massive dragon head nodded, his voice brimming with "magnanimous" amusement. "Since this is a gift born of 'respect'... then this time, I shall mercifully forgive your ignorant offense."
His broad dragon wing swept out in a seemingly casual gesture.
Whoosh—!
All the gold coins, gems, and valuables piled on the riverbank were swept up as if by an invisible tornado, vanishing instantly beneath the pair of brilliant golden wings.
"Remember, this will not happen again!"
With this majestic warning, the massive golden dragon beat its wings violently.
BOOM!
The powerful downdraft crushed the river's surface into a colossal crater. The Golden Dragon's shimmering form streaked across the night sky like a golden meteor, soaring into the star-studded abyss and vanishing in an instant.
However...
This was far from over.
Not long after, at another riverbank outpost belonging to the Ironforged Tribe along the Estonian Great River, nearly the exact same scene unfolded.
The Golden Dragon's actions ran counter to the rumors of its nobility and benevolence. Instead, it behaved like an evil dragon draped in golden scales, systematically and greedily extorting and plundering the wealth of the Ironforged Tribe.
Meanwhile, a biting wind, carrying the chill of the Sierre Wilderness, howled across the jagged rocks of Dragon Valley.
News of the Golden Dragon Alberto's deeds arrived as swiftly as the freezing gusts.
Within the valley, Garos finished his training. A flicker of gravity crossed his eyes as he tilted his head slightly. An invisible spiritual wave rippled through their shared bloodline, transmitting his message to the Iron Dragon Solgorn.
"The Golden Dragon..."
His actions don't seem to be driven by simple greed, the red-iron dragon thought, his pupils constricting slightly. This feels more like... a deliberate provocation. Or perhaps he's testing something.
After a few moments of silent contemplation, the red-iron dragon issued his orders. "Solgorn."
"Inform Red Dragon Samantha and Nurturer Treacy. The three of you will go ahead and meet this... unwelcome guest."
He wouldn't just sit idly by in Dragon Valley.
He would follow in secret, letting Solgorn and the others make the first move to probe the gold dragon's true intentions. He would then act as the situation demanded. Right, I'll bring Deborah along too, just to be absolutely sure.
(End of the Chapter)
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