Chapter 278 Competition and Alliance, Schizophrenic Dragon
The second floor of the Steel Fortress is the reception area.
"sit."
The sound of the red iron dragon echoed in the spacious hall.
His strong and imposing body was the first to lie prone on a large and flat stone platform in the main position.
These so-called "seats," similar in layout to the third-floor council chamber, are high platforms carved and polished from solid obsidian or lava rock. Their surfaces are wide and flat, large enough to accommodate the dragons in various comfortable postures—crouching, coiling, or, like Garus at this moment, lying down in a relaxed position.
The other dragons also casually found a stone platform to sit on.
at the same time.
The low archways around the hall, meant for the servants, opened silently.
A line of well-trained waiters of various builds filed in.
They moved nimbly between the legs and claws of the enormous beasts.
Strong ogre servants carried whole, golden-brown, crispy rhinoceros legs dripping with fat; snake-woman maids carried silver platters filled with all sorts of exotic fruits and spirits. Soon, the stone platform in front of the dragons was piled high with abundant food and wine.
A dozen or so snake-woman dancers walked gracefully into the open space in the center of the hall.
Accompanied by the ancient and wild rhythms of the drums played by musicians in the corner, they swayed their serpentine waists and stretched their arms like vines, dancing a primitive dance that seemed to originate from tribal times to worship ancestors.
Alberto had no time to appreciate it; his gaze briefly swept over the alluring snake women before he looked away.
He lay silently on his own stone platform, his enormous dragon claws grabbing the roasted rhinoceros leg offered by the ogre, his sharp teeth tearing off large chunks of fragrant, charred meat, which he chewed quietly.
Located in the heart of the dragon's territory.
Surrounded by several powerful and malevolent dragons, even with the name of Garos's "entertainment," the golden dragon Alberto remained on high alert.
Even though the food in his mouth was plentiful, at this moment it tasted like chewing dry sawdust to him, utterly tasteless.
The other dragons, on the other hand, seemed much more at ease.
They were clearly used to the atmosphere of the fortress, and they ate heartily on their own. Sharp dragon teeth easily crushed hard beast bones, and scalding liquor poured into their throats like streams, making satisfied growls or snorts as they enjoyed this sumptuous feast.
"Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Garros, Garros Ignas."
The deep, resonant sound of the red iron dragon broke the long silence that had been filled only with the sounds of chewing and drumbeats.
His gaze shifted to Alberto.
After a brief pause, Galos cut straight to the point, asking the core question: "Alberto, you've traveled a great distance to the border region, surely not just for that insignificant wealth. Tell me... what is your true purpose?"
Now that things have come to this, there is no need to cover it up anymore.
Alberto, the golden dragon, swallowed the piece of meat in his mouth, raised his head covered with gleaming golden dragon scales, and said in a clear and firm voice without the slightest hesitation: "My purpose is to start from the borderlands—to forge my own 'Golden Law' and establish an eternal 'Golden Order'!"
"The Golden Law? The Golden Order?"
Galos's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a hint of inquisitive interest, and he pressed on, "Why choose the border region? What role does this land play as a cornerstone in your grand blueprint?"
Alberto seems to have given this issue considerable thought.
He spoke slowly, saying, "The borderland is like a wedge, firmly embedded between the Serbian wilderness and the permafrost tundra. In times of peace, its value may be underestimated, and it may seem insignificant."
His dragon claw lightly traced across the stone platform as he continued, "However, the Lorthen Federation is currently rife with internal conflicts and is teetering on the brink of collapse, like a giant ship about to capsize; while in the northern permafrost tundra, the flames of war between the various icefield tribes are raging."
"In this delicate and turbulent situation."
"This seemingly marginal land will become a key hub, a fulcrum capable of influencing the North-South situation."
Reasonable...a remarkably accurate strategic vision.
Galos thought to himself that while his success in occupying the border region was certainly due to his strong foundation of strength, it also included a bit of luck.
This land may not be considered rich and fertile, but its unique geographical location is enough to make up for its lack of resources.
“Then…” Red Iron Dragon leaned forward slightly and asked, “Could you elaborate on the ‘Golden Law’ and ‘Golden Order’ you mentioned? I am very curious about this.”
To talk about ideals with a like-minded person who can understand and may even agree with your beliefs, and to pour out your heart and soul.
This is undoubtedly something that would excite and delight any ambitious person.
Alberto clearly couldn't resist the temptation either.
Because of Galos's attentive listening posture, his occasional nods of agreement, his well-timed acknowledgments, and his encouraging gaze... Alberto, the young golden dragon, gradually relaxed his tense nerves without realizing it.
He opened the floodgates and began to speak eloquently about his grand, meticulous, and even somewhat radical blueprint for his ideals—the absolute authority of the law, the supremacy of order, and the perfect kingdom he envisioned.
He even temporarily lowered his guard.
After a brief sniff, he began to drink the strong liquor that the waiters kept serving him.
As the conversation deepened, as time passed, and as Alberto became increasingly engrossed in his story, things progressed.
His originally simple, naive image gradually became more complete, three-dimensional, and clear in Hong Tielong's mind.
Essentially.
Alberto is like a passionate young man born into a privileged environment who has not yet truly experienced the repeated blows and relentless trials of harsh reality.
He possessed burning ambition and lofty aspirations that seemed unattainable, and deep down he burned with a strong resistance and discontent with a mediocre life.
If we consider the birth of the dragon as a grand game.
The dragon is undoubtedly a hellish start, with every step accompanied by bloody thorns.
The ordinary metal dragon can be considered to be of normal difficulty; although there is protection, one still needs to fight for it.
As for the golden dragons... especially the pure-blooded and favored golden dragons like Alberto, they are practically in a newbie protection mode.
They are the natural darlings of the dragon race, bathed in the favor and radiance of their fathers, grandfathers, and even the dragon god Bahamut.
Growing up in such a carefree, resource-rich, and promising environment.
The emergence of an outcast like Alberto, who feels that life in the dragon world is too mundane, empty, and lacking in challenge, and therefore yearns to break with tradition, deviate from the norm, and create something with his own hands... seems... not so hard to understand.
The atmosphere in the waiting room, fueled by alcohol and heartfelt conversations, became much more harmonious than before.
Taking advantage of Alberto's brief pause in speaking and his toasting, Galos spoke again, steer the conversation back to reality:
"So... what have you thought about the compensation method we mentioned before?"
His voice was calm, without any hint of coercion.
Without much hesitation, under the combined gaze of all the dragons—Samantha stopped chewing, Therese licked her lips, and Sorog's gaze was sharp as a knife.
Alberto took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the surrounding air into his lungs.
The drunkenness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an almost sacred solemnity and reverence.
He straightened his dragon body, his voice deep and powerful, as if reciting an oath in a sacred temple: "I, Alberto Aurelius, in the sacred name of the great platinum dragon god Bahamut, hereby swear an inviolable oath—"
His golden vertical pupils swept over Galos: "I will definitely repay all the debts, principal and interest, within ten years!"
Upon hearing this...
Red Iron Dragon shook his head almost imperceptibly.
What he wanted wasn't the compensation money, but Jinlong himself.
Unfortunately, the opponent was, after all, a determined young dragon, far superior to those ignorant and easily fooled teenage or young dragons.
Alberto possesses deep-rooted ambitions and almost obsessive beliefs; he is an extremely stubborn golden dragon.
Although this conversation brought us closer and established a subtle sense of shared understanding, truly "mastering" it and incorporating it into one's own system remains an incredibly difficult task.
but……
Galos did not feel discouraged or disappointed.
If Dragon Valley could gain another powerful golden dragon, it would be a wonderful thing, but if not... it wouldn't be a major loss for him.
"The border region already has a lord like you in charge."
Alberto's voice interrupted Galos's thoughts. His tone carried a hint of regret, yet was full of new resolve: "Naturally, it has nothing to do with my original blueprint."
He paused, then continued, "However... there is still a considerable amount of unclaimed land around here, so I will make other plans."
"The Lorthen Federation's control over the Sel Wilderness is waning like melting snow. I will probably head to that wilderness full of opportunities and challenges, and then personally build the first territory of order under the jurisdiction of the Golden Law!"
Sel Wilderness?
Hong Tielong pondered for a moment and said, "I have a suggestion."
He looked at Alberto and said, "Many powerful creatures that want to show their claws, seize profits, and demonstrate their prowess while the Federation is sinking will swarm in like sharks smelling blood."
"At that time, the seemingly desolate wilderness of Sel will become a battleground for countless ambitious people, plunderers, and emerging forces."
"This naturally includes me, and the Ironforge tribe that I represent."
Alberto set his sights on the border region as a springboard precisely because he sensed the enormous opportunities presented by the civil unrest in the Federation.
Galos, too, foresaw the storm sweeping across the south, which is why he decided to return to the more chaotic but infinitely possible Ser Wilderness!
This world is never short of ambitious people.
For power, for resources, for expansion, for survival... or for some grander ideal.
As time goes by, the number of powerful beings with similar ideas flocking to this chaotic land will only increase.
In order to seize the greatest benefits in the impending, unprecedented chaos, and to occupy the most advantageous position in this feast... Galos knew that the preparations now had to be as thorough as possible!
For example, trying to win over a potential, powerful ally.
If the young golden dragon in front of him were pushed to the limit, he could use his magic scales and for a short period of time become comparable to half a mature golden dragon.
He looked frankly at the young Jinlong, his words almost nakedly blunt: "At some point in the future, when our respective paths extend and expand in the wilderness, we may inevitably stand on opposite sides, becoming competitors, or even enemies."
He then changed the subject, continuing, "However, before that, in the early stages of the chaos, when we encountered other, more powerful, more greedy, and more threatening enemies."
"As fellow races with dragon blood flowing through our veins, we can help each other... We can be future competitors... but we can also be temporary allies and allies."
Alberto had decided to develop in the Serbian wilderness, and he was still owed a huge sum of money.
With this golden dragon's stubborn nature and grand ambitions, he will inevitably encounter countless troubles and challenges in the process of expanding his territory and establishing order in the wilderness.
First, become allies and establish connections.
In the future, there may be opportunities to gradually bring it under our control and achieve true mastery.
Subduing a few naive, weak young dragons and teenagers is nothing special.
The achievement that brings joy to a dragon is to gradually lower the proud, persistent, and ambitious young golden dragon before it, making it obedient, loyal, and ultimately willing to serve you.
After hearing what Red Iron Dragon said.
Alberto nodded emphatically without much hesitation: "Good suggestion, I'm very interested."
He looked directly into the eyes of the Red Iron Dragon and said, "Garos, I can also sense your domineering spirit and ambition. As an ally, I am happy to fight alongside like-minded people."
He paused, then continued in a deep voice:
"When the dust settles in the wilderness of Sel, when the chaos ends, when only the 'two kings' remain standing on this land, when you and I inevitably stand on opposite sides, becoming each other's only competitors."
He slightly raised his head, and an aura of dragon power unconsciously spread through him: "I will... give it my all! As the highest respect I can offer to you, my formidable opponent!"
Only the two kings remained confident as always.
Galos never intended to rule the entire Ser Wilderness—that land was too large, too chaotic, and too many factions involved.
His goal was to take advantage of the chaos to cut as many of the fattest and most crucial pieces as possible from this huge pie.
but.
If he ever gets the chance to take over the entire wilderness... Galos would never let it go.
Red Iron Dragon suppressed these thoughts silently, maintaining a calm expression on his face. Unlike Alberto, he didn't wear his thoughts on his sleeve.
"So, it's a pleasure doing business with you?"
"It's a pleasure doing business with you!"
The agreement was only verbal, but the Holy Dragon always kept his word and would not break his promise. As for Garos, he dared to guarantee with his dragon bloodline that he would not easily break this promise either.
After establishing a temporary alliance.
After establishing this temporary alliance based on mutual interests and recognition.
Alberto's tense mind finally relaxed completely.
He crouched back down on the stone platform and grabbed the food again, putting it into his mouth.
A wonderful change occurred; the roasted meat in my mouth seemed to be given a soul, the aroma of caramelization bursting on my tongue, and the meat juices overflowing; the chilled liquor slid down my throat, no longer bringing a burning sensation, but a pleasantly tipsy feeling.
Food finally tasted what it should, no longer a bland and unpleasant burden.
Buzz—!
Sudden.
A burst of intense arcane light shone from Alberto's massive dragon body, and under the slightly surprised gazes of the other dragons, his dragon body rapidly shrank and deformed.
The light faded.
A tall, handsome human male adventurer—Alberto in his human form—with golden hair as bright and curly as sunlight, a face as handsome as a classical sculpture, and an incredibly warm and radiant smile, stood gracefully on the stone platform.
Human form and dragon form.
Their temperament and demeanor were like those of two completely different souls.
The majesty, obsession, and heaviness of the dragon form are completely gone, replaced by a pure, sunny enthusiasm and carefree spirit.
"Such delicious food and fine wine..."
Alberto, in human form, picked up the glass, admiring the not-so-clear liquid inside, his voice light and infectious: "They should be carefully and slowly savored and enjoyed, so as not to betray their value and... the chef's hard work."
He raised his eyebrows and began to savor the food and drinks served by the waiter with a focused and enjoyable expression.
After a few glasses of strong liquor...
A slight blush rose on Alberto's cheeks, and his eyes became brighter and more unrestrained.
He put down his glass, turned to Garros, and said with a carefree expression, "Garros, you are the first kindred spirit... to so directly agree with my ideas!"
He opened his arms as if to embrace the entire hall: "This recognition, this... 'understanding'! It fills me with immense excitement and gratitude!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, he exclaimed, "Please allow me... to offer a song and dance to express the indescribable joy I feel at this moment!"
Before he could finish speaking...
Alberto had taken his harp, which exuded a faint woody fragrance, from behind his waist.
Immediately following, under the gazes of the dragons—Garos with a hint of surprise, Samantha with a frown of confusion, Theresa tilting her head curiously, and Sorog expressionless—a gaze filled with astonishment and even a little bewilderment.
The "adventurer" had already leaped lightly to the center of the hall, accompanied by the melodious music he was playing.
His tall, lithe body began to move, his dance sometimes ethereal and graceful like a forest sprite, sometimes elegant and fluid like a human court dance, and even incorporating the primal vitality of a snake-man dancer. The professionalism of his movements, the beauty of his posture, the depth of his emotion... instantly overshadowed the snake women who were performing nearby, who stopped their dances in bewilderment.
"Hey! Such a wonderful moment, anyone want to dance with me?"
Alberto spun and leaped, extending a warm invitation to the surrounding dragons.
Naturally, there was no response from the dragon.
However, Alberto's enthusiasm did not diminish in the slightest.
He seemed completely immersed in the ultimate joy brought by music, dance, and self-expression.
The music grew increasingly melodious and clear, the dance steps became more unrestrained and free, and her face radiated a pure, heartfelt smile of joy.
It was as if... he had completely forgotten his noble identity as a majestic golden dragon, and completely ignored the fact that he was in the heart of a fortress surrounded by a group of powerful evil dragons.
"This golden dragon..."
The fairy dragon, who was watching the commotion from beside Garus's huge ear, couldn't help but poke the red iron dragon's scales with its little paw, muttering in a tiny voice filled with deep confusion that only it could hear, "Does he have a little... um... schizophrenia here (she tapped her little head with her paw)?"
Upon hearing this, Galos was taken aback at first, then let out a low, hoarse laugh.
Schizophrenia?
Maybe.
According to the vague records and descriptions in the bloodline inheritance, almost all golden dragons have this trait to some extent in their bones.
Otherwise, how could they switch between different roles so smoothly and seamlessly, as if they possessed multiple distinct souls?
Thinking about it on a deeper level...
Galos's vertical pupils reflected the golden figure dancing and singing in the center of the hall, and a sense of understanding flashed through his mind.
Perhaps it is because the lives of those born under the Golden Dragon sign are too simple and smooth, lacking sufficient challenges and excitement.
That's why they need to actively seek out some different kinds of excitement and fun in their long and somewhat monotonous dragon lives through this almost split role-playing style.
"To be so leisurely as to have a split personality... I'm not envious, there's nothing to envy."
Galos steadied himself and thought to himself.
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(End of this chapter)
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