Chapter 299 Normal High Spirits, Hidden Sword, War
Riverwood, Riverwood, Selby.
After an initial period of fear and agonizing lockdown, the merchants, adventurers, and ordinary residents confined to the town were surprised to find that their tense nerves gradually relaxed.
They were shocked to realize that the monsters stationed there behaved in a completely different manner from the chaotic and bloodthirsty image they had been told about.
Their appearance may still be ferocious and terrifying, and their claws and teeth may still gleam with a cold light.
However, they also adhere to an invisible yet extremely strict order, voluntarily concealing their sharp teeth and claws.
As long as one strictly abides by the laws issued by the Ironforge tribe and does not initiate conflict, these guards will act like silent statues and will not inflict unwarranted harm.
Of course, this is not a sign of weakness.
The townspeople had also witnessed the monster's ferocious and violent side in the square or by the gallows.
Anyone who dares to break the ironclad rules—theft, death in a fight, or attack on guards—will be met with thunderous punishment.
Depending on the severity of the offense, the forms of punishment include, but are not limited to: being publicly whipped with salt-soaked leather whips; having limbs severed; being hanged and displayed in public; or being beheaded for repeated violations of the rules...
What surprised people even more was...
Instead of destroying or ravaging Riverwood, the Ironforge tribe, while implementing strict control, began a large-scale expansion and renovation of the town.
They even used industrial-grade alchemical golems! These massive constructs tirelessly compacted the land, laid roads, and built reinforced walls.
Even more astonishingly, the monsters had posted recruitment notices, offering fairly fair rewards to openly recruit adventurers and laborers to participate in the construction of their territory, in addition to a variety of special missions.
for example:
[Maintaining the scales and trimming the claws of the green dragon, Lord Ludwig]
—The winner will receive the paralysis fruit produced by the green dragon.
Initially, the lingering panic persisted, but holding out was not a long-term solution.
Several daring or penniless adventurers applied for the construction mission.
They worked with the determination to die, and as a result... after completing their work diligently, they actually received the promised payment very quickly and exactly as promised in the contract!
The shrewd-eyed and quick-moving goblin was responsible for counting working hours, verifying quality, and distributing wages.
These small creatures are known for their cunning and greed, but this time they showed none of their usual pretense, delays, or withholding; instead, they were surprisingly decisive and efficient.
The adventurers checked repeatedly afterward and found no evidence of any skimming or fraud.
The power of word of mouth is immense. Seeing that the first wave of pioneers not only survived unscathed but also made a fortune, many more people's doubts and fears were overwhelmed by their desire for wealth, and they threw themselves into the reconstruction of this desolate town with mixed feelings.
Time flows by quietly like a stream.
Riverwood changed almost daily, and within a month, the town had expanded several times over.
New houses have replaced dilapidated shacks, and wide, clean stone-paved streets connect all directions.
More importantly, thanks to the strict yet effective governance of the Iron Smelting Tribe, public security has undergone a dramatic transformation. Violent conflicts that used to frequently escalate into knife fights and bloodshed have been firmly suppressed to the level of physical friction and minor skirmishes.
Order, a luxury on the edge of the wilderness, has descended upon Riverwood with the arrival of monsters.
Just as the town was developing rapidly and thriving, Green Dragon Ludwig officially announced: the lockdown on Riverwood was lifted!
When people gathered at the exit that had been heavily guarded and seemingly impregnable.
The strong, imposing ogre guards still stood on either side of the entrance, but their posture was loose and relaxed, no longer as stern and tense as before, as if they were saying, "Go or don't go, it's up to you."
When the first daring person tentatively tried to leave the town and was pleasantly surprised to find that they were not pursued, more and more people began to try to leave.
However, their departures were mostly temporary.
They would often wander around outside for a while, breathe in some fresh air, and then unanimously return to the town.
Only a very small minority actually chose to flee Riverwood.
After spending a month together, the townspeople had come to realize that although these monsters looked fierce, they were orderly and would not kill innocent people indiscriminately, and their fear had vanished.
Moreover, with these powerful monsters maintaining order and defending against the ferocious beasts and monsters roaming the surrounding wilderness, Riverwood's safety is guaranteed like never before!
Those who dare to make a living in this lawless place are either incredibly audacious or desperate.
They stayed when Riverwood was dilapidated and underdeveloped, and now that the town has become increasingly prosperous, safe, and comfortable thanks to their own efforts, they want to leave? That's a huge joke.
Moreover, it's not just Riverwood that's changed.
Extending along the scaly earth fissure path to both sides, both the deep forests and the treacherous ravines are filled with patrol posts set up by the Iron Smelting Tribe.
Those ferocious beasts and monsters that were accustomed to destruction and attack were driven away or hunted down one by one, greatly improving the safety of the entire trade route.
In addition, the reputation that the Iron Smelting Tribe had built up in this area more than 20 years ago has spread again.
I heard that after this place returned to the control of the Iron Smelting Tribe, the number of merchant groups coming and going has increased rather than decreased, making it even more bustling and prosperous than during the reign of the Albert family.
More and more people are stopping here to rest, or even planning to stay and look for business opportunities.
therefore.
When the weather clears up and the bright sunshine shines down on the earth without reservation.
When the Flower Knight Charles Hines arrived alone in Riverwood, weary from his journey, and stepped onto the wide road paved with smooth bricks.
The scene that came into his view was completely different from the tragic picture of being ravaged and enslaved by monsters that he had imagined.
What he saw was a thriving scene with clean streets, brand-new houses, orderly pedestrian flow, and rows of shops.
The bustling sounds of people, the clanging of blacksmiths hammering iron, and the hawking of vendors mingled together, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
In a daze, the young and handsome knight almost thought he was in a prosperous and peaceful civilized town in the Federation, rather than in the dangerous and dog-eat-dog heartland of the Sel Wilderness.
The stark contrast between the anticipated harsh reality and the vibrant life before him left him momentarily stunned.
"Human, hiss... don't stand there like an idiot blocking the way."
A snake-man guard with a curved sword at his waist and piercing pupils gave a cold warning, his forked tongue flicking slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Charles snapped out of his daze and quickly stepped aside to make way.
When he noticed that the snake-woman guard was a lithe, exotic-looking female, his knightly instincts and passion were instantly ignited.
"Beautiful snake-woman, thank you for your kind reminder."
He gracefully performed a greeting commonly used by adventurers, then his face showed just the right amount of distress.
"I am new here and completely unfamiliar with this place. I feel as if I have lost my way. Would you be so kind as to guide me?"
The snake-woman guard asked, "Where are you going?"
“Madam.” Charles flashed his signature sunny smile, enough to make many young girls blush, and with a graceful flick of his right hand, a vibrant red rose appeared at his fingertips.
"The destination I long to reach is your heart."
Although he was dressed as an ordinary adventurer, his handsome face was hard to hide.
The snake woman guard scrutinized him carefully and openly, then her nimble tail suddenly shot out and snatched the rose away.
Then, without warning, she suddenly twisted her waist and leaned forward, her cool and delicate cheek almost touching Charles's face.
"Hiss—"
She extended her forked tongue and, in a provocative and wild manner, gently licked the knight's cheek. Then, looking at the instantly frozen and dumbfounded Charles, she said, "Human, do you want to mate with me?"
"No problem, I'm also eager to experience what it's like to taste human flesh."
"Misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!"
The Flower Knight never expected the other party's response to be so direct and wild. Before the wet, cool touch on his cheek had even faded, he was already blushing and fled in panic, drawing low laughter from several townspeople around him.
"Strange humans."
The snake woman shook her head in confusion, toying with the rose and muttering to herself as she watched the knight's disheveled figure disappear into the distance.
"Didn't you like me? Why did you run away? It's so hard to understand."
She felt she would never be able to understand these roundabout and complex human thoughts.
Meanwhile, after wandering around Riverwood and calming himself down, Shire finally walked into the town's liveliest tavern.
His doubts grew stronger.
Why is Riverwood so orderly and even prosperous under the rule of monsters? This is quite different from what he heard from Earl Mills—that monsters are ferocious, bloodthirsty, slaughter humans, and seize land.
Indeed.
The Flower Knight was extremely grateful for the many favors and support that Earl Mills had given him in the early stages of his adventures. Therefore, upon receiving the request for help, he did not hesitate to put down his current task and rush to this wilderness immediately.
Although he is young, he is no longer a novice adventurer who is easily swayed by one-sided opinions.
His rich experience taught him to observe carefully and think independently.
The harmonious and prosperous scene in Riverwood at this moment was like a huge question mark that crashed heavily into his heart, making him feel intensely puzzled and doubtful.
Therefore, he decided to postpone his actions.
The primary task is to investigate thoroughly, uncover the truth behind this situation, and then carefully consider how to proceed.
In the tavern, Charles quickly became friends with several tables of adventurers thanks to his naturally humorous and enthusiastic personality, his knowledgeable conversation, and his generous spending on drinks.
Over drinks, he steered the conversation, gradually piecing together the cause and effect of the matter, and also revealing the more than twenty-year-long feud between the Ironforge and the Albert family.
Based on known intelligence.
He determined that the dragons that attacked and killed the nobles back then were only juvenile dragons, and should now have entered the adolescent stage.
The fact that its subordinates can demonstrate such strong organizational and combat capabilities suggests that its leader must be exceptionally outstanding, with strength likely comparable to that of an ordinary young dragon, or even approaching the threshold of adulthood.
But Charles was not afraid of this; he had complete confidence in himself.
His original plan was to first assassinate the young Green Dragon leader who was entrenched in the area, and then liberate Riverwood.
Then, they would conduct guerrilla warfare, sabotaging and harassing the strongholds of the Ironforge around the Scaled Earth Rift, constantly weakening their strength and creating panic.
During this process, they will also seek opportunities to investigate the true leader of the Ironforge tribe—the hybrid dragon—to ascertain its whereabouts, strength, and habits, and to find the best time to launch a decisive attack, aiming to kill it in one blow and completely fulfill the Earl's request for revenge.
But now.
The prosperous order he witnessed was completely different from the brutal rule he had imagined, which made his originally clear plan become blurred and full of variables, and his action plan also needed to be adjusted accordingly.
"Although the leader of the Ironforge tribe is a five-colored evil dragon, his current behavior does not seem to be evil."
Charles walked alone through the town streets shrouded in night, his mind churning with thoughts.
He is revered as the Knight of Flowers, not only for his appearance and charm, but also for his unwavering adherence to the noble principles of chivalry: punishing evil and promoting good, upholding justice, and protecting the weak.
He is not a racist.
He did indeed slay dragons, but those were evil dragons that wantonly burned villages, slaughtered fishermen, and plundered wealth in coastal areas. His criteria for slaying them was their behavior, not the color of their skin.
Even if the metal dragon commits atrocities, he will still draw his sword against it.
Conversely, even if it is a five-colored dragon, as long as its rule is not based on trampling on life and order, it will not have any natural prejudice or hostility towards it.
His years of adventure had taught him a profound lesson.
To judge whether an intelligent being is good, evil, or neutral, one should not base it on prejudices brought about by its race or bloodline, but rather observe its specific actions.
However, the Earl of Mills's favor was equally real and immense.
The helping hand extended in times of trouble, the shelter provided in critical moments, were indispensable cornerstones of his adventurous journey.
A knight's duty is to repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest generosity.
If one were to completely disregard the Earl's commission and stand idly by simply because what one sees does not match the Earl's description, this would undoubtedly be a serious violation of his principle of repaying kindness.
After much thought and careful consideration, I finally made a decision.
The Flower Knight decided to stay in Riverwood a little longer and not take immediate action.
Perhaps this brief scene of peace and auspiciousness is just a carefully crafted illusion by the Iron Smelting Tribe?
A trap designed to mislead potential crusaders and righteous individuals?
He wouldn't mind settling down in this strange, monster-governed town, living like a real resident, and patiently observing every move and word here.
Delve into its structure and understand its essence.
If, in the future, he discovers any evidence that the Ironforge tribe harbors any evil plans, acts of oppression, or poses a substantial threat to the surrounding area, he will not hesitate to fulfill his knightly duty and strike with overwhelming force.
"Mr. Mills' private army is probably arriving in this area soon."
"Perfect timing. We can take this opportunity to see firsthand just how powerful the dragon that rules the Ironforge tribe truly is."
The Flower Knight pondered to himself.
Regardless of whether the subsequent events will be war or peace, a campaign or other plans, understanding the true strength of the dragons in this area beforehand, especially the leader of the dragon pack known as the Death Star and the Wings of Sky Rift, will be crucial to his next actions.
Moreover, Earl Mills sent his private army with the intention of providing cover and creating chaos for him.
He had already learned of the private army's planned attack route and approximate time through the Earl's channels.
Soon, three days had passed.
This is a crucial time for the Ironforge tribe to establish itself in this area. To be on the safe side, Garos is currently stationed in the Needle Valley and has not returned to the border region.
With his terrifying speed now.
He can rush to provide support immediately should any changes occur in the area surrounding the Lin Tu Lie Dao.
At this moment, dazzling golden lightning crackled around Garos, indicating that he had entered a state of heightened arousal. Yet, his breathing remained long and steady, as if he were bearing an insignificant burden.
"Once I officially enter adolescence, maintaining this high spirits should be as easy and natural as breathing."
Galos silently calculated in his mind.
At this stage, the intense state no longer consumes a lot of his energy and can be maintained for a considerable period of time, but it is still a ways off from the point where it can be maintained instinctively without conscious effort.
call--!
He took a deep breath of the cool air in the valley, and the wildly surging golden lightning around him subsided like a tide, disappearing completely beneath the thick dragon scales.
Almost at the same time, the calm and collected telepathic message from Iron Dragon Sorog echoed in his mind.
"Approximately fifty kilometers from the outer perimeter of the Scaled Earth Rift, traces of a human army have been detected."
"They were quite large, their direction of march was clearly toward the Scaled Earth Path, and they were well-equipped, with the Albert family crest clearly imprinted on their armor and banners."
What was bound to happen has finally happened.
As expected, the Albert family could not stand idly by while their territory was occupied by the Ironforge tribe, and had already dispatched a private army of their own to attack them.
Red Iron Dragon pondered for a moment, then calmly responded.
"Keep the battlefield outside the Scaled Earth Rift. I don't want the Ironforge's territory to be affected. Lead your people and prepare to meet the enemy."
In order to firmly drive the first wedge into the edge of the wilderness and pave the way for subsequent large-scale advances, the advance force sent by the Ironforge tribe this time is not weak.
Besides those powerful monster leaders, the three-headed monster lords that were subdued earlier in the border region are now dwelling in the Crescent Valley, where the original werewolf clan once resided, sharpening their claws and teeth, waiting for the call of war at any time.
The Ironforge tribe keeps so many fierce followers, not just to waste food.
Now is the time for them to demonstrate their value and earn glory and rewards through their military achievements.
"Understood! Those reckless humans are destined to never return; this wilderness will be their final burial ground."
The mental link was immediately severed, and Tie Long had clearly begun to prepare for war and mobilize his army.
Bathed in the cool, bright moonlight, Hong Tielong narrowed his eyes, gazing at the distant mountains, his pupils gleaming with contemplation.
The Earl's private army was discovered so quickly, as if they were crossing the wilderness with torches, offering absolutely no cover.
Logically speaking, regardless of whether it will be discovered by scouts along the way, a covert and unexpected attack is always more effective than a head-on confrontation.
Galos simply did not believe that a human count would possess any so-called fine chivalry and insist on a fair and square duel.
Besides this publicly visible force.
There may be another, more dangerous, and more deadly sword lurking in the shadows.
This might be Garros being paranoid, but he has always been cautious and wouldn't ignore potential dangers. This, besides his talent, is a key factor that has allowed him to grow to where he is today.
but.
Given the Earl's knowledge, it's hard to imagine that he could transform from a young dragon with little brilliance into the current king of the borderlands in just twenty years. Whether his methods are overt or covert, they are not too dangerous for him.
If it hadn't happened to me.
Even Galos himself wouldn't believe it.
"My dormancy periods always far exceed the normal range... Before that, it's never a bad thing to move this body around more."
Having gradually made up his mind, Hong Tielong no longer hesitated.
He spread his wings and soared into the sky, his powerful body disappearing into the deep night.
P.S.: There's an event in the book club called "Eternal Dragon" that you can participate in. Also, I'll try to finish writing the battle story in one go tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)
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