Chapter 28
A few days later, the Dragon Nest starship landed at the dock on the main star of Lincheng.
Finks gave the crew a holiday, letting them go home, relax, and do whatever they needed to do, without disturbing him from doing his work.
Lin Wang, Lida, Will and Yanshi have neither a home to return to nor anyone they want to see, so of course they have to stay with the boss at all times.
Qian Xing was originally dragged here to help. For various reasons, she had to stick to her duties and, like Ling Xi, never left Li Jue's side. His maid also had no intention of moving freely.
Finks knew that from the moment his starship entered the star field of Scale City, countless eyes had been fixed on them, especially him and the baby.
He didn't want to stay in Lincheng any longer. He felt annoyed every time he looked at these fellows who were even more stupid and arrogant than humans. At the same time, in order to avoid any more trouble, he took a shuttle with a group of ten people and headed straight for the Elders' Council after landing.
The shuttle was suspended high in the air, and there were panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides of the carriage, providing an excellent view and allowing one to take in the scenery of the main star.
Li Jue, who came from the real world, and Ling Xi, who had been on the starship for a long time, had never seen such an advanced city. They lay on the glass and looked outside without blinking, and they were reluctant to move away even though their little faces were flattened.
The river that runs through the entire main urban area winds towards the distance under the clear sky. Surrounded by mostly light-colored tall buildings, it looks like a green ribbon in the snow.
All kinds of flying cars look particularly small next to the soaring dragon, and only large shuttles can compete with it.
In order to save as much space as possible and allow more residents to live there, the main star of Scale City has a rule that all dragons on the ground and in buildings are not allowed to transform back into their original forms at will.
Of course, flying is not as easy as you want, as there are restrictions in the air: you have to draw a lottery first.
Li Jue suddenly let out a small cry of surprise. Ling Xi came over and looked in the direction of his little finger, and her eyes widened.
Perhaps because of the similar texture of their scales, the dragon race has a long history of metal worship. The exteriors of the buildings in Scale City are mostly made of various alloys, with distinct, cold metal marks.
The building they were flying over, with a round spire and resembling some kind of religious symbol, was the epitome of metal worship. It was made entirely of pure alloy, and even its windows were not made of common glass.
There are no tall buildings within a few miles around, only this building stands silently, highlighting its incomparable majesty in silence.
At first glance, the wall was a dull, almost non-reflective, dark silver. However, as the shuttle moved slightly forward, the material of the wall seemed to change, immediately becoming brighter in the light, from grayish silver to shining gold. Under the light, it looked like a shimmering galaxy, so beautiful that one could not take their eyes off it.
This is certainly not an independent building. There are dozens of lower buildings of various sizes around it, radiating outward in order of height and in a completely symmetrical shape.
Looking down from the air, the buildings look like ancient and mysterious totems.
And that is the mark passed down from generation to generation by the dragon clan.
——This is the destination of their trip, the landmark building of Lincheng, the command center of the dragon clan, the Elders' House.
Not only were the children, who had never seen it before, astonished, but the grandeur and magnificence of the buildings also exceeded the expectations of the Siren King and his maid who were visiting the Dragon Planet for the first time.
It seems that dragons are not as they disdainfully imagine, big, stupid creatures with only brute force and no delicate aesthetic sense.
Finks had long been tired of the buildings on the main planet, but when he saw Qian Xing's silent admiration, his heart was still filled with childish satisfaction like a child showing off a new toy.
Lin Wang came to the children and bent down to explain to the two little ones (and also to the Siren King) the function of each building.
When Li Jue heard that they were about to enter the house of gold and silver, he was very excited: "Isn't it sparkling inside?"
Lin Wang’s visits to the Elders’ House were limited, but the lights were always on inside, which must have been the sparkle that the little cub looked forward to.
The cub was even more excited and wished he could grow wings so he could fly in and take a look.
The little boy didn't know the real purpose of this trip. To him, it was just a happy outing; but the older one knew something about it.
Ling Xi had a worried look on her face. She pulled Lin Wang's sleeve and pulled him aside, asking quietly, "Where is Juejue going...will he be okay?"
Lin Wang knew that what he cared about most was the baby. It was rare for this smart little kid to lose his composure and become unstable like this.
When facing the person you like, you are always nervous and always feel that you are not taking good enough care of them. This is an incurable common problem that has nothing to do with age.
Lin Wang pressed Ling Xi's head and said, "Don't worry. Don't you trust the boss? Besides, we still have the Sea Monster King. He is our backup."
If the big boss clearly understands the operating rules of infinite space and knows that he is working for the main god, and the NPC believes that everything is happening in reality and is real life, then the small boss like Lin Wang is in between the two, knowing a little, but not much.
He probably understood that Qian Xing and Finks were not superiors or subordinates, but colleagues of the same level, and Qian Xing was not a native of their world.
However, how to achieve meetings with colleagues across sub-worlds and even conduct team building for big bosses is his blind spot.
The little servant lowered his eyes and murmured softly, "I will protect him."
He said it several times, with childish stubbornness and determination.
Lin Wang heard the child's mumbling and became interested: "If, I mean if, the boss decided to let the Sea Monster King take the baby away temporarily, would you also go with him?"
Ling Xi raised her head, her eyes more determined than ever before: "Yes."
He promised Zaizai that Juejue and Xixi would be together forever.
I also promised someone that I would protect Li Jue for the rest of my life, no matter the cost.
But I...
Of course I will do what I say.
Lin Wang looked at the boy and touched his chin.
When Finks first met little Lingxi in the ruins, he never expected that this was a child brave enough to ask to leave with them. He thought the child was interesting and brought him back without learning about his background.
What kind of threat could a weak human cub, who appears to be very loyal to dragons and has a strong sense of belonging, pose?
Ayaka has always been calm and composed, and has hardly ever expressed any demands. She is no different from any ordinary war orphan who does not suffer from PTSD.
Until Li Jue's arrival.
The boy, privately called "Little Fossil" by the dragons, has experienced mood swings, has someone he cherishes, has shown more and more needs (mainly around the little cub), and now has even taken the initiative to propose the idea of leaving the starship.
Thinking about his future life without the little servant to help him, Long would feel quite lost.
Is it still possible to drink such delicious cold brew coffee?
...It seems like I'm off topic.
In short, little Lingxi may not be as simple as they think. She is not just an NPC, and there is a high probability that she has a close relationship with the baby.
Lin Wang is also aware that the baby is the boss's communication system.
(Oh my god, the little gadget he picked up from his workplace turned out to be a system. Oh my god.)
Who are the people and what positions are related to the system?
The two, one big and one small, were silent, each preoccupied with their own thoughts. Suddenly, a little kid jumped in front of them, its creamy golden cat eyes looking at them brightly: "Xixi, woof woof!"
Lin Wang was stunned for a moment before he realized that the kid was calling him instead of barking like a puppy; he was not used to this new name yet.
After Finks was named "Mimi", he was also awarded the title "Wangwang".
Okay. Okay.
Although it's a bit strange, it's just a nickname given by the baby, so I'll accept it with honor.
Lin Wang picked up the baby's feet, lifted him upside down and swung him around: "What's wrong?"
The light weight of the system cub is nothing to the powerful non-human parents, and both sides are very satisfied with this new game.
Only Ling Xi subconsciously held her breath and stared at them nervously, stretching out her hand as if ready to catch the little cub if it fell.
Xiao Lijue didn't feel uncomfortable being upside down, and announced with a giggle: "We've arrived, we've arrived!"
Lin Wang glanced out the window and saw that the building that was of great significance to all dragons was indeed right in front of him.
The overwhelming feeling of oppression made him hold his breath unconsciously.
On the other side, Finks, who was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, listening to them playing, slowly opened his dragon eyes.
...Finally, I'm back.
*
Upon learning that the Golden Dragon Family had returned to the main planet of Scale City today, the Council of Elders had cleared all schedules for today, awaiting their arrival.
The importance of the birth of cubs is of paramount importance to the dragon clan.
In front of it, everything else can be put on the back burner.
If you look at the Elders' Council from the sky, it seems spacious only for humans and cannot accommodate several giant dragons in their original form. But once you enter, you will find a different world. Even if the dragons use their original forms to hold a sports meeting together, it is more than enough.
The mystery of this building is indeed elusive.
Unlike the simplicity of the exterior walls and interior decoration, the main hall's gate is extremely intricate with carved beams and painted rafters. It seems that you can hear unreal humming when passing by.
The almost suffocating feeling of oppression that Lin Wang had felt before spread to everyone.
The ten-meter-high seats forced people to look up. The person gathered in the middle and looking down at them was none other than Qiao, the current head of the Elder Council and an elder from the White Dragon family.
The female dragon is over a thousand years old. Even if she transforms into a human form, she is still an old woman with wrinkles all over her face.
Most dragons are emotionally indifferent. The reason why dragons cherish their young is not because they love the young and soft new life, but purely for the continuation of the race.
Elder Qiao is one of those people who doesn't like little dragon cubs, but has to urge all adult dragons of childbearing age to have cubs quickly.
Even for the long-lived dragon clan, a thousand years old is a very old age. Her health is getting worse and worse, and she has been sick frequently in recent years.
Her weak physical condition prevented her from maintaining a perfect human appearance when she transformed. For example, at this moment, she had a pair of short, almost degenerating horns on her head.
However, this did not diminish her majesty. Her pale dragon eyes were still sharp, and her voice was as solemn as a bell in the twilight.
"Golden Dragon, Son of Cerny, Phinks."
Hearing her calling him, Finks raised his left hand to touch his right shoulder and lowered his head: "Elder."
Although Elder Qiao now belongs to the White Dragon Family, she is old after all, and she has contributed many offspring to the Dragon Clan throughout her long life. The dragons present are more or less related to her.
Even the most arrogant tyrants have to bow obediently before the ancestors.
He saluted with one hand and pushed Xiao Lijue, who was hiding behind him, to the front with the other hand, and said softly, "Baby, say hello to the elder."
It was the first time for the cub to come to such an empty and solemn place. The people above him had wooden faces and looked at him with unfriendly eyes, which made the child feel scared.
He hooked his little hand tightly around his parents' fingers and blinked timidly: "Hello, Elder..."
The cub's voice was so small, as weak as a kitten's meow, that it couldn't even echo in the huge room.
Fortunately, despite his age, Elder Qiao's eyesight and hearing were not blurry. He glanced at the tiny cub, which was as tiny as a grain of rice, and then focused on Finks again: "Since you already have children, why don't you send them back to their homeland?"
Today the cub is wearing a beret to hide his furry cat ears.
Finks didn't immediately point out his race, wanting to see what the Elders were planning. He had already prepared his statement: "I think he'll thrive better by my side. Scale City wasn't a good fit for me back then, and it certainly isn't for him either."
"Nonsense!" This time it wasn't Elder Qiao who said that, but another elder next to her, puffing his beard and glaring. "Lincheng has the most advanced breeding philosophy and the most comprehensive upbringing system, so why isn't it suitable? You're wandering around all day long. Is that the right way for a child to grow up?"
Finks said indifferently, "My child, I naturally have the right to decide how to educate him. I am very satisfied with my current life and hope that my child can enjoy the same happiness. Elder, this does not violate any laws, right? Is there any problem?"
Huang Jinlong has been fearless since he was a child, especially after his mother was kidnapped by humans and the Elders Council rejected his request for rescue troops, he has no good face to anyone other than Joe.
The elders have always been respected by everyone in Lincheng, so they cannot tolerate such a rebellious and contemptuous attitude.
The person who spoke earlier was so angry that he kept saying "you...you..." for a long time, but his eloquence was limited, and he could not say anything except "nonsense" a few times.
Seeing that Finks was so disrespectful to his elders, the other elders were so angry that they attacked him together.
The man at the center of the topic had a calm expression. He covered Li Jue's ears with his big hands to prevent him from listening to the nonsense, and nonchalantly tried to make the boy happy.
The little cub heard the adults on the platform talking at once, as if they were arguing.
However, these dragons spoke with the accent of Lincheng, mixed with some ancient words, which he could not understand very well.
Besides, listening to strangers chattering is not as fun as playing with my brother.
This is a game of covering ears that Zaizai has never played before.
Qiao Yaoyao watched the quiet interaction between Finks and Li Jue amid the noise without saying a word.
"So." A much younger voice, clearly different from the others, caught Finks' attention. "Is this your partner?"
Finks looked up and saw an annoying face.
The leader of the Black Dragon family, Hubbard.
This guy is much older than Finks, but he is still the youngest member in the Elder Council. In addition, his daily style of doing things is clear about rewards and punishments, and he uses both soft and hard methods. He is quite prestigious among the dragon clan and may replace Elder Qiao's chief position after she retires.
However, this does not stop Hubbard and Finks from treating each other like the biggest idiots in the world.
The two have never gotten along, especially Hubbard, who regards the Golden Dragon Family and Finks as his biggest competitors and always likes to stir up trouble.
In the past, it was bad enough that adults were disgusting with each other, but this time it escalated to secretly taking photos of babies and reporting them to the Elders Council - who on earth is doing such a boring and despicable thing? It is simply intolerable.
Finks got angry when he saw him, and even felt sick when he heard any sound, and just wanted to close his ears.
But.
...What did this idiot just say?
companion?
What partner?
Whose partner?
On the one hand, the number of female dragons is far less than that of male dragons. On the other hand, more and more female dragons look down on the arrogant and reckless male dragons whose minds are full of hormones, and would rather remain single. These are the reasons why the offspring of dragons are almost extinct.
There were no more than two female dragons on Finks's starship, and Lyda was the only one who came to the Elders' Council with him today.
However, Lyda had followed him for many years. She knew both Hubbard and Elder Joe and had experienced many mistakes and failures with them. She would not pretend not to know them.
If not Lyda, who else could it be?
Finks was full of confusion, trying his best to restrain himself from showing it on his face, and turned his head to look.
I saw Qian Xing at first sight.
The maid behind her.
...You can't be talking about these two people who are wearing veils and whose faces are not shown, right?
He could imagine how Hubbard would ridicule him next, saying things like marrying a commoner, being too unpicky, and how vulgar it was to have two wives.
However, his old rival still dealt him a bizarre blow.
Hubbard tapped his fingers on the table and looked down at him with a playful smile. "My old friend, no wonder you've refused to get married all these years. So this is your preference."
Finks's first reaction was to refute who was his friend.
Then I realized that the following sentence was very strange.
...What orientation?
Finks's mind hadn't yet returned to normal when Elder Qiao spoke: "Golden Dragon, son of Cerny, you have never mentioned a partner to the Elders Council."
She spoke slowly and clearly, and as soon as she spoke, everyone fell silent.
"This is very rare." She paused, then continued, "Your partner is neither of my race nor... my gender."
Finks stood there in a daze.
If the first half of the elder's words, "not of the same race", could still make him think they were talking about Qian Xing's maid, then the second half, "not of the same sex", could only...
It’s the Siren King himself.
Qian Xing was even more stunned. This was simply a falling pot.
I knew it was a wrong decision to agree to come here with Finks. Dragons are a bunch of extremely weird creatures!
How come there are people randomly matching couples on the spot... No, it's a matchmaking game!
The men under their command were even more stunned.
No one expected that things would develop in such an incredible direction.
The elders at the table whispered to each other:
"Is the child theirs?"
"Can a male and a male... reproduce?"
“Never heard of it.”
"Why does it feel like bullshit?"
The elder who had first questioned Finks's opinion raised his eyebrows almost to the top of his head. The elder sitting on the other side of him was the uncle of the head of the medical department. He had a certain say in such scientific matters, although his expression was also complicated at this moment.
"Well... the probability of a male and a male producing offspring is extremely small, but it's not impossible. We don't have more details about the Golden Dragon family. As you know, their composition is quite peculiar... and we don't know the situation of the other gentleman either, so..."
The dragon clan's tradition is to send newborn dragon cubs back to Lincheng for unified upbringing. This is because most dragons leave their eggs alone after laying them. There are precedents of dragon cubs starving to death in the wilderness after hatching with great difficulty, or being carried away and eaten by predators.
Sending them back to Lincheng is the only way to maximize the chances of survival for the cubs, and this has become the consensus of most dragons.
There is only one exception: the couple... or both husband and wife have enough ability, energy and love to raise the cubs together.
Could it be that the weird, unsociable golden dragon and the strange, never-seen alien were special cases?
Finks could tell from Hubbard's mocking eyes that the other party had long recognized that Qian Xing was not familiar with him at all, and deliberately used this absurd speculation to provoke him in order to reveal his flaws in the Elders' Council.
He would never give him such an opportunity.
On the contrary, the Black Dragon's dirty trick gave him inspiration.
It was easy for him to make everyone see that the baby was not his hidden dragon cub. The fluffy and soft cat ears and tail, in stark contrast to the smooth and hard dragon scales, were silent evidence.
But this plan is really not challenging and very boring. Hubbard can just say that he made a mistake and pass it over, which will make me feel very frustrated for having to return.
If he did the opposite, took advantage of the situation and treated the baby as his own offspring, and proved in front of the elders that he could raise Li Jue independently, wouldn't that be a slap in Hubbard's face?
Didn’t you tell them that I was pregnant and wanted to see my performance?
What a coincidence, there is actually a ready-made one for you to see.
When Finks thought of the idiot's frustrated look, his blood boiled.
Like Qian Xing and Li Jue, he could not fully understand the language of Lincheng and was still carefully distinguishing the whispers to see if they meant the same thing as what he heard.
He and Finks were clearly at a distance from each other, and there was no intimacy between them from beginning to end. What's wrong with the eyes of these guys?
His wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone, and the unexpected force almost pulled him into the arms of another person.
Qian Xing suddenly opened his eyes wide. Being attacked forced him to defend himself instantly. The water blades between his fingers had already condensed into shape, and he stabbed backwards with his backhand.
Finks, who knew his moves too well, was already prepared. He transformed his forearms and palms into indestructible dragon scales to block his attack. With a little skill, he turned around and grabbed the man in his arms.
To others, he seemed to be holding the young man's waist affectionately, which is a very common gesture between lovers and spouses.
Only the parties involved know that the heart of the Sea King is in his waist, and the Golden Dragon is now gathering his strength in his hands.
Dragon claws can easily tear apart steel bars and concrete, let alone bones, textures, and internal organs.
An undisguised threat.
If he was not in the opponent's sub-world, his ability would be greatly weakened; if he did not consider that he was surrounded by fellow dragons and any action he took might lead to siege, Qian Xing would not be unable to fight back.
The bad thing is that all the conditions are quite unfavorable to him at the moment.
So he calmly and viciously stepped on Finks.
...Just wait, this account will be settled sooner or later.
"Allow me to introduce you late." Finks, while secretly competing with Qian Xing, looked at the elders with a graceful smile on his face. "As you all guessed, this is indeed my partner. We raised together--"
He planned to formally introduce Li Jue as his descendant to the Presbyterian Church in order to dampen Hubbard's limelight, but he got nothing.
...Where's the baby?!
Seeing the leader's stunned look, Lin Wang realized that Li Jue, who had been staying obediently beside Finks, was nowhere to be found.
He and several other people were standing not far away, and they could clearly see the confrontation between the eldest brother and the eldest sister-in-law, no, the confrontation between the Sea Monster King.
But no one noticed that the little one was missing.
At the same time, a cry of surprise came from the platform.
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