A Dragon against the Whole World

Chapter 372: Chapter 307: Wildfire, the White Dragon Hatchling

”The Albert Family, this cloud looming overhead, has finally dispersed.”

When the news of Count Mills’ assassination traveled across the great distance and reached the ears of the Red Iron Dragon in the Sel Wilderness, he displayed a satisfied smile.

It wasn’t merely the downfall of an enemy but the removal of a potential long-term threat, which eased his mind greatly and brought him some peace.

Frankly speaking.

Even if Count Mills had only sent a private family army to the wilderness for vengeance, Galos was confident enough to annihilate them completely, causing great loss to the Albert Family. ℯℯ𝑙.

However.

For a count situated in the heart of the southern Raymond Duchy, enjoying noble privileges and the protection of the law, even Galos felt a sense of powerlessness.

He couldn’t truly fly all the way to the Albert Family’s territory and slap the count to death from above.

There are precedents of such simple and direct methods used by evil dragons, but they rarely survived leaving the core area of the Human Federation.

Galos never believed he could break through such encirclement under those circumstances.

Instead, the unexpected arrival of the Flower Knight Shire opened another avenue of thought for Galos, providing a different possibility.

Obviously.

Count Mills overestimated his manipulation skills and severely underestimated the independent will and agency of Flower Knight Shire Haines as a tool.

He was certain that this young famous hero, like most adventurers overwhelmed by fame and gratitude, would be easily tempted by the count’s allure of immense prestige and glory gained from vanquishing the evil giant dragon, rushing headlong into the wilderness as an unthinking, sharp tool in his hand.

Unfortunately.

Though the Flower Knight was young and inexperienced, indeed deceived by the count’s hypocrisy, manipulated and used by carefully crafted lies.

But he was by no means foolish or pedantic and didn’t act entirely according to Count Mills’ intended script.

”Still, it’s really unexpected, the Albert Family’s tactics in the shadows are darker than mine.”

”They probably want to select those with talent, making them see the family as their sole belonging and faith from the bones, giving everything unreservedly. Therefore, after choosing a suitable target, they invent accidents to create orphans, then appear as saviors for adoption and brainwashing.”

”By comparison——”

The Red Iron Dragon grinned with its countless sharp teeth: ”——this evil dragon, by worldly standards, seems overly upright and could be called kind.”

Some nobles, beneath their luxurious and decent robes, indeed hide unimaginable evil and filth.

No wonder many paladins, upon entering society, are often taught in their first lesson to never use spells like Detect Evil lightly, under the pretense that it seriously infringes on personal privacy, violating the basic principles of a paladin.

Looking back now, the deeper meaning is indeed thought-provoking.

However, regardless, the turmoil of the Albert Family can largely come to an end at this point.

Those who once placed the family above all else, willing to sacrifice their lives, like Rune Knight Luo De and Alchemist Sienna, after learning the cruel truth of their tragic past, will fervently desire to tear it down and burn it to ashes as much as they once passionately supported the Albert Family.

It is foreseeable.

The Albert Family, having lost its backbone and facing internal collapse, will soon find itself struggling, unable to care for affairs on the side of the Sel Wilderness.

”Shire, come back.”

”There’s a new task for you to undertake.”

Galos contacted the Flower Knight through the Communication Stone.

At this moment, Shire Haines was in the midst of an escape.

Although he, using the skills of a Boundary Walker, sealed the site space during Count Mills’ assassination, executed the action cleanly, leaving no trace pointing to him.

However.

In the extraordinary world where magic power is omnipresent, as long as those in power are determined to spare no expense in pursuit, even without substantial clues left at the scene, there’s still a way to lock onto a target.

After all, the Albert Family is a prominent count family within the Raymond Duchy.

The attack and death of its head within the manor caused quite a stir within the noble circles, making everyone jittery.

The upper echelon ordered a thorough investigation of the culprit, sparing no expense to hire powerful prophecy casters for tracking, eventually targeting——the renowned Flower Knight.

In subsequent investigations, the dark deeds of the Albert Family slowly surfaced.

However.

To maintain the dignity and reputation of the entire noble class, other authorities chose to conceal and block the news, merely categorizing the event as a simple revenge killing, crafting a random reason, and initiated a nationwide manhunt for the Flower Knight.

Fortunately, Shire, with his dual expertise in Arcane Knight and Boundary Walker professions, had significant knowledge in spatial movement and anti-tracking.

Despite a few perilous encirclements during his escape, he deftly resolved them all along the way, getting increasingly closer to the wilderness.

The passage of time in escape seemed both long and swift.

Finally, on a certain morning, a travel-weary but more determined Flower Knight crossed the final boundary, reappearing on the desolate yet familiar horizon of the Sel Wilderness.

Ultimately, he paused at Ximu Town.

Green Dragon Ludwig followed the above instructions, officially transferring the responsibilities of managing this increasingly prosperous wilderness town to Shire Haines.

In the overall plan of the Molten Iron Tribe, this small town on the edge of the wilderness is slated for further expansion and development in the future.

As its main demographic consists of intelligent creatures like humans, there exists a natural barrier and sense of distance between humans and Giant Dragons.

Therefore, it is undoubtedly the ideal choice for a strong, upright, and trusted human lord to act as the spokesperson of the Giant Dragon’s will, responsible for maintaining daily order in the town and executing policies.

From strength, reputation to current circumstances, the Flower Knight is the most suitable candidate.

Following this.

With the news spreading that the Molten Iron Tribe legally obtained passage rights to the Scale Earth Rift rather than seizing it barbarically.

Plus, with the tribe continuously clearing out violent beasts and dangerous magical creatures in surrounding areas, and strictly prohibiting any form of robbery or extortion, the safety and order of the place became renowned, attracting more and more people.

The number of caravans traveling through the rift increased significantly.

The number of adventurers, mercenary groups, and itinerant merchants choosing to rest, resupply, or even stay long-term in Ximu Town steadily grew.

More notably, it even attracted the Metal Dragons, known for their goodness and order.

A young Golden Dragon visited Ximu Town, praising the town’s orderly atmosphere, and openly stated that despite rumors, the Molten Iron Tribe did not belong to the Evil Faction.

As the leader, powerful, noble and a symbol of order and goodness, the Golden Dragon.

To most humans, it is a creature that almost exists only in legends.

Its visit and endorsement brought immense positive reputation to Ximu Town and the Molten Iron Tribe, with many adventurers traveling thousands of miles just to catch a glimpse of the Golden Dragon.

And the Golden Dragon seemed to enjoy this attention.

He often whimsically landed in the central square of Ximu Town or leisurely strolled along the newly paved streets, satisfying people’s curiosity and bringing immeasurable positive reputation to the town.

Where there are people, disputes are inevitable, but along with them comes the flow and accumulation of wealth.

Days passed by, flowing along in a blend of noise and tranquility.

Traffic along the Scale Earth Rift became increasingly busy, Ximu Town quietly expanded, facilities were continuously improved, showcasing a unique growth that is wild yet orderly.

Furthermore, the Molten Iron Tribe did not seize the opportunity to expand its territory drastically.

On the contrary, the tribe opted for a more prudent strategy, contracting its strength, deeply cultivating core areas, focusing substantial resources and strength on operating and reinforcing the Scale Earth Rift and Ximu Town, making them impregnable.

In the Sel Wilderness, known for chaos, danger, and survival of the fittest.

Under the rule of the Molten Iron Tribe, this territory surprisingly exhibits a rare and precious scene of peace, as if the years are just quietly passing by.

However, many keen observers know that this peace might be just a brief moment before a storm.

With time, the situation within the Human Federation is accelerating towards turmoil and deterioration.

Following the inaugural flames of war kindled by the Abel Duchy and the Haltai Duchy, several duchies successively tore their diplomatic façades and brazenly declared war on each other.

More dangerously so.

This chaotic conflict did not remain on independent levels but soon evolved into a confrontation of two major factions centered on the Abel Duchy and the Haltai Duchy.

The flames of war began to spread and burn along the long borderlines of the duchies, showing a prairie fire momentum.

While other duchies were busy attacking each other, plundering each other’s hinterlands, and destroying opponent’s war potential, the Molten Iron Tribe in the wilderness also quietly participated in its own way.

Including but not limited to:

Attacking Abel Duchy’s logistical supply lines, raiding and harassing their resource points on the edges of Sel Wilderness, and more.

These actions aren’t lethal but continuously drain the war potential of the Abel faction, exacerbating their frontline pressures.

As time passes, the clouds of war continue to gather, roll, and brew greater destruction over the southern land.

Finally, the relentless march of time steps into New Calendar year 258.

By now, the Molten Iron Tribe’s rule over the Scale Earth Rift is as solid as a rock, with territorial order well-maintained and strength steadily enhancing.

Galos temporarily left the bustling wilderness, returning to the Border Area.

At this moment.

He quietly stood on the edge of the terrace at Burning Steel Castle, his eyes reflecting the scene in the valley.

White Dragon Trish was there training a newly joined white dragon hatchling.

The little one was discovered several months ago by the tribe’s kobold scouts in the Northern Icefield.

When found, it was baring its sharp teeth, and fiercely wrestling over a frozen, rock-hard piece of beast carcass with an equally famished old Ice Wolf, a pitiful sight.

Upon being brought back to the Border Area.

Other dragons exhibited a unanimous indifference and disdain towards this ignorant, noisy, and weak little dragon hatchling.

Only White Dragon Trish showed immense enthusiasm.

She paid less attention to the others, who were gradually maturing and stepping up in their ecological niches, and instead devoted more energy to this naive white hatchling.