Beneath the Red Dragon

The sun had just risen, the temperature had not yet increased, and there was a commotion in the camp where migrants and slaves were settled outside the Golden City. The crowd was in chaos, and many people dashed out of their temporary shelters in panic.

This camp for settling migrants and slaves was mostly composed of tents and rudimentary wooden huts, hastily erected by the Dragon’s Beloved and human craftsmen residing here. Thus, there was not much room for comfort, with each tent and hut crammed with people.

Now, the people packed inside these tents and huts were being forcibly driven out by the Kobold soldiers wielding long spears and swords, gathering these slaves and migrants in the camp’s open space.

Among them was a young girl named Nora, supporting her grandmother and the village chief Faen. The residents from the same village spontaneously grouped together in this unfamiliar environment, providing them with a slight sense of security.

Bronze Dragon Alina used her Transformation Skill to assume a human form, standing quietly at the front of the open space, waiting for the migrants and slaves to gather.

Tall Alina stood next to a thick and long flagpole. It was forged entirely of wrought iron, quite heavy, but in Alina’s hands, it seemed akin to a teacher’s pointer, easily wielded.

The flag, finely crafted from silk, was not unfurled but rolled up.

Gradually, these migrants and slaves gathered, waiting quietly before the Kobold soldiers’ blades and spears. Although their expressions showed some panic, their mental state seemed relatively stable.

For the past few days, the territory had been distributing enough food for two meals a day to these migrants and slaves, enough to make them mostly full.

Many migrants might only be able to have a full meal once every few days. Even those humans who congregated in the Wilderness often scrimped and saved, unable to have enough for every meal. Only the main labor force at home could ensure they were well-fed for each meal.

Seeing that everyone in the camp had been driven over by the Kobold soldiers, Bronze Dragon Alina slowly untied the ribbon binding the flag, letting the wind blow it and make it soar.

All the migrants and slaves couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

The flag, exquisite, splendid, and filled with authoritative presence, shimmered under the newly risen dawn, as if the scene on it had come alive and might leap off at any moment.

Six vividly rendered shadows of Giant Dragons were woven into the beautiful flag, soaring and flying with six colors, surrounding the central red Giant Dragon of the Dragon Group.

The particularly prominent red Giant Dragon’s head was majestic and menacing, seemingly capable of emerging at any moment. Like the other dragons, it had gemstones of various colors as eyes, with the massive crimson sparkling gem being the eyes of the Red Dragon, reflecting a heart-stirring gleam in the sunlight.

Bronze Dragon Alina’s long, greyish-green hair fluttered in the wind as she raised her head high, her gaze sweeping over every face in the crowd. Her clear voice resonated in the ears of the panic-stricken and bewildered people.

”This is the symbol of the Dragon Group, the flag of the Giant Dragon, representing the will of the Master of the Dragon Clans and all Giant Dragons,” Alina effortlessly raised the fluttering flag and loudly proclaimed: ”Those who submit to the Dragon Group and accept the rule of the Giant Dragons, kneel immediately and salute the will of the Giant Dragons!”

Without hesitation, village chief Faen led young girl Nora and the elderly grandmother to prostrate on the ground, the decisive action causing a chain reaction.

In times of confusion, the crowd instinctively follows the first to make a decision or movement; hence, the crowd rippled like waves, with others following suit, kneeling on the ground. Nearby, the Kobold soldiers with swords and spears also knelt facing the fluttering flag, chanting the name of the Giant Dragons.

Bronze Dragon Alina sharply observed each person’s reaction in the crowd and began speaking: ”And I, Alina, will be appointed by the Giant Dragons as the commander and Commander-in-Chief of the New Colony Expedition Team, declaring all of you will be under my jurisdiction.”

”As the first corps established within the Dragon Group Territory, you will all become members of the New Colony Firstborn Expeditionary Corps, bound by military law. The territory will provide you with food, houses, and farming tools, but you will primarily be seen as serfs, cultivating the land and building the city for the territory.”

Alina’s words shocked everyone, although these migrants and slaves did not have high hopes for the future, the prospect of becoming lifelong serfs was frightening.

The crowd began to stir; many whispered amongst themselves, paying little attention to the Kobold soldiers watching over them.

Even Faen was worried about his future, as it seemed different from what the Robber Mercenary Corps had said.

”Everyone, quiet down,” Bronze Dragon Alina sharply raised her voice, the Dragon Power from the young Giant Dragon flashed and disappeared, yet the pressure from the youthful Giant Dragon’s aura made everyone clamp their mouths shut.

The noisy crowd instantly fell silent, even village chief Faen realized his current strength was not enough to resist the pressure from the young Giant Dragon’s Dragon Power.

”Long ago, the prophet on earth led people to split the sea and walked in the Wilderness for decades before leading the following people into the Land of Divine Promise,”

Bronze Dragon Alina raised her voice like a priest from the church of gods preaching doctrine to the lambs in confusion, announcing with indisputable will to everyone: ”And the generous and tolerant Master of the Dragon Clans, the supreme ruler here, the mighty Red Monarch, Karon Gogomola, you should thank him, for his grace, you will only need three years.”