Beneath the Red Dragon

”One, two, three, lift!”

An Elf Druid shouted loudly, using Natural Magic to communicate with the War Ancient Trees, directing several War Ancient Trees to move the giant stones away from the ruins.

Thud, thud, thud.

One War Ancient Tree after another either lifted stones alone or in groups, walking through the ruins, diligently clearing this vast architectural relic.

Many War Tree-men extended their branches, carrying giant baskets woven from sturdy, thick vines by the elves. Each Elf Warrior was filling the baskets with rubble scattered everywhere, which the War Tree-men then transported to the forest for processing.

After consolidating most of the Elf Tribes in the plane, some Elf Druids skilled in Natural Magic were dispatched by Karon to assist the Mage in exploring this ancient Magic relic.

Among most of the world’s species, having the loyalty of War Tree-men meant treating them as honored guests, as territory guardians or as war weapons in large-scale warfare.

But in front of Karon, these War Ancient Trees were better suited as labor.

These Tree-men knew not fatigue, nor weariness, only needing supplemental Magic Energy and life aura to labor a whole day, truly invaluable plant workhorses.

Besides, many War Tree-men and other elves were also relocated to the Dragon Group Territory in the Main Plane of Aikania.

Those War Tree-men would undertake the major task of building the huge Dragon Castle for Karon. Despite their lack of agility, they were more useful than any Beast species for tasks involving heavy lifting.

Other members of the Dragon Group personally escorted treasures and Elf Tribes gathered from this world back to the Icaria World.

During this journey, the Dragon Group’s harvest was exceptionally abundant, with over twenty fruits from the Tree of Life, each capable of extending life by no less than two hundred years.

These were results of countless years of nurturing by the Tree of Life in the Greenfield Forest Plane, with the Dragon Group becoming the victors enjoying the fruits.

This alone represented immense wealth, and to prevent accidents, Karon even personally led the Dragon Group to escort the Life Fruits, placing them deep within the Dragon Group’s Treasure Vault.

Now, the Young Red Dragon Kedelos had become the Guardian of the Dragon Group’s Treasure Vault, chained at the vault’s entrance with iron forged from Divine Iron nurtured millions of years in a volcano’s depths. No one dared approach the vault’s doors except Karon himself.

To protect these vital treasures, Karon also renovated the Dragon Group’s Treasure Vault, setting countless trap magic and warning magic within.

If the Dragon Group did not mistrust Hughes and these mages, they even attempted to work together to set up a super large Magic Barrier for the Giant Dragon’s Treasure Vault.

Because these mages also received two Life Fruits, although the initial agreement between the mages and the giant dragons was that the mages would claim all ancient Magic Empire property rights, while the plane’s development rights belonged to the Dragon Group.

But Karon knew well that the future of their cooperation depended on both parties’ collaborative attitude, as those who eat alone never have a good end.

He was not one of those native dragons blinded by greed either, so he generously shared some of the spoils with the mages.

Additionally, there were many calculated piles of Life Branches, these sprouted by the Tree of Life and richest in Natural Power and life aura.

Karon would not let these Life Branches gather dust in the Treasure Vault. Already, the Dragon Group Territory was recruiting mages adept at crafting magic weapons and alchemical weapons, turning these Life Branches into magic staffs and unique magic items.

Some would be sent to the newly established auction house in the Dragon Group Territory, to enhance the first auction’s glory.

The Giant Dragon Auction House was an integral part of the territory’s economic plan and cultural promotion, also demonstrating the Dragon Group’s credibility.

To this end, Governance Officer Fafnir, guided by newly recruited human scholars, had already sent invitations and gifts to leaders of major merchant groups active on the Northern Continent, as well as many neutral or friendly nobles towards the giant dragons. Even nobles from the Beastman Kingdom received such gifts.

And for forces with uncertain stances, Fafnir also sent invitations and gifts after careful consideration.

Only forces clearly expressing hostility towards the giant dragons did not receive invitations, but Fafnir still spread the news through the Giant Dragon Merchant Group channels, letting them know about it.

Following scholars’ advice, this intelligent Governor was attempting to improve relations between the Dragon Group and other forces. After contact, perhaps stereotypes from thoughts would be broken, altering relationships.

Nonetheless, this was a reality the Dragon Group Territory had to face.

This also signified the Dragon Group Territory’s step onto the world’s stage as a new political force of order.

Externally, the Dragon Group Territory presented an image of compatibility and coexistence, diverse species living together openly, distinct from the typically isolated, self-contained image of ordinary Giant Dragon Monster Kingdoms.

This was also a kind of momentum-building publicity, paving the way for the formal establishment of the giant dragon kingdom, although establishing the kingdom would still take a long time. However, this impression needed to be gradually solidified and planned towards this goal.

Karon understood well the principle of accumulating grain and slowly declaring kingship, yet many things are not legitimate without a title. Even some recruited scholars and talents were unwilling to come upon hearing the Dragon Group Territory was still just a lord-governed place without scale.