Beneath the Red Dragon

”Lastly, let me emphasize once more, take good care of the horses under your behinds. They are registered in the Beast Park and are precious horses, more valuable than ourselves.”

These horses are borrowed from the Beast Park because the hunters took on a commission. Not every hunter in Dragon Group Territory owns a horse of their own.

These horses, selected and bred by Elf Druids, are a head taller than ordinary horses. Many astute businessmen are keen to trade with Dragon Group Territory, applying to start a horse trading business to sell these fine horses to other regions.

Dragon Group Territory has already begun choosing business partners. Giant Dragons do not mind these excellent horses providing powerful cavalry seeds to others.

Because horses within Giant Dragon Territory will always be superior to those sold elsewhere.

In fact, every horse in the Beast Park is registered with a name. Thanks to Elf Druids, their breeding selection and the rate of development is rapid, contrary to the Hunter Leader’s belief about their expensive price.

However, the Hunter Leader is unaware of this. He simply leads his squad, riding his horse named ”Green Ear,” and charges towards the hunting ground they selected.

Although the grassland is rich with species and the prey is plentiful, compared to its vastness, these numerous animals and beasts still seem sparsely spread.

Hunter Leader Reggie and his team seek suitable prey along the way, steering clear of overly fierce beasts.

Much like the white-horned wild ox, which Karon often likes. Despite its large size and a single one being capable of meeting multiple hunters’ targets once deboned, it is not as gentle as typical herbivorous animals.

This brute is particularly aggressive, daring to charge at formidable grassland predators, though usually ending up in their stomachs.

Other swift animals like the giant antelope are also excluded; alert creatures that would only waste time and arrows if pursued.

The Hunter Leader and his squad continue their search, encountering numerous beasts and animals. The sky is filled with flying white-naped cranes, golden eagles, grey herons, and swans that captivate the hunters.

These beautiful and majestic birds are especially favored in the territory, becoming cherished pets for its residents. Selling them to traders fetches a high price.

Occasionally, the hare, desert lynx, and blood weasel dart out from the grass, with their pelts fetching handsome prices. Several hunters couldn’t resist and bagged a few small beasts.

”Forget these little things, ahead are white-lipped deer and muflon, which are just right for us,” Hunter Leader Reggie refrained from action, focusing solely on his target.

Finally, he found his target amidst the diverse animals.

”Speed up, encircle them from both sides, and force them together,” ordered Hunter Leader Reggie, shouting as the hunters spread out.

”Ho, ha,” the other hunters chanted, urging the horses on, driving the muflon flock, and shooting arrows at the nearest ones.

Swish swish swish,

Several arrows released, only one hitting a slow-reacting muflon in the eye, bringing it down. The rest had already sprinted away, surrounded by hunters on both sides, opting to flee towards the nearby valley.

”Great, let this muflon flock run into the valley, today’s target will soon be accomplished,” Hunter Leader Reggie rejoiced, galloping in pursuit as the muflon ran into the gorge.

Shortly after entering the ravine, within only a few meters, he abruptly tightened his grip to halt his horse, for he saw the muflon flock standing still nearby, bleating frantically, daring neither towards the hunters nor forward.

The other hunters halted a few paces away, gravely watching the spot where the muflon flock paused.

It was shrouded in dense mist, heavy with moisture.

The entire valley forms a concave terrain, resembling a sinkhole, punctuated by the occasional sound of something large stirring the water in the dense mist.

More concerning was the layered white bones faintly visible beneath the mist, with decayed, moist, and broken bones raising the terrain by a layer.

”What should we do, Reggie,” a hunter asked the Hunter Leader.

The safest course would be to leave this ominous place immediately, yet Reggie grasped the purpose behind the question.

These hunters were reluctant to abandon the defenseless prey just within reach. Bagging this muflon flock could not only fulfill today’s quota but provide surplus for tomorrow—profit tempts the heart.

And from the hunters’ keen perception, as long as they didn’t enter the mist, they believed they wouldn’t be attacked, hesitating as a result.

Hunter Leader Reggie pondered silently for a moment. He knew greed is a hunter’s fatal flaw but remembered his family’s eager anticipation—his wife, two young children, and a son growing, advancing his studies at the Giant Dragon Academy.

”Ah, be careful and avoid going near the mist, and move quickly,” Reggie sighed inwardly, issuing commands with burdened resolve.