Beneath the Red Dragon

The group of Judgment Knights swaggered over and suddenly stopped beside the Minstrel, seemingly enchanted by the bard’s rendition of ”Dragon Treasure.”

As the tune concluded, the Minstrel paused his performance, and the Knight Captain suddenly lifted her face armor, revealing her visage.

It was none other than Nora, the girl previously renowned for her horse breeding in Bay Stream City.

The rulers of the Golden Empire, those Giant Dragons, have merely spent a few insignificant years in their long lifetimes, yet the social structure within their territories is already undergoing changes.

The short-lived goblins and kobolds have gone through two or three generations, and now the humans, whose lifespans are relatively extended among the short-lived species, are beginning to usher in the rise of new strength.

”Luo Luo, a peripheral member of the Harpist Alliance, eighty-seven years old, elf-human hybrid, from the Dalta Duchy of the Central Continent,”

Nora’s heroic eyebrows raised as she smiled and said, ”Will you go with us willingly, or shall we invite you?”

The Minstrel named Luo Luo’s face changed, and he hurriedly shoved through the crowd, fleeing into the dark alley behind the Goblin Tavern.

These Minstrels have not entirely failed in the Golden Empire; at least they know that no matter how exquisite their magical treasure harps are, they hardly have any effect in front of the ancestral Red Dragon’s minions.

However, Nora and the Knights from the Judicial Court did not rush to pursue the fleeing bard but rather entered the Goblin Tavern with their companions.

An old soldier who retired from the Imperial Legion was guarding the tavern, with a limp on one leg. Yet the people in the city’s gray areas never dare to underestimate these veterans.

Not only because of the veterans’ skills but also due to their intricate connections with the Empire’s Veteran’s Affairs Department.

The Veteran’s Affairs Department is the public contact point for all retired military personnel. Like the Golden Dragon, if you strike a veteran, you will bring upon yourself countless veterans.

If you have the ability to deal with these veterans, then congratulations! Next, you’ll face the active Legion Warriors.

The Empire permits the existence of gray areas because they are natural offshoots of any evolving civilization, but this does not mean the Empire supports them for some gray tax revenues.

”Oh, Little Nora has now become the imposing Knight Captain of the Judgment Court,” Uncle Kali, the retired veteran of the ’Red Compassion’ battle group, cheerfully called out to the Snake-man waitress, serving each Judgment Knight a mug of ale.

”Uncle Kali, you’re bribing government officials, which is illegal,” Nora, despite her words, took the wheat ale without hesitation and chugged it down.

”Nonsense, nonsense,” the old soldier laughed, ”Do you take me for an illiterate vagabond? How come you have time to come here? Don’t tell me you came specifically to see me.”

Nora wiped her mouth boldly and replied indifferently, ”Lately, there are a lot of mice in the Empire; some mice are rather troublesome, so the Patrol Security Office requested several teams from the Judicial Court for aid. Just now, a little mouse ran away.”

”Then hurry up and chase after them, go, go, don’t let important tasks be delayed,” the veteran urged, blowing his beard and glaring, ”These mice dare cause trouble in the Empire; they’re tired of living. If not for some minor issues that don’t require bothering His Majesty, these mice should be turned into real mice and hung over the granaries.”

”No rush, the mouse won’t get away,” Nora chuckled, glancing around the bustling tavern. In a corner, a thin, scraggy Wolfman with yellowish, dry fur was playing the new card game—Werewolf—with several dwarves and kobolds.

”Awooo, close your eyes when it’s nighttime,” The thin Wolfman howled twice, setting up the opening atmosphere and seemed to sense Nora’s gaze, turning towards her.

”Don’t worry, Chief, those mice won’t get away; I’ve never hesitated in front of a witch, and these little mice are no different,” the scrawny Wolfman blinked his yellow beast eyes and grinned, showing sharp teeth, ”If that little mouse dares find his buddies, none of this pack of mice will escape, guaranteed!”

Nora nodded and winked at the old soldier.

These Wolfmen are members of the Dragon Descendant Werewolf Saha’s tribe that migrated into the Empire.

Some of the stronger Wolfmen choose to become Nightwalker Warriors in the Imperial Legion, while some Wolfmen with average abilities often serve as gloves for the Empire to control gray areas, essentially becoming gang leaders.

However, as Dragon Descendant Werewolf Saha’s status in the Empire rises gradually, his influence among the twelve Wolfmen tribes also grows.

Now, many Wolfmen from other tribes and wandering Wolfmen have come to settle in the Golden Empire.

The Wolfman race is also beginning to occupy a role in the increasingly diverse civilization of the Golden Empire.

...

Achilles, regarding everything happening around him, exists as an observer—not only because of his youthful consciousness over several years but also because of his identity.

Even he himself hadn’t realized the significance of the mysterious insignia on the small beast hide backpack he carried.

Anyway, as he passed through the notorious Forest of Sin, known for its eerie terror in the Empire, he felt no fear since those lowly undead dared not show themselves before him.

Those high-level undead, akin to White Bone Knights patrolling the Forest of Sin in broken armor, would even greet Achilles politely when encountering him.