I Am Not A Goblin Slayer

If it weren’t for triple confirmation, when he saw the related intelligence, he almost thought there was an error in the database.

Levels 8 and 12 are not levels that could ordinarily be compared together.

Now having experienced the subtle aura emanating from Gauss up close, he gained a bit more trust in the intelligence that stated the opponent had combat power far exceeding their level.

It can only be said that this world is indeed full of monsters.

Even with talent considered to be at a genius level in the eyes of ordinary people, he immediately felt like an ordinary person when facing such an extremely rare monster.

”But the reason I asked you to come today isn’t because of Pleos.”

”It’s actually to hand over a confidential commission to you.”

”Of course, although I say so, it isn’t mandatory. You can look at the specifics and then decide whether to accept it or not.”

Monroe took out a formal task scroll.

Gauss was already somewhat accustomed to this.

He felt like an insider, as if he frequently obtained relatively confidential commissions from the Adventurer’s Guild.

The only difference was that each time the identity of the person entrusting him with a commission was different.

”Investigate the goblin lair.”

”Explore the secrets of the Black Forest.”

”Tiefling disappearance incident.”

”Investigate the cause of the Tarner River pollution, which subsequently implicated the Lake God Mothelia and the Snow Mountain Spirit Aisweir.”

Each commission had brought him significant gains at the time, so out of psychological habit, he didn’t instinctively reject Monroe’s mention of a confidential commission.

Moreover, as Monroe mentioned, he could look at the situation and then decide whether to accept it.

If he determined that the difficulty exceeded his capabilities, he would not hesitate to refuse, and he wouldn’t be overly conflicted about it.

Although he hadn’t formally reached the Extraordinary Level, his combat power was already enough to match it prematurely, granting him substantial autonomy even against an organization as massive as the Adventurer’s Guild.

Taking the task scroll, Gauss began to quickly browse through it.

”Explore the Dragon’s Nest.”

The mere name of this commission made Gauss frown instinctively as he unfolded the scroll.

The nearby Dragon’s Nest should only belong to the Level 16 or even Level 17 Green Dragon Queen’s lair.

Asking him to investigate, wasn’t that sending him to his death?

However, with patience, he continued reading.

Then he realized that he had misunderstood.

It was indeed a Dragon’s Nest, but not the Green Dragon Queen’s lair; rather, it was the nest of a batch of juvenile dragons she was fostering.

As a lord of the Five-Colored Dragons, many adult dragons had the habit of picking up or even snatching dragon eggs to raise.

Of course, it wasn’t out of a sudden benevolence. If not for the existence of Tiamat, they might even abandon their own offspring, let alone voluntarily raise the children of other Giant Dragons. They’re not the compassionate Metal Dragons.

The reason for this was purely because it allowed them to sign dominant contracts with other hatchlings early on, which were relatively beneficial to them, ensuring that the hatchlings would serve them for a certain number of years after growing up. In return, they needed to provide the necessary resources and protection for the hatchlings’ growth.

Once they matured to the juvenile dragon stage, they could offer substantial help, and once they reached adulthood, even serving for ten or twenty years was enough to recoup the initial investment.

Dark Dragons have always been self-serving.

In the Jade Forest, the Green Dragon Queen Aiselas fostered a batch of diverse juvenile dragons, which she settled in another Dragon’s Nest.

This commission’s aim was to hope the contractor could reach that Dragon’s Nest and attempt to kill a batch of juvenile and hatchling dragons.

Because if left unchecked, not only might they grow to threaten the frontier in the future, but the black-hearted Green Dragon Queen might even use them as blood banks to create a batch of dragon descendents right now.

Gauss finished reading the commission details, his face flickering with hesitation.

Objectively speaking, the reward for this commission was extremely generous.

Of course, it wasn’t as if he could, like Hephaestus, capture more juvenile dragons to serve as mounts.

He was quite self-aware, recognizing that making Hephaestus yield was only partly due to his strength, and not even the major factor.

More importantly, Hephaestus was ”stupid” enough back then to submit to him, a human with lineage close to that of a Giant Dragon.

Even though Hephaestus eventually wisened up, the early-formed mental reliance was deeply ingrained, especially under the reinforcement of the titles [Rider] and [Leader’s Certificate].

One could say his father-son relationship with Hephaestus was the result of favorable timing, geography, and human factors, indispensable elements all.

As for having those haughty true dragon descendants with established independence bow to him, Gauss didn’t believe he had that kind of influence.

On the surface, their relationship with the Green Dragon Queen was merely a contractual exchange of interests, not a dominant-subordinate relationship.

They were merely exchanging future service time for growth time and resources.

Such transactional memories were engraved in their true dragon bloodlines, making acceptance relatively easier for them.

However, even if they weren’t caught as mounts, every inch of their body held treasures—dragon blood, dragon sinews, dragon meat, dragon scales, dragon heart...

Everything about Giant Dragons was extremely valuable.

So this commission itself was a priceless piece of information.

He could vaguely sense that slaying a Giant Dragon would likely yield him substantial benefits, extending beyond mere wealth.

Nevertheless, the commission was indeed very perilous.

Although the juvenile dragon’s nest was some distance from the Green Dragon Queen’s lair, it was also deep within the core of the Jade Forest, where vigilance was expected to be more rigorous in such unusual times.

Once trapped deep inside, attracting formidable enemies would almost be certain.

To be honest, this was a commission with high returns and high risks.

Gauss originally wanted to refuse, but when he opened his mouth, he hesitated for a moment. The rewards of this commission were indeed too tempting; who could resist the lure of dragon-slaying?

It was likely an invaluable reward.

His mind was in turmoil, reflecting a slightly bitter expression on his face.

At that moment, he yearned for his level to be a few ranks higher, which might give him more confidence in making a decision.

”President Monroe, you really think highly of me with such a level of commission...”

Gauss sighed.

”I’m sure the President could find an adventurer stronger than me, right? Why not inquire with them first?”

Facing him, Monroe merely smiled. There were some insider details he couldn’t share with Gauss.

As the president of Barry’s Adventurer’s Guild, he initially didn’t intend to hand this commission to Gauss.

In his view, Gauss’s talent was so extraordinary that there was no need to put him in harm’s way.

However, there weren’t any better executors in the entire Cold Jade Province at the moment.

”Indeed, there are adventurers stronger than you, but they aren’t suitable for this mission.”

”The risk of exposure for an Extraordinary Level Professional entering the depths of the Jade Forest is far greater than for ordinary professionals.”

”Is it because of the domain?” Gauss’s mind was sharp, immediately deducing the crux of the matter.

The difference between the Extraordinary Level and below that he could imagine lay in domains.

”Yes, it’s because of the domain.”

”The domain strengthens the professional while greatly increasing the risk of being locked onto and exposed.”

”Even a seemingly inconspicuous Extraordinary like myself, resembling an ordinary middle-aged uncle, if I were to enter the land of demons, would stand out like a torch in the dark.”

Hearing this, Gauss understood why Monroe had approached him.

He was indeed the most fitting candidate for execution.

He possessed Extraordinary Level combat power, granting the potential to slay those juvenile dragons deep within the Dragon’s Nest. Yet he lacked a domain, so his exposure risk was smaller than other Extraordinary individuals in the depths of the Jade Forest.

Ordinary Master-level professionals, even if nearing the Dragon’s Nest, would likely suffer casualties, whereas if Extraordinary individuals approached, they might be located and ambushed by the horde of demons before reaching there.

”Of course, although this commission is risky, it hasn’t reached the point of certain death.”

”Those juvenile dragons mostly won’t personally participate in the war. We need you to circle behind and cut off the relatively weak reserves as the Green Dragon Army approaches the frontier.”

”Moreover, the Green Dragon Queen absolutely won’t be able to return to defend in a short time.”

”We will also provide a special extraordinary object.”