After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 18

Where adventurers gather, various guilds naturally follow. Red Maple Territory, bordering the Mangshui Forest, boasts abundant demonic beast resources, attracting numerous professional guilds to establish branch offices here. The group that looted Red Maple Territory during the Black Dragon’s reign of terror was a notorious guild known for theft, robbery, and smuggling. However, after Yulxi wiped them out, all their assets were confiscated.

Guilds seeking permanent residence in a city typically pay a fee to the Lord. Under tyrannical rulers, guilds not only submit the required payment but also offer additional bribes to the Lord’s Manor, hoping for preferential treatment to expand their operations. Red Maple Territory, however, falls outside this norm. The guilds stationed here completely disregard the Lord of Red Maple Territory, and the previous Lord lacked the courage to regulate them.

When Flah brought the news, Yulxi was strolling through Thorn Manor. This estate, also owned by the Lord, had been gifted to a steward. However, after the steward was exposed for embezzlement, the manor was confiscated and returned to the Lord’s possession. Yulxi preferred this estate to the one Ilti had inherited through generations, so she claimed it from Ilti. It wasn’t that Thorn Manor was grander or more opulent; its location in the Northern Highlands meant it had vast grounds but few buildings. This was precisely what Yulxi valued—Thorn Manor was ideal for conversion into the palace she envisioned.

On the dining table before Yulxi sat a bowl of large, crimson Demonic Shrimp. These creatures, caught in the Mangshui Forest, each measured nearly half a palm in length. Their razor-sharp claws could sever a human hand, deterring most from attempting to harvest their succulent flesh. Yet Yulxi showed no fear; after a single trip to the Mangshui Forest, she returned with a bowl brimming with them.

The Fei’er Continent had spices like chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, but Yulxi knew humans here dismissed such plants as worthless—anything that couldn’t be used in magical potions was considered trash. Their cooking methods were equally crude, limited to haphazard boiling or roasting. Even the roasting techniques left much to be desired.

Yulxi once again mourned the dark future of “gourmet cuisine.”

“Yulxi!” Kasha tapped the table with her claw. Knowing Yulxi was about to cook something delicious, she abandoned the tavern to her kitten attendants and dashed off to Thorn Manor.

Yulxi had no intention of peeling shrimp for her. “Transformation magic,” she declared.

Kasha huffed indignantly. “I won’t!” She turned to Veranse, who was sitting upright, intending to ask for help, but swallowed her words just in time. She had seen through Veranse’s true nature: the woman clung to Yulxi either for her beauty or her culinary skills.

Just then, Flah and Ilti walked in side by side. Kasha’s eyes lit up, and she pointed a claw at Ilti. “Hey, little mage! Peel these shrimp for me, and I’ll teach you magic!”

Ilti blinked, her mind instantly clearing of all thoughts except the overwhelming desire for the food. The mountain of shrimp looked impressive, but how many would each person get? Oh no, Lord Yulshi hadn’t even invited them to taste it. How had Veranse managed to sneak in?

Ilti struggled to maintain her noble composure, forcing herself to look away. But Flah darted forward with a grin, settling beside Kasha and eagerly peeling shrimp shells. Her nimble fingers danced across the crimson shells, stripping them away before Kasha could react. With lightning speed, she stuffed the shrimp meat into her mouth, a smug glint in her eyes. Then, displaying the agility of her Elf race, she narrowly dodged an incoming fireball.

As Kasha hissed in fury, Flah let out a satisfied sigh.

“Damn long-eared brat!” Kasha spat.

Yulxi watched Flah and Ilti, her voice cool as she said, “Sit.”

Veranse, who had been sitting primly and watching the commotion with amusement, eager to see if Kasha would resort to her shapeshifting magic, lost her leisurely mood after Flah and Ilti joined the fray. She swiftly reached for the bowl of Demonic Shrimp, determined to avoid getting her hands greasy. At this moment, she pushed her magical prowess to its limits. Even Kasha, a Legendary Wizard, marveled at Veranse’s exceptional magical perception and control.

But—

“Does the God of Light know you’re using your magical talent solely for eating?” Flah asked.

Veranse smiled serenely. “The great Lord God bestows abundance and prosperity upon His people. The benevolent Mother Goddess finds immense joy in seeing Her faithful followers well-fed.”

Their verbal sparring ended with Yulxi’s question: “How are things progressing with the guilds and shops?”

Flah immediately deflated, even slowing her hand reaching for a Demonic Shrimp. She glared resentfully at Veranse’s smug smile before straightening her posture and answering Yulxi: “The accumulated debts have reached a critical point. No guild is willing to settle them so readily. Half are willing to pay this year’s dues, but they still refuse to hang the Black Dragon Banner.”

Yulxi nodded understandingly.

Each guild worshipped its own patron deity, their members all devout practitioners of their respective professions.

“What about the shops?” Yulxi asked.

Flah sighed. “Under the threat of force, most have agreed to hang the Black Dragon Flag. But a stubborn few, likely led by Second or Third-Tier practitioners, aren’t being openly defiant—they’re just dragging their feet. Their willingness to pay taxes seems lukewarm at best. Oh, and I also learned something from the Steelheart Guild.”

Steelheart was the blacksmiths’ guild, a gathering of devotees to the God of Craftsmen and Forging, predominantly Dwarves. Given the Dwarves’ historical animosity toward Elves, Flah had expected to be turned away. To her surprise, they welcomed her warmly—though not for the tax payment.

“What is it?” Yulxi asked.

Flah remained silent, her gaze fixed on the few remaining Demonic Shrimp.

If Yulxi would only speak the word, they would be hers.

But Veranse clearly had no intention of allowing that.

With a whisper of wind magic, Veranse peeled the translucent, succulent shrimp meat from its shell without spilling a single drop of broth.

Veranse’s lips were as crimson as full-blown roses.

Flah, her appreciation for beauty long lost, clenched her fists, itching to strike Veranse’s loathsome face.

Seeing Flah’s simmering rage, Ilti said, “Enough,” and divided her share of the Demonic Shrimp with Flah.

“Steelheart is willing to pay the taxes and fly the Black Dragon Banner,” Ilti continued, “but only if we help them find their missing member.”

“Who?” Yulxi asked.

“Tyr Ironhammer,” Ilti replied.

Veranse blinked. “What a coincidence.”

Yulxi frowned slightly, lost in thought.