After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 24

The silent night was the prelude to a frenzy.

The stage was empty; all the guests were hidden in their private booths.

Night auctions were forbidden to commoners. Bacchus wore a smug grin; the earlier sales had already delighted Viscount Byron, but those were merely appetizers. The main course was yet to come. As the true director of the auction house, Bacchus normally wouldn’t need to address the crowd personally. But the upcoming treasures would bring him endless glory and cement the Sain Auction House’s legendary status.

“Next, we will be auctioning—a living dragon egg!” Bacchus wasted no time, raising his right hand and waving it as he announced the item.

On the Fei’er Continent, dragon eggs were rare treasures, but most circulating among humans were lifeless relics. Yet even those stone-like eggs held immense allure. How much more captivating would a living dragon egg be? It could serve as alchemical material, be boiled and eaten directly, but its greatest value lay in hatching—

Successfully hatching a Great Dragon meant a high probability of taming it, earning the title of “Dragon Lord.” Even if misfortune struck and only a Dragon Beast without the Dragon Heritage emerged, it would still be a tremendous stroke of luck. Among demonic beasts, Dragon Beasts ranked at the apex, their Dragon’s Might capable of intimidating the vast majority of creatures.

“Honored guests, there’s no need to rush,” Bacchus announced. “This auction features not one, but two dragon eggs.”

The moment the words “dragon egg” left his lips, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation. Though the guests remained hidden in their private booths, leaving the circular seating area empty, Bacchus felt the same sense of satisfaction as if addressing a massive crowd. Listening to the raspy or icy voices echoing from the booths, he could no longer suppress the smile creeping across his lips.

“Where are the auction items?” an aged voice rasped from one of the booths.

“Bacchus would never dare to deceive you, esteemed lords. I will present the auction item immediately.” Bacchus bowed deeply toward the private boxes after hearing the question. He tapped a magical device beside him, and the sound of grinding gears filled the air as a massive cage descended from the ceiling.

Everyone, including Bacchus, instinctively turned to gaze at the cage, eager to glimpse the splendor of the dragon egg. But instead of a radiant, glowing egg, they were met with a silence and darkness that seemed to emanate from ancient times. A rustling noise came from within the darkness, followed by an eerie stillness so profound that one could almost hear the bl00d flowing through their veins.

Bacchus, a Third-Tier Mage, had already entered the mid-tier ranks. As the darkness enveloped him, a shadow immediately clouded his heart. “Darkness Spell—” the words nearly escaped his lips.

“What’s going on? Where’s the light?”

“Bacchus, what are you playing at?”

Bacchus didn’t answer. Overwhelmed by immense pressure, his heart pounded violently, like an overloaded pump on the verge of shattering. Bl00d streamed down his face as he slowly raised a hand to touch the wound in the darkness and suffocating silence. It was a gash inflicted by debris when the massive cage had shattered.

He stumbled backward, Light Magic dispelling the deathly stillness brought by the Darkness Spell, gradually restoring light to the vast auction hall. Yet the shadow clinging to Bacchus remained. His body stiffened as he stared up at the sharp, indifferent gaze above. The distance was too close. Even if he were a Legendary mage, let alone a Third-Tier Mage, being cornered by a Great Dragon meant certain death. Bl00d seeped between his teeth as he looked down at his body, pierced by dragon claws, and forced out a single word: “Dragon.”

He had believed it was all a lie, a trivial scheme by the noble lady to inherit the territory.

But the Red Maple Territory truly had a dragon.

“Dragon!”

“It’s a Black Dragon!”

“Wasn’t it just a dragon egg? Did it hatch?”

A cacophony of chaotic sounds erupted from the auction booths. Yulxi tossed the tiny Bacchus aside and spread her dragon wings, soaring into the air. Dragon Language Magic required almost no incantation time; in an instant, she swept across the auction hall. Pillars of acidic liquid effortlessly corroded the small booths, and Yulxi’s pupils reflected the diverse faces of the crowd—some frozen in terror, others strangely invigorated by the chaos.

Sain Auction House Warehouse

Veranse glared resentfully toward the auction hall.

The commotion was deafening, and guards scrambled frantically toward the disturbance.

Events were unfolding as she had hoped, yet she wasn’t there to witness the Great Dragon unleash its magic.

Veranse’s mood soured. The compassionate, holy aura of Holy Light that had enveloped her vanished, leaving her as cold as frost and as ethereal as a chilling mist.

The temperature around the warehouse plummeted. The guards stationed nearby had been slain long ago, when Yulxi decided to replace the dragon egg and enter the auction hall. Hmm, there’s still life here. Veranse forced herself to regain a sliver of composure and hurled several stun spells at the conscious “prisoners” in the cages.

Her expression remained impassive as she declared, “The Lord God will soothe His lost lambs in their dreams.”

With no one secretly watching, Veranse quickly abandoned her Light Magic. The temperature continued to plummet, converging from all directions. The commotion at the Sain Auction House was so great that even the warehouse couldn’t escape notice. Patrol guards inevitably came to investigate. A dense mist rose, accompanied by eerie laughter. This was a Wraith Mist, a manifestation from the Shadow Realm, whose entities relentlessly attacked the souls of those who entered.

Veranse crossed her arms, listening to the terrified screams echoing from nearby. A pleased smile curled her lips as she watched the guards, their souls unable to withstand the oppressive pressure of the mist, descend into madness. Their bodies withered, as if drained of all flesh and bl00d. The deranged guards slashed wildly, no longer able to distinguish friend from foe.

After observing the guards trapped in the Wraith Mist for a moment, Veranse turned her attention to the prison cells.

Instead of immediately picking the locks, she vaguely recalled Yulxi’s instructions for the prisoners to pray at the Dragon God Temple. If these people woke up and escaped, it would be disastrous. Would my dear Lord Black Dragon be angry? After a moment’s contemplation, Veranse cast an additional confinement spell on the cages, nodding in satisfaction.

With brisk steps, she approached the rumbling auction house.

Perhaps, even now, I can witness the final act of dragons and magic?

As she passed the withered guards, Veranse didn’t forget to hurl the Sword of Judgment. The raging flames engulfed the mummified corpses, leaving behind only ashes that were scattered by the wind in an instant.

Inside the auction house, the magnificent structure had already collapsed under the Black Dragon’s unrestrained assault.

The night receded like a retreating tide, revealing a faint dawn. The Fei’er Continent was about to greet its new day.

Bacchus was dead.

The auction house’s esteemed guests scattered in panic, but no matter how they fled, they couldn’t escape the ruins of the auction house.

Their faces twisted in despair, utterly bewildered by the magic that had trapped them here. Most were servants of powerful figures, lacking the priceless teleportation scrolls that could have saved them.

Yulxi gazed down at the crowd from above.

The Red Maple Territory was her domain, and after she claimed it, she would tolerate no interference from anyone or any power.

The Sain Auction House, arrogant in its belief in powerful backers, had refused to obey the Lord’s commands. Now, only death awaited them.

“My Lord Yulshi, haven’t you dealt with these vermin yet?” Veranse stepped through the rubble, her smile radiant. Her soft golden hair flowed like liquid sunlight, and her pristine white mage’s robes remained spotless, as if an Elf had strayed into the mortal realm. She tilted her head to gaze up at Yulxi, her figure appearing utterly diminutive before the colossal Black Dragon.

“Veranse,” Yulxi called her name, detecting a faint aura of shadow clinging to her.

Veranse traced the symbol of the God of Light across her chest, offering a gentle smile. “I am at your service.”

The residents of Klein City in the Red Maple Territory awoke to a violent tremor.

Under the dawn’s first light, the massive structure of the Sain Auction House dissolved like mud in water, collapsing and crumbling at an alarming rate. The collapsing building sent plumes of dust soaring into the sky, while the earth cracked and fissured, sending ripples like waves spreading in all directions—yet these fissures halted precisely at the auction house’s boundaries.

After the series of cataclysmic shocks, an eerie silence descended.

Only a warehouse, still imprisoning countless lives, stood silently amidst the swirling dust.

Veranse climbed to the peak of the rubble, producing a Black Dragon Banner from seemingly nowhere.

She flashed Yulxi a smug and cunning smile.

Yulxi, now back in human form, twitched an eyelid and turned to watch Ilti rush out of the Lord’s Manor.

After parting ways with Yulxi, Ilti and Flah had struggled to bring the rescued lives back to Thorn Manor. Before they could even catch their breath, they were stunned by the massive commotion at the Sain Auction House.

Ilti stared at the ruins, her mind blank.

After a long moment, she finally thought, Truly worthy of being called the legendary Great Dragon.

“Post a notice,” Ilti instructed the knight, turning her head. “Declare that the Sain Auction House has been expelled for violating the Red Maple Territory’s regulations.”

Having witnessed such a terrifying transformation, the knights dared not utter a word.

This expulsion is thorough, to say the least.

“What about the assets?” Ilti suddenly asked.

Veranse stepped forward, smiling faintly. “Perhaps Viscount Byron should be consulted.” She produced the auction house’s ledgers, handing them to Ilti. “The auction house’s smuggling activities have undermined the friendship between humans and other races. But even more egregious is its mysterious ties to the Creationist Society.”

Ilti’s eyes flashed with anger at the mention of the Creationist Society. “I understand!” she declared sternly. “Such vile cults are like rats in the street—they have no place anywhere.”

Yulxi glanced at Veranse, her expression unreadable. She had personally witnessed Veranse altering the ledgers, adding entries herself.

After the earthquake at the Sain Auction House subsided, members of the Steelheart Guild arrived.

Leading them was Lena, the guild master. Though Steelheart was primarily composed of Dwarves, Lena was a human woman. Behind her, several anxious Dwarves rushed forward the moment they saw the unconscious Tyr, eager to carry him back.

“My apologies,” Lena said to Yulxi.

Unfazed by the Dwarves’ rudeness, Yulxi replied calmly, “I trust you will honor your pledge.”

Lena nodded, striking her chest solemnly. “By the name of the God of Craftsmen and Forging, Steelheart swears to serve the Lord’s Manor.”

Yulxi nodded.

She mused inwardly that with these master-level artisans, the city’s infrastructure construction and her palace were finally secured.

Instead of immediately assigning tasks to the Dwarves, she instructed them to rest.

As for the remaining pitiful lives—

“Should we release them?” Ilti asked compassionately.

Veranse smiled brightly. “These people haven’t yet visited Lord Yulshi’s Dragon God Temple to express their gratitude.”

Her gaze lingered on Yulxi, subtly hinting at anticipation, as if awaiting praise.

Yulxi ignored her, her gaze fixed on the rescued beings.

The True Dragon’s Eye effortlessly pierced through the group, but Yulxi found no one suitable for her purposes.

Keeping them would only mean feeding more mouths.

However, before letting them go, she could still extract a final offering.

Yet persuading them to visit the Dragon God Temple for worship wouldn’t be easy.

The Elves, in particular, voiced their vehement objections.

The Fei’er Continent was a land where Gods existed, and each person held their own faith. The Elves were mostly devout believers, and even if they considered the Temple a mere wilderness shrine, they refused to go. The Red Maple Territory reeked of strangeness—who would pray to a Black Dragon? Could it be that after the Dragon God’s fall, some entity had seized divine status and claimed the Dragon God’s position?

Flah had sworn this would be easy, but now, looking at the stubborn-faced elves she’d rescued, she felt a headache coming on. When it came to faith, elves were as unyielding as mountain stone.

The Beastmen, Lizardfolk, and Kobolds, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. The moment they heard that freedom meant bowing and offering incense at the Dragon God Temple, they were overjoyed. Some were Dragonkin themselves, so worshipping dragon gods wasn’t a big deal. Pleasing Lord Black Dragon might even earn them a chance to serve him. Besides, their allegiances were already unstable; they’d worship anyone who offered benefits. Compared to being enslaved, what was a few bows at the Dragon God Temple? It wasn’t like they were truly changing their faith.

Besides, the gods had already abandoned them. What difference would changing faith make anyway?

Against this backdrop of cunning pragmatism, the rescued elves and Half-Elves seemed particularly ungrateful.

“How could you stoop so low!” An angry elf’s green eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Flah. “Ever since you left the Moonlight Forest, you’ve strayed further from the elven path. Do you even deserve the name Galanor?”

Flah pursed her lips. She had heard similar words from her elders and priests since the day she was born, but she paid them no mind. Meeting the Elf’s gaze, she said slowly, “She saved you.”

The Elf, who had been furious and accused Flah of siding with evil, immediately fell silent. While good Elves abhorred evil creatures, they couldn’t simply forget a debt of life. “We can repay her in other ways,” the Elf said. “But going to the Dragon God Temple is out of the question.”

Flah sighed inwardly. Why did her stubborn kin always choose the most difficult path? Bargaining with a Black Dragon—weren’t they afraid of being incinerated by its wrath?

Yulxi had no interest in cleaning up the aftermath.

The aftermath of the Sain Auction House incident, urging other merchants to pay taxes and display the Black Dragon Banner, and forcing them to worship at the Dragon God Temple—all these tasks were dumped on Ilti and Flah.

After establishing the Temple in the Red Maple Territory, Yulxi had obtained the Source of Life, strengthening her connection to the Fei’er Continent. Every act of worship now counted as a citizen’s devotion. This energy flowed into the Dragon God’s Faith Network, though the amount was still small and insignificant. However, it did replenish the energy she had expended using lightning against the Fourth-Tier Mage.

The rescued slaves seemed insignificant compared to the commoners of the Red Maple Territory.

While acts of chivalry were commendable, Yulxi knew that her own advancement and ascension in status depended on focusing on the vast majority of the Fei’er Continent’s population—the often overlooked commoners.

As for the Faith Network of other Gods brought about by the Source of Life—

Yulxi gazed at the dim stars in the celestial sea, resigning herself to fate. Saints were not found by chance.

After a moment’s contemplation, Yulxi returned to Thorn Manor.

A black cat darted from the overgrown weeds, leaped onto the table beneath the courtyard’s flower trellis, and meowed at Yulxi. “Did you take care of it?” Kasha asked casually.

“The Sain Auction House is gone, but the forces behind it—” Veranse emerged from behind Yulxi, her hands clasped behind her back, a radiant smile playing on her lips. She bent down to look at the crouching Kasha, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulder like molten gold.

“That’s a matter between the Lord and his vassals,” Kasha said, uninterested. Resisting the urge to play with Veranse’s swaying golden locks, she hopped off the stone table and followed the aloof Yulxi. “Did you find anything worthwhile at the Sain Auction House? Any dazzling jewels?”

“Lord Yulshi is unlike ordinary Black Dragons, indifferent to treasure,” Veranse said with a smile as she followed them into the room. “But for her, the most precious things must be those two dragon eggs, wouldn’t you agree?”

Kasha’s eyes widened. Having traveled extensively with mages, she considered herself well-versed in worldly matters. Yet she never imagined two dragon eggs would appear in the small Red Maple Territory! Dragons weren’t known for their familial devotion; some even cruelly abandoned their offspring. But they fiercely protected their eggs, as reproduction was no easy feat for them. Any human who dared harm a dragon egg would face the wrath of a Great Dragon. If a dragon egg ended up in the wild, it meant either the thieves were exceptionally skilled or the Great Dragon had already fallen. The absence of a dragon’s fiery vengeance suggested the latter was more likely.

“According to the ledgers, both dragon eggs originated from the Thieves’ Guild. The Sain Auction House paid a hefty sum to acquire them. As for where the Thieves’ Guild obtained them…” Veranse paused, casting a subtle glance at Yulxi. On the day the Black Dragon attacked the city, all the arrogant thieves in Red Maple Territory perished, leaving the eggs’ origins a mystery.

“Yulxi! Yulxi!” Kasha’s voice was urgent.

“What are you going to do with the dragon egg, Lord Yulshi?” Veranse asked, her gaze fixed on Yulxi. The words that followed seemed incongruous with her radiant, saintly appearance: “Are you going to boil it? Or roast it?”

Veranse licked her lips, having never tasted dragon egg before.

“Veranse!” Yulxi frowned, shooting her a warning glance.

Veranse laughed heartily.

Since Yulxi hadn’t stopped her from returning to Thorn Manor, it was clear the lord lacked the resolve to silence her.

Still, she clamped her mouth shut, just in case. She wanted to know what Yulxi planned to do with the dragon egg. Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons might show kindness by nurturing the young of their kind, but Black Dragons were another matter entirely. Even from her hurried glance in the warehouse, Veranse could tell the egg wasn’t of Black Dragon lineage. Would Yulxi’s habits align with those of Black Dragons—no, with the entire Great Dragon race?

It was beyond doubt that Yulxi wasn’t like Black Dragons.

Yet, across the entire Dragon Clan, no dragon resembled her.

She was clear-headed and rational, preferring to move through society in human form.

She was like a human.

She lacked the ferocity and savagery of Great Dragons.

Yulxi was preparing to retrieve the dragon egg.

She ignored Veranse’s words, though her brow furrowed slightly.

Of course, she could banish Veranse, but a “Holy Maiden of Light” who lacked faith, practiced Dark Magic, and recklessly used Dark Sacrifice and Mind Domination might pose an even greater threat outside her control. For now, Veranse wore a perpetual, shallow smile, but her true allegiances remained utterly chaotic. No one could predict what she might do for the sake of amusement. It was entirely possible that one day, the entire Red Maple Territory would be overrun by resurrected undead.

Keeping Veranse by her side at least allowed her to maintain some semblance of order.

“Are they still viable? Can they still hatch? Dragon eggs, if used as alchemical materials, could be forged into superb equipment or refined into top-tier potions,” Kasha said eagerly.

Yulxi frowned. “There’s life inside.”

“So they’re still viable?” Kasha licked her paw, studying Yulxi with curiosity. “But you don’t know how to hatch eggs either, do you? Could there be related knowledge within the Dragon Heritage?”

As Kasha spoke, Yulxi retrieved two dragon eggs of similar size, each about half a person tall.

A faint radiance enveloped the eggs—one pale gold, the other pale silver.

Kasha touched the shells with her claw. After a moment, she declared solemnly, “Gold Dragon, Silver Dragon.”

Compared to the infamous Five-Colored Dragons, Gold and Silver Dragons were the epitome of benevolence among Great Dragons. Kind-hearted and eager to help, they were the most likely dragons to forge friendships with humans. Like Yulxi, they also enjoyed disguising themselves as humans.

“After the Dragon Era ended and Dragon Island fell, traces of Gold and Silver Dragons became rare on the Fei’er Continent. Meanwhile, tales of the Five-Colored Dragons’ world-destroying rampages continue to spread,” Kasha added. The Dragon Mother would never abandon her dragon eggs; something must have happened to her. “What do you plan to do?” Kasha asked.

Great Dragons are born with the Dragon Heritage, receiving their ancestral knowledge from birth. Even if Yulxi hatched these two dragon eggs, she might not get adorable little dragons. The virtuous Metallic Dragons harbor deep hatred for the malevolent Five-Colored Dragons. Once they reach a certain age, Metallic Dragons often hunt down and attack their evil counterparts.

“Besides, why would you raise dragons? You don’t even need them as mounts,” Kasha pointed out. She, however, would love to ride a dragon—she’d be the coolest cat in the world! But for that, she wouldn’t need baby dragons. She gazed intently at Yulxi, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“Raise them,” Yulxi replied tersely.

Most Great Dragons worship the Dragon God, whether the benevolent Dragon God of Light or the malevolent Dragon God of Darkness. Ultimately, their faith flows into the Faith Network, strengthening her power.

Yulxi paid no attention to Xiao Long’s hostility. The newborn dragon could only bite at its eggshell; what harm could it possibly do to her?

Since Yulxi had spoken, Kasha reluctantly tore her covetous gaze from the dragon egg. Just as she was about to ask Yulxi how to hatch it, a faint voice drifted into her ears.

“How’s the cauldron I asked you to forge coming along?” Yulxi inquired.

“Aren’t we already well-equipped with cookware?” Kasha replied lazily. In her eyes, the cauldron looked much the same as a pot. Yulxi carried her own kitchen tools, and the Gold and Silver Tavern had a matching set, so she had been procrastinating on forging it.

Yulxi sighed. “…Never mind. I’ll have Steelheart forge it.” A cauldron was different from a pot. In this world, alchemical concoctions were brewed in crucibles, but Yulxi didn’t need bottled potions; she wanted to refine pills. Refining pills shouldn’t require Divine Power; magic should suffice. However, most magical potions were crude, with low conversion rates. More advanced techniques were guarded by archmages in the Mage Tower, who rarely shared their knowledge. Unwilling to raid the Mage Tower, Yulxi had no choice but to revert to the ancient path of pill refinement. Whether it would succeed remained to be seen; the laws of the Fei’er Continent differed from those of the Primordial Realm.

Kasha, delighted to be spared the work, rolled over and patted her belly, signaling to Yulxi that she was hungry.

Ilti and Flah arrived while Yulxi and the others were eating.

Though Ilti smiled apologetically, trying to explain they hadn’t come to freeload, her stomach’s insistent growls betrayed her, leaving her deeply embarrassed.

Fortunately, Yulxi wasn’t possessive about food and had always been generous with his companions.

“Those stubborn fools refuse to go to the Dragon God Temple,” Flah said indignantly, chewing on Blazing Flame Beef. She seemed utterly helpless with her fellow Elves. Sensing Yulxi’s potential displeasure, she quickly added, “But the Elves aren’t unreasonable. They’re willing to repay your life-saving kindness with their skills.”

Yulxi understood the Elves’ nature well. Compared to them, Flah seemed like an anomaly—no wonder she was considered the shame of her people. He turned to Ilti and asked calmly, “What about Viscount Byron?”

“Viscount Byron immediately dispatched his retainers to the Lord’s Manor to sever ties with Bacchus, claiming everything was Bacchus’s idea and offering to pay all back taxes. He then sent a messenger to the Royal Capital, but we intercepted the letter. He’s been secretly recruiting soldiers, making an attack on the Lord’s Manor highly likely, but—”

“He’s definitely brewing something nasty!” Flah declared bluntly.

Ilti remained silent.

“The Elves’ craftsmanship—” Veranse hummed thoughtfully. “It would certainly be prized by the nobles in the Royal Capital, but in Red Maple Territory, it’s practically useless. Still, it’s not entirely without value. After all, Elves pursue elegant arts like swordsmanship and magic, don’t they?”

“What are you getting at?” Flah asked, her expression blank.

Veranse smiled. “Viscount Byron’s forces are likely more than just knights; they might include skilled professionals. Evidence of his collusion with the Creationist Society is already on the Lord’s desk. Why hasn’t he acted directly? If he fears his knights are no match for Byron’s trained hounds, then perfect—let the Elves who owe us a debt join the army. I believe the Elves’ kindness isn’t blind; they crave revenge too, don’t they?”

“Is that so?” Ilti murmured, her gaze thoughtful.

“Viscount Byron’s wealth far surpasses that of the Lord’s Manor stewards,” Veranse remarked pointedly, her gaze shifting to Yulxi’s face. When she saw a flicker of interest in Yulxi’s eyes, her smile grew even more radiant and captivating. She was fulfilling her duty as the Lord’s Manor adjutant, seemingly acting solely for the future of Red Maple Territory. “If you fear trouble, you could send Viscount Byron and the evidence of his collusion with the Creationist Society to Emerald Territory.”

Ilti’s eyes widened in realization. “What a brilliant idea!” she exclaimed.

Yulxi remained silent. Even if Veranse claimed slop tasted delicious, would Ilti actually try it?

Emerald Territory was Princess Emerald’s direct domain, and she was vying for the crown prince position against the Second Prince. Exposing Viscount Byron’s ties to the Creationist Society would strike a blow against the Second Prince’s influence. Even far from the Royal Capital, this seemingly saintly Holy Maiden of Light still stirs up storms? Yulxi mused inwardly, her interest in the nobles’ intrigues waning.

But one thing—

Veranse’s words struck a chord.

Viscount Byron’s wealth was substantial.

Yulxi wanted to develop Red Maple Territory, but after abolishing the oppressive taxes, the territory’s finances were precarious. Commerce within the territory had yet to enter a healthy cycle. To fund her development plans, she needed a substantial sum of money.

She couldn’t exactly fly to the neighboring province like a legendary Great Dragon and plunder their treasures, could she?

While Ilti and Flah issued proclamations detailing Viscount Byron’s crimes and dispatched valiant Knights to apprehend the traitorous and wicked, Yulxi, accompanied by the ever-clingy Veranse, made her way to the Steelheart Guild.

Tyr had endured some torment after being captured by the Sain Auction House, but his robust constitution, combined with restorative potions, quickly restored him to his lively self.

To repay Yulxi’s kindness, the Steelheart Guild honored its promise and hung the Black Dragon Flag outside their headquarters. Yulxi paused briefly to gaze at the banner before stepping through the wide-open gates. Beyond lay a spacious courtyard flanked by sweltering workshops, from which the rhythmic clang of hammers echoed. The heat radiating from these workshops raised the courtyard’s temperature by several degrees.

A servant led Yulxi into the main hall, apologizing for the short wait. Guild Master Lena was currently forging weapons.

Lena, a Third-Tier Warrior and the guild’s foremost sword-smith, possessed unparalleled mastery of weapon crafting.

Intrigued by weapon forging, Yulxi preferred observing the smithy to sipping tea in the hall.

In the forge, Lena swung her hammer, the metal ringing with a rhythmic cadence under her blows, sparks flying like a fountain. It was a monotonous task, the timeless rhythm of hammering iron echoing like a drumbeat. The muscles in Lena’s arms bulged with raw strength as she focused intently on forging the sword blade. Only after quenching the blade in saltwater, amidst billowing steam, did she finally look up.

“Lord Yulshi,” Lena greeted Yulshi.

News of the Black Dragon Lord had already spread throughout the Red Maple Territory. Some panicked, others claimed to have witnessed the Great Dragon, while still others dismissed it as a lie. Lena couldn’t leave the Red Maple Territory, and her past experiences had taught her that it was best to turn a blind eye to certain matters. If the person before her represented the Lord’s will, she would treat them as a human noble.

“I need your help,” Yulshi said. She didn’t care whether they spoke by the furnace or in a tea-drinking hall. She unrolled a parchment scroll and handed it to Lena—a map of Klein City in the Red Maple Territory, marked with numerous black dots and lines. Lena struggled to understand it. She looked at Yulshi, puzzled. “What do you require?”

Yulxi said calmly, “Klein City is far too filthy. The stench is nauseating. Open sewers overflow with refuse, crawling with vermin—it’s unbearable. I need Klein City to be orderly, with efficient drainage systems, waste treatment plants, and public restrooms…” The main streets were slightly better, but not by much. Sewage flowed freely, and waterways were choked with rotting matter. If Klein City, with its relatively small population, had already reached this state, Yulxi couldn’t imagine the squalor in more densely populated areas.

Her vision left Lena and Veranse in silence.

Before this, no one had paid attention to these issues. The common folk had long grown accustomed to the filth, while for the extraordinary, isolating themselves from the pollution required only a spell or an alchemical device.

After a long pause, Lena replied hesitantly, “Your vision might require magical implementation. Steelheart has no mages; we’ll likely need to seek cooperation from the Mage Association.” At the mention of the latter, a hint of unease crossed Lena’s face. The Dwarves’ aversion to magic made her uncertain how well they would work with mages.

“Even if the mages are willing to help and we hire them, it will cost a fortune.” Lena thought this sum would be a mere drop in the bucket for Klein City’s construction, and she couldn’t understand the point.

Yulxi exhaled a long, heavy breath and said solemnly, “Money is not an issue.”

Lena stared in disbelief. It was no wonder so many doubted the existence of Great Dragons. If she hadn’t witnessed the collapse of the Sain Auction House with her own eyes, she would never have imagined a dragon willing to part with even a single coin residing in the Red Maple Territory.

This extraordinary Black Dragon, the Dragon God Temple… their ambitions must be vast.

But what did any of this have to do with her?

Meeting Yulxi’s resolute and cautious gaze, Lena could only honor the promise she had made to Steelheart. “As you wish.”

Yulxi nodded in satisfaction. After Lena accepted the task of transforming the city, she produced another blueprint.

This was her design for a palace. Once Thorn Manor was razed, her palace would rise majestically on the northern highlands.

After the initial shock of the city’s destruction, Lena found herself relieved by the new blueprint.

A greedy Great Dragon wanting its own castle—though the architecture was bizarre, it made perfect sense.

This was the Great Dragon she knew.

With the deal struck, Yulxi’s mood brightened considerably.

Veranse, who had been following her, remained unusually quiet.

But when things are too quiet, trouble is brewing.

Yulxi instinctively glanced at Veranse, and in that fleeting moment of eye contact, she caught a glimpse of Veranse’s emotions.

But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Veranse smiled, a smile that could melt the northern snows. “You intrigue me.”

Yulxi remained impassive. “And?”

The sunlight was perfect.

A vast expanse of golden sunlight bathed the world, making Veranse’s golden hair shimmer even more brilliantly. She leaned closer to Yulxi, her soft voice like a delicate thread carried on the wind. “Would you grant me a key to explore your depths?”

Yulxi wasn’t accustomed to such close proximity. Veranse’s warm breath, tinged with an intimate warmth, brushed against her face, sending a shiver down her spine.

Without betraying her discomfort, she subtly stepped back. “The wise need not ask too many questions.”

Veranse’s gaze remained fixed on Yulxi.

Yulxi’s lips moved slightly, her tone indifferent. “Even if fools ask, it’s futile.”

Veranse chuckled, unfazed by Yulxi’s coldness. “Let me follow you.”