Translator: AnubisTL
Frontierlands, Dragon Valley.
The fishing competition, which relied purely on skill, once again ended with the red-iron dragon's victory. He successfully seized multiple magic potions from the metallic dragon socialite.
Similar magic potions.
Garos had already acquired many from the red-silver dragon through methods like playing along, guessing riddles, gambling, and providing training guidance.
There were roughly nine types of magic potions, including the wyvern potion for improving agility and speed, the Law Dragon Potion for enhancing elemental sensitivity, and the Tyrant Dragon Potion for boosting temporary resistance. These were all rare potions with powerful effects on dragonkind, crafted as premium products by a Tier 19 adult silver dragon.
"Potion sorcerer... Should I also learn a similar auxiliary class path?"
The thought sprouted in Garos's mind.
But very quickly, he cast it to the back of his mind, discarding and rejecting it.
"I should have my familiars or other dragonkind learn this kind of class path. For example, Red Dragon Samantha has already become an alchemist."
"This way, I can enjoy the benefits without sacrificing my time."
Garos pondered.
In the future, when he took in other dragonkind, Dragon Valley would provide them with shelter, but it must also come with corresponding requirements.
For example.
They must be made to learn and delve into a class path that benefits Dragon Valley and the tribe's development as early as possible. They couldn't be lazy like Gordon, wasting their innate dragon talent.
Meanwhile.
Amidst the biting cold wind, the Red-Iron Dragon looked up.
He saw the blizzard pouring down like silver sand upon the cliffs on both sides of Dragon Valley, blocked from entering. As a result, only a few stray snowflakes fell within the valley itself.
Outside the valley, where the wind and snow raged, sturdy bipedal wyverns flapped their wings, ascending against the wind while dragging chains laden with various square bricks—mined from the pits and then refined.
And besides the bipedal wyverns,
Many barbarian and minotaur slaves, driven by the whips and whistles of hyena-man overseers, carried heavy iron and steel ingots on their backs as they climbed toward the cliff's summit.
Occasionally, a slave, frozen or exhausted, would collapse.
But quickly, a new slave would be driven forward to fill the gap.
On the cliff's plateau,
Alchemists were operating some older-model yet still effective industrial golem constructs. These had originally been the Gold Tooth Tribe's accumulation, but now they belonged to the Ironforged Tribe's wealth.
Some were equipped with shock devices in their feet, their constant treading compacting the foundation as hard as steel.
Others had fire-type gemstones embedded in their chests, burning black oil as fuel, their palms spraying high-temperature flames to soften the metal ingots for easier joining.
And some were crane-like constructs, responsible for stacking the stone materials brought by the wyverns into a wall prototype as massive as a fortress.
The most talented Lizardfolk artificer gathered, gesturing with blueprints and continuously directing the various familiars.
Snow fell silently. On the cliff's summit, the fortress was already taking shape.
Watching the busy familiars and slaves, and the gradually forming fortress, the Red-Iron Dragon wore a satisfied smile.
Finally, a place to shelter from the wind and rain, he thought.
For a long time, Garos had either rested in dark caves or slept in the open.
But this was never his wish.
Dragons are not beasts; they have specific requirements for their dwellings.
Grand, imposing, and impregnable fortresses are a style favored by dragonkind, and one that Garos adored.
However...
A fortress built for a giant creature is a completely different concept from a human noble's castle.
To accommodate a dragon's size, even the lowest walls would appear as towering ramparts to other species.
The walls, pillars, and domes required massive amounts of high-quality materials. Ordinary brick and stone wouldn't suffice; they needed sturdy metal. When necessary, alchemists had to engrave runes onto every single block for reinforcement. Otherwise, to a dragon, the structure would be as fragile as tofu.
Garos had long harbored the idea of building a fortress, but for various reasons, he had never acted upon it.
Only now, with the Ironforged Tribe commanding the Frontierlands and the external threats eliminated, could he finally afford to build one. The situation had stabilized, and their short-term focus shifted to development rather than rashly instigating war.
A fortress like this served as a dividing line.
Only a Lord Dragon with a vast army of familiars, deep reserves, and stable rule could construct a Dragon Fortress.
In the Sierre Wilderness, the iron dragon maiden's territory lacked such a fortress. She primarily resided in modified caves. Because the wilderness was fraught with danger and teeming with powerful beings, her familiars had to constantly patrol and guard. With limited resource points under her command, the iron dragon maiden had no time to build a fortress.
"Deborah, do your parents have a fortress in Red Maple Valley?" Garos asked the red-silver dragon.
"No. They prefer living in human form, so they never built one."
Deborah blinked and looked up at the fortress's framework gradually taking shape amidst the howling blizzard. A hint of envy flashed in her eyes as she said, "Garos, you're just an adolescent and you already have your own fortress. Any metallic dragon your age would be green with envy if they knew."
Building a fortress was no simple feat, even for a metallic dragon.
Few among them were Lord Dragons. To construct a fortress, most had to rely on their wealth and dragon bloodline to hire artificer from other intelligent races, such as humans and dwarves.
Beyond the cost of materials, there were labor costs, design fees, and countless other expenses. The total expenditure was enough to make even a prime metallic dragon wince in pain.
The silver dragon couple hadn't built a fortress—not because they didn't want one, but because they couldn't bear the cost. Instead, they settled for a smaller residence suited for their humanoid forms.
Another point worth mentioning was that as metallic dragons grew older, their wealth would gradually be surpassed by that of evil dragons. Evil dragons amassed fortunes through burning, killing, and looting, devouring all the wealth they could find without any moral burden. Their efficiency in accumulating resources far exceeded that of metallic dragons.
The primary source of wealth for metallic dragons, on the other hand, came from "punishing evil and eliminating wickedness"—specifically, by seizing the hoards of evil dragons.
But Evil Dragon Lords weren't easy targets.
And if there were no evil dragons to rob...
Then, like Edri the silver dragon, I would choose classes such as alchemist or potion sorcerer and profit by selling the items I create.
"This fortress is designed for the size of a mature dragon, and it will also serve as the gathering and ritual site for Dragon Valley."
"Once it's completed, there will be plenty of space."
The red-iron dragon grinned and said to the red-silver dragon, "You can move in if you like. I can even reserve a room for you."
He's actually willing to share his fortress.
Garos truly isn't an evil dragon!
The red-silver dragon nodded happily, but then suddenly said warily, "You're not going to ask me for rent, are you? Unless it's free, I'm not moving in."
The red-iron dragon said solemnly, "What are you saying? With our friendship, of course it's free."
The free ones are always the most expensive... Garos added in his mind.
Only after firmly tying the red-silver dragon to his chariot could he easily ride the metallic dragon's coattails—or even cling to the Silver Dragon Old Father's thigh to loot his magic potions.
"But there is still one critical issue."
Garos shook the snow off his wing membranes, looked at the red-silver dragon, and asked solemnly, "Deborah, if I harbor many evil wyrmlings here, will the metallic dragons target us as a threat once word gets out?"
This was his greatest concern.
Evil dragons gathering in large numbers in one place.
The Federation might be too preoccupied with its internal turmoil to intervene, but metallic dragons could descend from the skies at any moment, designating Dragon Valley as a den of evil dragonkind and launching an assault.
Though he had established a foothold in the Frontierlands, Garos remained clear-headed.
The current prosperity of the Ironforged Tribe was more a result of seizing the right opportunity than a reflection of absolute strength. This fledgling faction was still fragile and could not withstand a blow from a top-tier power.
After hearing Garos's words, the red-silver dragon shook her head gently. Her gaze swept over the red-iron dragon's fierce and imposing form as she said seriously, "Garos, metallic dragons will always hold a natural prejudice against you. But isn't your prejudice against them just as deep?"
(End of the Chapter)
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