Beneath the Red Dragon

Hoo, ha,

The vast limitless grassland, wild grass drooping low, wind blowing through the leaves like green ripples spreading across the prairie.

Dozens of hunters, riding majestic steeds, galloped across the prairie, dispersing countless herds of wild buffalo, wild sheep, and horses along the way.

The core of the beast herds in the Dragon Group Territory was not the target for these hunters; they were charging on steeds larger than the wild horses towards the horizon.

These hunters passed through Anna’s Lands, the big tree where the leopard Anna once resided is now named Anna’s Lands by the hunters of Dragon Group Territory.

Because under this big tree, there is a simple tombstone with Anna’s name written on it.

In this area, no hunter is allowed to hunt beasts.

Only the Leopard Clan residing under the big tree are the rulers of this small area, dominating the rise and fall of this region.

Once there was a massive Lion Pride, with five adult lions, who coveted this fertile land and sought to seize control from the leopards.

The Lion Pride succeeded, they drove the leopards away and killed the strongest male leopard of the clan.

But they also failed; they occupied the land for merely a day before being driven away by a descending Giant Dragon.

However, the Dragon did not kill this Lion Pride. Although the Dragon favored the leopards, it was now more like a divine spirit governing all beings in its territory, preferring that everything develops naturally.

Restoring this territory to the Leopard Clan was the Dragon’s last favor to such creatures.

The hunters ignored the few leopard cubs poking their heads out from the big tree, curiously observing, and instead bypassed the area, urging their horses onward.

When they saw the low hills on the prairie, the hunters finally stopped.

Tall, narrow sentry towers stood on the hills, where the rotating dogman soldiers leaned lazily, chewing on wild grass roots from the prairie.

This is where the Dragon’s Beloved set up watch and communication points across the prairie to control the territory based on the terrain.

The leading hunter was a very strong man who slightly tugged the reins of his horse, turning back to instruct the hunters behind him on important matters.

”From here, we enter the free hunting zone of the territory, where everyone can hunt any prey they see. Today’s team goal is for each person to hunt at least two hundred pounds of meat. I do not want to return and be mocked by Seli’s group, saying our team of hunters is trash!”

Although the Hunter Leader hoped his team could harvest more meat, even the best-bred horses, with load capacity double that of ordinary horses, had to consider the long journey.

These hunters, each an excellent marksman, carried longbows on their backs that were improved based on the Dragon Group Territory warriors’ bow and arrow design.

The hunters appeared here not for personal sale of their game but were commissioned by the Dragon Group Territory’s subordinate entity - the Urban Management Department.

Now that everything in the territory was running smoothly, such tasks no longer required the intervention of the Dragon’s Beloved, each of whom had their own duties.

The coming year’s end was being emphasized from the top down within the territory, creating a pervasive anticipation of the festival.

Not only had the beverage producers received a flood of orders, but even the once-abundant meat supply was struggling to meet the needs of the territory’s residents.

The most crucial aspect is the year-end festival, which must have ample supplies of beverages and meats, especially as the territory now gradually needs to supply the consumption of the Giant Dragon Lord.

Even though the newly opened ranch, managed by citizens and Elf Druids, had significantly expanded the well-selected breed herds, it still could not completely bear the consumption.

Particularly the White Dragon Gomot and Bronze Dragon Alina, the two dragons currently governing the Giant Dragon Territory.

They decided, based on some human scholars’ advice, to distribute each territory family a strip of jerky and a bottle of cheap wine during the first celebration of this important and symbolic holiday.

Though the dragons’ stinginess and greed caused some hesitation, they knew Karon’s emphasis on this holiday and its significance to the territory.

The most crucial point was that the scholars’ arguments convinced these two dragons.

The crux of their argument was that the funds spent from the Giant Dragon Treasure Vault could create various returns by circulating.

Those hired would receive a commission and spend within the territory, not only bringing the money back but also generating tax revenue and more through the spending process.

Anyway, that self-proclaimed economic scholar’s long-winded speech was like a succubus in his expertise, dazzling the young dragons, who then consulted other scholars and grassroots officials before settling on this measure.

There is no denying these young dragons are adept at taking advice from others, although partially driven by interests.

The Hunter Leader then instructed on various issues, such as trying not to hunt animals drinking at the waterside, avoiding hunting pregnant or young animals, and dividing the hunters into teams of five for mutual support, keeping the emergency signal flares ready.