Beneath the Red Dragon

As an envoy from the Golden Empire’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Luo Ya had been detained at the Diplomatic Residence ever since arriving at the Beastman Kingdom. It wasn’t until two months later, under the guise of hunting, that the high-ranking officials of the Beastman Kingdom who had avoided him finally confronted him with a direct response regarding the matter.

Luo Ya stood solemnly in the Royal Palace of the Beastman Kingdom.

Even though this mission could potentially lead to a deadly risk, Luo Ya had fought hard for it, knowing that in the early days of establishing the Golden Empire, merit meant promotion, and the more dangerous the mission, the greater the reward.

His hand rested on his belt, which was made from the unique beast tendons and hide found within the Beastman Kingdom; it was the ”Giant Beast Power” belt.

The enchantment on this Magic Equipment could enhance the wearer’s strength, varying according to individual physique, increasing the strength of one wild ox to nine wild oxen, making it quite a powerful piece of equipment for warriors.

He also wore a Magic Amplification Ring on his hand, and even attached to his clothing was a brooch, which was an instant-trigger Magic Shield.

This was the bribe he received during his stay in the Beastman Kingdom, but according to Imperial regulations, such scenarios are considered an additional legitimate source of benefit, requiring only reporting to the relevant department upon return for peace of mind.

This elicited a slight goodwill from Luo Ya towards the Beastman Kingdom, despite his covert scorn for these beastmen who mimicked human kings by decorating the Royal Palace of the Beastman Kingdom in overly ornate style.

Having grown accustomed to the architectural style of the Giant Dragon Empire, Luo Ya now looked down upon the vulgar beastmen.

”Upon seeing the Beastman King, why do you not step forward to pay respects?” a Foxman Secret Attendant cried in the Royal Palace, addressing Luo Ya who stood unmoved, facing the nobles and elders of the Beastman Kingdom with a calm expression. This scholar dispatched to the Beastman Kingdom from the Golden Empire rebuked.

”Is the kingdom of the Giants so devoid of etiquettes, a savage and reckless realm? Even if you are an envoy, you must maintain reverence for the Beastman King!”

Luo Ya let out a soft laugh, his expression unchanged, his black locks fluttering as he spoke loudly,

”Citizens of a superior country do not bow to the monarch of a subordinate country,”

”How dare you,” a beastman nobleman raged; this hateful human was excessively arrogant, with expressions matching those of the dragons.

”Are you not afraid that we will kill you and send your head back to those dragons,” threatened the beastman noble.

”Hahaha, I’ll just use your hand to make my mark in Imperial history,” the human scholar laughed loudly, completely unfazed.

”My head falls, your beastmen’s millions will follow; the Golden Empire’s ten thousand armored warriors, loyal fighters, are eager for an opportunity to establish accomplishments. Perhaps they will even thank you for your help.”

”You,” the beastman noble grew angrier, ”Our strong warriors in the Beastman Kingdom number in the hundreds of thousands, but if not for...”

Before the beastman finished speaking, Luo Ya shook his head and chuckled softly: ”You lost,”

”Nonsense,” the beastman noble seethed, ”Our Beastman Kingdom is prosperous, our citizens outnumber your Empire tenfold,”

”You lost!” Luo Ya merely laughed lightly.

Enraged, the beastman noble stood up, roaring: ”If our kingdom’s strongmen could leave freely and set foot on the Main Continent, how would...”

”Heh heh, you lost,” Luo Ya simply shook his head.

The high-seated Beastman King, watching the enraged display of the beastman noble, shook his head slightly and called out loudly: ”Enough,”

He then turned to Luo Ya and said with a gentle smile: ”These stubborn fools, envoy, need not concern yourself with them. As for your country’s compensation demands, we may be able to...”

Just as the Beastman King paused, the ever-composed Luo Ya immediately bowed and saluted: ”The Beastman King is indeed wise, a sagacious leader.”

The Beastman King gazed deeply at the human scholar, taking a deep breath before saying, ”However, the compensation amount your country proposed is excessively large. Not only do Gold Coins amount to two hundred thousand, but several compensations are required, including even slaves, totaling up to fifty thousand, hence some matters the Beastman Kingdom is unable to pay timely,”

The human scholar Luo Ya immediately leaped up, rolling up his sleeves, ready to curse and have these crude tribal leaders come to experience the tirade he had prepared in advance.

But the Beastman King’s following words silenced this scholar,

”Therefore, we plan to offset it with something else, a young Behemoth bloodline progeny to cover the shortage in Gold Coins, how about that!”

Luo Ya bowed once again, ”The Beastman King, wise and perceptive!”