Beneath the Red Dragon

”What future is there in being a pirate? Isn’t robbing money faster this way,” Nedru once thought with indignation.

But now Nedru had become indifferent.

The game between the Vampire Species and the Dwarf had ended; the Vampire Species began organizing their cards, while the Dwarf guzzled down a gulp of ale, shouting if anyone wanted to challenge him.

Nedru looked at the Elves and a black-haired beauty across the table and smiled, asking, ”Lady Agani, are you interested in a match?”

Yes, Nedru had an ulterior motive. He was not only a red-capped merchant of the Golden Empire but also had the duty of gathering intelligence, a basic responsibility of every merchant loyal to the Golden Empire.

The beautiful Elf gently shook her head, her movements elegant and dignified, the crown adorned with Life Leaves and Agate on her head exuding a vibrant aura, her long, curved eyelashes like morning dew hanging with flecks of starlight sparkles.

Her golden hair was like soft, golden twilight clouds, giving this beautiful Elf Princess an extraordinary charm.

It was well-known that Elves, like Dwarves, have many variants. Isabelle Adjani was considered a noble among the Elves, belonging to the Golden Elf Race, possessing unmatched allure and appearance that mortal beings couldn’t compare to.

Agani showed two shallow dimples on her cheeks, and she softly laughed, ”Captain Nedru, I don’t have any Floating Life Card decks, although I do enjoy this game.”

Nedru smiled, ”It’s completely fine, Lady Agani, I can give you a complete deck. You can try a match with me since it’s also your intention to leave the Elf Fleet and board my fleet. This is part of the Golden Empire’s culture, and you can learn something from it.”

Agani turned to look at the interested black-haired beauty beside her and softly said, ”Celia, you seem quite interested. Would you like to have a match with Captain Nedru?”

The black-haired beauty named Celia showed a pleased expression, pulling out a chair to sit, giggling, ”Actually, I’m not interested in this game; it’s mostly because Captain Nedru said he’d give away a deck that piqued my interest.”

Nedru sat opposite Celia, took out two treasured card boxes from his sleeve pocket, and pushed one box toward Celia, casually asking, ”Lady Celia, are you a noble Giant Dragon?”

Celia laughed heartily, ”You saw through it so easily. It seems people of the Golden Empire all have special talents.”

Nedru shook his head, took out his deck, and smiled, ”If Lady Celia willingly became a companion with Lady Agani, then I don’t need to say anything. But if it wasn’t voluntary, Lady Celia can request protection from the Empire to dissolve the contract with Lady Agani.”

It wasn’t that Nedru had the ability to sense the contract between Celia and Agani, but rather that this Elf Princess was once observed by the fleet’s observer while riding a female black Giant Dragon to explore with the Elf Fleet.

The Elf Dragon Knights were once renowned on the Western Continent, which is why Nedru spoke such words.

Agani’s delicate eyebrows gently furrowed, and she asked worriedly, ”Captain Nedru, Celia voluntarily signed the contract with me. But will this affect the Giant Dragon Lords of the Golden Empire’s view of the Elves?”

Before Nedru could answer, Celia laughed heartily, ”Don’t worry, Agani, I willingly signed the Companion Contract with you. In fact, in the eyes of Dragons, I see you as a pet.”

”To outsiders, the Elf Dragon Knights may seem imposing, but to the Dragon Species, it’s just like a Dragon playing with its pet cat on its head in battle. Don’t worry!”

Nedru also laughed heartily, starting a match against this illusory Dragon Celia while explaining, ”The Dragon Lords of the Golden Empire are not like ordinary Dragons; they are wise and rational rulers. Lady Agani need not worry. With Lady Celia’s assurance, you will not be affected by other opinions.”

Agani nodded gently, the dimples on her cheeks appearing again, and she softly said, ”It is precisely for this reason that the Elf Race seeks the help of the Gold Empire to establish friendly relations.”

Nedru played a card and softly asked, ”May I know why the Elf Race seeks help from the Golden Empire? Of course, if it’s inconvenient to answer, Lady Agani doesn’t have to answer, as I’m merely curious.”

Nedru, of course, wasn’t merely curious. If he discovered the Elves’ intentions and the Golden Empire didn’t want to confront it directly, the Elves would not see any Giant Dragon Lord upon reaching the Empire, only ordinary reception officials.

”Those Deep Dragon Zor from the Dark Realm, the Enchanters,” Celia boldly said.

Agani nodded, ”Those Dark Realm’s Deep Dragon Zor, driven by the Deep Dragon, launched an attack on the Elf Race. Those Zor, influenced by Magic, forcibly polluted and enslaved the Dragons friendly with the Elves. Among them, Celia’s kin was even killed by those Zor and used as materials for Evil Magic.”

”And on the Northern Continent, the Dragon Emperor is the ruler of all Dragons. Hence, the Elf Race hopes to receive help from the Empire.”

In fact, the influence of the Golden Empire’s ’Green Algae River Alliance’ with the Frost Giants was far greater than imagined.

In the ’Green Algae River Alliance,’ the Golden Empire’s restraint and rationality have led nearly every civilized realm to acknowledge the Empire’s order.

Even the Elf Kingdom extended a friendly olive branch to the Golden Empire.

Especially after the Ancestral Red Dragon defeated the Legendary Golden Dragon and Legendary Titan, its wisdom and strength earned respect from other forces.

It’s worth mentioning that among the Dragons, most do not recognize the Ancestral Red Dragon’s title of Dragon Emperor, but in the eyes of other racial civilizations, the Ancestral Red Dragon Karon Gogomola has already become the Dragon Emperor.

Nedru laughed, ”Those Deep Dragon Zor really are senseless. If the Empire’s Dragon Lords find out, they’ll be in big trouble.”

Agani nodded and then sighed.

In truth, Agani didn’t reveal the whole truth; although Elves aren’t as cunning or deceitful as humans, they aren’t entirely naive either.

The more critical reason for coming to the Golden Empire is that the Celestial Life Tree among the Elf Race was infected by something.

As the Celestial Life Tree, with the potential to evolve toward the World Tree, it is one of the most important treasures among the Elf Race, affecting almost every Elf living in that kingdom.

The Elf Race knew there were also many Life Trees within the Golden Empire, so they decided to send this most beautiful princess to lead a delegation to visit the Empire, investigate, and seek help from the Empire.

”The Celestial Life Tree is transitioning to the Golden Tree, and I wonder if the Life Trees in the Golden Empire have been affected.” Agani showed confusion in her eyes, ”Can the future of the Elf Race be turned around with the help of the Empire?”