The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

A band of Barbarians, who had been exploited by the Elves for over a thousand years, one day boldly declared they would cross to the other side of the sea to plunder the High Elves on the New Continent.

"Hmm, interesting."

"This is really too interesting, HAHAHAHAHA!"

David, the Flame Steel Dragon, actually threw his head back and roared with laughter, leaving the host of great dragons and Barbarians exchanging puzzled looks, unable to understand why this particular dragon was laughing.

Did he find the Barbarians' demand too outlandish? Or was he mocking their overconfidence?

Yet, at this moment, aside from Attilicia, David's father, and the Green Dragon Nifadora, who had gradually begun to understand David's unique way of thinking, no one else present could fathom David's current mood or thoughts.

For David, this was truly a brand-new path, one he had never envisioned before.

Blue Star had ancient examples of "strengthening oneself by nurturing one's enemies." Since David feared nothing more than peace on the New Continent, perhaps sponsoring a band of emerging pirates was... actually a decent option?

Although the Barbarians' combat strength was considerably less than that of the High Elves' regular army, their superior physique and stamina were significant advantages. Following the Elf prisoners of war who would soon be prematurely sent back to the New Continent, they could definitely stir up trouble and fan the flames among the High Elves, who were already showing signs of internal strife. This was especially true given that the god whose divinity had been stolen—now teetering on the edge of madness—was inciting his followers to seek out combat and create battlefields. This, in turn, made these Barbarians fearless in battle and unafraid of death.

David had learned during a casual conversation with his father on their return trip from his last visit to the New Continent: due to the dragon disaster in Spider Nest City, the Drow's descent into civil strife, and the "combat losses" of the High Elves' Seventh Fleet, external pressures had plummeted while internal tensions had soared. Consequently, by last year, calls within Dewensen to downsize parts of the patrol navy had already grown quite loud.

If things proceeded as expected, the council resolutions passed last year would mean large-scale naval downsizing was already underway this year.

The navy was barely downsized when pirates from the Old Continent attacked.

What about the Elven naval officers who had practically packed their bags, some already on their way to retirement and home? Should the downsizing continue, or be halted?

And the Nobles, who were already subtly taking sides between the Duke of Silver's regional noble alliance, the 'Guelph Faction', and the 'Ghibelline Faction' that secretly supported Elf King Ailiando's centralization of power... How would they be managed? Would this further escalate conflicts among the nobility, and even with the Royal Court?

There were simply far too many questions like these.

So much so that David, merely by considering things briefly from the High Elves' perspective, could already anticipate how comical this grand drama of the century would be, and just how priceless the expressions on the High Elves' faces would become.

David's laughter, beyond schadenfreude, also contained Arrogance and Greed.

In this world, apart from those Drow too busy scrambling for power to care about much else, the one who most wanted to see the High Elves descend into chaos, or even war, was probably him—David, the purveyor and smuggler of Anger Potion.

After all, the more chaotic the situation, the pricier the potions!

From this perspective, David, who had stolen the War God's divinity, and Tempas, the victimized War God himself, found their interests and positions surprisingly aligned!

Tempas, my deepest apologies. You probably never imagined that I, the very person you're so diligently seeking, am currently discussing cooperation with your followers, HAHAHAHAHA.

It was... an almost perfect case of "darkness beneath the lamp."

At this thought, David, still laughing, felt even more inclined to agree.

But being tempted didn't mean he would act immediately.

If he agreed so easily, wouldn't that be letting these Barbarians off too lightly?

He immediately feigned a look of suppressed anger and, glowering at these "greedy" Barbarians, said in a deep voice,

"Plunder?"

"You want to use the new sea route that I, David Uthos, expended immense draconic power and resources to discover, just to sail to the Granyel Continent and plunder the High Elves?"

"On what grounds?"

After all, other dragons with narrower perspectives, like the White Dragon Mofei and the Red Dragon Lizrite right now, were already starting to voice their indignant concerns on behalf of David, their elder Red Dragon brother.

Exactly! We're the ones who pioneered the new sea route. If we let these Barbarians use it to plunder the New Continent, and then they open markets with them, will our goods even sell for a decent price anymore?

Only his Silver Dragon father, who knew David best, gave his son a profound look. However, when he considered his own situation and his son's domineering and resolute personality—so much like the Dragon Mother's—the words he wanted to speak died on his lips, and his mouth remained closed.

If they were at the Dragon Nest camp right now, and if his Silver Dragon father were a Red Dragon like David, then Attilicia, with the temperament he'd developed since his 'crimson transformation', would likely already be lecturing these young dragons—long in tail but short in foresight: Perspective! A Dragon must, above all, have perspective!

If you rely solely on monopolies, how much money can you really squeeze out of the Barbarians in a year?

The Barbarians before them had already provided the answer: at most, less than a thousand pounds of Gold a year.

After all, the Old Continent is barren. Barbarians, aside from hunting, don't engage in production—or rather, the Old Continent itself is unsuitable for agriculture.

But if these Barbarians were allowed to go to the New Continent to plunder, the outcome would be entirely different.

Even if Elven goods couldn't fetch a good price or couldn't be sold at all, they could still sell potions and other things!

Besides, after plundering, this group of formerly destitute Barbarians would become wealthy!

If they then acquired merchant ships and used the Dragon Race's sea charts to explore and establish routes, they could sell these plundered goods to the human nations of Central Earth. That would be sheer profit!

And David, hailing from Blue Star, possessed precisely this kind of vision and perspective that transcended the limitations of an era or civilization.

Setting other things aside, even if he merely copied the Norse Vikings' path to prosperity—relying on initial wealth from plunder to develop Katjana into the trade center of the North Sea—he would make a fortune sooner or later.

But on the Continent of Elariya, the situation was somewhat different from Blue Star's medieval era.

At this moment, however, the Barbarians led by King Jiral lacked the daring of a Viking hero like Ragnar, who would lead his men in longships directly into the boundless sea. Nor did they have the audacity to secretly trail David's merchant ships to the New Continent.

The former carried too many unknown risks; the latter would undoubtedly enrage the Son of Crimson Calamity before them.

Therefore, no matter what, obtaining the permission of the Red Dragon before them was undoubtedly the best option—even if it meant paying a price, a steep one.

"We are willing to offer one-quarter of all plundered wealth to Your Excellency, David Uthos."

"HISS." The inexperienced White Dragon Mofei behind David, and the Barbarians behind King Jiral, all widened their eyes in shock.

What? Just by sitting in the Dragon Nest, he gets a continuous one-quarter share of the plundered wealth? Is there really such a sweet deal in the world?

What? We go to the New Continent, fight and die, yet we have to give a quarter of our plundered wealth to this greedy Red Dragon? On what grounds?!

King Jiral had barely spoken, yet his words shocked everyone present, including Mofei, that inexperienced dragon.

The Red Dragon Lizrite was actually quite astonished too. However, having been proven wrong by David too many times, she decided to let their sputtered objections hang in the air a bit longer this time.

Sure enough, they heard David declare in his booming dragon voice,

"Half. When your cargo ships return to port, I take half of all plunder. Trade taxes and fees will be calculated separately."

Upon hearing this, the Child of Battle who had been standing by King Jiral's side, his face etched with indignation, finally stepped forward and roared,

"You greedy beast! You're dreaming a fool's dream! We risk our lives for that plunder; why should we give you half?! Even if your mother is the Crimson Ca—"

"Teach him a lesson," David said coolly.

A green dragon's tail, seemingly defying its actual length, lashed out like a whip across the intervening valley, striking the insolent Child of Battle.