The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

David's outright demand for a noble title not only caused all the High Elves to turn their heads in unison.

Even Shalaina, the envoy from Dragon Island, and his father Attilicia were caught off guard. Disregarding the impropriety in front of the Elves, they quickly leaned in to whisper to their son, "What devilish scheme are you concocting now? What does a Silver Dragon like you need their High Elf titles for?"

It wasn't as if Silver Dragons had never been ennobled in other kingdoms before. But creatures like Silver Dragons, once deeply in love, especially with a member of another race, had a tendency for their loyalties to shift—their tails, so to speak, would sway outwards. Normally, this just meant lending a hand in a fight. But if they accepted a title, the nature of the situation changed entirely. Coupled with the characteristic of Metal Dragons, especially Silver Dragons, to meddle in affairs, it often led outsiders to misjudge Dragon Island's political stance, potentially dragging the entire island into significant trouble. To avoid this, a strict rule had been established: All dragons belonging to Dragon Island were categorically forbidden from accepting titles from other races.

But Attilicia, still not quite knowing how to handle his son's explosive temper, didn't dare use rules to pressure him. He hoped instead that David would reflect on his own dignity as a Silver Dragon.

David 'reflected' for a moment, then retorted, "I am not a Silver Dragon."

[Arrogance]

He certainly couldn't tell his father the truth: that holding the title of Pioneer Knight of Dewensen would make it more legitimate for him to stir up trouble, especially later on in Drow territory or even down in the southern lands of Central Earth. There was no way around it. The intimidating power of his mother, the Crimson Calamity, was too great—as soon as she revealed her identity, it was no different from having a terrorist show up at your door. He needed another legitimate identity to prepare for war on the New Continent, one that wouldn't immediately draw hostility or lead to an encirclement.

As for the Duke of Silver, who was about to fall into slumber, what could he possibly do about it?

To David, Mirillian's honorable act of propping up a collapsing dynasty seemed to be nothing more than sacrificing the interests she represented to artificially prolong the life of Dewensen, which was rotten from top to bottom.

Apart from reaping a good reputation, everything else would be very difficult.

She can go ahead with it. When it is destined to rain, and a mother is determined to remarry, no amount of persuasion will help.

Only when she hits rock bottom will she realize how good David Uthos really was to her!

More importantly, as long as Mirillian was alive, his father wouldn't go insane over this. Otherwise, everything would truly fall into chaos.

Wait a minute. The Mirillian he knew should have seen through this. To try and leverage the situation for fame at a time like this... He drew a sharp breath.

David suddenly thought of a possibility that made him shudder.

It wasn't that he suspected Mirillian of using their group of dragons as part of an act; after all, his own involvement was entirely spontaneous. But if this speculation was true, she definitely had other plans up her sleeve, which their sudden arrival had rendered unnecessary.

David pondered this for a moment, then couldn't be bothered to continue. Whatever Mirillian was really thinking, what did it have to do with him?

In any case, no matter what happened with the Elven Kingdom, he could just adapt to the situation. It didn't matter at all.

"I..." On the other hand, Attilicia, feeling as if he'd been struck a heavy blow, was almost sick with anger, yet he found it difficult to refute.

Yeah, damn it! His son was actually a Red Dragon!

Now, even the rules of Dragon Island were useless.

But then Attilicia became troubled again. Outsiders don't know! Especially Shalaina, who's also from Dragon Island—she doesn't know! If Dragon Island finds out in the future...

No, wait. If David's 'true identity' gets exposed one day, he, as his father, will most likely be done for too.

Forget it! I don't care anymore... Let him do whatever he damn well pleases! This Red Dragon whelp... he really couldn't manage him anymore.

Seeing Attilicia give up on the spot, Shalaina beside him was dumbfounded.

Although she knew David was the child of the Crimson Calamity, Pafila, he was still Attilicia's son, a Silver Dragon by lineage, wasn't he? If he accepted an elven title now, how could they possibly explain it to the Silver Dragon King when they returned to Dragon Island?

Poor Shalaina. She hadn't even had a chance to make any real progress in her relationship with Attilicia, yet she was already worrying like a Dragon Mother.

Conversely, Elf King Ailiando on the throne, for reasons unknown, seized this hard-won 'opportunity' to connect with Dragon Island while the Silver Dragons were gesticulating with excitement. He laughed heartily and replied in open court,

"How could I object to a hero who, even as a youth, defeated an adult White Dragon, becoming a Pioneer Knight of our Dewensen?

"With such achievements, a mere Pioneer Knight title would be somewhat beneath Sir David Uthos."

At this point, Elf King Ailiando suddenly drew the Sword of Sovereignty from beside his throne. The blade, which seemed perpetually wreathed in magical flames, was raised before him, his voice growing solemn and authoritative.

"You, 'Dawn Dragon'—Saphistouin David Uthos—I have heard of the bravery and justice you displayed before the Temple in the woodlands by the Songsei River.

"You have defended the borders of Dewensen and protected the subjects of Saeolus.

"I, as the king of this land, shall grant you a fitting reward.

"David Uthos, my warrior, friend of Dewensen, come forward."

Hearing these words, Attilicia and Shalaina exchanged a look, then sighed.

Well, the King of Dewensen had already brought out the investiture ceremony. If they refused now, how would that be any different from slapping the King's face in public?

Their only consolation was that David hadn't grown up on Dragon Island. If Dragon Island were to find fault later, they could use this as an excuse. As for the rest, it would all depend on their ability to mediate.

In any case, Attilicia's plan to take David back to Dragon Island for a family visit this year was now completely ruined.

But perhaps it was for the best. If his own parents found out that their son, still in his youth stage, had already given them two grandchildren...

And they were children born with Pafila, the Crimson Calamity, of all people!

He hardly dared to imagine that scene.

He couldn't possibly register both children under Shalaina's name, could he?

Her father, who had always looked down on him, would genuinely flay him alive!

With the tacit approval of the two young Silver Dragons and amidst the hopeful, envious gaze of the young female dragon, David slowly swished his tail and approached the throne, looking up at the Elf King before him.

This insolent and disrespectful behavior immediately drew sideways glances and furrowed brows from the Elves. Under normal circumstances, a knight about to be ennobled should be kneeling on one knee, head bowed reverently. However, since the Elf King himself hadn't objected, and considering the recipient was a Dragon, they felt it wasn't their place to comment.

But just as Elf King Ailiando was about to touch David's shoulder with the inscribed sword to complete the ancient investiture ceremony, David spoke.

"Wait."

The High Elves were taken aback, thinking this young dragon was having second thoughts at such a crucial moment.

Then they heard David look towards Ailiando and ask, "Who came up with the title 'Dawn Dragon'? Can we change it?"

[Arrogance]

The Elves clearly saw that even the Elf King's renowned composure wavered for a moment. Still, he maintained a warm and kind smile as he asked, "That is how the Priests from the woodland Temple described you. They said that in their moment of desperation, you were like the light of dawn, saving them. Are you not satisfied with it?"

David said bluntly, "Tsk, it lacks character. How about 'The Harbinger of Silver Wings'?" He winked and grinned at the Elf King, enthusiastically promoting the title he had chosen for himself.

[Arrogance]

His father, Attilicia, covered his face and sighed. This is so embarrassing!

In all his life, this was the first time he'd ever heard of a dragon giving itself a title, and such a... peculiar one at that!

Elf King Ailiando and the High Elves, however, didn't take it seriously, merely thinking it was a child's fanciful wish.

Like an ominous comet streaking across the sky?

A Silver Dragon, yet it insists on such a fierce and domineering name...

The Elves dismissed it with an inward chuckle. But then, remembering that his mother was the Crimson Calamity, they suddenly found they couldn't laugh anymore.

"Of course. Then, as you wish." Elf King Ailiando smiled, extending the sword in his hand to gently touch David's shoulder as he continued,

"I, in the name and with the authority of Elf King Ailiando, bestow upon you the title of Viscount.

"You shall possess fiefs and subjects, and you, in turn, shall shoulder the duty of protecting this land and its people."

Only then did David swish his tail and, grinning, say, "Thanks, Your Majesty, Elf King."

[Arrogance]

[Greed]

The Elves were astounded. Some, with a strong penchant for order, had an intense urge to correct him:

You should say, 'I am willing, Your Majesty. I shall use my life and claws to protect this land and its people!' Ah!

But when they compared this 'absurd farce' orchestrated by the Silver Dragons to the earlier incident where a Duke had nearly been driven to his death, almost inciting civil war in Dewensen, this... actually seemed somewhat acceptable.

Seeing the King nod in approval and return to his throne, while David, the newly titled Viscount and Silver Dragon Knight, turned to rejoin his unusually silent father and the admiring young female dragon to face the assembly of Nobles, the High Elf Nobles exchanged glances for a moment before reluctantly beginning to clap.

Clapping for Dewensen having gained another Pioneer Knight.

A Pioneer Knight, as the name suggests, was a knight who also possessed the right to pioneer and claim new territories, an honor often bestowed in the early days of a kingdom's founding. "A Pioneer Knight title for each of you; go forth, recruit your own forces, and expand your territories. Whatever land you conquer will be your own."

However, since the time of Ailiando's father, Dewensen's borders had largely stagnated. There was no help for it; only so many Elves had made it over from the Old Continent, and with their relatively slow reproduction rate, expanding their territory too much was pointless and prone to problems. By the time Ailiando took office, the population of Granyel's second and third-generation Elves had grown. Meanwhile, the human civilizations in Central Earth had connected with the faiths of the gods and were undergoing a population boom. Coupled with the ongoing conflicts with the Drow from the Gloomy Region, Dewensen's borders had remained static.

Thus, a Pioneer Knight without land or subjects was probably the cheapest and least valuable noble status. Only the Viscount title held some allure for the Elves.

But at that moment, apart from Attilicia, his dragon father, who knew his son best and had some inkling of David's intentions and plans, the High Elves cheering for this 'Harbinger of Silver Wings' had absolutely no idea what the title of 'Pioneer Knight' landing in the claws of a Red Dragon disguised as a Silver Dragon would truly mean for Dewensen...