Chapter 78: Bankrupt Sakavi

On the edge of the sea area belonging to Gray Leaf Island, an absurd and dangerous scene was unfolding.

A giant black reef, like a sea monster's spine poking out of the water, had become a place for this group of dragons to relax and entertain. To facilitate action, they all maintained their majestic dragon-man forms, humanoid bodies covered in the scales of their own race, dragging long tails, with heads still maintaining the characteristics of dragons.

This product of the combination of dragons and humans or orcs was originally a very disliked species, usually only able to join various evil-aligned factions. They were not much different from their cousins, the dragon-kin created by metal dragons, but the treatment was worlds apart.

However, chromatic dragons were very welcoming to such creatures—they could fight and had wisdom. In situations where they were not convenient to come forward directly, they could also disguise themselves as dragon-men, for example, going to some Astral cities, which could both deter those with ill intentions and not make guards mistake them for coming to rob.

On the edge of the reef, the atmosphere was focused and tense. The protagonist, Sakavi, sat steadily in the center, holding a fishing rod made of a whole iron-fir tree, as thick as a cable, his pitch-black scales motionless in the salty sea breeze. His gaze was sharply fixed on the deep sea surface, as if scrutinizing his own territory.

A white dragon-man beside him appeared restless, constantly slapping the water surface with claws covered in white frost, trying to freeze a small patch of sea area to force the fish out, but was stopped by a cold look from Sakavi.

The bronze dragon-man adopted a more skillful method. He manipulated the subtle water flow to form an enticing vortex around the fishhook, and muttered something in his mouth, as if imitating the calls of sea beasts.

The green dragon-man wore a cunning smile, currently applying some mucus that emitted a weird smell to the fishhook as bait. Although his brain was accidentally destroyed when he received the dragon inheritance, after Sakavi cleaned all his memories, he still seemed to have the cunning of a green dragon.

In Agreke's Dragon-Beast Academy, the problems of each dragon-beast were different. Some, like Klaosuna, did not receive the dragon inheritance at all due to some unknown reason, with neither soul nor brain suffering any damage. Some had souls that could not withstand the massive information flow, causing their spirits to become chaotic and unable to think.

The most serious were those whose brains had suffered irreversible trauma. Although there were not many, they were the most troublesome. For this situation, Sakavi's plan was to replace them with brains of the same model as the Black Dragon Wing, combined with the original soul. Although the upper limit was lower, fortunately, with more effort, there was a probability of becoming a Legendary Rank powerhouse.

For example, the black dragon-man on Sakavi's left often remained silent and now only used pure power to hold the fishing rod tightly, as if once something was hooked, he would directly use brute force to drag it up.

This black dragon-beast named Kalawa was like a programmed machine, only knowing how to do experiments and practice spellcasting all day long, without joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, and had never caused any destruction with his companions. Fortunately, his strength improved very quickly, becoming one of the first batch of Master Rank dragon-beast mages.

The fishing line in the hands of another green dragon-man suddenly tightened, emitting a teeth-aching creaking sound, and the giant force coming from underwater bent the fishing rod into a full bow. She was unhurried, did not choose to fight brute force with the prey, but settled down to cross the fishing rod, starting to perform the exquisite "playing the fish" technique, sometimes skillfully unloading force, letting the underwater beast charge; sometimes pulling sideways, forcing it to draw a tired arc in the water.

After several rounds of wrestling, she keenly captured the moment the opponent was exhausted, her waist and abdomen suddenly exerted force, and her arms lifted sharply! With a loud splash of water, a massive shark was actually swung out of the water and smashed heavily onto the reef. In its ferocious giant mouth, it was still tightly biting half a blood-blurred sea elephant.

"See that? In this sea, I, Geresa, am the real hunter! Who else is unconvinced? Just stand out!"

"Ha! Look at this efficiency!" The blue dragon-man Weikesi chuckled, sparks of electricity crackling at his fingertips like jumping elves. "Waiting like you guys is simply the method of primitive people." He waved his hand casually, and a dazzling electric snake precisely entered the squid on the stone slab, instantly roasting a giant piece of squid meat until it was charred and fragrant. "This is the method of a master, an elegant and efficient art."

The red dragon-man was impatiently spraying a thin, precisely controlled flame at the giant squid placed on the giant stone. The squid tentacles curled and changed color rapidly under high temperature, emitting a peculiar smell mixed with charred fragrance and fishy smell. He mocked while spraying fire: "A bunch of bumpkins! Only when the skin is charred is the inside tender enough!"

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The "dragon-men" who had eaten and drunk their fill were lazily lying on the reef, enjoying the rare afternoon sunshine. However, the sudden arrival of an "uninvited guest" was like a giant stone falling into a quiet lake, instantly breaking this tranquility. The news she brought made the leisure in Sakavi's eyes dissipate suddenly, and the mood for vacation vanished without a trace.

"You still have the heart to bask in the sun here? Sakavi, your assistant Gelapu is critically ill and has been suffering on his sickbed for months! Do you really not intend to go back and see him for the last time?"

"Ha? Wasn't he fine when I left? I didn't see him get sick at all! How could he suddenly be dying? Weilna, are you lying to me to go back to get some benefits, or are you just trying to tease me?"

"Why would I lie to you? Morakesi just sent the news back. I ran all the way here to notify you. If you don't want to go back, forget it. Anyway, I'm going back." Having said this, she walked away without looking back.

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"Master, my life has reached its end, and there is only one thing I am worried about... I can no longer follow you to witness the rise of that great kingdom. Please be sure to remember that this land is just a corner. True powerhouses are in the distance. Please go out and plant your prestige and banners all over the multiverse I have not been able to see.

My time is running out, some things... must be confessed to you. I stopped all maritime trade and exchanged all our gold coins for grain; I built fortresses in the salt marshes, transported the fish-men's salt to the Iron Hoof Plateau, and built hundreds of granaries there.

Demons are coming, I beg you... do not retreat. Only by holding them off can we have the qualifications to share a piece of the pie in the future Abyss War, and have the qualifications to talk about the further future. I know... you hate others making decisions for you the most. Forgive me, this is the last time."

"When I arrived, I saw everything along the way... I fully understand your painstaking efforts." His voice was low and firm.

"Please rest assured, I will not flee like I abandoned the Great Swamp back then. This time, I will be with the people of the Duke's territory and swear to hold this order built by your twenty years of painstaking efforts. No matter if the comer is a demon or the Abyss itself, I will never let you down.

Also, please wait a moment. I will go and invite your teacher, Weilanthe. Once, she hated my stubbornness, hated my retreat, and was even more annoyed that I took you on a path of no return. But at this moment, she must witness it with her own eyes.

The disciple she poured her painstaking efforts into has handed in a report card on this grander stage that is enough to make her proud. You have protected the peace of all living things, and the order you established is indestructible. You have always been that druid who upholds her will and is admired by others."

"Old man, just sleep with peace of mind." Weilna sat by his bed, trying to make her tone sound relaxed, "I'm outside, it won't be chaotic. You say you, you're so old you can't walk, and you're still working so hard?

You could have enjoyed a few more years of happiness... now it's good, you have to squeeze out your last bit of strength to be satisfied?" She sighed, her gaze falling on the old man's peaceful face, and added softly, "... Finally, you can have a good rest."

"Ha, you and I have worked together for many years, I know what kind of person you are." A knowing smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "I haven't seen you have such enthusiasm in the past. I heard that you privately took dragon-beasts out, leading to the emptiness of high-level combat power in the Duke's territory. I have heard of this."

"Gelapu! You old toad!" She growled fiercely, "If it weren't for the fact that you are already like this... I really want to drag you up and beat you! You actually dare to mention this, it's really... it's really infuriating!"

"Alright, you two stop arguing. Leave him a breath. Klaosuna is already on the way to invite Weilanthe. If he doesn't make it, that Thorn Deer will fight me to the death. You must know that she already has a lot of opinions about me."

"Master, if I die, I intend to sleep in the wind of the Iron Hoof Plateau. The Great Swamp... I have no way back. Leaving it, I truly lived. I also beg you... do not bind my soul with the shackles of a lich, let this decaying body of mine sleep in peace.

Also, I have stockpiled 60 million tons of wheat on the Iron Hoof Plateau, as well as 100,000 tons of iron ingots, 3 million tons of coal, and 2 million tons of salt, because I know very well that every force participating in this feast hopes that we will die in this war. These materials are enough for us to hold on for fifty years. This is all I can do."

"Let me confirm, my treasury, under your genius planning, now only has mice left, right?" He stared at the other party, "You had better pray that my dear golden giant disk is still safe and sound. Otherwise, as the first dragon in history to go bankrupt because of a subordinate's financial management, I can only 'honorably' become a black giant lizard sleeping on a stone floor!"

"Oh, dear Sakavi, don't worry about your floor." Weilna chuckled, her tone full of teasing, "The gold-inlaid wall panels and gem ceilings in your office were dismantled and sold for money long ago. Except for your pile of experimental equipment that cannot be sold, you are really penniless now, not even leaving you a stone slab with patterns. Of course, think on the bright side, everyone is the same."

"Sakavi? That name has 'gone bankrupt'." He waved his claws, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness, "As a dragon who has mixed up to the point of sleeping in the wilderness, I really can't afford such a loud name. Before thinking of a new name that is worthy of my current... uh, 'financial situation,' you can directly call me 'the poorest lord in history'."

"Oh my, don't be so dejected." Weilna's eyes lit up, deliberately changing a gold coin from her fingertips and shaking it triumphantly, "Look, I still have the last treasure here. It's not impossible to lend it to you out of mercy, but the interest has to be calculated according to 'dragon tradition'." ===== CHAPTER 79 =====