Chapter 507: Natalie and the Red Dragon

Today Tally ate by mouth.

Just like that, slowly and timidly.

Every now and then she would lift her eyes pitifully to sneak a peek at Rod's expression, and once she confirmed he wasn't paying attention to her, she would look so crestfallen she could cry, yet force herself to focus.

After quite a while.

The meal ended.

Rod held the Snow Hill Evening News the entire time, never once looking at her.

Tally treated every bit of food that had escaped the corners of her mouth and her hands as treasure, carefully putting it into her mouth.

Not daring to cling to him either, after tidying up for Rod, she patted her skirt and obediently stood up.

She began making small talk out of nothing:

"Master, didn't Tally do well today?"

"'Do well'—you mean?"

"Pretending to trip you on purpose! Tally knows you're interested in that witch, so I specially created an opportunity for you! After that, Master, just tell me which girl you're interested in, and Tally will absolutely risk her life to help you get her!"

"Mind your own business."

"It's not other people's business~ Master's business is Tally's business."

"Heh."

Tally grew uneasy, her fingers twisting in front of her, her feet turned inward, stepping on each other.

"Um. Um, it's already so late, Tally's scared to walk at night, can I stay here and sleep? The sofa! I'll just sleep on the sofa, I absolutely won't get on the bed!"

"No."

"Then the floor, I won't use a blanket, just give me some ragged clothes to cover myself with."

"No."

"."

Seeing Rod's resolute attitude.

Tally nearly burst into tears, stamped her foot in frustration, and slammed the door as she left.

Hmph! Tonight this old lady's going to sleep at Tree Spirit and Little Deer Girl's place, and I'll cling to both of them so they can't go out—let's see who you, that stinky master, go looking for!

At night.

Near a certain uneven stretch of coastline by the Coral Bay Monst Sea.

A violent flapping of wings tore through the sky from far to near, the howling gale bending trees every which way.

The black dragon Mikhail looked up at the enormous winged dragon silhouette in the sky.

Its thick dragon scales, which had turned deep red with age, gleamed with a lava-like sheen under the faint moonlight.

The red dragon's wings were broad and powerful, its horns curved backward, its overall appearance brimming with majesty and oppressive force.

A pair of orange-red eyes, like blazing fire, gazed at him from midair.

Mikhail glanced away, refusing to meet that gaze brimming with aggression.

Whoooosh—

The gale shifted; the deep, heavy wind pressure became orderly, then spread evenly outward in all directions.

Even weighing dozens of tons, the red dragon Narse was able to land steadily and silently on the highest hill in the area, demonstrating his superb flying skill.

By the time the last of the wind had completely faded.

He looked down at the black dragon not far away, his enormous, fireball-like pupils narrowing slightly.

"Mikhail, you lost again."

Mikhail knew he was referring to the encounter with the Shi Ying Town forest warden yesterday during the day.

The two of them—one man, one dragon—had fought it out in broad daylight on flat ground; with such a tremendous commotion, it would be strange if word didn't get out.

The young black dragon inwardly clicked his tongue.

It was all the fault of the Infernal Archduke Asmodeus for summoning two male dragons to the same area.

Male dragons' territorial instinct was notoriously strong—one area could have either only one giant dragon, or only one boss.

The rest of the time was spent in a contest between the two male dragons.

Yet this fellow happened to be the most aggressive, most violently tempered old red dragon.

He couldn't beat him to begin with, and on top of that, because of the Infernal Archduke's contract, he couldn't even run.

Now he could only bow his head.

Infuriating.

Sigh. If only the other dragon Asmodeus had summoned were a female—can't say for sure, but she might've been drawn to my handsome looks.

"I didn't lose. That human was severely wounded by my strong acid; if treatment came too late, he's probably already dead."

"You ran—that's losing!"

A threatening, low growl rumbled from the red dragon Narse's throat.

Born with their dominance drive maxed out, they simply would not tolerate any rebuttal.

Mikhail gave a guilty snort, not intending to respond to that.

He instead forced himself to say: "Given my current injuries, I need to obtain part of the payment the dark elves promised first."

This red dragon, using the excuse of avoiding contract failure, had domineeringly pocketed all the payment given by Coral Bay, claiming he was keeping it safe for Mikhail, and said he would return every last bit once the matter was done.

"Black dragon who has lost his dignity—do you think you're qualified to receive this payment?"

Mikhail had long suspected as much, and immediately glared at the red dragon Narse.

His ferocious dragon face instantly exuded a natural, vicious, sinister air.

"Narse! What do you mean!?"

When it comes to payment, that's a matter of principle.

Mikhail would not continue to endure any longer.

"Heh heh! Come on then, Mikhail — your overestimation of yourself is just the thing to add a touch of fun to this boring life!"

"ROAR!!!"

The black dragon Mikhail was just about to charge forward.

Suddenly.

He saw a graceful figure appear atop the red dragon Narth's head.

White hair, jet-black skin, and long pointed ears that swept upward.

Most importantly, she was wearing not a single stitch.

Her languid, bewitching gaze pressed boldly against the red dragon's horn.

"Natalie?!"

The leader of the Dark Moon clan of dark elves in Coral Bay — Natalie Blackmoon!

Mikhail cried out in shock.

He wasn't surprised that the red dragon Narth and Natalie were together; what puzzled him was that someone like Narth would actually allow a mere little dark elf to tread on his head.

He knew full well that this woman had previously been someone capable of pleasing the Grand Duke Asmodeus.

As a reward, she was granted a drop of Lilith's bloodline power, thereby gaining an extremely powerful charm ability.

Could it be, could it really be—

That even the red dragon Narth had fallen for it?

"Mikhail, my dear."

The woman's voice carried a wisp of fragrance, silently seeping into Mikhail's thoughts.

Thread upon thread of indescribable magic stirred his most primal impulses.

He looked again at the dark elf.

Even though Mikhail was not the type to fancy humanoid races, at this moment he still felt she possessed a beauty that transcended the mortal world — full of the unknown and danger, yet breathtakingly lovely.

He hurriedly lowered his head.

If dragons had sweat glands on their surface, Mikhail would by now be drenched in cold sweat.

That was close.

How could he dare say another word? Flapping his injured, awkward right wing, he hurriedly rose into the sky and fled.

The red dragon Narth and the dark elf Natalie gave no chase.

They simply watched the panicked figure flee down whatever path he could find.

"Did it fail?"

Narth said.

"Yes~ That fellow's strength isn't much among dragons, but his resistance and vigilance were higher than expected — even forcibly amplified charm didn't work."

Natalie raised her slender, smoothly contoured arm.

In her palm, a red spherical jade cracked open with a snap, its spiritual essence drifting away into the air.

She suddenly felt warmth beneath her nose; a slight touch revealed it was bleeding — caused by overloading the Lilith bloodline.

She collapsed weakly onto Narth's head.

Her ink-jade-colored feet dangled above his mouth.

This red dragon, whose desire for control was maxed out, didn't get angry in the slightest — he even treated them like a treasure, gently licking them.

Natalie laughed softly, lay prone, and kissed his dragon horn.

After a bout of affection.

Narth said:

"Are you sure you want to do this, Natalie? Betray the Grand Duke?"

"The situation has changed, Narth. Unlike the others, I possess the Lilith bloodline bestowed by that lord. After years of study, I can faintly sense his condition in reverse — that drop of sacred blood isn't quite right. In the current pursuit, Lord Asmodeus isn't trying to refine it; he's desperately trying to break free."

"Taking this chance, break free from the Blood Birth Pool's control."

"Yes, Narth. On this point I need your help. But after all, that is Purgatory — I, I was simply afraid you'd be hurt, which is why I had to make a move on the black dragon Mikhail. You won't blame me for being wanton, will you?"

Narth gave a cold snort.

"Whether it's sincere or feigned, I can tell for myself. When have you ever used your charm on me? I simply find you endearing and pitiful, and have come to help of my own accord."

As he spoke, a barely perceptible wisp of pink spiritual essence flashed through his torch-orange pupils.

Hearing this.

Natalie was so overjoyed she wept with happiness, kissing and embracing him again.

The dignified red dragon Narth, after just a few affectionate gestures, purred so comfortably he let out little rumbling snores — losing a fair measure of draconic dignity.

"That forester, though merely an ant of a human, has somehow managed to wound dragons time and again. Shall I kill him for you?"

The red dragon added.

"No need. The dark elf clans within Coral Bay are not all the same — the leadership isn't only me. Many are still waiting for Asmodeus's response, so they don't dare act rashly. Leaving Shi Ying Town and that forester alive is just right — it draws attention away and makes things easier for us.

But they clearly still hold a grudge over the last attack, and keep recruiting and buying up forces. Heh, it's rather laughable — they think throwing money at a few rotten fish and shrimps will let them deal with dragons. If they dare attack Coral Bay, I'll have to trouble you to step in and deal with them."

"Don't worry — even without you warlocks, I alone could wipe them all out."

Narth was as arrogant as ever.

Natalie smiled, as if remembering something.

"Also, Mikhail is treacherous by nature. If he doesn't get his money today, he might take a crooked path and go after your dragon hoard."

"Hahahaha — he doesn't have the guts. My vault is guarded by thirty-six magic traps passed down from ancient dragons and eighteen dragon puppets; not even a mosquito could fly in."

"Then I can rest easy. In a while, I'll apply once more to raise the payment for the two dragons, and you can still take the whole share."

"What's mine is yours. I'll give you a magic imprint—use it whenever you like."

"That won't do. What's yours is yours; I'm not with you for the money. Oh, and I'll keep putting these last few of Lilith's physical blood drops into your dragon vault as well. I used them among the dark elves before but got caught, and after that they watched me very closely. Only with you do I feel at ease leaving them."

Saying so,

Natalie handed over a few red jades of the same kind she had just used on the black dragon.

The red dragon Nars let out another rumbling snort.

Clearly he had already been quite thoroughly tamed.

He even said, quite moved: "Natalie knowing you is the luckiest moment of my dragon life."

"Me too, Nars."

(End of chapter)