??Chapter 594: Chapter 592: The Provocation of the Shadowfla Dragon
Chapter 594: Chapter 592: The Provocation of the Shadowfla Dragon
Dragon Calendar Year 5586 was quickly drawing to a close, and the collapse of the Molten Fire Duchy made humanity realize the severity of the crisis.
Thunder Sound Stations and Demon-searching Towers had rapidly been established across the ten human kingdoms of the Ancient Thornland and continued to spread to other human realms.
The blasts of thunder carried across the boundless snowfields, connecting humanity through communication.
The Demon-searching Towers closely monitored the movents of the Frost Snow Giants—both Frost Giants and Snow Giants were collectively referred to by humans as Frost Snow Giants.
In addition,
Nearby nations saw dragons collaborating with each other, erecting Scaled Towers on each other’s territories, offering support at any ti. Sadly, this could only alleviate the pressure from the Frost Snow Giants but not substantially change the situation in the snowfields.
Humans were still under assault by the Frost Snow Giants.
Just as they were oppressed by the Snow Demon during the Dark Ages and by the Snow Giants during the Warm Age, now they faced even stronger and more cunning Frost Snow Giants.
Wooo wooo wooo!
The whistle of the train echoed through the Volcanic Oasis. The first railway had been completed, running straight from Furious Wind City to the capital of Marsh City in Mist Marsh Province. The speed was not fast, just forty kiloters per hour, and there were several stops along the way.
However, the advent of the train greatly accelerated the trade between the two places and increased the frequency of personal exchanges.
Most crucially, the ergence of railway transportation allowed for better developnt of industrialization.
Russell personally attended the ribbon-cutting for this railway and took a ride on a steam train painted black.
The slow speed nearly made him jump out of the window and fly away midway.
But the civilians on the train were filled with wonder and laughter, especially the rchants who had previously hired caravans to travel from south to north. They couldn’t stop smiling when they saw the train cars filled with goods.
“We must expedite the construction of the railway to the Populus Gobi, and then continue to build northward, until we reach the remote Coldwind Snow Forest. If possible, let the Railway Bureau’s managers and scholars finalize the designs for the under-ice train as soon as possible. We will keep building northwards, shortening the migration path.”
The Snowfield was filled with danger.
Before this, humans traveled along the Ice and Snow Great Wall, the trade route, but with the train, it beca possible to build tracks beneath the ice, using the cover of the ice cap to create a subway-like railway—effectively avoiding Snow Demon invasions.
“The railway to the Populus Gobi should be completed before the Dragon Birth Festival,” said Roland.
He did an excellent job as the Industry Minister.
He had beco Russell’s right-hand man, while Russell’s cousin l, who had enormous hopes pinned on him as the Foreign Minister, was not doing as well. Hesitant to leave for the Molten Fire Duchy to discuss the refugees’ situation, he dawdled for a long ti before setting out.
He couldn’t bear to part with Annie Helichrysum at ho and wished to stay in the castle for a lifeti, wallowing in Annie’s affection.
Fortunately, Viscount Fred had begun to follow Russell.
With Thunder Sound contact, Russell could remotely control the situation in the Molten Fire Duchy. Using the Viscount as a figurehead of the Molten Fire Dragon Blood Family, he had swayed many knights and civilians. Out of eight million people, at least three million could be persuaded.
The remaining five million, three million would migrate to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, and the fate of the other two million had not been decided.
Because the Mist Marsh Grand Duchy and the Hurricane Thunder Kingdom were also carrying out lobbying efforts to attract the nobles of the Molten Fire Duchy—though farther away, it wasn’t easy to choose where to go.
Of course,
Out of these eight million people marching across the extensive snowfields, it’s feared that at least a quarter would eventually be laid to rest under the snow.
But they had to move; they couldn’t just freeze alongside the Molten Fire Duchy.
The technology for the under-ice train is no longer an issue, but the pressing problem we face is the lack of necessary tals,” Roland said. “tal tracks that can resist freezing require an alloy with Nickelsilver, but our nation has no Nickelsilver Dragon.”
“Then continue researching other alloys, striving to replace Nickelsilver with other tals,” Russell added.
After a pause, he said further, “If that doesn’t work, then trade for Nickelsilver with the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.”
“But we need a large amount of Nickelsilver, relying solely on purchasing it from the Scorching Torrent Kingdom would be too costly. For the sake of building the under-ice railway, the investnt would not pay off.”
“Let’s just start by doing so research,” Russell said.
After the conversation ended, he imdiately went to Shadowfla Volcano. With Little Dream Dragon’s awakening imminent, his relationship with the Shadowfla Dragon was rapidly heating up.
Entering the volcano,
Russell directly stated his purpose, “Shadowfla, do you have any premonition of when another Bipedal Flying Dragon will be born?”
“I can’t predict that.” The Shadowfla Dragon responded with its eyes closed. During this ti, it had been wholly imrsed in perceiving the hope of ltdown Dragon’s return to ancient tis.
“Then can you control the attributes of the Bipedal Flying Dragon? The nation needs a Nickelsilver Dragon,” Russell said. “Like when you bred the Black Oil Dragon Rossay.”
“That is very difficult.” The Shadowfla Dragon opened its eyes. “It would take a considerable amount of dragon essence blood and origin. Russell, are you willing for Shadowfla to drain its own body, just to cultivate a Nickelsilver Dragon for you?”
“Alright, of course, I wouldn’t want that.”
“But it’s not without a solution,” the Shadowfla Dragon’s tone shifted. “The essence blood and origin of Shadowfla are too precious. However, those fallen Bipedal Flying Dragons from the Molten Fire Duchy could perhaps be recycled.”
“How would we do that?”
“Catch them and toss them into Shadowfla’s volcano to let Shadowfla refine them. About ten Bipedal Flying Dragons should yield one dragon egg,” the Shadowfla Dragon said enticingly. “Instead of letting them fall into degeneracy on the snowfield, why not use them to strengthen Shadowfla’s kingdom?”
“What benefit would you get?”
“Of course, there are benefits. Shadowfla doesn’t want to waste ti on deals with no advantage.” The Shadowfla Dragon narrowed its eyes. “The bones of the Bipedal Flying Dragons rolling in the magma and distilled into essence are no less effective than those of Frost Star Beads.”
After a pause, the Shadowfla Dragon added, “The key point is that these Bipedal Flying Dragons are from a foreign land. Their power doesn’t require Shadowfla’s provision.”
The Bipedal Flying Dragons from their holand all originated from the Shadowfla Dragon.
Even if it killed the Bipedal Flying Dragons for refinent, the Shadowfla Dragon would gain no power enhancent. On the contrary, if the Warm Enclave were to extinguish, it would result in a loss of its power.
But.
If they were another family’s Bipedal Flying Dragons, there would be none of these drawbacks.
“I understand.” Russell nodded. “My partner Sonbra is already en route with the envoy team, soon to arrive at the Molten Fire Duchy. I will personally negotiate with Viscount Fred to see if we can acquire ten fallen Bipedal Flying Dragons.”
“It might not sound very noble, but when one falls from glory, Shadowfla feasts!” The Shadowfla Dragon was in high spirits.
Looking at Russell, it felt increasingly satisfied, “Let that group of refugees enter Shadowfla’s realm, and Shadowfla will ensure their safety! Population, industry, elves, knights… The strength of Shadowfla’s kingdom will keep growing, stronger and stronger!”
“Rest well, don’t get too excited. We may not get ten fallen Bipedal Flying Dragons,” Russell waved his hand and left Shadowfla Volcano.
Before he had even left the mouth of the volcano,
The murmuring magic language of the Shadowfla Dragon once again echoed throughout the volcano, “Russell, send my regards to Ice Cream.”
“I will.”
“Tell it, if the volcano still won’t erupt, if we still need to wait, then perhaps it should offer the first contract spot to Shadowfla!”
“Um!” Before Russell could respond,
The M-shaped mark on the palm of his left hand suddenly burst into intense flas. It was the soundless protest of Little Dream Dragon in its light slumber.
Waving his hand, Russell flew away from Shadowfla Volcano.
Speaking slowly to his own left hand, he said, “Don’t worry, Ice Cream. Rest assured, no matter what Shadowfla says, you will always be my first contracted dragon. If a knight can only contract with one dragon, it has to be you!”
Reassured by Russell’s words, the M-shaped mark finally cald down and dissipated into sparks that scattered with the wind.
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