Humorous.
A single gold coin is all you offer to dismiss ?
Xia'er thought to herself, yet she still respectfully lowered her head, accepting the coin that shimred with an enticing glow. "I am grateful for your generous boon, great Princess Valentina."
Xia'er's voice was low and filled with reverence as she gathered the coin into her claw, treating it not as re currency but as a supre emblem of honor.
After speaking, however, Xia'er paused slightly. A gleam flashed in her draconic eyes as she naturally steered the conversation to the main point. "Your radiance illuminates the Karugu Highlands and will surely grace the Sea of Frost as well. To add more luster to your hoard, I am striving to subjugate the Bullywug tribes in the southern part of the Star Mist Archipelago, compelling them to offer pearls and marine rarities."
Valentina's massive form shifted slightly on her throne, showing little interest. "Do as you please. Just rember, if you find anything shiny, send it over."
Her disdain for the underwater world and lesser beings remained as steadfast as ever.
"Your wise insight illuminates the fog like thunder," Xia'er offered tily flattery before cutting straight to the chase. "However, as Your Highness can clearly see, the depths of the archipelago are infested with vast numbers of fishn tribes. According to reports from my newly subjugated Bullywug servants, their chieftain, Karuluk the 'Deep Sea Sharpfang,' is of a ferocious temperant and rules the largest island in the archipelago."
"Though your subject does not fear a challenge, I worry that this brute, angered by my efforts to expand your territory and collect tribute for you, might launch a full-scale attack. This could disturb the peace of the highlands or block the path for delivering treasures to you..."
Xia'er left her words hanging, but the implication was crystal clear.
Her tail swished uneasily behind her, as if genuinely troubled by the prospect of provoking a powerful enemy.
Xia'er very much needed this Blue Dragon princess to serve as a potent trump card when necessary.
Although she far surpassed other young dragons of her stage, she was still not qualified to face such a formidable existence.
"The Fishman King?"
Valentina raised her head, covered in azure scales, her expression brimming with contempt. "Karuluk? A stinking pile of fish and rotten shrimp only fit for wallowing in muck and eating carrion! He dares call himself a 'King'? He dares make my Pri Minister feel anxious?"
"Listen, Xia'er!"
Valentina declared with overwhelming arrogance. "You just focus on conquering those Frogn, on scouring every shiny shell and stone for ! As for that so-called Fishman King, if he dares poke his ugly head above the water, this princess will personally visit his stinking island. With my storm, I'll roast him and all his slimy lackeys into charcoal!"
Hearing this, Xia'er felt assured. She continued, "With your thunderous promise, your subject has no more worries! The banner of the Jade Wing will surely be planted on every island of the Star Mist Archipelago for the glory of Your Highness's hoard!"
Valentina snorted with satisfaction, a breath tinged with ozone. Her massive head settled back lazily on the throne, her vertical pupils half-closed, clearly pleased with Xia'er's flattery and the impending additions to her hoard.
To her, Xia'er's words were a trivial matter, no more significant than a stroll by the sea. They were far less worthy of attention than the newly acquired gold coin before her.
"Your subject takes her leave."
Having obtained the answer she wanted, Xia'er did not linger. She prepared to bow and depart.
"Wait."
At that mont, Valentina suddenly spoke, stopping Xia'er who was about to leave.
Xia'er, about to spread her wings, paused in surprise. She slowly turned around and said, "Great Princess Valentina, what further instructions do you have? Your will is my direction."
"Those slimy, constantly croaking lowly Frogn are an eyesore and utterly unreliable. They are only fit for wallowing in mud and doing rough labor."
Valentina yawned before continuing. "Under my command, there is also a kobold clan. Though weak, they carry a trace, however thin, of dragon blood within them. Their reverence and obedience to true dragons are etched into their very bones, making them far more reliable than those stinking mud-dwellers."
"Xia'er, my Pri Minister, I entrust these kobolds to you. Take them to your island and form them into your personal guard. Let them keep an eye on those wavering Frogn for you!"
Hearing Valentina's words, Xia'er was taken aback.
What did she an? Overseers?
But quickly, Xia'er dismissed this thought from her mind.
To be honest, if Valentina were capable of such 'high-level tactics' as sending overseers to monitor her, she wouldn't be in the sorry state she was in now.
It was likely her genuine intention, with no hidden agenda.
Also, she probably wanted to offload this burden. After all, kobolds needed to eat too, and Valentina might not truly be able to afford feeding her minions.
With this thought, Xia'er imdiately began weaving sweet words. "Most exalted Princess! Your foresight and generous boon fill with admiration. With these loyal guards who carry the noble dragon's blood by my side, your subject will surely secure the archipelago firmly for you, ensuring every bit of wealth that belongs to you is presented before you without the slightest discrepancy! The banner of the Jade Wing will never fall, thanks to your radiance!"
Hearing this, Valentina felt even more elated.
Ah.
Yes, this is the kind of Blue Dragon I am.
This is the life a Dragon Empress should live!
Karta, Rebecca, Otto—those three Blue Dragons under my protection only ever say 'Thank you, Princess,' never adding any other adjectives.
Compared to Xia'er, they are simply fools among fools!
Valentina thought to herself: It's infuriating to compare dragons.
Those three Blue Dragons of my own kind have no rits whatsoever when compared to Xia'er, this Green Dragon!
If only Xia'er were a Blue Dragon.
...
Soon, in a barren area on the outskirts of the highlands designated by Valentina, filled with rubble and wind-eroded caves, Xia'er saw the kobold clan, numbering only a little over two hundred.
Despite having 'dog' in their na, kobolds do not actually look like dogs. Their head features sowhat resemble a severely degraded, twisted miniature dragon's head.
Their bodies are covered in small, dull, mottled scales, with a protruding snout and a mouth full of tiny, sharp teeth.
A pair of small, underdeveloped horns or bony spikes protrude from behind their foreheads. Their long, thin tails drag behind them, sotis ending in a bony barb.
These creatures are generally hunched over, with an average height less than that of an adult human. They have slender, weak builds and thin limbs, their coarse scales caked in dust and gri.
They stand on their hind legs, but their posture is twisted; their forelimbs resemble more claw-like auxiliary tools.
Their murky yellow or red little eyes blinked in terror amidst the dust stirred by Xia'er's landing, filled with the most primal, bone-deep awe and fear of a massive true dragon.
"Great Dragon Lord."
The kobold chieftain was exceedingly reverent, practically prostrating himself before Xia'er. "Your servant, Valentine, awaits your command."
The kobold race has always been the ultimate sycophants of dragons.
Xia'er took one glance and lost interest.
These kobolds were sowhat too malnourished.
Each one was skin and bones. In a real fight, they would definitely not be a match for the Bullywugs.
Still, they were two hundred cannon fodder at least.
Keep them. What if a future Domination Mission requires them?
"All kobolds, follow now! We march east, cross the sea, and head for 'White Pearl Island'!"
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