【Rule.】
【Subjects: Kobolds (243), Lizardn (1104), Bullywugs (3761).】
【Paragon Subjects (Challenge Rating 11 or higher): None.】
The ga panel before Xia'er's eyes flickered, presenting the current numbers of her subjects.
Over these five years, the lizardn population had seen a slight increase, though only by a few dozen.
The kobold increase was relatively smaller, but that was mainly due to their initially small base number.
The bullywugs, however, had exploded in growth, their population rising by nearly one-third.
Xia'er could accept this, however.
After all, unlike lizardn, bullywugs had a lifespan more than half as short as the forr two. Most bullywugs' lives ended around thirty years of age. Five years was already one-sixth of a bullywug's life.
It was enough for a newly born bullywug to grow into a qualified warrior.
With a stable external environnt, the bullywug population naturally skyrocketed.
Only those dedicated to the extraordinary could break through the lifespan limit.
But if one couldn't reach 'Paragon' level, they could only extend their life by about ten years.
The average lifespan of lizardn was between sixty to eighty years. One lizardman equaled the lifespan of two bullywugs. Kobolds lived around fifty years, placing them in the middle.
With these thoughts concluded, Xia'er sat cross-legged on her throne, surveying the entire main hall.
When constructing the Royal Court on White Pearl Island, Xia'er had already considered future eting needs. Therefore, the main hall was extrely large, capable of accommodating ten juvenile dragons without issue.
However, once dragons truly gathered, it still felt sowhat cramped.
The Royal Court on White Pearl Island was rely a transitional phase. Xia'er couldn't stay on this remote island forever. Once the main hall could no longer accommodate her subordinate dragons, it would be ti to move the capital.
"Your Excellency."
Saga and Disos entered the hall simultaneously. Once inside the main hall, without the slightest hesitation, both dragons lowered their heads and bent their forelimbs, performing the respectful draconic salute to their lord, the true ruler of this archipelago, Xia'er.
Xia'er nodded: "Saga, Disos, five years apart, you've both grown... very good."
A simple evaluation, yet it ward the hearts of Saga and Disos.
Imdiately after, Xia'er asked: "What about Tyrone? Why hasn't he co to participate in this gathering?"
"Your Excellency, Tyrone and his subjects have all gone to participate in the war between Princess Valentina and the Dwarf Kingdom."
Saga opened his mouth to explain imdiately: "During your dragon sleep, Princess Valentina also sent Blue Dragons to conscript us. But without your command, we did not act. However, we were concerned sothing might happen to Valentina, and also... Tyrone beca sowhat brutal after awakening, so we sent Tyrone to provide reinforcents."
After speaking, Saga also glanced at Rebecca standing to the side.
Rebecca was a Blue Dragon, a mber of Valentina's faction.
Saga naturally recognized her and stated this matter without the slightest reservation.
"Is that so?"
Xia'er fell into silent contemplation. She had wanted to spar and exchange ideas with Tyrone after awakening to gain so new abilities.
She hadn't expected Tyrone to already be off fighting a war, but perhaps that was for the best.
With this thought, Xia'er's gaze turned to the churning gray sea outside the hall. Returning to the mont, she opened her mouth with authority: "The Dragon Gathering begins now."
Hearing Xia'er's words, all the great dragons present beca serious, collectively looking towards Xia'er upon the throne.
Xia'er didn't bother with pleasantries, speaking directly: "First, let introduce a new mber. This is Tina, a Sea-Dwelling Dragon. After I awoke, while hunting in the Sea of Frost, I unintentionally saved her while she was being pursued by fishn. What are everyone's thoughts?"
Saga and Disos turned their gazes towards Tina.
And Tina's heart couldn't help but feel a surge of nervousness.
Truthfully, she had never formally stated she wanted to join Xia'er's dragon court.
But now, being introduced by Xia'er in this muddled way, Tina felt joining this dragon court was quite good. This Green Dragon seed quite capable, but she didn't know what the other dragons would think...
Tina's mind was in so turmoil, which was perfectly normal.
After all, for Chromatic Dragons, not all of their kind were truly considered kin.
tallic Dragons were the mortal enemies of Chromatic Dragons. Those Gold Dragons, Silver Dragons, Bronze Dragons—they were always ruining the plans of Chromatic Dragons.
Ferrous Dragons were few in number and often competed with Chromatic Dragons for territory.
As for the Chromatic Dragons themselves, friction and battles frequently occurred among them; they were not a monolithic block.
Now, this Sea-Dwelling Dragon...
Naturally, there was so estrangent.
As a hardened veteran Chromatic Dragon, Saga spoke bluntly: "Your Excellency, this is a Hybrid Dragon. She does not possess the characteristics of us Chromatic Dragons. Her bloodline contains Sea-Dwelling Dragon heritage; she is a Lesser Dragon. In the past, Lesser Dragons were only fit to be slaves. Now, having such a Lesser Dragon appear at our gathering... Disos and I have no issue personally, but I fear it may cause dissatisfaction from Tyrone and other Red or Blue Dragons who might join us in the future."
"You aim to establish an empire belonging to true dragons. If accommodating these Lesser Dragons affects more promising true dragons, I believe this is a decision that shakes the foundation."
Disos nodded beside him.
White Dragons were the disgrace of Chromatic Dragons, often bullied on a daily basis.
And Sea-Dwelling Dragons weren't even considered Chromatic Dragons; they were dragons beneath dragons. Many high-ranking Chromatic Dragons would certainly feel it beneath them to associate with such a dragon.
Tyrone could barely tolerate Disos, so naturally he wouldn't tolerate a Sea-Dwelling Dragon.
"Tina's bloodline is mostly Ocean Dragon. It's just that her father stripped her of her surna, forbidding her from being called an Ocean Dragon."
Xia'er said calmly: "Regarding the Lesser Dragon bloodline issue, there's no need to dwell on it too much... I, Xaer Cassium, aim to establish a nation in the future—a nation belonging to all great dragons. Not a nation like the Underwood Dynasty, which belonged only to Blue Dragons."
"Any being whose body contains dragon blood, any dragon species certified by the gods above, who is willing to join our dragon flight and share our trials—regardless of what kind of dragon they are—is our companion, a mber of the Cassius Flight. Even if it were a tallic Dragon, it would be the sa!"
The Underwood Dragon Flight, which Valentina once belonged to, was a vast true dragon empire located on another continent east of the Sea of Frost. Over eighty percent of its dragons were Blue Dragons, with the remaining twenty percent being a small number of Red, Green, Black, and White Dragons. As for other dragon species, they were practically nonexistent; it was highly exclusionary.
What Xia'er wanted to establish was a nation truly belonging to true dragons. No matter what dragon species you were, as long as you were exceptional enough, you could join the Cassius Flight.
At least on the surface, all dragons were equal.
In private...
Draconic mindsets were hard to change; discrimination was normal.
"I shall obey your will. Regarding Tina's joining, I have no objection."
Saga nodded slightly, then continued: "But Your Excellency, what about Rebecca? Has she defected from Princess Valentina?"
This sentence startled Rebecca.
What defection?
I haven't! Don't spout nonsense!
Just as Rebecca was about to open her mouth to explain, Xia'er spoke first: "Underwood and Cassius are one entity, with no distinction between you and ."
She would inevitably surpass Valentina. When that ti ca, she could use such an excuse to reasonably incorporate Valentina.
Although Valentina's nurturing ability was average, she was already a dragon with combat power above dium level, making her very necessary to recruit.
If Valentina was willing to live under her command, that is.
As for Karta, Otto, Rebecca...
Consider them the three freebies that co with the main purchase. Their level wasn't great, but they were still dragons, good enough for intimidation.
Saga imdiately nodded and stepped back.
Xia'er continued asking: "Over these five years, has anything significant happened on the islands?"
"Your Excellency, the Fishman King's Court to the east suddenly began frequent western probes half a year ago. The Bullywug patrol squads have had multiple small-scale clashes with their scouts, losing more than winning. I estimate the Fishman King's Court's eastward expansion has failed, and they are preparing to expand westward."
Saga imdiately opened his mouth, clearly explaining the situation over the past few years: "As for the Human rchant Caravans, they've co and gone twice on their biennial schedule. We've exchanged for a large amount of Black Oil, all stored in your side hall. The leader of the human caravan, during the last transaction, subtly expressed through the Frog King a desire to et you once. They will arrive next during the long sumr season a year from now. Will you take the ti to et them?"
Hearing this, Xia'er imdiately fell into contemplation.
The matter of the human caravan leader wanting a eting was a minor issue, sothing that could even be decided on the spot next year.
But the matter of the Fishman King's Court expanding westward was no small thing.
After all, Valentina was already fighting the Dwarf Kingdom in the south. If the Fishman King's Court indeed decided to expand west...
She might face the dilemma of fighting on two fronts.
Damn it, starting big right after waking up?
What do you take for, the Third Reich?
With this thought, Xia'er said: "Spare no cost! Scout out clearly whether the Fishman King's Court truly has the intention to expand westward!"
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