Chapter 491: Chapter 483: Tug of War

As soon as Leon spoke, the entire palace fell into dead silence, even the air seemed to freeze, with not even the slightest sound of breathing.

“What did you say?” Tiamat’s pupils slightly contracted upon hearing her old enemy Bahamut’s name, letting out an earth-shattering roar.

She slowly approached Leon, the sound of scales rubbing together was particularly creepy. The five heads glared at Leon, looking as if ready to devour him, but in the end, she didn’t let anger cloud her judgment and said, “You don’t believe that old fellow’s nonsense, do you? Do you really think he can help you overthrow my authority?”

“Since you’re here telling me about him, it shows you haven’t been bewitched by him.” Tiamat nodded, showing an approving expression, looking at Leon with gratification, “Good, very good, my efforts to help you were not in vain.”

Leon swallowed at Tiamat’s brazen words but ultimately didn’t speak, ambiguously saying, “Of course, I refused him.”

Although Tiamat could not confront Bahamut, deceiving Tiamat would definitely not be an easy task, so Leon chose to interpret it in his own way, saying, “I am the Red Dragon, I am the Colorful Dragon, I will never betray the Colorful Dragons. Betrayers have never had a good end throughout history.”

“Of course I want to become the Dragon God, but definitely not by opposing Your Majesty with his help, becoming some Red Dragon God or Colorful Dragon God.” Leon hinted, “But even so, he still supports me becoming the Dragon God and even gave me a Platinum Scale to use when in trouble.”

Leon sheathed a sword, and as he turned his palm, the Platinum Scale lay quietly in his palm.

Tiamat’s gaze fell on the Platinum Scale in Leon’s palm, her pupils suddenly shrunk to pinpoints, and a thunderous laugh rolled from her throat, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“Unless absolutely necessary, I won’t use that Platinum Scale. After all, I’m the Red Dragon, the Colorful Dragon.” Leon said, clenching his hand, and when he spread it open again, the palm was empty, the Platinum Scale had disappeared.

Tiamat wasn’t satisfied with Leon’s behavior, her vertical pupils surged with displeasure, and she scolded, “Give it to me.”

“The God of Good Dragons Bahamut gave me this gift, is Your Majesty going to forcibly seize it?” Leon retorted.

“Are you still planning to accept that old fellow’s gift?” Tiamat stared fixedly at Leon, her breath blowing on Leon’s face, “You have two Metal Dragon mates and Metal Dragon subordinates, I didn’t ask you to kill them all, yet you’re getting ahead of yourself?”

“I also have three Colorful Dragon mates, three Colorful Dragon daughters, and more Colorful Dragon subordinates.” Leon stood firm against the foul breath, “I have never forgotten that I am the Red Dragon, the Colorful Dragon, but Your Majesty keeps pressing, rushing to push me into the Metal Dragons’ camp?”

“Sharp-tongued.” Tiamat’s Green Dragon head extended out, suddenly letting out a peculiar chuckle, “I think you resemble a Green Dragon more than a Red Dragon.”

“I’m not a Green Dragon, I don’t like deception.” Leon beat his wings and said, “I’ve never planned on siding with the Metal Dragons, I’ve never thought of pledging allegiance to Bahamut.”

“But you haven’t pledged allegiance to me either,” Tiamat grinned.

“I am the Red Dragon, the Colorful Dragon, this is something that will never change.” Leon lowered his eyes.

“Give me that Platinum Scale, and I’ll exchange it for a new one for you, far stronger than what he gave you.” Tiamat compromised.

Leon trusted Bahamut’s character, unless he completely fell into evil, Bahamut would absolutely help if he said he would, while Tiamat’s help always came with hidden costs. But the most important thing was to keep the option of choice; giving the Platinum Scale to Tiamat would mean choosing to stand with her. He said, “Can I refuse?”

“I hope you’ve thought it through before speaking.” Tiamat threatened.

“I’m sure.” Leon added, “It’s impolite. Giving something someone gave me to someone else is impolite. If Your Majesty gave me a gift and Bahamut wanted to take it, I wouldn’t accept either.”

Leon felt the hint was clear enough, and Tiamat would surely understand his meaning. Continuing in this way was pointless, so after some thought, he decided to advance by retreating, saying, “I specifically came to visit Your Majesty to inform you of Bahamut’s matters, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“Hope we meet again.” Tiamat was already accustomed to rebellion; most of the children she favored were quite rebellious.

Tiamat swayed her long tail with poisonous stingers, watching Leon leave the palace.

Until Leon distanced himself from the palace, an Ancient Red Dragon, jealous of the young Red Dragon, cautiously approached Tiamat, producing an uneasy growl, saying: “Your Majesty, are you just letting him leave like this?”

Tiamat turned her head, glancing at the Ancient Red Dragon, and the White Dragon head spoke: “I now order you to go after him, kill him, cut open his chest and dig out his heart.”

The Ancient Red Dragon lowered its head, not daring to speak.

To become an Ancient Dragon, being strong isn’t necessary; sometimes being cowardly is more important.

“What Bahamut can give, I can give… What Bahamut can give, I can give. What Bahamut cannot give, I can give too.” Tiamat sneered, having been momentarily thrown off by Bahamut’s name, “I am not afraid of him asking, I am afraid he wants nothing.”

Non-dragon believers of Tiamat, upon death, would appear in her Divine Country in the form of creeping spirits. Besides those she deemed particularly valuable, who would be turned into Abishai Dragon Demons to continue their service, others would be sold to eager devil buyers in exchange for gemstones and gold.

Tiamat was indifferent to her non-dragon believers and had a different attitude towards Evil Dragons, especially those powerful ones… If it was a Red Dragon, she was even more partial, saying she had limitless patience wouldn’t be an exaggeration. The premise was not to side with Bahamut, as traitors are more unforgivable than enemies.

“He’s still a child, just entering his rebellious phase. He will eventually come to his senses and wag his tail, returning to his mother’s embrace.” Tiamat flicked her tongue.

The more someone lacks, the more they flaunt, ordinary people often make a fuss over face issues. Masters often don’t care about face as they have plenty to spare.

As the Queen of Colorful Dragons, Enemy of the Gods, Lady of Darkness, Immortal Queen, and Bahamut’s Calamity, Tiamat wouldn’t be furious and brawling over a young Red Dragon’s defiance.

“Go, catch up to him.” Tiamat looked to the Ancient Green Dragon who originally welcomed Leon on her behalf, “Give him, give him whatever he wants; only through giving can one receive.”

A powerful Red Dragon, yet one who was generous and not so greedy—an anomaly among Evil Dragons who are often unwilling to part with wealth even at the cost of their lives—is something Tiamat would never relinquish, determined to obtain.

Up till now, Leon, who had not yet reached maturity and lacked the tempering of time, was nowhere near as strategic as Tiamat. He only had a Golden Finger, but a Golden Finger was more useful than anything.

All in all, Leon hadn’t yet flown out of Tiamat’s Divine Country and was still near the Dragon Cliff when he noticed the Ancient Green Dragon hastening to catch up.