CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 91: SCREWED BY DAD

In the southern district of Drogsin Spider Nest City, within the Flavia family’s domain, in their gloomy main hall.

Alianna, having rushed over in a panic, knelt on one knee in a pool of blood. Trying to contain her excitement, she reported David’s trade intentions and the value of this Red Dragon Alchemist to the slender figure shrouded in shadows on the throne. She fully believed she would reap the same pleasure, laughter, and praise that usually came from Matriarch Flavia.

However, this time, the voice that came from the darkness where Matriarch Flavia resided carried a somewhat listless tone: "Tsk, another Alchemist? And a Dragon at that? Now that is truly interesting."

Another? The moment Alianna heard this word, her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately had a bad feeling.

Indeed, perhaps sensing the unease in her confidante, and being in a particularly good mood, Flavia enjoyed watching her loyal Drow fall from hope to disappointment. After a while, she decided to share the source of her recent pleasure with her confidante. "Do you remember the Drow who ambushed me on the road outside the city half a month ago?"

"Of course. But wasn’t she a zealous member of the Celestial Faction?"

Alianna certainly wouldn’t forget that individual. She could be described as a ’walking alchemy vault,’ and her showy moves had overwhelmed much of their Shadow Guard in an instant. Yet, she ended up being tactically deceived by Matriarch Flavia and taken down with a single move from behind.

She was a tough one. But too green, too naive, daring to ambush a Matriarch seasoned in the deceit of other matriarchs and her own daughters. It just didn’t seem like someone who grew up in the Gloomy Region, in this deceitful Spider Nest City.

Even if such a person is an Alchemist, could she possibly create an Anger Potion to rival the sample I brought? Could her value compare to that of Sir David Uthos?

She really wanted to plead with her Matriarch, I’ve brought the sample! Look at this nearly solid concentration of the potion! Look at its almost explosive magical effect!

You should try it yourself! Just one taste, she believed, and Matriarch Flavia would surely understand why she hadn’t hesitated to rush back to see her, even if it meant a bleeding backside, and grasp the value of this cooperation!

Yet, Matriarch Flavia’s next words made Alianna swallow back the heartfelt words that were about to burst from her throat: "I have received reliable information... Attilicia, the chief Alchemist of the silver Duchess Mirillian, disappeared recently."

"What do you think? The one we caught recently, does she look similar?"

But wasn’t that a female Drow? Driven by Wrath, Alianna instinctively wanted to speak out but then suddenly paused.

As one of Matriarch Flavia’s confidantes and extensions of her reach, privy to many secrets, she naturally knew a secret that was no secret among the various factions: the true identity of the Alchemist named Attilicia was a Silver Dragon.

It was said that during the outbreak of the Crimson Calamity, that unfortunate Silver Dragon, then a shipboard Priest, had acted out of a desire to uphold justice and had been forcibly subdued by the legendary Red Dragon.

Her people ransomed her back through tough negotiations, for an astronomical sum, along with the rescuers who had continuously tried to save her. After that, she never returned to Dragon Island and didn’t even leave the silver Duchess’s territory.

Such a coward dared to come alone to the Gloomy Region to attack our Matriarch Flavia? Is the Dragon crazy, am I crazy, or has the whole world gone mad? Alianna was at a loss.

This deal was so important to her that the Drow, filled to the brim with ’Wrath,’ finally couldn’t hold back and asked the outrageous, insubordinate question: "Mistress, are you really certain that frail Drow is the renowned Alchemist, the Silver Dragon Attilicia?"

This time, however, Matriarch Flavia wasn’t angered by Alianna’s ’offense.’ She replied cheerily, "Of course, I can’t be certain. After all, apart from those legendary high-tier spells, only a Reveal Truth spell can disclose a Silver Dragon’s true form."

"And this happens to be a spell that we, the chaotic worshipers of the Spider Queen, cannot master and, least of all, wish to master."

"That is why I have kept her locked up in the Dark Dungeon all this time."

"It’s a pity. She was reckless enough to attack me, and even though news of her imminent sacrifice has been circulating for so long, no one has yet made a move to stop it."

"But since you’ve brought such important news, there’s no need to continue waiting."

"Alianna, why not come with me to witness it?"

"Under the gaze of the gods, he or she must eventually show their true form."

"If it’s the former, then I’ll offer up the sacrifice I’ve prepared these past few days and claim the reward for my correct guess."

"If it’s the latter, then as a member of the Celestial Faction, she will be the offering for this prayer to the gods."

Alianna opened her mouth but then closed it. It was the first time she had seen her Matriarch in such high spirits and the first time she had heard her Matriarch speak so many ’candid’ words to her.

This should have made her genuinely happy, and she should have felt that happiness. But for some reason, the thought of the Red Dragon possibly turning violent like a madman due to her delay made her subconsciously tense. She bravely risked her Matriarch’s displeasure by saying, "But even if we escort that ’Drow’ to the Spider Temple right now, including the time for the prayer ceremony, there’s simply not enough time."

What if... She ultimately didn’t dare to utter the absolutely offensive words. What if you’re wrong, and we miss the deadline with the Red Dragon Alchemist again? What then?

Her subordinate’s repeated insolence had indeed displeased Matriarch Flavia. She slowly rose from her grand chair, squinting her eyes and looking down at Alianna, who now bowed her head in silence. Then, she said with pride, "If we’re too late, we’re too late. This was just a little game I thought up on a whim, after all."

"As for that Red Dragon Alchemist? I’ve heard it’s just a red whelpling, correct?"

"An arrogant and greedy red whelpling. Even if it gets angry, what can it do?"

"At worst, when the time comes, we can just offer a higher price for the goods."

She thought for a moment, seemingly afraid of the awkward situation where they might miss out on both sides at once. Then she ordered, "Alright, send a Shadow Dancer squad over to ’calm’ him down."

Then she revealed a cunning and venomous smile, void of any warmth. "But if I’ve guessed correctly, then he’ll be of no use to us anyway."

"However, considering he is still a Red Dragon..."

"Let’s bring him back for breeding."

As a half-elf, Alianna perhaps still retained a shred of the conscience unique to High Elves. "But he is still a red whelpling." Not even a young dragon yet.

Matriarch Flavia said, somewhat displeased, "Is this your first day as a Drow? Just pump some potions into him, work on him a bit, and over time, we’re bound to get something out of him."

Of course, True Dragons forced to grow prematurely like this generally ended up just like the male Drow of Spider Nest City.

They mostly didn’t grow up, that’s all.

「Outside the city, at the tavern outpost.」

David, completely unaware that he had, to a certain extent, been tricked by his own father, grew increasingly irritable as the sand in the hourglass dwindled.

His restless tail kept thumping heavily on the floor—BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

Each thud seemed to strike heavily on the hearts of every Drow present, their deep purple faces ’fading’ under the increasingly suffocating pressure.

As the hourglass was almost empty, yet the Drow named Alianna hadn’t even shown her shadow, David, his eyes narrowed to slits, suddenly held his tail poised in mid-air.

And the Drow, already familiar with this rhythm, simultaneously felt their hearts skip a beat.

As the last grain of sand in the hourglass fell, it signaled that the Drow had missed their deadline and breached the contract.

BAM! With a resounding crash, the hovering dragon tail struck the floor hard in response to its master’s mood, punching a hole right through the second floor.

[Wrath]

The Drow below scattered in alarm. Hearts pounding with fear, they peered up through the hole in the ceiling at the suddenly laughing Red Dragon, their spirits sinking as they prepared for a tough fight.

"It seems I’ve been played by these untrustworthy Drow, after all."

David seemed not so angry anymore. He calmly leaped down from Alianna’s long work desk like a large cat, flicked his tail, and prepared to lead his followers away.

Seeing his master was displeased, Winter Wolf immediately snatched up the sack of [Anger Potion] concentrate, slung it onto his back, and secured it. Tailing his master, the wolf, feigning Dragon Might, snarled and bared his teeth at some bewildered Drow before striding onward.

"Wait! Lord David Uthos, please wait! Our Ali... PFFT!"

Before this Drow messenger could finish his words, David’s long and powerful tail swept him away, along with the now-stationary hourglass on the table. Spraying a mist of blood, he crashed through the recently repaired window and landed heavily on the street below.

"Get lost."

Just as the Barbarian clearing the path ahead kicked open the equally newly repaired main door, David, ready to lead his few subordinates out of this outpost to find a more reliable buyer, suddenly paused.

Just as it had been back at the silver stronghold, David experienced the same treatment here in Spider Nest City’s Wei City:

Shadowy gazes pricked him from all directions, as tangible as needles on his scales.

The only difference was,

Those High Elves last time had been accidental.

This time, these Drow Elves were damn well doing it on purpose.