The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases-Chapter 40 - 39: Losses

David’s scream, which sounded eerily like his sister Tania’s, immediately caught the attention of the Drow siblings. Hiatt, in particular, sprinted over as soon as she dropped what she was doing.

Seeing her master, who looked as if he’d just narrowly escaped a disaster, she quickly asked, "Master! What happened?"

"Nothing happened. Go back down," David, who had already reverted to his original form, replied, feigning calmness as he flicked his tail.

"Yes!" Hiatt could only suppress the doubts in her heart and turned to leave.

Even though she knew something must have happened, as a Drow who grew up and managed to survive in Spider Nest City, she deeply understood a fundamental truth.

That truth was simple: the more secrets one knew, the quicker one died!

Especially secrets from one’s superiors!

At that moment, she felt somewhat relieved that she had intentionally slowed her return earlier. In doing so, she had not only avoided uncovering her master’s secret but had also shown her loyalty by being the first to appear and offer support.

David, who had sent Hiatt away, let out a sigh of relief after glancing at his reflection as the Red Dragon in the sea.

Thankfully, the Power of Jealousy is controllable, and under my intense inner resistance, I immediately reverted back.

Otherwise, just thinking of certain dreadful consequences—no! I don’t even dare to think about it!

Too damn horrifying! For me, a dragon as straightforward as steel, it’s more intolerable than death itself!

Having calmed down from that utterly terrifying experience, David became interested in the Power of Jealousy again.

Based on his understanding of the other Authorities, Jealousy should also be completely under the control of his will.

This meant that he could transform into the appearance or species of the target of his ’envy and jealousy,’ and selectively retain his own characteristics.

The latter is very important!

The only drawback was that, due to the nature of jealousy, he could only gain the aspects he ’saw’ and ’desired,’ at least achieving a ’replacement’ superficially.

However, David saw this ability as immensely powerful, far surpassing some basic shape-shifting magic, like the commonly used Polymorph Spell, True Polymorph Spell, and Shapechange Spell.

The first was merely superficial; it couldn’t be used to cast spells or engage in combat, as doing so would cause one to immediately revert to their original form. While the latter two allowed him to transform into any creature he had seen before, they were limited by his own abilities. He couldn’t transform into beings more powerful than himself, such as a Titan, an abomination, or even a god.

Indeed, as long as he wished and had directly faced a god, he could become their likeness through Jealousy, even if it was just an ’empty shell.’

To become the real deal, in theory, he could combine it with Gluttony, but issues with digestion or the practical impossibility of consuming such beings meant it remained purely theoretical.

But that was enough, for he had no interest or intention of becoming another species.

Like returning to being human.

Having transmigrated for more than five years, he was now accustomed to a dragon’s life, with six limbs and a tail, able to soar through the skies or dive into the depths of the sea. He could even imagine the discomfort of suddenly turning back into a human.

That feeling would probably be like being a human who suddenly turned into a legless, crawling reptile, forced to slither on the ground, vision failing.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary for a practical need, he wasn’t keen on experiencing what it felt like to be human again out of ’nostalgia.’

Being a mighty dragon is pretty great.

Since becoming a dragon, the world had started to look more beautiful to him.

For example, while strolling through the forest and seeing a snow leopardess playing with her cubs, he found her elegant and attractive, a veritable feast for the eyes.

Now, is this a realm attainable by mere humans? Huh?

Arrogance

So if I were to change, I’d become another mighty dragon, like a Silver Dragon, just like my sister.

Previously constrained by the Red Dragon’s fearsome reputation, he would likely be stuck on this lackluster Old Continent until he reached adulthood.

It’s not like I could just grab a bunch of newly civilized Barbarians and play ’Civilization,’ right?

Don’t even mention what could possibly be cultivated in this desolate wilderness, with latitudes as high as Norway’s.

Even if something were grown, those few measly fruits would hardly be enough to fool the pathetic stomachs of those barbarians.

Most importantly, I, David, am a Red Dragon!

Could a Red Dragon content with farming still be called a Red Dragon? Absolutely not!

I mustn’t bring shame upon Tiamat!

Red Dragons are inherently war fanatics! Synonymous with blood and fire.

Of course, I’m currently just a small Red Dragon wyrmling, just beginning to come into my own—the neighborhood Evil Dragon, if you will.

At such a young age, knowing only to fight and rage relentlessly would inevitably lead to constant injuries and repeated healing, hindering his physical development.

So I mustn’t make enemies too early on.

David had already planned it out. Before reaching his youth, he would reluctantly act as a behind-the-scenes boss, relying on a few Elves he’d raised to do some small-time trading for startup funds. Then, once he was sufficiently developed, it wouldn’t be too late to switch his game to ’Conquering Other Worlds.’

But transforming into a Silver Dragon would be different. Thanks to the trustworthy reputation Metal Dragons had built over tens of thousands of years, and the multi-species ’visas’ this afforded, he could ’open new maps’ without worry. Well, not exactly ’open new maps,’ but rather visit the new continent teeming with Elves and stir up some trouble along the way.

Only in the opulently rich High Elf domains, or even the human kingdoms of legendary Central Earth, could he find opportunities to make money fast. He needed to make a fortune, to acquire colossal sums that would make the Dragon Mother burst with joy and rival the wealth of nations.

The happier the legendary Dragon Mother, the safer I am.

Otherwise, when there’s no other danger, the Dragon Mother herself could become the greatest threat.

I highly suspect that the Dragon Mother’s oft-repeated warning, "If you don’t behave, Mommy will eat you," is more than just empty words.

The Chromatic Dragon Mother really would do such a thing!

With these thoughts in mind, David felt extremely pleased. He walked on all fours, like a top cat—ah no, more like the second-in-command—strutting after conquering the street. Waving his tail confidently with his rump perked high, he slowly approached the group of High Elves who had been disciplined by the Drow siblings.

"Master! All High Elves have been gathered, a total of two hundred thirty-six prisoners. Additionally, we’ve captured their commander—should we bring him over?"

"Bring him over. I have something to ask him."

"Yes."

The Drow instantly gestured towards the others.

"Bring him here."

Minutes later, the Elven commander Ahmed, looking utterly despondent, was brought forth by a Drow Mage who had, at some unknown point, been dug out from the sand.

"Master! We’ve already interrogated him. It’s the newly appointed commander Ahmed from Dewensen, no mistake," the Drow Mage, who still had a large bump and a hermit crab on his head, proudly reported.

David ignored this Drow, looked towards Ahmed with a cold smile, and asked, "Ahmed, is it? Tell me, how many nobles like you are present here? If I release you, how much ransom can you bring me?"

Upon hearing this, Ahmed’s despair deepened. Lifting his head to look at the Red Dragon before him, he gave a choked, bitter laugh and said, "Ransom? You won’t get a single copper coin."

"Hm???" Wrathful, David snorted two jets of flame from his nostrils, on the spot turning the once lush-haired Elven commander bald.

The belatedly aware Ahmed immediately cradled his burning head, screaming and rolling on the ground in agony.

Even Yevgeny, who had felt some pity for him, instantly fell silent.

The scene was as if he had watched his beloved prince suddenly turn into a warty toad before his very eyes—the partially charred kind.

A nearby Drow took the initiative to explain, "Master, it’s not that he doesn’t want to redeem himself; he’s simply unable to."

"What do you mean?" David was astounded.

David, with a creeping premonition, felt as if the first pot of gold in his dragon life, along with his heart, had both been punctured, leaving him with a suffocating sense of loss.

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