Beneath the Red Dragon

Giant Dragon Calendar Year Two, Golden Coast.

It is already the season of spring rain, and the mild climate makes the drizzling rain seem less bothersome.

In this season full of vitality, even the sound of waves crashing against the reef coast appears particularly surging.

The ships at Haikou Pier come and go incessantly, and in these few days, they are especially crowded and busy. Numerous ships bearing the flags of nobility and trade groups have successively arrived at this Golden City, which has gained some fame among the nations of the Northern Continent.

Because the first opening time set by the Giant Dragon Auction House is approaching.

Not only have some nobles who previously collaborated secretly with the Dragon Group sent their agents, but even those who harbor hostility towards the Dragon Group have dispatched their representatives.

The Dragon Group Territory’s debut as a formal political power is an opportunity the nobles, connected within political circles, cannot refuse, especially as they wish to gain a deeper understanding of this force stirring unrest beneath the surface.

Even though, like other nobles, they secretly maintain trade relations with the Dragon Group Territory. They still don’t understand why an area ruled by the Evil Dragon is gradually becoming a symbol of hope and goodness through word of mouth among many grassroots folks.

Under the full-scale propaganda efforts of the Cultural Promotion Department, managed by Red Copper Dragon Alfred, the Dragon Group Territory has gained the label where everyone can eat their fill, with food aplenty at every meal.

Moreover, the storybooks being disseminated and the numerous games influenced by deliberate promotion also prove that life within the Dragon Group Territory is prosperous, and they have gradually begun to emphasize the construction of spiritual and cultural entertainment.

Stories originating from the Land of Golden have spread widely among the lands of many noble lords and have begun to be adapted for performance in opera houses across various regions.

Simple card games that have emerged in this territory have also gained the embrace of many people. Pubs in noble lord territories have become places of leisure for many.

And the tales from the Giant Dragon Territory that captivate people’s interest, such as the many beautiful elves roaming about. In Icaria World, elves are almost becoming legends among ordinary folk, much like the Five-Color Dragons, gradually fading into obscurity.

In contrast to the residual glow of the Beastman Kingdom, which has been driven to islands to fend for themselves, these elves, though also stepping down from ruling positions like the Beastman Kingdom, at least manage to retain relative dignity.

In the Endless Elf Forest of the Western Continent, there exists the home of elves, the remnants of the empire’s branches, five Elf Kingdoms.

But the pride of elves as a species has always been one of the stereotypes affixed to them, and rightly so. The closed five Elf Kingdoms rarely engage in exchanges with the outside world, even among the human nations on the Western Continent; they do not frequently witness the elves’ presence.

And the legend of the enormous Gladiatorial Arena that has been established isn’t just spreading within the Land of Golden but has also influenced the outside world.

In the gladiatorial arena within the Giant Dragon Territory, anyone who claims victory in a hundred consecutive battles can claim the laurel of the Gladiator; they not only have the chance to meet the ruler of the Land of Golden, one of the Giant Dragon Lords, but can also receive a reward that moves countless people’s hearts.

The warrior who claims the gladiator laurel can freely choose one item from the treasure vault of Golden City or obtain a promise from one of the Giant Dragon Lords.

Although no one knows what treasures lie in Golden City’s vault, judging by the list displayed at the Giant Dragon Auction House, there are surely things other than ordinary gold and silver.

However, no one has yet achieved the feat of a hundred victories in the Giant Dragon Arena.

Not only because of the random matchmaking challenge mechanism of the Giant Dragon Arena but also because soldiers of the Giant Dragon Corps are equally aspirational toward this honor.

Adventurers and Ranger Knights, who often rely on their martial prowess, come to this arena to challenge for the rewards, but they are often defeated by howling Legion Warriors seeking glory, who then smugly accept the cheers from the crowd.

Even Kai Luo, a knight with the title of ’Dawn Divine Sword’ among human nations, was defeated after battling against a Legion Centurion for an entire morning.

Fortunately, the Giant Dragon Arena does not have death-match regulations. Although martial prowess is esteemed, strong warriors are still respected, allowing this ’Dawn Divine Sword’ Kai Luo to survive.

There’s also the powerful hunter from the Beastman Kingdom—raging Claxi. This warrior, who takes enemies as prey, is strong enough and renowned among adventurers, and has now achieved his tenth victory.

And renowned figures like Lightning Thorn, Shadow Poison Mother, among others, are also facing trials and challenges in the gladiatorial arena.

Bards particularly love to spread these feats, thus every powerful individual pursuing the honor of hundred victories in the arena has received extra attention.

This has led the rebuilt Golden City to experience its largest influx of people to date, with the permanent population reaching nearly fifty thousand, adding to the visitors and trade caravans. The city’s bustle rivals that of any noble lord’s main city.

The Golden City’s Law Enforcement Officer, Ocean Dragon Naxson, has reorganized the entire city according to his plans, including the coastal port defenses, ensuring no major incidents occur during this time.