A Dragon against the Whole World

The Iron Dragon knew that although Galos didn’t like to meddle in affairs, his wisdom was greater than his own.

——Acknowledge one’s own shortcomings and seek the opinions of stronger individuals.

This is a rare quality among the Dragon Race.

"Stand by at any time."

As the sun slanted westward, the Iron Dragon left with one sentence, flapped his wings, and soared straight into the sky. Soon after, he returned to Dragon Valley, came before his brother, and recounted what had happened to the Red Iron Dragon.

"Is that so?"

The Red Iron Dragon paused his training, nodding slightly, unsurprised.

"It’s roughly as I imagined. The Golden Tooth Tribe’s ability to make other merchant groups refuse to trade with us is merely an influence through pricing, rather than coercion."

The Iron Dragon pondered and said:

"Deep down, I don’t want to admit defeat and prefer to retaliate against the Golden Tooth Tribe through a trade war, but the Golden Tooth Tribe’s foundations are deeper than ours."

"I scoured the inheritance but didn’t find any suitable trade war tactics for this situation."

He looked at the Red Iron Dragon: "Galos, is there a good method?"

Under Solrog’s expectant gaze, the Red Iron Dragon slowly said, "Of course, a trade war with the goblins should be easy."

Solrog was invigorated, "How should it be done?"

Galos stretched his wings, sparks flying as Dragon Scales collided.

He said in a calm tone, "Strike directly, destroy the Golden Tooth Tribe’s outpost on the riverbank, thus making further trade impossible. The current issue resolves itself, though new ones will emerge, but at least there’s no need to worry about trade matters anymore."

?

?

?

Question marks popped up on the Iron Dragon’s head.

"You call this a trade war?"

He couldn’t help but say.

The Red Iron Dragon nodded, retorting, "Isn’t it?"

He looked at the Iron Dragon and said, "Solrog, my dear brother, you trust and rely too much on the knowledge within the inheritance. They’re indeed useful, but sometimes they overwhelm you, preventing you from making the right choice."

There was a slight pause in his voice.

The Red Iron Dragon grinned, "The most effective, straightforward trade war is to kill them all."

Galos’s words didn’t stem from being dominated by the Red Dragon Blood but were a conclusion drawn from thought.

Following the Golden Tooth Tribe’s pacing, engaging in a price war makes us the disadvantaged party, bullied by the strong against the weak.

Directly attacking and resorting to violence is the best way to break the impasse, at least pulling the Golden Tooth Tribe from their domain of expertise into the one in which the Molten Iron Tribe excels.

"Are we going to fully engage in war with the Golden Tooth Tribe?"

The Iron Dragon said, "Now doesn’t seem to be the right time."

Galos shook his head slightly and said, "Look at you, don’t be so hasty. It’s just a trade war, not escalating to full-scale war."

Iron Dragon:......

"Killing them all, wasn’t that what you just said?"

"Just a metaphor," the Red Iron Dragon said, "striking their trade outpost on the riverbank is enough. The Golden Tooth Tribe and other tribes have their contradictions and constraints; they won’t go all out against us. Goblins always lack determination."

Upon hearing this,

The Iron Dragon suddenly squinted, acutely capturing a debatable point in Galos’s words: "Galos, you seem to be quite prejudiced against goblins. This isn’t a rational thought."

He imitated Galos’s tone, teasing, "My dear brother, don’t let prejudice and arrogance control you; they will only harm you."

Hearing this, Galos also realized the inappropriateness in his earlier words.

Goblins always lack determination.

——A stereotype from the inheritance had influenced him.

"Hmm, you’re right; I overlooked that."

The Red Iron Dragon wasn’t annoyed by his brother’s teasing; instead, he agreed cheerfully, "In the future, if similar things happen, remember to remind me at the first opportunity."

The arrogance of the Dragon Race sometimes subtly influences actions.

Galos had already been cautious, but occasionally, he would be slightly influenced without realizing it. At those times, a little reminder would make him aware.

"No time to lose."

The Red Iron Dragon said, "The night is the best cover. Take advantage of the coming darkness to engage in ’trade war’ with the Golden Tooth Tribe."

It was now dusk, and the sky presented a dim grayish-blue.

Hearing Galos’s words, the Iron Dragon nodded and said, "This first strike is best to directly destroy the Golden Tooth Tribe’s Crescent Bay outpost on the east riverbank, and it needs to be swift to avoid giving them a chance to reinforce. I intend to pull in some Death Angels."

Galos nodded: "You may."

The so-called Death Angels are actually a new battle team, primarily composed of noble aerial units. The current team mainly consists of Two-legged Flying Dragons, led by the Flying Dragon Leader, Tasha.

Galos didn’t leave, staying in Dragon Valley, focusing on his own training.

Given the size of the Molten Iron Tribe now, not everything requires Galos’s personal involvement. Dealing with just the Golden Tooth Tribe’s riverbank outpost can be handed over to the Followers to resolve, as it’s not a full-scale war.

The Iron Dragon, while soaring through the sky, first used the Communication Stone to contact the Centaur leader.

His Mage level isn’t high, so his mental link range is limited, sometimes not as effective as the Communication Stone. This crystallized creation from the Alchemy Industry can substitute for many kinds of Magic.

"Zakli, lead your elites for a surprise attack on Crescent Bay."

"Death Angels have already set off and will cooperate with you in battle."

The Communication Stone relayed the Iron Dragon’s instructions.

The long-awaiting Silver Mane swiftly rallied his troops, "Warriors of the Red Iron Riders, march with me! Crush those dirty, cunning goblins of the Golden Tooth Tribe!"

Hooves shod with horseshoes pounded over the hardened soil of the Border Area.

The Centaurs galloped swiftly toward their destination.

A period later.

Estonian River, the eastern riverbank, at a crescent-shaped bay.

The Iron Shield Merchant Group was docked here, with boats moored, and the contact point between the ship boards and docks emitted subtle collision sounds.

Around the bay, countless green figures were busily engaged.

These humanoid beings had pointed long ears and arms hanging past their knees, often sporting shrewd smiles beneath their flat noses. Their green skin was moist with river humidity, their small eyes spinning rapidly, and eyelids blinking swiftly, revealing inherent cunning.

——They were the goblins of the Golden Tooth Tribe.

This was Crescent Bay, a crucial trade outpost of the goblins along the Estonian River.

At this moment, darkness hung down like an iron curtain, the last ray of light on the river severed by the goblin lookout tower’s searchlight, with the evening breeze mixing with moisture from the Border Area being particularly chilly.

The price was agreed upon by both parties now.

The person in charge, Hammer, tightened his collar, rubbing his hands and instructing the sailors to move the sealed spice barrels and ore boxes, feeling quite content.

The Golden Tooth Tribe’s adjusted pricing to sanction the Molten Iron Tribe enabled them to purchase ore at lower costs, bringing back a full load and selling at higher prices in the Federation for massive wealth.

He took out Gold Coins, but this time didn’t kiss or pray, just spun it a few times before tucking it back at his waist.

Suddenly.

The ground trembled slightly, and the shaking intensified rapidly.

Hammer hesitated slightly, then heard the dense clashing of hooves on the ground from the west side of Crescent Bay, as if thousands of troops were shattering the riverside stones.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The goblin sentry rang the Copper Bell alarm.

Simultaneously, the night sky was suddenly torn by the screeches of Two-legged Flying Dragons.

Under the cover of darkness, these Death Angels had quietly approached, swooping down, pouring acidic breath onto the lookout towers.

Irritating white mist instantly enveloped the night sky.

The Centaurs’ manes whipped in the air, breaking through the mist, and their iron lances carved deadly arcs in the moonlight, charging toward Crescent Bay.

Several Magic Energy Crossbow Cannons pivoted.

These precision killing machines could quickly unleash a massive volley of Alchemy Steel Arrows, which had left many raiders mourning the riverbank, but tonight they only managed one round of firing before being dismantled by the approaching Flying Dragons.

Taking the initiative.

The defense force of the Golden Tooth Tribe at Crescent Bay wasn’t weak, but faced with the sudden assault, they could not withstand it, and their lines were quickly breached.