A Dragon against the Whole World

After the small-scale conflict with the Golden Tooth Tribe began on the riverbank, Iron Dragon Solrog did not personally participate. The main participants in the battle were the cavalry and the dragon group.

However, Solrog was not idly sitting by.

In the war-related knowledge of The Prince, inherited from the Iron Dragon, there is such a phrase.

—See every texture on the enemy’s shield, and the sword’s edge will find the cracks.

The more you know about the enemy, the higher the chance of victory.

Taking advantage of his ability to soar in the sky, Iron Dragon Solrog carefully concealed his presence while silently observing the movements of the goblins, and not just limited to the riverbank outpost.

During this time, he discovered something strange.

The Golden Tooth Tribe used their Alchemy Golems without any restraint.

Their near-squandering use of the Alchemy Golems, utterly indifferent to the enormous consumption of these creatures, which are primarily driven by the consumption of black oil, depleting a large amount every minute and second during operation.

At first, the Iron Dragon didn’t understand the reason, only feeling it was somewhat strange.

He continued to investigate this point and then discovered other unusual aspects.

For example, the transportation of the Golden Tooth Tribe’s supplies, soldiers, and raw materials did not use normal tribal means but, like the Alchemy Golems, was driven by steam trucks powered by black oil. Although the models were very old, they were genuinely alchemical trucks.

In contrast.

The Molten Iron Tribe’s transportation methods were quite primitive, mainly relying on large armored beasts like rhinos to haul carts, with the faster options being cavalry galloping on four legs or expedited airlift by dragons.

In fact, the Molten Iron Tribe could use more advanced alchemical trucks for transportation.

The old-style alchemical truck blueprints were widespread. They might not be aesthetically pleasing or exquisite, but their structure was simple and straightforward, not considered complex. By purchasing key components through a merchant group and crafting basic components themselves, one could obtain them without incurring high costs.

The crucial issue lies in the power supply.

The Black Oil Field is fundamentally under the control of the Lothern Federation, and the Black Oil purchased from the Southern Federation by the Border Area is bought at exorbitantly high prices, which cannot support consumption.

The Molten Iron Tribe has closely linked Gem Merchant Groups, but it is also difficult to obtain black oil at a low price.

The production of the Black Oil Field is abundant, yet it’s a controlled resource. Unless you have deep connections within the Federation, ordinary merchant groups have to buy black oil at inflated prices.

The situation for other tribes in the Border Area is similar.

In short, like the Golden Tooth Tribe, using black oil as if it were flowing water to supply the Mechanical Golems and many other Alchemy Creatures is extremely abnormal.

Other tribes do not have a significant demand for black oil and are therefore insensitive to this.

But the Molten Iron Tribe is different. Because the Master of Red Wings favors black oil, from the Dragon Valley down to the ordinary followers, everyone is very sensitive to black oil, and they perk up their ears and pay extra attention when they hear these words.

Iron Dragon Solrog is no exception.

Upon realizing this, he calculated carefully.

The Golden Tooth Tribe’s high-intensity spending is absolutely unsustainable with their current resources.

Yet the reality is, they are able to use it lavishly.

Either they have a channel to procure black oil at low prices, but that is basically impossible. The tribes in the Border Area are seen as primitive barbarians by the Federation, and only profit-driven merchants would be interested in trading with them.

Wanting to get Federation black oil in the Border Area?

Dream on!

Besides that, there is another possibility.

—The Golden Tooth Tribe has its own black oil reserves, requiring no high premiums to purchase.

To verify this speculation, every time the Iron Dragon dispatched soldiers to raid the goblin outposts, he would take advantage of the goblins’ diverted attention to personally investigate their airspace.

About a month later.

Iron Dragon Solrog approached the truth.

Within the Golden Tooth Tribe’s territory, roughly a hundred miles east, there is a nondescript plain, neither a critical pass nor a strategic location, yet the Golden Tooth Tribe had amassed a considerable garrison there, with even an aerial warning line in place.

Iron Dragon Solrog did not dare to approach recklessly.

He patiently observed from the outskirts, discovering that centered on this plain, there were caravans coming and going from time to time, transporting sealed barrels of unknown substances to other outposts.

Iron Dragon Solrog followed the caravan heading towards the riverbank.

At night, under the cover of darkness, centaurs and dragon groups raided a goblin riverbank outpost, only to be repelled by exceptionally fierce Mechanical Golems and heavy crossbow arrows.

Although a certain price was paid.

Nevertheless, in the goblins’ cheers, the Iron Dragon confirmed one thing—eight or nine out of ten, the Golden Tooth Tribe had unearthed a Black Oil Field.

And it certainly did not happen recently.

They very likely rose to prominence by relying on the Black Oil Field.

Other tribes in the Border Area are not sensitive to black oil, have no demand, and are indifferent. The Lothern Federation has no army stationed in the Border Area and lacks attention to the tribes there, also failing to discover the existence of the Black Oil Field.

"From the current findings, it can be basically concluded that there is a Black Oil Field within the Golden Tooth Tribe’s territory."

Iron Dragon Solrog said slowly.

Through his recounting, Galos roughly understood the course of events and the specific situation.

The Golden Tooth Tribe had deployed heavy guards at the Black Oil Field, along with vigilance and concealment measures.

But perhaps over time, since the other tribes in the Border Area have not reacted, they slightly lowered their guard, with their near-squandering use of black oil allowing the black oil-sensitive Molten Iron Tribe to notice something unusual.

"Solrog, you’re wrong."

The Red Iron Dragon slowly stood up. His scales were as dark as the night, and the thorn-like spines on his body stood slightly erect like a forest of swords.

He said, "It’s not the Golden Tooth Tribe that has a Black Oil Field, but rather, my Black Oil Field has grown the Golden Tooth Tribe."

The Red Iron Dragon’s exposed tusks gleamed sharp as he spoke, "These vermin dare to invade my Black Oil Field and squander my black oil like this."

Even though the Black Oil Field had been exploited and used by the Golden Tooth Tribe for some time, its value remains incalculable.

Because it concerns his future development, the Red Iron Dragon’s body was burning with barely suppressible heat, eager to fly into the sky immediately, charge toward the Golden Tooth Tribe, and beat the goblins until they begged for mercy, obediently offering him the Black Oil Field.

Whoosh—he took a deep breath, temporarily tamping down the boiling greed.

The Golden Tooth Tribe had amassed deep reserves, and the Black Oil Field was situated in their heartland, heavily guarded. Flying over there directly might not yield a good outcome.

He needed to remain calm.

Dealing with the Golden Tooth Tribe required more than brute force.

He is the absolute core, but the power of the Molten Iron Tribe also needs to be leveraged.

The Red Iron Dragon lifted his head and looked toward the cliff wall, asking the Red Silver Dragon lying on a slab of rock, "Deborah, the scale of war between the Molten Iron Tribe and the Golden Tooth Tribe is about to escalate. Will you help me?"

The Red Silver Dragon frowned, her gaze wavering.

She had heard the conversation between Galos and Solrog, feeling like Galos aimed to plunder the Golden Tooth Tribe’s black oil.

This certainly was an evil conduct.

The justice principles of the Metal Dragon made her a bit troubled and conflicted.

"The Golden Tooth Tribe seeks to monopolize the banks of the Estonian River near the Border Area, completely controlling the trade in the Border Area."

The Red Iron Dragon said: "Once they succeed, given the goblins’ cunning and greedy nature, they will undoubtedly exploit all the value from this land, ruining the peace in the Border Area."

He spoke righteously, continuing: "Our campaign against the Golden Tooth Tribe is for the Border Area, for the multitude of creatures here, for peace and justice!"

Finally.

Galos added another sentence, saying: "Once it’s done, I’ll give you ten high-quality magic gemstones as a reward."

The Red Silver Dragon remained silent.

She initially intended to refuse Galos, as a war with the purpose of plundering did not align with the principles of a Metal Dragon.

But then again, goblins were creatures of the Evil Faction, and crusading against evil, upholding justice, was something she should do as a Metal Dragon.

As for the naturally evil Red Dragon’s and Iron Dragon’s offspring..... he was different.

Under Galos’ gaze, the Red Silver Dragon nodded heavily, saying: "Exterminating the evil goblins, I am bound by duty!"

After receiving the Red Silver Dragon’s response, Galos nodded almost imperceptibly.

[Dragon Taming Technique·Red Copper Dragon Chapter]

[Only a reason, an excuse, a reward.... a naturally chaotic and good Red Copper Dragon is more than happy to participate in ’unjust’ warfare]

The Red Iron Dragon quietly improved upon his Dragon Taming Technique.