Karugu Highlands. Xia'er appeared once more in this territory belonging to Valentina.
Although it was summer with bright sunshine, the Karugu Highlands were, after all, located in the northern borderlands, close to the icy plains. The cold wind still howled incessantly. Under such conditions, birds were naturally unwilling to venture out, making Xia'er's figure appear particularly massive.
Within the dragon's nest, the round, plump Blue Dragon youngling Karta lay on the ground, utterly content.
Ever since Xia'er and Tyrone had left, as the most powerful Blue Dragon under Her Highness the Princess, Karta basically didn't need to go out hunting either. He could just lie around enjoying life every day.
This was the kind of life that belonged to a true dragon!
"Karta, Karta."
At that moment, another Blue Dragon, Otto, cautiously called out to Karta.
Faced with this sudden disturbance, Karta was clearly very displeased. He slowly climbed up from the ground, his draconic eyes filled with fire as he glared fiercely at Otto. "If you're bothering me for no reason, you know what I'll do!"
Karta's draconic aura poured down. Although Otto had also passed his dragon sleep and entered the Young Dragon stage, he still wasn't very confident facing Karta. He could only stammer out, "X-Xia'er is here."
"Xia'er?!"
Upon hearing that name, Karta was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He instantly jumped up, alertly looking around, just in time to see Xia'er elegantly landing beside the dragon nest, looking in his direction.
Making eye contact with Xia'er, Karta's heart seemed to skip a beat.
Damn it, why is he here again?
Karta was filled with irritation. He didn't want to see Xia'er, because he couldn't beat Xia'er.
"It seems you're living quite arrogantly in this nest."
Xia'er looked at Karta, observing the body that appeared particularly rotund from long-term comfort, and couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. Then, he opened his mouth and said, "You've gotten so fat. Princess Valentina must be treating you quite well."
"Of course! After all, I am a Blue Dragon, born of Underwood!"
Karta was immensely proud. The surname 'Underwood' gave him an innate sense of arrogance.
Hearing this, Xia'er shook his head.
Who knows what Valentina is thinking, really acting like a nanny here?
This Karta has become so bloated, and those two little Blue Dragons, Otto and Rebecca, have zero hunting experience. This isn't a princess; this is clearly a nanny.
Dragons raised under these conditions would be lucky to grow into mediocre specimens; most likely they'll become a disgrace to dragonkind, true good-for-nothings.
"Karta, seeing you live in such... prosperous condition, I am truly comforted by Princess Valentina's generosity."
Xia'er's voice was steady, betraying no emotion. "Coincidentally, I've come to the highlands this time with a small matter. I need a little favor from an outstanding descendant of 'Underwood' like yourself."
Karta felt his scales tighten all over under Xia'er's gaze, but upon hearing 'Underwood' and 'favor,' that arrogance born of his bloodline surfaced again.
He forced himself to appear calm, raising his head, his prominent Adam's apple bobbing. "Hmph, what is it? For Her Highness's sake, let's hear it."
Xia'er said unhurriedly, "I need a few of your dragon scales."
"What?!"
Karta instantly bristled, as if his tail had been stepped on again. His massive blue body jerked backward, his draconic aura erupting uncontrollably. Fire seemed to shoot from his eyes as he roared, "Xia'er! You greedy green-scaled wretch! You dare covet the scales of a great Blue Dragon?! That is my glory! My power! You..."
"Ah."
Xia'er let out a long sigh and instantly moved.
The massive emerald figure tore through the air, crossing several meters of distance in an instant.
Karta only saw a blur before feeling an incredibly terrifying force slam into his side, violently flipping his overly heavy body onto the ground!
"Boom!"
Karta crashed down heavily, raising a cloud of dust.
Amidst the pain all over his body, Karta was both shocked and furious. His four limbs kicked and struggled wildly, his fanged maw trying to bite down hard on the Green Dragon pinning him. "Let me go! You despicable..."
However, compared to Karta, an inexperienced Blue Dragon, Xia'er's reactions were naturally faster. His claws, covered in hard scales, descended like two heavy mountains, precisely pinning Karta's flailing forelimbs. At the same time, his powerful hind legs firmly suppressed Karta's writhing body. "Just borrowing a few, Karta. Don't be so stingy."
Karta raged impotently, feeling deeply humiliated.
Ignoring Karta's emotions, Xia'er cast Mage Hand. A transparent hand shimmering with faint arcane light precisely peeled scales from the gaps that lifted during Karta's struggles.
Xia'er was still relatively merciful. For these deep blue scales, he didn't take too many, but selected them strategically, aiming to minimize the impact on Karta.
Soon, pieces of deep blue dragon scales with a metallic sheen were forcibly torn from Karta's thick neck, shoulder blades, and flanks.
[Defeated Blue Dragon 'Karta Underwood'... Reward: 'Storm Resistance' experience +1.]
The main function of dragon scales is defense. Karta doesn't even go out hunting, so the scales are useless to him.
Better to keep them for myself, for future trades.
Not just Karta's scales; Saga's scales, Disos's scales, and my own scales are all useful.
In fact, Xia'er's purpose in coming this time, besides offering pearls to Valentina, was also to investigate the location of the Red Dragon Tyrone, to go and get Red Dragon scales.
Since that human wants dragon scales for an exchange, then Xia'er will give him more.
Red Dragon, Blue Dragon, Green Dragon, Black Dragon, White Dragon—all five colors of Chromatic Dragons, a complete set.
Don't you want to investigate who's behind this Bullywug tribe? With all five Chromatic Dragons appearing, no matter how hard he thinks, he'd never guess it's just a single Green Dragon youngling manipulating everything behind the scenes.
"My scales! Xia'er! You robber! Traitor! Her Highness won't let you get away with this!"
Karta roared loudly, his struggles also seeming somewhat feeble.
Xia'er paid no heed to Karta's curses. The Mage Hand quickly collected over a dozen complete scales of varying sizes.
Only then did he slightly ease the suppression, turning his massive head toward the other two Blue Dragon younglings who had long since shrunk into a corner, trembling.
Otto and Rebecca.
Otto and Rebecca didn't hesitate for a second. They immediately lowered their heads, prostrating themselves before Xia'er, their slender tails tightly tucked between their legs. "Great Xia'er, we voluntarily offer our scales!"
Before the words even finished, they actively offered some scales with slightly inferior luster.
Not scales forcibly peeled, but old scales shed during their dragon sleep when they molted.
Xia'er didn't mind either. After nodding, the Mage Hand reached out again, gathering the scales offered by Otto and Rebecca as well.
Then, Xia'er slowly stood up from Karta, who was still panting, his eyes filled with resentment and fear. He elegantly flicked his tail, as if he had just done a trivial little thing.
"Very good."
Xia'er said, "I'll be back in a few months and will still ask for scales. By then, your new scales should have grown in. Eat more. If food is insufficient, I'll periodically have kobolds bring some fish for you."
With that, Xia'er paid no further attention to the wailing Karta or the trembling Otto and Rebecca. He elegantly spread his dragon wings and flew toward Valentina's palace.
Upon entering the stone palace, Xia'er immediately respectfully placed a large bag of high-quality pearls on the cold floor before the throne.
"Your Highness, these are pearls from the Star Mist Archipelago, offered to you."
Xia'er's voice was low, exceedingly humble.
Valentina on the throne glanced at the bag of pearls, then said, "Xia'er, you just stripped scales from a Blue Dragon. The honor and dignity of Underwood are not to be slighted. I require an explanation."
Naturally, such matters happening here could not be hidden from Valentina.
Xia'er didn't hesitate in the slightest. He met Valentina's gaze frankly and stated directly, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Stripping the scales was not to insult the glory of Underwood, but to conduct a trade with a passing human merchant caravan. They brought gold coins. Dragon scales are highly valuable in the human world, an important bargaining chip to exchange for these supplies."
"Human merchant caravan? Trade?"
The anger in Valentina's eyes was instantly replaced by greed. "Exchange for gold coins and supplies?! How many gold coins can they be exchanged for? Can they be exchanged for some sapphires?!"
Having said that, Valentina immediately spoke urgently, "Scales are merely external things. Next time, no need for you to do it yourself. I'll have Karta and the others periodically send them to you proactively, as many as you want, to save you the trouble!"
Just as expected.
Xia'er nodded. "Thank you for your understanding and support, Your Highness. I also came this time to seek verification from Your Highness regarding the whereabouts of the Red Dragon, Tyrone..."
Valentina was still immersed in the beautiful dream of scales being exchanged for gemstones. After hearing Xia'er's words, she said offhandedly, "Fly south. There's a canyon. He's there."