Under the Red Dragon

In a series of rather tortuous transfers, the young dragons gained temporary, long-awaited freedom.

The red dragon and the young dragons were released from their cages and allowed to roam freely in a garden. The garden was filled with lush flowers and trees, but there were few guards.

Even those who came to feed the young dragons were just some seemingly weak humans, who didn't even wear armor or carry weapons.

If it were before, the impulsive Kleineria would have likely incited Kalon and the other young dragons to break free, and the other young dragons would have happily agreed.

But these young dragons, like Kalon, simply gathered quietly, silently watching everyone who came and went.

Experience brings wisdom, and trials make one grow.

But what was the cost? Their freedom.

This was the imperial palace of the Cathay Empire, perhaps safer than most places in the world, but for the young dragons, it was more dangerous than most places in the world.

From the occasional snippets of conversation outside the garden, Kalon roughly understood that the Cathay Empire's national day was approaching. Unlike the merchant Orsu's decision, this batch of young dragons had been presented to the emperor by the shrewd Will Clarence as a celebration gift, and would be displayed on the national day to promote the empire's military strength and martial spirit.

Kalon lay in the center of the dragon pack, his warm body seeming to give the young dragons the strength to no longer fear. The red dragon sometimes swept his gaze over the gradually calming faces of these young dragons, and could feel the dragon fire deeply hidden in the hearts of all the dragons, the more suppressed, the more violently it would erupt when released.

Sometimes the red dragon wondered what would happen if he prayed to the evil dragon god Tiamat or the good dragon god Bahamut, but thinking of those evil dragons who died under the swords of dragon slayers, he immediately felt it was meaningless. In this era where true gods did not appear, dragons still had to rely on themselves.

No wonder he had never seen Kalite and Akzay show any prayer or reverence for the evil dragon god Tiamat. Kalon's lack of respect for gods and fearlessness of gods was innate, and these evil dragons didn't believe in gods either, which could explain some things.

"Uncle Kelei, are those terrifying dragons inside?" A somewhat excited child's voice came from over the high wall,稚嫩且活泼.

"Yes, but these dragons are still young dragons, and they just look scary. With me by your side, you don't need to worry, Princess Leah!"

A deep, rough voice came with the opening of the heavy courtyard door, and a tall middle-aged man walked in, holding a blonde girl's hand.

The girl's round eyes were full of curiosity, with a hint of fear. Her golden hair was tied into two braids that swayed as she tilted her head to look at the young dragons lazily lying on the ground.

The tall man was wearing black iron armor, about two meters tall, and his angular face was full of doting on the child, but he didn't have much curiosity about the young dragons, just glanced at them briefly and turned his attention to the child.

"Wow, these dragons look so beautiful, they're so well-behaved." The lively and lovely Leah looked a little eager to try, her round face smiling as she tiptoed her chubby legs.

A pair of fleshy little hands stretched out tremblingly towards the quiet young dragons. The relatively gorgeous scales of the red and green dragons were deeply loved by the little girl, which were more beautiful than the jewels her father had given her.

"Don't be afraid, Princess Leah. No matter how noble these dragons once were, they are now just like those orcs and elves, our spoils of war. No matter what you do, they dare not resist." Kelei looked at the several young dragons with a faint gaze, the threat and warning in his eyes clear and definite.

"Mm! Dragons aren't scary, it's just that Leah is afraid." The girl mustered her courage and stretched out her hand to stroke the scales on the red dragon's body.

Kalon shifted his body, leaving only his butt facing the girl.

"Uncle Kelei, this dragon doesn't want me to touch it. It seems they don't like me, let's go!" Leah's eyes sparkled with tears, on the verge of crying.

Kelei nodded, picked up the esteemed princess, and strode out of the garden.

Thus, in peaceful and boring days, the national day of the Cathay Empire arrived.

The outside hustle and bustle had nothing to do with the young dragons, until they were chained by their wings by fully armed warriors and brought to the palace hall.

Many nobles in gorgeous clothes were drinking and making merry, including envoys from various principalities and kingdoms neighboring the Cathay Empire, and even the southernmost human kingdom had sent envoys to celebrate the Cathay Empire's birthday.

Regardless of what these nobles and envoys thought in their hearts, their faces were all smiles.

After all, the supreme ruler of this empire, Emperor Charal Caesar II, was sitting on his imperial throne, overlooking the subjects under his rule.

Charal Caesar, is the empire's legend, and also a legend, at least in the land he rules, he is equivalent to a legend.

Since he came to power, he has expanded the original Cathay Principality into the current Cathay Empire with twenty-six provinces and vast territory, ambitious externally and powerful militarily.

Internally, he suppressed all the nobles under his command, making some originally powerful noble lords breathless. The entire empire was controlled in his hands, possessing supreme power. Even those noble mages had to submit to his rule, and every mage had to obey his supreme power.

Those low-level mages, if they wanted to take in a real apprentice, also had to apply for registration with the empire's administrative department.

And with the expansion of the ruled land, his own strength has also advanced from a middle-level extraordinary to the peak of the Holy Domain, and in his empire, his strength is enough to contend against legends.

Such a powerful emperor sat high on the throne, looking at the dragons being led in, although there was no wave of joy in his eyes, a smile appeared on his face.

He raised his emotions and raised his right hand to signal, "Look, this is the noble dragon, now my trophy. This is the best gift my loyal Viscount Will Clarence, the current head of the Knights, has given me!"

Will Clarence stood up from the banquet, gracefully accepting the congratulations of the surrounding nobles, and saluted the emperor of the empire.

Kalon watched coldly, in his perception, the emperor sitting there looked at him with a gaze like his own subconscious overlooking everything in the mental sea, seemingly omnipresent, but the powerful spirit seemed to fluctuate somewhat.

"Kneel down, dragon, salute the emperor of the empire." The armored warrior holding the young dragons kicked the dragon's forelimbs, and the pulling chains kept tugging.

Kalon stepped forward slightly, spread his wide wings, learned the noble's chest-touching salute, and then said loudly: "Powerful human emperor, dragons are also noble intelligent species, how can you treat dragons like those mindless barbarians? I demand the right to equal and free communication."

Kalon knew that human nobles would always pay attention to maintaining their so-called posture and demeanor when they had the upper hand, so he tried to use noble-style communication to test the waters.

"Interesting," a hint of interest flashed in the emperor's eyes. No matter how perfect, noble, and powerful dragons were in the eyes of mortals, in the eyes of these high-ranking humans with power and strength, they were just wild beasts with power. Although in the eyes of dragons, they were far nobler than any race in the world.

Charal Caesar II smiled slightly without thinking, "If you want the right to free and equal communication, you can, then follow the empire's rules. The defeated prisoners can enter the empire's arena. As long as you and these young dragons can win a hundred victories, I will grant you free and equal rights."

The emperor smiled and said to a noble below, "Lord Lebus, I will leave this matter to you to operate. I hope you can bring me satisfactory results."

This emperor not only maintained his demeanor, but also threw the dragons into the arena to fight like beasts, which also showed his majesty.

The empire's arena, there has never been an equal arena here. As long as there is a gimmick, they can arrange for a kobold to fight an ogre. To win a hundred victories requires not only strength, but also luck.

Moreover, Kalon knew the human approach deeply. If it were him, others would never be able to win the hundredth arena match.

But even so, Kalon felt that this attempt was successful. Pessimists stand in an invincible position, and optimists have the possibility of success. His attempt was the prelude to success.

As for those humiliations, the dragons will not forget!