One-Punch Dragon Girl

"Because I'm pretty."

The Dragon Girl gently tossed her hair, the pale golden strands flowing smoothly like liquid gold flowing in the void, still shimmering with a captivating luster even in the dim light of the sky.

Her cool and stunningly beautiful face only enhanced her charm.

But such an answer...

What are you talking about?!

The man roared inwardly.

Santos, the external CMO of Dragon Security Company —that is, the Chief Marketing Officer—is a human whose function is to develop marketing strategies and implementation plans for Dragon Clan, achieve marketing goals, coordinate the relationship between internal staff and external markets, and supervise and control the business processes of Dragon Clan's mercenary business.

The Battle of Danfeng Lucerne had just ended when the Dragon Clan received the bad news: a three-dragon dragon cavalry battle group had been wiped out by the enemy in ten minutes. This was a military product that the company had been heavily promoting as a flagship project, yet it had encountered a terrible quality crisis in the small Goth.

Just as the company was compiling its fiscal year statistics, the marketing department was putting in all its effort to make a strong showing in the upcoming contract renewal negotiations, hoping to achieve impressive results and have a prosperous new year. However, from the company's top executives to its foreign employees, everyone who was eager to work hard was dealt a heavy blow by a Cathayan named Kang De.

In particular, intelligence from various countries spread extremely quickly. The day after the war ended, the marketing department heard the news that several major clients had doubts about renewing their contracts and were clearly trying to take the opportunity to lower prices.

When the news reached Dragon Island, it caused great panic among the dragons. After all, market confidence determines sales, sales determine company revenue, and revenue determines the dividends everyone receives. For dragons who value money above all else, this bad news was comparable to an invasion of the Void Realm or the descent of a demon. How could they not panic?

In accordance with the business principles of the Dragon Security Company's limited liability system, the anxious shareholders of the giant dragon company found the responsible party and staged a coup, demanding that His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, who served as chairman, produce a set of articles of association.

At the emergency general meeting of shareholders, the dragons were aggressive and imposing. The young dragons, who were only hoping to make a living from dividends, roared loudly. Their ancient Dragon Language, majestic Dragon Might, and furious dragon roars blended together, even causing a small-scale spatial tremor. Taking away the dragons' money was like destroying the world. The hatred of killing three members of their clan was secondary. They would not allow their path to wealth to be destroyed!

They were practically clamoring to launch a mass attack, wipe out Goth, and kill that Cathayan.

At the critical moment, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor descended from the sky, his imperial Dragon Might overwhelming the entire island, his roar drowning out the fury of the entire clan. Before his many people, the supreme ruler of the Dragon Clan posed three questions that shook the very core of the dragons.

Did you go and kill Kang De because a client placed an order for it?

You didn't even get a penny, yet you went and risked your lives for nothing. Aren't you pathetic?

If we fail and he retaliates, and Dragon Island is wiped clean by the Forbidden Spell, who will still buy our services?

The three questions were more profound than the last, and the dragons immediately fell silent. So-called kings are farsighted and would never be blinded by anger.

Then Santos was appointed to the post in a time of crisis.

Whether to fight or make peace, we need to have some discussions first.

Let's talk it over, we're business people, there's no shame in it.

Since being hired by the dragons, Santos has devoted himself to his work, using all his skills to sign military trade contracts, promote the dragons' military services, and hire naval forces to promote the Dragon Knight and enhance their prestige. He has done everything. He received orders from the Dragon Emperor and went to Danfeng Lucerne with the hopes of the entire island. For him, it was just another business challenge, and he was full of confidence in it.

The Dragon Clan granted him the highest level of intelligence authorization, allowing him to peruse all information about the Cathayan, Kang De. Although the information was scarce, he was still able to make a general judgment about Kant's character based on his words, actions, and behavior in the Empire, Valentan, and even Danfeng Lucerne over the past few months.

He possesses immense power, knows how to restrain himself, is kind but not weak, and is frighteningly decisive in crucial moments.

But they are able to communicate and reason with each other.

If this is one advantage, then there's something to discuss.

Can...

--I'll have to see him first before I can say anything!

There were two things he hadn't expected. First, a dragon lady had joined his team, and he didn't even know whether the Dragon Emperor had sent her or she had secretly followed him there herself.

The second thing... the Phoenix King himself came to intercept him.

No, it's not about blocking him, it's about blocking this young lady.

A unique flower among the dragon race.

He was clearly a dragon, yet he became an assassin, and quite successfully at it.

Because her talent for concealing her aura and erasing traces was so powerful, she could not only eliminate the Dragon Might and power fluctuations, but also conceal her own aura, appearing as a beautiful and delicate young girl. She walked up to her target, threw a punch, and the enormous and terrifying power of the dragon was bound within her beautiful and petite body. With one punch, all of it was unleashed. No matter how powerful you were, if you were caught off guard, you would die on the spot.

She is known in the martial arts world One-Punch Dragon Girl.

This legendary assassin was heading to Danfeng Lucerne. Even Santos himself suspected the Dragon Emperor's intentions. Was he secretly arranging for this assassin to act when the opportunity arose, and to kill Kang De with a single punch if he discovered any flaws?

--What did I say?

Business spirit, oh business spirit!

Talks are talks, and underhanded tactics are underhanded tactics, but you can't talk and then resort to underhanded tactics at the same time!

See, now there's a problem!

They didn't even get to see Kang De; they were stopped by the elves outside the city!

And it was the Phoenix King himself who stopped them!

It's confirmed! The Phoenix King really did have an affair with Kang De!

In Santos's view, Phoenix King Dairila's motive for appearing was extremely obvious—she had discovered the assassin dragon skilled at concealing its tracks and was worried that it would go to Danfeng Lucerne to harm Kang De, so she appeared to stop it, completely protecting her husband!

Upon closer reflection, Santos couldn't help but feel sorry for Her Majesty the Phoenix King. Look at Kang De, inside the city, playing the hero, thanked by the Goth People, spending his days with the princess and the Crimson Queen, and perhaps even with other women joining the war. Meanwhile, Her Majesty Dairila is all alone outside the city, enduring the disappointment and loneliness of defeat, and even has to intercept assassins and protect her ex-boyfriend who's having a blast inside the city...

So...

"Because I'm pretty."

That's like rubbing salt in the wound.

Although the target in this negotiation is a hot-blooded young man, sending a mysterious and beautiful dragon girl would be a great advantage.

After all, in the various knightly fantasy novels that are popular all over the continent, dragons that can transform into beautiful women are just as dedicated characters as saintesses of the church.

But don't say it out loud!

And definitely don't say that in front of him!

As expected, the Phoenix King's voice suddenly turned cold. "The dragon race is becoming increasingly unscrupulous. Being mercenaries is one thing, but now they have to resort to seduction?"

"It wasn't seduction."

The Dragon Girl wasn't angry, or rather, she didn't show it on her face. She blankly spread her arms, spun around once, her hair and skirt swaying slightly, and then said calmly, "After all, Your Majesty, please see, I am not disguised as a man."

"..."

"..."

Damn it!

These words were incredibly damaging, their mockery reaching the heavens. The Phoenix King immediately drew his holy sword, his phoenix wings unfurling, Blazing Flame sweeping across the land. The fiery wind and overwhelming power forced the caravan members to retreat in fear. Only the Dragon Girl, her black dress fluttering gently, her serene face flickering in the firelight.

"You're asking for it!"

"Don't hit someone in the face, don't insult someone by revealing their weaknesses"—that's incredibly immoral.

Dairila's murderous intent has been revealed.

"No, Your Majesty, things will only get more complicated if I die."

Despite the Elf Queen's overwhelming killing intent, the Dragon Girl remained unmoved. "If we die, and you admit it, then the Dragon Clan and the Elves will go to war. If you don't admit it, then my clan will think that Kang De was behind it, and even if we don't want to go to war, we will have to fight—in other words, Your Majesty came here this time to kill us and frame Kang De?"

Dairila pointed her holy sword directly at them and said coldly, "So, you've come here to negotiate?"

Dragon Girl nodded and said, "Of course."

"But Kang De killed three of your clansmen."

"The relevant compensation amount and insurance claim application have been sent to the Royal Army Headquarters of your country."

Don't you want revenge?

"Taking revenge won't bring my people back to life, and besides, no customers are placing orders or making offers."

"... This would cast doubt on the dragon's combat capabilities, and the price of hiring orders would also be affected."

"That's exactly why we're here."

"How do you plan to resolve this?"

"That's not something the Phoenix King should be concerned with, is it?"

The core of the conversation kept shifting. The Dragon Girl, gazing at the king so close to her, narrowed her eyes slightly and nonchalantly seized the initiative. "Is Your Majesty disappointed? I didn't come to kill Kang De, but if you're going to place an order, that's a different story..."

Dairila said indifferently, "My enemies, of course, must be dealt with personally."

Dragon Girl nodded and said, "I will pass on these words to Prince Kang De."

"... She won't! She won't! She won't! She won't!"

Santos finally couldn't hold back any longer and risked intervening in the conversation. He couldn't let this old lady continue talking. Damn it, no wonder even His Majesty the Dragon Emperor couldn't stand her.

He smiled obsequiously, bowing and scraping. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Phoenix King, I assure you, we have the utmost respect for you and His Highness Kang De, and we would never do anything inappropriate..."

Dairila remained silent for a long time, then slowly sheathed her holy sword and shook her head listlessly.

"Remember your words, Dragon. This is my warning: don't try anything with him."

The Dragon Girl's expression shifted slightly; for her, this was already a significant emotional fluctuation.

She said, "Your Majesty makes no attempt to hide it?"

The Phoenix King glanced at her, his Flame eyes revealing an elven pride.

"I don't want him to die, there's no need to hide that. I just don't want to be blamed for nothing." Dairila turned around, "It's simply to repay the favor he did by stopping, nothing more."

The phoenix spread its wings, carrying its king, and disappeared into the sky.

The unprecedented sense of terror and oppression slowly dissipated. The caravan's guards had long been knocked unconscious by the oppressive force, and chaos reigned. Only Santos and the Dragon Girl watched the phoenix depart into the distance.

After a moment of silence, the Dragon Girl suddenly took out a small notebook and began to write furiously.

Santos took several deep breaths, turned his head, his gaze resentful, and his tone weary.

"Hey," he said, "What are you writing?"

The girl replied, "Her last few words, though seemingly contradictory, were quite good. I'll write them down. It shows that love can turn a wise man into an idiot, and even the Elf Queen is no exception."

"Damn." Santos held his breath for a moment, then let out a long sigh, "I'm so envious."

"Yes," the girl nodded as she wrote, "I'm envious too."

"What do you envy?"

"Love."

The Dragon Girl said, "The ruler of the elves, the most noble monarch in this world, actually developed a profound and unforgettable love with an enemy stained with the blood of his own kind by sheer chance. It transcended race, nation, and hatred, but it still ended in regret in the face of cold war and cruel reality. Even though they couldn't be together, the love in their hearts remained unchanged... I really envy the Queen, to have such a love story that seems straight out of a novel."

For her, this was already a long speech.

It's clear she was really envious.

"..."

Santos, with a subtle expression, said, "You also want to have a go at Kang De's?"

Dragon Girl shook her head and said, "I don't think it will work."

The product manager from Dragon Security Company glanced at him and asked, "Why?"

The dragon-like beauty turned her head and glanced at him, her expression calm and composed, her eyes utterly unperturbed.

"He'll be crushed."

"..."

Santos, a man of impeccable diplomatic skills, fluent in several languages, familiar with risqué jokes from over a dozen countries, a master of the drinking table, who had negotiated numerous lucrative deals and told lowbrow jokes to countless generals, counts, and even kings, coughed violently after a few seconds of stunned silence.

"Wake them up, let's hurry on our way."

The Dragon Girl's face showed no trace of embarrassment or surprise. "I can't wait to see him."

Two hours later, after this little episode... no, this grand ensemble of the Dragon Security Company's convoy, they finally saw the war-torn walls of Danfeng Lucerne.

Upon entering the city, submit your identification documents to the relevant authorities and request a meeting.

This trip has a clear purpose; it's not done secretly, but openly and honestly.

The money, gifts, and treasures they carried were not bribes.

Dragon Security Company, following its normal business procedures, has come to redeem the remains of the fallen dragon.

And I hope to have the opportunity to visit His Highness Kang De.

"Why not see me?"

Kang De agreed to the meeting and asked Stella to speak with the Grand Duke. He went to the garden and patted Iron Son's hood. "Be prepared, just in case."

Horus replied in a deep voice, "No problem, Father, but there is one thing."

"What?"

"Please send me back to the White Mist World; I need to regroup and rebuild my defenses."

"Good."

Kang De held the car body steady, turned to A Xing, and said, "You stay here and guard the place. Don't let anyone break in."

A Xing's face flushed slightly, then he nodded. "Okay... okay."

Kang De did not notice this subtle change in expression.

Just as he didn't notice, when he turned to talk to A Xing, Iron Son silently extended a mechanical arm from the roof of the car behind him and gave A Xing a thumbs up.

It means "Leave it to me, no problem".

After Kang De and his son disappeared into the black light and entered the White Mist World, A Xing covered his face, squatted down, and muttered, "Do we really have to wear those clothes...? How strange..."

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PS1:... Irritable, anxious, spacing out, feeling down, I don't know what I did all day.