Negotiation

The giant dragon's scales were thick and layered, a deep iron-black. Their surfaces were covered in fine serrated patterns, resembling rough forged metal blanks, as though they had been cast from steel and iron. Metal protrusions like an exoskeleton rose from its joints, while a layer of heavy, shark-fin-like Thorns ran along its back.

It merely sat quietly atop the raised platform.

Its wings and limbs were not fully spread, its enormous body held in a restrained posture.

Yet even so.

An overwhelming sense of oppression still washed over him.

Just imagining the destruction and devastation such a giant dragon could cause when enraged was enough to make one shudder.

The giant dragon was staring at Garos with black draconic eyes identical to his own.

It was Garos's mother—the Iron Dragon Mother, Laetitia.

"Mother."

The Hatchling Dragon lowered his head and greeted the giant dragon on the platform.

The Iron Dragon Mother was a very traditional Iron Dragon. She believed in no Dragon God, was lawful evil, and regarded efficiency and pragmatism as her highest principles. She followed a strictly hierarchical way of life and longed to build a world ruled by Dragonkin, with Iron Dragons at its helm. She possessed a strong sense of class distinction.

In her eyes, even her own offspring could not be overly presumptuous.

They had to follow her rules and show her respect and awe.

"Garos, my child, the crystallization of flame and steel."

The Iron Dragon Mother lowered her gaze toward Garos and said in a cool, magnetic voice, "Six lunar cycles are enough for a Dragonling to shed its soft scales. Now, your scales are as hard as iron."

Her voice was like sandpaper grinding against a steel ingot, every syllable making the metallic particles in the air hum in resonance.

Garos nodded, inwardly sensing trouble.

Dragonkin were divided into many age categories based on age.

For example, ages one to five were considered the Dragonling stage. During this period, Dragonlings received their mother's protection, including food, safety, shelter, and so on.

Beyond that, ages six to twelve were the Hatchling Stage.

Evil Dragons were rather indifferent when it came to familial bonds and had little interest in raising their offspring.

Once their offspring reached the Hatchling Stage, Evil Dragons would often choose to drive them away, forcing them to leave their territory and live alone outside.

Garos had an older dragon brother, who had been driven away two years ago. Whether he was alive or dead now was unknown.

As for himself, Garos had long expected this day to come. He just had not expected it to arrive so soon.

This fantasy world was far from safe. Supernatural creatures were not limited to Dragonkin, nor was magic exclusive to them. Moreover, because every part of a dragon's body was prime material, they were especially coveted.

Adult Dragonkin were all right. They possessed great power and could protect themselves.

But Hatchling Dragons?

Compared to humans, Hatchling Dragons were like toddlers who had only barely learned to stand and still staggered when walking. For a Hatchling Dragon alone outside without protection, danger lurked everywhere, and survival was exceedingly difficult.

Before reaching adulthood, the mortality rate among Evil Dragon offspring was extremely high.

Garos found it utterly unreasonable to drive offspring away during the Hatchling Stage and force them to live alone. No wonder the Dragon Race was gradually declining.

Besides.

He figured that it was likely the harsh struggle for survival in their youth that shaped Evil Dragons into violent and cruel creatures after they matured.

"When I was your age, my claws and fangs were not as sharp as yours."

The Iron Dragon Mother continued, "My scales were not as sturdy as yours either, but I had already left my mother's protection and acquired a territory of my own."

When she mentioned her territory, her eyes flickered, and her tone grew slightly uncertain.

That so-called "territory" was actually just a stinking ditch.

The Iron Dragon Mother's face was covered in fine steel-like scales, and her skin was thick. Her expression remained unchanged.

Her enormous body leaned back slightly as she said, "Garos, it is time for you to leave this place and begin your own life."

"Before Dawn tomorrow, your scales should no longer be stained by the dust of this place."

Sure enough, she wants to drive me away.

What a damned custom. Just because you got drenched in the rain doesn't mean you should tear everyone else's umbrellas apart too, Dragon Mother!

Hearing the Iron Dragon Mother's words, Garos's heart sank.

At the same time, two barely restrained snickers came from behind him.

The Red Dragon Sister and the Iron Dragon Brother, who had just arrived, were both five-year-old Dragonlings. They looked at Garos with gloating eyes, their tails swishing behind them as they visibly delighted in his misfortune.

Driven by their Evil Dragon instincts, they often provoked Garos, only to be beaten up by him time and again.

They both dearly wished for Garos to be driven away.

Two idiots. Haven't they realized that what I am now is what they'll be in a year?

Garos shook his head slightly, too lazy to argue with fools.

These two Dragonlings only cared about what was in front of them and had not considered the future at all.

Garos raised his lowered head, looked toward the Iron Dragon Mother, and said, "Mother, I hope to remain in your territory for a while longer. I am not prepared yet."

The Iron Dragon Mother unfolded half a wing, and its shadow immediately swallowed half the nest.

She refused without hesitation. "No."

Garos had anticipated this situation, so he sighed and said, "I had intended to trade treasure in exchange for food and protection. Since Mother's decision is so firm, then forget it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Garos shook his head and turned as if preparing to leave.

Treasure?

The Iron Dragon Mother's pupils immediately narrowed into slits.

"My dear Garos, wait!"

No normal dragon could refuse treasure.

Garos knew this well—treasure was practically the weakness of every dragon, and the Iron Dragon Mother was no exception.

She was old-fashioned and traditional, believing that six-year-old Hatchling Dragons should live independently. But everything had exceptions. The Iron Dragon Mother was also a standard pragmatist. If Garos could bring her treasure, she did not mind continuing to take in this offspring.

Her hard expression softened considerably.

The Iron Dragon Mother asked pleasantly, "Where did you get treasure, and how much are you willing to offer in exchange for food and protection?"

Garos tucked his limbs together and sat on the ground, looking up at the enormous Iron Dragon as he said unhurriedly, "I have a keen perception for minerals, especially precious metal ores. I can sense them quite clearly."

"I can guarantee that I will give you at least three pieces of precious metal ore weighing more than ten jin each month."

"And you will need to provide me with protection, as well as high-quality fresh meat as usual."

The fresh meat the Iron Dragon Mother could provide consisted of high-level magical beasts, which Garos could not obtain on his own at his current strength.

Garos also desperately needed high-quality fresh meat. His Adaptive Evolution talent did not create something from nothing; it required sufficient energy replenishment during evolution.

Hearing Garos's words, the Iron Dragon Mother nodded slightly.

Reasonable.

Iron Dragons possessed a talent for sensing metal minerals, though this talent rarely appeared in Hatchling Dragons.

"You are willing to mine?"

Dragonkin were naturally arrogant. They generally disdained to personally do work like mining, which was meant for vassals and slaves.

When treasure was mentioned, the Iron Dragon Mother adopted a calculating expression and said, "If you wish to requisition my vassals to mine for you, you must pay extra. The exact amount will be discussed based on the level of the vassals you wish to requisition."

Level referred to biological level.

It was the most direct reference for distinguishing an individual's strength. For example, Garos's biological level was currently 7. Among Hatchling Dragons of the same age, he was evenly matched with Gold Dragons and even surpassed ordinary Gold Dragons.

Whether Red Dragons or Iron Dragons, under normal circumstances, were weaker than Gold Dragons at the same age.

As for White Dragons among the Chromatic Dragons, their average biological level at six years old was only around level 3.

"No need. I have two Mine Slaves I can command, and with me personally urging them on, their mining efficiency should be fairly high."

Garos rejected the Iron Dragon Mother's proposal.

Two Mine Slaves? The Red Dragon Sister and Iron Dragon Brother revealed startled expressions.

"When did Garos get two Mine Slaves?"

The Red Dragon Sister lowered her voice and asked the Iron Dragon Brother beside her.

"I don't know either."

The Iron Dragon Brother shook his head, his gaze clear and innocent.

The two Dragonlings looked at each other, racking their brains but unable to figure out where Garos had found two Mine Slaves.