Joining

"You rest first. Leave the rest to me."

After saying that, Ferrum left the Thunderclap Dragon's nest.

Moqi stood outside, looking dejected. Their food-snatching plan had succeeded, but none of them had expected Ladon to suddenly fly into a rage, abandon the food, and chase them out, leaving In Tas badly wounded.

"What do we do next?"

Moqi asked, "There are still ten days until the Food-Sharing Period ends. Otherwise, why don't we just wait for a while?"

"In Tas is badly hurt. I don't want him to go hungry while he's recovering."

Ferrum shook his head and raised his claw toes before his eyes, studying them for a while. "Fighting Ladon felt good. It hurt, but the claw toes that grow back will be sharper. I have that feeling."

"So we're still going to snatch food again in a couple of days?"

Moqi shook his head. He was not afraid, exactly, but said, "But there are only the two of us left now. Ferrum, you know me—I won't be much help."

"I've already thought it through. Go from Bay Lake now. Follow this road all the way until you find Afterglow. Tell her about the food-snatching and ask whether she wants to join us."

Ferrum said, "As for me, I'll make a trip to the Shattered Stone Grounds and drag Blackscar out. A Nickel Dragon may not be much use, but with hyena habits, dragging food should be its specialty."

"Alright."

Moqi did not hesitate and set off at once. Whatever Ferrum said, he obeyed. To him, Ferrum was the greatest; as long as Ferrum did not ask to borrow gold coins, nothing else was a problem.

The two Chrome Dragons went their separate ways. Ferrum left by another route, circling Eaglebeak Cliff and passing his own nest. Before he reached the Shattered Stone Grounds, he suddenly spotted an unexpected figure.

Kelaili Belivy.

The Cobalt Dragon lay atop a huge rock, gazing into the distance. Hearing movement behind him, he turned and glanced back.

"Come, come."

Kelaili's voice was slow and drawn out. He swished his tail in invitation. "I was waiting for you here. Didn't expect there'd be such a lively show to watch."

Ferrum found it strange, but did not ask. He squeezed onto the rock and watched with Kelaili.

They stood high on the side of Eaglebeak Cliff. Beyond the rock below lay an extended gentle slope, offering a broad view. With dragon eyesight, they could even see beyond the valley.

Outside Ochre Valley, a cargo convoy had just arrived. More than a hundred Gray Dwarf laborers pushed carts and drove pack animals, crowding the narrow passage at the valley entrance as they underwent inspection by the Gnoll garrison.

Then, for some unknown reason, one of the pack animals was startled. Dragging its cart behind it, it began charging wildly through the rear of the convoy.

The laborers erupted into chaos, scrambling to soothe the animal and gather the fallen goods. Curses, cries of alarm, and beastly roars rose in a noisy jumble along the mountainside.

The young dragons knew very little of the world outside. Kelaili watched with great interest as the Gray Dwarves and Gnolls ran themselves ragged in a flurry of panic.

Ferrum had originally swept his gaze over them with indifference, but as he watched, his eyes gradually narrowed.

With the situation below in such chaos, one group of dwarves did not protect the cargo. Instead, they hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads, silently edging toward the checkpoint. On the other side, the Gray Dwarves waiting to receive the goods were also stirring restlessly.

"Something's not right."

Ferrum said, "Wait. They're too low down—I can't see clearly."

"What isn't right? Hey? Why are you climbing onto me? Get down! Don't think that just because you beat me, you can..."

Kelaili hurriedly began to wriggle his body.

"When I worked at the lumberyard, I saw that after Gray Dwarves transported timber to the valley entrance, they had to hand it over to the garrison. Lineage rules: Ochre Valley strictly forbids contact with the outside world. Whether Gray Dwarf or Kobold, none may ever leave the valley for their entire lives. Right?"

Ferrum said.

His voice was grave. Kelaili froze at the words and forgot to struggle. "I don't know. But so what?"

"They switched people amid the chaos."

Ferrum raised his head to indicate the scene. "Several dwarves from Ochre Valley ran out, while some of the Gray Dwarves delivering goods switched in."

Kelaili's expression shifted slightly. He was clever and deeply wary of Short-lived Species. Hearing Ferrum's words, he instinctively propped himself up on his forelimbs and lifted his head to observe more closely, allowing Ferrum to stand even higher.

"Looks like the Gnolls aren't as capable as we thought. They can't even detect people being smuggled across." Kelaili's voice sank.

"I've been to the Gnoll camp. They aren't lowly wretches guarding a checkpoint, but a garrison—an elite one, no less."

Ferrum pondered for a moment. "We can see the dwarves exchanging places even from here. How could it have happened right under their noses without them noticing?"

"You mean they allowed it? Were they bought off?" Kelaili asked.

"I don't know how much it would cost to buy off a garrison, but the Gray Dwarves in Ochre Valley probably can't afford that price."

Ferrum said, "This isn't as simple as smuggling people out."

"A few Gray Dwarf laborers aren't worth many gold coins. The reason they bought off the garrison was because the Gray Dwarves carried intelligence about Ochre Valley, right?"

After thinking for a while, Kelaili murmured, "Someone wants to know our intelligence. Judging by how smoothly those fellows worked together, this probably isn't their first time. We just don't know whether the ones behind it are the great clans of the Lost Wilderness, or external enemies—the Tagoma Kingdom or the Bloodridge Tribes."

Both nodded without prior agreement. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, requiring almost no explanations. With only a few deductions between them, they had already sketched the rough outline of the matter.

"I need to tell the Nurturer about this," Ferrum said.

"Telling the Nurturer is right, but honestly, I've wanted to turn around and bite you this entire time. I just can't because of my anatomy. So could you get off me now?"

Kelaili was a little annoyed.

"Alright."

Ferrum sprang down lightly. The Cobalt Dragon's back was broad, and it had been a fine place to stand and enjoy the view.

He casually patted Kelaili's shoulder blade to show that he should not mind, then asked curiously, "I heard the Cobalt Dragons are observing collective silence. Why has an Overlord like you come out instead? You said you were waiting for me. Did you have something to say?"

"I was lying down for half a year before this. I've been starving lately, and I really couldn't keep silent any longer."

Kelaili spoke with a hint of embarrassment. "I heard you snatched some meat from the gathering grounds at noon, so I came to ask whether there was any I could eat."

"You didn't contribute, and we aren't Cobalt Dragons. Of course we won't just give you a share for nothing."

Ferrum said bluntly. Then he sized Kelaili up for a while. Wanting to bring him into their group, he asked,

"There's been a rumor lately that all Dragon Hatchlings should simply submit to Ladon and let him distribute all the food. You're the Cobalt-Blue Overlord. What do you think?"

"I agree."

Kelaili answered in a muffled voice, "Because I was the one who proposed it."

"Looks like you really are starving."

Ferrum was somewhat helpless. "We're going to the gathering grounds to snatch food again tomorrow. If you truly want meat, join us. How about it?"

"Mm..."

Kelaili pondered for a while. "Could give it a try."