Luring Harpies

According to the Dragon Heritage, Harpies were not a particularly formidable race. Their civilization was primitive, and they hunted in groups, mainly swooping down from the sky and using their talons to tear open their enemies' scalps.

Such methods were rather beneath notice. With the temperament of an ordinary Five-Colored Evil Dragon, it would have already charged straight for the Harpies' nest.

But Jose would not do that. He might look down on certain incompetent individuals, but he would never underestimate an entire race.

In this bizarre fantasy world, even mindless beasts possessed their own unique survival instincts. Harpies, moreover, were intelligent creatures that lived in groups. Their race occasionally produced warlocks capable of wielding lightning and storms, though the odds were low—lower even than the chance of Kobolds producing Dragon Vein Warlocks.

Besides that, he had another concern.

During the reign of the Red Nest Matriarch, there had been no wild monsters within the Karakoram Mountains. Wild monsters had either been killed or pledged themselves to the Red Nest. Since the Harpies' nest lay at the edge of the Karakoram Mountains, they might have migrated there later, or they might be survivors who had escaped from the Red Nest.

If it was the latter, then he had to be cautious.

Thanks to their racial advantage in flight, Harpies had always served as scouts in the Red Nest. Scouts received far better treatment than cannon-fodder races such as Kobolds and Gnolls, and they were often given formal combat training. Those with the talent to become professionals could even receive professional training.

If his memory was correct, the Harpy Chieftain under the Red Nest Matriarch had been a Master Mage.

To avoid running headlong into an iron wall, Jose decided to gather intelligence first. At the very least, he needed to learn the enemy's numbers and the leader's strength before deciding whether to conquer them, persuade them, or run away.

He came to a lush valley and hid within the dense forest to wait patiently. The valley was some distance from the Harpies' nest, but it was still within their range of activity.

Time passed bit by bit, and dawn arrived.

It was nearly noon when his patience finally paid off. Two Harpies appeared in the sky overhead.

A standard hunting pair.

According to Harpy hunting habits, they usually searched for prey in pairs. If they discovered large prey that the two of them could not handle, one would return to summon their companions while the other continued tracking it. If the two could handle it, they attacked on the spot.

To Jose, however, two Harpies were simply delivered prey.

Not just two. If there were no particularly powerful Harpies among them, then with those chicken claws of theirs, even a hundred attacking together would not be able to break Jose's scales.

"Ooh ooh ooh~!"

Jose imitated the cry of an ape, and apes were on the Harpies' menu.

Sure enough, the two Harpies stopped flying and descended toward the valley, but they halted halfway down.

Had they discovered him?

No, probably not.

Through layers of overlapping canopy, he watched the two Harpies hovering with beating wings. They turned their little heads as they surveyed the forest below, seemingly searching for the location of their "prey."

Jose hesitated over whether to make another sound to lure them in.

The two Harpies were neither too close nor too far away. If he called out, there was a chance they would discover him. Although his flight speed was much greater, if they scattered and fled, they could still escape the valley. If their distant companions saw them, it would alert the enemy.

But if he did not lure them further, the Harpies might lack the motivation to search and abandon their "prey," making his half-day of effort pointless.

In the end, Jose chose caution. At worst, he could wait for another opportunity.

The two Harpies could not resist the temptation of food and split apart, approaching the forest to search carefully.

One Harpy skimmed over the forest and suddenly caught sight of a flash of dazzling red among the trees. Before she could react, an overwhelming pressure descended upon her.

Dragon Might!

Like Dragon Breath, Dragon Might was one of a dragon's signature abilities. This Invisible Force Field, born from an innate difference in rank, could exert tremendous pressure on lower races, making them panic like mice before cats and lose the courage to fight.

Affected by the Dragon Might, the Harpy flapped her wings wildly as though drowning. Her body fell uncontrollably toward the forest, and Jose seized her in one hand during her descent.

The other Harpy saw a Red Dragon burst from the woods and fled in terror, but the faster-flying Red Dragon caught up to her. She was reduced to a lump of charred flesh by Dragon Flame.

Jose clutched the trembling captive, descended into the valley, and tossed the shivering Harpy onto the ground.

By human standards of beauty, if Harpies had fairer, smoother skin, they might have been rather appealing beastfolk girls. Unfortunately, their bodies were covered in disgusting spots and downy fuzz, and when they opened their mouths, rows of sharp teeth ruined even the beauty of their elfin melon-seed faces.

"Emmm... ugly thing, tell me your name!"

"Forget it. I have no interest in your name. Let's get straight to the point. Are you from the Red Nest? How many members does your tribe have? What is your leader called? How strong is she? What profession does she have? Hm? Why aren't you answering? Do you want to try my methods?"

The string of questions left the Harpy bewildered. Her mind went blank, and she even forgot to tremble.

Jose's expression turned increasingly unfriendly. He was just about to try the "Red Dragon Interrogation Three-Step" he had learned from the Dragon Heritage on the captive.

Step one: beat them up.

Step two: beat them half to death.

Step three: beat them until they croak. Next.

It seemed he did not have a next one. Jose felt a little awkward and flicked the Harpy on the forehead.

"Ah!" She let out a miserable scream.

A dragon's strength was immense. A large bump swelled on the Harpy's forehead, jolting her awake from her shock.

"Lowly bug, answer my question. Are you from the Red Nest?"

Jose's sulfur-scented breath washed over her face, but the Harpy did not dare dodge. She closed her eyes and trembled. "Respected true dragon, I belong to the Third Legion under Matriarch..."

"I'm not interested in your designation," Jose interrupted the captive's introduction directly. "Who you served before cannot save you now. Your only path to survival is answering my questions. If I'm in a good mood, I might even spare your life."

"Next question. How many members do you have?"

"Sixty-four."

"Very good. Let's continue. Your leader..."

Through the interrogation, Jose learned that this group of Harpies had a rather complicated makeup. Some had come from the Red Nest, while others were wandering Harpies who had joined later.

Their leader, the Intermediate Stage Mage Luna Bloodfeather, was Dragonkin who had lost her master.

Learning that the Harpy Chieftain was Dragonkin, Jose frowned slightly. An Intermediate Stage Mage would make a rather fine familiar, but unfortunately, a Familiar Contract could only be signed once.

No!

"Has your leader signed a Familiar Contract?"

"Th-that... I don't know."

Jose did not make things difficult for the female captive. It was normal for subordinates not to know their leader's private affairs.

He decided to go take a look himself. If she was merely Dragonkin tainted by a dragon's aura, then all would be well.

But if she was not...