Kobold's Loyalty

After finalizing the cooperation matters with the Harpies and Kobolds, Jose returned to the Bloodtooth Nest. He similarly instructed two Kobold familiars to liaise with the Harpies before heading back to his residence. He continued to lounge around, while simultaneously reviewing the memories of his two new familiars.

Reviewing familiar memories was like flipping through a book; the speed was up to him, but going too fast could lead to overlooking details.

The Harpy familiar's memories contained her magical knowledge, which required careful reading. The Boarman merchant's memories, however, could be reviewed more quickly.

Through the memories of the Boarman merchant, Hulk, Jose learned some information about the Seashell Company.

The Seashell Company's headquarters was located in a Trade City-State in the central part of the continent. It was once a powerful merchant guild. The reason it was "once" was because the powerful figure behind them had fallen.

Given the merchant caravan leader's superb skills, the Seashell Company wasn't crushed by its competitors, but it inevitably declined to the point where it could no longer maintain its substantial guard force.

The merchant caravan leader came up with a plan: to cede some benefits and develop local indigenous tribes as subordinates, using the strength of these indigenous tribes to escort their commercial activities. The Boarman, Hulk, became a merchant under the Seashell Company in this context.

The Blackwater Merchant Guild, on the other hand, was one of the gnolls that eagerly pounced after the Seashell Company's powerful backer fell.

The Red Dragon rested its chin, adorned with three small horns, on the ground, murmuring absently, "A merchant guild that has lost its backing... perhaps I can cooperate with them through Hulk. It just so happens that the iron ingots smelted by the Kobolds are piling up in the warehouse."

Jose mentioned the sale of iron ingots to the Boarman merchant, who readily agreed.

In any country, iron was an important strategic reserve resource. Iron was needed to forge farming tools, armor, and weapons, and it was essential for many aspects of daily life.

Precisely because of the importance of iron resources, national powers enacted laws to restrict the mining and trading of iron ore, making freely circulating iron resources increasingly precious.

The iron ingots mined and smelted by the Kobolds were small and easy to transport. Whether sold to tribes on the grasslands lacking iron tools or to merchant guilds, it was a guaranteed profitable business.

However, the iron ingot trade would have to wait until the Boarman returned to the grasslands and organized personnel to come and acquire them.

As he was lying down, Jose felt a stir in his heart. Looking, he saw that it was his muscular Kobold familiar requesting a mind link. This was the benefit of the Familiar Contract; dragons could freely connect to their familiars' minds, but familiars needed to request it.

"What is it?"

"Master, I have already negotiated with four Kobold tribes, and they are willing to submit. I am currently negotiating with the fifth. They have proposed a condition that I dared not agree to on my own."

"Which tribes? And what condition did they propose?"

"It's the GrayScale Tribe. They want to ally with the Bloodtooth to deal with the Moss Hide Gnolls."

Jose's thoughts raced in his mind.

The GrayScale Tribe's territory bordered the Moss Hide Gnolls, and they were frequently raided. This request was reasonable. Moreover, one could not sleep soundly with an enemy nearby; conquering the Moss Hide Gnolls was only a matter of time.

"Agree to the GrayScale's condition. Also, bring the leaders of all the submitting tribes to see me."

"Yes!"

The next day at noon, Sorda led a group of Kobolds to Jose's lair, taking the lead in kneeling before the reclining Red Dragon.

Resting his head on his front claws, Jose casually scanned the kneeling Kobolds. There were about thirty of them.

Of course, there were only five tribal chieftains; the rest were their attendants and guards.

"You may rise."

The Kobolds stood up. Sorda pointed to a Kobold chieftain beside him, "Master, this is..."

Jose waved his claw, interrupting Sorda's introduction, and stood up. Even without releasing his Dragon Might, his colossal, mountain-like Red Dragon body and well-defined, powerful muscles alone exerted immense pressure on the Kobolds.

"Until you make your due contributions, I have no interest in knowing your names," his voice was lazy, like a yawn upon waking, showing no regard for the Kobold chieftains, as if they were mere weeds by the roadside.

However, the Kobold chieftains did not find this inappropriate; rather, they felt it was natural.

This was precisely the demeanor a True Dragon should have towards lesser Dragonkin!

"I am different from most dragons. Here, your status is not determined solely by your strength, but by how much you contribute to me. And your contributions will also determine the benefits you receive from me."

Jose raised a dragon claw, palm facing upwards, and slowly drew a horizontal line in front of him: "The Bloodtooth Tribe offered me a dwelling I favor and gained my favor. And you, you newcomers, what can you offer me?"

"Loyalty! Gold! Great True Dragon!" A lean Kobold, who felt even stronger than Sorda, raised his head, his eyes shining as he looked up at Jose. "The Bloodclaw Clan wishes to offer its loyalty and treasures!"

As he spoke, he confidently dragged a small wooden box from behind him and opened the lid, revealing gold coins and irregular small gold nuggets inside.

"Respected True Dragon, this is the accumulated wealth of the Bloodclaw Clan over the years. We also recently discovered a gold mine. The Bloodclaw Clan wishes to offer all of this in exchange for the honor of becoming a Servant of the Dragon!"

Upon hearing about the gold mine, everyone, including Jose, was startled.

"I didn't expect there to be a gold mine in this remote place."

Jose grabbed a handful of gold from the box. The gold slipped through his fingers and fell back into the wooden box, hitting the coins with a pleasant clinking sound.

"Very good, very good."

The Kobold was not lying; it was indeed newly mined gold. The dragon's nose could even smell the lingering scent of fresh earth in the gold.

"What is your name?"

"Reporting, Master, my name is Hasa Bloodclaw."

"Hasa Bloodclaw, I will remember you," Jose said, closing the box and scanning the other Kobolds. "The Bloodclaw Clan has made a contribution by offering the gold mine and shall receive the same treatment as the Bloodtooth Clan. Are there any others?"

"The GrayScale Tribe is willing to offer its loyalty! A copper ore vein!"

"The Whitestripe Clan..."

"..."

The remaining tribes had nothing particularly noteworthy to offer, and Jose's interest waned.

"From now on, all tribes will send all their young cubs to the Bloodtooth Mines for unified upbringing. Also, each tribe will select half of their young warriors to come to the Bloodtooth Mines for unified training..."

"I appoint Sorda Bloodtooth as the Kobold High Chieftain, responsible for commanding all Kobold clans."

Sorda was overjoyed and looked up abruptly. "Thank you for your trust, master. Sorda will surely not fail your expectations."

Jose nodded. To prevent power from becoming too concentrated and unchecked, he needed to select a deputy. He looked towards Hasa, the most pleasing among the Kobold chieftains.

"I appoint Hasa as the Deputy High Chieftain to assist the High Chieftain."

Hasa knelt on one knee on the ground, placing a hand over his heart. "Bloodclaw is willing to expand the territory for the master alongside the High Chieftain."

"I look forward to your performance."

As he spoke, Jose took out five scales and transformed five chieftains into familiars.

In reality, among the chieftains' retinues, there were not a few with initial-level strength, but Jose only chose five chieftains.

On one hand, Familiar Contracts couldn't be given out carelessly, otherwise, they would lose their motivational effect. On the other hand, Jose was now somewhat disdainful of these initial-level warriors.

With everything concluded, everyone walked outside.

Suddenly, Jose felt like he was being watched. He looked up abruptly and saw someone in the crowd of Kobolds walking out, hastily turning their head back.

But he wasn't the only Kobold looking back in a panic; among them were also the contracted familiar chieftains.

It was in the Kobolds' nature to worship and admire True Dragons. Sneaking a glance before parting was also normal.

Am I just being too sensitive...?

Jose lay back down.

In the distance, in a cave overgrown with vines, on a throne woven from thorns and flowers, a tall figure took a sip of the blood-red wine in their cup.

"Little brat~, quite alert, aren't we~."