Kobold Loyalty

After settling the matters of cooperation between the Harpies and the Kobolds, Jose returned to the Bloodtooth Nest. He likewise instructed his two Kobold familiars to liaise with the Harpies, then returned to his dwelling, continued lying in his nest, and browsed through the memories of his two newly acquired familiars.

Reviewing a familiar's memories was like flipping through a book. He could go as fast or slow as he pleased, but moving too quickly made it easy to overlook certain details.

The Harpy familiar's memories contained the magical knowledge she had learned and required careful study. The Boarman merchant's memories 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 center of the continent. It had once been a powerful merchant company. The reason it was said to be "once" powerful was because the powerhouse behind it had fallen.

Thanks to the superb skill of the company's leader, the Seashell Company had not been crushed by its competitors. Still, it had inevitably declined to the point where it could no longer maintain its large armed escort force.

The company's leader came up with a solution: give up a portion of its profits to develop native grassland affiliates, borrowing the strength of the grassland natives to safeguard its business activities. It was against this backdrop that the Boarman, Hulk, became a merchant under the Seashell Company.

The Blackwater Merchant Guild, meanwhile, was one of the wolves that had eagerly pounced after the Seashell Company's powerhouse fell.

The Red Dragon rested his three-horned chin on the ground and muttered absentmindedly, "A merchant company that has lost its backing... Perhaps I can cooperate with Hulk. The iron ingots smelted by the Kobolds are just piling up in the warehouse."

Jose mentioned selling iron ingots to the Boarman merchant, and the latter readily agreed.

In any nation, iron was an important strategic resource. Iron was needed to make farming tools, armor, weapons, and many other things in daily life.

Precisely because iron was so important, national powers had enacted laws restricting the mining and trade of iron ore. Freely circulating iron resources had become increasingly valuable.

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

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

As Jose lay there, his heart stirred. Upon checking, he found that the Muscle-Bound Kobold familiar was requesting a mental connection. That was one of the benefits of the Familiar Contract: a dragon could connect to a familiar's mind at will, while a familiar had to make a request.

"What is it?"

"Master, I have reached an agreement with four Kobold tribes. They are willing to submit. We are currently negotiating with the fifth, but they have made a condition that I do not dare agree to on my own."

"What tribe? What condition?"

"It is the GrayScale Tribe. They want to join Bloodtooth in dealing with the Moss Hide Gnolls."

Thoughts raced through Jose's mind.

The GrayScale Tribe's territory bordered that of the Moss Hide Gnolls and was frequently raided. Their request was perfectly reasonable. Besides, how could one allow others to sleep beside one's bed? Conquering the Moss Hide Gnolls was only a matter of time.

"Agree to GrayScale's condition. Also, bring the leaders of every tribe that submits to see me."

"Yes!"

At noon the next day, Sorda led a group of Kobolds to Jose's lair and took the lead in kneeling before the Red Dragon lying on the ground.

With his head resting on his foreclaws, Jose swept his gaze carelessly across the kneeling Kobolds. There were around thirty of them.

Naturally, only five were tribal chieftains. The rest were their attendants and guards.

"Rise."

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

Jose waved a claw, interrupting Sorda's introduction, and rose to his feet. Even without releasing Dragon Might, the Red Dragon's mountain-like body and sharply defined muscles exerted immense pressure on the Kobolds.

"Before you have made the contributions you ought to make, I have no interest in knowing your names." His voice was lazy, like a yawn just after waking. He did not regard the Kobold chieftains at all, as though they were merely weeds by the roadside.

Yet none of the Kobold chieftains found that improper. Instead, they felt it was only natural.

This was exactly how a true dragon should treat Lower Dragonkin!

"I differ from ordinary dragons. Here, status is not determined entirely by your strength, but by how much you contribute to me. And your contributions will determine the benefits you receive from me."

Jose raised a dragon claw, palm upward, and slowly drew a horizontal line before him. "The Bloodtooth Tribe offered me a dwelling I liked and earned my favor. And you? What can you latecomers offer me?"

"Loyalty! Gold! Great true dragon!" A lean Kobold who appeared somewhat stronger than Sorda raised his head. His eyes shone as he looked up at Jose. "The Bloodclaw Clan is willing to offer loyalty and treasure!"

As he spoke, he confidently dragged a small wooden box from behind him, opened its lid, and revealed the gold coins and irregular chunks of gold inside.

"Honored true dragon, this is the wealth accumulated by the Bloodclaw Clan over many years. Not long ago, we also discovered a gold mine. Bloodclaw is willing to offer all of it in exchange for the honor of becoming a Servant of the Dragon!"

At the mention of a gold mine, everyone, including Jose, was startled.

"I never expected a gold mine to exist in such a remote place."

Jose grabbed a handful of gold from the box. It slipped through his claws and fell back into the wooden box, striking the coins with a pleasant tinkling sound.

"Very good. Very good."

The Kobold had not lied. It was indeed newly mined gold. A dragon's nose could even smell the fresh scent of soil still lingering on it.

"What is your name?"

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

"Hasa Bloodclaw, I will remember you." Jose closed the box and swept his gaze over the Kobolds. "The Bloodclaw Clan has rendered merit by offering a gold mine and shall receive the same treatment as the Bloodtooth Clan. Does anyone else have anything?"

"The Gray Scale Clan is willing to offer loyalty! A copper mine vein!"

"The Whitestripe Clan..."

"..."

The remaining tribes had nothing worth offering, and Jose quickly lost interest.

"From now on, all tribes will send all hatchlings to the Bloodtooth Mines for unified upbringing. Also, each tribe will select half of its young warriors to receive unified training at the Bloodtooth Mines..."

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

Sorda was overjoyed and abruptly raised his head. "Thank you for your trust, Master. Sorda will never disappoint your expectations."

Jose nodded. To avoid power becoming too concentrated without anyone to restrain it, he needed to choose a deputy as well. He looked toward Hasa, the most pleasing of the Kobold chieftains.

"I appoint Hasa as deputy to the Great Chieftain, to assist the Great Chieftain."

Hasa knelt on one knee and placed one hand over his heart. "Bloodclaw is willing to join the Great Chieftain in expanding territory for Master."

"I look forward to your performance."

With that, Jose took out five scales and turned the five chieftains into familiars.

In truth, there were quite a few Initial Stage Warriors among the attendants brought by the chieftains, but Jose chose only the five chieftains.

On one hand, Familiar Contracts could not be handed out carelessly, or they would lose their motivating effect. On the other, Jose was beginning to look down on Initial Stage Warriors.

Once everything was over, everyone headed outside.

Suddenly, Jose felt someone watching him. He abruptly raised his head and saw someone among the departing Kobolds turn back in panic.

But he was not the only Kobold who had turned back in alarm. Among them were even the chieftains who had been made familiars.

Worshipping and gazing upon a true dragon was a Kobold's instinct. Sneaking one last look before leaving was normal.

Was I being too sensitive...?

Jose lay down again.

Far away, in a vine-covered cave, a tall figure sitting upon a throne woven from thorns and flowers took a sip of blood-red wine.

"Little brat~, you're quite alert, aren't you~."