Chapter 11: A Dangerous Proposition

“Do you have any suggestions? This is my first time making this, so it might taste a little strange.”

Eileen’s voice pulled Yarlola back to reality. She pinched her own thigh.

[No! Yarlola! You are a Dragon Slayer! Dragons are deceitful creatures! Snap out of it! There must be something wrong with this house!]

“Suggestions for you? What would I get in return?” Yarlola asked.

“You could stay in my room and enjoy three meals I prepare for you, instead of languishing in some dark, sunless dungeon,” Eileen replied.

Just as she suspected! She had thought too highly of Eileen before!

“I have no good suggestions. It’s already perfect,” Yarlola stated.

“Really? It seems to be a matter of proportion, but if I add too much meat…” Eileen pondered how to improve the dish to suit a dragon’s palate.

“What are you talking about?” Yarlola inquired.

“I’m thinking about how to improve it to suit a dragon’s taste. I’d also like to let Lady Faltis try this flavor.”

Faltis? Was Eileen doing all this for that Golden Dragon?

“Oh! That’s right!” Eileen nearly forgot the real matter at hand.

“What now?” Yarlola turned her head, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

“Since we’ve just cooperated so pleasantly, I hope we can continue to work together wonderfully,” Eileen said, smiling sweetly at Yarlola.

A chill ran down Yarlola’s spine. “What kind of cooperation?”

“Tell me everything you know about the Empire’s intelligence, and I can guarantee your safety in the Golden Dragon Hall,” Eileen stated.

“Impossible!” Yarlola slammed her hand on the table. This was different from their earlier playful banter.

“Don’t be so quick to refuse. If you have any wishes, you can tell me. Perhaps I can fulfill them?” Eileen suggested.

“Alright, as long as you kill Faltis, I’ll tell you…” Before Yarlola could finish her sentence, Eileen’s translucent silver tail coiled around her neck.

Faltis was Eileen’s absolute bottom line. She would never tolerate anyone speaking ill of Faltis.

“You have no choice. I’ll ask you one last time: cooperation, or death?”

Yarlola felt as though Eileen had become a completely different person.

She found herself gasping for air, her vision gradually blurring.

“It seems… I overdid it a little.” When Eileen snapped back to her senses, Yarlola had already fallen unconscious.

Her emotions seemed to become incredibly volatile whenever Faltis was mentioned.

Eileen intended to carry Yarlola to the sofa, allowing her to rest before they properly conversed.

However, she discovered a map tucked inside Yarlola’s earlier nun’s habit.

“Oh?”

Eileen quickly spread out the map. If this was a map detailing the Empire, then…

The moment Eileen saw the map, she froze.

She couldn’t explain why, but the map felt incredibly familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

She picked up a pen and unconsciously began to draw and mark on the map.

Yarlola groggily opened her eyes. [‘Did I… pass out?’]

She sat up, noticing that Eileen had thoughtfully covered her with a blanket.

However, Eileen was nowhere to be seen in the room.

Could it be?

She rushed to the door, but as her hand touched the doorknob, a faint layer of frost appeared on her arm.

Yarlola quickly released her grip. She understood clearly that this was a warning.

“Damn it!” Yarlola angrily kicked the door, then had no choice but to return to the sofa.

As she passed the desk, she spotted a map lying on it. “Oh no!”

Yarlola felt a sense of dread. Although it was only a simplified map of the Empire, if it fell into the hands of dragons, the situation could become extremely dire.

But as Yarlola picked up the map, preparing to tear it, she discovered something even more terrifying.

Various locations on the map were annotated, and with incredible detail.

Watchtower: Located on the Empire’s front line, defended by the Elven race. They are highly skilled in night combat, possessing the ability to briefly turn day into night. They number three hundred sixty-seven archers, fifty-three hippogriffs, and thirty elven dragons.

The greatest threats among them are the chimeras, capable of spewing corrosive venom, and the huntresses, highly adept at wars of attrition and possessing immense mobility.

Their leader is a priestess who can wield the Moon Goddess’s power to guide meteors toward enemies.

War Mill: The Empire’s second line of defense, guarded by the Orc race. They possess formidable physiques, excel in close-quarters combat, and are renowned for their ferocity. They number three hundred orc warriors, but their most significant threat lies in their aerial forces.

The Wyvern Corps are a hybrid species of dragons, expelled by pure-blooded dragons. It is precisely for this reason that they seek revenge against the dragon race.

They also command terrifying goblin technology, capable of delivering devastating blows at any moment.

Their leader is a shaman who can use witchcraft to greatly enhance the orcs.

Serene Sea: On the surface, it appears to be a tranquil sea, but beneath lurk the Merfolk. They lie in wait beneath the water for prey to appear, delivering fatal strikes.

Castle:The Empire’s final line of defense, garrisoned by the Human race. The top ten Dragon Slayers currently defend this location. Their weapons are the dwarves’ finest masterpieces, and they are led by the number one Dragon Slayer.

And finally, there is the Empire itself, also known as the Alliance.

It is the holy land for all races except dragons, where their leaders gather. No one knows their true purpose.

This is an absolute secret of the Empire, known to no more than a hundred people.

Due to certain circumstances, she had come to know this secret, which was precisely why she was so panicked.

“Why?” Yarlola was utterly stunned. Such detailed records—where could they have come from?

Although some of the numbers recorded were slightly inaccurate, and the leaders had changed, the overall information was largely correct.

If the dragon race were to learn of this, it would be a catastrophic blow.

Just then, Eileen returned from outside.

“You’re awake?”

Yarlola steeled her heart, immediately tore the map to shreds, and swallowed the pieces.

“That hungry?”

Yarlola was on the verge of madness. Everything that had transpired earlier felt like a cruel trick. Anger, frustration, and indignation surged within her.

She pointed a finger at Eileen’s nose. “Is it fun to constantly toy with others? Is that how you dragons amuse yourselves, isn’t it?”