Chapter 14: The Arrival of the Black Dragon

A young elf girl, appearing to be around thirteen or fourteen in human years, emerged with the sound.

She was adorned in a magnificent and delicate court gown, clearly the masterpiece of a skilled artisan.

Her bodice, intricately embroidered with golden and silver threads in exquisite patterns, fit snugly. Tiny gemstones adorned its edges.

The skirt flowed wide and ethereal, layers of light gauze and silk creating a dreamlike, layered effect.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, shimmering with a faint silvery luster. Her eyes, clear and profound, now sparkled with innocence and delight.

Her face was as delicate as a porcelain doll, her skin so fair it seemed almost translucent, with a natural blush dusting her cheeks.

She truly looked like a fairy tale princess stepping into the real world.

The young elf was brimming with excitement, despite having just accidentally made a small blunder that blew up the entire appraisal institute.

A Black Dragon!

A Black Dragon on the verge of adulthood!

Rumor had it, this was the only Black Dragon left among the existing Dragon Race—and a female one at that!

The elf girl clenched her tiny fists, her heart pounding with such exhilaration it threatened to burst from her chest.

The Dragon Race was, by universal consensus, the most formidable fantasy species alive.

Since the age of the gods, they had been the coveted mounts and battle companions of all races!

Powerful, reliable, handsome, and awe-inspiring!

All the advantages of other mounts, the Dragon Race possessed. And any advantages other mounts lacked, the Dragon Race also had!

As former overlords who once reigned supreme over the world, the Dragon Race held a lofty status and profound influence throughout history.

One might not aspire to be a knight or a mage, but no one could ever refuse the chance to become a Dragon Knight!

Imagine standing atop the tall, majestic back of a dragon, the endless sky stretching level with you, while the beings on the ground could only gaze up at your form. Such immense power could force an entire nation to bow before you.

A dragon was this world’s most luxurious, most dashing, and most powerful military sports car!

Yet, the number of people who yearned to become Dragon Knights was enough to fill the seas around Dragon Island. Only heroes and champions, whose names echoed through history, had ever achieved such a feat.

Especially after the establishment of the World United Council, where the Dragon Race, as one of the founding members, held a high position and implemented Dragon Protection Laws, the possibility of becoming a Dragon Knight plummeted even further.

In the past, although the Dragon Race was powerful and aloof, they always enjoyed wandering—or rather, traveling extensively to broaden their horizons.

Thus, lucky individuals or powerful figures would sometimes, through sheer fortune or strength, encounter dragons. They might forge bonds, or perhaps trick them, or even use unconventional methods to coerce dragons into signing contracts.

However, after the Council was formed, the Old Patriarch not only imposed behavioral restrictions and tracked the movements of all Dragon Race members, but also commanded them not to reveal their dragon features when active on the continent unless absolutely necessary, insisting they maintain human forms.

He also strictly forbade all races from illegally contracting with dragons. If a true bond was formed with a dragon, one had to journey to Dragon Island to undergo trials and sign an equal contract under the Old Patriarch’s witness.

Otherwise, it would violate the Council’s laws, granting the Dragon Race the right to enact the severest retribution against that individual, and all Council members would be obligated to cooperate without hindrance.

Simultaneously, each dragon was imbued with a restriction to prevent forced contracts. If this restriction were ever broken, the Dragon Race would instantly sense it.

No single force on the continent could contend with the Dragon Race, especially when they held both righteousness and legality.

Consequently, dragons active on the continent mingled within the human populace. A dragon could stand right before you, and without them deliberately revealing themselves, you might never know their true nature.

Opportunities to interact with dragons dwindled, and most methods of tricking or coercing dragons became unusable. Not to mention the added requirement of undergoing trials on Dragon Island.

Dragon Knights became a legend. But precisely because they became a legend, they ignited an even greater yearning in people’s hearts.

And now, a Black Dragon had appeared!

Standing brazenly before her!

The only Black Dragon among the Dragon Race! A super limited edition supercar, only one in the entire world!

The elf girl had yet to realize the profound impact her mistake had on this Black Dragon maiden.

Her mind was currently consumed with the singular thought: ‘I must have it.’

Although the other party seemed to have suffered losses due to her blunder, she believed it didn’t matter!

Because she was wealthy! Her family was incredibly rich and exceedingly powerful!

She would step forward, demonstrating her courage to admit her mistakes, offering compensation far exceeding the losses while the dragon was still enraged. Then, amidst the dragon’s astonishment and surprise, she would achieve reconciliation, exchange contact information, and forge a deep bond, ultimately becoming an Elven Dragon Knight.

This was how all heroic sagas were written.

The elf girl had no intention of achieving it overnight. She knew that acquiring this super-limited dragon would require time and patience.

Therefore, she had already prepared to spend… a thousand years!

Elves, after all, had an abundance of time!

Her mother and the Old Patriarch had also been friends for thousands of years. When the time came, a simple conversation, with mutual willingness, would likely make the Old Patriarch’s trials a mere formality.

The elf girl had already envisioned the magnificent scene: herself and the Black Dragon standing proudly above the azure sky, looking down upon all living beings, unleashing world-ending magic, and making all beings bow before them.

Ahahahahahahaha!

Amira’s mood at this moment was the polar opposite of the elf girl’s. Violating her ladylike image, she shrieked, “Lola! Why are you here?! I had someone send you to the palace! The Queen won’t let you off!”

“Hahaha, that was the original plan.” After making her mistake, Lola indeed stayed put, honestly awaiting punishment. However, the unusual sight of everyone evacuating the appraisal institute, the elf attendant’s eager attempts to send her away, and Amira’s prolonged absence—Amira who should have been knocking her on the head by now.

These strange phenomena piqued Lola’s curiosity. Under her threats and inducements, the attendant let slip that a Black Dragon maiden was in this very room.

Four words flashed through Lola’s mind: ‘Plans have changed.’

Even if she had to endure ten times the punishment later, this opportunity to connect with a Black Dragon absolutely could not be missed.

And so, she had slipped over.

“It’s alright, Auntie Amira! A noble elf must be brave enough to admit their mistakes and rectify them!”

Theresia smiled, though her expression didn’t quite reach her eyes, and asked, “So, that was your doing?”

Theodore gasped, then whispered, “Theresia, perhaps we should return to Dragon Island first and ask the Patriarch if he has a backup? We can then approach the elves, and with a two-pronged approach, we might find the Silent Crystal and an alternative solution faster.”

Amira nodded frantically, pulling a teleportation scroll from her bosom. “This is a teleportation scroll, it’ll take you directly back to the appraisal institute. Go quickly and come back soon, alright?”

Theresia silently glanced at Theodore, then at the teleportation scroll, acknowledging the logic in their words.

Just as she was about to reach for the scroll, a small hand blocked her way, while the other hand flung the scroll out the window.

Lola was desperate. If she missed this chance, failing to leave a deep impression on the Black Dragon maiden, she wouldn’t know when they’d meet again.

She was certain that the moment the Black Dragon maiden left, Amira would beat her backside black and blue while sending her back to the palace.

And that man… he was a rival! An enemy!

“No, how can we let the victim and unrelated parties handle the damages?! Besides, it’s just a small matter, no need for such trouble. You can take it out on me!”

A small matter? A vein throbbed on Theresia’s forehead. It seemed Amira had also considered it a small matter earlier. These elves, heheh, sooner or later, she would brand each and every one of them with a succubus’s mark!

Theodore covered his face. ‘No, are elves really this bold?’

“While I don’t have the Silent Crystal at the moment, it’s fine. Just give me three hundred years. Would you like to visit my home? I have lots of delicious food…”

Three hundred years.

Theresia sighed inwardly, then asked warmly, “You said I can take it out on you?”

Lola nodded with certainty, spreading her arms as she declared, “Yes! Vent all your fury on me! I will bear it, I will take responsibility, and afterwards, we shall…”

The black mist emanating from Theresia sent shivers down Theodore’s spine. “Theresia, I think we should perhaps calm down a bit.”

Amira’s head bobbed like a beckoning cat figurine. “Exactly, she’s still a child, and she’s the Elf Queen’s…”

“Die!”

However, before Amira could reveal Lola’s identity, Theresia instantly transformed into her dragon form, unleashing a Black Dragon’s Roar—a pure black breath attack that engulfed Lola.

The pitch-black energy shockwave once again shattered the recently restored Appraisal Institute before piercing straight through the World Tree.

As for Lola, the primary target of the Black Dragon’s breath, she had already shot into the sky, only able to shout back through a hastily amplified magical voice, “I’ll be back!”

This single dragon breath and Lola’s loud, clear voice drew the attention of every creature on this entire level of the World Tree.

“Cough, cough.”

At this moment, the Elf Queen, who was enjoying afternoon tea in the Elven Palace, choked on her drink due to the sudden commotion. She looked, bewildered, at the black energy pillar and the unmistakable cry of her daughter.

‘What happened?’

****