Chapter 20: Lola’s Ordeal and the Dragon Patriarch’s Grand Scheme

Lola had never imagined there was a hidden room within. When her eyes fell upon the diverse array of disciplinary tools displayed, she swallowed hard, a thick gulp catching in her throat.

Following this, the s*ave merchant considerately leaned in, whispering the detailed uses of each instrument into her ear. He spoke of wooden horses, candles, brain worms, pills, and sensitive enhancement potions, among other things.

The once proud elf now trembled like a startled fledgling.

“Esteemed guest,” the s*ave merchant suggested, his voice smooth, “would you care to personally conduct the training? It deepens their obedience, you see.”

“That sounds rather promising,” the elegant woman replied.

She crossed her long, shapely legs, clad in black silk stockings, and rested her chin in her hand. Her gaze swept over the room full of contraptions, seemingly deliberating which one to choose.

“Elder Sister, I’ve made up my mind! I’ll go with you after all. You’re so beautiful; I’m sure following you will lead to a life of luxury and fine dining!”

Lola, utterly unworldly, practically teleported to embrace the elegant woman’s shoulder. Her large, tear-filled eyes gazed up, threatening to spill over if the woman didn’t agree.

‘A true sign of an adult elf is knowing when to adapt and endure humiliation,’ Lola thought, convinced of her own newfound maturity.

‘What I need now is to bide my time, to lie on brushwood and taste gall, and then to stage a magnificent comeback!’

“Pfft, I actually prefer your defiant look,” the elegant woman chuckled. “Alright, I’ve brought some clothes. Have her change into them. My elves shouldn’t be so disheveled.”

She gestured to the s*ave merchant, who then instructed a few of his subordinates to escort Lola away for a change of attire. Lola, for her part, behaved with unusual docility.

****

Once Lola had departed and the door to the room clicked shut, boisterous laughter erupted from both the purple-haired elegant woman and the s*ave merchant.

A flash of iridescent light shimmered, and the s*ave merchant’s appearance transformed. She now possessed an exquisite beauty, a graceful figure, a noble aura, and the pointed ears characteristic of elves. Her features bore a striking resemblance to Lola’s, perhaps seven-tenths alike.

After her laughter subsided, the purple-haired elegant woman said, a hint of exasperation in her tone, “It truly doesn’t hurt when it’s your own child you’re tormenting, does it? Look how terrified little Lola was.”

The s*ave merchant, who was in fact the Elf Queen, simply offered a radiant smile. “This is but a trial. You know Lola used to tell me every day in the Elf Capital that she wanted to venture out, to be tempered by storms, and reborn in flames. As a responsible mother, I’m merely fulfilling my child’s wish.”

The purple-haired elegant woman let out a bell-like laugh. “They seek natural encounters, yet you? First, you send your child into a pre-arranged horde of magical beasts, then hire people to rob her, knock her unconscious, and then disguise yourself as a s*ave merchant to sell her. A combination attack every three days! Is she adopted?”

The Elf Queen chuckled. “Casually blowing up the Appraisal Institute, provoking the enraged Theresia, causing the institute to be damaged a second time, tearing a massive hole in the World Tree, inciting panic among the common folk on the first level, and adding an astronomical amount of work to her mother’s plate.”

“Surely no elf would think committing such a grave offense would go unpunished, would they? No way, right? Oh, and be careful. Seeing how quickly she caved, she definitely has some hidden scheme up her sleeve.”

“Rest assured,” the Elf Queen declared, “she won’t be able to turn the tables on me.”

Watching the Elf Queen’s exaggerated expression, the purple-haired elegant woman let out two soft laughs before saying, “So, you want me to take her to Montoir? When do you plan to bring her back? You can’t possibly expect her to find your elven tribe’s secret treasure. You’ve been searching for ten thousand years without success.”

“I don’t expect it,” the Elf Queen said dismissively. “Just let her return once the money she earns is enough to cover the losses from this incident. It’s not much, only a billion purple gold coins.”

The elegant woman rolled her eyes. “Truly the Elf Queen, throwing out ten small targets just like that. Good heavens, this is practically condemning her to stay in Montoir for a hundred years, isn’t it?”

The Elf Queen replied nonchalantly, “You, the Witch, have plenty of time anyway… at least let me vent all the frustration in my heart.”

The elegant woman shrugged. “Fine, I’ll help you babysit, then.”

And so, Lola’s life as a s*ave began.

****

Three days later, on Trial Island.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a golden radiance upon the soft, fine sand of the beach. To one side, a gathering of Western Dragons had convened for a unique social event.

The beach was adorned with immense carpets woven from dragon-specific fabrics, embroidered with ancient draconic totems and enigmatic runes. Golden tassels fringed the carpets, swaying gently in the sea breeze, emitting a pleasant rustle.

Under the sun, the dragons’ scales shimmered with a metallic luster, a vibrant tapestry of colors, as if a rainbow had descended upon the earth.

Some scales glowed fiery red like rubies, others held the deep blue of sapphires, and still more were emerald green. Beyond their varied hues, their forms were equally diverse: some as smooth as mirrors, while others bore intricate and delicate textures.

The dragons themselves were adorned with a plethora of embellishments. There were gem-encrusted crowns, necklaces of radiant pearls, and ornate capes or armor perfectly fitted to their bodies.

They displayed a variety of poses. Some lounged lazily on the sand, basking in the sun; others frolicked in the shallow waters, sending up sprays of foam; still others savored delicious beverages concocted from island fruits and specially prepared dragon drinks.

A sense of leisure and contentment radiated from the dragons’ eyes. Occasionally, they would exchange stories, sharing tales of their adventures and amusing anecdotes. The entire gathering exuded an atmosphere of joy and harmony.

At the island’s highest point, the Old Patriarch of the Dragon Race surveyed everything below with satisfaction.

‘This is how a dragon gathering should truly be,’ he mused.

‘Proper dragons should possess a proper draconic aesthetic. For our kind, a dragon’s beauty is judged by the smoothness and splendor of its scales, the upright majesty of its horns, the neatness and purity of its teeth, and the overall symmetry of its form!’

‘Once that foundation is solid, then come the external adornments. Shimmering gems, magnificent garments, and noble materials can all elevate a dragon’s demeanor.’

Before each gathering, the Old Patriarch would offer free scale polishing, horn shaping, and teeth polishing to all willing dragon members. Their bodies, however, were beyond his scope.

All the decorative items were designed by the Dragon Race’s top stylists and procured by the Old Patriarch himself. The most fashion-conscious dragon stylists would then help adorn these members, transforming them into the most captivating specimens to attract females.

Furthermore, these decorations were not reclaimed afterward; they served as rewards for participating in the gathering. While these items were indeed valuable, and the entire event consumed a considerable budget, it was all worthwhile!

Only with such vigorous promotion could these wayward dragons, who constantly neglected the continuation of their species, be properly motivated to engage in the vital act of producing dragon eggs!

A cold smile played on the Old Patriarch’s lips. Having served as the Dragon Patriarch for several millennia, he had learned from the mistakes of his predecessor, who had relied solely on high-pressure tactics of authority, prestige, and rigid regulations.

For the glorious Dragon Race’s procreation plan, he had sought out psychological experts from various races, acquiring a wealth of psychological knowledge. He then spent a millennium meticulously understanding the draconic nature.

Only then did he devise a series of incentive policies, which, combined with the foundation left by the previous patriarch, brought the goal of increasing the dragon population by 2000 within ten thousand years tantalizingly close.

‘Hmph, the Dragon Race’s historical records will dedicate an entire page to me. Hmph hmph hmph.’

“Patriarch, Theresia hasn’t returned yet. Should we send someone to check on her?”

Just as the Dragon Patriarch was immersed in his fantasy of standing in the long river of draconic history, walking alongside the great dragons, and receiving the admiration and reverence of countless generations of dragon descendants, a dragon guard by his side suddenly interjected.

In his fantasy, the Patriarch, who had been reveling in endless glory, felt a mysterious shadow envelop him. When he opened his eyes, he saw a massive black dragon standing before him, baring a ferocious grin, and then, with a single claw, shattering all his illusions.