NOVPUBVelen waved his hand casually. "Ally or not, that doesn't matter. I'm just here to buy a dragon egg."
"Buy… the egg?" The Iceflame Senator froze.
"Yes. The Darknight Dragon Egg. Name your price." Velen smiled brightly.
Drogos and the Iceflame Senator exchanged looks.
Did they hear that right?
Was His Highness Velen really trying to buy it?
After a brief pause, Drogos suddenly grinned.
"Your Highness, this egg—I'm not selling it."
Velen raised a brow. "Oh?"
Drogos turned around, pulled a delicate grill from his storage ring, set it up expertly, and then—
"I'm offering it to you to eat!"
With a flourish, he placed the Darknight Dragon Egg on the rack and conjured flames at his fingertips to begin roasting it.
Stiegler: "!!"
Iceflame Senator: "???"
I risked my life to recover that egg and now you're going to roast it?!
Velen was stunned for a moment—then burst into hearty laughter. "Well done! Well done, Drogos!"
He clapped Drogos on the shoulder. "I like that boldness!"
Drogos grinned broadly. "Your Highness once said that if you truly like something, no price is too high. I believe that roasting this egg and sharing it with you is worth more than selling it."
The Iceflame Senator nearly fainted from rage and despair.
This… this was a crime against nature!
Half an hour later…
The delicious aroma of roasted dragon egg filled the entire mountain gorge. Drogos moved with practiced grace, sprinkling fragrant spices and slicing off a golden, sizzling piece of egg meat for Velen.
"Your Highness, please have a taste."
Velen accepted it and took a bite. His eyes lit up instantly. "Delicious! Tender texture, and there's even a magical aftertaste."
Stiegler also got a slice, and juices dribbled down his chin as he gobbled it up. "This is way better than the food in the Sanctuary!"
The Iceflame Senator collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly into space. "Gods above… It's over… The Dragon Lord is going to kill me…"
Drogos laughed. "Don't worry, Iceflame Senator. I'll explain everything to Father."
He then turned to Velen and said sincerely, "Your Highness, this egg was just the interest. When I return to Dragon's Defile, I'll deliver the remaining two Darknight Dragon Eggs to you as well."
Velen raised an eyebrow. "That generous?"
Drogos smiled widely. "Because I want to learn from you—how to become a true spendthrift showoff tycoon!"
Velen roared with laughter and raised his wine cup. "With that kind of resolve—you've got yourself a friend!"
At Dragon's Defile, inside the central Dragon Hall…
"YOU FOOL!!!"
The thunderous roar shook the entire hall.
The Dragon Lord—a tall, burly middle-aged man with terrifying dragon horns—was fuming, his draconic aura surging like a tidal wave.
"You actually roasted the Darknight Dragon Egg?! And gave it to someone else to eat?!"
I wouldn't even eat that egg myself!
And that was your own kin in there, wasn't it?!
But Drogos stood tall, unfazed. "Father, His Highness Velen is worth it."
"Worth my ass!"
The Dragon Lord slammed his hand down, shattering the throne's armrest. "That egg was the greatest treasure of Dragon's Defile!"
The Iceflame Senator was kneeling on the side, drenched in cold sweat. "Please calm down, my Lord! His Highness Velen has an unfathomable background. His personal guard is at least demi-god rank!"
"Demi-god?" The Dragon Lord sneered. "As if Dragon's Defile lacks demi-god rank powerhouses?"
"No…" The senator's voice trembled. "That guard… he felt stronger than even you…"
The Dragon Lord's pupils contracted sharply.
Just then, an attendant's voice came from outside the hall—
"Reporting! His Highness Velen of the Endless Sanctuary has arrived!"
The Dragon Lord let out a cold snort. "Perfect. I want to see for myself what kind of person bewitched my son to such madness!"
The doors of the great hall swung open. Velen entered slowly, accompanied by Stiegler and the enigmatic tycoonthe Guardians.
???
The Dragon Lord's gaze immediately locked onto tycoonthe Guardians—and his expression changed drastically.
He couldn't see through this black-robed figure's power at all!
How… how could anyone be this strong?
"Dragon Lord, it's a pleasure to meet you." Velen greeted him with a cheerful cupped-fist salute.
The Dragon Lord suppressed his shock and said with a heavy voice, "Your Highness Velen, are you aware of the consequences of what my son has done?"
Velen shrugged. "Of course. That's why I've brought a few… gifts as compensation."
"Pah! You think some lousy gifts can—"
Velen raised a hand, and his system storage opened—
Whoooosh!
Over a thousand colossal chunks of Universe Dragon Glass cascaded out like a waterfall, filling half the great hall in moments!
Silence fell.
Even the Dragon Lord's horns trembled slightly. "T-This is…"
"One thousand units of Universe Dragon Glass," Velen said casually. "Is that enough to buy your three Darknight Dragon Eggs?"
The Dragon Lord: "…"
Ten minutes later…
The Dragon Lord sat on a newly repaired throne, warmly guiding Velen to an honored seat. "Your Highness, these Universe Dragon Glass crystals are enough to raise ten Darknight Dragons."
"What you've offered is more than enough. You are our most esteemed guest!"
Velen nodded. "Then… the deal is done?"
The Dragon Lord took a deep breath. "Done. But I have one condition."
"Speak."
"Dragon's Defile is willing to form an alliance with the Endless Sanctuary—but please allow my son to follow you and learn."
The Dragon Lord's tone turned solemn. "This child… may actually be suited for your path."
Velen smiled. "No problem."
Drogos beamed. "Thank you, Father! Thank you, Your Highness!"
That night, Dragon's Defile hosted a grand banquet.
Velen, slightly tipsy, turned to the Dragon Lord and said, "Actually, I have a proposal."
"Please speak, Your Highness."
"How about making Dragon's Defile… a subordinate force of the Endless Sanctuary?" Velen asked with a pleasant grin.
The hall instantly went silent.
The Dragon Lord narrowed his eyes. "Your Highness… Dragon's Defile has existed for ten thousand years and has never been under anyone's thumb."
He paused—then grinned widely. "But! It would be our greatest honor!"
Who was he kidding? Any force that could casually toss out a thousand units of Universe Dragon Glass—he'd happily follow them around like a puppy.
"Don't rush," Velen said with a smirk. "Let's show some power first."
He snapped his fingers.
"Tycoonthe Guardians. Give them a little demonstration."
The black-robed figure stepped forward to the center of the hall, his robes rippling without wind.
In the next instant, he raised his hand—
"Soul Abyss—Open."
A pitch-black rift tore open in the hall, revealing the infinite void beyond.
A terrifying suction force burst forth. Several dragon senators were nearly pulled in.
With a casual wave, tycoonthe Guardians sealed the rift. The hall fell completely silent.
"That was…" The Dragon Lord's voice was hoarse.
"If Dragon's Defile joins us, I guarantee this—within one hundred years, you will have no less than three demi-god rank elders, and ten god-ranked dragons."
The Dragon Lord's pupils shrank violently.
The next morning…
Above Dragon's Defile, three Jade Dragons and thirty Shadow Dragons were neatly lined up, ready to depart for the Endless Sanctuary.
The Dragon Lord personally saw them off and solemnly bowed to Velen. "From this day forth, Dragon's Defile pledges loyalty to Your Highness."
Velen nodded in satisfaction. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you never lose out."
He turned to Drogos. "Let's go. Time to show you what true spendthrift glory looks like."
Drogos eagerly jumped onto the dragon carriage. "Your Highness, where to next?"
Velen grinned.
"Home—then we show the entire Upper Plane Universe what the art of spendthrift extravagance really means!"
