Chapter 72: Retreat 3 |
"Hand it over to me?"
Count Terran almost thought he had misheard.
He had seen dragons plunder, he had seen dragons burn, but he had never seen a dragon, after capturing a wealthy port, voluntarily give up occupying it and hand it over to a human? This completely overturned his understanding of Chromatic Dragons.
"Correct."
Xia'er's enormous draconic head nodded slightly. "I am not one of those ignorant evil dragons who only know destruction and plunder, sowing fear in all directions. I, Xaer Cassium, Governor of the Star Mist Archipelago for the Dragon Flight, pursue more profound strength and order. This punishment of the Dwarves is to settle old scores, and also to end the source of conflict on this land. I have no intention of establishing a dragon lair here, nor any intention of making enemies with the human kingdoms. Peaceful exchange, mutually beneficial trade, that is what I desire."
Having said that, Xia'er shifted the topic, his dragon claw pointing toward the direction of the port where mountains of dwarf prisoners and treasure chests being loaded onto ships were piled up, his tone taking on a hint of trouble. "However, this harvest is quite bountiful, with many captives, and my followers' transport capacity is limited. The port has ships, but most belong to the Dwarves. I need some... additional means of transport."
This dragon not only didn't seize territory, but even 'generously' handed over the hot potato of administrative authority. The request he now made, in the face of such a huge 'favor,' was practically negligible.
"Noble Green Dragon, Your Majesty, your breadth of mind and foresight are astonishing! Your pursuit of peace will be remembered by Muye Castle! Mere ships are nothing! In this port, any transport vessel you fancy, please take them as you wish!"
Count Terran declared, "All expenses, after I have sorted out the affairs here shortly, will naturally be settled for you! This is both gratitude for your merciful protection of human merchants and travelers, and also a meager token of sincerity from myself, and from Muye Castle, hoping to establish friendship with you!"
He had even already figured out what had happened.
Before the dragon attack, the human mercenary legion stationed at the port evacuated with the merchants of the Duchy of Shao Yi. Immediately following that, the dragon attacked, yet showed no hostility toward humans. This naturally made Count Terran sense that the Duchy of Shao Yi seemed to have some dealings with the dragon.
Thinking about it, in the past, when they wanted to obtain supplies from the Karugu Highlands and the glaciers, most of it was through trade with the Duchy of Shao Yi.
Now, with this Eastern Sea Port, those supplies previously monopolized by the Duchy of Shao Yi could be traded here, with prices dropping significantly.
The Duchy of Shao Yi was naturally displeased.
Therefore, it was completely plausible that the Duchy of Shao Yi colluded with the dragon to attack the Eastern Sea Port.
But the people of the Duchy of Shao Yi probably never imagined that these evil dragons were also extremely cunning, intentionally leaving other humans behind to spread the news, alerting the Dwarves, creating discord between the Dwarves and the Duchy of Shao Yi.
If he accepted the temporary leadership of the Eastern Sea Port, it would inevitably make the Dwarves wary of humans.
But...
What did that have to do with him?
He wasn't a Count from the Duchy of Shao Yi; he was from the Duchy of Bosha, further south.
Anyway, after the dragons left, he could just dust off his hands and go back; he wouldn't have to clean up this mess.
Thinking this, Count Terran suddenly thought of something and looked at Xia'er with keen interest.
He wanted to do some business with Xia'er.
But now was not the time.
The Star Mist Archipelago?
In Count Terran's memory, it was a desolate archipelago ruled by evil fishmen.
He never expected it to now be occupied by a dragon flight. Perhaps in the future, he could send merchant ships to the Star Mist Archipelago for trade.
Xia'er and Count Terran were in perfect sync.
Thus, under Count Terran's efficient coordination, the Eastern Sea Port rapidly recovered a certain semblance of 'order' from the chaos.
The dwarf fortresses and barracks destroyed by the dragon flight were still smoking, but the human-owned shops and residential areas were preserved under strict orders. Terrified humans began tentatively emerging from their hiding places.
Over thirty sturdy ships of various sizes were quickly assembled at the docks.
Xia'er's followers were remarkably efficient.
Chest after chest of gold, silver, and treasures were carefully loaded into the ships' lower holds, with heavy chains securing the hatch doors.
More eye-catching were the decks crowded with dejected dwarf captives. Their hands were bound with thick hemp ropes, and under the urging of lizardmen warriors' whips and the watchful eyes of Frogmen spear soldiers, they silently boarded these ships that would carry them to an unknown fate.
Xia'er's massive emerald form slowly circled above the port, his cold draconic eyes sweeping over this land he had conquered and was now about to abandon.
When the final ship of captives was loaded, kobold sailors clumsily raised the sails. The large fleet, escorted at low altitude by several dragons, slowly departed from the shattered docks, cutting through the waves toward the direction of the Star Mist Archipelago.
In the port square, a deathly silence reigned.
This place, once the proud gathering ground for the dwarf legions, now held only broken walls and congealed bloodstains.
Under the 'mercy' Xia'er deliberately left behind, dozens of severely wounded dwarf soldiers, some missing limbs, were abandoned here.
Bound together with rough ropes like a pile of discarded scrap metal, they could only watch helplessly as the ships carrying their comrades turned into faint black dots on the horizon.
There was no relief at having survived a disaster in these dwarves' eyes, only searing humiliation and a fiercely burning rage.
This rage was not only directed at the distant evil dragons; a deeper hatred, like poisonous vines, coiled around their shattered hearts, firmly fixed on the figures busily moving about in the port ruins.
They saw Count Terran's human soldiers maintaining order, saw those human merchants taking stock of goods that hadn't been looted, saw humans taking over this city they, the Dwarves, had operated for over a decade...
What particularly enraged them, making their blood boil, was that human Count in his luxurious sable cloak, right under their noses, had reached some kind of 'agreement' with that green dragon that had destroyed everything, and had even assisted in the evacuation of those evil dragons!
"Traitors... Humans... all traitors!"
An old dwarf with a broken leg ground his teeth with a grating sound, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
His clouded eyes stared fixedly in the direction of Count Terran, the hatred in that gaze colder and more desperate than when facing the dragons.
"King Jandres... do you see this?"
Another young dwarf who had lost an arm murmured, his voice filled with grief and indignation. "This is the port we defended with our blood... these are the human allies we trusted!"
These intentionally left behind, severely wounded survivors became the perfect seeds in Xia'er's plan.
They witnessed the human 'cooperation' and the dragons' 'victorious withdrawal.' This sense of humiliation and betrayal would inevitably, through their survival or other channels, take deep root in the heart of the Dwarven Kingdom, becoming a new, difficult-to-mend rift between Dwarves and humans.
Count Terran stood at the port, feeling the sea breeze.
He cared nothing for the dwarves' hatred.
After such a major incident, the Eastern Sea Port was essentially finished.
Who would dare come to the Eastern Sea Port to do business now?
The evil dragons attacked the Eastern Sea Port so easily this time; who could guarantee there wouldn't be a next time?
His inspection purpose for this trip was basically accomplished; the Eastern Sea Port was not suitable for business.
On the contrary, next time he could send a merchant convoy to check out the Star Mist Archipelago.
As for the dwarves' resentment?
No one cared.