Leopold's words made the other two young dragons raise their heads at the same time.
“The goblins' cooperation?” Blake was the first to frown. “We just lured a toad into their camp, and quite a few of them died. Now you're saying we should get them to cooperate with us?”
“It is precisely because they suffered casualties.” Leopold unrolled the parchment once more, flattening it against the stone and pointing a claw at several areas circled in charcoal.
“Grimm is currently facing two major problems. First, his forces have suffered heavy casualties. At least for now, he doesn't have absolute confidence that he can take the three of us down.”
“As for the second problem...” Leopold's claw traced an arc along the old harvesting sites on the map.
“That toad has occupied their mine. Even if the Fourth Regiment manages to kill it in the end, that mining area won't be operational anytime soon because it has been contaminated by the toad. It will take at least several months to recover.”
“While they have other mining areas, their loss of labor cannot be made up in the short term.”
Blake narrowed his eyes. “And?”
“So, Grimm is currently lacking both combat strength and resources.”
Isabella tilted her head thoughtfully. “You want to negotiate a partnership with him, rather than submit to him?”
“Exactly,” Leopold nodded. “We will never sign a contract of 'eternal service,' but a 'limited-term mutual assistance agreement' is a completely different story.”
He paused, a sly gleam flashing in his golden pupils. “For instance, we can help them clear out the remaining monsters in the mine tunnels, Isabella can help them purify the contaminated areas, and in return, they will provide us with food and protection during our slumber.”
Blake fell silent for a few seconds before letting out a reluctant grunt. “...Are you sure Grimm will accept that?”
“He will,” Leopold said with absolute certainty. “Because he has no better option. With unfair trade, a damaged military, a contaminated mining area, and a labor shortage, he needs a solution to quickly stabilize the situation far more than we do.”
“At the very least, it's a solution to stabilize his position. After all, I doubt the goblin tribe is entirely free of voices opposing him.”
Leopold rolled the map back up and stuffed it into the leather pouch.
“Let's go. We're going back to find Grimm.”
Blake hesitated. “Now? The commotion with the toad might not have fully settled down yet. If we go now, those goblins will be at their angriest.”
“Angry people are actually the easiest to negotiate with,” Leopold smiled. “Because when people are angry, they reveal what they truly want.”
Blake's heart skipped a beat. When did Leopold become so clever? He clearly remembered the old Leopold being completely oblivious to the ways of the world.
Blake narrowed his grayish-blue vertical pupils, staring at Leopold for several seconds as if re-evaluating the black dragon before him.
The three young dragons flew upstream along the main channel of the underground river. After flying for about half an hour, the number of lanterns on both sides of the rock walls gradually increased.
The scent of blood in the air was far too obvious to the dragons' keen sense of smell. The number of goblin patrols had doubled compared to yesterday, with each squad accompanied by at least one warrior wielding a magical weapon.
Leopold landed on a towering stone pillar on the outskirts of the camp, choosing not to fly directly inside.
Grimm received the news even faster than Leopold had anticipated. In less than fifteen minutes, the portcullis at the camp's main entrance rose, and Chief Grimm tottered out, leaning on his wooden staff.
“Little fellow,” Grimm said, his voice raspy. He knew exactly who was behind all of this, but now was not the time to burn bridges. “Are you here to watch the show?”
“I am here to negotiate.” Leopold glided down from the stone pillar and landed ten paces away from Grimm, looking straight at him without tilting his head up or down.
Grimm stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly letting out a short laugh. “Negotiate?”
“Chief, I am deeply sorry for this disaster.”
“However, you have lost a regiment, your mining area is contaminated and temporarily unminable, you have a labor shortage, and you are at a disadvantage in trade.”
“We can help you clear out the remaining monsters in the mine tunnels, and Isabella's purification spell can speed up the recovery of the contaminated mining area.”
“In return, we need a safe slumber to awaken our bloodline power. In a world like this, we should help each other for mutual benefit and reach a limited-term cooperation.”
Grimm fell silent for a long time. Then, he spoke slowly.
“We do not need 'cooperation.'”
Leopold did not move. He tilted his head, his golden vertical pupils calmly watching the old goblin's cloudy, grayish-green eyes.
“Then what is it that you want?”
Grimm tapped the stone beneath his feet gently with the end of his wooden staff.
“I want 'allies.'”（“Allies?”）
“You dragons were once the rulers of the sky. Your blood, your heritage, and your memories are still among the oldest powers in this world.”
Grimm paused, lowering his voice slightly. “What I want is this: after you awaken from your slumber, you must be willing to fight in the name of the Bronzebeard Tribe for a certain period of time.”
“In other words, you want us to be your mercenaries?”
“No,” Grimm shook his head. “Not mercenaries. The Bronzebeard Tribe needs an ally. An ally who won't break a promise just because the dwarves offer three more bags of ore.”
Leopold fell silent for a moment. He understood the unspoken implication in Grimm's words—the Bronzebeard Tribe's situation underground was far more difficult than it appeared on the surface.
“What are the conditions?” Leopold asked.
Grimm raised three stubby fingers.
“First, you may choose a cave deep within the Bronzebeard Tribe's territory as your slumbering site. During this period, I will send my most reliable guards to watch over the entrance, ensuring no one disturbs you.”
“Second, after you awaken, the Bronzebeard Tribe can provide three years of supplies and intelligence support.”
“Third, in exchange—” Grimm retracted two fingers, leaving only his index finger pointing up, “you must protect the safety of the Bronzebeard Tribe. The time limit... seventy years.”
Hearing the final number, Blake could no longer hold back.
“Seventy years? How long does a goblin even live—”
“Blake,” Leopold raised a front claw, cutting him off.
Grimm paid no mind to Blake's reaction, his green eyes remaining locked onto Leopold the entire time.
“Seventy years is nothing but an afternoon nap to your dragon clan. But to the Bronzebeard Tribe, it is enough to allow two generations to live in peace until old age.”
He curled his lips slightly. “Little fellow, you should see things clearly by now. If you leave the Eisenberg Mountain Range, the angels outside could tear you to pieces at any moment. Stay here, and at least you will have a safe cave to undergo your slumber.”
Leopold did not answer immediately. He lowered his head, his golden vertical pupils focusing on his own front claws.
Seventy years was too long. Even if he agreed, he couldn't guarantee that Blake and Isabella would agree to it with him.
“Forty years.”
“Forty years?” Grimm's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly.
Grimm fell silent for a few seconds. Then, he slowly raised his hand and stroked the few sparse whiskers on his chin with his stubby fingers.
Leopold lowered his head and leaned close to Grimm's ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“You can tell the Council of Elders that we will only negotiate with you and your family. In other words, your family represents us, and we will only support your family...”
“What do you mean?” The old goblin did not react immediately.
“What do you think?”
Grimm suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing, the old goblin narrowed his eyes slightly.
“...You black dragon, you are truly the least dragon-like dragon I have seen in decades.”
“You are mistaken. I am a black dragon—Leopold, the black dragon.”
The old goblin leaned on his wooden staff, silent for a moment, before slowly nodding.
“But respected Chief, please allow me to add a few more terms.” Leopold was in no hurry to agree; he wanted to maximize their benefits.
Rate on N.U.
