220: Flying Dragon

Chapter 216: The Dragon

After retreating from the woods back to Mist Town, Arthur immediately ordered a close watch on the forest.

By dinner time, he found Xiao Lingdang and asked her to talk to Barkskin.

After all, even without using invisibility, a Pixie’s small stature makes it very easy for her to conceal her tracks.

Sending her to carry out this task was perfectly suitable.

“Why do I feel like I’m becoming more and more like your servant?”

Xiao Lingdang held a potato, looked up at Arthur, and spoke with a hint of playful reproach.

Arthur smiled at her words, broke off a piece of jerky from his hand, and offered it.

“I won’t let you work for nothing. I’ll give you a reward when it’s done.” Xiao Lingdang didn’t take the jerky, but instead raised an eyebrow, a look of suspicion on her face.

“I promise you, this time, whatever you want, I’ll give you.” Arthur added.

The Pixie snorted softly, but relented, “Alright, alright.”

“I really don’t know what you’d do without me, Arthur.”

The Baron laughed heartily at this.

He then carefully explained the hidden dangers in the woods to the Pixie.

After dinner, Arthur went to visit the local soldiers who had participated in the battle that day.

Having achieved victory, the soldiers received extra wine and meat.

Although it was a rather simple reward, in their eyes, it was still a great honor.

And the Baron’s personal visit deeply moved everyone.

During this time, Arthur also solemnly promised the families of the fallen soldiers that they would receive proper compensation.

After visiting the soldiers, Arthur immediately went to find Duke Wild Dog.

Upon seeing him, he first expressed his respect for the fallen.

Then, he thanked Duke Wild Dog for his military assistance.

“It is we who should be thanking you, in fact,” Duke Wild Dog said in front of all the elders. “If you hadn’t helped us, we would still be in the dark.”

“We would have been completely unable to deal with those heretics, not to mention they had traitors assisting them from within.”

Duke Wild Dog didn’t speak too definitively, but the elders present all knew in their hearts.

If Arthur hadn’t intervened in time, Eugene and his group might have used the conflict to stage a coup.

At that point, it would likely have been them who died.

Now, they had not only successfully eliminated the traitors within the tribe and ensured their own safety.

They had even eliminated a long-standing enemy.

From any perspective, this was a complete and utter victory.

And for the Old God faction represented by Varana.

The victory Arthur brought through the divine revelation greatly enhanced their influence within the tribe.

“Now that you have eliminated your greatest enemy, where do you plan to go next?”

After the meeting, Arthur asked Varana.

“As I told you before, we will follow the Wolf Pack’s guidance and embark on our next hunt,” Varana replied.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to realize something and asked, “You’re not trying to drive us away, are you?”

“After all, we—”

“Not long ago, I promised those Xenomorph people that this would be their home,” Arthur responded. “They don’t have to wander anymore, nor do they have to live a nomadic life.”

“I can make the same promise to you.”

“As long as you can abide by the rules here.”

A hint of longing flashed across the Beastkin’s face, but she quickly suppressed that emotion.

She looked at Arthur and asked, “Aren’t you afraid the townspeople will cause you trouble for this?”

Arthur looked at the starlit town and slowly said, “The former Mist Town gathered all kinds of righteous people.”

“No matter what race or identity, as long as they were willing to fight against the Dark Lord, the town would open its doors to them.”

“It was precisely because of this inclusivity that the Long Night Alliance was able to be established.”

“Now, although the Long Night Alliance no longer exists, I believe its influence still remains.”

“Divisions between races are inevitable, but as time passes, and as people’s minds become more open, I believe these divisions will slowly dissipate.”

Varana couldn’t help but smile at these words.

However, that smile was mixed with complex emotions.

On one hand, she was almost moved by Arthur’s words, giving rise to the idea of staying here.

But on the other hand, she also knew it was nothing more than a luxury.

What prevented her from staying was not her identity as a Beastkin, but the responsibility on her shoulders.

From the moment she dedicated herself to the Wolf Pack, her life was destined to be spent wandering.

“I have to say, you are truly both optimistic and a wonderful person.”

The Beastkin looked at Arthur and sighed softly, “If one day, the Wolf Pack allows us to stop our hunting.”

“I hope you can still accept us as you do now.”

“My promise won’t change,” Arthur said. “But getting you all to settle down will probably not be an easy task.”

“At least when it comes to drinking, you are very difficult to control.”

“That’s not wrong,” Varana smiled again.

Seeing her in a good mood, Arthur stated his purpose: “I have some things I’d like to ask you about.”

Seeing that the Baron was getting down to business, the Beastkin immediately sobered up and became serious.

“How much do you know about Oak Lake?” Arthur asked.

“That depends on what aspect of ‘knowing’ you’re referring to,” Varana replied.

“I heard there’s a dragon living there?”

“Are you talking about the Dark Lord’s pet?” Varana countered. “That blind dragon.”

“Unless there’s another dragon I don’t know about.”

Varana said, “That fellow usually fishes in Oak Lake to eat.”

“Even though it’s blind, it’s still dangerous.”

“But we have a way to avoid it.”

Arthur nodded slightly, motioning for her to continue.

“The shamans in the tribe prepare a kind of powder with an extremely strong smell.”

“The dragon’s sense of smell is already keen; as long as we sprinkle some around the camp, we can avoid its attacks.”

At this point, the Beastkin paused suddenly, looked up, and asked, “You’re not planning to get rid of this dragon, are you?”

“Oak Lake is an important water source for Mist Town, and there are many aquatic products in the lake,” Arthur explained. “More importantly, precisely because of this dragon, that body of water isn’t as dangerous as Paw Claw River.”

“We can completely repair the canals there and use the lake water to ensure irrigation for the farmland.”

“I’m not sure which is more dangerous: the Mad Frogs entrenched in Paw Claw River and the Swamp, or this blind dragon.”

Varana spread her hands, a hint of teasing in her tone.

“At least the dragon is a visible enemy,” Arthur said. “But those Frogmen, once they encounter an unfavorable situation, immediately hide in the Swamp.”

“They’ll come out to cause trouble again when the time is right.”

“We currently have neither the energy nor the time to fight a guerrilla war with these guys.”

“You could try the poisonous gas in the Swamp,” Varana suggested. “Go ask your alchemist; he should know how to use it.”

“I will.” Arthur nodded in thanks.