A Dragon against the Whole World

Chapter 368 - 304: You, Go Kill the Count

He realized that he might have made a fatal mistake by severely underestimating that Molten Iron Tribe, especially that Red Iron Dragon.

Those dragons and their tribe cannot be judged by common sense at all!

At that moment.

A communication tool placed on his luxurious rosewood desk, a crystal-clear crystal ball, suddenly lit up with a soft glow.

The name displayed on it was none other than—Flower Knight Shire Haines.

"Shire?!"

Count Mills’ heart jolted violently.

"Has he... has he succeeded in contacting me out of a predicament, or..."

He took several deep breaths of the expensive incense-scented air that couldn’t calm him, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his mind, and placed his fingers lightly on the communication tool.

"Hello, Count Mills."

A deep and resonant voice, like rolling thunder with an inhuman texture, emanated from the crystal ball, filling the entire luxurious and serene study.

This voice was not one that a human knight could produce.

Count Mills’ face changed drastically in an instant.

He stared at the crystal ball intently, took several deep breaths before barely managing to make his voice sound composed enough, and asked, "Who are you?"

A low chuckle came from the other end of the crystal ball.

"Who am I?"

The thunderous voice said, "I think, a wise and experienced person like Count Mills, you should already have the answer in your heart."

"No need to waste time probing, let’s get straight to the point—let’s talk about ransom."

Count Mills remained silent for a long time, his mind racing as he weighed the pros and cons.

In the end, he chose to face reality and began to negotiate with the Red Iron Dragon on the other end of the communication.

"What do you want?" he asked succinctly.

"Very simple."

The other end of the voice was brisk and clear: "Just like what countless defeated people on this continent have to face—cede territory and pay compensation."

When Galos made his demands, especially when formally ceding the sovereignty of Scale Earth Rift and its surrounding areas, although Count Mills initially instinctively resisted, he did not insist for long before gradually yielding.

Reality was in front of him.

The Federation garrison could not be relied upon, a full-scale offensive had already failed, and it was as challenging as climbing to the sky to organize a force that could threaten the Molten Iron Tribe again. Since Scale Earth Rift had been practically lost and was difficult to reclaim, and could no longer bring benefits to the family, it might as well be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations.

A piece of territory out of control was far less valuable in the eyes of the calculating Count Mills than those captured elite private troops.

Ordinary soldiers lost could be recruited and trained again.

But those senior leaders cultivated over the family’s massive amount of time, resources, and effort—Rune Knights, Alchemists, Defense Mages... Every one of these people was a pillar of the family’s military strength.

If they were all lost in this damned Sel Wilderness, the Albert Family’s accumulated military foundation would suffer a serious blow.

The alliances between nobles are always as fragile as cobwebs.

Once the Albert Family showed an obvious decline, those noble lords who were always eyeing them covetously and had grudges against them would definitely swarm like sharks smelling blood, mercilessly kicking them while they’re down and seizing the opportunity to divide their interests.

Next.

They began a long and cold negotiation over specific amounts of compensation, delivery details, etc.

The attitudes of both sides in the negotiation appeared unusually calm, not at all like two mortal enemies with deep-seated grudges, but rather as if handling a purely business negotiation.

Time silently flowed like an hourglass.

After rounds of bargaining and probing each other’s limits, an agreement between both parties was finally reached.

The Albert Family will sign a legally binding document witnessed by the God of Justice, formally ceding the Scale Earth Rift.

At the same time, they will also pay a huge amount of gold coins that would make Count Mills’ heart bleed as war reparations and ransom for hostages.

All of this was to exchange for those family elites who had been captured.

During the negotiation process.

Count Mills’ attitude was exceptionally cautious.

He repeatedly and emphatically confirmed with Galos about the current condition of those crucial hostages—especially the Rune Knights, Alchemists, and Defense Mages—whether they were intact and whether their injuries were severe.

"I don’t trust any promises made without evidence."

Count Mills said, "I will send a trusted family envoy to deliver the formal contract document to Sel Wilderness as soon as possible."

"To ensure the sanctity of the contract and the fairness of its execution."

"A High-tier Priest from the Libra Sanctuary will accompany them to complete the final signing ceremony under the light of the God of Justice."

At that moment.

Galos’s deep voice suddenly sounded again, changing the topic: "By the way, Count Mills, there is another... not-so-important hostage that I think needs special mention."

"A pathetic man who calls himself Flower Knight Shire Haines."

His voice was calm as if describing something insignificant.

"He is not a member of your Albert Family, but he claims he bravely challenged me for your family’s righteous cause."

"Unfortunately, he failed, and he failed miserably."

"Considering that I have personally twisted off his limbs and broken most of his bones, he will basically have to spend the rest of his life on a sickbed, barely staying alive and completely dependent on others..."

"For a mere price of a hundred gold coins."

Galos casually named a number and said, "I can show great mercy, spare his life, and hand him over to your Albert Family like a piece of damaged luggage for disposal."

A useless person in name only! A failure!

Thinking of the commercial highway the family is about to pay and an astronomical amount of gold coins, the irritation from the huge loss filled Count Mills’ heart.

He frowned deeply, his face gloomy.

"This person’s affairs have nothing to do with our family; do with him as you please. Whether he lives or dies, the Albert Family has no interest."

Upon hearing this, the dragon on the other end of the communication seemed to become petty, haggling like a penny-pinching merchant: "Ten gold coins, just ten gold coins, and I will spare his life. Otherwise, to save food, I will have to throw him to the Jackal-Wolf Folk as feed."

"Trust me, it will be an extremely painful death process."

Faced with an evil dragon so caught up on the price of a useless person, Count Mills felt a surge of disgust and completely lost his patient pretense. He no longer wanted any more pretentiousness and bluntly stated coldly, "A useless person with no value whatsoever, the Albert Family will not pay even a copper plate for him; his life or death is up to you."

Finally, this negotiation, which determined the fate of many, came to a complete end.

On the other side, in the distant Sel Wilderness.

At the foot of the Red Iron Dragon, Flower Knight Shire Haines leaned on the cold ground, listening clearly to the conversation that determined his fate throughout the process.

So... my life and worth, in the eyes of the other party, aren’t even worth a single gold coin?

In his eyes flashed shock, disbelief, bitterness, finally transforming into a deep sorrow and understanding.

After his gaze changed intensely for a long time, it finally slowly returned to calm, ultimately becoming a long sigh as if a heavy burden of a thousand miles had been lifted.

Thus.

The so-called kindness of the Albert Family in the past, he has completely repaid with this near life-costing action and their ruthless abandonment.

From now on, neither owes the other.

Through the Gem Merchant Group’s channel, the Molten Iron Tribe also has contractual tools available for emergencies.

According to the contract previously signed, now, his life and future belong to the terrifying and complex Red Iron Dragon before him.

"Shire Haines."

The Red Iron Dragon’s deep voice resounded again, breaking the silence.

"Let’s not talk about you being easily deceived, utilized by lies, the so-called man of justice."

"That Count Mills you spoke of as benevolent, secretly raises a large number of orphaned beggars, brainwashes them into Death Warriors who know nothing but family honor and are willing to die for it without hesitation. Then he sends them to the cold battlefield to squeeze out their last value."

His eyes fixed on the knight, he asked: "Now, do you still insist that he is a kind and good lord? A truly good man?"

The Flower Knight slowly and heavily shook his head, the last bit of illusion in his eyes completely shattered.

"As per our established contract, your life and freedom belong to me, but I will not force you to do evil deeds."

The Red Iron Dragon’s voice was calm, saying: "Then, prepare to uphold the principle of punishing evil and promoting good that you believe in."

"Target—Mills Albert."

"Go kill him."