Chapter 6: Don’t Judge a Dragon by Its Appearance

“The world will tremble because of you?!” Glancing at the other party with a smirk, Komer felt both amused and exasperated—it was simply a huge joke! Why were these dragons always so arrogant? They seemed to have completely forgotten that this world was no longer what it used to be. No matter how powerful an individual might be, against a organized, skilled, and intelligent collective force, they were utterly insignificant. Faced with humanity’s ever-evolving capabilities in invention and innovation, as well as the continuous progress in magic, martial arts, and technology, whether it were mortals, dwarves, or orcs and barbarians, if they fought solely against the dragons, these races’ strength had already increased countless times over. Coupled with the dragons’ poor fertility rates, they could only become targets for human adventurers to hunt and attack.

Seemingly angered by Komer’s look of pity mixed with disdain, Shatima placed her hands on her hips, losing all traces of her noble demeanor. The bulges on her chest began to rise and fall violently. “Komer, why look at me that way? Isn’t it true? You might be among the best of your kind, mortals, but when it comes to one-on-one combat, are you even my match? And then there are people like Sorenberg and Vladkov—they’re considered strong among your human world, top-tier individuals, but even they stand little chance when I’m at full strength! And among our Ice Dragons, I’m just an ordinary one. The Ice Dragons aren’t even the strongest among all dragons. With my power, facing your human soldiers, even hundreds or thousands of them wouldn’t be enough! You humans are like ants in front of us—completely insignificant!”

“Shatima, you’re absolutely right. Neither I nor Sorenberg could match you in a one-on-one fight, but why did you end up in my hands? You can’t even handle those jellyfish people—have the dragons really declined to such a state?” Komer laughed casually. “But we humans have always been social beings; division of labor, cooperation, and organized social life are the fundamental characteristics of our mortal society. How can you ignore these objective factors when discussing such issues? Besides, the strength of a race or nation isn’t solely reflected in warfare—it can also be seen in cultural advancement, economic development, and artistic brilliance. Yet I’ve never heard or seen any of these traits in the dragons. Even if we consider warfare, I think the dragons have no chance against humanity’s organized art of war. Of course, you can’t expect all battles to be conducted in that rigid knightly duel style, right?”

Komer’s words quickly shattered Shatima’s already fragile confidence. She stared at him in shock, then slowly lowered her head in defeat. Her hand, which had been on her waist, drooped limply, though the flesh mounds on her chest, pressed too high, continued to rise and fall rapidly—clearly, her emotions hadn’t fully settled.

“Komer, you’re truly a demon! Can’t you even speak more gently? Don’t you always tell me that in human society, one must maintain good manners and keep ladies in a good mood? Why do you keep ruining my mood?!” Shatima snapped, glaring at him angrily.

“Oh, Shatima, it’s certainly important to keep a lady in a good mood, but telling lies that go against one’s conscience would be dishonest and unethical. I don’t want to leave an impression of being a hypocritical fraud in your eyes,” Komer said with a shrug. “Actually, Shatima, you really don’t need to be so fixated on your dragons’ status. Every race exists in this world by the will of the Creator—survival of the fittest. It’s understandable for the dragons to live in this way. Of course, striving to change oneself for one’s own ideals and pursuits is also the freedom of every individual. You can choose to stick to your traditional way of life or change yourself—that’s your right. But personally, I think it’s more interesting and fulfilling to strive to change one’s fate rather than living a dull life.”

“Fighting for various interests just like you mortals?” Shatima sneered slightly.
“Hehe, Shatima. Fighting against the heavens is endlessly entertaining, and fighting against humans is just as fun. Only those who experience it can truly understand the taste,” Komer laughed as well. “Your dragon race’s life is far too monotonous. Since you’ve taken on a mortal form, come with me into the complex struggles of human society and experience its pleasures.”

The days at sea were peaceful and leisurely. Setting sail from Middelburg, they headed north along the Abyssal Sea, passing by the mouth of the Nise River. Along the way, they saw a large number of ships traveling between Bruce Fortress and other locations. Bulk cargo ships loaded with ore, crude iron, timber, and coal flowed continuously out of the Nise River mouth, while ships filled with grain, cloth, salt, and other daily necessities arrived in large numbers as well—a truly prosperous scene.

Once entering Homer’s territory, one could sense the change in terrain. The long coastline became a vague curve, without the undulations of the Leon region or the Great Greenland Forest. As the granary of Homer and even the entire Kingdom of Nicossia, the flat terrain of the Bosen Plain ensured its high grain production, making it a crucial region for the kingdom.

Odessa was located in the central part of the Bosen Plain. As the largest and most important port there, it handled the heavy burden of transporting goods in and out of Homer’s southern regions. Traveling along the Odessa inland waterways into the heart of the Bosen Plain was slightly slower, but passengers enjoyed greater comfort.

Gutenberg. Gazing at the brightly lit mansion in the distance, Komer deliberated for a long time before deciding to leave. At that moment, Vero seemed rather irrational. Although Komer believed she wouldn’t reveal his whereabouts, he was worried that her careless behavior might alert that old fox, Zelin. He preferred to endure this discomfort temporarily. Perhaps it would be better to meet in Flanders or on the island of Sifnos—there was no need to wait too long for that day.

When Komer entered the city of Jazair, he was confident that no one could recognize him. His deliberately grown beard, carefully trimmed, made him appear much older. Gold-rimmed glasses added to his dignified appearance, and his hairstyle had been specially styled to make him look at least ten years older. With his well-tailored gentleman’s suit, woolen stockings, and deer-leather boots, along with the beautiful woman by his side, he certainly looked like a noble gentleman from another region.

The four-wheeled carriage moved smoothly along the streets of Jazair. Despite the orcish invasions, Jazair still stubbornly displayed its grandeur as the foremost metropolis in the Northern Continent—its towering spire churches, its magnificent basilicas, the water jets rising from fountains in the streets’ centers, the wind chimes hanging from tower eaves that emitted pleasant sounds, and the noble residences of various styles, all revealing its glory and splendor bit by bit.

“Is this the place you humans long for?” Shatima wasn’t aware of the immense pressure her bulging chest exerted on Komer’s arm, nor the intense stimulation it caused. The allure created by the dip in her chest made Komer’s breathing a bit rapid. Meanwhile, Shatima curiously observed through the window glass this bustling place said to determine the fate of the entire Kingdom of Nicosia.

“Well, you could say that. Indeed, countless people aspire to become its rulers, hoping to leave behind memories of a wonderful life here. But not everyone can find a life they’re satisfied with here,” Komer replied calmly.

“Do you mean them?” Disruptive elements always appeared at just the right time. A few beggars and vagrants lay lazily on the steps of the church, basking in the sunlight. Shatima pointed there. “Are they also here looking for a better life?”

“Oh, no, no. They belong here originally. Perhaps some of them have various blood relations with the king and the bishop, and some might even hold noble titles,” Komer said playfully.

“Incredible!” Shatima was stunned, seeing that Komer didn’t seem to be pretending. Though her understanding of human society wasn’t entirely accurate, she knew what life noble people of high bloodline should lead. Yet what she saw seemed to overturn her assumptions.

“Human society is far more complex than you can imagine. Isn’t there an old proverb? Never trust anything you haven’t seen with your own eyes. Even if you see it with your own eyes, don’t trust it. That saying might summarize everything,” Komer said, taking a deep breath. The scent from Shatima’s body seemed to have an aura unique to dragons.

“Then what can we trust?” Shatima asked angrily.

“Trust cause and effect, trust intuition,” Komer replied succinctly.

“Where are we going now?” After pondering Komer’s enigmatic words for a long time, Shatima still couldn’t truly understand their meaning and said unhappily.
“To where we need to go,” Komer replied casually.
“Die!” Shatima finally exploded in anger, her heaving chest almost tearing apart the collar of her dress.
“I was just joking. Staying calm at all times is the most basic rule for a lady,” Komer said with a light laugh.
“Even when being raped?” Shatima’s retort made Komer look at her again—truly, you can’t judge a dragon by its appearance.