Convergence Lands, Dragon Valley.
The fishing competition relying purely on skill still ended with the red iron dragon's victory, successfully seizing multiple magical dicines from the wealthy tal dragon woman.
Similar magical agreents—Garoth had obtained quite a few from the brass-silver dragon through activities like accompanying her in play, solving riddles, making bets, and providing combat training guidance.
Flying dragon potions that enhanced agility and speed, spell dragon potions that improved elental sensitivity, tyrant dragon potions that boosted temporary resistance... roughly nine types of magical dicines in total, all rare potions with strong effects on dragonkind, premium products crafted and formulated by a level 19 mature silver dragon.
"Magical dicine Sorcerer... should I also learn one of these auxiliary class pathways?" This thought sprouted in Garoth's mind.
But quickly, he cast it aside, discarding and rejecting the idea, "For such class pathways, I should have my subordinates or other dragons learn them. Like how the red dragon Samantha beca an alchemist."
"This way I can enjoy the benefits without diverting my own ti." Garoth pondered internally.
In the future when taking in other dragons, while Dragon Valley provides them sanctuary, there must also be corresponding requirents.
For example: requiring them to quickly learn and practice so class pathway beneficial to Dragon Valley and tribal developnt, not being lazy like Gordon, wasting their draconic talents.
anwhile.
In the biting cold wind, the red iron dragon raised his head to gaze into the distance.
He saw blizzards pouring down like silver sand upon the valley cliffs on both sides of Dragon Valley, blocked outside the valley so that only scattered snowflakes fell within.
Outside the valley where wind and snow raged, strong bipedal wyverns beat their wings, dragging various refined square bricks mined from the quarries upward against the wind with iron chains.
And besides the bipedal wyverns.
Many barbarian and minotaur slaves, urged by the whip-cracks of gnoll overseers, carried heavy iron and steel ingots with their bodies, climbing toward the cliff summit.
Occasionally, slaves frozen stiff or exhausted would collapse.
But quickly, new slaves would be driven to fill the vacancies.
On the cliff-top platform.
Alchemists operated so older model but still effective industrial construction golems—forrly accumulations of the Gold Fang Tribe, now assets belonging to the Molten Iron Tribe.
So had shock devices installed in their feet, constantly stomping to compact the foundation steel-hard.
So had fire gems embedded in their chests, burning black oil as energy, spraying high-temperature flas from their palms to soften tal ingots for joining.
So were crane-type constructs responsible for stacking stone materials delivered by flying dragons into massive wall-like structures resembling city walls.
The most architecturally gifted lizardfolk 'craftsn' gathered together, gesturing with sothing like blueprints, continuously directing various subordinates to work.
...As snow fell, the fortress standing at the cliff's edge already showed its preliminary form.
Watching his busy subordinates and slaves, along with the gradually taking shape fortress, a satisfied smile appeared on the red iron dragon's face.
"Finally, I'll have a place to shelter from wind and rain." He thought to himself.
All along, Garoth had either casually rested in dark caves or slept out in the open.
But this wasn't his true desire.
Dragons weren't beasts—they had certain requirents for dwellings.
Magnificent, towering, impregnably strong fortresses were one architectural style dragons favored, and one Garoth liked.
However.
Fortresses capable of accommodating giant creatures weren't the sa concept as human noble fortresses.
To accommodate dragon sizes, the lowest walls of such fortresses would appear as towering as city walls to other species.
Walls, pillars, dos... all required massive amounts of materials, and the quality had to be superior—ordinary bricks and stones wouldn't do. They needed to use sturdy tals primarily, and when necessary, have alchemists engrave reinforcent runes on every single brick. Otherwise, to dragons, it would be shoddy construction that crumbled at a touch.
Garoth had long contemplated building a fortress, but for various reasons, never implented it.
Only now, with the Molten Iron Tribe ruling the Convergence Lands, external threats eliminated, short-term focus on developnt rather than rash warfare, and the situation stabilized, did he have room to build a fortress.
The existence of such a fortress also represented a watershed mont.
Only lord dragons with vast numbers of subordinates, substantial resources, and stable rule could construct giant dragon fortresses.
Even the iron dragon mother in the Ser Wilderness had no fortress in her territory, mainly inhabiting modified caves because the wilderness was filled with dangers, nurous powerful beings existed, subordinates needed patrols and guards, resources under her command were limited, leaving the iron dragon mother no leisure to build a fortress.
"Deborah, do your parents have a fortress in Red Maple Valley?"
Garoth asked the brass-silver dragon.
"No... they prefer living in human form, so they never built a fortress."
Deborah blinked her eyes, also looking up at the fortress form gradually taking shape in the howling wind and snow, a flash of admiration in her gaze, saying: "Garoth, you're only a young adult and already have your own fortress. Any tal dragon your age would be envious and jealous if they knew."
Building fortresses wasn't simple for tal dragons either.
Few among them beca lord dragons. Those wanting to build fortresses mostly relied on wealth and dragon connections, hiring other races like human and dwarf craftsn to help construct them.
Beyond material costs, there were labor fees, design fees, etc.... difficult to calculate.
The interdiate expenses would pain even mature tal dragons.
The silver dragon couple likely didn't build a fortress not because they disliked it, but because they couldn't bear the cost, settling instead for building human-form dwellings.
Another noteworthy point:
As they aged, tal dragons' wealth would actually gradually be surpassed by evil dragons, because evil dragons burned, killed, and plundered, voraciously collecting all obtainable wealth without moral burdens, accumulating resources more efficiently than tal dragons.
tal dragons' primary wealth source ca from 'punishing evil and eliminating wickedness'—seizing evil dragons' wealth.
But evil dragon lords weren't easy targets to rob.
If no evil dragons were available to plunder.
Then like the silver dragon Edri, they'd choose professions like alchemist or magical dicine sorcerer, selling created items for profit.
"This fortress is designed for a mature dragon's size, and will also serve as Dragon Valley's assembly and eting place."
"Once completed, it will have ample space."
The red iron dragon grinned, telling the brass-silver dragon: "When the ti cos, if you like, you can move in too. I can reserve a room for you."
He was actually willing to share his fortress.
Garoth truly wasn't an evil dragon!
The brass-silver dragon nodded happily, but then suddenly said warily: "You won't demand rent from , will you? Unless it's free, otherwise I'd rather not stay."
The red iron dragon said seriously: "What kind of talk is that? With our relationship, of course it's free."
The free things are the most expensive... Garoth added ntally.
Keeping the brass-silver dragon firmly tied to his war chariot would make it easier for him to borrow the tal dragons' influence, even cling to the silver dragon father's leg, and exploit his magical dicines.
Garoth shook snow from his wing mbranes, looked at the brass-silver dragon, and asked gravely: "Deborah, if I shelter many evil young dragons here, and the news gets out, might tal dragons target us for attack?"
This was his greatest concern.
Evil dragons gathering in large numbers in one place.
During the Federation's internal chaos they might not manage it, but tal dragons might descend en masse, treating Dragon Valley as an evil dragon gathering ground, attacking this place specifically.
Despite having established footing in the Convergence Lands, Garoth always maintained clear awareness.
The Molten Iron Tribe's current prosperity resulted more from seizing opportunities than demonstrating absolute strength. This fledgling force remained fragile, unable to withstand top-tier faction assaults.
After hearing Garoth's words.
"Garoth..." The brass-silver dragon gently shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the red iron dragon's formidable, fierce form, then said seriously: "tal dragons might have natural prejudice against you, but haven't your prejudices against tal dragons been equally deep?"
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