Its little head was clearly calculating the pros and cons of this deal.
After a mont, it seed to make a decision. It reluctantly lifted a foreclaw and carefully scraped it across its fluffy belly.
With a few barely audible clicks, twelve silver scales, each the size of a baby’s palm and shimring with a moonlight-like luster, rolled onto the tabletop like pearls.
After doing all this, Moonlight imdiately looked at Raylo with pleading eyes, a whining sound of urgency rumbling in its throat.
"Your math is pretty good, little one!"
Twelve roasted geese for twelve Dragon Scales. Not a single one extra.
Raylo, satisfied, carefully collected the Dragon Scales and placed them in a small leather pouch he had prepared earlier.
He rubbed Moonlight’s large head as a reward for its cooperation.
"Alright, dig in."
With permission granted, Moonlight let out a joyful low roar and, casting all restraint aside, dove headfirst into the Roasted Goose Mountain.
The sound of satisfied chewing imdiately filled the air as it devoured the food like a whirlwind.
Raylo watched it feast heartily, smiled, and turned to leave the terrace.
He had to get this "unexpected windfall" ready before Master Barnaby returned.
As dusk fell and the sky darkened, the familiar shriek of a Two-legged Flying Dragon echoed from the distance.
Soon, Master Barnaby and Bolin landed in the open ground before the castle.
Unlike the high spirits with which he had departed, Master Barnaby’s face now wore a look of unconcealable disappointnt.
He was covered in a bit of dust, having clearly conducted a thorough search of the abandoned mine, but the results were apparently unsatisfactory.
"Lord Baron."
Master Barnaby forced an apologetic smile when he saw Raylo coming out to greet him.
"My apologies for troubling you for so long. That mine... alas, aside from so faint residual traces, we found almost nothing of value."
He shook his head, his voice filled with regret.
"It seems my expectations were too high. It appears that young Silver Dragon left this place long ago."
Bolin, standing to the side, also bowed and said nothing.
"To my knowledge, a Young Black Dragon has established a Dragon’s Nest in the Black Stone Mountain Range. I once encountered it on my travels. If the Silver Dragon cannot be found, perhaps this Black Dragon could solve your problem, Master."
Raylo’s face showed just the right amount of understanding and comfort.
Master Barnaby sighed.
"For multiple mbers of the Dragon Race to appear here one after another... this region is truly befitting of the borderlands, with its own untad character."
"My original plan was to select a scale from a tal Dragon and a Magic Dragon, grind them up, and mix them together as a catalyst for a Tier Five Magical Beast’s Breakthrough Potion."
"To be frank, Lord Baron, I have already failed many tis. I used up all the Dragon Scales I had in stock, which is why I left Thunder Dragon City and ca to the Northern Border to acquire different types of Dragon Scales."
"I never expected to discover the scales of this Mutated Silver Dragon, which perfectly fit my alchemical theories."
"Unfortunately, I still ca up empty-handed in the end. I shouldn’t impose on you any longer. I’ll prepare to return to Giant Stone City now."
With that, he bid Raylo farewell and turned to leave.
"Master, please wait a mont."
Raylo spoke up just in ti.
Master Barnaby stopped and looked at him.
Raylo said unhurriedly, "A few days ago, so of my people were in the mountain forests near the mine and seed to have picked up so strange, shiny little fragnts. No one paid them any mind at the ti, but when I heard a soldier ntion it today, it suddenly occurred to that they might be related to your research, Master. So I had soone collect them, hoping you might take a look."
As he spoke, Raylo pulled the small leather pouch from his coat. It contained the twelve Dragon Scales and a few useless trinkets he had "deliberately" added. He handed it over.
Master Barnaby’s eyes lit up instantly!
Inside was the aura he had been searching for.
He took the pouch and carefully poured out its contents.
Amidst a small pile of miscellaneous items, twelve Dragon Scales shimring with a cold, clear light were dazzlingly conspicuous.
"That’s it! This is it! The aura, the texture, the energy fluctuations..."
Master Barnaby cradled the scales as if they were the rarest of Treasures, the disappointnt on his face completely swept away and replaced by ecstasy and excitent.
He examined the scales intently, completely lost in his own world.
A mont later, he ca back to his senses, realizing he had lost his composure.
"Lord Baron, this... these scales are incredibly important to !"
"With these Dragon Scales, I’ll have a chance to create the Tier Five Magical Beast’s Breakthrough Potion! This will be a qualitative breakthrough for my Alchemy!"
Master Barnaby took a deep breath to calm his excitent.
"As per our agreent, these potions are in exchange for the additional materials you’ve provided. Please wait a mont!"
He once again began to rummage frantically through his Magic Space Bag.
This ti, he took out two Crystal Bottles and a wooden box.
"Lord Baron, here are two bottles of Earth Knight’s Breakthrough Potion and ten bottles of Great Knight’s Breakthrough Potion!"
Master Barnaby solemnly handed the Potions to Raylo, his gaze fervent.
"I hope these Potions can express a small token of my gratitude!"
Two bottles of Earth Knight’s Breakthrough Potion! Ten bottles of Great Knight’s Breakthrough Potion!
Even though Raylo was prepared for this, he was still taken aback by Master Barnaby’s extravagance.
’As expected of a Potion Master. In his hands, these precious Potions seem no different from spring water.’
"You’re too generous, Master."
Raylo maintained a calm expression, but inwardly he was blooming with joy. He readily accepted the Potions.
"It is an honor for Black Stone Territory to be of assistance to your research, Master."
"Not at all, not at all! It is I who should be thanking you, Lord Baron!"
Master Barnaby was now in a fantastic mood and found Raylo more and more agreeable.
"By the way, Lord Baron, I’ll be staying at the Golden Griffin Inn in Giant Stone City for the ti being to focus on studying these scales. If... and I’m just saying if... you or your people happen to make any similar discoveries in the future, or find any other special Magical Beast Materials, you can co find there anyti! I’m willing to exchange them for the highest price or the best quality Potions!"
"I will."
Raylo nodded in agreent.
"If there’s any news, I will inform you at the first opportunity, Master."
"Excellent! In that case, I won’t disturb you any further. Farewell!"
Completely satisfied, Master Barnaby thanked Raylo solemnly once more, then impatiently climbed onto the back of the Two-legged Flying Dragon.
"Lord Baron?"
Atop the Two-legged Flying Dragon, Master Barnaby spoke again.
"If possible, could you have your Knights and your people search for traces of this young Silver Dragon in your territory and the Black Stone Mountain Range? Whether it’s clues about it, or any leftover Dragon Scales or other materials, I am willing to purchase them at a high price!"
With a low roar, the Two-legged Flying Dragon beat its wings and soared high into the air, quickly disappearing into the night sky.
Raylo stood his ground, weighing the heavy Potion bottles in his hand. As he watched the direction Master Barnaby had departed, the smile on his lips grew more pronounced.
’I wonder if Master Barnaby suspects anything. Regardless, maintaining a good relationship with him could provide the territory with a long-term supply channel for high-quality Potions.’
...
「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」
Raylo, dressed in full armor, mounted his Storm Griffin.
Ed, leading twenty Pegasus Knights, was already assembled and ready to depart.
"Move out!"
Raylo gave the command and was the first to take to the sky.
The Pegasus Knights followed close behind. Their wings spread, stirring up a current of air as they rose into the sky, forming an orderly formation to guard Raylo’s flanks.
Raylo’s group traveled by day and rested by night, making almost no stops aside from necessary rests.
The speed of the Pegasus Knights greatly shortened their travel ti.
The journey was uneventful.
By the afternoon of the following day, a vast forest of red maples appeared on the horizon, its leaves as red as fire, like a bank of burning clouds.
They had arrived at Red Maple Territory.
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