Chapter 100: Naturalization
The Brass Dragon was unaware that Lady Red’s dealings with the Xia people were far from smooth. Despite her various gestures of goodwill and gifts, the Xia authorities had steadfastly refused her proposal to build a city within the safe zone. They had even made it clear that if she dared to construct anything, it would be deemed an illegal structure and targeted for demolition.
Lady Red was furious. The Xia people constantly proclaimed that they would not pursue retribution or political purges, that they would forgive the past and look to the future. Even the lowly minotaur and gnoll managed to thrive within the safe zone—so why was there no place for a red dragon like herself?
Her mind, still not fully acculturated to Xia ways, even contemplated launching an administrative lawsuit or taking the matter to court to accuse the Xia government of inaction and racial discrimination. Yet the Xia authorities outright refused to recognize Lady Red or her emissaries as legal entities and rejected all her administrative appeals and lawsuits.
“Damn that black dragon!” Lady Red fumed, so enraged that she lost her appetite for a long while. The mere thought of that black dragon made her teeth itch with resentment. Had that creature not suddenly appeared to disrupt her plans, she would have long monopolized the dragon blood and scale trade with Xia, amassing a fortune beyond measure.
“...But the Xia people actually let that black dragon go without harm. That shows some integrity; quite the demeanor of a great power...” Lady Red mused thoughtfully. “Maybe... I should make a visit to Xia myself, pay respects at the docks, and go through the proper channels to show my sincerity?”
Even the black dragon who accidentally trespassed had been treated so well. If she applied for a visit proactively, with the right formalities and attitude, the Xia would surely welcome her. After all, she would be the first great dragon to officially visit Xia, and given how much the Xia valued their reputation, they would undoubtedly guarantee her safety.
The more Lady Red considered it, the more reasonable it seemed. Yet, the inherent suspicion of dragons made her hesitate. Venturing into Xia territory would be akin to entrusting her very life to others. Even with the black dragon’s precedent, she remained uneasy. Years of draconic intuition warned her that the black dragon was no ordinary creature.
“Bad news, Lady Red! A major incident has occurred!”
At that moment, one of her Xia subordinates rushed over, breathless, bearing astonishing news—the black dragon who had been released had returned to Xia and intended to apply for Xia citizenship!
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“Breaking news from New Xia News: The black dragon Dious recently re-entered our borders and submitted an unexpected request to the authorities. It wishes to become a citizen of Xia—a proud and great Xia national,” the reporter announced.
“Most people hearing this will be shocked and surprised. What reasons and inner journey could have led a black dragon to make such a choice?”
“To answer this, our reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. Dious.”
“...Having been away for two months, Mr. Dious appears noticeably thinner and weaker. His scales have lost their luster, yet his demeanor is markedly more composed, and he has become friendlier toward our staff.”
“When asked, Mr. Dious was candid. He explained that during his time away, he traveled extensively and experienced much. He increasingly perceived the foreign world as decadent and backward, growing ever more hollow and confused, unable to find meaning or direction in his dragon life.”
“‘I do not hate darkness, for I have never seen the light,’ Mr. Dious said emotionally. Having long suffered under the oppression and enslavement of an evil god, he deeply empathizes with those words. Though his body is now free, his mind and soul remain shackled by many dark and outdated beliefs, urgently needing the warmth and clarity of light.”
“‘Our values are humanity’s values: peace, development, fairness, justice,’ Mr. Dious praised, firmly believing that Xia’s system and development model offer a true future for the material world.”
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Yet human values do not necessarily align with those of dragons; in fact, they may conflict. By choosing Xia citizenship, Mr. Dious effectively betrayed his own class. Was he not afraid of alienation and hostility from other dragons?
“...In response to this question, the black dragon’s gaze was resolute. He stated that most dragons’ values are selfish, narrow, and mistaken, severely hindering the sustainable development of the entire dragon race.”
“Mr. Dious asserted that human and dragon values need not conflict; they can be unified through social division of labor.”
“The material world is unlike Earth; its situation is more complex and harsh. ‘We’ should not encompass only humans, but all intelligent races who love peace and life. We must seek common ground while preserving differences, progressing together.”
“Mr. Dious declared that he cares not for other dragons’ scorn or hostility. He cares only for the dragon race’s future. His decision to join Xia citizenship is not for personal gain but to find a new path for a great race that has been muddled and fallen for thousands of years!”
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“...With this simple yet unshakable conviction, the black dragon Dious resolutely returned to Xia, intending to apply for citizenship and entwine his fate with this great nation to realize the value of his dragon life.”
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“Shameless! Absolutely shameless!” Lady Red watched the news report on her tablet, fuming with rage. How could that damned black dragon be so despicable, rushing to serve the Xia like a lackey?
What was she supposed to do now? This was nothing short of forced competition!
Xia’s technology products were not entirely unusable abroad; they just suffered greatly shortened lifespans and accelerated power consumption.
Lady Red’s initial fascination with Xia had come from seizing a Xia laptop, which captivated her and led her to uncover much about the Xia, gradually influencing her own thoughts toward Xia culture.
Of course, she believed her Xia assimilation was nowhere near as deep as that black dragon’s—he was practically a Xia person in spirit!
“Though... his ideological awakening does seem higher than mine...” Lady Red gradually calmed down, watching the black dragon, now noticeably more mature and composed on camera, and found herself thoughtful.
Compared to two months ago, the black dragon’s speech had improved considerably. Had she not seen him released back abroad and noted his gaunt, malnourished appearance, she might have suspected that the Xia had detained him for two months of ideological reeducation.