Chapter Forty-Eight

“Pay more?”

The leader of the group perked up at once, hurriedly asking, “Madam Red, how much do you want?”

“One hundred tons... of gold!”

Madam Red named her price, bold as a lion—no, more accurately, as a dragon.

“One hundred tons... why don’t you just go out and rob someone?!”

The leader blurted out, forgetting all courtesy in his shock.

“Oh, I have considered robbery before… But I’m afraid I can’t outfight you people from Xia.”

Madam Red chuckled. “But with one hundred tons of gold for the formula of the Dragonblood Potion, you’re not at a loss at all.”

“With this, you can mass-produce Dragonblood Warriors, making up for the lack of individual strength among your people, and perhaps become the true overlords of this world!”

“A matter that concerns the very fate of your nation… Don’t tell me you’re unwilling to part with a mere hundred tons of gold?”

“Madam Red, you overestimate us. We are already exiles from Xia, unable to return home. Let alone a hundred tons of gold, we couldn’t even gather a single ton,” the leader said bitterly.

“If you can’t provide it… then have those behind you provide it,” Madam Red said, a hint of impatience in her voice. “Don’t think I don’t know—this so-called group of defectors must have intricate ties to the officials of Xia, with a vast network of connections, perhaps even tacit approval from the authorities themselves.”

“Otherwise, with the advanced and wondrous technology of Xia, and their formidable organizational skills, if they were truly determined, could they not control a handful of stowaways like you?”

“Madam Red, you seem to know our country quite well,” the leader said, somewhat taken aback.

He knew, of course, that the internal situation of Xia could not remain hidden forever, but dragons were notoriously unsociable and not well-informed. For her to have grasped things so quickly was surprising.

“Of course!” Madam Red replied, her smile ambiguous. “After all, your people are wealthy—and you are the most powerful foreign race this world has ever seen. Even the gods are uneasy at your arrival…”

“As a solitary dragon, I am always alert to danger, so it’s perfectly natural for me to pay particular attention to Xia, and to learn about you.”

The group exchanged glances, their expressions darkening. It was clear to them now: some of the stowaways from Xia must have defected to this red dragon, revealing these secrets. Or perhaps she had threatened, or even kidnapped, some of their people to extract information.

Whichever it was, the result was the same: this red dragon had gained a deep understanding of Xia, and, more worryingly, had developed greater ambitions. She wanted more from Xia.

“Madam Red… I really can’t decide on your request. I’ll need to consult those above me before I can give you an answer,” the leader said after some thought.

“Very well,” Madam Red replied. “But only you may return, and I’ll give you just four hours. I must have an answer before sunset, or I’ll kill your companions!”

“After all, I said earlier—I must see gold today. Dragons may be notorious for going back on their word, but this time, I mean it.”

“Only four hours… will Old Zhang make it back in time?” One of the remaining men murmured to his companions, anxiety clear in his voice.

Their negotiation team comprised five men; the leader’s surname was Zhang. He had once been a wealthy heir, well-connected and bold—a principal initiator of their smuggling organization.

When the crossing into another world first occurred, while ordinary people were still reeling in confusion and panic, some ambitious and capable individuals had already begun making secret contact with the outside world.

They soon discovered that the magical realms beyond were far more dazzling than modern society! Here, you could learn fascinating magic, gain lifespans far beyond the ordinary, witness and create miracles… With the right effort, the world outside promised boundless opportunities.

Indeed, the dream of crossing into another world and conquering it had long been a popular theme in online fiction, inspiring countless enthusiasts.

So, before the nation realized the gravity of the situation, Zhang and his fellows had already organized hundreds of like-minded netizens, embarking on research and exploration of the world beyond.

Within just half a year, their organization had grown to over ten thousand official members, with millions more on the periphery, forming a vast web of relationships and interests—spanning both the legal and the illicit.

Well, the illicit side had long been stamped out—what remained was an alliance of business and politics, wielding enormous influence in the prosperous southern regions of Xia.

Had the authorities not acted swiftly, recognizing that such behavior was reckless and selfish—draining the country’s resources and wealth to empower themselves, inevitably leading to chaos and upheaval—things could have spiraled out of control.

The government had rushed to tighten regulations on gold and the movement of people, barely managing to curb the organization’s growth.

Otherwise, in half a year, the number of stowaways would have been in the millions, not just a few tens of thousands!

Consider that the price of joining the outside world was a mere jin of gold. Even at only a million people, that was five hundred tons of gold. At that rate of loss, Xia would not last long; the people would become restless, and the entire country would collapse!

“He’ll make it back!” another man said, trying to encourage the others though he was uneasy himself. “I know Old Zhang—he’s loyal, he wouldn’t abandon us!”

“And we all know how important the Dragonblood Potion is. Even if the organization can’t raise that much gold, they can turn to official channels for help!”

“Don’t worry. Even if he doesn’t return in time, I won’t kill you,” Madam Red suddenly interjected, not looking up from the book she was reading, a primer in the Xia language. “As your countrymen say, what is the most precious thing in the world?”

“Talent!”

“Talent is the most valuable resource. With talent, wealth and success will follow naturally.”

“You’ve risked everything to venture into the outside world—surely you have ability and vision. It would be a waste to kill you. I’d rather keep you as my servants.”

The men exchanged uneasy glances, unable to guess Madam Red’s motives. Was she… trying to win them over?

“In truth, I am quite fond of your country—especially your civilization,” Madam Red went on, her tone thoughtful. “Xia is not just a nation, but a formidable civilization disguised as a nation. It appears gentle, harmless, but is in fact fiercely aggressive, with a terrifying power of assimilation.”

“Even I, an ancient dragon who has lived over a millennium, feel drawn to your civilization after coming into contact with it.”

“Your recorded history spans only a few thousand years—less than the lifespan of some old dragons—yet the richness and detail within it far surpass our own, whose histories span hundreds of thousands of years.”

She glanced up at the sun, momentarily veiled by clouds, and continued, “Of course, that’s largely because our world is so dark and stifling. The gods control everything, war and chaos are eternal themes, and it saps the spirit of dragons and men alike.”

“I welcome your people’s arrival. This stagnant, decaying world needs something new—a true Twilight of the Gods to bring about a new order!”