Chapter 366: Chapter 303: Destiny’s Gifts, All Plainly Priced

Deep within the Sel Wilderness, the cliffs of Needleleaf Valley shimmered with a pale grey under the thin daylight.

The enormous and imposing figure of Galos stood in the valley clearing, his metallic scale armor reflecting the dawn’s faint light.

He lowered his head, eyes intently studying the items before him: pristine, transparent black oil crystals and several open large wooden boxes beside them.

Inside the wooden boxes.

Are piles as tall as mountains, emanating various elemental glows from magic gemstones, red as fire, blue as ice, green as the vitality of forests, pure and translucent, flawless and without cracks.

These treasures, worth a fortune, were part of the lavish gift sent by Princess Alina of Lothern.

Apart from those equally impressive yet somewhat mundane gold and silver assets, the core of this gift was five units of first-degree black oil crystals and well over a hundred pieces, each of excellent quality, magic gemstones.

"It’s a pity that even with Alina’s status, she cannot easily provide more black oil crystals."

Galos extended his claw, cautiously picking up a cold black oil crystal, playing with it delicately at his clawtip for a moment.

He could feel the pure energy within strongly tempting his instincts.

Ultimately, he suppressed the primal urge to devour it completely, carefully returning it to its place, stored with the other crystals.

Not long ago, Galos had communicated with Princess Alina from afar.

Galos was upfront, clearly expressing his desire to obtain more black oil crystals, stating he could exchange portions of other gifts for them.

However, Princess Alina found this difficult to achieve.

She candidly expressed that even as a royal princess, the amount of black oil crystals she could mobilize at once was extremely limited and could not meet Galos’s requests.

In times of peace, there might be room for negotiation.

But now, the situation within the Federation is unpredictable, and such valuable scarce resources like black oil crystals, of high strategic significance, are classified at the highest regulatory level by each kingdom, with circulation channels strictly controlled. If not for her identity as a royal princess, Alina would struggle to extract even one unit of black oil crystals.

"These things are watched too closely; no kingdom will easily allow them to flow out."

"To stably and abundantly acquire black oil crystals, ultimately, one must rely on oneself to establish a significantly advanced alchemy industrial system, refining ordinary black oil and gradually concentrating and refining it."

Galos pondered silently in his heart.

Desire, once ignited, is like a boulder tumbling down from a mountaintop—once started, it’s hard to halt its rampaging momentum.

Galos clearly remembered during his frail young dragon era when the opportunity to drink some ordinary black oil was enough to satisfy him for a long time.

But times have changed.

Now he possesses the resources of both the Border Area and the Scale Earth Rift, making ordinary black oil no longer scarce to him, and with it, the desire fades.

Naturally, his gaze fervently fixed upon a higher level of energy crystal—the black oil crystal.

Though Princess Alina could not provide vast amounts of black oil crystals to show sincerity, she was not entirely dismissive. She additionally gifted Galos a considerable amount of 98-grade refined black oil.

This highly refined black oil still represents a rarity which the Molten Iron Tribe cannot steadily produce with their current craftsmanship.

With his sharp clawtip, Galos effortlessly pried open the seal of a barrel of 98 black oil.

Instantly, an energy aura, more intense, richer, and with an extraordinary burning sensation than ordinary black oil, spread out, stimulating his senses.

Without hesitation, he raised his gigantic head, opened his tooth-filled dragon maw, and guzzled several large mouthfuls!

The scorching energy, like liquid flames, cascaded down his throat as if igniting the blood within his body.

Immediately, Galos’s muscular tail, covered with metallic scales, agilely wrapped around a few radiant gems from the gem box that contained ample elemental power.

He took a deep breath and swallowed them whole along with another big gulp of 98 black oil.

The elemental energy from the gems and the pure power of the 98 black oil furiously intertwined, collided, and burned within his stomach!

An indescribable sensation of satisfaction swept his entire body instantly.

Like the fiercest flames exploding within his organs, rushing and gushing!

"Exhilaration!"

A deep and satisfied dragon song echoed throughout the valley.

Galos’s scales puffed up, muscles knotted thickly, blood roared like magma flowing rampantly.

He refused to waste this perfect opportunity.

Intense! Blood-boiling!

Accompanied by a heavy thunderous sound that trembled the entire valley ground, Galos began an extreme intensity, nearly self-torturing, frenzied training on the spot.

Time passed silently like the swirling wind through the valley.

Quickly, a few days whisked by.

This morning, the sunlight was like melting golden liquid, generously pouring over the tundra and coniferous forests of the Sel Wilderness, with a sky appearing almost transparent and clear blue.

In this tranquil and radiant morning light, the Flower Knight Shire Haines, who had been unconscious for a long time, gently trembled his eyelids and finally slowly opened his heavy eyes.

The blurry vision, like glass covered in mist, gradually became clear.

The first thing he saw was the cold, rough, gray rocky ground beneath him.

Then, his vision slowly moved upwards.

A huge, deep outline, radiating an indescribable sense of oppression, gradually focused in front of him, ultimately transforming into that formidable and strong Red Iron Dragon he remembered so well.

"The war has stopped."

The Red Iron Dragon gazed calmly down, looking at the Flower Knight who had just awoken, still appearing extremely weak.

"But this by no means signifies the end."

Galos continued, his voice devoid of joy or anger: "The last timing was unsuitable for both you and me, but now, we can continue the conversation that was interrupted."

In these past few days, Galos had not only been exercising and digesting energy.

Through his followers’ covert visits and investigations among adventurers in Ximu Town, it was confirmed that this Flower Knight—Shire Haines, was a well-respected and admired figure among many adventurers.

Not just within the Raymond Duchy.

Due to his friendliness, enthusiasm, and generosity, along with his excellent character, even when his own interests were damaged, he still extended a hand to the weak. The Flower Knight enjoyed significant fame in the adventurer circle and was recognized as a renowned hero.

Galos got straight to the point and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with the Albert Family?"

Shire made an effort to calm his hazy mind upon waking, his voice still slightly weak: "I once received the kindness of the Albert Family."

He paused, supporting his still aching body with his arm, and managed to sit up, continuing: "Count Mills accused the Molten Iron Tribe of tyrannical sinister acts, pleading with me to resolve the matter for the Albert Family and reclaim lost territory."

"To repay past kindness and to rescue the reportedly struggling residents of Ximu Town, I came here. However, after investigation, I ultimately found that the actual situation differed significantly from what Count Mills described."

Upon hearing these narratives, Galos roughly understood the causes and consequences of the whole affair.

"I see."

The Red Iron Dragon’s voice was filled with undisguised mockery: "Yet another typical, disgusting, clichéd story — a naive knight self-deceived by righteousness, easily tricked by cunning and insidious noble lord with lies, trekking thousands of miles to challenge the evil dragon, merely serving as a cheap tool for the noble to clear his eyesores."

"And I, Galos, have unfortunately played the evil dragon role destined to be overthrown by righteousness in your story."

"Utterly tedious."

The Flower Knight did not think so.

Having traveled far and wide for years, witnessing countless light and darkness of the world, he considered himself not a naive fledgling ignorant of worldly affairs.

"Honorable King of Molten Iron, I am more inclined to believe there’s some profound misunderstanding here."

Shire carefully contemplated his words, maintaining a sincere tone: "Count Mills is renowned for his charity and kindness, a virtuous lord praised across the Southern noble circles."

"Every year, he allocates a significant portion of his family income to charitable causes, establishing several well-equipped orphanages, sheltering many homeless wandering children."

"For actions against evil and safeguarding justice, he is never stingy, always generously funding the Adventurer Guild and local guards without recompense."

Shire’s tone was earnest, continuing: "Additionally, he treats ordinary peasants and farmers in the territory with extreme kindness, without the arrogance typical of most nobles."

"Thus, all the subjects of the Albert Family territory wholeheartedly support this benevolent Count."

Shire looked at Galos, his gaze earnest: "Perhaps, certain unscrupulous individuals deliberately distorted the truth before the Count, misleading his perception, which led to the misunderstanding about you and this unfortunate conflict."

"Honored King of Molten Iron, I, Shire Haines, am willing to serve as a bridge of communication, striving to dispel misunderstandings between the Molten Iron Tribe and the Albert Family, facilitating reconciliation."

Reconciliation?

Must be joking.

Galos’ enormous head tilted slightly.

He clearly realized that the young knight before him, though perhaps experienced in various adventures and seen some of the world, his perspective remained on the surface, deceived by the nobly embellished virtues, unable to perceive the colder, harsher truths lurking beneath the gleaming facade.

Speaking of charity?

In the far Southern Federation hinterland, he had similarly established the Starfire Monastery through hidden channels of the Gem Merchant Group, spending a great fortune.

There too, countless homeless orphans and abandoned infants were sheltered.

He provided those children with a roof against the elements, nourishing food for growth, books for education... In some sense, he also altered those people’s destinies.

However, Galos never considered his actions as stemming from kindness.

Behind this seemingly charitable gift, a clear price tag had long been affixed.

None of this was ever an unpaid offering.