Chapter 280: Chapter 252: Galos: My Fortress Is Pretty Big, You Can Sleep Here

Border Area, Dragon Valley.

The skill-based fishing contest ended with a victory for the Red Iron Dragon, who successfully seized multiple magic potions from the hands of the Metal Dragon Rich Lady.

Similar magic potions.

Galos had acquired quite a few from the Red Silver Dragon through companionship, riddles, gambling, and training guidance.

Flying Dragon Potion that enhances agility, Magic Dragon Potion that heightens elemental sensitivity, Ba Dragon Potion that grants temporary resistance... various potions, totaling around nine types, all rare potions with a strong effect on the Dragon Race, crafted by a prestigious nineteen-level mature Silver Dragon.

"Magic Potion Master... Shouldn’t I also learn a similar supportive career path?"

This thought sprouted in Galos’s mind.

But soon, he discarded and vetoed it.

"This type of career path, I should let my followers or other dragons learn it, like how Red Dragon Samantha became an Alchemist."

"This way, I can enjoy the benefits without it taking up my time."

Galos pondered.

In the future, when taking in other dragons, Dragon Valley must also set corresponding requirements when providing them shelter.

For example.

They should be encouraged to learn a career path beneficial to Dragon Valley and the tribe’s development as soon as possible, avoiding laziness and wasting the Dragon Race’s innate talents like Gordon.

Meanwhile.

In the biting cold wind, the Red Iron Dragon raised his head to gaze.

He saw the blizzard pouring like silver sand onto the cliffs on both sides of Dragon Valley, blocked outside the valley, resulting in only a few flurries falling within.

Outside the valley, where the wind and snow raged, the mighty Two-legged Flying Dragons flapped their wings, dragging various types of refined bricks extracted from the mines with iron chains as they ascended against the wind.

Aside from the Two-legged Flying Dragons, there were also many Barbarians and Minotaur slaves, urged on by the whips and whistles of the Jackal-Wolf Folk overseers, carrying heavy iron and steel ingots with their bodies, climbing toward the summit of the cliffs.

Occasionally, some slaves would collapse from frostbite and exhaustion.

But soon, new slaves were driven forward to fill the gaps.

On the cliff-top platform.

Alchemists controlled some older model, yet still effective, industrial construction golems, which were originally assets of the Golden Tooth Tribe, now part of the wealth of the Molten Iron Tribe.

Some had shock devices on their feet, continually pounding the ground to compact the foundation as solid as steel.

Some had Fire Gemstones embedded in their chests, burning black oil as fuel, using their palms to emit high-temperature flames to soften metal ingots for easier connection.

Some were crane-type constructs, responsible for stacking the stone materials brought by the flying dragons into walls as towering as a castle.

The War Lizardfolk ’Craftsmen’ with the greatest architectural talent gathered together, holding blueprint-like objects, directing various followers in their tasks.

......As the wind and snow fell quietly, the fortress, standing on the cliff edge, began to take shape.

Seeing his busy followers and slaves, and the fortress gradually taking form, a satisfied smile appeared on the Red Iron Dragon’s face.

"Finally, a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

He thought.

All along, Galos either casually resided in dark caves or lived out in the open.

But this was not what he desired.

The Dragon Race is not a beast; they have specific requirements for their dwellings.

Grand and majestic, a strong fortress is a preferred architectural style for dragons, and it is also what Galos liked.

However.

A fortress that accommodates giant creatures is not the same concept as a human nobleman’s fortress.

To suit the Dragon Race’s size, even the lowest walls of a fortress would look as towering as castle walls to other species.

The walls, pillars, domes... everything requires a massive amount of material, and the quality must be high-grade; ordinary bricks and stones cannot be used. Instead, strong metals should be the primary material, with Alchemists inscribing runes on each brick for reinforcement when necessary, or they would be nothing more than fragile rubble to dragons.

Galos had long entertained the idea of building a fortress, but for various reasons, he had never implemented it.

Until now, with the Molten Iron Tribe dominating the Border Area, external threats were gone, and development was prioritized, ensuring no rash warfare would occur in the short term, creating a stable situation, allowing for the possibility of building a fortress.

The existence of such a fortress also marks a watershed.

Only a Lord Dragon with a vast following, strong foundations, and stable rule can build a Giant Dragon Fortress.

Even in the Sel Wilderness, the Iron Dragon Lady has no fortress in her territory, as the wilderness is fraught with dangers and many strong beings. Her followers need to patrol and guard, and her resources are limited, leaving no time to build a fortress.

"Deborah, do your parents have a fortress in Red Maple Valley?"

Galos asked the Red Silver Dragon.

"No... they prefer living in humanoid form, so they haven’t built a fortress."

Deborah blinked, also looking up at the fortress shape being gradually formed in the howling wind and snow, a hint of envy in her eyes, "Galos, you’re just a young dragon and you have your own fortress; any metal dragon your age would be envious and jealous."

It’s not easy for Metal Dragons to build a fortress either.

Among them, the presence of Lord Dragons is rarer, so when they want to build a fortress, they often have to rely on their wealth and Dragon Veins, hiring artisans from other species, like humans and dwarfs, to help with the construction.

Besides material costs, there are labor costs, design fees... countless expenses.

The costs involved make even mature Metal Dragons feel the sting.

The Silver Dragon couple didn’t build a fortress, probably not because they didn’t like it, but because they were reluctant to spend that much, so they settled for constructing a humanoid dwelling.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning.

As Metal Dragons age, their wealth is gradually surpassed by Evil Dragons, because Evil Dragons pillage and amass wealth without moral constraints, collecting wealth and resources more efficiently than Metal Dragons.

And for Metal Dragons, the largest source of wealth is ’righting wrongs,’ taking from the Evil Dragons’ riches.

But not all Evil Dragon Lords are easy targets. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

If there are no Evil Dragons to seize from,

Then they’ll be like Silver Dragon Adri, choosing professions like Alchemist or Magic Potion Master, profiting by selling their created goods.

"This fortress is designed according to the size of a mature dragon, and it will also serve as a meeting and ceremonial place for Dragon Valley."

"Once completed, there will be plenty of space."

The Red Iron Dragon grinned at the Red Silver Dragon, "When the time comes, if you like, you can move in. I can save a room for you."

Willing to share his fortress.

Galos indeed wasn’t an Evil Dragon!

The Red Silver Dragon nodded happily but then suddenly said cautiously, "You won’t charge me rent, will you? Unless it’s free, otherwise I won’t stay."

The Red Iron Dragon solemnly replied, "Of course it’s free, given our friendship."

The most expensive things are often free... Galos added in his mind.

Binding the Red Silver Dragon tightly to his chariot was convenient for him to pull on the facade of a Metal Dragon, and even cling to the Silver Dragon’s old father’s thigh, exploiting his magic potions.

"However, there’s still a crucial issue."

Galos shook off the snow from his wing membranes, looked at the Red Silver Dragon, and then seriously asked, "Deborah, if I take in many Evil Young Dragons here and the news gets out, will I be targeted by the Metal Dragons?"

This was his most concerning point.

If Evil Dragons gather in large numbers in one place, during internal chaos within the Federation, it might be overlooked, but a Metal Dragon could descend from the sky at any moment, treating Dragon Valley as an evil dragon gathering ground and launch attacks here.

Despite establishing his ground in the Border Area, Galos maintained clear awareness.

The Molten Iron Tribe’s current prosperity was more a result of seizing opportunities rather than reflecting absolute strength; this fledgling force remains fragile, unable to withstand the blows of the highest-level powers.

Upon hearing Galos’s words.

"Galos..." The Red Silver Dragon shook her head gently, her gaze sweeping over the formidable, fearsome form of the Red Iron Dragon, then said earnestly, "Metal Dragons will naturally have biases against you, but haven’t you equally biased views against them?"