Chapter 70: Gold Dragon Elionso
Three days later.
Radiant Mountain Range.
Livia landed on the back of a mountain peak, reverted to human form, squatted behind a giant rock, and quietly peeked her head out.
Ahead was an open valley with a small village in the center—about thirty households, wooden houses with thatched roofs, and curling cooking smoke. Surrounding the village were large tracts of farmland; it was currently the harvest season, and golden waves of wheat rose and fell in the wind. Farmers were busy in the fields, their laughter faintly audible.
A golden figure circled above the village.
It wasn't a bird, but a dragon.
A Gold Dragon.
About fifty meters long, his scales shimmered with brilliant golden light under the sun, each one looking like polished gold. His wings were broad and powerful, each flap bringing a gust of warm wind that made the wheat waves on the ground rise and fall one after another. He circled twice and then landed on a mountain top, crouching down to overlook the entire village.
The distance was too great to see his face clearly, but his eyes were visible—golden, gentle, with a kind of benevolence like a father looking at his children.
Livia stared at that figure and opened the system panel.
[Target Confirmed: Seran Dil Mihara Erdeen]
[Nickname: The local humans call him the "Guardian of Golden Radiance"]
[Current Status: On daily patrol]
[Favorability: 0 (Stranger)]
[Suggested Contact Method: Create a chance encounter to trigger the "Victim Radar"]
She closed the panel and began to observe the terrain.
The valley ran north-south, with the village to the north, forest to the south, and steep peaks on both the east and west sides. The Gold Dragon crouched on the highest peak to the west, his field of vision covering the entire valley.
To have a "chance encounter," she had to find an opportunity on his patrol route.
She stared at that golden figure for a long time.
Then she noticed a detail.
Every hour, the Gold Dragon would take off and circle the valley once, from north to south and then from south to north, the whole process taking about fifteen minutes. After completing a circuit, he would return to that mountain peak and continue crouching.
The route was very fixed.
The timing was very regular.
Livia took out a map exchanged from the system and marked several points on it.
Over the northern village—he flies the slowest there, looking down at the farmers.
The edge of the southern forest—he flies the fastest there, as it's deep mountains with nothing to protect.
The middle ground—the area where she was currently crouching—was the path he had to pass on every round trip.
She put away the map and began to think.
To have a "chance encounter" on the necessary path, she had to let him see her.
But the way he saw her was important.
It couldn't be "a Red Dragon crouching by the road waiting for him"; that would be too fake.
It had to be "an injured Red Dragon fleeing in panic, just happening to run into his patrol."
She looked down at her human form.
Red hair, golden eyes, old mage robe.
No scales, no wings, no tail—perfect disguise.
But this appearance wouldn't trigger the "Victim Radar."
She had to change back.
Back to dragon form, the forty-five-meter kind.
But she had to be injured.
The injuries couldn't be too light, or they'd look fake. They couldn't be too heavy, or she wouldn't be able to run.
She thought for a moment and exchanged a small prop from the system mall:
[Disguised Injury Generator]
[Grade: Rare]
[Effect: Can generate a realistic appearance of injuries on the body surface (bleeding + broken scales + weak aura), lasting for twenty-four hours]
[Remarks: It is only for appearance and does not affect combat power. Can be deactivated with one click if necessary.]
Livia looked at the prop and nodded.
The system really understood her.
————
An hour later.
Livia reverted to her dragon form and activated the disguised injuries.
Instantly, three deep wounds appeared on her left front claw, dripping with blood and with broken scales. A gash was torn open on the left side of her abdomen, revealing the muscles inside—of course, it was just appearance. There was a charred burn at the base of her right wing, which hung limply as if it were truly broken.
She looked down and checked herself.
Miserable enough.
Realistic enough.
She took a deep breath and began to move toward the valley.
Not flying—flying too fast wouldn't fit the "injured" setting.
Crawling.
Crawling with three claws, her injured left front claw held in the air, her wings dragging on the ground, moving forward step by step.
With every step, a trail of blood was left on the ground.
With every step, she let out a heavy gasp.
With every step, she glanced at the sky.
Almost there.
Ahead was the path the Gold Dragon had to pass on his patrol.
She chose an open patch of ground, lay down, and panted.
The wounds were "bleeding," staining the grass beneath her red.
She squinted her eyes, looking at the sky.
Waiting.
————
Fifteen minutes later.
A golden figure flew in from the horizon.
Livia watched as the figure grew closer and larger.
Fifty meters.
Forty meters.
Thirty meters.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
The Gold Dragon stopped above her, hovering in mid-air, looking down at her.
Those eyes—golden, gentle, now filled with shock and confusion.
Silence.
Three seconds.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
The Gold Dragon finally spoke, his voice deep and pleasant, like the tolling of a cathedral bell:
"You... you are a Red Dragon?"
Livia looked up and met his gaze.
She didn't speak.
She just kept her eyes open, panting, the "wounds" on her body still "bleeding."
The Gold Dragon's brow furrowed.
He landed on the ground, his fifty-meter body crouching in front of her, looking her over carefully.
"Your injuries... are very heavy."
Livia continued to pant, saying nothing.
The Gold Dragon's gaze swept over her left front claw, abdomen, and wings, his frown deepening.
"Who hurt you?"
Livia opened her mouth and let out a faint sound:
"My sister..."
The Gold Dragon was stunned: "Sister?"
Livia nodded, her voice intermittent: "Caesar... Caesar Torsayesumola... she wants to kill me... for the family inheritance... she sided with the Metallic Dragon... and chased me for three thousand miles with assassins..."
The Gold Dragon's eyes narrowed.
"Metallic Dragon?"
Livia nodded, her eyes filled with despair and a plea for help.
"Please... save me..."
The Gold Dragon was silent for three seconds.
Then he spoke, his voice becoming firm:
"Don't worry. With me here, no one can harm you."
Livia lowered her head, burying her face in her claws.
At the corner of her mouth, there was a very faint curve.
A system pop-up appeared:
["Victim Radar" triggered successfully]
[Gold Dragon's current favorability: +30 (Sympathy)]
[Script Phase One: Complete]
[Remarks: The subsequent development depends on the Host's improvisation]
[Remarks 2: Caesar is taking the fall for this one, for sure]