Under the Red Dragon

The Dragon-kin Centaur Chiron commanded his monsters to clear the crowd gathered in front of the notice board. His centaur warriors and kobolds struggled to push the throng back three meters from Chiron.

These dragon dependents didn't carry weapons in this primarily human town, only the long staffs used for daily maintenance of town order.

Although the human nobles and merchants had brought craftsmen to smelt iron ore, the forges focused on more precious minerals, so the iron was just a byproduct.

Even though the dragons had begun consciously transferring their dependents to human forges to learn casting techniques, they couldn't meet the weapon demands of all their kin anytime soon.

Currently, aside from the centaur tribe's warriors, who were naturally skilled cavalry, the other dragon dependents used rudimentary weapons. Even among the centaur warriors, not everyone was equipped with iron.

These long staffs, made from special forest trees, were extremely tough and could rival sharp swords, but the surrounding crowd wasn't afraid.

Firstly, they had grown accustomed to the existence of these dragon dependents. Not only did the humans need to strictly adhere to the order established by the dragons, but these dependents were also bound by it.

Moreover, these monsters, due to their inherently evil nature and some innate chaos, were often subject to stricter constraints than the humans.

Perhaps in the dragons' eyes, all lives were equal, merely subjects ruled by the dragons, differing only in the degree of closeness and trust.

Secondly, almost all the humans who gathered were intelligent. They eagerly listened whenever new regulations or rules were announced.

Because these announcements represented the dragons' will, or rather, the dragon lord's policies for governing the land. Those with keen senses could find ample business opportunities in these new rules.

Sometimes, being one step ahead meant gaining an advantage.

Therefore, almost all who gathered were stewards sent by pioneering nobles and principals of major merchant guilds, as these individuals possessed a keen sense for profit.

The dragon dependents formed a circle around the most powerful warrior of the centaur tribe, and then the mighty warrior unfolded the thick parchment notice. However, the centaur warrior suddenly froze, realizing he couldn't read.

"Damn it, I forgot to bring that female slave of Lord Kalon. She usually helps me read the notices."

The centaur warrior Chiron scratched his head, scanned his subordinates, and asked, "Is there anyone here who can read? Step forward. After you read this notice, I'll tell Lord Dos of your merit."

The surrounding monsters stared blankly at each other. There were no schools or places to impart knowledge in the wilderness.

It was already considered remarkable for these monsters to understand and speak the common tongue. Asking them to read and write was unthinkable.

Not every race could possess inheritance and innate knowledge like dragons.

"Damn it," Chiron cursed using words he had learned from the humans. "How can I manage the territory well for the dragon lord with you lot of good-for-nothings?"

Annoyed, the centaur warrior supported himself on his front hooves and kicked one of his subordinates away with his thick hind hooves. The unlucky monster flew into the crowd, knocking down several onlookers.

Chiron scratched his head and suddenly had an idea. He patted his head, proud of his cleverness.

The centaur took out a gold coin from the pocket at his waist, but reconsidered and exchanged it for a silver coin. Before taking the silver coin out of his pocket, he hesitated again, finally pulling out a few copper coins.

Chiron held the copper coins in his broad palm and shouted to the surrounding residents, "Is there anyone here who can read? As long as you can help me read this notice, these copper coins are yours."

"But no mistakes! Otherwise, I won't pay," the centaur emphasized seriously.

Despite being just a few copper coins, the condition was so simple that many residents raised their hands to indicate they could help.

Chiron stared for a long time and selected an old man with a gap in his front teeth, because he had heard that the older these humans were, the more knowledge they possessed.

"Hey, you, the old man," Chiron pointed at the selected human.

The old man smiled, revealing his toothless mouth, happy to be chosen. This was the same old man who had guided Ross and Herl.

The old man took the thick parchment roll from Chiron and squinted as he read.

According to the management methods discussed by the Blue Dragon Dos and Akz, the main points of the announced regulations were as follows:

Firstly, they would begin collecting corresponding taxes on all commodity transactions and circulation, instead of only collecting a certain percentage of cooperation money and related market rent taxes as before.

The dragons no longer needed to concede relevant benefits; they were beginning to govern their territory like a lord.

Of course, to promote the town's development, the dragons currently had no intention of levying tariffs.

Moreover, they restricted the trade of certain commodities, such as spices, which were scarce inland and more valuable than gold. These precious commodities required taxes based on a certain percentage of the transaction amount.

Gold mining resources could not be exploited casually. The dragons' consent and approval were required before mining could begin, essentially nationalizing mineral development. Only merchants and partners designated by the dragons could mine.

The salt lakes and salt mines on the grasslands were now forbidden from being exploited casually. They were guarded by dragon kin, and no one was allowed to approach them at will.

This meant that the dragons' territorial planning was gradually getting on track, no longer the original barbaric exploitation.

However, these measures did not bother the pioneers, because they had been doing business equivalent to trading without capital. Now, they only needed to pay a little tax, far lower than that set by noble lords.

Besides, in this territory, the dragons' will was the supreme command. They would not be dissatisfied because of this, but many would regret no longer being able to make profits as recklessly as before.

Those nobles and mages who already had cooperative relationships with the dragons were even happier. They understood better than anyone how profitable exclusive franchises could be.

Almost all the nobles and merchants present were eager to please the dragons in the hopes of obtaining this right from the dragon lord.

However, the following decree caused even more of a sensation. The dragons exempted food trade from taxes and encouraged humans to settle in this land.

The dragons would recognize the rights of humans living in this land. Regardless of their status, they would become free people after gaining freedom.

Each person brought back would receive a fixed amount of reward. The more people brought back, the more generous the reward.

If they had special skills, such as blacksmiths, carpenters, or agricultural serfs, the rewards would be doubled.

This subtle hint was almost a clear indication in their ears. Did this not mean that their ships could return from this golden land fully loaded, and also from the human kingdoms?

This was equivalent to encouraging everyone to become robbers who plunder and migrate people. The nobles were even more delighted that the refugees in their territories and the scattered villages in the wilderness could be exchanged for large amounts of gold.

What was even more tempting for other ordinary adventurers was that the dragons actually promised that everyone could cultivate in this land. The cultivated land would belong to the cultivator, and no taxes would be required for ten years.

After ten years, only a certain percentage of taxes would be required, and this percentage was lower than that of other noble lords. This condition, which was impossible for other lords to offer, could be guaranteed in the dragon territory, which was almost entirely wilderness.

Moreover, they encouraged humans and other races to settle here, and promised that they could have the status and power that normal people should obtain. Not only that, if they had outstanding talents, they could also become officials in the dragon territory.

Moreover, as long as they became residents of the dragon territory, these residents would be exempt from military service for three generations, meaning that the territory would not actively conscript these residents within three generations, and would actively help residents build houses.

For the dragons, although these conditions were quite generous, they did not actually harm much benefit, because those endless forests were originally idle and in urgent need of population development and utilization.

But even the nobles and mages were tempted by this condition. They had already begun to step out of their residences and stand on the balconies to observe the next trend.

Even if they already had large families and businesses, there would always be some illegitimate sons and distant relatives in each family. Instead of staying in the family and being depressed, it would be better to bring them here to seek development.

It was foreseeable that as the dragons' rule gradually got on track, the relevant systems would also need to be gradually improved.

This meant that not only could they earn a lot of money in this land, but perhaps they could also become a noble official in this gradually forming dragon kingdom.

The increasingly enthusiastic atmosphere in the crowd drowned out the old man's voice, until Chiron sent his subordinates to stop it several times before the notice could continue to be read.

But the mage Lazi's thoughts had drifted far away. He decided to go back and discuss it with his adventurer team. These dragon lords currently intended to build a different dragon kingdom, rather than choosing to have a monster kingdom like other five-colored dragons.

Opportunities and dangers coexist. Those with keen eyes often seize that glimmer of opportunity in danger. The mage Lazi felt that he might as well take a bold gamble and become one of those with keen eyes.

Maybe he could make a career out of it in the future, instead of being a wandering adventurer mage. Maybe he could become the founder of a family in the future.

Even own his own mage tower, the young mage's heart began to fill with longing.

Leaving aside the discussions and thoughts of the noisy crowd in the town, under the discussion of the Blue Dragon Dos and Akz, the dragon territory finally began to take a crucial step, gradually moving from the original barbaric and disorderly development to the track that a territory should have.

Perhaps due to the natural distrust of the five-colored dragons, not many humans will choose to come to this land, but when those sold by the nobles take root here, they will be proven. These all take time.

And time, relative to those short-lived species, always stands by the dragons' side.

After the new laws promulgated by the dragon lord gradually spread, the residents in the town began to have different ideas.

The residents of Golden Estuary Town, who temporarily gathered for adventure and gold panning, originally set foot on this land for profit.

But if the rulers of this land really ruled the territory as stated in the promulgated laws, a considerable part of these people began to have the idea of living here for a long time.

Moreover, in the world of Ikania, there are countless prosperous towns formed by gold panning and adventure or some commercial trade. In the distant southern continent, there are many examples of towns that have developed from a barren land into prosperous towns due to estuary trade.

For example, the famous Black Stone Trade Seaport, because it is rich in a special spice, coupled with good shipping routes and a natural harbor suitable for ships to berth, has gradually been favored by those maritime merchants.

It has developed from a small village into a large seaport where major merchants are now stationed. Especially the Black Stone Merchant Group, the number one maritime merchant group in the Southern Continent, is also stationed there, participating in almost all industries in the local area, hence the name Black Stone Port.

What's more, Golden Estuary Town is a collection of these key points. Although the distance from the human kingdoms is slightly far, the safe trade routes have long been fully explored.

The only thing that worries these people is that the rulers here are those evil five-colored dragons.

Although the previous good cooperation has given both parties preliminary trust, once it involves their long-term future, everyone will subconsciously refer to their stereotypes. These all take time to change slowly.

However, according to the Blue Dragon Dos's idea, this situation should be led by those nobles and merchants. Although these nobles and merchants can succeed, there are certainly reasons for their innate background, but sometimes in the face of opportunities, these merchants and nobles are more fearless than those brave adventurers.

Because these people are not only educated because of their good background, and have a vision that ordinary people do not have, but also have the nature of a big gamble in their bones. If it were not for this, they would not have achieved their current status and power.

Of course, what is more important is that in the face of sufficient interests, these people can do anything.

They are only afraid of no benefits or too few benefits.