novelraw Chapter 205: Red Iron Dragon: The Most Efficient Trade War Is to Kill All Opponents
Chapter 205: Red Iron Dragon: The Most Efficient Trade War Is to Kill All Opponents
Iron Dragon knew that although Garoth disliked managing affairs, Garoth’s wisdom surpassed his own.
Acknowledging one’s shortcomings and seeking advice from stronger individuals—this was a rare quality among dragons.
“Be ready at any time.”
As the sun gradually tilted westward, Iron Dragon left these words behind, then flapped his wings and soared straight into the sky. Not long after, he returned to Dragon Valley and approached his brother, recounting what had happened earlier to the Red Iron Dragon.
“I see.”
The Red Iron Dragon paused his training and nodded slightly, as expected.
“Just as I thought. The Gold Fang Tribe managed to make other merchant groups refuse trading with us, but it’s mainly through price manipulation rather than intimidation.”
Iron Dragon pondered and said,
“Deep down, I’m unwilling to admit failure. I tend to want to counterattack the Gold Fang Tribe with a trade war, but their accumulation is far deeper than ours.”
“I scoured through the legacies but couldn’t find suitable trade war tactics for this situation.”He looked at the Red Iron Dragon. “Garoth, do you have any good ideas?”
Under Sorog’s expectant gaze, the Red Iron Dragon slowly said, “Of course. A trade war against the goblins should be easy to fight.”
Sorog perked up. “How should we proceed?”
Garoth stretched his wings, dragon scales clashing and sparking.
In a calm tone, he said, “Strike them directly. Destroy the Gold Fang Tribe’s strongholds along the riverbank so they can no longer trade. The current problem will then be resolved. Of course, new problems will arise later, but at least we won’t be troubled by trade issues anymore.”
!?
!?
Question marks appeared above Iron Dragon’s head.
“You call this a trade war?”
He couldn’t help but ask.
The Red Iron Dragon nodded and retorted, “Isn’t it?”
He looked at Iron Dragon and said, “Sorog, my dear brother, you trust and rely too much on the knowledge from the legacies. They are indeed useful, but sometimes they overwhelm you and prevent you from making the right choices.”
His voice paused briefly.
The Red Iron Dragon grinned and said, “The most effective and straightforward trade war is to kill them all.”
Garoth’s words were not driven by the influence of the Red Dragon bloodline but were conclusions he had reached after careful consideration.
If they followed the Gold Fang Tribe’s rhythm and fought a price war, they would become the weaker party, oppressed by the stronger.
Directly attacking and using force was the best way to break the deadlock, at least pulling the Gold Fang Tribe from their stronghold into the Molten Iron Tribe’s domain.
“Are we going to wage an all-out war against the Gold Fang Tribe?”
Iron Dragon said, “Now does not seem to be the right time.”
Garoth shook his head slightly and said, “Look at you, don’t be so impatient. It’s just a trade war, not escalating to full-scale war.”
Iron Dragon: ……
“Killing them all—that’s what you just said, isn’t it?”
“It’s just a metaphor.” The Red Iron Dragon said, “Striking their trade strongholds along the riverbank is enough. The Gold Fang Tribe has conflicts with other tribes too. They won’t risk everything to fight us. Goblins always lack determination.”
Upon hearing this, Iron Dragon’s eyes narrowed sharply, keenly picking up on the exploitable part of Garoth’s words. He said, “Garoth, you seem to have a prejudice against goblins. That’s not a rational thought.”
Mimicking Garoth’s tone, he teased, “My dear brother, don’t let prejudice and arrogance control you; they will only harm you.”
Hearing this, Garoth also realized the inappropriateness of his previous words.
Goblins always lack determination—this was a stereotype inherited from the legacies that influenced him.
“Hmm, you’re right. That was my oversight.”
The Red Iron Dragon did not get angry or embarrassed by his brother’s teasing but rather said gladly, “If something similar happens again, remember to remind me immediately.”
The arrogant nature of dragons sometimes subtly influences them.
Garoth was already cautious, but occasionally he would be affected without realizing it. At such moments, a little reminder was enough for him to snap back.
“No time to waste.”
The Red Iron Dragon said, “The darkness of night is the best cover. Let’s use the approaching nightfall to launch our ‘trade war’ against the Gold Fang Tribe.”
It was already evening, and the sky showed a dim grayish blue.
After hearing Garoth’s words, Iron Dragon nodded and said, “For this first raid, it’s best to directly destroy the Gold Fang Tribe’s Crescent Bay stronghold on the east riverbank, and it must be a swift battle, leaving them no chance for reinforcements. I want to deploy part of the Death Angels.”
Garoth nodded. “Agreed.”
The so-called Death Angels were a new Warhost, mainly composed of elite air units. The main body of the Warhost now was the Bipedal Wyvern Group, led by the flying dragon leader Tasha.
Garoth did not depart but remained in Dragon Valley, focusing on his own training.
With the current scale of the Molten Iron Tribe, not everything needed Garoth’s personal involvement. This was just handling some Gold Fang Tribe riverbank strongholds, not a full-scale war. It could be left to the subordinates to resolve.
While soaring through the sky, Iron Dragon first used the message stone to contact the centaur leader.
His sorcerer level was still not high, and his mental link range was limited. Sometimes, the message stone worked better. This crystalline creation from alchemical industry could replace much magic.
“Zachary, lead your elite forces to raid Crescent Bay.”
“The Death Angels have already set out and will coordinate with you in battle.”
Iron Dragon’s orders came through the message stone.
Having waited for a long time, Silver祭 raised his arm and shouted, “Warriors of the Crimson Iron Riders, march with me! Crush those dirty, cunning goblins of the Gold Fang Tribe!”
Hooves with horseshoes stamped on the hard soil of the Convergence Lands.
The centaurs sped like the wind, rushing toward their destination.
After some time,
On the east riverbank of the Estonian Great River, a crescent-shaped river bay.
The Iron Shield Merchant Group was anchored here; ships had docked, and the slight clatter of ship boards against the pier could be heard.
Around the river bay, countless green figures were busily working.
These humanoid creatures had sharp, pointed ears and arms hanging past their knees, flat noses often revealing cunning smiles. Their green skin was damp with river moisture, their small eyes spinning rapidly, blinking quickly, revealing their innate slyness.
These were the goblins of the Gold Fang Tribe.
This was Crescent Bay, one of the Gold Fang Tribe’s key trade strongholds on the Estonian Great River.
At this moment, night fell like an iron curtain, the last rays of light on the river cut off by the goblin watchtower’s spotlight. The mixed water vapor and cold evening wind in the Convergence Lands was especially chilly.
Both sides had already agreed on the price.
The overseer, Hammer, tightened his collar and rubbed his hands, ordering sailors to carry sealed spice barrels and ore boxes, feeling quite pleased.
The price adjustment by the Gold Fang Tribe to punish the Molten Iron Tribe allowed them to buy ore at lower prices, return fully loaded, and resell at high prices within the federation, earning massive wealth.
He took out gold coins but this time did not kiss or pray over them, just spun around once before putting them back at his waist.
Suddenly,
The ground trembled slightly, and the tremors rapidly intensified.
Hammer frowned and soon heard dense hoofbeats coming from the west side of Crescent Bay, as if thousands of troops were crushing the riverbank stones.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
The goblin sentries rang the copper bell alarm.
At the same time, the night sky was suddenly ripped apart by the bellowing cries of bipedal wyverns.
The Death Angels had silently approached under the cover of darkness, diving down and spraying acid breath on the watchtowers.
The pungent white mist instantly enveloped the night sky.
The centaurs raised their weapons and charged through the fog, steel spears drawing lethal arcs under the moonlight, rushing toward Crescent Bay.
Several magical energy ballistas turned their direction.
These precision killing machines rapidly fired countless alchemical steel bolts, once causing many raiders to die bitterly on the riverbank. But tonight, after just one volley, they were dismantled by the approaching flying dragons.
Strike first to gain the advantage.
The Gold Fang Tribe’s defenses at Crescent Bay were not weak, but facing this sudden attack, they were somewhat overwhelmed, and their defense line quickly collapsed.