novelraw Chapter 285: Surrounding the Cities
Chapter 285: Surrounding the Cities
Husband?
Emre and Ekes evidently didn't know as much about Raphael's private affairs as her mother did. Naturally, they also didn't know that Raphael already had a tail-compatible partner of her own, so upon hearing her words just now, they appeared somewhat surprised.
Because according to the information Raphael revealed, there was a high possibility that her tail-compatible partner wasn't a Dragon-kin from the Dragon-kin tribes, but from another race.
But as qualified subjects, they were acutely aware that they shouldn't speak up and ask about things they shouldn't inquire about. They merely redirected the sound waves used to distinguish physical objects back onto the map in their hands.
"Lady Raphael, it is highly likely the imperial palace is located near the very center of the continent. But that is where humans have clustered and settled. It's also unclear whether the entrance has already been discovered by humans first..."
Raphael shook her head. She proceeded ahead of the two Bat-kin demi-humans in front of her, heading deep into Sunset Valley.
"Don't panic. Allow me to think about it. And while we're at it, regarding our subsequent plans... we can't stay in Sunset Valley forever. Now that the four branches of Dragon-kin are entirely under my control, it's time to carry out the next phase of our operations."
"Yes."
Raphael's pace wasn't fast. The tail wrapped in red dragon scales behind her swayed slightly, causing her armored skirt to flutter.
They headed downwards the entire way. After passing the residential area built for the demi-humans, the landscape deep inside the cave was completely revealed to Raphael's eyes. Firelight spread along the tunnels, extending all the way down. The cascading sounds of countless people hammering ironware and casting tools evaporating water rose and fell in succession. And further below, there were faint glimmers of magic flickering.This was the heart of the New Dragon Court. After seizing human weapons and technology, Raphael reproduced their technology here. However, she was profoundly aware that merely replicating technology couldn't defeat humans; the disparity between demi-humans and humans didn't lie in sturdy ships and formidable cannons, but in the concepts held within their hearts.
"Lady Raphael, human technology is very complex. Even though we successfully replicated similar weapons before, both the quality and quantity absolutely cannot keep up with warfare demands. The primary weapons we currently use are still traditional cold weapons, and moreover..."
"I know, but that takes far too long. We don't have the time to completely catch up to human technology. The gap here isn't something that can be bridged in a short period."
Surveying the scene inside the cave, Raphael shook her head, interrupting the words of Emre, the Bat-kin behind her. But Emre misunderstood her meaning and asked with furrowed brows,
"Do you wish to go to war against the humans right now?"
"Yes, but also no... Sooner or later, humans will discover our actions. Our confrontation is inevitable before expelling them from the Southern Continent. However, the problem lies in how to confront them to ultimately achieve victory."
The firelight blazed intensely around Raphael's crimson dual horns. Her jade-green eyes were like deep pools of water, and within those deep pools, a simulated Southern Continent slowly surfaced, as if the ravines and living beings of this entire continent were already entirely within her sight.
"While human power is formidable, it is not without weaknesses. They originate from different nations, holding generally similar yet distinct courses of interest. Although our power is relatively weak, our advantages lie in our large numbers and fighting on our home turf."
"The wilderness, where human forces are weakest, is our home court. The key to defeating humans doesn't lie in uprooting the cities they've built, but in seizing the initiative to secure a firm foothold on the lands they have yet to occupy. Just like in a game of chess, slowly surrounding and eating their pieces—surrounding their cities and isolating their forces is the topmost priority..."
After Raphael finished speaking these words, she turned to look at the deeply pensive Emre and the half-comprehending Ekes behind her. She had no intention of explaining further to them. Rather exhaustedly, she stretched her body. Her previously lightsome armor seemed to carry weight at this very moment, making her suddenly feel drowsy.
"The eyes of humans, having been dazzled by gold, are nowhere near that sharp. Seizing upon the enemy's negligence is of utmost importance... To them, this place is merely an unguarded mining field; they show absolutely no signs of viewing this place as a battlefield."
"After this, I will first handle the internal issues of the Dragon-kin and cultivate a group of trusted confidants. I will use them as kindling to ignite the other demi-humans in the wilderness. When a prairie fire eventually gathers momentum, humans will ultimately be powerless to recover the situation in the Southern Continent."
Raphael moved her feet, walking toward her resting area. As the master of the New Dragon Court, she possessed no luxurious and comfortable residence, merely a small cave. Having enough space to park her beloved 'Dragon Palace Carriage' was more than enough.
"And right now, all you need to do is continue with the previous preparations. Sunset Valley is our final trump card, and later on, it might also become the primary target eyed by the humans. I need it to become an impenetrable fortress... Clan Leader Emre, can I rely on you?"
Raphael's footsteps paused slightly as she looked back at the Bat-kin clan leader behind her. The dragon horns on her head grew increasingly bright, as if wanting to burn through the decay at the bottom of a grave, allowing Bat-kin like Emre and Ekes, who had very weak eyesight, to feel that searing heat.
When they first laid eyes on Raphael, they felt that the Light of the Dragon Court, which only existed in history books, was blooming from her body. Looking at her now, they still felt the same way.
Only Raphael could become the new master of the Dragon Court; only Raphael could become the Dragon Queen of the Southern Continent.
Bowing their heads slightly, they responded with considerable reverence,
"Of course, this is all for the New Dragon Court."
Raphael smiled slightly and, bit by bit, folded the Dragon Court ruins map Fisher had left her. Then, she put it in her coat and went back alone to the front of the carriage inside the cave.
Pushing open the familiar carriage door, the interior decor of the room inside had undergone many changes. Because this was now Raphael's exclusive space and no other Dragon-kin would enter, Raphael had rearranged the rooms inside according to her own preferences.
Apart from Fisher's study, which she hadn't moved—the items inside still carried Fisher's scent, and sometimes Raphael would go inside and stay there for quite a while—the other rooms had more or less undergone changes, especially the second room, the dressing room.
A lot of the armor and weapons worn by Raphael had been added inside. After returning to the tribe, she rarely had the opportunity to wear the Naris skirt outfits made by Fisher anymore, so she placed it along with the other clothes Fisher left behind deep within the wardrobe. As for the third room, many spoils of war she had collected in recent days had appeared.
Raphael returned to her own room and took off her armor piece by piece. Afterward, she gently raised her hand and flipped her fiery red long hair behind her back. Only after doing all this did she finally heave a sigh of relief, as if finally unloading the exhaustion from her body.
There were simply too many matters to deal with in the Southern Continent. The races that once coexisted harmoniously in the past now each held entirely different attitudes as times had changed.
There were reclusive populations that passively hid from the world, thinking matters were of no concern to themselves; there were traitorous populations that blindly trusted humans, attempting to cooperate with West Continent humans to divvy up the Southern Continent together; there were also radical demi-humans who held extreme hatred toward humans, itching to slaughter their way over immediately and massacre the cities...
Amidst all these complexities, Raphael needed sufficiently powerful strength and a sufficiently sturdy banner to rally them to her side—such as the new Femabaha Dragon Court.
Raphael sat down on Fisher's bed. Beside the bed lay numerous spoils of war she had collected during this time, many of which pertained to Naris—various magazines and newspapers. One could vaguely spot some text on the halted pages of those magazines:
"A Breakthrough in Soul Theory: An Innovative Theory by Fisher Benavides, the Rebel from the Royal Academy!"
Moving her gaze over to the newspaper next to the desk, it seemed to be another publication from Naris, and moreover, it wasn't the same type of newspaper as the previous one.
It wasn't surprising. Raphael's solely source for obtaining human newspapers was through accidental seizures during battles. Only after learning that information about Naris was recorded on such things would she specifically ask Kelili to buy some back from the city for her.
With her ability to phase through matters, Kelili, along with Siya and the rescued Armored Species Famaxi, had become Raphael's subordinates, specifically tasked with gathering human movements and intelligence for her, occasionally bringing back some information regarding her husband Fisher's hometown.
As for the headline of the other newspaper publication, it read:
"The Schwari Academic Delegation Concludes a Highly Successful Visit to Saint-Nazareth University!"
Below that massive headline was a black-and-white group photo. Fisher stood at the very forefront of a group of scholars. The photo was taken when Prince Lausanne of Schwari was leaving. Also featured in the photo was Elizabeth, who acted as the representative of the Gedrin Royal Family.
Elizabeth stood right next to Fisher, bearing a gentle smile that matched quite well with the black-haired Naris gentleman beside her. The newspaper even specially reported the story regarding Fisher and Elizabeth's [Universal Request] as a complementary piece...
This newspaper sold out massively in Naris at the time. After changing hands multiple times and following cargo ships to the Southern Continent, it was ultimately bought by Raphael, who saw the contents on it.
At this moment, on that group photo within the newspaper lying in Fisher's carriage room, Elizabeth's figure beside Fisher had been completely torn apart by someone's sharp claws. The massive tear in the paper turned Fisher in the photo back into someone standing alone.
Countless ferocious claw marks were also left above the gossip column discussing Fisher and Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth on the side, as if to corroborate the wrath Raphael felt when she saw those contents back then.
Raphael lowered her jade-green eyes, looking at the Dragon Court ruins map in her hands. In her heart, she had already planned to secretly embark on a journey to the human territories shortly thereafter to enter the Dragon Court ruins and find out the truth. Her dual horns continuously told her that she would definitely make discoveries there...
Although her body was somewhat weary, Raphael's gaze was overwhelmingly resolute. She had to seize her time.
"Fisher, wait for me..."
She put down the map in her hands, then rather exhaustedly curled up on the soft bed. That faint murmur, so weak that only she could hear it, symbolized her determination.
In a place she hadn't noticed before, at the head of her bed, an official Naris wanted poster laid perfectly intact. The person wanted on it was the criminal with the highest bounty in Naris thus far:
"Fisher Benavides"