Chapter 275: Bandit Dragons

Although Muria volunteered to clear the way for the Paladins at Fort Patrick, he still received an invisible reward: the goodwill of the major good deity churches. Upon learning of Muria's identity from Karslana, this goodwill surged even higher.

Before leaving Fort Patrick, Muria issued a commission to all the churches, utilizing their intelligence networks to help him locate the six spell-casting chromatic dragons.

As Muria had anticipated, it would take a long time for over a hundred metallic dragons to find them. However, when leveraging human resources, the efficiency reached an astonishing level. In less than a month, there was news.

"Muria, the churches say they've found the six chromatic dragons you're looking for. They've already captured five, and the last red dragon is on the run but will be caught soon and sent to you via teleportation."

"So fast!" Muria couldn't help but exclaim.

"After all, those dragons have such distinctive features that seeing them once is enough for confirmation," Karslana said with a smile.

"But those dragons are worthless, getting caught so easily by humans," Muria scolded in a disappointed tone.

His feelings were complicated. On one hand, he was pleased that all six chromatic dragons had been found. On the other hand, he was angry that they had been captured by humans, feeling humiliated for them.

"You can't blame them for being weak!" Karslana defended the chromatic dragons. "According to you, the highest level among them is only at the peak of Gold. And the churches sent six Red Cardinals to capture them, all out of respect for you."

"That explains it," Muria nodded. Being one level higher meant a significant advantage, often resulting in a one-sided fight where the weaker side could hardly resist.

There are only a few bloodlines capable of fighting across such a large level gap, and red dragons fall into the category of being crushed. Ordinary dragon bloodlines cannot bridge this gap.

As Karslana said, it wasn't long before several churches sent a Red Cardinal to represent them, bringing the chromatic dragons to Bologna. However, the situation was a bit different from what Muria had expected.

"Is this a buy one get two free deal?" Muria looked at the eighteen dragons before him, his lips twitching as he addressed the Red Cardinal. "What's going on here? I only asked for six dragons, why did you bring me twelve extra?"

"Well, Lord Muria, these twelve dragons were with the six you wanted, so we thought we'd bring them along to avoid any omissions," the middle-aged Red Cardinal explained with a smile.

As he spoke, the Cardinal couldn't help but glance at the dragons bound tightly on the ground. In his century-long life, he had seen chromatic dragons a few times, but this was the first time he had seen nearly twenty different chromatic dragons together, acting as a group.

"What's the deal with these dragons, Crest?" Muria walked up to the largest red dragon and kicked off the runic chains that had been binding its mouth.

"Heh, these are my subordinates. They're a bit weak, but they're obedient," the red dragon said honestly, a hint of pride in its eyes.

It knew Muria was definitely angry with them now, but also knew he wouldn't kill them. So, with its life guaranteed, it didn't mind other punishments.

Having been taught magic by Muria over the years, it had endured many punishments and had become used to the pain. As long as it wasn't killed, it had nothing to fear.

"Your subordinates?" Muria looked at the twelve chromatic dragons, who were smaller and in worse shape than the dragons he had raised, with a twitching smile. They were all young dragons, seemingly just driven out of their nests by their parents.

"Yes, Muria. I've got more than just these dragons. I've also got a lot of low-level creatures as servants," Crest said proudly, but then glared at the Red Cardinal and his group with anger. "But all my servants were killed by these damned humans. Only these dragons are left. Muria, you have to avenge me!"

"Shut up!" Muria kicked him in the nose, then turned to the Red Cardinal. "Could you tell me what these guys were doing when you found them?"

"Lord Muria, we found them raiding a city," the Cardinal replied in a tone of amazement.

"Raiding a city?"

After a brief conversation with the Cardinal and questioning the red dragon Crest, Muria understood what the six rebellious dragons had been doing in Ionia for the past few months.

These creatures had indeed surprised him after being freed from his control.

First, they used their identities as chromatic dragons to recruit large numbers of goblins, kobolds, lizardmen, and other low-level monsters in the wilderness, as well as slightly stronger wild beasts. These monsters, recognizing them as chromatic dragons, easily submitted.

Then, these six, desperate to accumulate wealth quickly through violence, didn't recklessly attack human cities. Instead, they transformed into human forms and infiltrated the cities.

After obtaining a crude map, they led a large group to the borders of several human countries, beginning their banditry.

Their method of raiding cities was fitting for mage dragons. They would first send a dragon in human form to assess the assets of the city's nobles.

Then, they would surround the city with thousands of monsters and demand protection money. They promised the nobles that as long as they paid, no low-level monster would harass their city.

If they refused, the monsters would surround the city, cutting off all access. They wouldn't attack but would maintain a siege. These dragons understood that wanton slaughter would attract too much hatred, so they besieged without attacking.