Chapter 384: Five Hundred Thousand Gold Coins (Bonus)

When Ellron, Wilson, and others galloped up, the swamp fire had been extinguished by Carlos's relentless output.

The air was thick with smoke and ash, yet awe for the colossal entity in the sky had reached its zenith.

"What manner of beast is this?" Damon gasped in shock.

Ellron gazed at Carlos in the sky. The lord had allowed him to appear openly, signaling it was time to reveal him without reserve.

"It is the lord's dragon."

"Dragon?"

The crowd understood. Only dragons from knightly tales could compare to this sight.

Ronin flew over.

"The pit holds precious fuel, Reg. Station guards to keep it secure. No one must approach, and absolutely no fire sources."

Ronin's tone was stern. "Whoever brings fire here—knight or commoner—shall face severe punishment and be sold into slavery."

"Yes, my lord!"

With the lord flying ahead and the dragon looming behind, Ronin’s image in their eyes had risen like an unscalable mountain.

Reg took the order seriously.

"Wilson, gather workers. We’ll begin mining this coal seam."

To the administrator, Ronin said, "I’ll write down the mining and transport guidelines later. Also, with the fire killing over a dozen, you and Chahar must compensate their families."

He glanced at the pit. "Though dead, they’ve uncovered vast resources. Beyond compensation, each family gets ten acres of land and ten gold coins."

"Your mercy will soothe their grief," they replied.

Wilson and Chahar immediately moved through the crowd to tally the victims’ families.

The matter settled quickly.

But from that day on, the swamp town gained a new profession: miner.

Reg and the earth-attribute knights transformed the pit into a relatively safe coal mine.

Though risks remained, higher wages drew many to dig for survival.

Ronin documented all possible risks and briefed Wilson’s newly formed mine management team.

Current demand is low, so we’ll slow mining initially. Let managers and workers acclimate.

When iron smelting and other needs grow, we’ll expand production.

With coal secured, Ronin’s desire to build a steam engine grew stronger.

Thus, his need to become a magus intensified.

Time slipped by, and soon it was March.

For over a month, Ronin had returned to quiet life.

Though the dragon made him famous, rumors grew wild, turning into jokes for many.

He inquired and found villagers had embellished the tale.

Carlos was barely ten meters long, but they claimed a hundred, mountain-sized, wingspan covering half the swamp town.

Others said it wasn’t just a dragon but the Seven Gods’ mount, divine in power, speaking human speech and resurrecting the dead.

In short, it became a knightly romance.

Merchants who heard it dismissed it as folktales, even doubting the dragon’s existence.

Ronin was torn between laughter and frustration. He’d expected nobles to inquire about the dragon.

Rushing Island.

On his way to Crystal City, Ronin stopped again at Rushing Island.

"My lord, from the two shiploads of timber, we earned 700 gold. After paying 213 for two months’ wages, 487 remain."

Ronin refused to take it.

"As governor, keep the gold here. Record it properly. I’ll send a financial officer later."

As he spoke, he pulled two telescopes from his ring.

"Here, these are for you. Try them."

Karrada tucked the gold away, took them eagerly, puzzled. "What are these?"

Ronin demonstrated.

Karrada copied him, peering through the eyepiece.

"This is..."

He dropped the telescope, stared at the distant view, then raised it again. After two tries, he understood.

"My lord, this is miraculous! It shows distant scenery so clearly!"

Karrada, quick-witted, grasped its value instantly.

On land or sea, especially in battle, its worth was immense.

With it, one could spy enemy deployments and defenses unseen.

"What’s it called?" Karrada asked, eyes burning.

Ronin smiled, slowly adjusting the eyepiece.

"Telescope. Adjust the tube slowly for distance."

Karrada tried, realizing a kilometer wasn’t the limit—it could see farther.

"Telescope!"

He murmured the name, awed. "Your invention, your wisdom—I’m truly impressed!"

Ronin chuckled. This was nothing.

Wait until he built steam ships, combined with Belora’s magic lift—then they’d be amazed.

This time, Ronin only ate lunch at Rushing Island—mashed potatoes, fries, and chips—before leaving.

Carlos sped across the Screaming Sea, arriving over Crystal Castle.

"Hah! I sensed your arrival long ago!"

Grand Magus Belora waited in the air, his perception barrier set somewhere unknown.

"Mr. Belora, the remaining dragon scales are here."

Ronin tossed the pack.

Belora rushed to open it. Fifteen scales, exactly.

"Did you use the four last time? How did it turn out?" Ronin asked.

At the question, even at a hundred, Belora blushed, taking the pack.

Ronin noticed he too had a space container.

"Forget it. All failed!"

He sighed in frustration: "Making this potion requires a magic surge, then controlling it with the potion. One mistake and it's ruined."

"Is it that hard?"

Luo Ning had no doubt of the other's potion-making skill. The repeated failures must be due to the extreme difficulty.

"Rest assured. I've gained experience with both stages now. Success is near!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the backpack in his hand. Fifteen dragon scales enough?

"Luo Ning, if Mr. Karlos sheds more scales in the future, you'll have to sell me some more!"

"Don't worry. On the entire Orland Continent, only you can use dragon scales. Who else would I sell to?"

Berola's mood brightened at these words.

"Let's not chat in the air. Come on, I've prepared five hundred thousand gold coins for you!"

"Haha, good!"

Luo Ning summoned his Wind Wings and followed the other to the ninth floor of the mage tower.

Five hundred thousand gold coins sounded like a fortune, but they'd fit into just a few large chests.

Even stacked neatly, they'd take up less than three cubic meters.

"Everything's here. Count it."

Berola opened the chests with a smile, golden light flooding the room. "I won't stay. If you need anything, send for Franz or my grandson Randall."

He had never mentioned his son.

Not because his son wasn't in Crystal City, but because he had passed away long ago.

Given a Grand Mage's two-century-plus lifespan, it was common for ordinary or low-level supernaturals' descendants to die first.

Luo Ning saw the impatience in his eyes and knew what he wanted.

"Go ahead. Go ahead!"

Berola didn't hesitate. He grabbed the backpack and headed straight to the top floor to begin his new seclusion.

"This guy's a real research fanatic. Not afraid I'd mess with his things."

He turned his gaze to the gold coins before him and stowed them all in his space ring.

Familiar words appeared. (End of Chapter)