Volume 4 Chapter 86

Volume 4 + 86: Go On, Say It, It’s Fine

Under Xia Yi’s command.

Elly unleashed her true dragon form, smashing the table to pieces. This situation left Scott with absolutely no face to save.

“Wh-What are you doing, Your Highness?!”

Scott was utterly baffled. He couldn’t understand why this mascot-like princess had suddenly turned against him?

He had just provided a way out, a whole string of flattery—how could any ordinary royal princess not eat that up?

“Your Highness, surely it’s not just because of the osmanthus cakes… you… there’s no need to go this far!”

“Scott, do you still think this is just about osmanthus cakes?” Xia Yi asked.

“Then what is it about?”

“Scott, you lied to me earlier.”

“I did not! Your Highness, every word I spoke was the truth. We have no osmanthus—”

“I’m talking about the matter of the Northern Rebellion Army!”

Xia Yi cut Scott off.

“The Northern Rebellion Army appeared long ago and has been active in the Far North Lands, causing significant trouble for the common folk here, inciting many riots. Yet you withheld this information, concealing the matter.”

“…!”

Scott shuddered all over.

He hadn’t anticipated that Xia Yi would be concerned about such things.

“Scott, your deception isn’t limited to just this. It includes your usual dealings as well.”

Xia Yi was growing somewhat angry.

“You’ve been embezzling and taking bribes all along, deliberately letting serious criminals escape from the northern mines. These people then went on to wreak havoc in the Far North, even developing into the Northern Rebellion Army!”

“No, I haven’t, Your Highness! By heaven and earth, our Taylor family has always been diligent and dedicated, managing the northern mines with utmost effort for the Dragon Royal Family. How could we dare commit such crimes? You must believe me! If you don’t, you can ask anyone else!”

Scott denied vehemently, pointing at the other dragons in the northern mines.

“You can pick anyone at random and ask them how things truly are!”

Xia Yi couldn’t even be bothered to ask.

It went without saying that Scott had long held absolute power in the northern mines, a figure whose word was law.

Which of the dragons in these mines would dare oppose Scott?

From her time at the southern border in Corolle, Xia Yi knew that these nobles acted like local despots within their domains, believing they held the power of life and death over the locals, acting willfully and calling black white.

“Stop pretending, Scott. I concealed my identity in the towns of the Far North Lands and conducted inquiries. I learned these truths from the mouths of the common people,” Xia Yi stated the facts. “If not for the Taylor family’s indulgence, the Far North Lands would never have deteriorated to this state.”

Scott’s heart sank. She had hit the mark.

Was this a situation the Silver Dragon Princess investigated herself?

Or was it the intention of the Silver Dragon Queen, Xia Lulu?

“Your Highness, please don’t believe the words of those wretched commoners. They are merely trying by any means to smear our Taylor family!”

Scott continued to distort the truth, refusing to admit anything.

After all, the Silver Dragon Princess was just an outsider. Her understanding of the Far North Lands couldn’t compare to the Taylor family’s years of management.

A powerful dragon still shouldn’t provoke the local snake.

So what if she knew the truth?

As long as he didn’t admit it, what could she do, kill him?

Scott was banking on precisely this point—the Silver Dragon Princess must have her apprehensions.

After all, the princess had come to the Far North Lands without even bringing members of the military. Now it was just the princess and her maid. If she dared act recklessly, wasn’t she afraid something might happen to her?

“……” Xia Yi fell silent.

Scott inwardly rejoiced. Just as he thought, this was Xia Lulu’s scheme from the start.

Xia Lulu must have secretly investigated, then sent her daughter to the Far Northern Lands to pressure and teach the Taylor family a lesson, using it to establish the Silver Dragon Princess’s authority.

Quite the clever plan. But who wants to be your supporting act?!

Precisely because of this, he hadn’t followed Xia Lulu’s initial script. He simply refused to admit anything. Now, this Silver Dragon Princess, who only knew how to recite books and put on airs, was bewildered.

Scott already had a good idea of what to do next.

Since the Dragon Royal Family wanted to pressure him, he could just offer more benefits later—it was just a matter of them feeling the benefits weren’t sufficient.

“Your Highness, you may have been misled by malicious individuals. Our Taylor family is exceedingly loyal to the Dragon Royal Family. Knowing of your arrival, we specially prepared a grand gift for the royal family…”

“Scott, you really won’t shed tears until you see the coffin,” Xia Yi sighed.

Scott frowned. Did she want even more profit?

How could the Dragon Royal Family be so greedy? They paid no heed to the Far North Lands yet wanted such substantial gains. Too avaricious!

“Your Highness, regarding this matter, we can discuss it in detail to clear up any misunderstandings,” Scott said, still confident.

But Xia Yi seemed to have lost patience. She whispered, “Elly, take action.”

“As you command, Your Highness. I’ve long been unable to stand this inexplicable scoundrel!”

Elly roared, the force pushing the others back. She raised her claw and pressed it down on Scott, imprinting a massive palm print on the ground.

“Your Highness, have you gone mad?!”

Scott spat out a mouthful of blood, struggling to break free but remaining pinned.

He hadn’t expected this mascot princess would dare go this far?

It was becoming hard to keep up the pretense.

“Your Highness, the current situation in the Far North Lands is indeed somewhat dangerous. The Northern Rebellion Army has been very active lately. For your activities in the Far North Lands, you require the protection of our northern mines!!”

“Are you… threatening me?” Xia Yi narrowed her eyes.

“Not a threat, Your Highness, I am merely stating facts! Without the efforts of our Taylor family, the Far North Lands might already be plunged into great chaos! I urge you not to take extreme actions, as they could invite unnecessary trouble!”

Scott thought, having spelled it out this clearly, surely this princess would behave after such a scare?

“How interesting, Scott. Do you know what your current actions constitute?” Xia Yi laughed coldly.

“Constitute… what?” Scott was perplexed.

“You are challenging the Dragon Royal Family!”

Xia Yi felt it necessary to show Scott some color.

“Take him away, to the central heating facility, Elly.”

Following the order, the green dragon grabbed Scott and took flight.

The other dragons, witnessing Xia Yi and Scott almost tearing into each other, were momentarily speechless.

For now, no one dared to intervene. Who would dare stop the Silver Dragon Princess?

Elly flew above the central heating facility.

Standing on the dragon’s back, Xia Yi gazed down at the massive, fully operational facility below. “Scott, I’m giving you one final chance. On behalf of the Taylor family, do you admit to the crimes you have committed?”

“Your Highness, don’t try to scare me, it’s useless!” Scott shouted.

He refused to believe Xia Yi would actually do anything to him.

However, Xia Yi’s command truly stunned Scott.

“Elly, drop him.”

“Received!”

The green dragon released her grip. Scott lost his balance, plummeting through the air towards the central heating facility.

Simultaneously, Elly breathed a stream of dragonfire onto the facility’s outer shell. The corrosive, toxic breath melted a large hole in the casing.

If this continued, Scott would undoubtedly fall through, plummet into the depths, becoming fuel for the heating system, his energy distributed through underground pipes to every corner of the city, finally fulfilling his value as combustible material.

Scott’s physique was truly excellent, compared to other dragons, his size promised significantly greater heat output.

This is ridiculous, I can’t die like this!!

Scott prepared to unleash his true dragon form, intending to fly away from the area.

Xia Yi smiled slightly, as if she had anticipated this. She snapped her fingers.

“Frost Chains.”

Possessing the bloodline of the Silver Dragon Royal Family, Xia Yi instantly cast the spell without incantation. Ice crystals transformed into chains binding Scott’s body, preventing him from transforming.

Spells cast without incantations were less potent and effective, unable to maintain long-term binding. They might only delay for a dozen seconds or so before being broken.

But it was enough.

Enough for Scott to fall into the central heating facility and melt away.

Scott was stunned.

No way?

How dare the Silver Dragon Princess do this?!

“Your Highness, stop this at once! If anything happens to me, it will absolutely lead to major trouble!!”

Scott roared.

But Xia Yi, standing on the back of the green dragon, watched Scott’s continuous descent. The malicious smile on her face was utterly villainous, extremely sinister.

The silver-haired loli showed no intention of saving anyone. This wasn’t a bluff.

She seemed to be serious.

As Scott was about to fall in, he felt death approaching, as if seeing Death beckoning to him.

He could no longer hold back, losing all composure and dignity, unwilling to gamble his life against Xia Yi.

“Your Highness, I did it!! Our Taylor family committed grave crimes, I admit it!!”

Whoosh!

An ice sword shot over, piercing Scott’s clothing and carrying him away, finally pinning him to the wall of another building. His body swayed like a pendulum.

“I… I’m not dead?”

Scott gasped for breath, as if having narrowly escaped death. Looking up, he saw residual magic power lingering around Xia Yi’s hands.

So she was the one who did it.

“The Taylor family has finally admitted their crimes. Everyone should have heard that, right?” Xia Yi looked down upon the dragons below.

“…”

The dragons present fell silent.

This seemingly harmless, clueless cute loli was actually this ruthless?!

If Scott hadn’t admitted defeat in time, he probably would have been finished.

“Does your silence mean you haven’t heard?” Xia Yi asked unhappily.

The dragons of the northern mines were startled, responding in unison: “We all heard, Your Highness! It was the Taylor family’s fault!”

“All of you, go take a good look at Scott’s current state,” Xia Yi commanded.

The dragons of the northern mines gathered around, seeing Scott’s current condition.

The once-powerful head of the Taylor family, who held more sway in the Northern Wastes than the Dragon Royal Family, was now hung up for ridicule. Even his trousers were soaked through from extreme fright. He was a complete clown. Compared to his former image as the Dignified Supreme Administrator, how could it not provoke laughter?

“Haha!”

Someone was already on the verge of bursting, laughter escaping.

Seeing this scene, Scott felt immense fury. This was an immense humiliation.

The Dragon Royal Family was truly bullying others too far, looking down on everyone!!

The green dragon landed smoothly. Xia Yi jumped down and dispelled the magic.

Scott also fell from above, crashing to the ground in a most wretched state.

Even Chelsea was almost unable to suppress his laughter.

Scott lay on the ground, gritting his teeth, his eyes almost murderous. Yet he forcibly restrained himself, forcing a smiling face.

“Your Highness, my deepest apologies. Our Taylor family’s management of the northern mines has had an oversight that cannot be ignored. I, too, harbored wishful thinking, acting most foolishly… Now, I recognize my mistake. Please give me a chance to correct it, for the sake of our Taylor family’s many years of hard work!”

Scott knelt on the ground, bowing his head, changing his attitude to one of seeking pardon, hoping for leniency.

Xia Yi gazed at Scott. She remained silent for a moment, then slowly uttered two words—

“Suppress the rebels!”

“What?”

“Eliminate the Northern Rebellion Army, restore peace to the Far North Lands,” Xia Yi said.

Scott didn’t hesitate, he was quick-witted. “Of course, Your Highness. I fully support this decision. We must suppress the rebels, vigorously and relentlessly!”

“Mm. Since you’ve stated the need to suppress the rebels, then surely the Taylor family must contribute funds?”

“Huh?”

“The Taylor family is the primary manager of the northern mines. You bear inescapable responsibility for the emergence of the Northern Rebellion Army. Shouldn’t you take responsibility for this? I am giving you a chance to redeem yourselves! All funds and resources required for this suppression operation must be fully supported by the Taylor family!”

“This…?!”

Scott could hardly breathe.

He wasn’t stupid, he understood perfectly what this meant.

Xia Yi needed money to suppress the rebels. To atone, the Taylor family had to provide the funds.

The exact amount would ultimately be decided by the little princess. Under this pretext, she could completely drain the wealth accumulated by the Taylor family, diminish their influence, and even recruit an army loyal to the Dragon Royal Family to wipe out the Northern Rebellion Army… This was killing multiple birds with one stone. The Dragon Royal Family wouldn’t need to pay any cost, essentially getting it all for free.

“I… I…”

Scott was almost in tears. How could he possibly accept this?

He desperately wanted to refuse, but feared Xia Yi might resort to extreme measures. After all, he had already confessed. She could execute him on the spot, throwing him into the central heating facility to be burned.

“Scott, you seem somewhat unconvinced, don’t you?” 

Xia Yi looked at Scott’s devastated appearance, tilting her head and smiling.

This seemingly innocent exterior hid an utterly scheming interior.

“Go on, say it, it’s fine~”

“No, no! Your Highness, being able to contribute funds and effort, serving like loyal dogs and horses, is an honor for our Taylor family!”

Scott forced a “heartfelt” smile, bowing his head in submission.

However, once his head was lowered, his expression and eyes changed, twisting with malice.

Fine, Silver Dragon Princess. Since you’re forcing our Taylor family into a corner, don’t blame me for being ruthless… Let’s wait and see.

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[Author’s Note: A new month has begun! Asking for monthly votes, everyone, please vote for Swiss Roll~ I’ve fallen so far down the monthly rankings, I’m about to cry. Help me out, help me out~ ??????????]