Volume 5 Chapter 47
by Need_More_SleepVolume 5 + Chapter 47: The Flying Swallow
Greenfield City.
“Your Highness, are we preparing to return?” Elly asked Xia Yi in a soft voice.
“Yes. We’ve already met with the Fox Clan royal family and completed the talks. Our diplomatic mission to Fox Hill can be considered successfully concluded.”
Xia Yi took out her croaking frog-shaped wallet, pulled out some money, and handed it to the street vendor.
“Boss, I’ll have this, this, this, and this!”
“Octopus balls, glutinous rice dumplings, taiyaki, and rice crackers, correct?” the vendor confirmed.
“Mhm!”
“Please wait a moment. I’ll have them ready right away.”
The vendor immediately began preparing all the snacks Xia Yi had ordered.
He knew she was an honored guest received by the Fox Clan royal family. Even though the Fox Clan maintained high vigilance toward the Dragon Clan, he would not dare cause trouble. He could only obediently make the food.
“But, Your Highness, didn’t we actually gain nothing from, mmph!”
Before Elly could finish speaking, Xia Yi stuffed a glutinous rice dumpling into her mouth.
“Alright, Elly, eat first. Since we’ve made it all the way to the Fox Clan, it would be such a waste not to properly enjoy their delicious food!”
“Wha’bout da negosh…?”
With her mouth full of dumplings, Elly spoke indistinctly, not daring to swallow yet.
“Of course you can eat, Elly. Consider this your…”
Xia Yi had originally intended to call it a reward.
But upon reflection, Elly hadn’t really done anything particularly praiseworthy lately. So she improvised.
“A reward for serving as my mount!”
“Waaah, thank you!”
Deeply moved, Elly swallowed the dumpling, her eyes sparkling.
“Wow, this tastes amazing!”
Xia Yi bit into a rice cracker, savoring its crisp texture and balanced sweet-and-salty flavor. It was pure enjoyment.
Before leaving Fox Hill, she had taken Elly on one last tour around Greenfield City, buying a pile of snacks from various stalls and eating as they walked back.
In short, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat.
“Your Highness, I heard that Fox Hill will soon hold the Fox God Festival, the Fox Clan’s most important celebration. Does the Fox Clan truly have a Fox God?”
Holding her octopus balls, Elly asked curiously.
“The Fox God is the Fox Clan’s faith, the deity they worship. Actually… I had wanted to attend the Fox God Festival myself.”
Xia Yi felt a twinge of regret.
At the festival, Yue Liu, as the Fox God’s shrine maiden, would perform the ritual dance.
She had even mentioned in front of Yue Liu that she wished to attend.
But the little fox had explained that it was impossible for the Dragon Clan to participate.
First, only believers of the Fox God were permitted to attend, and the Dragon Clan did not qualify.
Second, the Dragon Clan’s mere arrival in Fox territory had already sparked controversy. If they were allowed into the Fox God Festival, it would cause even greater unrest.
Under such circumstances, Xia Yi had no choice but to let it go, watching as the little fox hurried back to the capital in advance.
By now, the festival in the capital should be about to begin.
It was truly a pity she wouldn’t get to see Yue Liu’s dance.
…
After finishing their tour and returning to their lodgings, Xia Yi found Yue Liu’s subordinates already waiting.
“Good afternoon, Silver Dragon Princess. I have been informed by your attendants that you intend to return to the Dragon Kingdom, correct?” Hongshan stepped forward politely.
“Yes, we plan to head back.”
“Very well. The Fox Clan will escort you safely to the borders of Fox Hill. Her Highness Yue Liu has given explicit instructions. This time, we will arrange a special mode of transportation for you.”
“No problem, but what kind of special transportation? Is it different from when we came?”
“Yes. It is a secret research achievement of the Fox Clan,” Hongshan said mysteriously.
The deliberate suspense piqued the Dragon Clan’s curiosity.
Meanwhile, in a concealed corner, a hidden fox clansman overheard their conversation and muttered under his breath.
“As expected, the Dragon Clan is leaving Greenfield City… Heh. Filthy outsiders. Wait to be erased by Lord Wu Tong.”
…
“Your Highness, what is that? Why is there a smoking giant worm lying on the ground?!”
Elly pointed at the peculiar vehicle before them.
Under Hongshan’s guidance, the Dragon Clan delegation arrived at a platform.
There, resting upon long iron rails, stood a strange machine.
“Silver Dragon Princess, this is the result of cooperation between our Fox Clan and the human race, an upgraded version of a transportation tool developed by humans. This is the Flying Swallow Train.”
“A train?”
The Dragon Clan had never heard the term before.
“A train is an extremely efficient means of transport. It uses magic crystals as fuel, by burning them, it generates magical energy to power its movement. It travels at high speed along pre-laid rails, far surpassing magical beasts in speed, while safely and steadily transporting large quantities of goods. The international community has yet to realize that the Fox Clan has mastered this technology.”
Hongshan introduced the train proudly, almost boasting.
“Our Fox Clan is far ahead of other nations!”
The surrounding fox clansmen puffed out their chests with pride.
Train…
Xia Yi recognized the concept. During her time among humans in the era of the Human Sword Saint, she had seen design drafts of such technology.
Human magical development followed a path entirely different from that of dragons, innovative and unconventional.
She hadn’t expected that in just a few years, what had once existed only on paper would be jointly realized by foxes and humans.
“Impressive indeed,” she remarked.
“It looks so fun! Way more exciting than riding magical beasts,” Elly said eagerly. “Can it reach the Fox Clan’s border quickly?”
“Of course! Silver Dragon Princess, this way, please board here.”
Hongshan invited them aboard.
At the train stood a fox clansman in uniform and white gloves. Removing his black cap, he bowed respectfully.
“First meeting you all. I am the conductor of the Flying Swallow, responsible for escorting our honored Dragon Clan guests to the borders of Fox Hill. This is the first time the Flying Swallow has hosted foreign dignitaries. Should there be any shortcomings in our service, I ask for your understanding.”
His tone was gentle, he appeared honest and courteous.
He opened the carriage door.
Xia Yi led the delegation inside.
“Conductor, we leave the rest to you,” Hongshan instructed. “By Yue Liu’s order, you must ensure the Dragon Clan delegation arrives safely.”
“I understand. Please rest assured. The Flying Swallow has undergone overnight inspection and adjustments, it is in optimal condition. We will faithfully carry out Her Highness’s command.”
Hongshan nodded in satisfaction and departed.
Once aboard, the conductor’s previously gentle expression darkened. A sinister curve tugged at his lips.
“Enjoy this train ride to hell, filthy outsiders…”
…
With a whistle, the train shuddered to life, accelerating along the rails and departing Greenfield City.
“Your Highness, the big green worm is moving!!”
Elly leaned halfway out the window, her long green hair whipping in the wind.
“Elly, that’s a bit dangerous,” Xia Yi warned.
“Dangerous? How so?”
Xia Yi thought about it.
Well… considering Elly’s notorious toughness, if she collided with the train, perhaps the train would suffer more.
“Aaaahhhhhh~~~!”
Elly opened her mouth wide against the rushing wind, amusing herself childishly.
Inside the carriage, other Dragon Clan members chatted idly.
There were no passengers besides them.
Xia Yi deduced that trains were still a novelty within the Fox Clan and likely not yet widely available for civilian use. Thus, this trip carried only the Dragon delegation.
“Your Highness, what do you think of this train?” Karami approached.
“It’s fascinating. Burning magic crystals to generate power for transportation, and as you can see, it’s far faster than traditional methods. It could even alter the course of warfare.”
“Warfare?”
“Imagine this, if the border were invaded, under normal circumstances, it would take time for the capital to mobilize troops. But with trains, a nation could build a railway network and rapidly dispatch forces from across the country to the front lines.”
“When you put it that way… that’s true.”
“Of course, there are drawbacks. Laying railways would require enormous funding. Maintenance costs would also be high. Most critically, if the rails were sabotaged, the train would become useless. In terms of flexibility, it cannot match traditional transportation.”
“Indeed. Though foreign technology is impressive, it still cannot close the gap between them and our Dragon Clan.”
A classic dragon sentiment, looking down on outsiders.
Question: What is the most convenient mode of transportation?
Answer: Dragons.
Xia Yi added casually, “However, if such technology were obtained by our Dragon Clan… that would be another matter.”
“…!!”
Karami was shaken.
From Xia Yi’s calm tone, he sensed vast ambition.
So Her Highness’s interest in conquering the Fox Clan was rooted in such considerations?
He felt ashamed. While he dismissed outsiders, Xia Yi was already contemplating how to seize their advantages.
Was this the mindset of a true ruler? Always thinking one step ahead.
“Your Highness, I shall return to my seat.”
“Mm.”
Xia Yi nodded, puzzled at his suddenly solemn demeanor.
Had she said something strange?
…
As the train rolled steadily onward, the novelty gradually wore off.
Yawns spread through the carriage, some dragons leaned back and fell asleep.
Even Xia Yi found the rhythmic clatter hypnotic.
“Silver Dragon Princess, refreshments.”
The conductor and a fox attendant served drinks and fruit.
Xia Yi glanced down,
The drink was none other than cola.
These foxes truly understood indulgence.
She lifted the cup, but noticed the conductor watching her intently, smiling.
The gaze unsettled her. She set the cup down instead of drinking.
“Is something wrong, Silver Dragon Princess? Does the drink not suit your taste? Shall we replace it?”
“No. I’m not thirsty right now. I’ll drink later.”
“As you wish. If you require anything, please call for us.”
The conductor seemed slightly disappointed she had not drunk it, but left without comment.
Staring at the cup, Xia Yi felt something was off.
She stood abruptly.
“No one is to drink the beverages provided by the Fox Clan without my permission!”
Then she shook Elly awake.
“Elly, wake up.”
“Your Highness… I’m sorry, how did I fall asleep…”
“Elly, I suspect this drink. Try it.”
As a green dragon with high poison resistance and acute sensitivity to toxins, Elly could detect abnormalities quickly.
She took the cup and drank.
Smacking her lips thoughtfully.
Suddenly, her eyes widened, her expression changing drastically as she shouted.
“There’s poison in the cola!!!”
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