In a transfer that could be described as tortuous, the Juvenile Dragons temporarily found the long-lost freedom.
The Red Dragon and the Juvenile Dragons were released from their cages and allowed to roam freely in a garden. The garden, although lush with flowers and plants, had little to no guards.
Even those who occasionally came to feed the Juvenile Dragons were seemingly weak humans who didn’t even wear armor or carry weapons.
If it were in the past, the impulsive Kleyna would probably have already incited Karon and the other Juvenile Dragons to charge out, and the rest of the Juvenile Dragons would happily follow suit.
But these Juvenile Dragons only gathered quietly like Karon, silently observing everyone who passed by.
Life is a process of gaining wisdom through experience, and maturity through trials.
And what was the price? Their freedom.
This is the Imperial Palace of the Gata Empire, perhaps safer than most places in the world, but for the Juvenile Dragons, it is more dangerous than most places in the world.
From the occasional words outside the garden, Karon roughly learned that the national birthday of the Gata Empire was approaching. Unlike the decision of the merchant Orsus, these Juvenile Dragons were presented to the Emperor by the astute Viscount Will Clarence as a gift of celebration, meant to display the empire’s military power and martial spirit on the day of the birthday celebration.
Karon lay in the center of the Dragon Group. His warm body seemed to give the Juvenile Dragons a sense of fearlessness. The Red Dragon sometimes glanced over the gradually calming faces of these Juvenile Dragons, sensing the deeply buried Dragon Fire within their hearts, which would erupt more fiercely the deeper it was suppressed.
Sometimes the Red Dragon wondered what would happen if he prayed to the Evil Dragon God Tiamat or the Good Dragon God Bahamut, but the thought of the Evil Dragons who died by the hands of the Dragon Slayers made it seem pointless. In an era where True Gods do not appear, Dragons have to rely on themselves.
It’s no wonder that Carlette and Akzhi never showed any prayer or reverence to the Evil Dragon God Tiamat before; Karon’s irreverence is innate. These Evil Dragons don’t believe in gods, and that reveals something.
"Uncle Kaire, are those terrifying Giant Dragons inside?" an eager child’s voice came from the high walls, tender and lively.
"Yes, but these Giant Dragons are just Juvenile Dragons, they only look scary. With me by your side, you need not worry, Princess Liya!"
A deep and rugged voice accompanied the opening of the heavy courtyard gate, and a tall middle-aged man entered, holding the hand of a blonde girl.
The girl’s big, curious eyes were tinged with a bit of fear. Her long golden hair was braided into two pigtails, swinging as she tilted her head to look at the Juvenile Dragons lazily lying on the ground.
The tall man, clad in black iron armor and about two meters tall, bore a face filled with affection for the child, but he held no extra curiosity for the Juvenile Dragons, giving them only a fleeting glance before turning his gaze onto the child.
"Wow, these Giant Dragons look so beautiful, and they are so well-behaved." The lively and cute Liya seemed eager, her round face breaking into a smile as she stood on her chubby toes.
A pair of chubby little hands stretched tremblingly towards the quiet Juvenile Dragons. The Red Dragon and Green Dragon’s splendorous scales deeply charmed the little girl, even more so than the gemstones her father gifted her.
"Do not be afraid, Princess Liya, these Dragons, no matter how noble they once were, are now merely our spoils like those Beastman Elves. No matter what you do, they dare not resist." Kaire looked at the few Juvenile Dragons with a gaze that was clearly threatening and warning.
"Yes! Giant Dragons aren’t scary; Liya is just scared." The girl mustered the courage to stretch out her hand to touch the scales of the Red Dragon.
Karon shifted his body, leaving only his rear towards the girl.
"Uncle Kaire, this Dragon doesn’t want me to touch it; it seems they don’t like me. Let’s go!" Liya’s eyes glimmered with crystalline tears and seemed about to cry.
Kaire nodded, lifted the noble princess, and stepped out of the garden.
Thus, amidst calm and dull days, the birthday of the Gata Empire arrived.
The bustle and hustle outside had nothing to do with the Juvenile Dragons until they were chained by fully armed Samurai and brought to the Imperial Palace’s great hall.
Many nobility dressed in luxurious clothing were feasting and drinking, among them envoys from various duchies and kingdoms near the Gata Empire. Even from the far south, the Human Kingdom had sent envoys here to celebrate the birth of the Gata Empire.
No matter what thoughts these noble envoys harbored in their hearts, their faces were beaming with smiles.
After all, the supreme ruler of the empire, Emperor Charal Cesar II, was sitting on his imperial throne overlooking the subjects under his rule.
Charal Cesar is a legend of the empire, and he is considered a legend, at least in the lands he rules, equivalent to a legend.
Since his accession, he expanded the former Gata Duchy into what is now the expansive Gata Empire with twenty-six provinces, ambitiously waging strong military campaigns outward.
Internally, he suppressed all noble lords under him, making it hard for once-powerful noble lords to breathe, holding absolute power in the empire, possessing the supreme voice, and even the high and mighty Mages had to submit under his rule; every mage had to comply with his supreme authority.
Those Low Tier Mages, seeking to take on a genuine apprentice, had to apply for registration with the empire’s administrative departments.
And as the ruled lands expanded, his own power progressed from a Mid-tier Extraordinary to the pinnacle of the Holy Sanctuary, and in his empire, his strength was sufficient to contend with a Legend.
Such a powerful emperor sitting high on the throne, watching the brought-in Giant Dragons, showed no enthusiastic fluctuations in his eyes, yet a slight smile appeared on his face.
He elevated his emotions, raising his right hand as a signal, "Behold, these are noble Giant Dragons, now they are my spoils. This is the most excellent gift presented to me by my loyal Viscount Will Clarence, now the Knight Order Leader!"
Viscount Will Clarence stood up from the gathering, gracefully accepting congratulations from the surrounding nobles and saluting to the Emperor of the empire.
Karon watched coldly, sensing that the Emperor’s gaze upon him was as if he was overlooking everything in his Sea of Spirit, seemingly omnipresent, but with a slightly unstable spirit.
"Kneel, Dragon, salute to the Emperor of the empire." The Armored Warriors holding them kicked the Giant Dragons’ forelimbs, continuously pulling the chains.
Karon stepped forward slightly, extending his broad wings to mimic the nobility’s hand-on-heart salute and then loudly proclaimed, "Mighty human emperor, Dragons are also noble intelligent beings. How can we be treated the same as those mindless savage beasts? I demand the right to conduct free and equal communication."
Karon knew that human nobles always seek to maintain their so-called poise and demeanor when in a position of advantage, so he attempted to probe with noble-style communication.
"Interesting," the Emperor’s eyes sparkled with a hint of interest. No matter how perfect, noble, and powerful a Dragon appeared to mortals, in the eyes of those high-up humans with power and strength, they were merely beasts with strength. Although in a Dragon’s view, they believed themselves to be nobler than any race in the world.
Charal Cesar II, without a second thought, smiled faintly, "You wish for the right to conduct free and equal communication, indeed. Then, according to the empire’s protocols, captured prisoners can enter the Imperial’s Gladiatorial Arena. As long as you and these Juvenile Dragons win a hundred victories, I will grant you the rights of freedom and equality."
The Emperor smiled and addressed a noble below him, "Rebus, I entrust this task to you, hoping you can deliver satisfactory results."
This Emperor not only maintained his demeanor but also tossed the Dragons into the Gladiatorial Arena as beasts to fight, further demonstrating his majesty.
In the empire’s Gladiatorial Arena, there never were battles of equaled strength. As long as there is a hype, they would arrange a Kobold to fight against an Ogre, needing neither strength nor luck to achieve a hundred victories.
Moreover, Karon deeply understood the human ways. In his place, one is never allowed to win the hundredth battle.
However, even so, Karon felt this attempt was successful. The pessimist stands undefeated, while the optimist has the potential for success. He believed that making an attempt was the prelude to success.
As for those humiliations, Dragons will not forget!