26: Chapter 26: Each Harboring Their Own Schemes 26: Chapter 26: Each Harboring Their Own Schemes “What are you two idiots doing here?”
“Get lost, get lost.”
After hearing that Leon was here for business, Annis Hag immediately sent her two thugs away, then made an inviting gesture towards Leon and said enthusiastically, “You are the most beautiful Red Dragon I’ve ever seen.
Don’t stand outside and freeze, come into Auntie Peggy’s cottage for a bowl of hot soup.”
“And you.” Annis Hag pointed at the Kobold’s forehead, “I’ve prepared your favorite maggot pie.”
“I like maggot pie.” The Kobold cheered.
Annis Hag was enthusiastic, but her sinister appearance was quite unnerving.
There was no need to worry too much about Green Hag, as Annis Hag was far stronger than Green Hag, with double the Challenge Level, which demanded caution.
Leon sighed, not wanting to enter the Hag’s cottage, as who knew what strange things were there, and said, “No need, I don’t like hot soup.”
“Unless you’ve prepared a tasty little girl for me.” Leon had no interest in eating humans, but just wanted to give Annis Hag an impossible task, taking the opportunity to act tougher to prevent unnecessary thoughts from the Hag.
“A tasty little girl?
Auntie Peggy wants one too.” Annis Hag touched her belly, “Auntie Peggy wants a daughter.”
The reproduction of Hags was exceptionally bizarre; they would steal babies from cradles or even the mothers’ wombs, fully absorbing them before giving birth to a human-looking baby girl, who would transform into a Hag identical to her mother on her thirteenth birthday.
If there were no babies, a young girl not too old would also suffice.
Leon’s mouth twitched, trying not to appear too disdainful, and said, “Since there are no tasty children, let’s talk business instead.”
“Alright, alright, sweetheart, if you don’t like hot soup, never mind.” Annis Hag extended her long claws towards Leon, “What business do you want to conduct with Auntie Peggy?
What do you need from Auntie Peggy’s place?
The address of a human village?
You can go there and feast on delicious human flesh.”
“A sword, I want you to help me find someone in the human town to craft a sword,” Leon said.
“What do you need a sword for?” Annis Hag was perplexed, through her long life accumulating a vast amount of intelligence, none involved Red Dragons and swords, perhaps as a collector’s item?
“I have my uses,” Leon said coldly.
“Auntie Peggy is just curious.” Annis Hag chuckled, “Don’t be mad, Auntie Peggy loves you.”
Truth be told, if possible, Leon really didn’t want to deal with the Hag: “Just tell me if you can do it?”
“Yes, I certainly can, it’s a trifle.” Auntie Peggy rubbed her hands, “So you want Auntie Peggy’s help, what can you give Auntie Peggy?”
“Gold.” Although he didn’t have a single copper coin on him, it didn’t stop Leon from speaking confidently.
He wasn’t planning on dodging the bill, just on owing money.
He felt he was gradually getting corrupt.
No, as a Red Dragon, not indulging in slaughter and robbery, merely planning on owing money, which isn’t the same as dodging it, he was rather too kind.
Auntie Peggy has gold, Auntie Peggy does not want gold,” Annis Hag decisively refused Leon, but the real reason wasn’t that.
A Red Dragon making a deal was already outrageous, as Red Dragons were best known for destruction and looting.
A Red Dragon offering to help destroy a village, or even a city, was more likely; they were best at slaying and arson, just not likely to pay.
Auntie Peggy thought for a moment, raised a finger and waved it, saying, “Auntie Peggy doesn’t care what you want the sword for, Auntie Peggy can help you, but you also help Auntie Peggy with one thing.”
“What thing?” Leon asked.
“Killing, an Elf.” Auntie Peggy gnashed her teeth, “You are so strong, you definitely can.”
“Is that Elf strong?” Leon didn’t readily agree, “Who is stronger, that Elf or Auntie Peggy?”
Reality has no levels, nor Challenge Levels, he had to find another way to ask.
“Him.” Auntie Peggy said, implying if the other wasn’t stronger, she would have taken action herself.
“I just wanted Auntie Peggy to help me order a crafted sword, yet Auntie Peggy wants my help to kill someone stronger than her, isn’t that a bit too lucrative?” Leon chuckled, showing his sharp teeth.
“I refuse, this deal is unfair,” Leon said.
“Even a powerful Annis Hag couldn’t kill an elf, I doubt I can, it’s too dangerous.”
The Annis Hag clasped her hands and rested them on her belly, swaying like a shy lady, yet the scene was bizarre, she said: “Powerful Annis Hag…
you do have a way with words.
Why not come and live with Aunt Peggy, let Aunt Peggy take care of you instead of your parents.”
“Poor baby,” the Annis Hag said.
“All alone right at the start of your Young Dragon stage.”
“Shut up,” Leon gritted his teeth.
“So heartless, are all men as heartless as you?” Aunt Peggy complained, sizing up Leon.
“If you can’t help Aunt Peggy with her killings…
blood, flesh, I want your blood and flesh, scales, and claws and teeth.”
Even a drop of blood, Leon wouldn’t possibly give to the Annis Hag, who knows what disgusting things a hag might do with his blood, not to mention such greedy demands.
Leon slightly opened his mouth revealing his deep pearly teeth, mocked, “This deal is even more unfair…asking for this and that, how about I give you a kingdom instead?”
“Ha ha,” Aunt Peggy gently tapped her face, “Aunt Peggy is greedy, Aunt Peggy is bad.”
“Since you’re unwilling to part with any flesh and blood, then Aunt Peggy will settle for gold,” This time Aunt Peggy didn’t make harsh demands.
Leon stated his requirement, he needed a sword at least two meters long.
It must be longer, too short and it would soon be obsolete.
The Annis Hag noted all of Leon’s requirements, and when their verbal agreement concluded, handed Leon a small mirror.
“Just by holding this, you can speak with Aunt Peggy,” the Annis Hag pointed at the small mirror in Leon’s hand, “You can speak to Aunt Peggy anytime, Aunt Peggy is always waiting for you.”
“I understand,” Leon said.
“Love you, dear,” said the Annis Hag.
This time, Leon ignored the Annis Hag and turned away.
Just after moving away from Aunt Peggy’s hut, Leon immediately handed the small mirror to a Kobold.
An Annis Hag could pluck out her iron teeth or nails to create a badge, then any creature that held this badge could whisper to the hag.
Moreover, the Annis Hag could locate all badges and estimate the distance from her to the badge.
Leon didn’t want an Annis Hag knowing his movements.
Now he was wholeheartedly hoping the Annis Hag would bring back the sword he wanted; the money was definitely not there, just a debt.
Meanwhile, as they vanished into the darkness, Aunt Peggy looked on with a malicious grin, gnashing her teeth ferociously producing a discomforting sound.
“Scoundrels, trying to deceive Aunt Peggy.”
“Gold, what do I need gold for?”
“I want blood, I want flesh, scales, teeth, claws, and also eyes, tongue, liver, lungs…
Aunt Peggy planned to kill that Young Dragon, then dismember it, any part could be used to make potions, jewelry, or equipment.
By the next witches’ gathering, Aunt Peggy would surely be the most brilliant, leaving those two vile ones speechless.
Aunt Peggy aimed to become a grandmother, she must capture that Young Dragon, a Young Dragon was not commonly seen.
The Annis Hag carved deep claw marks on the wooden wall, pondering how to capture a Young Dragon.
If it were a cunning Green Dragon it might be tricky, but a proud and reckless Red Dragon was a different story, though correspondingly Red Dragon’s combat power was very strong…
Red Dragon’s preferred food was young Humans or Elves, renowned for their taste of young women’s meat, sometimes even compelling villagers to routinely sacrifice maidens.
If that Red Dragon wanted a tasty little girl, just find him one, ensure he feasts on it, along with the carefully prepared poison.
Besides, some potions or equipment to enhance Flame Resistance were needed, to counter the Red Dragon’s Flame Breath.
Huff huff, truly a perfect plan.