81. The Timid Liya
The accuser was Green Dragon.
After finishing her tasks for Calysia, Reina personally went to Green Dragon’s residence to investigate what had happened.
The two met at a rather ordinary dragon villa—considered a top-tier mansion in the human world. Green Dragon was originally drinking tea in the pavilion, but seeing Reina emerge from the garden, she immediately stood up, walked over to Reina, and knelt on one knee.
She was a dragon with flowing green hair, a cute little bun tied atop her head. She looked no older than sixteen or seventeen. But dragons were a long-lived race, and judging by Green Dragon’s youthful appearance, she might be over five hundred years old.
Reina remembered that Green Dragon was loyal to the point of being foolish, with no tolerance for any betrayal of the dragon race, a somewhat troublesome character in the storyline.
She was the strongest of the Twelve Great Dragons.
Level 78, even surpassing Crimson Scale Hoxas, a designated Demon Moon.
If it weren’t for Reina, the next Demon Moon position would have been hers.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two quickly got down to business.
“Lord Azure Scale, I have evidence of Shining Scale’s betrayal of the dragon race.”
Saying that, Green Dragon handed the documents to Reina.
Reina examined them carefully, her brows furrowing slightly.
“Green Dragon, if this document is authentic, why are you only reporting it now?”
“Lord Azure Scale, it was all because of Crimson Scale before. I have evidence of his various crimes, including Shining Scale’s involvement. I’m willing to accept any punishment for concealing this information.”
“But please don’t spare any traitor, Lord Azure Scale.”
Saying that, Green Dragon stood up and knelt on both knees, surprising Reina.
“Thank you for eliminating that traitor Crimson Scale, Lord Azure Scale.”
“My child died at his hands.”
“Please… don’t spare them.”
A hint of pleading appeared in Green Dragon’s eyes.
Reina nodded.
According to the dragon race’s values, Green Dragon was undoubtedly kind.
She donated all her funds to the dragon orphanage and was the adoptive “mother” of many dragons. Two of the Twelve Great Dragons were children she had once taken in.
“I’ll give you an answer soon.”
…
It took Reina two hours to fly to Shining Scale’s residence.
The Silver Dragon Airspace was about the size of several cities in the original world.
But the dragon race’s territory on the continent was even vaster and more magnificent than the Silver Dragon Airspace.
A round trip was even more tiring than the battle against Donald.
Shining Scale Liya.
One of the two Demon Moons Calysia had cultivated after ascending the throne.
Since taking office, she had been diligent and hardworking, practically the most dedicated “worker” in the dragon race.
She lived in a house even simpler than Green Dragon’s, with no dazzling ornaments or treasures as decorations. There were even rooms for her subordinates nearby, and as a [Demon Moon], she didn’t seem to mind this, practically a high-ranking official with no material desires.
But it wasn’t that she was incorruptible; she simply didn’t have the opportunity to accumulate much wealth.
Last time, when Reina checked the financial reports, she found that the poor Liya had practically no source of income, sending most of her meager savings to White Scale, and giving almost all of her remaining wealth to Azure Scale, Reina, within a few days.
It was as if she treated Reina as her personal treasury.
She had practically bet all her chances of advancement on Reina.
And it turned out that she had bet correctly.
Under Reina’s adjustments, she inherited thirty percent of Crimson Scale’s power and wealth.
When Reina arrived at the residence, Liya was still writing something at her desk.
Hearing the knock, Liya opened the door and said in surprise:
“Sister Reina~, why are you here? I was planning to visit you this afternoon…”
“Liya.”
Reina smiled faintly:
“Let’s talk while we eat.”
Liya’s place for eating, sleeping, and working had never changed.
The two sat down in the living room.
“Sister Reina, did something happen? I’ve completed the tasks you assigned perfectly. Now, we have the leverage to negotiate with the orcs~”
“I’m not here to talk about that, Liya.”
Reina feigned a sorrowful expression.
She took out Green Dragon’s document and placed it on the table.
Liya only needed a glance to understand the contents of the paper.
She finally understood why Reina had come at this time.
Her face instantly turned pale, her hands fidgeting, her eyes darting around as she tried to think of a counter-strategy.
But seeing Reina’s serious expression, she finally gave up thinking, lowered her head, and didn’t dare say a word.
Liya was a dragon who embodied the word “cowardly.”
Whenever she sensed danger, she would shrink back.
Unfortunately, Reina had never learned about her past, never having been interested during her multiple playthroughs. So, from all perspectives, Liya was undoubtedly a pitiful dragon.
Now, apologizing wouldn’t work, nor would promising to make amends.
Reina never spared traitors.
She could even execute them on the spot without changing her expression.
But she suddenly seemed to remember something and said:
“Lady Reina… I, I couldn’t resist Crimson Scale’s coercion and inducements, and I provided some assistance to the orcs.”
“I’m willing to accept any punishment.”
She appeared calm, but her tail and hands betrayed her extreme distress.
Her voice trembled slightly. Every word was a tremendous test of her courage.
Reina wasn’t interested in kicking someone when they were down.
“Liya.”
Reina shook her head, and with a flick of her wrist, a purple flame erupted from her fingertips, burning the document to ashes.
“Actually, you didn’t betray the dragon race at all. It was White Scale who betrayed us, right?”
Liya was stunned.
Actually, Reina didn’t really care, because she already knew.
Green Dragon’s document was just leverage created by Crimson Scale against the two of them.
Crimson Scale had used White Scale’s life as a threat, forcing Shining Scale to provide her with undead corpses as research materials on several occasions. And the one who approved the resource allocation was Shining Scale, who was being threatened by White Scale.
And this “crime” could be discovered by Green Dragon, the “righteous” one, at any time. Everything was perfectly arranged.
It was all part of Crimson Scale’s scheme.
But now, Reina was suddenly glad that Crimson Scale was dead.
The two sisters had been completely manipulated by Crimson Scale.
“No, don’t do anything to White Scale! It’s all my fault… Sister Reina, she didn’t know anything. If it weren’t for me…”
Saying that, Liya finally broke down and burst into tears.
She curled up in the chair, hugging her legs, like a pitiful little girl abandoned on the streets.
Reina suddenly remembered the timid and cowardly Shining Scale in the main storyline. Even after being defeated by the protagonist, she would still beg for her life.
Unlike traditional bosses who resorted to dirty tricks, she was truly an “honest” type who would keep her word and live in seclusion in a remote mountain forest.
Reina reached out and patted her head.
“Hahaha, Liya, I won’t do anything to White Scale, and I won’t do anything to you.”
“Sister Reina.”
Shining Scale timidly looked up, her eyes blurred with tears, her voice choked with sobs. She quickly wiped her tears, trying to compose herself.
“I shouldn’t be crying, I’m sorry… I’m a Demon Moon, I can’t be like this.”
Reina chuckled:
“I’m glad you can cry in front of me.”
“Because dragons only cry when they see hope.”
“I know you’re afraid I’ll purge you, but I assure you, I’ve seen through you and White Scale. To put it bluntly, you have no power to resist me, and you are both very useful.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Remember to make amends.”
What Reina said was mostly true.
She knew that the more honest she was with someone like Liya, the happier she would be.
Besides, Reina had no intention of eliminating Shining Scale—she was a subordinate she had painstakingly cultivated.
