The Foreigner on the Periphery

The scene that people associated with the word dragon rare was almost the same. There may be differences in location and form, but the striking commonality of their dwellings was that the amount of sunlight was poor. For other races, an excuse to slap real estate prices had then become a virtue for dragons. Since the dragon’s dwelling place was a treasure trove, it was bound to require closure and secrecy that prevented others from entering. 

Therefore, fire-breathing fire dragons, lightning-breathing thunder dragons, sea dragons that ruled the sea, and sand dragons that broke down rocks all build their nests under the ground. However, one kind was an exception. 

Minjun was watching that rare case through the window of the magic video. The place where the air was distorted and reflected was a rare poisonous dragon in the Amazon jungle. Inais’ abode was a dome-shaped glass greenhouse that covered a radius of several kilometers. Of course, the material wasn’t strictly glass, but it functioned as a greenhouse in that it projected sunlight to illuminate the interior and warm it to an appropriate temperature. In addition, it faithfully performed the role of rare in that it was impossible to look inside from the outside and the exterior material was harder than some rocks.

‘Looks like you woke up.’ 

The greenhouse was bright with the sunlight from the jungles of the southern hemisphere. She was in the middle of a forest full of tropical plants with the eyelids half closed. Inais’ head and back were covered with sunny plants that loved the touch of the sun. Various broadleaf trees, conifers, flowers, and bushes that replaced scales were rooted in the dragon’s skin and were parasitic. 

Because of that, Inais’ body looked like a green ridge rising from the middle of the jungle: a living, breathing mountain. The reason why some dimension residents confused the genus of poisonous dragons with the species of green dragons was understandable. On the other hand, moss, mushrooms, and ferns that did not like sunlight grew naturally on her neck, chest, and belly. 

There must be eggs hiding under where they are covered like a blanket, but it was not shown in the video. Most of those plants that got their nutrients from the dragon’s body were not native to Earth and were notorious poisonous plants in the world. When the venom dragon absorbed their sap and recombined within the body, it then became a deadly poison that only the dragon could detoxify. 

Even considering the fact that she woke up, Inais looked very tired. Her off-dragon race was a subtle difference that was not easily noticed, but she couldn’t escape Minjun’s eyes. The weariness, fatigue, and sensitivity of her brooding eggs ooze out of her. 

Kentius then began to explain. Inais listened calmly, but she sometimes chimed in. She was surprised when Minjun said (falsely) that she passed her inheritance to Kentius, and she asked why. She nodded as she explained that it was to distract her from the ever-influx of her heirs and gave her time to discuss her important deal. 

“The will did draw more attention than it needed to. It was known that he had left an unknown legacy to the prisoner, so other heirs became more passionate about him. I think it was the right choice. Thanks to him, he will be able to help us without obstacles in the future.” 

It was the tone of voice that assumed that Minjun had already accepted the deal. Kentius hesitated and corrected it. “That’s what I’m talking about… You say you’re going to make a condition.” 

As if not understanding, Inais opened her eyes wide. The branches of the wisteria-like plant above her eyebrows trembled. Kentius explained, as he deemed to act polite to the older dragon. Then Inais looked at Minjun with an interesting expression. “Should I ask for a way to reward myself without breaking the special gift tax?” 

Minjun then answered instead of Kentius. “And we need to hear from you as to how much you will offer in return.” 

Inais thought for a moment. The voice that broke the silence had a hint of belated realization. “You’re saying you don’t want to be treated like an ordinary prisoner. Well, that’s actually why we offered the deal. I was also trapped in the stereotype that if a dragon asks, you will of course comply.” 

Hearing those words, Minjun snorted inwardly. It was the words and actions of a dragon who lost his senses while living in the jungle, isolated from society. It was the result of continuing her secluded life with half of the banta of the character ‘young…’ 

It was unavoidable since he was born as a venomous dragon. In her original dimension, where she lived, her handling of poisonous dragons was not bad. The atmosphere was full of the poison they spewed out, and races other than dragons had to live as slaves to the dragons, begging for an antidote. 

However, on Earth, the situation was different. It was an overdeveloped society to poison and intimidate intelligent beings and maintained the social and economic system. It was also a dimension where various dragons other than poisonous dragons immigrated and settled. A poison dragon’s main weapon did not work against the poisonous dragon. 

Poisonous dragons were a race that boasted superiority in front of other dragons but became inferior in front of other dragons. Inais quickly gave up the competition with other dragons, and as soon as he came into exile, he set up a nest in the Amazon jungle and withdrew from society. Thanks to this, it seemed that she, who was behind her worldly ways, realized her mistake belatedly.

With this, she then decided to deal right with the opponent. “Both of your questions will be answered by looking at this.” 

Pod! Where she put her gaze, a cage-like prison appeared. 

“·······?!” 

An elf was trapped behind the iron bars. At first, Minjun did not recognize her face. The sickness was evident in her features, and her whole body was as dry as a branch and was in a bad state. She was possibly poisoned by Inais’ poison. The dragon muttered something, and the closed eyes of the elf woman flashed open, forcibly waking up. 

Her eyes, which seemed to count the place and time in a daze for a while, gradually settled down. The confusion was gone and the steely will was lost. With her limbs restrained, the elf’s mouth opened, and alien language flowed out. His voice was thin, but his emotions were not faint. “Send me back… you filthy beast…!” 

However, the elf’s intense gaze could hardly settle in one place. One couldn’t find the location of the dragon. That prison was a structure that could be viewed from the outside, but reverse observation was impossible. Quite the opposite of glass greenhouse rare. Inais ignored her as she spoke. “This elf’s name is Syrkiz Iferia.” 

Minjun searched the name in the inmate database. Soon, a strangeness flashed in his eyes. A language that only Minjun could read was written next to the photo, which seemed to have been taken in a normal state before being poisoned. 

-Bounty: 770,000 talents. 

The prisoner then read her charges. “Some sort of… thought criminal.” 

He himself was not charged with committing an act of terrorism. Nonetheless, the reason why the Council paid attention to Syrkiz was that it had spread anti-Committee ideas across multiple dimensions for hundreds of years. The seeds she sowed steadily took root in each world. She then conveyed the message that they should not be subjected to the Council’s economic system centered on talent, and the appeal that the world they interact with was effectively ruled by the Council. 

Over time, her ideas became the basis for cultivating a terrorist organization against the Commission. Minjun remembered that the rebel forces that had risen in the Ashtal dimension during the time when the dictator was in good health were also influenced by that ideology. Realizing that she could no longer be overlooked by her committee, they made her wanted on a few modest pretexts. Her appearance came after Minjun had already awakened as a prisoner. 

She knew that she was wanted, but from how well she hid, she only heard rumors that it was hard to find a trace. However, she never thought that it would come to this point. Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at Novel Multiverse – “NovelMultiverse dot com”

‘I can see why nobody found it. She was captured by a dragon…’ 

From there, Minjun asked calmly. “Did you keep it locked up?” 

“Right. I kept it well hidden in my treasury.” 

“Why did you keep it up until now? If I had submitted it to the committee earlier, I could have gotten the bounty.” 

Instead of privately detaining them, there was a way to make them into talents, but the question was why not. Then, Inais replied. “This elf is a kind of fixed deposit for me.” 

“…?” 

When Minjun’s expression changed, Inais laughed as if she found this whole ordeal fun. Her heavy breath shook the vines that hung like beards from the corners of her mouth. “Among anti-committee terrorists, this woman began to be treated as a dogma. Because her death is not confirmed with certainty, she tends to be idolized. Thanks to you, the bounty is increasing over time. Just as she earns interest on the bank every year.” 

Minjun clicked his tongue. It was a way of dealing with a bounty that he had never imagined before.

‘Well, from the standpoint of a dragon residing in the jungle, there is no place to spend a large amount of talent right away, so it must have been put aside to raise the value.’ 

Just like ordinary people invest in real estate or antiques, that dragon invested in bounty criminals. “How did you get it?” 

“I’ll just explain it as a combination of coincidence and luck.” 

Even after Inais obtained that elf, he hid it for a long time, all with the mindset of an investor waiting for the future value to rise. It was a dragon-like mindset that disallowed the common sense of other races. “If you help us, I will turn this bounty over to you. If you submit it to the committee as it is… you can receive the talent without deducting the special gift tax, right? Of course, the complicated procedure for disguising it as your own catch is up to you. I don’t need to pay attention to that.” 

When asked about what the tax evasion method was, it was not much different from what Dell and Jenkinson suggested. If the two were going to help with the special mission, that dragon would hand over the bounty he caught. 

‘What should I do?’ 

Minjun’s position had then changed a lot compared to before. There would be no more hanging around the talents deposited into the prisoner’s account.

One couldn’t withdraw at will anyway, and even if one were to collect 5 million talents in your account, the committee would. It was quite hard to believe that he would congratulate him on his achievement and release him obediently. 

‘Why did I not doubt and believe? They’ll let me go as long as I get my severance pay.’ 

This must have been a hint. ‘In the end, from my point of view, what’s better… is Inais personally submitting that elf to the committee. And when the talent is deposited into his account, it is better to withdraw it in kind and then secretly hand it over to me.’ 

There were two things at stake here. One was that, as Changcheon experienced before his death, the committee was very picky about the in-kind withdrawal of talents. Changcheon then said that it was not easy even though he had a clear cause as a bank manager. What if the hermit dragon, who was not involved in the economic activities of the earth at all, wanted to withdraw money? 

‘The committee will catch all the faults called faults. Maybe sparks will fly to me too.’ 

Another part that got stuck was…. ‘That elf.’ 

An ideological criminal who spread the Anti-Committee ideology to multiple dimensions. Since her appearance was after the birth of ‘Asif-666’, there was no information in her memory as her original race. Likewise, she had no connection with the Church of Ellahu-Praga, which could be seen as an anti-committee force. Nonetheless… 

Minjun fell in love with her. The option of submitting it to the committee as it was and making it a prisoner is very uncomfortable. After thinking about it, Minjun then came to a conclusion. “Let’s adjust the terms of the deal.” 

First of all, he must accept this deal. Inais then spoke with a smile. “A discussion has already been concluded between Kentius and I. You just need to help him find evidence to identify Lord’s killer.” 

Minjun then spoke as if giving up a bluff. “It is outside my scope of duties to apprehend or kill that culprit.” 

In response, Inais laughed as if it was natural. “Even you can’t kill him. I don’t even expect to get there.” 

From there, Minjun’s eyes narrowed. “Sounds like you can guess who the culprit is.” 

Come to think of it, Kentius also said something similar. ‘I think the culprit is someone who has nothing to do with the committee.’ 

Anyway, there came a sound that couldn’t seem to be done without a clue about identity. “The night before Rod died… he contacted me. With magic communication similar to this. The content of the conversation was the same as usual. He asked how the eggs were and I said nothing was wrong. And he told me about how he was spending his time in Hong Kong. By the way···” 

A sharp light then flashed in the poison dragon’s eyes. “Then he said it clearly. He made a bet with the old dragon, who had Hong Kong as his territory, and received an ancient race artifact in return for winning.” 

Only then did Minjun come to mind. ‘Ah, the ring!’ 

So when the child hatches… she had said that at that point she would give it to him as a hatchling, the weakest and most delicate of Lord’s children. 

“Come to think of it, what happened to that ring?” 

The answer to Minjun’s question followed right away. “I was also distracted, so I checked it belatedly. When Rod passed away, all the items he owned were buried under the building, and the things he kept in the subspace were spilled out, leaving him in the same situation. I had to return to Rare, so I couldn’t help, but all the heirs and guardians gathered while the ancient dragons stood as witnesses. Together, we collected artifacts from the field and compiled a list of treasures in Lord Lair. By the way.” 

No way? 

“None of them.” 

“…” Minjun could clearly remember. The ring worn on the finger of the dragon lord who had polymorphed into a human. It must have been made by Endelion. 

He then asked, pretending not to know. “Lord said, what shape did you say it was?” 

“I didn’t tell you that. But it was clearly mentioned as an artifact of an ancient race. However, there was no such thing in the list made by the old dragons and the heirs. Nothing new, except for what Lord already had before he went to Hong Kong.” 

Inais then asked as if she couldn’t guess at this, all in a voice mixed with sadness and anger. “There are two hypotheses that could explain this situation. Either Lord lied to me with an artifact he never received in the first place…” 

It couldn’t be.

Minjun must have witnessed the reality of the ring with his own two eyes. “Or someone has written a hand on the artifact in advance so that it can be retrieved when a certain situation is completed. What is the special situation here and why would it be so? All but the facts, Lord died within a few hours of acquiring the artifact, and the artifact was lost. Is the hypothesis that these events are related to each other really conjecture?” 

The dragon then covered his entire body with grass and spoke with fire in his eyes. “The person who handed over the artifact to him is the old dragon who rules Hong Kong. I’m suspicious of him. You just need to find evidence of his involvement. Kentius and I will do the rest.”