A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

73 – Taming Dragons

The long-desired dragon convenience store business had begun.

Five dragons formed a team, loaded with various necessities, home appliances, desserts, and food, departing from Dagamba to deliver to the tribes in the Western Great Plains.

Prince Rashd quickly established a massive dragon docking station near Dagamba, and 2,100 dragons flew there adorned with the logo of Rang.

And so, the first historic flight began.

“Please, let the response be good.”

Even I, who had always proceeded with confidence in business, couldn’t help but feel nervous this time. Despite having the tribal chiefs and leaders of the Western Great Plains under control with my eloquence, they were a tough bunch, making it uncertain how things would turn out in reality.

But after a day.

When the dragons returned, I realized that this business venture had also been a huge success.

“Lendor, Prince Rashd! Look at this!”

The dragon deliverymen from Rang arrived, beaming, carrying loads of items in their dragons.

Among them were Karamba gold coins, various animal skins, livestock horns, and horns and butchered meats from the Western Great Plains.

“Did the deal go through?”

“Don’t even mention it. It was a frenzy. A frenzy! I never knew desserts would be so popular. The Western Great Plains are so vast that even riding a horse to and from Dagamba takes about two weeks. Yet, with deliveries arriving in just a day, the response was explosively positive!”

They said they sold all the home appliances, necessities, clothes, and jewelry they brought. Not only did a single dragon carry objects weighing up to nearly 15 tons, they brought back a massive amount of goods in return.

Looking at the Western Great Plains’ specialty products packed in steel containers designed for dragon deliveries, Rashd and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter together.

It was a great success.

“The Western Great Plains are so vast and difficult to build roads in, so we had many concerns about how to conduct trade. But with dragon deliveries, there have been no issues at all! It’s the best!”

“Dragon deliveries will become even more popular in the future. As dragons lay eggs, their numbers will increase even more.”

“hahahaha! Excellent! Excellent!! Don’t worry about the settlement funds. I’ll calculate and deliver them precisely.”

“Of course. I trust you.”

The delivery fees were split between Rang and the dragon deliverymen, while the profits from Dagamba’s goods went to Rashd, and the profits from Ailam’s goods were divided between me.

The dragon deliverymen received a considerable amount of gold coins that day, looking so happy they could die.

“Thank you! Thank you! Lendor!”

“Keep up the good work in the future. Remember, if a dragon is injured, it’s a huge loss. Make sure to manage the dragons carefully so they don’t succumb to Karamba’s heat. Of course, there are cooling spells to resist heat, but that doesn’t mean you can neglect their care.”

“Of course! hahahaha! I was thinking of quitting my job as a mabu, but never did I imagine I’d end up herding dragons in my life! I will manage them thoroughly! Don’t worry!”

And so, Rang’s new dragon convenience store delivery business achieved great success. Rashd and I spent the whole day strategizing new products and items to conquer the Western Great Plains and then returned.

That evening, I explained the day’s events to Karia in the bedroom with a face that could die of happiness.

“Lendor, is it that good?”

“It’s fantastic! The meat of the livestock from the Western Great Plains is renowned for its quality! Since the railway doesn’t pass through the interior of the Western Great Plains but only surrounds it, only a few tribes close to the railway had traded. But now, we can bring in a huge amount of meat and leather using dragons!”

“Thank goodness.”

“Is that all? According to what Prince Rashd said, the Western Great Plains possess tremendous biological resources. It’s so vast that it’s said to be teeming with various magical creatures. We’ll import their byproducts and provide them to the mages and doctors. Medical care will advance significantly, and the mages will progress as well!”

Excitedly pacing around, I yawned from fatigue, then went to lie down next to Karia.

We were essentially living a married life, except for not having officially married.

“It’s all thanks to you, Karia.”

“What did I do?”

“If you hadn’t bravely wounded the Red Dragon with the Holy Sword, scaring the dragons, today’s achievement wouldn’t have been possible. It was a moment when the Empire’s worst enemy turned into a means to advance the Empire.”

“If it weren’t for Lendor’s plan, it wouldn’t have worked.”

With a happy smile, Karia leaned in to kiss me. I accepted her kiss, playfully touching her chest and explaining the next plan with a face full of anticipation.

“Even with just one Red Dragon, such changes have occurred. If we were to involve other dragons in the empire’s affairs, I wonder what would happen. It seems convincing other dragons to participate in imperial matters will be necessary.

“Randor.”

“We must avoid pressuring them like with the Red Dragon. Instead, we should stimulate their pride or curiosity, making them feel like they are choosing to participate. That way, they will be of great help to the empire. Oh, and if there is gold hoarded in Rare, having that brought as well…”

“Randor.”

As I turned my head, I could see the stern expression on Karia’s face. I could feel the thickened tips of her breasts rising as she lay there.

It was only then that I realized the situation I was in.

“Are you suggesting we don’t sleep tonight?”

“No. I… Karia, that’s not it. I just heard that men feel calmer when their chests are touched. I was just trying that approach…”

“Shut up and stand up.”

What could I do?

It was a disaster I had brought upon myself.

That day, after shouting “＜I can’t take it anymore.＞ ＜I can’t do this anymore.＞ ＜I’m really going to die.＞” a hundred times, I could finally fall asleep as if fainting.

I felt the need to exercise a bit.

A few days later.

I ascended to the capital, where the five of us always gathered: me, Karia, Karl Hansen, Selené, and Adran, who had now become the Emperor.

“The Dragon Convenience Store business has hit big.”

“Oh, Randor. Is that true?”

“hehehe! Yes! A huge amount of meat from the Western Plains is now being shipped by train to Elond Viscount, and their specialty products will also see extensive trading in the future.”

“Excellent! Very excellent!”

“Karamba has already been completely immersed in Aylam. Even if the Sultan insists strongly, he can no longer demand further wars.”

It was a conquest made not with swords and spears, but with gold and movies, soccer and desserts. Adran seemed very pleased with it.

“As for the Karamba incident, it seems we can ease tensions diplomatically. It’s all thanks to you, Randor.”

“You flatter me. But it’s not over yet.”

I banged on the table to get everyone’s attention.

“All these changes were brought about by just one Red Dragon. Thousands of dragons. Enhanced national defense. The other six dragons are still idle. We must actively involve them. Just imagine the results if all six dragons were to participate in imperial affairs.”

It would be a huge deal.

Adran looked at me with a subtle expression of anticipation.

“Is there a way?”

“We can do it the same way we did with the Red Dragon. By stroking their pride or piquing their curiosity, they will work for the empire as we desire.”

“Curiosity or pride, you say?”

Adran seemed to ponder that for a moment before giving a wicked smile and asking the librarian to bring a book.

Following his orders, the librarian brought a Monster Guide, and Adran turned to the section describing the characteristics of dragons.

“This is the nature of the seven Ancient Dragons living in the Dragon’s Nest. The White Dragon, in particular, is said to be a strict adherent to principles. It enjoys upholding contracts rigorously and is known to enjoy portraying characters with a well-ordered demeanor in the various historical games played in the human world.”

Adran pointed at the White Dragon with a happy smile.

“While I have a firm grip on the nobles in the capital, many of the local nobles do not pay their taxes on time or cleverly skirt the law. It’s a problem that naturally arises from being far from the capital. I plan to involve the White Dragon in this matter.”

“How do you intend to do that?”

“I plan to stimulate its pride. Disregarding the Emperor’s authority is akin to disrespecting the Guardian Dragon himself. I intend to educate them in the law and create a new position of High Prosecutor and Acting Judge to handle the local nobles.”

To go and deal with those who directly defy taxes and those who break the law through loopholes.

From the receiving end, there would be no greater fear than this. It was obvious that Adran’s authority would be strengthened beyond that of the former emperor.

We all burst into laughter.

It was a clever move.

Selene laughed for a long time at those words before choosing another dragon this time.

“I plan to target the most curious Gold Dragon. If I show advancements in Matop’s technology, there will surely be a significant response. If we provoke curiosity about what further magical advancements could look like, there will be great progress.”

Selene clapped her hands like a professor who had discovered an excellent graduate student.

“I will definitely turn the Gold Dragon into a slave for Matop’s thesis.”

“If it’s you, Selene, it’s definitely possible.”

White Dragon. The plan to utilize the Gold Dragon was decided.

Now, all that remained was the Green Dragon. Silver Dragon. And Bronze Dragon and Blue Dragon.

Karl Hansen was the first to point to the Silver Dragon.

“According to the Monster Handbook, the Silver Dragon was more passionate about exploration than anyone else when it was at the Wyrm level. Having an interest in monsters means having a good understanding of the Southern Green Hell.”

Karl Hansen happily clapped his hands.

“The Green Hell is still a place untouched by humans. If we can develop the monsters and rare creatures here, as well as various herbs and useful minerals, shouldn’t we try to develop them? I will go with a strategy that scratches their pride. If I can’t earn more money than him, I’ll just tease him by saying, ‘Is that a dragon or not?'”

“It will work. It will definitely work.”

Just by hearing it, the prideful Silver Dragon would enthusiastically rush to Karl Hansen with all the valuable information from the Green Hell. Karl Hansen would fill the dragon’s pride adequately and commercialize that information to make money.

By giving royalties to the Silver Dragon and praising it as being wealthier than me, it will understand to further develop the information from the Green Hell.

“The Bronze Dragon is interested in metals and minerals. It should be easy to compete with Kara Longbeard in this.”

Adran came up with a way to utilize the Bronze Dragon.

“If we say that a mountainous being has inferior skills to dwarves for thousands of years, it will stimulate them. If we give them a good incentive by saying that they can mass-produce rare minerals like Adamantium, Oriharcon, and Mithril, they could be used as an excellent rare mineral mass production facility, right?”

“If the Dragon’s Breath can efficiently refine rare minerals even more than the flames of Karamba’s sorcerers, then it should be possible. Your Majesty, you are truly a genius.”

“Well, perhaps we could enhance the sorcery’s flames to produce them. Anyway, the Bronze Dragon seems suitable for working in the steel industry.”

As soon as the conversation ended, I pointed to the Green Dragon.

“The Monster Handbook says that the Green Dragon has an innate ability to read veins and is a famous vagabond.”

According to the Monster Handbook, the Green Dragon had enjoyed all kinds of human world entertainment and pleasure whenever it played.

A poet. Clown. Actor. Singer. Dancer. It had been doing these things continuously for hundreds of years. In short, it was a dragon with a remarkable sense for show business. What if we combine this with the ability to read veins?

“What do you think about entrusting the hotel and amusement park industries to the Green Dragon?”

“Hotel and amusement park businesses?”

“Yes. If the Green Dragon with exceptional vein-reading abilities knows where hot springs are, we can build hotels there to attract people for tourism. And entrust it with developing extensive entertainment for amusement parks. Perhaps without the need to scratch its pride or stimulate curiosity, it will just step forward to do it.”

If the eccentric Green Dragon with this hobby had sufficient financial support from the Merchant Guild, it could certainly pull it off.

“If the contents of the handbook are accurate, there seems to be no reason to refuse. Alright. Let’s give it a try. So, is there only one left now?”

The Blue Dragon.

A very quiet dragon.

It had no particular characteristics except for its excellent ability to manipulate water. It was just a quiet dragon with no features other than the record of being jealous of the Red Dragon.

“Manipulating water. What should we do with that?”

“Shall we try asking for weather forecasts? Predicting rain or snow.”

“That’s a good idea, but how do we persuade the one who’s fed up with the hassle…”

As everyone pondered, Karia suddenly spoke up.

“The content of provoking the Red Dragon. What if we use that?”

“How do you plan to do that, Karia?”

“I’m talking about working in the military.”

“The Red Dragon Knights are already occupied with the Red Dragon, and the ground battle involves giants and machine guns providing sufficient firepower. But where can the Blue Dragon contribute in the military…?”

“Ah, handling water, right?”

Only then could we understand what she was trying to say.

“Raising the navy. How does that sound to you?”