Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

"I don't believe that you can win your so-called bet," the God's heir cast his cold eyes on the crystal dragon, "but since you want this process, then I will give it to you."

"If, if this human can rescue his companion before I make my first attempt at imitation, I can give you something that is no longer useful to me, but still very precious-"

"The cradle where I rest while I sleep."

"Don't lie to me." Crestos's brow twitched twice. "I heard that only when the cradle is broken can a heir of God like you wake up. If your cradle is still there, how did you get out?"

"I was awakened by the call of 'Father'. In this case, the damage to the cradle was minimal, but it is not my home or bed. After waking up, I cannot go back to sleep in it again. A new cradle is needed to seal me in."

The heir of God raised his hand, and a projection of a building that looked more like a sleeping creature than a traditional cradle appeared in his hand. "But this is only for giants like us. For you, even if it is of no use, it can at least be used as a treasure - not every dragon has the opportunity to own such a treasure."

"...You're right. Okay." Klesto struggled for a moment, his eyes fixed on the colorful reflection of the "cradle" on the projection. "I have to admit that your bet is indeed attractive enough. Okay, go do what you want to do. I also have my work to continue."

"Give this human some help?" The heir of God said contemptuously, turning away. "If you ignore the tribe behind him, he is even more powerful than you."

"Of course I know, otherwise, why would I make this bet with you?"

Watching the Frost God's Heir walking away in the earthquake caused by his footsteps, the Crystal Dragon Crestor revealed himself from the crack where he was hiding. He looked at Ron, who was still in a coma, and raised his claws to touch his forehead.

"Hey, wake up buddy, we don't have much time."

In his coma, Ron saw many people and things, including his adventure companions, friends he made along the way, and gods or gods-like beings standing in the mist.

However, soon, as his thoughts turned slightly, everything disappeared. In Ron's eyes, there was only a bright and deep starry sky and a strange call.

"Hey wake up, buddy, we don't have much time."

Not much... time?
His body became warm and the coldness around him was quickly dispelled. Taking this opportunity, Ron was finally able to forcefully open his eyelids, which were almost frozen into one piece by frost.

However, what he saw was not the Heim priest who could control positive energy that he was most familiar with, but a giant dragon with star-like scales that he had never seen before. His light grey eyes were like a mirror, looking at him gently.

"Ah, you're awake." Crest looked at Ron with a smile, and one of his dragon claws released a spell filled with healing energy, allowing Ron's body to quickly recover to its best condition.

"Just now I was a little worried. What would I do if that heir of God hurt you too badly? Fortunately, his attention was not on you."

Ron twisted his neck, looking for his companions, but found nothing. Even the mayor Victor Fromm and his guards were nowhere to be seen.

"What about them?" "You mean your companions?" Crestos shook his head with some regret. "They were all taken away. The Heir of God needs enough experimental samples, and they are the best experimental subjects, especially your nine companions."

"Let me introduce myself, Crestor. People who know me call me that. As you can see, I am neither a chromatic dragon nor a metallic dragon. I am a crystal dragon. Like amethyst dragons, sapphire dragons, emerald dragons, and topaz dragons, I belong to the gem dragon family."

"Crystal dragon..." Ron looked at the other party's dazzling scales and brilliance. Gem dragons are usually not as famous as five-colored dragons and metal dragons. He only has a very limited understanding of this race.

But because of this, Ron was certain that the appearance of this Crestos was no accident.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're the reason they went south, right?"

"Part of it," the Crystal Dragon was not surprised that Ron could guess this. "There was indeed a large-scale natural disaster in the north, but if it weren't for me, they would have stopped at the edge of the Gobi Desert at most."

"Elden, was he attacked because of you?"

"I had a big fight with him, but that was just a cover-up. I mixed in with his and his students' caravan, trying to avoid their pursuit, but unfortunately, their perception was much sharper than I expected."

"If I give you to him..." An arcane glow had already gathered in Ron's hands. He could feel that this dragon did not seem to be very powerful.

It was true that he saved him, but all this was caused by him, and Ron had enough reasons to convince himself to take action against him.

Crestor shook his head: "You won't do that. They don't want me, but a life that has not yet hatched in my hand. Even if you catch me, it will be in vain if you can't get 'that'."

"Compared to this, I hope you can cooperate with me. You rescue your companions, and I will make him give up chasing me."

Kleistor did not hide anything and explained to Ron quickly and clearly what happened after he fell into a coma. Ron listened quietly without any expression.

The crystal dragon looked at the young human with a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I think that a good person like you who has sheltered so many refugees can understand my feelings, right?"

"No," Ron spat out a word coldly, choking Kleist for a long time, "For a life that is not closely related to you, more lives will suffer. I don't approve of this practice."

Put yourself in their shoes. If Ron was a crystal dragon, and the dragon egg was Ivy, Sylvia, or someone else he knew, then he would certainly do whatever it takes to drag outsiders into the vortex in order to protect them. But if it was just a passerby... why?
Ron was not a paladin and did not have such lofty morals - in fact, Ron did not think that the Crystal Dragon's behavior was very noble.

But now that things have come to this…if killing this dragon doesn’t solve the problem, then I’ll just have to follow his advice. (End of this chapter)