Imperial Crown.

Chapter 620 Raven the Little Bee

I remember you—

"Drogon"

"You're the biggest of those four baby dragons, the red one, right?" "You've grown so big in the blink of an eye! You can't even see a single red scale left on your body!" "I used to feed you when you were little, do you still remember Zhuogeng?"

"Don't worry!" "Don't be afraid!" "Your mother may be gone, but you still have me, your uncle!" "My name is Chuchulinga! I am the great goblin chieftain!" "Drogon!" "After we help Raven this time," "Come home with me!"

"Return to the Orcish Empire!" "Return to the Court of Mountains and Seas!"

More than a month passed in a flash. Raven couldn't control Chirp Linga's incessant chatter anymore, so he simply retreated to the back for some peace and quiet, leaving Chirp Linga alone in front. And there he was, constantly nagging and tormenting Drogon along the way. Perhaps this was precisely Chirp Linga's cunning. He had been waiting for this moment to brainwash Drogon and persuade him to come with him. After all, who hasn't dreamed of being a dragon rider?

Ouch——

Zhuo Geng couldn't take it anymore. With a roar, he performed a death roll.

ahhh-

In the blink of an eye, before Chirpinga, Igni, and White Moon could even react, they all fell off Drogon's back. Chirpinga was at the fourth rank, Igni was also at the fourth rank, and White Moon had only recently broken through to the third rank thanks to Drogon's enhancement... None of the three had the ability to fly.

Raven, relying on his status as a fifth-tier mage, was able to fly. He quickly recovered.

Without a word, he rushed to Bai Yue's side, grabbed her slender waist, and pulled her into his arms. A delicate fragrance filled the air as they landed unexpectedly in mid-air, their eyes meeting. But the next moment, they both turned their heads away as if electrocuted. Bai Yue turned her head hastily because she realized her heart was beating inexplicably fast, especially when Raven's breath was hot and scalding on her face, making her feel completely overwhelmed! Raven turned his head because he was anxious to save Igni and Chuchulinga. After all, Igni had lost her right wing after being blasted by Thor's magic crystal cannon, and had already lost the ability to fly. And no matter how much Chuchulinga deserved to die, she couldn't die now, at this crucial moment, just before reaching the capital.

Don't let his talkative, sarcastic, and cunning nature fool you. Without him, 7 goblins would immediately fall apart!
With a sweep of his left hand, he was enveloped in a similarly fragrant embrace. Although the orc had an animal head, it was undeniable that her skin was soft and smooth, and her body felt almost indistinguishable from a human's. Because Raven was in a hurry to save her, he accidentally wrapped his arms around Igni's shapely buttocks, causing her to rise considerably above him. Ironically, the "father's mother" was now facing Raven's cheek. Furthermore, Igni wasn't wearing armor or animal skin, but rather angelic feathers. This sudden impact left Raven momentarily dazed and distracted. Fortunately, Igni didn't seem to mind, even reaching out to wrap her arms around Raven's neck, intentionally or unintentionally pressing her full breasts against his cheek. She wasn't stupid; since the confrontation, she could sense Raven's astonishment and avoidance. He seemed completely unaware of, and uninterested in, the marriage. She was also keenly aware of the ambiguous and alluring relationship between Raven and Bai Yue. Her heart was filled with growing anxiety. For Igni, this opportunity was like a godsend.

But Raven had no time to enjoy that. He swooped down again and kicked Chirpinga in the backside. After abruptly halting its descent, he flew to Chirpinga's head and shouted, "Grab my leg!"

Chirp, Lina cried out in pain and hurriedly grabbed Raven's left leg.

And so, Raven's right arm encircled Baiyue's slender waist, his left arm embraced Igni's round, pert buttocks, and his left leg dangled around Chuchulinga's hands. He flew towards Drogon once more.

"Zhuo Geng!" Raven shouted.

But Zhuo Geng paid no heed, flapped his enormous wings, and flew fiercely forward.

In truth, ever since Zolzaen's death, Raven had lost control of the three young dragons. If it weren't for the years of kindness he had shown them, the three dragons would likely have flown away long ago. They stayed for two reasons: first, they weren't stupid and knew that staying with Raven meant they wouldn't lack food or drink; second, they wanted revenge for their mother and brother Smaug. But this didn't mean they had to obey Raven's orders, much less that they were his slaves. At this moment, they were more stubborn than mules.

In reality, if it weren't for Raven's sake, Drogon would have swallowed that talkative idiot, Chirpinga, whole long ago.

"Help me!" "Help me, Raven!"

Chirping Linga's once vibrant green face was now deathly pale, as if painted with latex paint. She roared incessantly.

"Zhuogeng!" "Come back quickly!" "Listen to me!"

No matter how hard Raven tried, he couldn't keep up with the dragon's speed. He shouted several times, but seeing he couldn't get them back, he could only carry the others onto the youngest, Renilla's, back. Girls were much more obedient, unlike the boys who were so unruly and mischievous. After setting them down, Raven asked Eric, "How are you? Have you recovered?"

We'll arrive in the capital in 7-8 days. Eric has been recuperating for almost two months.

Eric clenched his left fist and pounded his chest with a dull thud. "No problem, Patriarch! Don't worry!"

Raven nodded, then kicked the slumped-over Chiu Chiu Linga, who was clearly still recovering, to the ground. His face contorted with rage, he yelled, "Chiu Chiu Linga! Have I been too lenient with you?! If it weren't for the fact that you came all this way to support me, I would have skinned you alive and torn your tendons apart! What did you say to Drogon?!"

"Yes." "I'm sorry, Lord Raven." "I was wrong." "I deserve to die." "I didn't say anything, don't you know me?" "Just endless bragging." "Who knew Drogon had such a violent temper?" "More terrifying than his mother." "He'll explode at the slightest provocation."

That's one good thing about Chirping Linga. No one can match his ability to read people. He knows when to boast and when to back down without hesitation. And he's utterly shameless. He doesn't care about dignity or face. Seeing Raven's genuine anger, he immediately knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

There's really nothing you can do with this kind of person.

Raven snorted, "If you can't control your mouth, I'll sew it shut for you." "Now look what's happened, I wonder when Zhuo Geng will calm down."

Not far away, Bai Yue curled her lip and rolled her eyes. She had overheard everything clearly; for nearly two months, Chuchulinga had been constantly harassing Drogon. Drogon had repeatedly warned Chuchulinga to stop, but Chuchulinga wouldn't listen. She even kept trying to lure Drogon away with her. In the past, Bai Yue would have told Raven about this. But now… what did it have to do with her? Raven was about to marry Igni anyway. "That bastard couple," Bai Yue muttered to herself, "Haven't they heard—humans and orcs marry, and their children are born without an anus?" Her father, Sliver, had always told her that since she was little. However, Bai Yue wasn't entirely without doubt. After all, her mother seemed to be human. But she clearly had that... "Damn it!"

Snapped

Raven slapped Bai Yue's bent wolf ear. "Are you all ingrates?" "Huh?" "I just saved you guys, why are you glaring at me like that?" Raven was confused and a little angry. It was as if he was the one who made Drogon deliberately throw people down.

"You!"

Bai Yue covered her folded ears with both hands. The grievances that had been building up inside her for two months suddenly burst forth like a spring. She burst into tears and ran away into the distance.

"Fuck"

Raven was startled. Could it be that he slapped her too hard? He hadn't used much force.

Eric, Thor, Link, and the others were speechless, exchanging bewildered glances, completely unaware of what had happened.

"Lord Raven!" "Don't worry! I'll take care of everything." "I'll comfort Bai Yue right away."

Chirp chirp, like a grasshopper, jumped up and chased after Bai Yue.

Igni knew perfectly well why Bai Yue, who was always outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, was crying so bitterly. But being surrounded by humans, Igni felt a little uncomfortable, so she made an excuse and said, "I'll go see Bai Yue too." With that, she headed in Bai Yue's direction.

Link sighed softly, "The adult's charm is truly immense." "The name 'Little Bee' is well-deserved." "No wonder people say, 'There are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames.'" "..."

Raven said, both amused and exasperated, "For a moment, I couldn't tell if you were praising me or insulting me."

"Patriarch" Thor asked sincerely, "What's it like working with orcs?" "Are they like humans?" "How do you kiss?"

Snapped

Raven smacked Thor hard on the head. This time he deliberately used force. Thor hissed and screamed, mimicking Bai Yue as he clutched his skull.

"He deserves it," Eric chimed in, adding insult to injury. This brat, as a retainer, always spouts nonsense. He has no sense of propriety whatsoever. He doesn't even understand the most basic rule of a subject: "Never ask what you shouldn't ask." "What's with the feeling? How to kiss?" "What's wrong?" "Does Thor intend to find himself an orc as a daughter-in-law?" "Then Eric will have to make a decision that goes against his ancestors' wishes—to break this rebellious son's legs." Eric thought viciously to himself.

Raven, however, said in a serious tone, "Didn't you experience that in the Orc Empire? Didn't you know that once orcs have sex, they turn into beauties like elves?!"

"Really?" Thor exclaimed in surprise. "Oh my god, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Raven: ...

Link: ...

Eric: …

Eric couldn't take it anymore and changed the subject, saying, "My lord, we'll be in the capital soon." "I understand you're worried about these orc leaders, which is why you brought them with you." "Why not take advantage of this opportunity..." Eric made a hand gesture as if wielding a knife. His eyes sharpened as he said, "After all, if our trip to the capital turns out to be a trap set by Habs, we'll be in trouble." "That would leave us vulnerable on both sides."

The millennia-long blood feud between humans and orcs... like the rigid class system on the continent of Middlesbrough... is something ingrained in everyone's memory, in their blood; imprinted in their bones, in their genes. How could it be easily swayed by a few words from Raven or by personal will? The innate aversion, rejection, and distrust towards orcs... is Eric's "genetic instinct" and "bloodline imprint" as a human. It is the underlying logic and code of the "soul consciousness" of all humans on the continent of Middlesbrough.

This can be seen from Link's silent nod and Thor's shining eyes.

This is similar to the "those who are not of our kind are sure to have different hearts" mentality ingrained in the blood of Chinese people on Earth. No matter how much a foreigner insists they are a good person, a sense of skepticism will always remain deep within the hearts of Chinese people. This is because it's a fundamental code etched into the genes of our Chinese ancestors. The moment you hear this phrase even once, that gene within you will be instantly ignited. It's not something you can control with your own will.

The most typical example is India, with a population of 14 billion. Even after being influenced by civilized society for a century, they still cannot change their caste system.

Moreover, Eric's concerns were not unfounded. If negotiations broke down and he found himself at a disadvantage, and these orcs turned against him, Raven would be truly doomed. "Things like 'once they're on your side, they'll be utterly loyal and never betray you,' or 'everyone under the protagonist's command is both incredibly intelligent and invincible'... those are just stories from novels. They're impossible in reality. After all, anyone with a bit of life experience knows that a mature, stable, shrewd, and capable person would never willingly be subservient to someone else and work for you."

So even though Eric's abilities were limited, he could still navigate the complexities of politics during the Baron's era, but in the current situation, his political acumen has completely failed him. He only has loyalty, yet Raven still invests a great deal of effort in cultivating him.

This is the truth.

If someone possesses only talent and ability, yet is adept at calculating their own interests and utterly devoid of loyalty, that's the fate of Kimbak. His cultivation talent was simply extraordinary, perhaps even surpassing that of Raven and Ferdinand combined! Because he was merely a mercenary, essentially a rogue cultivator. Raven relied on his special abilities, and Ferdinand on family resources. Yet this cultivation genius spent his life serving numerous powerful nobles. In the end, he finally obtained a knight's domain, only to lose his life in the process. All his efforts were in vain.

Raven nodded, indicating that he understood. "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements."

For the next few days, everyone lived in peace.

Raven and the others gathered together, discussing their upcoming situation and possible scenarios in detail. In the distance, Bai Yue sat alone on the edge of the dragon's back, arms crossed, like a fisherman. Igni leaned against a large dragon scale, twirling a palm-sized knife with a finger-thick hole in the hilt, her movements as flashy and cool as a butterfly knife. Meanwhile, Chuchu Linga was completely relaxed, sprawled out on the dragon's back, eyes closed, seemingly resting.

Ouch——

The dragon's roar rose again, and everyone looked down. In the distance, the majestic and imposing city of Menegall came into view, completely covered by a yellow, egg-shaped magical array.

The dragon descended. The group jumped off and waited for about an hour.

A man rode a magical beast out of the city gate. He was around fifty years old, with handsome features. The only one Raven could truly call a rival was Thor. Raven's "handsomeness" was the visual impact created by the "unusual" and "fresh" quality of his black hair and eyes. It was like a blond, blue-eyed foreigner arriving in a small Chinese village. Regardless of his looks, he would immediately pique people's curiosity, drawing their attention. Even if he was just average-looking, he would still give off a unique feeling. Once you got used to him, you felt that this kind of "handsomeness" was unique and irreplaceable. In contrast, the newcomer was completely different. He had features native to the Middlesbrough continent, entirely Western in appearance, with the features and demeanor of a superior being. He was clearly an aristocrat! Moreover, he possessed a refined and elegant air, subtly exuding a graceful and noble demeanor and aura. This kind of "nobility" could not be formed without more than a decade of cultivation and refinement. Aside from his facial features, even the handsome Thor was utterly defeated in front of him.

"Grand Duke Serafino." "How have you been?"

Raven asked casually.

Serafino remained mounted on the fourth-tier [Windwing Qilin Tiger]. He first glanced at the two giant dragons in the distance, clearly concerned yet pretending not to care, before looking down at Raven and saying, "Raven, you can go in. I don't think those orcs need to go in."

"What if you're framing me?!" Eric immediately questioned.

Raven reached out and stopped Eric from speaking, then smiled and said, "Then I'll go in with Eric and Link."

Thor grew anxious, "Master, I want to go too!"

Raven turned around and gave him a nonchalant look. Thor immediately backed down, "Fine."

Not letting Thor in was obviously because they didn't want him to take the risk. After all, the magic array in Minegall City was currently in operation, and it was still uncertain whether Raven's Martial Soul Transmission would still work.

"Come up."

Serafino nodded.

Raven and the others leaped up and sat behind the Windwing Tiger. This fourth-tier magical beast was enormous, as large as the Ridgeless Rhinoceros-Elephant that Raven had encountered in the Elven Empire. Moreover, this magical tiger could fly, and was extremely fast. Hence its name.

Riding the Windwing Tiger, it took Raven only about 20 minutes to spot the Royal Court in the distance.

……

(End of this chapter)