Life is tough, so Honglong resorts to performing?

Chapter 1: How will Long Sheng survive without subsidies?

Elren World, Linyue City, five hundred years after the signing of the Holy Covenant.

"The old folks are still as useless as ever."

Loren Gerlis-Yzak, the Red Dragon Youth who just turned twenty this year, transformed into a red-haired, black-eyed teenager and stood in front of the bulletin board of the Linyue City Hall.

In the bulletin board made of anti-magic glass, the bright red Universal Language title on the high-precision magic crystal display screen is shining brightly:

Public Notice Regarding the Adjustment of the List of Endangered Species Protection Levels (Seventh Revision Draft)

"It's in the public announcement period now, so it looks like it's for real this time."

Loren muttered to himself that the only useful information in the entire announcement was two points: first, the expansion and proliferation of dragon populations over the past hundred years or so.
Secondly, the dragon race will be downgraded from a Class II rare protected animal to a Class III general protected animal, and its original monthly survival allowance and exemption from punishment will be cancelled.

For the twenty years since Loren transmigrated and was born into this world, this news has circulated every year, and this year, it has finally come true.

The wolf finally came, at the age of twenty, a twenty-year-old when he still desperately needed this subsidy.

Although the passage of this policy was not very formal, Loren still felt a pang of heartache at the sudden loss of this subsidy that he had been receiving for free.

Apart from the White Dragon, who is considered a disgrace among the Five-Colored Dragons, all true dragons are intelligent beings born with wisdom. This policy was able to pass by taking advantage of the White Dragons' wild beast phase to prove that dragons are also animal species.

As for the purpose, it's obviously to take advantage of loopholes and cheat on subsidies.

However, this policy was introduced hundreds of years ago, and over the centuries, more and more people have tried to get a share of the pie through various means.

What kind of enlightened dragon beast is this? A half-dragon with purified bloodline, a mage-reincarnated dragon created using mage techniques...

Numerous individuals abused their identities and exploited loopholes, a problem that persisted despite repeated crackdowns. Finally, the federal officials were exhausted.

One stab and they're done for!
If you're always thinking about finding loopholes, then you shouldn't be playing this game at all!

Those old fogies, those councilors from Gulong, may have voted against it.

But clearly, their opposition is futile when all other races have passed it.

After all, this is no longer the time when the alliance was first established, when the dragons were the absolute force of the army.

My lord, times have changed.

With the development and advancement of magic crystal technology, individual combat strength remains important, but the disparity in strength between individuals is still enormous.

But we are no longer in an era where a strong individual can challenge an entire organization alone.

With the introduction of the concept of systematic warfare, a top-tier battle group built around an Elder Dragon can sweep away several ordinary Elder Dragons without taking damage.

In the millions of years of the Elren world, this is the first time that the concept of a nation has truly superseded the powerful.

"Those damned identity thieves! The awakened dragon beasts, the purified half-dragon race, and those reincarnated high-level mages, they're all bastards!"

Loren was somewhat angry, after all, he was indeed a genuine pure-blooded dragon, possessing the dragon's heritage and an ancient and powerful bloodline.

However, due to the proliferation of these counterfeit goods, his status as a true dragon was downgraded, his allowance was canceled, and even survival became difficult.

"I really need to find a proper job."

After venting his emotions, Loren began to think.

Originally, relying on his status as a Class II rare protected animal, he sold dragon blood and shed scales on the black market for a considerable sum.

However, with the changes in policies, these black market activities will most likely either be shut down or become legitimate and public.

Those long-eared elves run large pharmaceutical companies that are even more greedy and stingy than the goblins.

He, Loren Gerlis Izak, became cheap.

With the cancellation of subsidies, his income will plummet.

"I need to find a relaxed job, preferably with room and board included, and with a lot of freedom." Loren thought to himself. As a young dragon who had just turned twenty, he was still in a period of rapid growth.

He spends at least four or five hours a day listening to various online courses and studying online games. He invests the vast majority of his income in himself.

This is why, even when converted to standard ranks, he is already equivalent to a great warrior or a great mage, and even compared to other short-lived species of the same age, he is considered quite good.

If you're willing to put in the time and effort, finding a regular job isn't actually that difficult.

However, he still relied on subsidies, selling his blood every two weeks, and various odd jobs to make a living and cover his education expenses.

After all, for the vast majority of dragons, becoming an ancient dragon is the most rewarding project in the world.

"I have a headache."

Loren took out the magic terminal and began to check the past messages in the part-time job group chat.

Those who frequent this chat group are all people who seek quick profits, offering short-term, quick-money, but risky shady ways to make money.

"There's a rare animal zoo in the next city that's recruiting exotic animals. Hunters and druids can bring their animals to apply?"

A message caught Loren's attention, and a bold idea flashed through his mind.

I haven't had my Level 2 protection revoked yet, which means I might be able to stay in the zoo?

Just squat down in the park, close your eyes, and start listening to online classes. Just learn about the dragon's inherent heritage. After all, it's an exhibition, and there's no rule against you sleeping.

This is where dragons' advantage over other intelligent species lies: they can flexibly switch between their identities.

When needed, I am an animal, or of course, an intelligent species.

Thinking this, Loren took out the magic terminal from his backpack and began searching for information about the zoo.

According to the information, the revenue of the Green Leaf Rare Animal Zoo was quite good two years ago, and the venue was also quite large.

There are only two animal shows a day, and a medical team led by a Grand Druid, so it seems quite professional.

From Loren's perspective, it was completely within an acceptable range.

Not to mention they also have the City Druid, a moderate member of the Green Terrorists, in charge, so the danger to animals should be very low.

Unlike regular druid apprentices and formal druids, an archdruid is someone who has truly sworn an oath to protect nature. His presence here means that the animal welfare of that household is indeed quite good.

Otherwise, they would have already called on their friends and family to tear it down.

Green terrorists are no joke; even the moderates among them are staunch idealists who will not be swayed by self-interest.

As for being treated as an animal and displayed for other intelligent species to observe?

As a noble dragon, Loren naturally didn't care at all.

Please, you elves/goblins/dwarves/giants wouldn't even have the chance to do such an easy job!

Did you know that you violated the federal Smart Creatures Rights Act?
As the first super-organization in the world of Elron where intelligent beings jointly govern, the Federation is extremely strict about laws that involve fundamental principles!

We dragons can do this because our old man made significant contributions in the early days of the Federation, and my little white dragon brother is incredibly stupid!

Yes, we true dragons are just that shameless.

"I need to hurry up and discuss the terms of the contract. It would be best to sign a long-term contract. Once the draft amendment has passed the public comment period, I can lower my price."

Loren muttered to himself as he began using his terminal to check the route to the neighboring city.

As a juvenile dragon, although he obtained his pilot's license early, he was not yet old enough to take off from the city. It would be best for him to pack his bags and take the train to the neighboring city.

Flying alone across the wilderness could easily lead to encounters with poachers, which would be far too dangerous for a young dragon who had just turned twenty.

(End of this chapter)