Do you believe me when I say I’m not a dragon?

He lurked in the sea of ​​clouds, squinting his eyes and staring at the island, looking at the part of the island covered by the sea.

As the waves rolled, his vision gradually became clearer, and Mercer also understood the true face of the island.

"I found you, Xingzhoulong...heh, it's really a fitting title."

Mercer looked at the giant creature that seemed to be covered in stone and whispered softly.

Under his gaze, the island suddenly slowly floated up, revealing its true identity as the skin covered with moss and a few plants, revealing a rock-like carapace.

As for the rest, although the head and limbs could barely be seen, there were waves on the sea surface, and Mercer couldn't see it very clearly.

But from this perspective, it really looks a bit like a turtle.

——Just when Mercer made this judgment, a part of the back armor suddenly cracked several gaps, and a large amount of steam spurted out. This was probably an act of ventilation.

呲——

The water vapor mixed with the high temperature and spewed out, forming a cloud of smoke that covered the sky and the sun. It even blocked Mercer's vision, and he could only see the outline vaguely.

But he didn't feel discouraged. He just came to confirm the natural disaster. Now that the route was confirmed, he shouldn't stay too long.

But before leaving, Mercer hesitated whether he should spit a few fireballs at it and try to steer it away.

The next moment, the changes coming from Xingzhou Dragon made his attention focus on it again.

The steam did not stop for a short period of time. Mercer could see that the temperature in the cracks on its back was rising. At the same time, the temperature of the surrounding seawater also began to rise. Visibly, a large number of small fish that could not escape were seen with their white bellies exposed. water surface.

Not only that, the color of the back armor also gradually turned red, just like the metal on the forge, and the original rock-like black gray gradually turned into the color of lava.

Not only that, he could clearly see that the air around several cracks facing him began to twist. Obviously, the high temperature would not be limited to this.

The carapace around the crack began to melt and blocked the crack again, but the high temperature still did not stop. What happened to the temporarily blocked hole?

——Mercer suddenly became alert and flapped his wings fiercely and flew to the other side.

As soon as he took action, the cracks in the back armor suddenly erupted, and the armor that was still covered in it just blasted towards Mercer's position just now.

--boom!

The blazing fireball passed by Mercer, drew a parabola, and fell back into the sea.

"What the hell..." He turned his head to look at Xingzhoulong in shock, only to find that it had retreated a certain distance due to the recoil, and now it was starting to "reload" again.

Under Mercer's extremely vigilant gaze, he saw Xingzhou Dragon adjusting its position at the same time, as if something was attracting it in front of him.

boom!

There was another cannonball. This time Mercer spread his wings and tried to resist. However, with a roar, Mercer's body flew out involuntarily.

Judging from the extremely huge and heavy tonnage of the Xingzhou Dragon and the recoil brought to it by this cannon, we know that the power of this blow cannot be underestimated.

Mercer was mentally prepared. He spread out the other wing and flapped it suddenly to slowly stabilize himself in the air.

He glanced at his wings and found that the "cannonballs" shot by Xingzhou Dragon were about to solidify.This material takes on a lava-like texture at high temperatures. During the launch process, it is blown by the wind and the surface solidifies slightly to maintain its shape. After hitting the target, it explodes and wraps the target. If it can defy the sky, Those who survived the impact would either be burned to death or suffocated to death due to being wrapped around themselves.

Seeing Xingzhou Dragon trying to attack again, Mercer dodged again.

He was a little surprised at this move at first, but after thinking that Red Phoenix could even make feathers explode, he was not so surprised by this Xingzhou Dragon.

——If the fight continues, his identity may be exposed among the scholars. Although Mercer wants to harass it again and try to get more information from it, it can only go so far.

"But then again...why does every natural disaster want to beat me up?"

Mercer flapped his wings and left from a distance, thinking in his heart.The red phoenix... although it was not hostile, it was very different at first when its anger was meaninglessly vented; the same was true for the mysterious dragon encountered on the floating island; and this Xingzhou dragon. ..... It made Mercer wonder if he was the natural enemy of this group of natural disasters.

But this is just a thought. With my current strength, I can only win against the Red Phoenix who has not yet regained its full strength. I am not qualified to compete with the natural disaster.

He glanced at the Xingzhou Dragon behind him, touched the cannonball that was about to solidify on its wings, and pulled it off with a little force, revealing the black armor inside.

Instead of throwing it away, he took it back with the intention of studying it.

Chapter 261: Natural Disaster Fragments

......

"—If you continue with this thing, go ask the Shangdong people and scholars to study it."

Immediately after returning to the ice-veined snowfield, Mercer called Hami and threw the large piece of melted carapace in his hand at his feet.

Seeing that this mysterious object almost hit his feet, Hami couldn't help but take a step back, and then looked at it.

From the appearance, it looks a bit like newly unearthed ore, mixed with a lot of soil. Standing at a certain angle, you can even see part of the metallic luster.

"This is..." He felt that this substance had a special magic power, and couldn't help but squat down, touch it, and feel the feel.

But what surprised him immediately was that this material still showed incredible warmth in the ice and snow, as if the snow piled on the ground no longer existed.

"Is this... what kind of ore?"

Hami raised his head and asked Mercer doubtfully.

"It's part of the natural disaster's carapace, and it's also the means it uses to attack."

After Mercer finished speaking, he ignored the shocked Hami and asked Rachel standing aside:

"Tell me what happened after I left and the arrangements you made."

"clear."

Rachel nodded and said: "I arranged the hunters to hunt around the canyon forest prepared to face natural disasters to protect people's defense projects. The spacecraft was also placed there. There are also some hunters who are physically disabled and unable to hunt. He played a role in the battle and was arranged by me to go to the training ground to teach the hunters here."

"Hmm. Where's that group of people who did the deal called Shi?"

"They asked about your absence, and I replied that you went to the swamp forest, so he didn't ask any more questions." Rachel paused and said, "In addition, they sent 1000 people this time. people, and the number of people to be brought back is only 500. We have arranged for 100 people to go to the floating island, and your request for the Ecological Research Institute has been sent out."

"500 people?" Mercer frowned and said, "It's getting less and less. It can be seen that they sincerely want to use this place as a garbage recycling station."

Rachel agreed: "That's true - after our survey, the physical quality of the people sent here is lower than before, and their intelligence is not very high. According to statistics, nearly one in ten people can't even read." know."

"Do we need to ask them for a recall? Lord God?" she asked.

After pondering for a while, Mercer replied:

"No, it's not necessary now. As long as they can carry out their work, what I want them to do doesn't require much IQ anyway."

Hearing this, Rachel nodded, and then Mercer pulled out the map: "I have confirmed the address above. The route information of the natural disaster is correct. Be prepared for it. It should come within the next few years."

Hearing this, Rachel's expression became much more solemn. She took the map and turned to leave.

......

On the other side, in the Ecological Research Institute of the Floating Island.

——In an office in this magnificent high-rise building, a middle-aged man was smoking a cigarette and looking at the bobcat in front of him.

"...So, you came here to look for a job and sneaked into my office midway. What's your purpose?"

Shanmao did not speak, but handed over an envelope, bowed, and turned around to leave.

The man frowned and looked at the envelope in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he opened it and looked at the contents.

After just taking a look, he looked slightly startled. He pinched off the cigarette to disperse the smoke and looked at the contents carefully.

Then he stood up again, holding the envelope and wandering around the room, his eyes full of hesitation and hesitation.

——An invitation to cooperate from the black dragon in the ice-veined snowfield. Moreover, it seems to be no stranger to this place, and can even clearly understand what it has encountered.

"..."

Thinking of this, his face turned grim.

It is not once or twice that the Hunter Guild, Sky Island Federation, Ecological Research Institute and other forces have found opportunities to take advantage of each other, but all this is done behind the scenes. On the surface, they still live in harmony - so Ice Vein How did Xueyuan know about this?

The man's footsteps became more and more urgent, and his expression became anxious.

As far as I know, when what other forces did to the information from the Ecological Research Institute happened, it was impossible for a spacecraft from the Ice Vein Snowfield to come, so the chance of the information being stolen by outsiders was very small.

——Floating Island and Ice Vein Snowfield, these two places are thousands of miles apart. The people of Floating Island who have lived in the air since childhood have always been instilled with the news that "Floating Island is safe", so for It is impossible for anyone to obtain such important information from outside the floating island.

So beyond that, what possibilities are there... external vs. internal?

The man paused and frowned tightly.

This letter... what if Black Dragon also sent one to others?

Not now, but before, or even longer ago.

I may not be obsessed with profit, but what about people from other forces?The Ice Vein Snowfield is a huge treasure house. As the place where natural disasters fell, it must be coveted by many people. So it is not impossible for the Black Dragon to use it to conduct further transactions with other forces.

If this is the case, then it is normal for them to inform the Black Dragon of this news... The man deeply understands what kind of actions a person in a high position like himself will do for the sake of profit.

——This can’t happen anymore!

A feeling of anxiety about being distanced by others arose in the man's heart. He understood that he had to do something, otherwise he would lose in the confrontation with other forces on the floating island.

He knocked on the bell beside the table, and soon followed by the sound of footsteps, a voice sounded outside the door:

"Do you have any orders, sir?"

"Prepare a spaceship to go to... the Ice Vein Snowfield." When he spoke, he hesitated for a long time, but finally his eyes became firm and he said.

"... Ice Veins Snowfield? With all due respect, sir, isn't this the territory of the black dragon? And if you want to go there, call the Resource Management Department... Sorry, I'm too talkative." The assistant was confused. asked, but then she saw the man's unhappy eyes, and immediately stopped talking, shut up and did it obediently.

After the assistant left, the man sat back on the chair and looked at the envelope in his hand again.

——But at the same time, another worry arises in my heart: What if all my guesses are wrong?All the forces that I guessed have not contacted the Ice Vein Snowfield without permission, and I am the only one who has done so. So what should I do?

He was silent for a long time, then lit the envelope on fire.

——Since they don’t do it, don’t blame yourself for being first come, first served.

Chapter 262: Dragon Hunting Stake

A few months later, in a climate without much wind and snow, a small spaceship docked on the beach of the Ice Vein Snowfield.

The group of people stepped off the spaceship, got into the cart under everyone's arrangement, and came all the way to the edge of the volcano.

"Bingmai Xueyuan will provide ecological information and intelligence on the ground, and the Ecological Research Institute will also return corresponding rewards. It's that simple." said the person in charge.

Without the complicated rules and regulations of the Department of Resource Management, all the Ecological Research Institute wants is information.

"no problem."

Rachel nodded and took out a stack of thick notebooks: "As partners, we will not be stingy."

"......This is?"

The other party took it with a puzzled expression.

"The ecological information of the Ice Vein Snowfield is one-third of what we know so far." Facing the other party's gradually surprised expression, Rachel smiled and said: "You should have included some of them in the file, but don't pay attention to these little things." detail."

Seeing Rachel pointing out what the Ecological Institute was doing behind the scenes, their smiles also added a hint of embarrassment, but they had experienced enough, and embarrassing incidents like this were not uncommon, so their expressions remained harmonious.

"Since you are so generous, we will not be stingy."

He smiled and said: "Twenty pangolins, ten males and ten females, healthy and disease-free, five years old, they can facilitate your work."

He made a gesture, and the people on the side walked out of the door. After a while, they put the two cages into the house and walked out again, repeating the cycle.

Stuffed in the cage was a one-meter-long reptile covered with large scales. Its mouth was equipped with a bite stopper, and its limbs were wrapped in cloth strips.

"Can you introduce them?"

Seeing this, Rachel asked.

The other party nodded and said:

"This kind of pangolin has a lifespan of fifteen to twenty years, and its adult size is about one meter. It lives underground and carries out digging activities. It is generally vegetarian, and occasionally eats earthworms and other creatures that live underground. In addition, they Their main food is soil - they can absorb minerals from the soil to strengthen themselves, making their scales, teeth and claws stronger."

He paused, giving Rachel time to remember, and then said:

"This is also the reason why we brought them here. I heard that your ore is the main trading resource, so we think pangolins can effectively help your work. As I said just now, they will absorb minerals from the soil, so They will actively dig into places rich in mineral veins, find precious minerals and eat them - their stomach acid is strong enough to digest the soil stuck around the minerals, but they cannot digest the real metal. In this way, they It will return to the lair and spit out metal-containing particles. You only need to collect them, which can effectively reduce the steps of removing impurities when refining."

Rachel listened quietly. She sat on the chair, her eyes closed and she didn't know whether she was thinking or already asleep.

After a long time, she nodded:

"I see. This is indeed of great help to our work. On behalf of the entire Ice Vein Snowfield and the gods, I would like to thank you."

"you are welcome."

He said, then took a look at the weather outside and said, "Then it's time for us to go back, excuse me."

"I'll send you."