Chapter 46: A Level 3.5 Dragon-Class Commission
Dragon Species Contract: Shark Dragons Catch Fish Brutally, Fishermen Fish Civilly
Target: Three Shark Dragons
Reward: 100 Gold Ley (Urgent)
The Innsmouth people, almost savages themselves, encountered a species even more brutal and uncouth—the Shark Dragons. With their sharp long teeth, bloodthirsty nature, and lazy, gluttonous disposition, they set their sights on the fruits of human labor—the abundant fish catch.
When prosperity arrives, so do the enemies.
Kill them, and let this sea be at peace until the next cycle of breeding and flourishing.
---
As this contract was being drafted in writing, Melina stood nearby, watching as Senior Sonia typed the words into a classic brass typewriter, then pressed the ink firmly with a hand-cranked embossing machine. She gently waved it over the burning fireplace to dry the ink before stamping it with the mayor’s red seal of authority and her own as the guild administrator. Under Miss Georgia’s watchful eyes, the contract was handed to the three explorers who accepted the task.
“Aha...”
Licari folded the contract away. She wore shimmering armor supported by Frost Dragon scales, with a high dragon scale collar and a dragon scale hat fashioned like a captain’s tricorn. Her voice was cool and indifferent but laced with unmistakable sarcasm:
“Looks like all the power in this little town has fallen into your hands, Miss Sonia.”
“...”
Sonia leaned on the table with both hands, staring through the air at her, then curled a devilish smile:
“Call me Deputy Mayor—though you may leave out the ‘deputy’ if you like.”
“In any case, a trip that nets thirty Gold Ley plus nearly twenty Gold Ley in dragon material bonuses is quite the sweet deal.”
Licari returned a polite smile.
Mayor Georgia stood nearby, gazing out the window, perhaps marveling at how skillfully Sonia wielded her power or lamenting her own betrayal of the explorers’ guild. Quality contracts didn’t just boost local business—they invigorated the town. A guild that frequently offered excellent contracts naturally attracted more explorers. Hoarding such prime contracts for oneself was a practice the mayor could only pretend not to see.
Melina felt her cloak tugged lightly. She glanced sideways to see Louisa giving her a look that silently asked, “Is this alright?”
She responded with a resolute look that said, “It’s more than alright!”
Sonia offered them a parting message:
“May you return laden with treasures, your packs stuffed with luxury. And us?”
She gave a wicked smile:
“I must admit, although Raccoon Town’s situation has been brought under control, it’s worse than I imagined. I have to steel myself to handle it. Until then, I hope I won’t be distracted by the petty troubles of the Innsmouth folk.”
Mayor Georgia reminded them:
“To them, it’s no petty matter. It concerns an entire season’s harvest. The Shark Dragons’ greatest trait is their endless appetite. If left unchecked, they could destroy a city’s entire fishing industry!”
“Indeed, fisheries are vital. If you want a town’s catch, you could fish indiscriminately. But the Innsmouth people fish for even greater wealth.”
Her expression carried a hint of mockery.
---
“Explorers risk their lives to eliminate these dragons for the catch that hasn’t yet turned to gold or silver. How could I not admire the Innsmouth people’s devotion to wealth?”
---
“I bet Senior Sonia graduated in literature.”
On the road, young lady Louisa muttered:
“She’s a bit sarcastic…”
She wore beautiful ore armor, heavy plate with solid steel boots from shin to thigh. Her knees were softened with special knee guards. Dark-toned armor plates were adorned with scales from the Bone Spike Dragon, which contained a secret that transformed life into bursting fireworks, turning defense into offense.
Licari’s gaze lingered briefly on the young lady’s armor.
Behind her gentle smile and unchanging expression lay a trace of disdain for ‘aesthetic beauty.’ Melina seemed to hear her scoff quietly at the design of the ore beta amethyst set.
At her waist hung a gem-inlaid mace, a blunt weapon.
Licari was far more familiar with Sonia than Melina was.
Back then, Melina barely noticed her nearly nameless senior, never imagining that beneath that humble, somber ‘country girl’ exterior lay the soul of a world traveler and reborn spirit. Naturally, she didn’t know her major.
“She graduated in engineering.”
Engineering?
Melina was momentarily speechless. That discipline often carried many special connotations. And if anyone could save the world and bring peace with such a major, it would make sense—though most engineering graduates ended up doing jobs only loosely related to actual engineering...
Licari added:
“Maybe she’s not being sarcastic. Maybe she’s simply a regional knight who genuinely dislikes the Innsmouth folk.”
Quite possible.
Melina recalled some of her senior’s dangerous jokes, then suddenly glared at Licari. That one wasn’t clean either!
Though her senior was trouble, Licari wasn’t exactly a saint either!
The dark humor those two shared could have Satan himself hire artists to paint their portraits and place them as guardians beside the gates.
---
Leaving the Crying Peninsula behind, they arrived at the outskirts of Innsmouth along the coast and began searching the shoreline based on their intelligence.
Shark Dragons—a name that sounded like a fusion of sharks and dragons, with heads very much like sharks’. But they were not Blue Dragons. Indeed, these shark-based dragons were not Blue Dragons, meaning they were not marine dragons.
So what kind of dragons were they?
Lazy, troublesome, always causing mischief, stealing rice from others, defecating on other people’s boats, even expecting to be handed tissues.
All these low-class, disgraceful behaviors combined.
It was obvious.
They were Yellow Dragons!
Their yellow dragon status was proven by the soft, speed-enhancing feathered belly beneath them—their most valuable material.
The scales on their bodies were cheap, as they contained no magical elements. Their blood was not suitable for materials either, though chefs prized it. When spun in a manual centrifuge, it separated into a clear liquid used in seafood dishes of unparalleled freshness.
Because they were not Blue Dragons, Shark Dragons built temporary nests on land.
Melina’s hunting method was to find the nests, wait for them to return, and then capture them all in one fell swoop.
For the first time, she eagerly toured the Innsmouth coast like a traveler. Once, someone had tried to establish a more brilliant civilization here—perhaps fishmen—hence the oppressive dark stone ruins. These abandoned, pitiful remnants spoke of failed colonization; not all attempts succeed.
The passing sea breeze carried little briny scent, no unpleasant salty dampness stinging the face.
Next to Innsmouth stood the dreaded volcano called Pompeii. A river ran through it, spewing nearly boiling water near Innsmouth’s shore. Over centuries, volcanic mineral water transformed the sea, driving it away from the coast and creating a unique ecological scenic spot.
The tough-skinned dragons still regarded this place as their playground.
These Blue Dragons posed no threat locally.
Most were level 1 to 5, generally calm and composed.
Unlike the Yellow Dragons, who were perpetually causing trouble.
During the journey, Melina occasionally teased her dear former roommate Louisa, making the young lady blush with joy; she also occasionally engaged Licari to maintain balance—after all, fairness is an art in itself.
Licari was a skilled artist, drawing inspiration from the endlessly enchanting mist that blanketed the coastline.
Their inspiration was abruptly interrupted by the contract’s task.
Three Shark Dragons.
Sated and sunbathing on a rugged shore, the three Shark Dragons appeared.
Experienced Licari and theoretically knowledgeable Melina calmly sent Louisa to search nearby for the nests while they examined the terrain. They wanted to avoid a mishap where a foot might sink into soft ground, ending the fight prematurely.
Shark Dragons could spray poisonous water balls. Their round bellies were covered with feather-like scales. Beneath the belly was a thick, well-insulated ice water sac. Mixing the icy water with venom glands between rows of shark teeth, the Shark Dragons could launch near-freezing poisonous spears.
The poison didn’t immediately incapacitate but worked as the ice melted, releasing the toxin into the bloodstream.
A truly disgusting ability.
No wonder such vile traits evolved in a Yellow Dragon proud to disgust the entire world.
Besides this, their only attack was a sliding tackle. This move was much fiercer and faster than average dragon tackles but required a setup: the Shark Dragon sprayed water from its ice sac onto the ground, freezing it with high pressure. Then, it struck precisely at the moment the ice formed and melted, sliding forward.
Observers likened their internal fights and play to collisions between wind-up toy cats.
In Melina’s words, it was bumper cars.
Shark Dragons operated in packs because their sliding tackle became stronger with numbers.
Three Shark Dragons already had enough firepower to quickly overwhelm a foe.
Licari had never partnered with Melina before, so her caution was understandable.
Louisa, honestly scouting and setting traps in the nests, could never have imagined what shape her close friend had taken upon arriving at Hamlet Town under Senior Sonia’s influence.