Published at 20th of June 2024 6:30 am

Chapter 1728 Chaos [7]

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His smiling face was quite friendly. It was the type of expression that relayed his desire for peace to the people around him clearly, even if there was a language barrier separating them.

However, the forsaken dragon clansmen did not feel anything like benevolence from him. They hissed and sneered, backing away as he got closer. After all, there was nothing more deceiving than a trustworthy face. August's smile turned wry as he faced defeat before even trying to engage in conversation, but he had a goal in mind that he intended to accomplish.

At the very least, these foreign dragons wouldn't try to attack or run away, since he'd clearly shown that they would not be able to do so under his watch.

Since getting closer wasn't an option, August sat down where he was and looked at them.

"I know you can understand me. I don't know why you refuse to use the universal language, but life becomes more convenient when you can actually talk to people instead of considering everyone around you an enemy," he said.

Hissed and snarls were already starting to get annoying. That feeling was pushed to another level when they continued even after he tried to be friendly.

They were obviously a civilized people. If not, then how could they have created such great technologies?

The attack they used against him wasn't much in the grand scheme, but if that was possible for them because of some small trinkets that they carried around for safety, then what did the place they came from look like?

In August's opinion, it had to be a highly technological civilization at the very least.

The words they used to communicate seemed more ancient than what August knew, which was strange, but it wasn't uncommon for tribes and clans to preserve the language of their ancient ancestors.

More questionable was the way they presented themselves to him.

"I'm not quite sure what's going on, but I intend to hear it from you before I make any assumptions of my own. The auras around you…the aura covering the kingdom doesn't spell good news, but if we are going to be enemies, can't we at least understand why we're fighting?"

August wasn't dumb enough to believe that he could be on good terms with these people. They clearly had the blood of Arulion's dragons on their hands.

However, their position was important to him, because if they could be understood even in some capacity, then the entire meaning of whatever battle was ongoing would change.

The hisses quieted down as he continued to talk. He looked bored but interested at the same time.

It was the first time any of them had seen such an expression from the people of this world.

Honestly, they had not been acknowledging the people they killed as innocents or civilians. In order to maintain their sanity and separate guilt from their consciousnesses, the people of the forsaken dragon clan had allowed their instincts to take over.

Their barbaric behavior was not characteristic of them, but even they knew that they were sinning.

In the end, their sin was directly caused by the Holy Clans. If not for them, then such a situation would have never arisen.

Their current actions were a necessity for the survival of their civilization.

That was the thinking of those with some rationality.

Those without it killed out of envy. Anyone who was fortunate enough to live happily on the surface was an enemy who needed to die.

It may have seemed impossible for them to justify their actions with anything but excuses, but they were not excuses in the minds of those who spoke them.

They were indisputable truths. "You…want to communicate?"

One of the women in the crowd spoke suspiciously, using a broken and olden form of the universal language.

Luckily, August was able to comprehend her words.

"Right. You must have a reason for killing, right? I want to know it."

The problem was that August didn't know anything yet. He was leading the conversation in this direction because he felt like it was the best way to make them talk, but he didn't even know what their people had done.

He had to assume that they were invaders.

He had to assume that they were hostile.

He had to assume that they were more than just a few and had caused chaos throughout Arulion.

All of his assumptions were correct, but was he supposed to act on them without confirming?

Still, he didn't lie. Assuming that the things he assumed were true, he really did want to know what their reasons could possibly be. There was a strong possibility that nobody else had taken the time to ask, after all. That same woman was the only one confident enough to engage with him. The rest hissed at her in their own language, expressing their discontent, but she acted without considering their opinions.

"You are young. Do not get involved, or else you will die."

August smiled slightly.

"It's nice to see that you care, but as you can see, I can look out for myself. More importantly…"

He used his eyes to reiterate his previous question.

The woman gritted her teeth.

"Very well. I cannot sense 'their' blood from you, so I will share with you our purpose."

Frankly, she didn't have a good reason.

August wasn't the most trustworthy person. He also clearly was not on their side. They would inevitably be enemies in the future, and they'd likely kill many people that each other cared for.

Still, the deepest emotion within each and every member of the forsaken dragon clan was their desire to be heard.

They wanted their story to be told to the world. They wanted their history included in the records. Not many would admit it, but the greatest shame they faced was not their curse or their migration.

It was the erasure of everything they fought for and everything they were and its replacement with lies. That was how August learned their story.

He heard a tale that had already been told before, a tale where Qinglong died and tragedy struck a group of people who only wanted the best for their fellows.

He learned of their unfortunate circumstances and their pain, as well as the unquenchable desire that forced them to slaughter others.

He heard the woman speak those words. He also heard her skirt around certain topics as if she did not want to stain the image of their people with the deeds they'd done.

"Haa…"

August sighed as he stood up. He could assume the rest from what she said.

The people of Arulion were now being slaughtered as a result of an eon-old grudge.

'As expected, it's not pretty.'

It was a shame that it was not a story he could relate to.

But he was glad he had the chance to hear it and understand how these events were perceived from the other side's perspective. 'They think I'm going to kill them.'

August could see in their eyes that they believed they would die the moment he got what he wanted.

It was the same reason why the people around that woman didn't want her to speak.

But…

"I will spare you this time."

It was useless compassion, but it was his nature, so August could not deny it.

"However, if we happen to meet again…"

There was nothing more to be said. Every single one of them knew which side they stood on.

If they met again, then one side would end up dead.

Only, that was not now.

August's body shined as he turned back into a dragon and shot into the air.

His next destination was already set. In order to meet up with his people and learn the same situation from their side, he had to go to the only place where he was sure to find them.

Fort Halleya.

That was his next destination.

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