Chapter 25: Abnormal Ecology

Upon seeing this dragon scale, the names of six or seven different dragon species flashed through Melina's mind in an instant.

From red dragons to black dragons, and then to blue dragons...

Dragon species are not classified by the color of their scales; most dragons famous for deep blue scales are actually powerful red dragon subspecies.

"It's not a red dragon subspecies."

Melina looked up at Brightfalls Town.

"It shouldn't be a black dragon subspecies either. Black dragons, despite their immense power, would not choose to haunt places with a high human population."

"Is it a blue dragon... a Sea-Erosion Dragon?" Among Sea-Erosion Dragons, there are indeed individuals that grow scimitar-shaped scales.

These dragons, nearly 14 meters in length, possess long, slender bodies very similar to those of Emperor Dragons. Their scale shapes are diverse, varying according to their habitats. Sea-Erosion Dragons that grow scimitar-shaped scales are usually a variety found closer to volcanic thermal currents; they sharpen their scales against volcanic rock in order to harvest volcanic stone snails, an amphibious delicacy.

Ah, speaking of delicacies.

Volcanic stone snails are the raw material for the most popular seasoning on this continent, and they are also delicious when baked whole—though one must be careful of the thick, high-temperature rocks when collecting them...

Melina glanced at Toluca Lake, where Brightfalls Town is situated. It is a typical inland lake, appearing picturesque with towering trees featuring fiery red leaves by the shore. A breeze blows, and the ripples of the water stir the red leaves, creating a breathtaking and magnificent vista—is it possible? Could a giant beast at least 14 meters long be hiding in this modest lake?

Memories of horror films flooded her mind.

In the quiet lake of a small inland town, a creature from the Atlantic currents swims against the flow into a tributary leading to the sea, travels north, and enters the lake of a certain town, carrying a vengeful hatred from some unknown origin. Three to five young people are just about to hold a summer camp by this lake... Setting aside the lack of logic, this contains almost every "brain-dead" popcorn-horror trope imaginable.

Melina knew she had to find the mayor of Brightfalls Town to explain the situation.

If the Sea-Erosion Dragon that Sonia was currently tracking had broken into this lake, it would cause massive casualties.

"Good thing I accompanied Maria to collect samples..." Melina couldn't help but feel a bit fortunate that she had arrived before a tragedy occurred.

She found Maria near a cluster of bushes.

Old Ma was squatting on the ground, studying a pile of herbivore dung, muttering to herself without a hint of disgust:

"Rhizomes of Thundergrass and Delay-grass? Hmm, I suspect this was left by a Triceratops... Is it due to the different living environment? Their territorial awareness regarding water sources seems to have vanished?"

This was one of the things Melina admired about Maria.

"Maria, we're heading back. Something has come up."

"Hmm? Must we go now?" Maria looked displeased and reluctant.

Melina didn't speak in riddles:

"I suspect that highly dangerous Sea-Erosion Dragon has snuck into the nearby lake area. Look, I found this on the shore..."

She held up the scale:

"A scimitar-shaped scale."

"Hmm... Could it be a local dragon?" Maria pondered for a moment. "The mountain that separates the Weeping Peninsula from the passage to Haven Road, right next to Innsmouth, is a volcano. It stretches into the ocean, and that entire mountain range conceals the secrets of tectonic activity. Some scholars come to this vicinity specifically to collect data..."

"Regardless of whether it's local or from elsewhere, it's very dangerous."

Melina put the scale away.

The next time she took it out was to show it to Sonia and Georgia in the mayor's office.

The mayor stood on her tiptoes with difficulty, using a magnifying glass to observe it:

"The magical factors are fresh, as if it just fell off, but the skin tissue still attached to the scale indicates it has been detached for a long time... What do you think? Sonia... Madam."

Miss Georgia had completely succumbed to Sonia's financial offensive and decided to serve as her estate secretary, responsible for construction management.

A monthly salary of 300 gold Lei, including room and board, with only five days of work per week. She could return to Brightfalls Town during her time off. Most importantly—Sonia guaranteed that the first inland highway she would build would connect Brightfalls Town to Hamlet Town, and she planned to construct two pharmaceutical processing plants nearby.

Just as she was packing her luggage, Melina arrived with this bad news.

Madam Sonia was not skilled in biology, or rather, she wasn't skilled in much of anything.

She pretended to examine the scale, then looked at Maria and Melina.

Melina sighed:

"I think you should have the residents of Brightfalls Town leave the water immediately, and burn incense made of water mugwort, bitter tea, and Calien tree fibers on the shore near the water. The incense can protect your townspeople. Madam Mayor, Death has visited your town."

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Sonia nodded vigorously.

Melina controlled her mouth to keep from curling upward; it was time to be serious.

Miss Georgia had already taken out pen and paper, recording with a solemn face.

"Organize an exploration team to investigate Toluca Lake. Place an order with the Explorers' Guild and select the 'Risk Assessment' option. Remember to add a note: 'Suspected Sea-Erosion Dragon, but higher-level risks cannot be ruled out.' The Explorers' Guild will naturally evaluate it and send a team. If the situation is confirmed, you will enjoy a 95% discount, and the subsequent subjugation mission will also have a significant discount. Plus, you can apply for subsidies before the subjugation..."

Melina recalled a few details.

Exploration missions were always very cheap; in fact, the Explorers' Guild was essentially a public service organization. Ninety-nine percent of the guild's internal funds were reasonably allocated to areas in urgent need. If a town encountered a highly dangerous and powerful dragon, the guild would generally provide subsidies and coordinate with local authorities to help the residents relocate.

If the situation was manageable, the guild would issue paid commissions to hire explorers.

The guild's overall income relied mostly on self-sufficiency; it owned its own industries and could be understood as an alliance of wealthy companies. These companies had no specific purpose other than sponsoring the guild as a form of advertising.

"...Finally, remember to hire someone with good writing skills to elaborate on the local hardships. An exploration team can be here within two days."

All of Melina's experience came from her teachers and classmates.

They had gossiped countless times about the guild's insider information and how to "milk" the guild's delivery services.

Recalling that wise, white-bearded professor with a Greek mustache, he had once, under extremely dangerous circumstances (meaning debt), managed to "milk" twenty bottles of high-proof liquor at once. It was nearly a 70% discount on liquor that was quite expensive at full price—but unfortunately, the old professor didn't choose to resell it, but rather... once he realized it, he drank it all! Five days of continuous heavy drinking.

The master of stellar astrology had taught Melina one of the most important skills.

Through prophecy, you could go to a strange area and predict which restaurant had the best takeout... These little life experiences were now coming in handy.

To prevent dragon infestations, Melina had a secret weapon: diverting trouble to others.

One only needed to send people to cut down the forest leading from the medicinal fields to the lake, creating a comfortable path for dragons, to guide the nearby swamp dragons to drink water—black dragon subspecies and blue dragon subspecies are mortal enemies; they fight on sight. If this really was a Sea-Erosion Dragon wreaking havoc nearby, it would be a good thing to have its attention drawn to the swamp dragons.

She taught them a large number of little tricks and strategies.

Miss Georgia's notebook was already filled with Melina's "Cloud Expert Proverbs." She didn't know how useful they would be, but they should have some effect.

The useless Senior Sonia only seized the opportunity to add a comment when Melina finished speaking and was drinking tea to moisten her throat:

"Yes, ah, that's how we'll do it. That's exactly what I meant!"

Old Ma rolled her eyes so hard she almost awakened her "White Eye" technique.

...

Because of this emergency, Georgia definitely couldn't leave.

She had almost cried, having to ask for leave just after starting her job. But Senior Sonia was magnanimous; she didn't even utter a single sarcastic word, instead giving her a one-month salary advance so she could purchase incense and other necessities.

This made the "Lyton Radar" in Melina's heart go *beep-boop*.

"Do you like Miss Georgia very much?" On the way back, Melina asked.

"Yes!" Sonia nodded without hesitation. "She is also on my 'save' list. Perhaps it's not the person I like, but this feeling of playing the role of a goddess." She looked at her own hands. "Little Mei..."

The senior's tone was a bit melancholy.

Melina tilted her head: "Hmm?"

"...Speaking of playing the role of a goddess, how does it feel? This feeling of possessing powerful magical factors, how do you find it?"

Her words were likely tinged with a bit of jealousy and envy.

But this was not incomprehensible.

Possessing powerful magical factors could save many steps.

For example, the armament magical factors consumed when using weapons, besides being converted and supplemented by alchemists, were most importantly replenished through one's own magical factors.

If one regarded it as a naturally renewable, universal energy source, Melina was at least a Dyson Sphere. The senior was at most an Allied power plant, issuing a "Low Power" warning after just a few bursts. Generally speaking, an explorer, even a Banshee Explorer, could not feed a weapon.

Yet Melina could feed her ten guns and still have plenty to spare.

In a sense, she truly played a role like a goddess.

"I feel like this world is a bit fragile." Melina joked. "Sometimes, I even feel that if I put forth some effort, I could fly into the sky."

Sonia was stunned for a moment, then slapped her thigh and laughed loudly:

"Geez! You've got quite a sense of humor, haven't you? Fly into the sky, haha. This world has some strange laws; no matter how strong a Banshee is, it seems they cannot conquer the sky."

Is that so?

Melina felt the gravity around her, harboring a sliver of doubt.