Chapter 25: The Silly Dragon

With clear goals and detailed steps in mind, the rest was just a matter of following the plan—it could even be called effortless.

It was like assembling a Gundam model with an instruction manual; if one were to somehow install the left and right arm parts backward, they would truly be beyond saving.

In no time at all, Linde had constructed a bow drill on his workbench that was exactly to his liking. He connected two wooden rods, one vertical and one horizontal, with a strip of cowhide, then wound a leather strap around the intersection point and secured it tight. Like playing a traditional erhu, pulling the horizontal rod back and forth would easily drive the rotation of the drill bit below, effectively boring the holes.

To avoid leaving unsightly residue on the beads, Linde gritted his teeth and decided against using an iron nail. Instead, he made a painful sacrifice, pulling out a silver ingot he had been reluctant to use. Silver shavings around the edge of the hole would serve as a decorative touch, whereas iron filings would look completely out of place against the pristine white surface of the beads.

He only had three silver ingots to his name. After all, he hadn't even found many silver ore deposits, let alone smelted them in a furnace. Using one up just to make a batch of nails he didn't even need yet—Linde felt he had been generous enough.

Seeing Linde pick up a luminous pearl and place it on the table, Cynthia, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but whisper a warning: "It won't stay steady like that... it'll slip."

Linde said nothing. He wasn't finished yet; he had intended to make a small auxiliary tool all along. He took a wooden mallet and a chisel from his toolbox and knocked a tiny block off the corner of an oak piece. Comparing it to the pearl, the block was about twice the size, which satisfied him.

He pressed the round bead onto the small wooden block, used a pen to trace the outline of the sphere onto the wood, and then carefully carved a shallow groove along the line with the chisel. Finally, he tapped the end of the chisel lightly with the mallet. After some effort, he successfully crafted a small object similar to an archer's thumb ring.

However, this wasn't meant to fit a finger, but to hold the bead.

Once he confirmed the bead was firmly wedged and wouldn't roll away, Linde held it up. He looked at Cynthia with an expressionless face and coldly uttered one word: "Dumb."

"You...!"

The cyan butterfly dragon was so angry the feathers on her head stood on end. But she quickly deflated; she still needed Linde to make the necklace. *Fine, fine...* she thought, letting the insult slide. No point in arguing with someone like him.

Watching the grumpy little bird swallow her pride, the corners of Linde’s eyes crinkled, and he smiled with genuine amusement.

The rest was straightforward. Just back and forth. Simple, repetitive motions can often feel tedious, leading one's mind to wander. To pass the time, Linde looked at Cynthia, who was staring intently at his handiwork, and remarked casually, "Let's chat. It’s getting a bit boring."

"Your craftsmanship is quite good," Cynthia said, nodding in approval.

"Thanks. Don’t praise me next time."

Seeing that his compliment hadn't had the desired effect—and that Linde had even rolled his eyes at her—Cynthia was utterly bewildered. Are all humans this difficult? Scold him, and he’s sour; praise him, and he’s still sour.

And he was the one who suggested chatting in the first place. *Sigh, being a dragon is just too hard.*

"Do you dislike me that much?" Cynthia sighed.

"Not at all. I’m just disappointed in your lack of spirit." Linde gave her a silent, sidelong glance.

The butterfly dragon wasn't unintelligent; a moment of reflection was enough to grasp his meaning. "My power cannot compare to the Red Dragon. How could I ever harbor thoughts of resisting it?"

"If you don't even dare to harbor the thought of resisting, how could you ever hope to actually succeed?" Linde asked. "A wise man seeks strength from within—that’s what an old man among humans once said, and everyone who mentions his name is considered a generation his junior. I find that line quite profound."

"Even if a person isn't born with three heads and six arms, they can still rely on wisdom to defeat a wicked dragon. The important part is that you have to have the resolve."

A breeze swept over the grass, creating a soft, rustling sound.

"If we don't delay its advancement before it breaks through to the seventh rank, our path ahead will be many times more difficult and treacherous." Linde let out a long breath, met Cynthia’s gaze, and finally said, "Whether you choose to be a bystander or choose to charge into the flames with us, I only hope that you will not betray us."

"Can you do that?"