Game mechanics may be game mechanics, and the Challenge Level often only reflects the basic combat power of the monster, sometimes not even that; it can hardly measure the true level of the monster. But nevertheless, as a reference, it is still useful.
The Challenge Level of an adult Red Dragon is as high as 17, which means it typically takes a four-person team of adventurers, all at least level 17, using significant resources to defeat the Mother Dragon comfortably. Edwin, alone, definitely wasn't up for the task.
He clearly couldn't win the fight, but as a powerful Mage, Edwin wasn't someone the Mother Dragon could easily kill. Unlike warriors who only know brute force, Mages are masters of numerous Spells that can help them escape dangerous situations.
Mages stand above the rest; otherwise, why is there a saying—"to be a Mage, even the most inelegant, the most foolish one, as long as you're a Mage, that's all that matters."
The battle was on the brink of eruption. The Mother Dragon opened her mouth to unleash fierce flames, but Edwin was quicker, casting Mysterious Steps with a wave of his hand. The effect of the Mysterious Steps was—a brief envelopment in silver mist, Teleporting himself to an unoccupied space within his line of sight.
As an Imperial fugitive still at large after such a long time, it was clear that Edwin had some tricks up his sleeve.
Mysterious Steps, Protective Energy, Flash Technique, Invisibility Technique... one Spell after another was cast, helping him dodge the Mother Dragon's flames and claw attacks, increasing the distance from her, and finally disappearing completely with a Teleportation Technique.
Although it was uncertain what exactly happened, the battle was fascinating, especially with the Mother Dragon maintaining the upper hand, which Salovis watched with relish, until Edwin vanished, and she landed on the ground, flapping her wings.
Because the Mother Dragon now appeared very angry, she dared not approach too closely.
Dragon Sister merely dared not to get too close. Leon probably guessed what had transpired; he wanted to keep his distance but didn't quite dare, and after pondering, he followed.
After several months, this was the first time Leon had seen the Mother Dragon up close.
"Mother," Leon called out, hoping to awaken the Mother Dragon's familial affection with this term. It really wasn't his business; he truly had no involvement and rejected being the target of displaced anger.
The Mother Dragon stood there like a small mountain, surprisingly still able to control her rage. After all, was she supposed to swallow her tears and endure because it was her own offspring?
"You've come," said the Mother Dragon.
"What happened?" Salovis couldn't wait to ask.
"Swindler, that swindler!" The Mother Dragon's voice was ripe with unrestrainable anger: "Don't speak of him ever again."
Even when pinned to the ground by Leon, Dragon Sister used to talk toughly. Today, however, she was uncharacteristically meek.
The Mother Dragon paid Salovis no mind, instead turning to look at Leon.
Without her care, the little one had actually grown quite well, even appearing Stronger than the Dragon Sister she'd looked after, with even more beautiful scales... She would surely attract many "affectionate" big sisters when she grew up, and the thought brought a cruel smile to her face.
"You've grown so Strong in the wild, not betraying the path I chose for you," said the Mother Dragon. "Flowers in a greenhouse wither in the wind and rain. Only those that endure can become beautiful roses."
It was obvious she couldn't be bothered with me. The only thing worth mentioning was having Edwin come see me, and if I hadn't performed well enough, it would have been just a glance from him. And now she claims such high moral ground, thought Leon internally with a rant, but dared not utter a word aloud.
"Mainly because I am your child," said Leon, a true corporate drone not just excelling at his tasks, but also adept at flattery. "Mother, you have put much thought into it."
The Mother Dragon was pleased with Leon's attitude and nodded in satisfaction.
A moment of silence followed.
The Mother Dragon seemed to recall something and asked, "I've heard you're Edwin's student?"
"That's not true; you can't listen to Salovis's nonsense." One of the basic skills of a corporate drone is shifting blame, denying responsibility, Leon's head shook like a rattle-drum, and he lifted his chin proudly after reacting. "How could a mighty Red Dragon possibly take a Human as a teacher?"
The Mother Dragon believed Leon's words, not the other way around.
"Even if you're not his student—" The Mother Dragon's head drew closer to Leon, "He said you gave him a lot of inspiration; surely that much is true."
"So—" Mother Dragon paused, "if it weren't for the inspiration you gave him, the subsequent events wouldn't have happened. Someone must take responsibility for this... for the destruction of the laboratory worth a hundred thousand Gold Coins, and for my Chief Mage's fearful escape."
Leon opened his mouth, then hesitated to speak. So, would it be of any use to refute?
"I still don't know what happened," Leon muttered.
"You don't need to know." Mother Dragon shut Leon down with a single sentence.
"Then, what would you like to do, Mother?" Facing the savage, tyrannical, and unreasonable Mother Dragon, Leon simply let go, for he had nothing but his life to lose anyway.
Mother Dragon was indeed in a difficult position, otherwise would she kill her own son with a slap? A baby dragon had no savings to plunder, after all.
"One million Gold Coins, I was supposed to have one million Gold Coins deposited, and now you owe me one million Gold Coins," Mother Dragon huffed, her breath hitting Leon. She took in and protected Edwin, funded his experiments, all expecting Edwin's experimental results to turn a big profit for her.
"Alright, I understand," Leon agreed, without any thought of repaying.
"When you're older, I'll just throw you into the Star Realm to work off your debt to the Githyanki," Mother Dragon ranted. "Alright, you can go now."
Leon quickly left and returned to his lair. With too many lice, one stops itching, with too much debt, one stops worrying. He never fretted over the enormous debt he was carrying, just annoyed about where to find books to read after Edwin's departure.
So why bother with the bustle in the first place, if he hadn't spoken up then none of this would have happened, right?
The car will find its way around the mountain, and the boat will straighten at the bridge—Leon had a remarkably optimistic attitude. Once done complaining, he let it go, shook his head, and prepared to get a good night's sleep.
One day passed.
Two days passed.
Some time passed.
And nothing happened.
It made sense, after all, as Mother Dragon's child, his status was special.
Leon thought the matter was over and hadn't considered that it was far from finished—it was just beginning.
...
...
This is the Imperial Wilan Province.
Originally escaped from the heart of the Empire, obediently staying under the Red Dragon's protection, unknown to anyone, now that enormous explosion had happened, it was bound to leave some traces.
At that moment, in a luxurious manor, a middle-aged man wearing a double-breasted vest presented his badge and hurried through a long corridor to a study, where he nodded to an old man with a small mustache.
"Earl, our spy has discovered Edwin's whereabouts. He caused an explosion in the Black Ridge Mountains comparable to that of Magic Academy…"
Upon hearing of the report, the old Earl stroked his chin and nodded gently: "I didn't expect him to have run so far and to have sought refuge with a Red Dragon."
"Lady Melthunder," the middle-aged man said, "that's what those people call that Red Dragon."
The Earl said nothing in agreement or dissent.
"Courtesy before force; we could try talking with that Red Dragon first…" the Earl said after a moment of silence, valuing an adult Red Dragon.
"I'm afraid that will be difficult," the middle-aged man furrowed his brows slightly, "arrogant Red Dragons are difficult to negotiate with. Their haughtiness is unlike that of any other Dragon kind."