Chapter 617: Return to Olivia's Family

As Coram held the dragon egg, an astonishing scene unfolded. A faint light emanated from her palm where it touched the egg. Crack! The eggshell fractured. While Coram stood bewildered, a small dragon emerged.

"Ah! A dragon…" Coram gasped, instinctively wanting to throw the hatchling away. This was a dangerous situation. If the Dragon Clan discovered a human raising one of their own, retribution would be swift and merciless. Dragons considered themselves noble beings, far above being kept as pets by humans. Such an act would invite endless pursuit.

Dragon Warriors were rare. Those who existed were either immensely powerful, had forged agreements with the Dragon Clan, or…were involved in a mutually beneficial arrangement with a male dragon, willingly ridden by a human female. A fair and amicable exchange, one might say.

Just as Coram prepared to discard the hatchling, it latched onto her finger. A contractual rune appeared, binding them in a master-servant pact. The Dragon Emperor had initially hoped for a more equitable agreement for his daughter. However, considering Lin Fan's terrifying power and potential disapproval, he reconsidered. A master-servant contract wasn't so bad after all.

"This…" Coram was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the situation. Before she could react, the little dragon had already formed the pact, leaving her unsure of what to do.

Sylph exclaimed in astonishment, "Coram, this little dragon has formed a contract with you, a master-servant contract! You are now her master." She was utterly speechless. She couldn't believe her friend had formed a pact with a dragon, especially with the dragon initiating it. If she hadn't witnessed it herself, she wouldn't have believed it.

"I…" Coram had much to say, but no words came out. The dragon was pink. After the pact was formed, it flapped its wings and devoured the eggshell piece by piece. Then, patting its belly, it let out a few adorable cries, seemingly content.

Olivia remarked, "No one would believe this if we told them."

"I know, but if the Dragon Clan finds out, we could be hunted down," Coram worried. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have touched the egg.

Olivia reassured her, "It won't happen. You signed a master-servant contract. If something happens to you, she dies too. Even if the Dragon Clan is displeased, they won't do anything drastic."

Coram sighed, "I still feel uneasy."

The pink dragon flew into Coram's arms, nuzzling her and closing its eyes in blissful contentment. Upon closer inspection, one could notice its long eyelashes – a clear indication of a female dragon.

Coram looked down at the adorable creature. She had initially considered roasting the egg – how ignorant she had been! She hadn't even recognized it for what it was.

Tia, Olivia, and Sylph nodded at Coram. "We'll always be with you. There's nothing to fear." They encouraged their friend.

"I know," Coram replied.

They continued chatting excitedly, brainstorming titles for Coram's new profession. She was currently a Magic Swordsman. Now, with a dragon, should she be a Magic Dragon Swordsman or a Dragon Magic Swordsman? Both sounded awkward. This was a matter requiring serious contemplation.

Lin Fan was surprised by the dragon's beauty. He recalled his frequent conversations with Old Zhang: "Anything this cute must be delicious." It made perfect sense. Dragons with unappetizing meat must have been ugly as hatchlings. This beautiful young dragon would undoubtedly have exquisite meat when she grew up.

But no, he couldn't think that way. This was his daughter's pet, and he had promised the Dragon Clan he wouldn't eat dragon meat anymore. It was a shame. If Old Zhang, who also enjoyed dragon meat, found out he couldn't have it anymore, he'd be devastated, rolling around on the ground in despair.

Back in the village, Lin Fan immersed himself in his routine: blacksmithing, farming, living a simple life without much excitement. It was a small village, after all, unlike the bustling city where things constantly happened.

Years passed quickly. Lin Fan's life remained peaceful. Allowing himself to age naturally, he now looked middle-aged, with the air of a seasoned farmer. Anyone with eyes could tell from his calloused hands that he was a true man of the soil.

Coram returned a few times, complaining that the meat tasted different, not as good as before. Lin Fan would simply smile and tell her that those small animals were gone, hiding somewhere and refusing to come out.

The young dragon had grown and could now carry Coram on her back. Strangely, the dragon remained pink, a coloration he'd never seen before. He realized this pink dragon was exceptional, possessing multiple elemental affinities. If he had to describe her, he would use a term reserved for praising humans: a genius dragon.

News of Coram's dragon spread, shaking the entire continent. Dragons were considered invincible by all races. Now, a human had tamed one. It was understandably shocking. It had been ages since a Dragon Warrior had appeared.

Coram and her friends remained an adventuring party, not a guild. Forming a guild required recruiting new members, which they found too troublesome. They preferred to remain together as sisters. Even so, their adventuring party was renowned, a force to be reckoned with.

In the Locke Empire, within the Norla family, Olivia's family, a crisis had emerged. The patriarch was gravely ill, and a successor needed to be chosen. Logically, the title should have gone to Olivia. However, she had several younger brothers, all ambitious and vying for the position. Olivia had left for the Lanyuan Empire to study, hoping to avoid the family conflict. But now, it was unavoidable.

The family servants bowed respectfully as Olivia returned. "Are those three ladies, Miss Olivia's friends?" "A dragon! That's a dragon!" "I can't believe Miss Olivia's friend is a noble Dragon Warrior!" Coram was now the center of attention wherever she went, thanks to the dragon.

From afar, resentful eyes watched them. "Why did she come back? Wasn't the Lanyuan Empire good enough? Damn it!" A blond man glared at them, anger burning within him. He was determined to claim the patriarch's title. Nothing would stop him. During Olivia's absence, he had already defeated his other competitors, making it clear that the title was his and his alone.

In the main hall, Olivia bowed. "Father, I've returned."

"Hmm," came the curt reply. Olivia was accustomed to such coldness. She looked at her father, who had changed drastically over the years. He was frail and weak, his life nearing its end. Everyone knew that the Norla patriarch had participated in countless battles, leaving his body riddled with hidden injuries. Over time, they had taken their toll.

A figure appeared at the doorway – the blond man from the shadows. "Sister Olivia, welcome back," he said with a smile, bowing to her. Olivia felt nothing but disdain for him.

Cayron Norla, the third son, had always been vile and treacherous. Beneath his handsome facade lurked a dark heart.

Olivia ignored him completely. Cayron seethed inwardly. Damn woman, ignoring me! When I control the Norla family, you'll be begging to lick my boots. He cursed internally, maintaining a charming smile on his face.

Cayron then turned his attention to the three women, approaching them. "Greetings, beautiful ladies. Welcome to the Norla family. I am Cayron Norla, the third son. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Tia and Sylph looked at Coram. They were well-mannered and usually responded politely to greetings. However, they were unsure how to react now, appearing hesitant. Tia, where's the courage you had when you kicked someone in the groin and bashed their head in? You weren't hesitant then.

Coram stepped in front of them, her expression impassive. She simply replied with an "Hmm." She knew about Olivia's family situation from Olivia's drunken rants.

Cayron nearly exploded with rage at their rudeness. Damn you! Olivia ignores me, and now you dare to do the same! You'll pay for this. You'll be begging me for mercy.

The dragon beside Coram seemed to sense Cayron's malice and roared at him. Cayron fell back onto the floor in fright, humiliated and enraged. He had lost all face. Just you wait. I'll make you pay for this. You'll be crying and begging me to spare you.

Cayron quickly composed himself, rising gracefully. "I've never seen a dragon get scared before," he remarked. "But I've heard that the Dragon Clan forbids dragons from becoming human mounts. If they find out, there will be endless retribution. Aren't you afraid?" His question, disguised as concern, was meant to alert everyone to the danger Olivia faced by associating with a dragon tamer. The Dragon Clan wouldn't let her get away with it.

As expected, Cayron's words caused concern among the Norla family members. The Dragon Clan was a terrifying force. Who could withstand their wrath? If the Dragon Clan believed the Norla family was complicit in keeping a dragon, they would all be implicated.

Cayron smiled inwardly. This was precisely what he wanted.