Chapter 64: Decision

Roar!

A strong and deep roar erupted from below as the Savage Frost Tiger, filled with hostility, saw Luna leaving Garon's dragon's nest. It roared repeatedly, showing no fear of the true dragon aura she carried.

Garon released his dragon's might, infused with his own consciousness, to soothe the agitated Savage Frost Tiger.

At the same time, he climbed back onto his gem-studded bed and took out all sixteen of Morton's notebooks, examining each one carefully.

Magic flowed and a glint of light flashed through his draconic eyes as he activated a spell of detection.

Garon flipped through the pages of the notebooks, his gaze sweeping over every line, hoping to find something out of the ordinary.

However, as time passed and after he had carefully reviewed all sixteen notebooks, he found no anomalies. No matter how he looked at them, aside from their content, there was nothing else noteworthy about the notebooks.

The notebooks themselves were made of high-quality papyrus, containing a faint magical power suitable for creating low-level spell scrolls. Even so, they appeared ordinary to Garon.

There were no hidden compartments within, and Garon discovered no secret messages or codes.

He carefully held a notebook, recalling Luna's various words and expressions.

Silver dragons are not adept at lying, and he could use this to discern her true intentions.

After thinking for several minutes, Garon looked towards the Red Flame Staff beside him, pondering, "Could her lying have been merely to acquire the Red Flame Staff, and that Morton's notes were genuinely intended for Amos to study magic?"

Luna's demeanor when she spoke of exchanging for Morton's notes had been quite normal.

But it was also possible that her main objective might indeed be the notes, and perhaps she had feigned inability to lie for Garon's benefit.

"I'm probably overthinking it; she likely really can't lie," Garon thought silently.

He picked up the Red Flame Staff, focusing on the crystal at the top.

Inside the crystal, a liquid flowed like flames, blooming like fiery flowers, mysteriously beautiful.

The staff's shaft was made from a high-grade magical material, but Garon could tell that its core was the mysterious crystal at the top; even the high-grade material of the shaft was not as advanced as this crystal.

Focusing his mind, his mental energy drove the magic into the Red Flame Staff.

A fiery red elemental glow surged and rolled, raising the temperature around him.

At the same time, Garon looked towards the south.

That feeling came again.

He faintly felt a connection, not with himself, but with the Red Flame Staff; it seemed to be more than just a staff and contained other secrets.

"A relic of a high-ranking mage having some secrets is quite normal."

Garon calmed his mind, and the Red Flame Staff twirled with red glows at his fingertips.

From the content of the notes, it was evident that Morton was no ordinary high-ranking mage. He had been a high-ranking mage for decades, only remaining at the seventh ring because injuries prevented him from casting higher-level spells without risking his life.

If not for the accident, this mage with extraordinary talents in shaping magic might have reached legendary status.

His belongings were worth serious consideration.

"If it's just to provide Morton's descendants with better learning resources, offering a Dragon Soul Stone for that..."

Garon's eyes shifted, suddenly feeling that he might be trapped in a misconception.

He had been using his own way of thinking to speculate on Luna's goals, but Luna's character was not similar to his.

She couldn't even lie.

Garon was born to steal treasures from Dragon Mothers.

What seemed unworthy to Garon might be considered worthy in Luna's eyes, given their differing values.

Silver dragons enjoy making friends, especially with humans, leaving behind alluring tales.

Silver and Red dragons often clash, but Red dragons tend to lose more than they win because Silver dragons unite with their friends rather than fight alone.

Once they acknowledge a friendship, they always treat it with sincerity and enthusiasm. So, to enhance Amos's education in shaping magic, she might genuinely be willing to offer a Dragon Soul Stone as the price.

"But this isn't certain yet."

Garon continued to review the notebooks.

This process was not boring for him; repeatedly reviewing them deepened his understanding of their contents.

He spent the entire day studying the notebook content, but his only gain, besides a deeper understanding of the insights, was nothing else.

Garon still did not find any anomalies in the notebooks.

"When Luna brings the Dragon Soul Stone, if no issues are found, I'll make the trade."

He made up his mind.

For Garon, the value of a Dragon Soul Stone was significant.

Each of his sleep cycles greatly enhanced his strength, much more than other true dragons. With a Dragon Soul Stone, he could develop his Time Dragon abilities more quickly.

Garon's ambitions were not great.

Using the Dragon Soul Stone to master the

 abilities of a normal Time Dragon hatchling was sufficient.

As for any secrets possibly hidden in the notebooks that he couldn't find, they were of no use to him. And while Luna needed them, it didn't mean he did; the value of things differed in their eyes.

Realizing this, Garon no longer fixated on the notebooks.

He stored all the notebooks and the Red Flame Staff in his space ring, then placed the space ring under his tongue, just like a seventh-ring spell scroll.

At that moment, Garon again marveled at the dexterity of his tongue.

He could even control his tongue to twist into an 'S' shape or wave pattern.

Meanwhile, a growling from the Savage Frost Tiger came from outside the dragon's nest.

Garon's gaze shifted, and he stepped outside to look down.

The rare heavy rain had already ceased, leaving the ground somewhat muddy and filled with puddles, a far cry from its usual pristine snowy appearance.

However, it wouldn't be long before the puddles froze over and a few more snowfalls would restore the usual scenery.

The Savage Frost Tiger's fur was damp, dragging a barely alive Ice Howler.

This creature, resembling a cow but the size of a mammoth, was a powerful magical beast that none of Garon's other kin could match except for the Savage Frost Tiger.

Admiringly glancing at the Savage Frost Tiger, Garon flew down and patted its head.

"Well done, go and rest."

It bowed its head, gently rubbing against Garon's dragon claw affectionately, completely lacking its initial rebellious demeanor.

After rubbing for a few seconds, it slowly returned to its den.

At the base of the ice cliff, the Savage Frost Tiger had dug a simple, dark hole for itself where it usually rested.

Garon picked up the Ice Howler, returning to his nest to feast.

After a whole day of studying the notebook content, he felt a bit tired, so after eating, he lay on his gem-studded bed, adjusted to a comfortable position, and fell asleep.

At the same time, heavy iron hooves crossed the southern Dragonback Mountains, solemnly advancing toward the far northern ice plains.