Azuhan sneered, "Changing the name doesn't make you any less of a slave. Why not just call yourself Fire Lizard King? That sounds more impressive."
Makar remained unfazed. Over the past half month, he had communicated with the Fire Lizard in the Secret Realm many times and had successfully reconciled with himself.
Working for the Fire Lizard is still work, just like working for a Wizard.
Both are jobs, but working for a Wizard is at least a bit safer.
Although there is deep enmity between Wizards and Fire Lizards, given the current situation, forgetting that enmity is the best choice.
The continuation of the race is above all else.
Isn't the essence of the Fire Seed Project to ensure the survival of the Fire Lizard race?
"Lord Azuhan, you should read this contract before making a decision."
Makar handed the contract to Azuhan, and he saw a flash of cold light in Azuhan's eyes as the Black Gold Scimitar swiftly slashed toward Makar's neck.
The speed was so fast that even Richard couldn't react in time.
Clang! Half of the blade spun into the air, and in front of the blade, a crow claw quietly blocked it.
Azuhan's pupils dilated in shock; this sword technique was a culmination of Morik's shield, combined with the skills of hundreds of martial arts masters, integrating the inherited techniques of the Dragon Guard Warrior to create a lethal martial art. He himself had already become a third-level being.
Even Third Circle Wizards had been slain by him with this sword technique.
Yet this Wizard before him had managed to block this lethal strike with just his magic pet.
Azuhan felt a tightness in his chest; the Wizard who dared to come alone was indeed no weakling.
Makar seemed to have anticipated everything. He calmly repeated, "Lord Azuhan, you should read this contract before making a decision."
After saying this, he turned and returned to Richard's side, while the black crow...
Azuhan looked at the black crow and felt a pressure stronger than that of facing his father, no, even stronger than that.
This black crow seemed like a messenger of death, and to him, everyone present was merely unharvested Fire Dragon Grass.
The black crow silently flew back to the Wizard's shoulder. Azuhan watched as the Wizard smiled at him and mouthed the words:
"Why not take a look, Mr. Azuhan?"
Why not take a look...
Azuhan felt the contract in his hand was incredibly hot, like a block of lava that had yet to cool, burning his soul every moment.
If he looked down at the contract, his prestige among the many Fire Lizards at the dock would surely drop a level.
The deep enmity between Fire Lizards and Wizards, and yet he had to consider the conditions offered by the Wizard.
This belief was too weak.
How could someone with weak beliefs serve as the leader of the Fire Lizards, how could he lead in the New World? In the past, Azuhan didn't need to consider this question because he had someone above him, someone who would take responsibility for his actions.
But now he had no one above him...
Yet if he didn't look, the Fire Lizards might be doomed.
If a Wizard could find this place, it was not impossible for a second or third Wizard to find it as well.
The Wizard before him might offer conditions, but the next Wizard might want to exterminate the entire Fire Lizard race.
He was now bearing the fate of the Fire Lizard race's survival.
Moreover, they might not even wait for the next Wizard to arrive.
Richard did not urge him; he understood that the Fire Lizard before him was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
And the result of this internal struggle would surely be the signing of the contract.
During this time, he had learned from Makar about the situation in the New World, and it could be said without hesitation that the environment in the New World was terrible.
On this small island called New World, there lived about ten thousand Fire Lizards, and nearly two hundred thousand Fire Lizard eggs were stored.
These Fire Lizards were the seeds of the Fire Lizard race; they preserved the Fire Lizard's writing, history, art, and various skills. The Fire Lizards had put everything that could prove they were an independent race onto the ship and brought it all to this New World.
But these things could not solve the Fire Lizards' urgent need—food.
On this small island, the dense fire elements and the occasional burning winds forced the Fire Lizards to remain on high alert. This kind of consumption could not be met by the energy absorbed from the air alone.
They needed food, and enough meat.
And it seemed that the surrounding waters of this small island, due to the past presence of dragons, rarely saw Flame Behemoths. Although they had brought a considerable amount of food, after three years of consumption, it had ultimately dropped to a warning level.
Therefore, Azuhan ordered the long-range fleet to set sail and hunt in the deep sea.
But Richard knew this was just a stopgap measure.
The long-range ships would suffer damage, but their materials were extremely scarce. Once the ships were damaged, their food supply would drastically decrease.
Although Fire Dragon Grass could be planted on the island, the harvest could only be described as meager. While Fire Dragon Grass could sustain so many Fire Lizards, what if a natural disaster struck?
On the Lava Sea, burning winds and fire Elemental Storms could appear at any moment, like summer showers.
Fire Lizards could withstand these natural disasters, but Fire Dragon Grass could not.
In fact, Makar's quick reconciliation with himself was partly due to this situation.
Since the Fire Lizards had fallen into a deadlock, this was not surrender; it was a roundabout way to save the race! Azuhan ultimately chose to look at the contract, and Harash's last words echoed in his mind.
"No matter what methods you use, what means you employ, even if you have to rely on Wizards and become the most despicable traitor! You must ensure the survival of the Fire Lizard race!"
"Even if it means being a traitor, I must ensure the Fire Lizard survives. Father, did you foresee this situation?"
Azuhan's actions stirred the hearts of all the Fire Lizards at the dock. When he picked up the contract, many Fire Lizards were filled with anger, but before they could act, a shadow knocked them all unconscious.
Azuhan looked at the seemingly motionless black crow; others couldn't see it clearly, but he could see it distinctly.
In an instant, it was this black crow that knocked out those Fire Lizards.
Azuhan said nothing. He lowered his head and quietly read through the entire contract word for word. The more he read, the more his anger became apparent, and by the time he finished reading the contract, his neck had swollen thicker than his head.
"Wizards, this joke isn't funny!"
Richard sighed helplessly. In this world where slavery was rampant, even his black-hearted boss seemed like a saint.
"Makar, go explain it to him... Forget it, I'll call those few out too; you all can explain together."
Saying this, Richard opened the Mystic Realm Rift and brought out several Fire Lizard Alchemy Masters.
Upon seeing these Fire Lizards, Azuhan instantly understood how the Wizard had found them.
"Kallion! Sulina!"
Azuhan glared at the two Alchemy Masters who had participated in the construction of the long-range ship, gritting his teeth. He never expected that these Alchemy Masters would willingly become slaves to the Wizard.
Kallion looked somewhat awkward; he had always felt guilty toward Azuhan. But the other Alchemy Masters were not so polite.
"Azuhan, you need not be so. You abandoned us, and now you won't allow us to seek our own way out?"
Patlin looked at Azuhan with a mocking expression. He had always held a grudge about Morik's shield only taking Kallion and not him.
Now that he saw Azuhan again, he naturally had no good expression.
"When did I abandon you?" Azuhan retorted.
"Do you think we don't know about you sending someone to pick up Kallion?" another Fire Lizard Alchemy Master spoke up.
Among these Alchemy Masters, aside from Kallion and Sulina, who were rescued by Morik's shield, the other Fire Lizard Alchemy Masters did not receive such treatment.
They were not on the list of those to be saved by Morik's shield.
Azuhan was about to argue further when Richard, growing impatient, interjected:
"I'm not interested in hearing you squabble about the past. Now quickly tell him whether the contract is real or not."
Ulysses on his shoulder chimed in, "Yeah, hurry up and say it; I'm still waiting to eat."
The several Fire Lizard Alchemy Masters looked at Ulysses in fear; the black crow's appetite for Fire Lizard brains was already well-known among them.
"Azuhan," Kallion said, "that contract is real. While we may be afraid of death, we are not willing to abandon everything to become slaves.
Lord Richard treats us very kindly. If you truly want the Fire Lizard race to survive, then sign this contract.
If you don't sign..."
Sulina interjected, "If you don't sign, you will only die. There isn't a single creature on this island that can withstand Lord Ulysses."
Kallion's and Sulina's words struck Azuhan's heart like a hammer.
If the contract was real, then signing it might be the best choice.
Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd as a massive, magnetic Fire Lizard hurriedly approached the dock.
The moment Ulysses saw this Fire Lizard, his eyes lit up.
"Wow, Richard, this Fire Lizard is impressive. This Fire Lizard has remnants of rules within; it must be the offspring of some World Master."
Richard rifled through the information he knew, and soon a name appeared in his mind.
"The princess of the Morik Empire, the daughter of Fire Lizard King Morik, brought back from the underworld, Fire Lizard Princess Akala."
As soon as Akala arrived at the dock, her gaze fixed intently on Ulysses.
Compared to these "mortals," she could sense the terror of Ulysses more acutely.
She felt a similar authority emanating from this black crow as she did from her father.
She approached Azuhan, who frowned and whispered, "What are you doing here? Hurry back."
But Akala shook her head, "Do you think there's any difference between going back now and staying here?"
She took the contract from Azuhan's hand.
After reading its contents, she suddenly slapped Azuhan on the back of the head, the violent impact causing Azuhan to momentarily black out.
Before losing consciousness, Azuhan looked at Akala in shock, and Akala glanced at her husband, her lips moving slightly.
"Forgive me, Azuhan, for the sake of our child."
Richard watched this scene with great interest, wondering what the Fire Lizards were up to.
Akala carefully laid Azuhan on the ground, then knelt before Richard, or rather, Ulysses.
"Great being, I agree to this contract. Your kindness to the Fire Lizard race is as radiant as the sun."
Richard glanced sideways at Ulysses, "Was this intentional?"
Ulysses' disguise was so effective that even World Masters couldn't see through it; how could this Fire Lizard princess possibly discern that Ulysses was a World Master?
Ulysses explained, "Yeah, this speeds things up. I don't want to stay in this wretched place for another minute."
Richard walked over to Akala and helped her up from the ground.
"Very good, Princess. You made the right decision."
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