Chapter 18: Old Jones’ Hideout

”It’s really troublesome!” Shillong muttered, then turned his head and said to Jones.

”Old guy, although your strength is very low, I approve of your wisdom. You have the value of survival.”

”Thank you for your approval.” Jones finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”Let’s go to your residence, I want to ask you more things.”

“!!”

”Why are you standing there in a daze? Lead the way!”

”Ah! Yes! Yes…” Jones quickly nodded, then started walking forward.

Shillong followed behind him, not caring about his unclothed body.

Anyway, this old man has already seen it, so he doesn’t really care. Not to mention that there are no other people on the island, so it’s doesn’t matter if he stays naked.

Along the way, both of them remained silent. After walking for a while, Jones suddenly said.

”Your Excellency! I heard that when non-human higher species turns into a form reflecting their true age when they first use the transformation spell, is this true?”

This problem has been bothering him since Shillong transformed.

The child behind him is extremely small!

If what he learned before is indeed true, then why is the human form of such a giant dragon so small?

”Hmm, it should be correct, the knowledge in my inherited memory says something similar to what you said. Why are you asking?”

Shillong followed behind Jones, his small cute feet stepped on the ground full of debris and sharp stones.

The debris and stones can’t bring him discomfort at all, let alone injure him. Even if he transforms into a human form, his essence is still that of a dragon. His skin might look delicate and tender at first glance, but it’s actually as though as steel.

”I’ll take the liberty to ask, how old are you, your excellency?” The old mage used his cane to push a fallen branch in front of him while asking.

“……”

”This year… I should be about seventeen years old,” Shillong replied after a moment of silence.

”Se..Se..Seventeen?!!!” Jones suddenly paused and looked back, his eyes looked like they were about to pop out.

”Is there something wrong?” Shillong looked at the shocked Jones and asked with a puzzled look on his face.

”Your excellency, I saw your true body before. Your size isn’t something that a young dragon should have. That’s the size of old dragons. Are you sure you aren’t around 300 or 400 years old?” Jones said cautiously.

”You seem to know our dragon clan very well?” Shillong smiled and said.

”Your Excellency, as a magician who is always seeking knowledge. I am very interested in unknown and rare knowledge, especially about the dragon race. I have read many classics about them.”

”Then you must know the difference between a genius and a normal person? Just like you humans, a genius mage at your age might have already become a famous powerhouse across the continent, maybe even a legendary powerhouse, but an average person or even an idiot might remain as an unknown pawn.” Shillong said with a smirk on his face.

Seeing the smile on Shillong’s face, Jones felt that this unknown pawn might be a reference to himself

’This stupid dragon! he doesn’t understand the greatness of a master Mage at all!’

’A master mage is a great scholar! One thousand mages might not even have a single master mage amongst them’

’These big lizards who rely on their bloodline power don’t understand magic at all!’

Jones roared and cursed internally, but he kept a calm look on his face. He still wants to live for longer.

It took him a while to compose himself and restore his smile.

”Your Excellency is indeed a genius among dragons! You have shown the charm of the dragon god at such a young age! Your power and greatness broke my shallow and blind cognition! I feel that I have taken a step further on the road of knowledge.”

”…Puff~hahahaha…” Shillong laughed loudly upon hearing these words.

”I didn’t expect that an old man like you to be so good at flattering and fawning! It’s so good, I like it!”

”…” Jones coughed with an embarrassed look on his face, then continued to say with a serious look.

”You are wrong your excellency, every word of mine is the truth from the depth of my heart, it’s not flattering at all…”

”Hmm…Yeah, yeah. I believe you…”

Shillong just smiled but didn’t continue on this topic.

The silence was restored again between the two. They continued walking for a while before reaching a cave.

The cave was surrounded by turquoise vines. Jones used his staff to push the vines away, then walked inside.

Shillong followed closely behind. Due to a lack of sunshine, the cave is very dark.

Jones walked to the sidewall of the cave and then started chanting. A second later, a small fireball appeared on top of his staff.

Jones raised his staff slightly and lit up the oil lamp on the wall.

Shillong’s nose is very sensitive. He smelled a slight fishy smell from that lamp.

The grease in that oil lamp should be made of a beast that Jones killed

They continued to walk forward for a while before reaching the end of the cave, Jones lit up all the lamps on the way.

The cave became much brighter.

Piles of debris are randomly thrown on the ground.

There are a few big rocks in an open space, and a small creature is lying on them.

This creature is just hand-sized. Its appearance is very similar to that of a true dragon, but it’s much chubbier and cuter, almost like an animated version.

It curiously stared at Shillong with its big eyes. Seeing his golden eyes with shiny particles floating in them, it stepped back in fear

”I’m back, Pachi!” Jones smiled after seeing the small creature.

”Welcome back Jones! You came back early today. Um, who is that human child next to you? The aura he exudes is terrifying… I fell my body becoming soft just staring at him” The little creature stared at Shillong and said.

His voice is crisp, like that of a child.

”He is the true dragon living on this island,” Jones replied.

”True dragon?!!!”

The little creature was taken aback. He suddenly jumped back onto an animal skin roll in the corner, then said in horror.

”A dragon? Jones! Are you coerced?”

”Oh no~Paki, calm down, I am not being coerced or anything. This dragon lord is a good dragon with a clear distinction between good and evil,” Jones said against his will.

”Hi, little stuff! My name is Shillong!” Shillong said to the tiny dragon-like creature with a smile on his face.

”Hello! Shillong, I’m Pachi! and I’m not happy to see you!” Pachi was still a little wary.

Shillong didn’t care about the rudeness of this adorable creature. He was very curious about it, so he asked Jones: “What kind of creature is this little guy? He looks very interesting.”

”Your Excellency, this is a spirit dragon. Due to its appearance, the ‘dragon’ word was added to its name.”

”However, they are extremely small and have low combat power, so they are classified as a kind of spirit. Pachi is a high-level spirit dragon, with a lot of curiosity and an extreme desire for knowledge. Furthermore, their wisdom is not less than that of humans. They are magicians’ favorite partner, and also my partner.

”Research? Did you just say your research? What are you researching?” Shillong’s attention was suddenly attracted to something else.

’This kind of guy who is dressed like the average peasant in the Western Middle Ages also knows how to study?’

’What study is he conducting?’

Shillong was a little curious.

”Of course it’s magic! Magic is the foundation of this world, and everything in the world cannot be separated from magic! Magic props and items have changed the whole world! My identity isn’t just that of a master magician, I am also an alchemist. I have invented many things before!” 

Jones’ expression was filled with excitement and passion.