A fruit burning with flame.
The dog king, staring at the Flame Fruit, couldn't help but swallow.
No longer afraid of the flame!
Becoming a fire mage.
"Can a kobold also become a mage?" The dog king frowned and whispered, looking at Chen Yu.
"No!"
Chen Yu suddenly shook his head.
"What?" The dog king immediately became angry. "Then what are you talking about magic..."
"My king, can you let me finish?"
Chen Yu interrupted the enraged dog king, his expression solemn.
"You are not simply becoming a mage; your future is that of a Saint of Magic, a God of Magic. Your future is to summon clouds with a turn of your hand and bring rain with a flip of your wrist. The wrath of the Dog King will cause blood to flow for a thousand miles. How can the introductory title of 'mage' be worthy of you?"
Thump!
It felt as if the dog king's heart had been struck by a hammer.
Saint of Magic?
God of Magic!
He would reach such heights in the future!
"Are you telling the truth?" The dog king's breathing became slightly rapid as he questioned.
"I, Chen Da Zhuang, swear on my soul."
Chen Yu raised three fingers without a word.
The dog king frowned.
"Aren't you Chen Yu?"
(･᷆w･᷇)
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow.
This dog king had a good memory.
He actually remembered.
Although being exposed made Chen Yu a little startled, the impact was not too significant.
"Chen Yu is my stage name; Da Zhuang is my given name."
Chen Yu cleared his throat and smiled, his expression unchanged.
"When you're in the world, you need a powerful name. Da Zhuang sounds too crude, so I introduce myself as Chen Yu to outsiders. However, before my king, swearing on my soul..." Chen Yu's gaze suddenly became solemn, "I must use my real name."
Seeing this, the dog king felt a surge of righteous energy erupt from Chen Yu's body.
Even the last trace of doubt the dog king had towards Chen Yu vanished at this moment.
This person is trustworthy!
If that's the case, then the future he saw and his becoming the king of the underground would all be true!
A smile spread across the dog king's face.
Since childhood, his mother had said he would have a bright future. He thought he would at best become the leader of the kobolds.
He never imagined he would be so promising.
To become king!
"Good, good!" The dog king patted Chen Yu on the shoulder with his thick hand. "Very good, Chen Da Zhuang. You have brought me the Flame Fruit, and I must reward you greatly."
"It is my honor to serve the king, and I seek no rewards."
Chen Yu shook his head with a solemn expression, then sighed deeply and looked up.
"If the king truly wishes to reward me, I have but one wish."
"Speak!" The dog king raised his head slightly, adopting a posture he believed befitting a king. "Let me be clear from the start, if you intend to plead for this bee-woman, it is absolutely impossible."
The bee-woman must be kept.
She possessed the technology to plant wheat, enabling higher yields.
The kobold race needed her.
Of course—
If she refused to join the kobold race, then the dog king would have no choice but to destroy her.
Kill her!
If he couldn't have her, he would ruin her. In any case, he absolutely could not allow the bee-woman to fall into anyone else's hands.
"My king, how could I possibly plead for her?"
Chen Yu's face was full of smiles. "My wish is for you to allow me to follow by your side. In the future, if you eat meat, letting me have a sip of the soup would be enough."
"That's all?"
"Yes!"
"Hahaha, that's easily arranged!" The dog king waved his hand and said with a smile, "From now on, you are the strategist of my kobold race."
Chen Yu's eyes widened instantly, and he raised his arm and shouted.
"Long live the Great King! Kobolds, number one in the world!"
"Hahaha..."
The dog king's face was beaming with joy.
As for the other kobolds, they stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.
Having witnessed Chen Yu's wit, the dog king became increasingly displeased with his kobold subordinates.
Too foolish!
Chen Yu carefully observed the dog king's expression and looked at the Flame Fruit in his hand.
"My king, it's time to eat the fruit."
Hearing the voice, the dog king turned his head and looked at the fruit in Chen Yu's hands, its surface still bearing a slight burn.
Although he believed Chen Yu's words, he was still somewhat wary of the flame.
"In a hurry?"
"Extremely hurried!" Chen Yu said solemnly. "The effect of the Flame Fruit diminishes little by little once it's picked. The sooner you consume it, Your Majesty, the higher your future magical attainments will be."
"To be honest, Your Majesty,"
"I once saw a future where, due to you eating it just ten minutes later, alas..."
Chen Yu sighed sadly.
The dog king's expression tensed.
"Continue!"
"I dare not speak," Chen Yu said with a bitter smile. "In short, your path to kingship would be very arduous. Alas, Your Majesty, your subordinate asks you this: do you trust me!"
"Of course, I trust my strategist," the dog king replied.
"Then eat it!"
Chen Yu extended the fruit in his hand forward.
"Eat it now, don't delay any longer. Every second you waste greatly impacts your future path of dominance."
The dog king, staring at the Flame Fruit, still hesitated.
Chen Yu was anxious!
Where is it?
Eat it quickly.
It's not as if Da Lang is this hesitant to take his medicine.
Eat the Flame Fruit quickly, burn you, you old turtle's grandson, and then everything will be fine.
"My king!"
Overwhelmed by anxiety, Chen Yu urged him again.
"Alright, I'll take it." The dog king steeled himself and reached out to grab the Flame Fruit.
Chen Yu watched as he slowly brought the fruit to his lips.
"Hey, strategist!"
Chen Yu, full of anticipation, felt like a deflated ball of dough as the dog king moved the fruit away again.
"My king, what is it!"
"That stage name you mentioned, can you give one to me as well?"
"It's simple, Er Gou!"
"Ah?"
"Er Gou!" Chen Yu said seriously. "The 'Er' here represents that you are second to none, that no one dares to claim first place. It signifies your supreme status in the underground, looking down on all beings. Er Gou, it's awesome."
"So that's how it is!"
The dog king nodded in understanding, looking very pleased.
"Supreme, looking down on all beings. Good, from now on, I am Er Gou."
Chen Yu nodded repeatedly from the side.
The dog king once again focused his gaze on the Flame Fruit, gritting his teeth.
Gulp.
He took a bite.
The flesh inside was also burning with flame.
The dog king held his breath and took several gulps, even swallowing the core in the end.
Chen Yu was incredibly excited.
You finally ate it!
"Hoo..."
The dog king, having swallowed the Flame Fruit, exhaled a stream of hot air. About half a minute later, he frowned.
"Strategist, how do I feel..."
"Do you feel like fire is burning in your abdomen?" Chen Yu asked.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The dog king touched his stomach with his hand.
"It's incredibly hot, I feel... I feel like I can't hold it anymore. What's going on!!"
"This is the Flame Fruit taking effect, Dog King, do not panic."
Chen Yu pursed his lips, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
"I have a magic incantation here. You can listen to it; it might be useful for you."
"Quickly!"
The dog king urged him anxiously, feeling as though his entire body was about to be burned to ashes.
"I am your father."
"Ah?"
"I said..." Chen Yu lowered his gaze and whispered to the dog king, "I am your father. Do you understand? I am your father!"
"Repeat that one more time: I am your father, over!"
--
Author's Note:
A day's plan... the plan isn't working, I really can't get up. Short keyboard would like to greet everyone.