Nighttime, Logan's nest at the top of the Ancient Tree.
On the middle partition that connected the depths of the nest and the outside of the nest.
Logan's huge silver dragon head quietly stuck out, looking toward Aki, who had fallen into a sleeping state in the depths of the nest.
The bright moonlight passed through the vent and fell onto her golden-yellow scales, adding a touch of flair to that luxurious and noble gold.
Logan's gaze then shifted and fell onto the silver dragon egg beside Aki, which was faintly absorbing life energy.
It was precisely this little thing that had caused Logan, after this nest was finished, to be driven out for the first time to sleep outside!
Why!?
He was, after all, the dignified king of the Fire Wyverns, the ruler of the Ancient Tree, yet there would actually come a day when he was outdone by an egg.
Although compared to other Rathian that, in the first few days after they laid eggs, would not even allow Rathalos into the nest, this was already much better. At the very least, Aki only did not allow Logan to get too close to the dragon egg.
However, Logan still could not swallow this anger no matter what.
Having made up his mind, Logan had just lifted a foot and stepped into the depths of the nest when he saw Aki, who had originally still been in a dream, instantly raise her head warily, her eyes staring fixedly in Logan's direction, low growls coming from her throat.
Seeing this, Logan ultimately did not take another step forward. He silently retreated, returned to the simple temporary vine nest that the cats had built for him this afternoon, and lay down helplessly.
All around, the Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne guards patrolling outside the nest quietly watched this scene, unable to suppress the corners of their mouths.
Sure enough, even the exalted Boss Fire Wyvern would have times when he was powerless, huh?
Logan like this made the cats feel he was even more real!
...
Astera.
"What!! This much debt!?!"
The newly appointed head of the Logistics Department and Provisions Manager, the Fourth Fleet Master, slammed the thick stack of parchment in her hands down onto the conference table in disbelief, her eyes wide as she stared fixedly at the Commander behind the long table.
Out of respect for the Fourth Fleet Master and in consideration of her abilities, as soon as the Fourth Fleet arrived, the former Provisions Manager immediately stepped down at lightspeed, happily handed all the work over to the Fourth Fleet Master, and then at once and cheerfully transferred himself back to the Ecological Research Center.
Originally, the Fourth Fleet Master had even felt somewhat apologetic that, as soon as she arrived, she had taken over the position of this veteran contributor.
As a result, after she carefully studied the handover materials for an entire afternoon, she instantly felt completely unwell.
When their Fourth Fleet had come, how had the Guild put it again?
The construction of the New World forward outpost had already reached a critical moment, but due to a lack of manpower, they needed a large number of logistics personnel to lay a solid foundation and make the fullest preparations for the scheduling of large numbers of combat personnel in the future.
It could be said that the mission of their Fourth Fleet was very heavy, and also extremely crucial.
Therefore, every member of the Fourth Fleet had come with the goal of turning the new stronghold base into an excellent forward outpost, adding bricks and tiles to the future investigation progress in the New World.
Yet this whole pile of parchment was telling her that the construction of the base was still a minor matter; the most important thing was to quickly pay off the debts owed over at the Ancient Ruins Basin and the Ancient Tree side.
After getting a definite reply from the Commander, the Fourth Fleet Master went black before the eyes, and suddenly understood why the previous Provisions Manager had been able to hand everything over so straightforwardly.
So there was actually such a big pit waiting for her.
"Sorry, having you shoulder such a big task as soon as you arrive is indeed our problem. But the situation here in the New World really is like this now. The Ancient Tree side and Ahtal-Ka's side have indeed helped us a lot. This relationship must not be messed up, so I'll have to trouble you!"
The Commander spoke softly, a bit apologetically. The Fourth Fleet Master took a deep breath.
"I understand."
Since she was already here, it was too late to complain about anything now. It was just that this feeling of 'working' for monsters always felt strange to her. Perhaps she simply had not gotten used to it yet.
At the same time, outside the Chameleos grass nest on the back mountain behind the Celestial Pursuit, a figure was holding something in their hand, pacing back and forth outside the nest, seemingly hesitating over whether to go in or not.
The little Chameleos that Mother Chameleos had thrown into the depths of the forest to live on its own for two years just happened to return tonight.
After two years of surviving in the wilderness in the forest, the little Chameleos no longer had that kind of foolish clarity in its big eyes. No longer living a life where clothes were handed to it and food was brought to its mouth, the little Chameleos had finally regained some of the wildness unique to monsters.
Its first reaction upon seeing that figure outside the nest was not to happily scamper over and try to play tricks on the other party, but instead to quietly hide itself, restrain its presence, and come to that figure's side.
Just through the reflection of the moonlight, after the little Chameleos saw this face that seemed to have already been in its memory for some years, and after carefully searching in its memory, its eyes suddenly widened, and its gaze instantly became much clearer.
"Gwaa!"
Compared to its childishness two years ago, the little Chameleos's roar was now much deeper.
It directly revealed its body, pounced on the newcomer, and kept extending its tongue to lick the person's face, as if it had seen a family member.
A beast has nearly lifelong friendly memories toward the creature it was close to during its juvenile period.
The little Chameleos had not expected that this "old acquaintance" who had left for ten years would actually come back.
It remembered very clearly that when its own mother had snatched its food, causing it to nearly go hungry, it was this good person who fed it food, and he had even joined it and Mother Chameleos in years-long battles of wits.
When he left back then, the little Chameleos had been in low spirits for a long time.
"Haha, that tickles, stop, stop!"
The former Provisions Manager struggled to break free from the little Chameleos's restraint, reached out his hands to touch the little Chameleos's icy scales, and as he looked at this huge fellow, he immediately recognized the other party.
"I didn't expect that something so small back then would already be this big now."
Slott sighed.
At this moment, a bright yellow figure walked out of the cave while yawning. With its appearance, the air became filled with a strong mandrake fragrance.
"Gwaa?"
Mother Chameleos blinked repeatedly, looking in disbelief at the person pressed under its returning unfilial child.
Wasn't it said that he might never come back? What was the situation now?
Had it been tricked?
Just as Mother Chameleos was somewhat dazed, Slott pushed away one of the little Chameleos's legs with all his strength, climbed up from the ground, and walked toward Mother Chameleos step by step, holding something in his hand, a familiar smile appearing on his face.
"Long time no see, old friend! You've really changed a lot!"
Saying this, he raised the exquisite iron lock that he had carefully designed and personally forged, and said softly, "I'm back again!"
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