Chapter 172: Knight Alvin

Facing the armored knight who had backed down, Jia Zhengjin stood atop the dragon's head and shouted, "You start a fight whenever you please and stop whenever you want—what do you think this place is? An amusement park?"

The armored knight was momentarily stunned, wondering inwardly what an amusement park might be.

However, he quickly explained, "Mighty Dragon Rider, it is not that I wished to engage your people! I was merely passing through when I was suddenly attacked by this group of strange kobolds, leaving me with no choice but to defend myself. Had I truly intended to fight, I would have had no reason to spare their lives."

And that was indeed the truth! The armored knight had fought evenly with Droma, even holding a slight upper hand at times. Had he been an enemy force, he would have long since wiped out both the kobold troops and the town guards.

"Where do you come from? Where are you heading? And why are you capable of both magic and martial arts? Do you happen to carry a protagonist template?" Jia Zhengjin demanded loudly.

"I am Alvin Tormelincks from the Otto Empire, driven here by chance while fleeing the pursuit of the Temple of Blood. At birth, I was on the verge of death due to a hereditary illness. A wizard saved my life using a single drop of blood from an underground magic dragon! Over the decade and more, the blood of the underground magic dragon gradually restored my body to health and strength, and consequently granted me a constitution capable of cultivating both magic and martial arts simultaneously. The leader of the Temple of Blood covets the drop of underground magic dragon blood within my body, and has been sending men to hunt me down all these years! It was only in my panic that I ended up here," the armored knight said respectfully, looking up at Jia Zhengjin. "As for what you call a protagonist template, what is that? I have never heard of it!"

"Anyone like you is carrying a protagonist template!" Jia Zhengjin looked at him and said, "Tell me, what on earth is an underground magic dragon?"

"An underground magic dragon is a powerful ancient creature. Legend has it that it was once a member of the dragon race, but was sealed away by the gods due to its grave sins. The wizard who saved me possessed a certain pact of equality with the underground magic dragon, which was how he managed to trade for a single precious drop of the magic dragon's blood. The blood of a magic dragon can enhance a human's constitution, cleanse the marrow, and completely transform a person! Its most powerful attribute is that it allows one to study both martial arts and magic at the same time, turning one into a genius proficient in both!" the armored knight replied. "Rumor has it that back in the ancient era, there was a heroic figure named Sacher. It was precisely because he obtained the blood of the magic dragon that he transformed from an ordinary person of mediocre talent into the later renowned magic swordsman! He even once challenged the Demon King and nearly emerged victorious!"

"Oh? You're that amazing too?" Jia Zhengjin was quite surprised.

"I dare not compare myself to that renowned magic swordsman! My level is probably not even worthy of carrying his shoes," the armored knight said, "let alone challenging the Demon King! A common demon could take my little life in an instant. Mighty Dragon Rider, I come with peaceful intentions and harbor no malice whatsoever!"

With the man conceding so thoroughly, what more could Jia Zhengjin do? He promptly instructed him, "Since that is the case, show me some sincerity!"

"Might I ask, Dragon Rider, how I should demonstrate my sincerity?" the armored knight asked respectfully, genuinely believing that the shapeshifter before him was a fire dragon. Fight a dragon? He did not fancy his chances.

"Lay down your weapons, remove your armor, and get off your warhorse!" Jia Zhengjin ordered.

"As you wish!" Without a moment's hesitation, the armored knight leaped down from his horse and gently placed his heavy spear on the ground. Then, reaching up, he removed his helmet, revealing a flower-boy visage that made even Jia Zhengjin feel a twinge of jealousy. What frustrated Jia Zhengjin the most was that while he had transmigrated into the appearance of a blonde foreigner, this pretty boy possessed a head of jet-black hair and was the epitome of an Asian heartthrob.

"Dammit! Why didn't I transmigrate into him instead!" Jia Zhengjin howled in frustration.

"Ah?" The pretty boy wore a look of pure puzzlement, completely missing his meaning.

"Never mind," Jia Zhengjin could only sigh. "At least my own vessel isn't bad either. I was just slightly surpassed by him, damn it..."

The armored knight quickly stripped off all his armor, standing before them clad only in a set of black casual clothes underneath. "Mighty Dragon Rider, might I be honored to learn your esteemed name?"

Seeing how polite the other party was, having even discarded all his armor, Jia Zhengjin naturally softened his attitude as well. "I am the master of this city. You may call me Keen!"

"So it is Lord Keen! The knight Alvin expresses his utmost respect to you!" The pretty boy lowered his breathtaking face, one capable of eclipsing any handsome man or beauty.

"Very well!" Jia Zhengjin immediately piloted the fake dragon down and leaped to the ground beside him.

Reaching out, he swept the man's weapons and equipment straight into his virtual inventory.

"Spatial magic?" Alvin turned pale with shock, staring at Jia Zhengjin in disbelief. "I never expected that you would actually be a powerful spatial mage?"

Jia Zhengjin thought to himself that he had nothing whatsoever to do with magic, but the virtual inventory's features were exceptionally useful for bluffing. "Your name is Alvin, is it?"

"Yes, Mighty Dragon Rider!" Alvin hurriedly and respectfully replied.

"For safety's sake, I shall keep your equipment safe for you first! When you leave, I will return it all to you," Jia Zhengjin told him. "Any objections?"

"As you wish!" Being on someone else's turf, Alvin naturally chose to adapt to the local customs. Furthermore, since the other party was a grand spatial mage and a dragon rider into the bargain, commanding an adult fire dragon as his mount, Alvin had no confidence he could withstand a single blow even if he were fully armored.

Naturally, this was because he was entirely unaware of the fake dragon's secret.

"Buddy!"

"Here!" Hearing his name called, Buddy stepped forward immediately.

"Take the town guards and the kobolds back into the city to rest and regroup!" Jia Zhengjin instructed.

"Understood!" Receiving the command, Buddy immediately barked an order, and the town guards followed closely behind the kobolds.

"The sun is about to set, and wandering outside after dark is very dangerous!" Jia Zhengjin looked back at Alvin. "Come into the city to rest for the night, and you can be on your way tomorrow!"

"My thanks, Lord Keen!" Alvin replied respectfully, leading his warhorse.

"Open the city gates!" Jia Zhengjin turned around and gave the order.

"Open the city gates!" Buddy had already reached the front of the gate, looking up as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Boom, boom, boom..." The outer city gates were quickly hoisted up by a group of kobold soldiers with all their might.

Buddy led the town guards and kobolds inside first, heading directly toward the inner city.

"Follow me," Jia Zhengjin said to Alvin, while letting out a whistle to signal the fake dragon back to the mining area to rest.

Once Jia Zhengjin, Droma, and Alvin had all entered the city, the kobold soldiers promptly closed the outer gates.

"Come with me to the inner city to rest for a moment and grab a bite to eat," Jia Zhengjin told Alvin as they walked. "I'll have the craftsmen immediately build a place for you to sleep tonight in the outer city."

Build it now? In time? Alvin looked utterly perplexed.