Chapter 55

With the homepage recommendation, even though it's just a text link, I still want to thank the editors of the website. Additionally, the fantasy category editor's recommendation has put the Hunter on the list, so during the recommendation period, I will add 2000 words, which is one chapter, making it 7000 words per day. Ryan always keeps his word, but I also hope for the support of everyone.

Thank you, Editor Medang! Thanks!

"Hey! This is Big Mouth's credit, he was the one who found it first." Cook quickly said, his embarrassed expression looking particularly strange amidst the laughter.

"Dragon egg, dragon egg, this is a dragon egg." Mike also got up, but by this time, the dragon egg was already surrounded by the three women and Cook.

Kangknie's face was incredibly strange, and she finally couldn't help but ask, "Cook, where did you get such courage? And why is your luck so good?"

"Hehe, it's not about good luck, it's about Big Mouth and Little Bad's contribution. As for the courage, I think anyone in such a situation would make the same choice." Cook knew Kangknie was a bit jealous, but he wasn't afraid. Now, Kangknie was his servant, but Cook still explained the facts.

"Cook is right. Facing a dragon egg, such a temptation, no one can resist it. But Cook, tell us in detail how you managed to steal the dragon egg." Lori held the dragon egg tightly with both hands, nudging Cook with her elbow, excitedly asking. Lori didn't realize that by nudging him, certain parts of her body also touched Cook's. The dragon egg wasn't very big, and with the three women and Cook surrounding it tightly, physical contact was inevitable.

Cook felt a soft, slightly elastic part rubbing against his arm, his heart fluttering. Cook's soul wasn't a novice but that of a man in his thirties. However, Cook still held back and chuckled as he recounted the events.

"Genius!" Kangknie, after hearing Cook's story of stealing the dragon egg, had only these two words for Cook.

"Indeed, Cook! I never thought you could use the Thorn Spell as a way to climb the rock wall, and your disguise with the rabbit fur clothes was excellent. The most crucial part is your courage, and you have Wood Elemental Aura, which has the strongest recovery ability among all elements. Moreover, your level is so low that even the dragon probably wouldn't think someone would steal the egg right under its nose, especially an apprentice. Your method of diverting attention by entangling the treasures with the roots of the shrubs and rolling them into a snowball is also brilliant. It's easy to imagine that the snowball would roll very far. You made the right choice; the items must have been imbued with the dragon's mental energy. Cook, you really know how to make choices!" Lori carefully analyzed and praised Cook, then further explained the reasons for Cook's success.

"Hehe, actually, the whole day was tense and exciting, always feeling like there was boundless energy. The idea of using the Thorn Spell to climb came to me by chance. If I had thought of it earlier, it wouldn't have taken so long." Cook, flattered by Lori's praise, smiled widely, revealing his big front teeth.

"Ah, that's why you're so lucky!" Kangknie reluctantly took her hand off the dragon egg, saying sourly.

"Cook, what do you plan to do with this dragon egg?" Mitch, also reluctantly pulling her hand back, asked with her big eyes full of stars, clearly very admiring of Cook's actions.

"I haven't decided yet, but maybe auctioning it off is a good idea?" Cook really didn't know what to do with the dragon egg.

"No way!"

"Are you looking for death?"

Who knew that as soon as Cook finished speaking, Lori and Kangknie shouted together, and Mike added, "Boss, if you auction it, you're an idiot!"

"Wh-Why is that?" Faced with this situation, Cook was confused and stammered.

Lori looked at Cook and said, "Cook, if you take this thing out for auction, not only will you be in trouble, but our family and the entire Roland Empire will suffer. This isn't just about facing the dragon's revenge but also the scrutiny of the major powers on the continent."

"Yes, Cook, once this news leaks, it will bring you catastrophic consequences. Human greed knows no bounds." Kangknie also expressed her serious concern.

"Boss, think about it. Why would others spend so much to buy this? They go to great lengths to get it, and you want to sell it? I still want a dragon knight as my boss!" Mike put it simply.

"Hehe, I see, I was a bit confused earlier. Mike is right; others go to great lengths to get the dragon egg, so why should we sell it?" Cook, after being persuaded by the three, immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

Then Cook asked, "This lightning pet doesn't seem to suit Wood Elemental, right?"

Although Cook had been taught by Lori for a short time, he knew that the element of a contracted pet should ideally match the owner's, which is crucial for the growth of both the pet and the owner. At the time, Lori had said that for Cook's auxiliary elemental aura, it would be best to have an Earth, Water, or Wood elemental pet. Of course, a Metal elemental pet would also work, but Fire was the least suitable. Cook thought the Lightning elemental pet might not be a good fit.

"Boss, what more do you want? This is a dragon, a dragon!" Mike said, almost spitting blood.

"Cook, believe in yourself, but the best contract for this should be the dragon's exclusive contract. This contract has been passed down from ancient times and is beneficial to both parties. However, the success of this contract depends on the dragon egg's choice." Lori encouraged Cook.

"Uh, okay!" Cook was also moved and agreed with a sigh.

"But we should set the order. If I fail, it will be Lori's turn, then Mitch, and finally Mike. As for Kangknie, she is still poisoned, so she's temporarily out of the running." Cook then set the order, as Lori had said the success rate depends on the dragon egg's choice, which would be based on elemental compatibility or mental resonance. The success rate of the contract between a pet and its owner is a specialized field of study.

"Everyone, remember, this is an equal blood contract. Remember every word!" Lori began to teach the special contract with the dragon.

This contract is a blood contract, so it only involves changing some words in the contract. In just a few minutes, Cook, Mitch, and Mike all learned it. Cook was the first to start. He took out a dagger and cut his wrist, then began to chant the contract. Under the effect of the contract spell, the blood Cook shed formed an extremely intricate pattern, which then flew toward the dragon egg. Unfortunately, the intricate pattern was not absorbed by the dragon egg but instead dissipated and flowed onto the ground, leaving the dragon egg smooth as ever.

"I knew my luck was used up. Lori, it's your turn!" Cook shrugged, slightly disappointed, and called out to Lori without using the honorific.

"Hehe, I'll give it a try!" Lori wouldn't refuse, knowing this was a dragon egg, a dragon inside.

"Contract connection!" Lori gritted her teeth and had Cook cut her finger, then quickly chanted the spell. When the spell was completed, Lori shouted, "Cook, quick, quick, healing spell, I'm in so much pain!"

"Healing spell!" Cook, helpless, cast a Wood Elemental healing spell, and Lori's wound healed completely in a few seconds, leaving a faint red mark.

"Wow! It worked, it worked!" As soon as Cook finished casting the healing spell, the intricate pattern Lori had formed on the dragon egg was absorbed, and Lori immediately felt a faint mental pulse, causing her to cheer.

"Boss, boss, I didn't even get a chance!" Mike shouted in despair, while Mitch giggled on the side.

"Cook, thank you!" Lori solemnly thanked Cook.

"Hehe, what reward will Lady Lori give me?" Cook felt a bit disappointed but still chuckled and asked.

"Cook, are you willing to become Lori Hesek's Guardian Knight?" Lori asked solemnly amidst Cook's laughter.

"What? Guardian Knight, I'm willing, I'm willing!" Cook, hearing Lori's words, was initially confused but then understood. Guardian Knight, this is actually an equal contract, a partner contract. Of course, this is what Lori said, and Mitch was also excited, as this would make her and Cook almost equals.

"Hehe!" Kangknie chuckled, her smile full of meaning, while Mike's face was a bit strange, and Lori's face was slightly flushed. However, in this situation, it might be mistaken for excitement.

"Thank you, Cook!" Lori kissed Cook on the forehead, sincerely thanking him. The so-called Guardian Knight, although an equal contract, is a life-connected bond. In the noble society, a Guardian Knight also has the identity of a lover. Many noble ladies and noblewomen have Guardian Knights, which is just a facade, similar to the godfather and goddaughter relationship in modern society, except here, "god" is pronounced in the fourth tone.

"Hehe!" Cook, unaware of all this, saw it as a promotion in status.

"Cook, do you regret it?" Kangknie, feeling a bit uncomfortable, asked.

"Regret what? This is the dragon egg's choice, and I also got other treasures." The first part made Lori very moved, but the second part made her ask excitedly, "Other treasures, where, where?"

"Treasures, boss, let me see!" Mike immediately started searching without hesitation.

"Hey, could it be this broken dagger! But there's no magical aura." Mike took out the dagger from Cook's body, looked at it, and then casually threw it aside.

"Not on me, look, it's over there." Cook, unable to help it, pointed to where the dragon egg was placed, as Mike was about to take off his pants.

"Is that the dragon egg?" Mike looked around and, seeing nothing but the dragon egg, couldn't help but ask.

Cook picked up the dagger Mike had thrown away and came to the dragon egg, picking up five thumb-thick twigs and said, "Feel this, what is it?"

"Could it be these twigs? They look ordinary." Kangknie carefully examined them and said.

"Wow? Where did this come from?" Lori, after carefully sensing it, exclaimed.

"The dragon egg was placed on these twigs, and I feel a very close connection to them." Cook couldn't say that he saw these twigs differently.

"Branches of the Tree of Life!" Kangknie and Lori exclaimed simultaneously.

"What?" Mike's jaw dropped. The Tree of Life was famous, but it was the holy relic of the elves, a holy relic!

"Cook is a Wood Elemental, so it's natural for him to feel a connection to the branches of the Tree of Life. I also felt a massive life force in it. The branches of the Tree of Life, just one of these would be worth tens of millions of gold coins. According to the books, these branches have grown for about five thousand years. Cook, you're rich!" Lori was very happy for Cook.

"Yes, yes, this is the best material for making wands and bows. If a top alchemist crafts it, it would be invaluable." Kangknie also nodded.

"Alright, we five, what kind of weapons do you need? Since it's such a good thing, we won't sell it. These are things that will be hard to get in the future." Cook waved his hand and said. The dragon egg was the main prize, so these smaller items were secondary.

"Alright, alright, I want a flute!" Mike quickly nodded and said.

"Cook, are you stupid? Making wands and bows doesn't require so much. I think three twigs are enough. Mitch and I will use one for a wand, and the remaining one you can make a bow. Mike's flute, and Kangknie, what weapon do you use?" Lori, like a housekeeper, allocated Cook's property, and Mitch and Cook felt it was natural, while Mike and Kangknie exchanged glances.

"Make me a piece of jewelry. I'm a magic warrior and use a one-handed sword." Kangknie also said without hesitation.

"Alright, let's discuss this outside. Cook, has Kaka returned?" Kaka was famous in the group, but Kaka was only the size of a thumb and liked to stick to Cook, so the others didn't know Kaka's whereabouts.

Cook was currently being pestered by Big Mouth and Little Bad for their share of the loot. Cook quickly said, "Ten gold coins each, plus a piece of jewelry for each!" Cook was adept at dealing with these two little guys. He couldn't take out the dragon egg, so the only thing they could use was jewelry made from the branches of the Tree of Life.

"Not yet!" Cook, hearing Lori's question, turned to answer, while Big Mouth and Little Bad were still arguing.

"I have three more gold coins, one ten gold coins, and another two gold coins!" Little Bad said excitedly.

"Wrong, I also have ten gold coins. You only have three more one gold coins, not one three gold coins, and another two gold coins." Big Mouth corrected, dissatisfied.

"One three gold coins is just three one gold coins, right?" Little Bad said, staring.

"Nonsense, three one gold coins, with three in front, means more. You want to bully me? No way. I, Big Mouth, have been out in the world..." Big Mouth also stared, defending himself.

Cook was used to this. If he was bored, he would even stir things up for fun. However, he was also puzzled. According to Kaka's speed, it should have explored at least a hundred kilometers by now, yet it hadn't returned. Cook was a bit worried.

"Let's wait a bit longer, but the dragon egg will still need to be carried by you, Cook." Lori, holding the dragon egg, found it very heavy and had to ask Cook.

"Alright!" What could Cook say? However, he was still surprised by Lori's change. Her tone was different from before, and Cook couldn't help but think, "This promotion in status really has its benefits!"

Lori carefully wrapped the dragon egg in a sleeping bag and guarded it. Cook prepared food: "Thorn Spell!"

Due to their hasty escape, they hadn't brought any food. However, with Cook's Wood Elemental magic, using a bit more mana to grow edible fruit wasn't a problem.

"Why isn't it bearing fruit?" However, Cook used a lot of mana, and the plant bloomed several times but didn't produce any fruit. Mike, who was already hungry, couldn't help but ask Cook.

"Forgot, forgot!" Cook, reminded by Mike, remembered that the plant needed pollination. Although some plants are hermaphroditic, this shrub clearly wasn't. Cook released more mana and, when it bloomed, picked a flower and quickly pollinated it. Soon, a dozen red fruits appeared before their eyes.

"Come! Eat quickly!" Cook quickly picked the fruits and first gave them to Mitch, not to Mike, who was drooling on the side.

"Hmph! Boss is unfair!" Mike grumbled and then bit into the fruit fiercely.

After the group was full, Kaka finally returned, but the news was not good. Kaka said, "Lots of food!"

Cook knew that Kaka's "food" referred to the magic cores inside the bodies of magical creatures. Cook regretted not bringing Kaka to the dragon's lair, as the magic cores wouldn't have been wasted. If Cook hadn't returned to the cave just as the dragon roared, he might have sent Big Mouth with Kaka to the dragon's lair.

After careful questioning, Cook finally understood. "Lots of food" meant eight magical creatures, and they were wolves, as Kaka said they looked like Big Gray.