On the twentieth day of the month since entering the scavenging portion of the update, David watched a military caravan leaving the safe zone, heading south. Did he realize he was being selfish with his plans? From day one. Did he expect them to work? Not a chance.

His main reason for doing everything he did was to help the people out and not be a charity case like Marry wanted him to be. David had known, he had always known, she was jealous of the wealth he did not care for. She had so many ideas about what he should do or nagging at him for what he could do.

So when the General transferred all that he wanted. The public licensing and blueprints of the entire collection of the copyright offices to his ownership. David did not feel like he won. Especially when they followed it up with their spoils for that one week of looting they managed to do. What he got was a good chunk of their earnings, but not nearly a large amount that would affect their overall situation. As they were raiding dozens of dungeons each day and any one haul totaled to what was David’s due.

However, David could clearly see as the trucks rolled away, that the NG did not win either. The cat was out of the bag. They were an American fighting force with zero civilian oversight. And they liked it that way. David was unsure of the future but one thing was certain. After today, they will consider him their enemy.

Turning away as the last truck left, David looked back at his HQ. In front of it was a small delegation from the dragonkin enjoying some bbq ribs. At first glance, their skin had a sheen to it, but upon getting closer, a shine could be seen from their fine scales. Much like the Lycans taking after a wolf on hind legs, the dragonkin were similar to lizards.

With a face half human and half lizard looking, eyes matching the same, Instead of hair, they each have calcium spines running down their back. The biggest difference however is that neither the men nor the women have a chest like a human. Both were more expanded at the ribs like a solid bone there instead of multiple smaller ones and neither had breasts, nipples, or belly buttons...

Taking a deep breath and deciding to end his own pity party, David started moving toward the ribs and quickly got himself a plate to eat as well as two cans of beer. To his surprise, one of the larger of the dragonkin moved tables to sit with him.

“ You are the one they call the Dreadnaught, yes?”

David pauses putting the perfectly smoked piece of delicious food in his mouth to glance at the one asking her question.

“ I am.”

“ Ah, I would have spoken to you earlier. But you seemed deep in thought, many of your kin leaving you behind.”

David closes his mouth again and pulls the rib from his face, realizing this is not going to be a short conversation.

“ Yesterday, a lot of truths were revealed. Personal ambitions got the better of many.”

“ Ah, that explains a lot. Still, I am sorry to say only those present here may be of any aid.”

“ Excuse me if I sound rude, but were your people familiar with other races in your world, or were you alone?”

She pauses to answer his question but quickly notices he was implying something entirely different.

“ Ah, apologies, even among my kind there are certain courtesies that should be followed. Perhaps you wish to follow one of mine and have a duel of worth with me.”

David drops the still whole rib on his plate and takes a nearby towel and wipes his hands off.

“ Touche, it means...”

“ Nice counter, yes, I understand. Now your answer?”

David looks back at his plate and frowned.

“ I have been up nearly all night and have not eaten yet today. By the time I get in and out of my armor, little alone in the fight, my meal will have grown cold. Perhaps if we find a suitable location quickly enough I can get back with them still warm.

“ To be in such a state and not only expect to be an even match with me. But to defeat me quickly. How proud of a man you are.”

David raised his shoulders then went and picked up the rib and bit into it. He chewed it slowly before opening a can of beer and offering it to the dragonkin. Then opened the other and took a drink.

“ Nope, I expect you to kick my ass so fast you would wonder why you even made the challenge. So unless you allow me my meal and then suit up, we shall have nothing close to a fair fight.”

This caused the dragonkin to sharply snort humored and a pair of small streams of fire came from her nose.

“ As they say, stories do you no justice. It is not easy to make one of us snort our sacred flames. So I shall either call you a great warrior or a great fool.”

David raised his beer in toast and the dragonkin tapped hers to his.

“ Either or both is fine with me.”

“ Alas, I have already found my next nestmate. And as such, that is why I have come to you. Last night my younger sister had an encounter with the one you call John. You see I am Azanii, the fourth daughter of the Matriarch. Loumoni, the ninth daughter, has a thing for... ancient golem technology.”

David nods picturing where this was going.

“ Did he do something wrong? I can not afford to lose him, and he is my friend.”

“ Oh, no, nothing of the sort. But my mother might see it as another clan trying to take away our leading researcher on the subject.”

David picks the bone clean and thinks for a moment as he chews the meat before swallowing. To his surprise, Azanii took the bone and started eating it.

“ A shame your kind can not consume the bones. So much flavor is lost.”

David just shrugs his shoulders at that.

“ All I got is ambassadors. Truth be told, I am not that wise politically. Considering the clusterfuck I had yesterday. Making money I can do. Stand my ground in a fight, that is the name of my class in a nutshell. A heavily armored codpiece if you will. But running a government. I think I am going to leave that to other capable hands.”

“ A good warrior knows how to fight his battles. A wise one knows when to fight them.”

“ Huh, we have that same saying. Say, what is your opinion on dwarves?”