The Drow thought their flawlessly executed assassination operation had temporarily fooled the High Elves, but how could they escape the watchful eyes of David and Tania, the two dragons?
The main reason was that the first wave of pursuers, especially those annoying Pegasus Knights, were primarily taken down by the two of them working in tandem.
The Drow's not-so-covert 'assassination' operation appeared to them as though a fox, hunting rabbits under the gaze of hawks, was flaunting its butt, its strong scent almost palpable from two or three kilometers away.
This differed from David's previous attitude towards Tania, the sky-born Dragon 'sister'—the enemy of my enemy can temporarily be my ally.
Even though this group of Drow had already aligned themselves with him against the High Elves in practice.
Because even a Silver Dragon that had serendipitously fallen into evil often did so because it was still guarding something and couldn't turn out too badly no matter what.
So even though David knew next to nothing about Tania, he could still, after her short and sweet 'confession,' temporarily suppress his curiosity and urge to explore, and confidently turn his back to her.
But the Drow were different; if a Silver Dragon was a symbol of trust and resolve, then the Drow were synonymous with conspiracy and betrayal.
Keeping company with something that might bite back at any moment was like a farmer playing acrobat with a poisonous snake wrapped around his neck—purely seeking death.
Thus, upon seeing this group of Drow, David decisively 'extinguished his flame,' glided half a mile through the sky, and then, moving like agile cheetahs, he and Tania silently approached them.
Just as cheetahs enter their hunting range, at this distance, with the two young dragons confronting two Drow, the latter—being only two-legged—had practically no chance of escape.
He did not expect that before he had a chance to signal Tania to strike, he faintly overheard the Drow discussing him and Tania.
Talking about how they would have plenty of time in the future and about something they couldn't afford to provoke, David immediately found it amusing.
He went straight up to them and threw out a Taunt.
But just as he made an appearance to say hello, the two Drow knelt down at nearly the speed of light.
Both David and Tania were left staring, dumbfounded.
Tania even looked at David somewhat perplexedly, her gaze seeming to ask, These are the 'skilled Drow' that gave you so much trouble five years ago?
David was instantly rooted to the spot in awkwardness, his CPU—fried by the two Drow's sly maneuvers—struggled to comprehend their current train of thought.
What's going on here?
Why such great reverence as soon as we meet?
Are they just delivering a Drow duo slave package?
How presumptuous!
David began to feel embarrassed, rubbing his claws together, still prepared to dispatch them directly.
As I always say, I'd rather bargain with a tiger for its skin than have a Drow as a pet dog, because they might just bite me in the vitals from behind when it matters most.
But while David remained silent, Hiatt smiled seductively, as if she hadn't noticed his murderous thoughts:
"I get it, you don't trust my loyalty, do you? After all, we are the cunning and deceitful Drow, understandable."
Then, after his already red-hot CPU, David's graphics card nearly got fried as well.
After saying this, the Drow took out two scrolls and a distorted, wrinkled, yet paradoxically crystal-textured polyhedral gem, all from the rift in front of her chest that looked like a four-dimensional pocket, under David's nearly stupefied gaze.
Her bold gesture even gave David the impression that he had stumbled into a club, where a technician, cosplaying a dark-skinned, fang-toothed character and 'enhancing' her assets to deceive customers, was showing off her arsenal of tools to him.
David took a glance at the first two items and recognized them immediately.
They were the Devil's Contract and the Magic Slavery Contract.
He immediately laughed, "TSK TSK, you seem to have all the necessary items ready."
Yet, inwardly, he remained completely unmoved.
To use a Devil's Contract, one needs to summon a Devil as an intermediary. Sticky as chewing gum, once you're involved, it's hard to shake off.
The latter was even more out of the question. Despite its so-called high cost-effectiveness making it widely used under the table, any Spellcaster with a little sense despised it deeply.
Firstly, drafting the content of a Magic Slavery Contract requires a certain level of arcane knowledge and 'legal knowledge'—that is, the ability to stipulate meticulous contract rules.
Without a thorough understanding, the risk of the other party exploiting loopholes to retaliate against oneself greatly increases, even if modifying a standard template.
Even if one managed to create a barely acceptable Magic Slavery Contract, control over the enslaved party would still be restricted. They could avoid specific actions by understanding the contract, or show hostility and resistance while carrying out orders.
Moreover, maintaining a Magic Slavery Contract itself continuously consumes one's energy and Magic Power. David certainly could not consider it at this critical time.
Seeing that David seemed determined to end her today, the Drow smiled even more naturally and gracefully:
"Of course. Wearing so little, it's better to be proactive than to have you search me and go through it all over again."
You make such a good point I'm at a loss for words.
Noticing that David's gaze on her turned somewhat peculiar, her originally familiar smile immediately became naive and bashful:
"Or do you prefer a more forceful approach? I'm not opposed to pretending to escape and struggle a bit. Shall we start now?"
Dealing with such an experienced, multifaceted, and proactively seductive woman for the first time, David—the entire dragon—was utterly flabbergasted.
Can someone really be so shameless?
Tania, seeing this Drow getting increasingly flirtatious with her brother, instinctively wanted to intervene. However, her attention was suddenly captured by the twisted, hollowed gem.
Having honed her recognition skills in Dragon Mother Pafila's treasure vault for years, Tania immediately exclaimed in surprise after confirming its authenticity:
"A Soul Prism?"
Immediately, her gaze towards the Drow filled with wariness and suspicion, and she silently moved half a step closer to David.
Reminded by Tania, David also found information about it from his draconic inheritance and was surprised, even shocked.
The Soul Prism is also known as a Soul Coin.
In Barto Hell, it is considered a general equivalent, like Gold Coins in the material world.
Its surface is inscribed with complex runic patterns used to imprison the souls of living beings.
In the entire Lower Planes, Soul Coins are valued as currency and can be used to purchase any kind of item, resource, and service that any intelligent creature can imagine.
They can even serve as fuel to power Hell Machines when traversing Avernus, the first layer of Barto Hell.
And their value depends on the strength and quality of the imprisoned soul.
However, once such an item accidentally arrives in the material plane, even an 'empty coin' of only fair quality becomes exceedingly valuable.
Because it can be used in conjunction with certain evil rituals to directly imprison and indirectly control the target's soul!
But there is one prerequisite:
The party must be willing.
Just like making a wish to a Devil.
One must also sell their soul.