I'm really not a dragon.

Wow, that's quite a roundabout way to go!

So the ferocious wild boar was actually a rat... System, you've really done me a disservice!

What else is there to say? Prisons have no shortage of rats!

Although the rats don't leave their burrows during the day, it doesn't matter. Suen can wait until night, when it's time to hunt!

Suen was preparing to roll up his sleeves and set up the hunting grounds.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a pair of shifty, rat-like eyes floating on the reddish-brown soup, secretly watching him.

Ok?

That big rat woke up so quickly!

Su En was taken aback and subconsciously picked up the spoon.

"squeak!"

The fat rat was so frightened that it left afterimages, kicked its legs and jumped out of the earthenware bowl, frantically scurrying around the prison, trying to find a rat trail.

But the reason why it's a prison for serious offenders is that not even a fly can escape from here. The walls are made of metal, the windows are covered with a layer of iron mesh, and there's a Suen standing at the only food delivery point.

The fat rat ran for about ten minutes but still couldn't escape the cell.

It seemed to realize that escape was unlikely, so it trembled as it faced Suen, clasped its paws together, and knelt before the old veteran.

Suen was stunned.

Baldur's Gate prison is indeed full of hidden talents; even the rats are incredibly intelligent.

However, upon closer examination, it's not impossible.

The prison for serious offenders once held countless mages, and their magical pets might have included rats.

These intelligent magical creatures are quite active during their mating season, and may well have left behind a lot of excellent magical genes in the prison.

"You're quite intelligent! Can you understand what I'm saying?"

The mouse nodded frantically.

If they can understand human speech, things will be much easier.

Su En pondered for a moment, and an idea popped into his head. He asked, "Do you want to leave?"

The mouse nodded vigorously.

"Here's what we'll do! We'll gather a few of our kind with similar intelligence to you and use them to exchange for your freedom!"

The mouse hesitated, wagging its tail.

"One rat's life for another rat's life, a fair trade! After all, I'm no demon!"

The mouse understood and nodded vigorously.

The next second, it opened its throat and let out a pitiful squeak.

A few minutes later,

A brave little mouse pushed open the food delivery opening and cautiously peeked in. Before it could even see the state of the cell, a dark shadow landed on its head with lightning speed.

boom!

[Mission: Hunt a herd of ferocious wild boars, 2/3]

"Well done! You're free!"

Suen patted the big rat and put it on the ground.

As the giant rat left, it turned its head and glanced at the little rat, a complex emotion belonging to an intelligent being flashing in its eyes.

Then he left without looking back.

[The system has detected that the host has released a despicable ratman, forgiving the evil deeds of a wicked creature—a classic act of kindness! Your allegiance has shifted!]

A strange line of text appeared on the light screen.

Unaware, Suen smiled at the newly awakened little mouse and said, "Want to leave? Clever little fellow."

The little mouse nodded, trembling.

"One rat's life for another rat's life—a fair trade!"

……

[Mission: Hunt a herd of ferocious wild boars, 2/3]

……

[Mission: Hunt a herd of ferocious wild boars, 4/3]

Suen glanced at the mouse that had just been tricked, pinched its tail and threw it out of the cell. The mission was complete, and there was no need to deceive the mouse's feelings anymore.

He sat on the bed, his gaze sweeping over the mission details. "Claim your reward!"

Strange claw marks gradually spread across the light screen.

[This system was developed with the sponsorship of Bahamut's Borean Fortress and Tiamat's Greedy Dragon's Nest.]

Please accept your reward!

A six-pointed star magic circle slowly appeared beneath Suen's feet, and a strange container wrapped in a stone shell was forcibly squeezed out of the ground.

The bottle was very brittle, and it kept crumbling on the ground when I held it in my hand. It contained a liquid that was the same color as orange juice.

How should he use this thing? Should he just eat it?

Before considering how to use it, he had to ask one more question.

"System, is this thing harmful to humans? How do I use it?"

[Deep in thought: The host inquired whether the Dragon Muscle Growth Agent is harmful to humans... Based on previous chat logs, the agent has not undergone pharmaceutical testing on humans, and its effects on humans are unknown. Should I truthfully inform it... Considering the host may have human servants, or may want to trade the agent with humans... Based on existing information, some young dragons have bestowed the Dragon Muscle Growth Agent upon their subordinates to expand their dragon vein legions. The overall effect of the agent on intelligent beings, including humans, is benign.]

[Answer: Of course! Humans can use it, either orally or by injection. Friendly reminder: the best target for this is dragons!]

What else is there to say! Nine dragons entwined around you!

Suen crushed the bottle cap and poured the medicine down his throat. He felt a line of fire rush down his throat into his stomach and then explode.

The liquid seemed alive, churning his stomach and intestines as if it were trying to burn a hole in his belly.

"Ugh! I ate something dirty!"

Suen shoved three fingers down her throat and desperately tried to clear her throat.

The saliva he vomited dripped onto the ground and hissed and steamed, like a highly corrosive acid!

Suen's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

System, you've messed with me! Didn't you say it was for human use? Why does it hurt so much!

As his breathing trembled more and more, golden-red sparks, like snowflakes, emerged from his mouth and nose, as if something huge was about to come out!

The next second, his lips and tongue turned to charcoal, and brilliant flames poured out of his mouth.

Outside the corridor, a law enforcement officer looked up, sensing something.

"Captain, what's wrong?"

"I think I saw a light?"

"Where is it?"

Another law enforcement officer turned his head curiously.

"In the cell of a serious offender!"

"Captain Lisella, I didn't expect you to have such a sense of humor! The Anti-Magic Prison is so powerful that even an archmage couldn't ignite a single spark. Those prisoners shackled with cold iron chains are even less likely to be able to!"

Perhaps she was overthinking it! Lysera Spidershade shook her head and followed her patrolling colleagues out of the corridor.

Behind the cell door,

Suen lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious. The flesh scorched by the flames scabbed over and fell off at a rapid pace, giving way to tender new flesh.

Beneath the new flesh, fine, snake-scale-like patterns quietly grew, spreading from the throat to the limbs.

The sun rises and sets, rises and sets.

Suen, who had been lying motionless for a long time, suddenly moved and then let out a groan.

I'm hungry!

Suen, like a zombie, twisted her stiff limbs and crawled to the food delivery area.

The broth had long since solidified into a block, emitting a putrid, sour smell. Next to it was half a piece of black bread that was hard enough to smash a stone. Without thinking twice, he stuffed all the food he could find into his throat.

With her digestive system, which had been dormant for two days, restarting, Suen finally recovered.

He tore into his black bread while staring at the emerging light screen.

[Host: Su En]

[Young dragon stage, age: two years and two months]

[Attributes: Strength 10, Agility 11, Constitution 9, Perception 13, Intelligence 10, Charisma 17 (-8)]

[Skill: Perception +1]

Challenge Level: 0

[Trait: Dragon Vein lv1]

[Dragon Vein Lv1: Your bloodline is beginning to display some supernatural power. Your innate armor has increased by 1. Attacks that were once lethal are no longer enough to kill you.]

Did I upgrade?

According to the description, it seems to be more durable than before.

Suen smacked his lips, easily tore off half a piece of dark bread, and then his gaze fell on the age group.

Hatchling stage, age: two years and two months?

Hmm, wasn't I only a month old yesterday? How come I've grown so fast?

Suen couldn't help but get excited. Did this mean that he would soon grow into a young dragon? Young dragons could already show some of the power of a true dragon, so the rewards would be more generous!

[Having taken the Dragon Muscle Growth Potion, your body has become stronger, and your breath organs have matured significantly earlier. To enter the young dragon stage faster, please consume at least one substance that enhances your breath.]

[Task posted: Eat? %&…%]

[Logical error... The type of dragon host is not yet clear... Alignment determined... Benevolent alignment... Clearly identified as a metal dragon hatchling]

[Task issued: Ingest metallic substances of the same origin as you to promote the development of your respiratory organs.]

[Reward: A Guide to Training the Maids of Golden Dragon Eros Krupala.]

He glanced at the reward, both high and low.