Warning: Value Is Resource Derived

Dry heat from the yellow dragon’s breath brushed against Avelina’s scales as she poured hot tea from a flask into an elegant ceramic cup. She recognized the brand, as it was handcrafted in Rising Sun by a well-known artisan. Buying one would cost her a month’s rent.

Tea rippled under the pressure of a hot breath. He downed it in one long sip. The small finger of his right hand raised while he drank. A compartment opened from the arm rest. The tea cup dropped inside. Trash compacted with a series of crunches in the back of the vehicle.

The muscular dragon straightened his posture as wings tightened. Horned spurs poked the seat leather. Hands rested over each other on the glossy orb of his walking stick. He tapped it against the carpet. Another burst of heated air flickered from his snout.

Avelina felt her scales itch as normally humid air quickly dried. She looked over this dragon whose name she didn’t know. They waited a few minutes in silence. Nobody requested clarification of orders and he didn’t provide any updates.

“You know,” he said, “I’m quite enjoying our time together.”

Avelina shifted closer to the door.

The yellow dragon patted the seat directly next to him, “I work very hard to keep the world turning. Do you know that, Avelina? My profession is acquisition, which means I’m quickly able to identify items of real value. My family has been in service of the Goldfields for generations. I alone own near majority stakes of several major corporations ranging through finance, insurance, health care, technology, communication, media, automobiles, and food service. I’m directly connected with every branch of government in the most powerful empire in the world.”

“No offense, but you haven’t even told me your name since I was assigned to you.”

“Oh, really, I probably didn’t think it was important.”

“I think letting a person who is working for you know your name is important.”

A scaley eyebrow raised high, “Do you honestly think it would be wise to spurn my hospitality. I understand you have money problems. Just heard a bit about you, that you are a single mother. What’s your boy’s name? Jorseph, correct?”

“Don’t bring my son into this,” Avelina almost hissed but caught herself.

“Your current job is looking pretty while typing notes. You manage a local coordinator’s schedule. It’s not difficult. You can do the same for me and be personable about it. I’m not an ordinary dragon. I’m extraordinarily capable of arranging this situation in your favor, beyond what you can even imagine. Any other beautiful young dragoness would be hanging on my arm right now, and begging that I never let her go.”

“Having a lot of money doesn’t make you attractive. I won’t hesitate to report you to dragon resources.”

Claws gripped her snout. Muscles bulged against his suit as he pulled her slender frame sideways against his burning scales. He held her with rigid control while his arm remained tense. It didn’t tire.

Her arms were free, she had four more than him, but they were much smaller so she didn’t dare attack. She kept her tail down and her arms to her side in a submissive posture.

His eye narrowed as he scanned the full length of her body, “I am dragon resources. Your impoverished mind has been chasing crumbs for so long you can’t think straight. We don’t have money, we control it. We’re not above the law; we remake it. The sooner you get that through your pretty little head, the smoother our working relationship will be. Playing hard to get can go from exciting to frustrating if you take it too far. I’d advise you to keep it exciting.”

He let her go. She shrunk back while rubbing her snout. Deep breaths held back welling tears, “I don’t need your favor and I don’t need your money.”

The yellow dragon looked straight ahead with a sigh, “You’re working fifty hours a week for your share of our money. Don’t you find that the least bit hypocritical? How do you get away from it? You can’t. What is your high moral stance going to prove? Will you beg on the streets for scraps so that passersby can give you our money?”

Avelina held her tongue.

“Well played. You’ll adorn my office in New Yew-Tree. I’ll put you in charge of a development program for this backwards nation. This society of yours has a way of obsequiously agreeing to every policy change and then quietly ignoring the mandates. You may be able to help societal progress here. They’ll be plenty of opportunities for your boy as well. I find that a disciplined military education builds the character needed to succeed. You needn’t worry about affording such luxuries under my care. Money is no object, literally.”

A false panel opened in front of him. The screen lit. A shiny turquoise dragon in a black suit made a respectful nod in front of the camera.

“Sir, we’ve narrowed down the suspect’s location. Unusual activity has been observed at an empty warehouse on Wind-drop Island. Our drones have detected lighting and high frequency vibrations.”

“The industrial islands at night, this makes our job easy. Surround the top three suspected hide-outs. Prepare an observation post for each one. Tightly cordon the islands in that sector. See to it that nobody leaves. I am to be observing any raid directly, no going in until I give the order.”

The man nodded, “Understood sir.”

The yellow dragon adjusted the dial until his driver was on the screen, “Take us to the industrial islands. For now, I want us stationed behind the police barricade on Wind-drop Island.”

The driver nodded.

The large black sports utility vehicle purred as its engine revitalized. It rolled away from the curve. A patrol car pulled in front. Lights flashed for the start of a police escort. The barricade opened. The large black vehicle with tinted windows barely fit on a single lane. Smaller vehicles in tight traffic pulled aside to make room for the small convoy.

“Have you ever ridden in such luxury? Doesn’t it feel grand to pass the common rabble? Or do you still long long for standing shoulder to shoulder in a crowded train?”

“I’m sorry, but have a boyfriend.”

“The shoe monger? You dated him all of one time according to your social media data. Besides, he’s an agent for the now redundant Sealing Commission. He doesn’t have any real interest in you besides keeping track of the imp. It’s useful to allow the ugly little creatures a degree of freedom because they can produce raw materials that they won’t bother making in captivity. We buy the materials for a pittance and make huge profits.”

Avelina put her claws on her lap. Her head listed. Heat darkened her scales. Smoke trickled from the sides of her jaw.

“You’ve already seen too much to escape dear. But you haven’t seen anything yet. The World Government will be confronting the murdering bank robber and confiscating his artifacts soon. I’m expecting the Sealing Commission to contend for possession of those items. Let’s enjoy the show.”

They pulled off the main road. A boom barrier opened to allow a black luxury sedan across the bridge to an artificial island. Head lamps bounced as the vehicle slowly turned into the parking lot of a construction site. Refinery tower lights outshone the southwestern stars.