Meanwhile

  Ophion's wealth was beyond every dragon's wildest dreams. His company's revenue, premiums, and interests secured him steady gold growth even if he decided to sleep on his pile for the rest of his existence. Thieves no longer appeared, and humans were forced by law to defend him against outside threats. A continuous stream of foreign princesses and cattle herds flowed into his lair without him even having to lift a claw, and the queue was indeed so long that Ophion had an entire second tourism-focused town built outside his lair, further increasing his profits by emptying the pockets of the noblewomen who vainly attempted to woo him.

  His lair, so expansive it could even be considered a country in its own right, was paved in gold and jewels, and portraits of himself painted by renowned artists hung on every wall. A red, velvet carpet ran through his many, many vaults and other luxury habitations. If Ophion himself had profited massively, the kobolds weren't far behind. Thanks to all his efforts, kobold society was indented into every stratum of civilization, and the highly educated second kobold generation became scribes, merchants, lawyers, and trusty officers, forever loyal to Ophion and his mercantile empire.

  Naturally, Arthur, or rather his ministery of economy, had tried to push anti-monopoly laws along coin debasement and hired robbers to hit his convoys, but it was all too little, too late and ultimately only damaged his own image.

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  At this point, Ophion could overthrow Arthur with a single nudge, claiming the throne for himself and preventing these cartoonish attempts on him—but the truth was that this wasn't profitable enough. Why bother tanking the serfs' and noblemen's whims, political landscape, state-financed armies, and roads when he could just use everything and pay for nothing?

  Suddenly, a notion struck the mighty dragon's head. What if someone tried to copy his masterful strategies and actually began competing against him? We can't have that, now can we?

  "Tinknob." The now wiser and slightly older kobold stood firmly next to his liege. The years of wealth had ironed his character, who now was refined and sophisticated.

  "Yes, boss?" Although some customs never truly die.

  "I think it's time for Dragon's Share to branch out to the other seven kingdoms."

  Every kingdom and every empire that neglected their economy, every block of power not properly founded would be shaken and taken over by Ophion, the great Corporate Dragon. Those realms without proper banks or insurance would fall first, and those with corrupt nobles and merchants would shortly follow. By the time he finished, would anyone be left standing?

  "Right away, boss." said Tinknob with a wicked smile.