Other Dwarves seemed to have the same idea, their faces showing expressions of interest.
Even though they hated the Giant Dragon, being able to ride one, even for a short time, was something to boast about.
"Roar!!!"
The increasingly intelligent Hephaestus seemed to have guessed the thoughts and expressions of the Dwarves, immediately showing a human-like expression of resistance.
It turned its head to the side, and its dragon claws stamped on the ground.
An attitude of not even thinking about getting on its dragon back.
"..."
Gauss hadn’t expected the first problem before officially setting out to come so quickly.
After mastering the [Master] talent, his tacit understanding with Hephaestus had been subtly improving.
He also shared Hephaestus’s feelings of resistance.
Although he could use his "paternal figure" authority to order it to obey his command, doing so didn’t feel quite right.
After all, he needed the Dwarves’ mithril payment, yet they were just strangers he met for the first time, whereas Hephaestus was already an undisputed official member of his team, marking a clear difference in closeness.
"If it’s not possible, we’ll have to continue on land."
Gauss said, looking at the Dwarves.
Upon hearing this, the Dwarves were also somewhat conflicted.
They were in a hurry to rescue their comrades; they could accept riding on land mounts if they didn’t know there was a Dragon Beast that could get them there faster, but now there was clearly a better solution.
Just when Bruno was about to step forward and apologize to Hephaestus to break the ice and ease relations.
Hephaestus took the initiative to motion its claws towards the Dwarves.
"Roar~"
Gauss understood its meaning.
Hephaestus didn’t want the Dwarves it found annoying to ride on its back, but it was okay with grabbing them with its claws for the flight.
The Dwarves gradually understood its meaning, showing hesitation.
Yet the leader, Bruno, took the initiative to agree.
"Okay, let it grab us and fly."
Compared to a quicker search for his comrades, he felt this could be an acceptable way to travel.
The Dwarf’s body was strong enough.
He had heard before that Giant Dragons were very proud creatures, and even Dragon Knights who formed contracts with them couldn’t force them to do things they didn’t want to, so he didn’t make it difficult for Gauss.
"Then that’s how it’ll be." Gauss nodded.
"If you’re worried, I’ll cast a Feather Fall Technique on all of you later. Even if there’s an accident, it won’t cause falling damage."
"That’s very considerate, thank you."
After reaching an agreement.
Hephaestus soon flapped its wings and flew up.
Its claws each grabbed a Dwarf on one side, like a falcon ensnaring lambs.
Apart from not letting the Dwarves climb onto its back, it didn’t deliberately make things difficult for them.
The flight was very smooth the whole way.
With Bruno below occasionally giving direction pointers, after two hours, Gauss arrived at the location he indicated.
Hephaestus slowly descended.
Reconnecting with the ground, the Dwarves let out a long breath of relief.
Though nothing unexpected happened during the flight, and Gauss had cast Feather Fall Technique on them, experiencing flight for the first time instinctively made them nervous. Luckily, everything ended without incident.
"This is the place, for sure!"
Bruno observed the surroundings again and stated with certainty.
They came to a riverside location.
The ground still vaguely showed signs of a large sword slash that Bruno mentioned.
As for the monster blood, it had already completely dried up.
Gauss sniffed lightly.
He glanced around.
Even though the battle had happened about two days ago, he had a sense of familiarity with the "protagonist" behind the deed, out of intuition.
"Goblins again?"
Gauss raised an eyebrow.
Bruno said his fiancée Toga was a level 6 Warrior.
Catching a level 6 Dwarf Warrior alive from the front was no easy feat.
Gauss’s team could definitely do it, but for the vast majority of Goblin Tribes, they likely lacked the capability.
Moreover, there were too few signs of a battle.
Gauss observed the surroundings and found several pieces of partially burnt wood.
There were also some fish bones on the ground.
Was Toga grilling fish here back then?
His gaze turned towards the river surface not far away; the fish should have been caught from the river water.
"Was it drugged or spelled?"
Being beaten by drugs or curses and then taken away was a different matter from being forcefully captured by a direct attack.
The former indicated the possibility of an organized, disciplined monster team, while the latter suggested a creature far more powerful than Toga made its move.
Based on the leftover monster blood on the ground everywhere, Gauss leaned towards the former theory.
"Goblins?"
Bruno’s originally rosy face instantly turned pale.
Goblins weren’t just notoriously notorious in human society, but equally so among Dwarves.
As soon as he thought of his fiancée being taken by goblins, his eyes reddened.
"Don’t worry, it’s not that bad."
Gauss reassured him.
Goblins do indeed have an overwhelming desire to breed, but that applies to most low-level, bottom-tier goblins. He often dealt with goblins.
He knew that starting from the elite level, their intelligence gradually increased, at least enough to suppress their primitive desires as necessary.
The goblin leader who could come up with an ambush to overpower and capture a Dwarf Warrior must be able to control his goblins.
If they needed Toga to forge weapons for them, they must keep her as healthy as possible; compared to reproduction, as a blacksmith, she was valuable as a skilled talent, and might not face the usual captive treatment of an ordinary female creature.