Page 289 of Ember Dragon

As the heavy metal doors slowly opened, Medrolash strode into the hall and knelt on one knee at the foot of the stairs, speaking in a low voice:

"Master, Nocturne has gathered the latest intelligence."

"The Bosk Duchy has spent a fortune hiring a legendary adventurer team from the south—Scarlet Blades. This team is renowned within the Fadlan Empire for their high efficiency in completing missions. They’ve killed thirteen dragons, even—"

Medrolash paused, cautiously glancing up to find that Cassius’s expression remained unchanged. Only then did he continue:

"Even an ancient red dragon."

"Oh?"

"It seems the old lion is putting everything on the line."

Cassius stroked his chin as he spoke.

An ancient red dragon was an incredibly powerful and ferocious being with a base challenge level of 20. Even he wouldn’t underestimate such an opponent. A team capable of slaying such a creature was certainly no ordinary group.

Cassius’s interest was piqued.

"Is there any more information about this team?"

"Master, I must apologize. Our manpower in the south is still too limited and shallow. We’ve only managed to uncover the most basic, publicly available details."

The red dragon nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"The team consists of five members, all of whom appear to be top-tier legendary professionals. The lineup includes a paladin, a barbarian, a mage, a rogue, and a cleric—a highly balanced composition."

The Tiefling crushed a crystal, and an image of a burly man clad in scarlet heavy armor appeared in midair.

"This is the leader of the Scarlet Blades, Paladin Dexus Flaregold. He follows the god of law and the sun, Amanata, and once single-handedly killed an adult blue dragon. While we’re not yet certain of his sacred oath, his past deeds suggest he may be an Oath of Vengeance black knight."

Next, an image of a curvaceous woman in a white robe appeared.

"This is Ingrid Garses, a legendary cleric and an honorary bishop of the Amanata Church. Based on her faith, she is either a cleric of the Light or Order domains."

The image shifted again, this time to a tall man with a bare torso covered in red tattoos.

"Lano, a legendary barbarian from the barbarian tribes on the Fadlan border. He once defeated an entire tribe of giants in hand-to-hand combat."

"As for the remaining two, our spies in the south haven’t found any information yet. The mage’s details are extremely costly and rumored to involve the mysterious ’Tower of Time.’ The rogue is highly adept at disguise and concealment and rarely appears in public."

Medrolash gathered the crystal shards and placed them in his bag, quietly awaiting the red dragon’s orders.

"You’ve done well."

"What a luxurious lineup. I wonder how much the old lion spent?"

Cassius mused but couldn’t resist asking.

Medrolash answered without hesitation: "As far as we know, the base commission for the Scarlet Blades is 60,000 gold coins. For a target as prestigious and powerful as you, Master, the price would double to at least 120,000 gold coins."

"Based on our intelligence, this amount equates to three years of tax revenue for the Bosk Duchy. Coupled with recent military expenditures, they must be nearing bankruptcy."

Cassius was pleased with the answer.

"Such extravagance. The Bosk Duchy is clearly going all in for a desperate gamble."

A faint smile appeared on the red dragon’s lips.

"But the northern nobles may not share that sentiment. They’ve already tasted the profits of being compradors. They might even sell us the gallows meant for their own necks."

"Why go through the toil and misery of war when exploiting their own people as middlemen is so much easier?"

"With Nocturne’s covert interference, the northern countries will remain disorganized."

Medrolash immediately echoed, "Master, the rebellious factions in the North are no match for your kingdom. Their order is as fragile as paper."

Cassius nodded again. "Still, we must watch out for southern reinforcements. The Fadlan Empire’s strength far surpasses that of any northern power. Even a small fraction of their resources could shift the balance in all of Anzeta. The Anzeta Wasteland is simply too small and remote."

"Continue monitoring that legendary team. Report to me immediately if there’s any update."

"Yes, Master."

Medrolash replied respectfully and left, escorted by Tiefling guards.

Cassius slowly closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax from days of tension. He began meditating, following ancient texts—a method to temporarily suppress the chaotic will within him.

But the Tiefling’s voice outside interrupted his meditation.

"Your Majesty, Lord Langpu requests an audience."

"Let him in as well."

The red dragon opened his eyes impatiently. His gaze seemed to pierce through the iron doors, beyond the borders of the Ember Kingdom, out of the Anzeta Wasteland, and over the vast Feyanso continent.

"Tch, yet another restless season."

In the Bosk Duchy, inside the ducal mansion in Straffburg.

Grand Duke Leo paced anxiously.

"Treliska, when will they arrive?"

"Our scouts have already spotted the Crimson Scaled Conquerors near the border. Damn it, that red dragon has awakened. It could storm into the principality at any moment and destroy Straffburg single-handedly!"

Unlike the northern nobles indulging in the illusion of peace, Leo Bosque knew the North had no one capable of stopping Cassius. The dragon could descend at any time and obliterate everything. He desperately needed external aid, no matter the cost.

"Very soon, Your Grace. I’m still trying to contact them."

Treliska replied, adjusting a crimson crest token with a helpless expression.

Suddenly, the space nearby warped, twisted, and shattered without warning.

Grand Duke Leo instinctively gripped the sword at his waist—a reflex honed through years of battle.

"That’s—"

The guards beside him also grew tense, hastily drawing their spears.

A dark spatial rift appeared in the hall, and several figures emerged.

Leading them was a burly man in heavy crimson armor, holding a shield inlaid with dragon scales in his left hand and a faintly glowing longsword at his waist. His face was hidden beneath a heavy helmet—this was none other than Dexus Flaregold.

Despite their unannounced intrusion into the ducal mansion, Grand Duke Leo furrowed his brow but refrained from direct confrontation, diplomatically reminding them:

"Using teleportation magic to enter another’s estate uninvited is hardly polite."

Dexus Flaregold ignored him, silently drawing the sword at his waist before saying, "Northern etiquette means nothing to us. We’re not here as guests. Just tell us everything about that red dragon."

The barbarian Lano impatiently added, "And shut your annoying mouth."

Grand Duke Leo was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t been spoken to so rudely in years.

Only now did Leo Bosque fully grasp that these legendary professionals from Fadlan had no regard for Anzeta’s nobility. Their sole purpose here was to complete their contract and collect their gold.

Treliska could only offer a wry smile and a helpless shake of his head.