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Outside Northwind Fortress, chaos brewed.

Seeing the heightened emotions among the crowd, Brandon pressed further, his voice growing louder.

"Ladies and gentlemen, four hundred years ago, Lord Terry Lackman led our ancestors here atop a giant eagle to establish the first Northwind Fortress. At the time, there were only three hundred people."

"Through the sweeping trials of fire and blood over these four centuries, our ancestors gave their lives to forge this magnificent city. It carries the brilliant history of our forefathers, it shelters our lives, and it is our sanctuary."

"Now, every one of us shares a single identity—citizens of Northwind Fortress."

"We must never allow it to fall into the hands of a vile dragon!"

Brandon’s silver sword swept through the air in a broad arc.

"For Northwind Fortress!"

The crowd’s fervor rose even higher, fueled by Brandon’s textbook-perfect pre-battle speech and what seemed like heartfelt sincerity.

Watching the impassioned throng, Brandon exhaled slightly, thinking to himself, "Let’s hope they can hold out long enough—for the Duke to complete the ritual."

"For Northwind Fortress! For Northwind Fortress!"

"Kill the dragon! Protect our loved ones!"

The cheers continued as soldiers raised their spears, vowing to fight for their daughters' futures, and merchants shouted resolutely, determined to defend their families’ happiness.

"Roar—"

A long, thunderous roar abruptly silenced the crowd.

A primal fear gripped everyone.

The sky darkened as wyverns swarmed, blotting out the sun like a black tide, their guttural screeches filling the air.

"Damn it, aim the ballistae!"

"Shoot them down!"

But the creatures flew too high. Even the city’s ballistae could only barely strike down a single low-flying wyvern, sending it plummeting with a pained screech.

Then the wyverns parted to clear a path, and the massive red dragon appeared, its wings slowly beating as it hovered in the sky.

The dragon’s body eclipsed the sunlight, its surroundings shimmering as though wreathed in flames. Through magic, its shadow loomed even larger on the ground, casting a suffocating pressure over the crowd.

People looked up, trembling as they stared into the golden, slitted eyes that glowed even at a distance, recalling the tales of the "Hellish Calamity" annihilating thirty thousand allied troops with fire.

Soldiers’ hands shook until their spears clattered to the ground, while merchants hid behind their wives, trembling and praying not to draw the dragon’s attention.

Faced with the dragon’s actual presence, their prior courage dissolved, and Brandon’s rousing speech was forgotten.

After all—this was death itself.

Then the terrifying dragon spoke.

"A fine speech, though a bit outdated. For a moment, I thought I was back in the Second Era."

Brandon gazed upward. Though a formidable warrior, the sight of the red dragon made sweat pour down his brow.

"You vile dragon, you will not sway the citizens of Northwind Fortress!"

Summoning his courage, he roared his defiance at the sky.

"Sway them?"

Cassius’s tone was laced with mockery.

"Perhaps that’s your job. Using these seemingly logical but utterly nonsensical arguments to persuade them to die as cannon fodder for the old vampire you serve—what a clever plan."

The guards had long suppressed this information, but many in the crowd already suspected it. Now the dragon spoke the truth, carelessly exposing the secret.

Brandon could no longer contain his rage. Pointing to the sky, he shouted:

"Slander!"

"This is outright slander!"

Cassius ignored him, projecting images of the blood thralls inside the bunker into the sky. "Everyone, this is the work of your beloved Duke, turning your loved ones into these blood-sucking beasts. Fighting for nobles is foolish enough—dying for something like this is the ultimate farce."

"If you wish to continue your loyalty and die for him, be my guest."

A cruel smile spread across the dragon’s face.

"But I didn’t come here to debate. I’m here to deliver a message—by dusk, if I do not see the gates open and white flags raised, this city will be reduced to ash by fire. Your parents, spouses, and children—no exceptions."

"Take note—"

"This is not a negotiation. It’s a declaration."

The black tide of wyverns receded, and the red dragon vanished after delivering its ultimatum.

As he left, Cassius mused, "That bard who made up those stories about me must be a lunatic. Am I that crude of a dragon?"

"Even if I were to eat people, there’s a basic standard of hygiene. No way those ogres would tolerate that kind of mess either…"

"No, I need to find that bard and teach him a lesson."

Cassius had no desire to destroy the "Jewel of the North." It was meant to become the main city for future players and the starting point of his empire. Thus, he employed a strategy of siege and psychological warfare, avoiding outright destruction.

He had already established his might during the Battle of Trier. Now he needed to solidify his rule and build a true, diverse empire.

Back in Eagle Square, Count Brandon stood grim-faced.

He gazed at the restless crowd, at their fearful, uneasy, and hesitant eyes. He knew the situation was spiraling beyond his control.

To Brandon’s dismay, the dragon’s threat carried significant weight. Having just obliterated thirty thousand allied troops, the red dragon’s words seemed entirely credible, and his own speech now felt like corroboration of the dragon’s power.

"The Duke said we must hold until nightfall."

"This is my duty."

With this resolve, Brandon’s expression hardened.

Shedding his mask of amiability, he now radiated cold arrogance, looking down at the crowd with a steely gaze.

"Citizens, stay calm and do not succumb to the dragon’s lies."

"Anyone who defies orders or causes unrest—will be executed!"

Brandon’s loyal soldiers immediately moved to secure the area.

But across the city, the dragon’s ultimatum echoed loudly. Reactions varied: some hid silently in their homes, others sought out allies among the guards, and some even began attacking the gray-robed spies of the Lackman family.

In an instant, the city was seething with undercurrents of chaos.

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