Chapter 147: The Northern Situation

  After Duke Brad's death, the Ember swiftly occupied the ey of Northwind Fortress. Key areas such as the city hall and armory naturally fell uhe trol of the dragon's minions.

  The shadow-cursed La Castle was sealed off by the army, being a forbidden zone.

  The city gates of Northwind Fortress were guarded by hobgoblin troops armed with muskets. The ey was under martial w, and no one dared to escape because patrols of draic goblins and kobolds eagerly awaited to tear apart any fugitives.

  A suffog atmosphere hung over Northwind Fortress.

  The city’s popution of over 30,000 lived in stant fear of their uain fate.

  With the fall of Northwind Fortress, news of the La Duchy’s colpse spread across Aa.

  The northern nobles had anticipated the downfall of the La Duchy, but its swift colpse caught them pletely off guard.

  Cassius, the "Hellish camity," led his wicked minions and dispyed terrifying military prowess, quering the vast La Duchy ihan a month. This four-tury-old nation was erased from history.

  For a time, panic spread across the Northern United Kingdom.

  Soon after, wyverns appeared across Aa, scattering fliers like falling snowfkes.

  It was an official procmation—

  Duke Brad La, ruler of the La Duchy, had signed a pact with an evil entity, transf himself into a vampire. During his two-tury reign, he sughtered and ehe local people, itting atrocious acts with tless blood debts. Furthermore, Duke Brad La repeatedly vioted Ember 's territory, even dispatg armies, severely threatening local security and disrupting the pead order of the Aa Wastend.

  Thus, the great Red Dragon, King of the Ember , His Majesty Cassius Cudious Norrixius, upheld fairness and justice, avehe fallen, and slew Brad La. The dark and decayed La Duchy was incorporated into his wise governance, formally prog the establishment of the great Ember Kingdom.

  Following the procmation was a dizzying list of additional demands.

  "The Duchy of Nort colluded with La Duchy to ihe Storm Highnds, infringing on the snty of the Ember Kingdom. We believe the Nort family has acted recklessly and is incapable of managing its citizens aory responsibly. They should be pced uhe Kingdom’s supervision and administration."

  "The Duchy of Bosk was deceived by Duke Brad, participating in the so-called coalition army and causing signifit losses to the Kingdom. pensation of 25,000 gold s is required."

  "The Duchy of Carter spread disgraceful rumors. Their 《Song of Ember》 caused a vile impa the Kingdom’s public opinion."

  "The Duchy of Fano colluded with the La family, providing eic support and ily harming the Kingdom."

  The northern nobles were in an uproar.

  This greedy dragon dared to extort the entire Northern United Kingdom!

  He was far greedier than the Red Dragons who showcased power by razing cities!

  Cassius, on obscure figure only known in bardic tales as the "Flying Fme Dragon," had, in just a few short years, grown into a colossal being uheir noses, capable of shaking the Northern Lands with a single fp of his wings.

  Even a tury ago, the "Gcial Wing" merely destroyed a city without occupying a duchy or ext the entire Northern United Kingdom.

  Dragon rule over the nd had been relegated to myth, dating back to the First Age when dragons and giants waged their battles. Now, it was happening right before the northern nobles' eyes.

  For turies, especially sihe establishment of the Northern United Kingdom, non had been so brazen in the Aa Wastend!

  The nominal capital of the United Kingdom, also the capital of the Duchy of Bosk, was Strafburg. Within its grand Lion cil Hall—

  Hundreds of northern nobles gathered to discuss how to deal with this terrifying dragon. It was the first such gathering sihe "Lio ant" thirty years ago.

  "This is intolerable!"

  "That vile dragon has gooo far!"

  Duke Leo Bosk smmed the flier onto the long table with a snap.

  His face was red with fury, and his t frame trembled with anger. Even his lion-like beard shook as his thunderous roar left his attendants trembling in fear.

  "We, the Duchy of Bosk, will never accept such humiliating terms!"

  "Who does he think he is? Just a fire-breathing lizard! We Sians carved out our p Aa by sying dozens of such overfident lizards!"

  Not far from him, Grand Duke Oliver Nort of the Duchy of Nort also rose, smming his fist oable in righteous indignatioly! We must recim the La Duchy and kill that audacious Red Dragon!"

  "Otherwise, we ot appease the people’s anger!"

  Grand Duke Oliver gritted his teeth, harb deep hatred for Cassius.

  While the Ember Empire’s demands to other nations were limited to money or passage rights, their demands of the Duchy of Nort included the so-called "iional trusteeship." The ludicrous justification was: "Grand Duke Oliver is incapable of g the Duchy of Nort and requires the assistance of the more civilized and orderly Ember Empire."

  eous!

  This was btant, naked humiliation!

  An empire ruled by a monster dared to issue such shameless decrations. Grand Duke Oliver had spent sleepless nights after dismissing the emissaries he had initially prepared to send to the Ember in rage.

  "But... that Red Dragon cast eighth-tier spells."

  "There are only a handful of spellcasters of such caliber in the Northern Lands. He is devastating to any army."

  A hoarse and weary voice broke the silenbsp;

  "Grey Hawk" Shroud also attehis meeting, though his eyes were dim, filled with exhaustion and helpless hatred for the Red Dragon.

  His lord and try had perished, leaving him a wanderer barely accepted by Duke Leo Bosk.

  "Perhaps we seek aid from beyond our borders."

  "Indeed. It’s rumored that six years ago, the 'Twilight Bde' from the South slew a Red Dragon, though it’s uain if the tale is true."

  A noble spoke up.

  Hearing this, Duke Leo’s anger subsided slightly. He turo a nearby noble. "t Tapley, didn’t the 'Twilight Bde' once lodge in your territory? you still tact her?"

  t Tapley shook his head helplessly. "She left hastily five years ago, leaving no means of tact."

  Duke Leo spoke gravely, "Perhaps we should look to the South for assistao the Holy Fadn Empire."

  "That may not be possible."

  t Tellich, who had long served as an envoy to the South, said, "Retly, unpreted rebellions have broken out in several Fadn provinces. Emperorn has been leading the Sun Legion in campaigns for months and is uo spare attention for us."

  Duke Leo roared angrily:

  "Then what should we do? Are we to sit and wait for death, surreo that Red Dragon, and watch him funt his power before us?"

  The nobles remained silent, with Duke Leo’s roar eg in the hall.

  Then, a hoarse voice suddenly rose—

  It was her than "Grey Hawk" Shroud.

  "My lord, I know of someone who might be able to resist that Red Dragon and would be willing to help."

  FAL