Cassius stepped forward and pried the medallion from the carriage wall. Channeling a wisp of fire elemental energy into it with a cantrip, he watched words manifest within the flickering flame:
*The Anzeta Chapter cordially invites you to join.*
*Gathering Date: December 1, 1723.*
*Location: Stravburg.*
*Teleportation Coordinates: *******.*
"An identification medallion from the Arcane Hermitage. Interesting. This gathering should be a few years from now." Cassius pocketed the medallion, rather pleased.
"And what about the books?" the red dragon asked, turning back to him.
"Right here! I hid them all. I was worried those fools would burn them to cook," Langpu replied with an embarrassed grin. He pushed aside piles of bones, revealing a chest of golden-thread nanmu stuffed full of exquisitely bound books.
*Aristocratic Military Drill Regulations: Forging a Splendid Force*
*Fireball for Dummies*
*The Spell Apprentice's Encyclopedia: How to Explain the Weave to Your Son*
*Sion's Adventure Logs*
*Court Poems of the Bards*
*How to Become a True Noble*
*Surviving the Wild: A Complete Guide to Wild Herbs*
*Power and Strife: A Chronicle of Court Intrigue in the Arcanus Kingdom*
*An Appreciation of Giantesses*
Confronted by this bizarre, dizzying assortment of literature, Cassius was rendered dumbfounded. He finally understood why the ogre before him spoke with such an eccentric bardic cadence, and he was struck by the profound realization that the aristocratic wizard apprentice had fully deserved his fate.
Even if he hadn't ended up in an ogre's belly, he probably would have met his end over some bizarre kink...
"Uh... not bad. Keep collecting them." Cassius remained somewhat at a loss for words, managing only a perfunctory compliment.
Langpu rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. For the first time, the red dragon realized that the concept of "coyness" could actually manifest on the face of a three-meter-tall, one-ton ogre.
"Langpu, I need you to construct a camp and a fortress in Giant Valley."
"This place will serve as the stronghold for my vassals. In the future, people will no longer call it Giant Valley. It will be known as..."
Cassius pondered for a moment before settling on the name his past life's incarnation had used.
"The Cinder Nest."
"Yes, Master!"
Langpu's face flushed with excitement as grandiose visions of world conquest resurfaced in his mind. Unfortunately, the boisterous ogres clamoring beside him lacked the refined sensibilities reserved for intellectuals and mercilessly shattered his reverie.
"Boss, when do we eat?"
"Yeah, my belly's so flat from hunger that I can see my toes now! I could never see them before!" complained an ogre called Changya, his yellowed tusks quivering up and down in discontent.
"Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Get to work!" Langpu brandished his wooden club, his expression turning vicious.
***
Yet aside from the more preposterous titles, Langpu's—or rather, the young noble's—book collection truly contained valuable knowledge.
Works such as *Fireball for Dummies* and *The Spell Apprentice's Encyclopedia* offered clear, accessible explanations of magical applications. Cassius gained a great deal from them, elevating his understanding of the Weave to new heights.
Moreover, this so-called "New Era" ogre tribe, boasting over thirty ogres along with an ogre mage who could cast Fireball, was a force of considerable might within a radius of hundreds of miles.
Having successively subjugated the chimera of Giant's Mouth Cave and the ogre tribe of Gluttony Valley, the red dragon had at last established a following, truly making a name for himself.
The Cinder Nest.
Barely two days later, a nearby hobgoblin arrived at Giant Valley with over four hundred goblins in tow, seeking fealty.
The goblins had been chattering noisily along the way, but the moment they laid eyes on the red dragon's colossal frame, every last one fell silent. Several were so terrified that they wet themselves and fainted on the spot.
Leading them was not a goblin, but a tall, imposing hobgoblin warlord.
Hobgoblins were close kin to goblins, but they belonged to a different race and possessed far greater strength and intellect.
Flanking the hobgoblin were several hulking, heavily muscled humanoids—bugbears, serving as the commander's personal guard.
The hobgoblin warlord before him possessed reddish-brown skin and dark gray hair. Beneath a prominent brow sat yellow eyes, and his wide mouth bared long, pointed yellow teeth. He was clearly male, evident from his large red nose, which symbolized hobgoblin virility and power.
He currently knelt on one knee before the red dragon, his expression thoroughly submissive.
Cassius gazed down upon him from on high.
[Based on your strength, you have obtained the following information:]
Hobgoblin Captain
Medium humanoid (goblinoid), lawful evil
Race: Hobgoblin
AC: 17 (half plate)
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 11
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
Skills: Leadership +6, Hunting +4, Military +4, Construction +4
Languages: Common, Goblin
Traits: Martial Advantage, Military Legion
Actions: Multiattack, Greatsword, Leadership
Challenge Rating: 4 (1,100 XP)
Evaluation: "War horns blow, catapults throw boulders, and hobgoblins march into battle, the earth trembling beneath the thunder of hundreds of combat boots. Settlements and inhabitants on the fringes of civilization must constantly contend with these humanoid invaders and their insatiable lust for conquest."
Cassius stared at the lead hobgoblin and spoke slowly. "Why do you seek to become my vassal?"
The hobgoblin kept his head bowed, his expression unwavering. "Goblins always yield to the strong."
He paused briefly before continuing, "What is more, you are a mighty red dragon whose thirst for conquest knows no bounds. Under your command, I can put my talents to good use."
Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly. "And what makes you think I should trust you—a puny goblin?"
The hobgoblin did not argue over the racial distinction, answering firmly, one word at a time:
"I shall prove my loyalty with blood and fire."
Cassius considered this for a moment and decided to accept them. His territory was still in its nascent stages, and a horde of goblins would provide indispensable cheap labor—not to mention this capable hobgoblin among them.
Hobgoblins possessed an extreme drive for conquest; their overwhelming lust for war often prevented them from surviving to a natural death. Having him lead the troops would be infinitely better than relying on an ogre's half-baked grasp of aristocratic military drills.
"Well said, but your future actions will speak for themselves."
"You have permission to enter my territory. Seek out my vassal; he will instruct you on what to do."
"By your command."
Hearing that they had been accepted into the mighty red dragon's service, the goblins erupted into fervent cheers.
Goblins were inherently feeble creatures, barely reaching a meter in height. A lone goblin was no match even for an ordinary human farmer. Only by banding together in packs and latching onto the strong could they scrape by in the wilderness. Now that they had latched onto the thickest thigh imaginable—a red dragon—it was little wonder they were so thrilled.
Chapter 13