One month later, Stravburg.
Charlotte stepped forward to report, "Lord Schroeder, my people have memorized the seventeenth section of the circle. The fundamental framework of Vagnerd's Dragon-Binding Circle is complete."
"Good, very good."
Schroeder wore a look of poorly concealed delight, already lost in visions of the mission's success.
Soon. Soon, I will slay that red dragon, become a hero of the Northlands, and even claim the Principality of Lakeman for myself...
Schroeder had no idea where the gold dragon had managed to gather so many spellcasters. While their overall casting ability was modest, their speed of learning and comprehension far exceeded ordinary people.
He did not know that players could spend experience points to learn spells—a cost that caused Charlotte no small amount of heartache—and merely assumed this was an extraordinary innate talent of the gold dragon's vassals.
A fawning smile immediately spread across Charlotte's face. "Lord Schroeder, about those spell scrolls and gold coins you promised..."
Schroeder's face instantly darkened, but since these mages were still of vital importance to the plan, he had no choice but to wave his hand with evident impatience. "Of course. Go find Temai and collect them yourself."
Charlotte was overjoyed. "Thank you very much, Lord Schroeder!"
Turning around, he called out, "Feitian Nüwu, go to Lord Temai and collect two hundred gold coins and a 3rd-circle spell scroll."
"You got it, Boss!"
Feitian Nüwu skipped happily toward the secret chamber's storeroom to claim their payout from the man in charge.
Charlotte had initially thought this traitor gig would require endless groveling and bootlicking. Who would have guessed that once they actually arrived, they would be able to fleece spell scrolls and gold coins right out of the Northern Kingdom?
At this point, they didn't even want to leave. They were practically considering making this Avengers' Chamber the new headquarters of Magic Coin.
Suddenly, a portal of fire flared open.
A noble youth with dark hair and golden eyes stepped through—Cassius's avatar.
"Lord Grey Hawk, the agreed-upon date has arrived. Are you ready?"
Seeing him, Schroeder hurried over to greet him respectfully. "Your subordinates learn remarkably fast, and I believe our preparations are quite thorough. However, Lord Embers, please wait a moment. I have also assembled a group of righteous spellcasters from across the kingdom to join our operation."
"Rest assured, they are absolutely loyal."
"They will be the ones controlling the circle's central core."
Schroeder crushed a Message crystal in his hand.
Ripples pulsed through space, and twelve grey-robed wizards materialized in the secret chamber one after another.
Cassius swept his gaze over them and discovered that four of them were level 7 wizards—who counted as high-tier spellcasters in a magical wasteland like Anzeta. It seemed Schroeder still hadn't completely trusted this "gold dragon" and had kept his guard up, leaving the most critical part of Vagnerd's Dragon-Binding Circle to his own men.
Yet this suited Cassius's intentions perfectly.
Gathering in one place so I can wipe you all out in a single stroke saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one. Talk about an unexpected boon, Cassius thought to himself, a glint of amusement flashing in his golden pupils.
Maintaining an impassive expression, Cassius gave a slight nod. "Court mages of the Northland realms? Now this looks somewhat respectable."
"Greetings, Lord Embers."
The twelve grey-robed wizards bowed respectfully to Cassius. Creatures like gold dragons commanded noble status anywhere in Elezerg; even in southern Fadlan, the Emperor would treat one as an honored guest, let alone in a backwater like Anzeta.
The twenty players from the Magic Coin guild gathered around as well.
Over forty spellcasters were now packed into this cramped chamber. Across all of Anzeta, this was undeniably a formidable force; even in the Principality of Lakeman's golden age, it had never commanded so many court spellcasters in its service.
They had assembled here with a single goal: to slay a dragon.
Of course, the majority of them were undercover agents for the Kingdom of Cinders—and Cassius himself had personally arrived, making this a true instance of moles outnumbering the legitimate members.
Cassius looked around and delivered an impassioned address: "Everyone, the situation is dire, and the nations of the Northlands hang by a thread. I will keep this brief."
"Whether we can slay that red dragon hinges entirely on this single endeavor!"
"I believe the evil dragon's reign is about to end, and justice and order will prevail across the Northlands!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap...
The spellcasters rose to their feet and applauded vigorously, as though their triumph were already assured.
Watching Cassius's utterly convincing expression, Charlotte clapped along while marveling in the guild chat: Impressive. This faction leader acts circles around us players...
Man, this mage is getting played so hard.
Haha, everyone here except Schroeder is an undercover agent.
Once Cassius finished his brief speech, Schroeder approached, asking with a touch of unease, "Lord Embers, can you truly provide a completely safe location near Northwind Keep for us to cast the ritual?"
Doubts lingered in his mind.
Northwind Keep was now the heart of the Kingdom of Cinders, heavily fortified and guarded. A single slip could lead to total annihilation.
Cassius glanced at him, a trace of disdain in his golden eyes. "What, mortal? Are you questioning the capabilities of a dragon?"
An invisible aura of draconic majesty emanated from him.
Schroeder became all the more convinced that this was an authentic gold dragon; such arrogance, etched into the very marrow of his bones, could not be faked.
Cold sweat broke out unbidden on Schroeder's forehead, and he hastily replied, "No, Lord Embers, that wasn't my meaning at all. I merely wished to confirm. If you can secure a safe haven near Northwind Keep, nothing could be better."
With that, he added, "To tell you the truth, I have also reached out to the Principality of Bosque and the Principality of Norton. The dukes have specially dispatched the Lionheart Knights and the Two-Headed Eagle Warriors to wait near Northwind Keep. Once that dragon is slain, they will immediately move in to rendezvous with us and ensure our safe withdrawal."
"Once the evil dragon is dead, his remaining forces will pose no threat. The surrounding principalities will deploy their most elite military might to wipe out the remnants of his vassals."
"When that time comes, peace and stability will once again return to the Northlands."
Cassius's eyes instantly lit up. "Excellent. You have done very well."
"Have no fear. With all our forces united, we will surely slay that evil dragon!" Schroeder declared.
Schroeder assumed Cassius was thrilled by the arrival of powerful reinforcements, unaware that Cassius was merely delighted at the chance to round up and wipe out even more of the enemy's elite forces in one fell swoop.
Schroeder could never have imagined that the "gold dragon" standing before him was the very target of his entire scheme—his greatest nemesis, the dread red dragon known as the King of Cinders, the Infernal Calamity.
"Begin your 'dragon-slaying' operation at once. I can... hardly wait."
Chapter 151