As the applause gradually subsided, people finally began considering the practical matter of facing their foe.
Prompted subtly by the Duke of House Carter, Count Narr rose from his seat and bowed politely.
"However... Your Grace, how exactly are we supposed to deal with that red dragon?"
"It is said he has grown even more terrifying than before—far beyond what mortals can contend with. Even beings as formidable as the frost giants of the Everfrost Tribe were obliterated by that red dragon's cataclysmic might, to say nothing of ordinary humans like us."
"Indeed."
"Even the armies of Bosque wouldn't be able to handle him."
"Back then, that red dragon destroyed the coalition army single-handedly."
"Alas, he is the Lord of Cinders, after all."
"We want to do our part against evil, but we fear the troops we worked so hard to train will merely become cannon fodder."
Numerous nobles voiced their agreement, and a flurry of whispered discussions broke out across the room.
Count Narr was not merely asking for a strategy; he was testing the Principality of Bosque's hidden cards, wanting to see what gave them the confidence to take such an absolute stance.
Grand Duke Leo showed not the slightest hint of panic. Stroking his grizzled beard, he puffed out his chest and gave a hearty, spirited laugh.
"Haha, Count Narr, an excellent question.
"Formidable as that red dragon may be, against evil on such a scale and of such magnitude, our allies are by no means limited to mere mortals—"
Grand Duke Leo cast a meaningful glance to his side, and Count Trischka immediately caught the cue, promptly rising to his feet.
"Through the mediation of the Harpers, we have reached out to many extraordinary beings. They are more than willing to lend us their aid and join us in upholding justice and order across the Northlands."
He cleared his throat deliberately and continued with solemn gravity:
"Allow me the great honor of introducing to you all an elder from the southern Melvold Clan, the enigmatic entity revered as the 'Silver Wings'—the noble and mighty ancient silver dragon, Lord Oszedro."
Trischka turned and bowed slightly toward an empty patch of air.
Under countless watchful eyes, space itself began to warp there.
Moments later, an exquisitely ornate silver gateway manifested out of thin air within the hall, slowly parting as glowing magical runes traced along its frame.
"It seems..."
"I am not too late after all."
An unfamiliar voice sounded.
An elderly man holding a staff stepped forth from the gateway.
He appeared to be seventy or eighty years old, his hair and beard a pure, spotless white. His deep eyes resembled the purest spheres of liquid silver, glowing softly with the light of wisdom.
He wore robes adorned with celestial stars, and the staff in his hand was forged of mithral, set with a bizarre magical gemstone that seemed to contain the vastness of the Astral Plane.
Silver dragons frequently adopted humanoid forms—usually appearing as kindly old men or striking young elves—and spent most of their time in those guises to interact more easily with humanoids. This ancient silver dragon, Oszedro, was evidently the former.
Upon the old man's appearance, an uproar instantly swept through the assembled nobility, and they rose to their feet to welcome him.
"By the gods! Grand Duke Leo has actually brought in a silver dragon!"
"And an ancient among silver dragons at that!"
"Wonderful!"
"We finally have hope of defeating that red dragon!"
Seeing the elder standing calmly in place, Grand Duke Leo hurriedly rose, offered a slight bow, and personally stepped forward to greet him.
"Lord Oszedro, you couldn't have arrived at a more perfect time.
"Please, come take a seat."
Grand Duke Leo guided the ancient silver dragon directly to the seat of honor while remaining standing at his side. Oszedro did not decline, taking the seat without hesitation.
Silver dragons were among the friendliest and most approachable toward humans of all dragons, even within the ranks of metallic dragons.
Yet no matter how amiable Oszedro appeared, Grand Duke Leo was not foolish enough to believe they stood on equal footing. After all, this was a true dragon whose pride was woven into his very blood and etched into his bones.
Oszedro spoke slowly.
"I am already aware of your situation.
"Hmph, a foul scion of Tiamat. I can smell that sulfurous stench even here."
As he spoke, an illusory magical projection materialized before the crowd. It was the precious intelligence on Cassius that Trischka had submitted to him, effortlessly recreated by this magically accomplished silver dragon.
*Roar—!*
The red dragon beat his wings amid a sea of flames as countless people shrieked, burned to ash.
Gazing upon this terrifying sight, every noble present could not help but swallow hard.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Oszedro wiped the magical projection away. "Spellcasting ability at least on par with an archmage, and a physique far surpassing his age category. That red dragon is indeed a troublesome foe—one that may even evolve into a multiversal catastrophe in the future."
He paused, an unmistakable pride gleaming in his eyes.
"Pity for him, he has crossed paths with me.
"You need only handle his irritating retainers. I shall face that red dragon directly.
"Out of reverence for Lord Io, I might simply banish or imprison this wayward creature. But if he crosses my bottom line... I will show no mercy."
The elder narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint gleam passing through his mercury-like pupils.
*Could Olivia be in your hands?*
*If anything has happened to her... I will never forgive you, red dragon.*
He said nothing more aloud, keeping the thought strictly to himself.
Grand Duke Leo hastily led the applause, praising profusely, "Lord Oszedro, your righteous cause fills me with admiration! You shall receive the highest respect of the entire Northlands—and indeed, all of Anzeta!"
"Indeed, Lord Oszedro!"
"We shall forever remember your benevolence!"
"Before you, that red dragon won't stand a chance!"
Listening to the flattering chorus, Oszedro merely offered an indifferent nod.
Over his millennia-long life, he had heard far too many such extravagant praises, to the point of numbness.
Having witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties, he was no longer that eager, starry-eyed young silver dragon who roamed about dispensing justice. Now, he walked the world as an upholder of cosmic order, an observer of balance across the Material Plane, and a revered elder of the silver dragon clan.
And at present, he needed to maintain order in the Northlands and locate the promising junior upon whom he had pinned great hopes.
Yet the arrival of the ancient silver dragon was not the conclusion of the assembly. Several more teleportation gates flared to life. Under the astonishment of the nobles, a divine-blooded count from the Fadlan Empire, an aasimar from Mount Celestia, and a druid elder from the mysterious groves appeared in the hall one after another. Over a hundred transcendent beings belonging to the forces of good gathered together, united against a common enemy.
Even so, Grand Duke Leo did not summon the legendary adventurers of the 'Scarlet Stitchblades.' They would serve as the trump card in his hand, waiting to deliver the fatal blow to the red dragon.
Sensing the fervor reaching its peak, Grand Duke Leo raised his silver goblet high and shouted,
"For the order of the Northlands!"
"For fairness and justice!"
And so, amid the clinking of goblets and thunderous applause, an alliance spanning the entire Feanso Continent—forged from diverse races and factions—was officially established, known to history as the 'Anti-Red Dragon Alliance.'
***
*"That was the moment the Northlands shone brightest with hope. The hero Leo Bosque brimmed with heroic ambition, and the righteous from across the realm stood firm in their resolve, fully confident that they could vanquish the red dragon. Yet they failed to realize—this was merely the beginning of the nightmare."*
—*Secret History of Anzeta: The Second Lionheart Alliance*, Duke Luton
Chapter 298