Cassius lay lazily in his cavern, watching the players toil away in the City of Baator through Langpu's magic mirror.
"Keep up the hard work, my dear leeks."
In just a month's time, the once crude and barren City of Baator had taken on an entirely new look. The city walls had grown far taller and thicker, distinctive buildings rose from the ground one after another, and the streets bustled with newfound vitality as players came and went.
The fact that Mantou, Singo, Xiaye Qiuyu, and Tiansheng Zhankuang had obtained that mysterious invitation was no accident; it had been Cassius's deliberate arrangement.
These individuals carried substantial influence and traffic in gaming circles. Once they uncovered the true value of Faction Contribution, the entire player base would take notice.
Take the present, for example. Even though Singo had not yet published his guide, some of his loyal followers had deduced through analysis that Faction Contribution held immense utility. They were already trying to stockpile it, and it wouldn't be long before the major guilds began competing for contribution quests as well.
When that time came, Cassius's ploy to reap massive rewards without spending a single copper would be a complete success.
After that, he intended to administer an even stronger dose of incentive—a faction rank system. Based on their Faction Contribution, players would be able to attain specific titles and positions within the city, such as inspectors, tax collectors, judges, or investigators. Once human cities were conquered in the future, appointing them as town mayors or city magistrates wouldn't be out of the question either.
As for their salaries, they would naturally be paid primarily in Faction Contribution, with actual coin serving merely as a minor supplement.
Granting players the thrill of holding authority while allowing Cassius to enjoy the satisfaction of having people work for him for free was the definition of a win-win policy.
He was confident the players would understand his intentions and be deeply grateful.
As he was thoroughly enjoying the view, the hobgoblin Duoluo arrived to deliver a report.
Over the past several years, this dragonblooded hobgoblin had grown increasingly seasoned. He now commanded over ten thousand goblinoids and possessed an intimate grasp of every military affair within the Cinder Nest.
"Master, the wolf riders recently discovered traces of the Eagle Guard near the border of Storm Heights."
Cassius narrowed his golden eyes slightly. "Oh? Haven't they refrained from provoking me for quite some time?"
Duoluo continued, "While you were asleep, we took in over a dozen yuan-ti purebloods and dispatched them to Northwind Keep to gather intelligence."
"A fine decision, though a serpent's fangs are venomous. Do not place absolute trust in them; it is best to treat them as disposable tools," Cassius said with deep meaning.
Yuan-ti were constantly scheming to supplant and dominate other races before crowning themselves as gods.
Purebloods occupied the lowest tier of yuan-ti society. While their outward appearance closely resembled humans, they could never pass rigorous inspection due to innate serpent traits—such as scaly patches of skin, slitted eyes, sharp fangs, or forked tongues. Donning cloaks and hoods, they disguised themselves as humans and infiltrated civilized lands to gather intelligence, kidnap captives for interrogation and sacrifice, or broker deals with others to advance their endless schemes.
"We obey your guidance, Master. That is precisely how we handle them," Duoluo replied before continuing. "Recently, these purebloods received word that House Lackman intends to cooperate with House Bosque, the 'Lion of the North' from the south, as well as House Nott, the 'Two-Headed Eagle' from the northwest. They plan to assemble a coalition army, and the target of their three-pronged encirclement is almost certainly us—the Cinder Nest."
"Forgive my bluntness, my great master, but the Cinder Nest's expansion in recent years has put the northern realms on high alert. They covet our gold and fear your minions, yet we have not undergone a true trial to prove ourselves in blood and fire."
Cassius slowly rose to his feet, his golden eyes looking down at Duoluo from above. "So you mean... we need a war?"
Duoluo dropped to one knee, lowering his head respectfully. "I believe so, Master. War, and only war, can force these pathetic, short-sighted humans to realize your true might."
"Langpu, what do you think?"
Cassius turned his gaze to the magic mirrors. These reflective surfaces were connected to Langpu's wizard tower and operated strictly under the red dragon's will, opening only when summoned.
Langpu's grotesque, hideous face appeared in the mirror. He had donned his gold-rimmed spectacles once more and held several magic scrolls in his hands.
"Master, I also believe the Cinder Nest requires a war. According to my tallies, the number of goblins in the nest has reached thirteen thousand four hundred and fifty-seven, while the kobolds count ten thousand three hundred and forty-one. Without the attrition of sustained, large-scale warfare, our food supplies will no longer be enough to fill their bellies."
Langpu deliberately pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, remarking "casually," "And with Commander Duoluo's... er, remarkably crude, if not entirely primitive, breeding methods, we can barely cover a fraction of the demand."
Faced with Langpu's thinly veiled mockery, Duoluo's naturally crimson face flushed an even deeper shade of red. Yet with the red dragon present before them, he dared not lose his temper.
Cassius paid no mind to their petty rivalry and merely asked, "How long will it take for their so-called 'coalition' to finish assembling?"
Duoluo hurried to answer, "The dukes of the northern realms do not possess absolute authority over their vassal lords. These humans shirk responsibilities, bicker endlessly, and fight among themselves for power and profit. Their efficiency is dreadful. To muster a coalition of tens of thousands, it will take at least three months—and that is a conservative estimate."
"Very well. Three months is more than enough."
A dangerous glint flickered within Cassius's golden pupils.
"Master, are we going to war?"
Duoluo's expression brimmed with fierce excitement. Hobgoblins were creatures born with a passion for warfare, which was why most of them never lived to die of old age. After being blessed with the red dragon's bloodline, his innate brutality and thirst for blood and fire had grown even more pronounced.
"Do not be hasty, Duoluo. Have those yuan-ti keep constant watch over the northern coalition's movements, and ensure the troops under your command are thoroughly prepared for war. Weapons, drills, tactics—you understand these matters far better than I do. After all... you have looked forward to this for a very long time, haven't you?"
"Yes, Master!"
Duoluo dropped to one knee once more, his excitement so great that puffs of white vapor snorted from his large red nose. He could already picture the blood of his enemies coating his sharp claws.
"Langpu, begin logistical preparations. Put the spells you've developed over the years to good use."
"Yes, Master."
"Since they want a war, we will give them one," Cassius declared calmly. "Only, when it ends... will not be for them to decide."
Receiving their orders, the two minions returned to their respective duties.
Hobgoblin soldiers began polishing long-idle weapons and armor, drilling in preparation for battle and debating tactical formations.
The ogres cheered wildly at the prospect of the coming conflict. Upon learning that enemy corpses could serve as military rations, their morale soared even higher, and they danced around their bonfires in celebration.
The goblins hauled provisions deep into the Dragon Valley, stockpiling reserves to sustain the impending war effort.
The kobolds set to work fashioning simple weapons like slings and bows.
The red dragon stood atop the highest ridge of the valley, looking down upon his bustling minions. In his golden pupils, it was as if raging flames were burning.
"It is time to set this massive war machine... in motion."
Three months remained until the war.
Chapter 74