Sige Town.
Inside the baron's manor.
Todd Lackman sat with his fingers laced together, looking deeply anxious.
His attendant waited on him patiently at his side—a newly hired butler named Charlotte, whose words always pleased the baron.
Todd couldn't help asking his attendant, "What should I do? Father has already sent word. The coalition is very likely to choose Sige Town as their encampment. If they discover I've colluded with the Cinder Nest, then..."
At the thought of his father's crimson eyes, Todd trembled uncontrollably.
The attendant simply said, "You must make a choice, My Lord. You can choose to be the evil dragon's loyal servant, or you can become... the hero of your house."
"What should I do?" Todd asked, clinging to his words like a drowning man to a straw.
The attendant replied, "It's simple. The first step is to eliminate Hart and report the situation here to your house."
Gritting his teeth, Todd hurried to agree. "Right, right! We must get rid of that blight, that traitor Hart! He's the one who drew that red dragon here in the first place. If not for him, how would I have ended up in this state? That damned lackey!"
Perhaps having caught wind of the coming war, Hart's surveillance of the baron had become pervasive lately. He had grown increasingly arrogant, treating Baron Todd with complete disregard.
This displeased the baron immensely, fueling an ever-deepening hatred toward Hart. How dared a former slaver, a lowly human who once groveled at his feet, climb over his head?
The attendant offered a suggestion at the opportune moment. "My Lord Baron, perhaps what you need is a banquet."
"Oh?"
"Hart is riding high right now and treats you with utter contempt. He is convinced that your fear of the Cinder Nest will keep you from moving against him. Therefore, you can invite him to a dinner and seize the chance to pull him out by the roots."
Baron Todd pondered for a moment, slowly unlacing his fingers.
"Very well. That is what we shall do."
"I will let him know who the true master here is..."
A bloody glow flickered deep within the baron's eyes.
...
Candlelight flickered in the dim hall.
The long table was laden with a sumptuous spread of food and drink, flanked by several guarding soldiers.
Hart and the baron sat on opposite ends of the long table, while the attendant named Charlotte stood waiting nearby.
Hart broke the silence first, laughing heartily. "My Lord Baron, did you call me here just to treat me to a sumptuous dinner? It seems even someone as proud as you has learned how to flatter others."
A fake smile appeared on Baron Todd's pale face. "You speak the truth, Lord... Hart."
He slowly rose, straightened his collar, and paced behind Hart.
The attendant followed closely behind him, matching his every step.
Hart seemed utterly oblivious to the danger, leaning back in his chair with ease. He asked smugly, "What's this, my dear Baron? Are you here to wait on me while I eat?"
Baron Todd reached the back of Hart's chair, a flash of crimson surfacing deep in his eyes.
"Yes, to dine, of course—"
His tone turned sinister.
In an instant, Baron Todd lunged forward, his sharp fangs sinking toward Hart's neck.
Only draining this ungrateful human dry of blood could assuage his hatred; he wanted Hart to watch as his own life drained away.
*Crack.*
There was no familiar sensation of soft flesh yielding.
Hart hadn't even flinched. The neck that should have been soft and vulnerable was coated with hard, crimson scales, snapping Todd's fangs clean off on impact.
His face twisting hideously, Baron Todd clutched his mouth and gasped, "How is this possible—"
Having anticipated this all along, Hart let out a wild laugh. "How could a vermin lurking in the shadows like you ever fathom Master's magnificent power?
"Behold—this is the noble bloodline of a true dragon!"
Only then did Hart slowly rise and turn around, his bulging muscles bursting through his clothes.
It wasn't just his neck. Both sides of his face were covered in scales, previously concealed beneath his hair. His eyes had turned into golden vertical slits, and sharp talons had sprouted from his hands.
Baron Todd yelled, "Quick! Guards! Kill this monster for me!"
The guarding soldiers immediately raised their spears. But instead of attacking Hart as Todd had expected, they leveled their spearheads straight at Baron Todd.
A heavy shadow fell across Baron Todd's face, followed by uncontrollable fury. "Damn it! You've betrayed me!
"These lowly humans truly cannot be trusted!"
He was so enraged that he lost all reason, casting a spell directly at Hart.
"Melf's Acid Arrow!"
An arrow of acid flew toward Hart, only to be deflected by an invisible shield.
Baron Todd attempted to cast a teleportation spell to flee, only to find the room surrounded by sussur flowers—a special material that suppressed magic. He couldn't bypass the surrounding space at all.
His fury flared even hotter as thoughts raced through his mind. *There's another spellcaster? This is a complete ambush, only I'm the prey!*
*Wait, no—Charlotte!*
*You're the biggest traitor of all!*
Baron Todd whipped his head around in fury, only to find the usually humble attendant looking at him with utter disdain.
*Sleep.*
An eerie magical radiance flared in Charlotte's hand.
Drowsiness immediately washed over Baron Todd. He collapsed to the ground, sinking into a magical slumber.
Hart kicked the slumbering vampire spawn on the floor and said with satisfaction, "Well done, Charlotte. This bloodsucking rat skulking in the dark doesn't amount to much in a fight, but he has too many escape tricks.
"It would've been trouble if he managed to flee back to Northwind Keep."
He gave a raspy chuckle. "Pity this Lord Baron. He thought he was laying a trap for me, never suspecting that he was the prey all along."
Charlotte spoke up from the side, "Lord Hart, what about the reward you promised...?"
Hart waved a hand dismissively with grand generosity. "Don't worry. Five hundred gold coins, not a copper less. On top of that, the magic scrolls in the baron's manor and various official posts in Sige Town will all be reserved for you. Just make sure you do your jobs with all your heart."
Just as Hart was about to finish off the vampire with a silver blade, Charlotte quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Don't kill him. Master Langpu specifically instructed that he wants to study this vampire spawn thoroughly."
Hearing Langpu's name, Hart shuddered and clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. In that case, I'm afraid this Lord Baron will soon be begging for death."
With the business settled, the guards revealed their true identities.
—They were all members of the Magic Coin guild!
There was Vice Guild Master Mingyue, along with guild members Tianhuo, Weiai Faye, Kabalieba, and more—all of them wizard players who would achieve immense renown in the future.
Even the maid serving at the table was none other than Feitian Nüwu in disguise.
These players had made full use of the advanced bootlicking techniques they'd learned in the modern era. Delivering a full package of honeyed words and flattering service, they had swiftly become the baron's trusted confidants, infiltrating his manor with ease.
Poor Baron Todd believed he had acquired loyal confidants free from Cinder Nest's control, never realizing they were all players gunning for his head.
With hands on his hips, Charlotte threw his head back and laughed maniacally. "Haha! Completing this chain of quests has totally maxed out our guild's treasury! From now on, Sige Town is Magic Coin's turf!"
Chapter 94