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Late at night, at the Baron's Mansion.
"Wham!"
A pair of pale hands slammed heavily on the tabletop.
"Useless! You're all useless!"
The man cursed loudly, spittle flying.
His face was harsh, shadowed with malice, and his gaunt frame was wrapped in formal attire.
On his chest was pinned a delicate, small insignia, carved with the emblem of an eagle and swords. Anyone knowledgeable would recognize it as the Northwind Eagle—the crest of the Rackman Family.
His name was Todd Rackman, one of the old Duke's overlooked sons, perhaps the twelfth son, assigned barony over a remote and insignificant place.
The man standing in front of the table was Hart, a robust middle-aged man who had once been a slave trader but transformed himself into the baron's steward.
"Sir, I also had no choice..."
"So you tell me all the kobolds escaped? And the gold mine was abandoned?"
"No no no, listen to my explanation..."
"I don't want explanations, I want gold! Gleaming gold! Without gold, I can't sustain the Baron's Mansion or pay the troops, much less compete with my dear brothers for power back home, stuck eating dirt in a place even goblins avoid!"
As Todd spoke, he grew more furious. In his rage, he kicked the man in front of him, completely disregarding the so-called noble etiquette.
Hart crawled up from the ground, not a trace of complaint about being hit visible on his face. He merely said, "Sir, it really was sudden. Half of the mercenaries we brought along simply vanished."
"According to those mercenaries guarding the kobolds deep in the mine, their comrades disappeared without even raising a call for help."
"There really is a monster in that mine!"
"And we have no clue about it, don't know its habits, or why it suddenly attacked. At the time, to avoid more losses for you, sir, I had no choice but to retreat with the men."
Todd gave him a scornful glance and sneered, "That only shows you and your hired mercenaries are too pathetic! If you had been stronger, you wouldn't have fled before even catching a glimpse of the enemy."
Hart wiped the cold sweat off his brow and smiled obsequiously, "Indeed, how could us humble commoners compare to you? You are the noble blood of the Northwind Eagle, a powerful spellcaster."
Todd adjusted his lapels and said slowly, "Well, that's better said, there's some merit in it."
The baron reclined in the leather chair behind the desk, crossing his arms: Since it's come to this, do you have any methods to remedy it?"
"I need you to give me a satisfactory explanation."
Seeing Todd calm down, Hart breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "Sir, we could request a few Eagle Guards from the duke to protect the mine's safety, what do you think—"
"Eagle Guards?" Todd interrupted coldly.
"How could you suggest that?"
"Don't you know—they're all Father's spies? Let them into the mine, and the gold inside will have nothing to do with us!"
"It will just be transported to Northwind Castle!"
Hart hastened to add in a fluster, "My apologies, sir, it was merely a trivial suggestion. With your wisdom, there's naturally a better solution, but..."
"Enough. If I don't see gold by next month, I will personally take people there."
Todd interrupted his justification again, staring at Hart with a gaze that sent chills down the spine.
"Yes... Yes, sir."
"My patience is very limited. There's no next time, really no next time, Hart."
Todd's fingers drummed rhythmically on the tabletop.
"Understood, sir," Hart responded quickly, bowing his head, not daring to meet the baron's eyes.
"Look up, Hart."
"Do you really understand?"
Under command, Hart reluctantly looked up, meeting the baron's eyes.
Those eyes were cold, with a hint of scarlet deep in the pupils, not gazing at a subordinate, but more like looking at—a piece of meat on a plate.
"Sir, I truly understand." Hart's voice trembled.
"Make preparations and gather your useless mercenaries."
"Yes, yes."
"Sir, I will take my leave now."
Upon receiving the command from the baron, he accepted without hesitation and then retreated as if fleeing for his life.
"Huff, huff..."
Hart closed the door behind him and breathed heavily, knowing that he still had value to this baron. Otherwise, he wouldn't leave so easily next time.
Inside the room, Baron Todd Hackman adjusted his lapels once again in front of the dressing mirror. He licked his lips unconsciously, revealing unusually sharp teeth.
This too was a mark of the Rackman Family.
...
"Is this the place?"
The Red Dragon stood atop a rather tall hill, staring at the seemingly bottomless mine in the distance, with a kobold clutched in his claw.
"Master, y-yes, this is the place."
Jin Ya instinctively rubbed his head, barely recovering from the dizzying speed of the flight.
"Then lead me in."
"Oh great master, I am but a humble kobold, th-this..." Jin Ya's scaled forehead broke out in cold sweat again.
The mine was a nightmare for these kobolds. Most of his kin were devoured by that monster. Having escaped once, he never wanted to go back.
Even with the backing of the Red Dragon, he still felt uneasy.
After all, giant dragons wouldn't care about the life or death of a mere kobold.
"What? Are you unwilling?" Cassius asked.
"Of course, I am willing, absolutely."
The kobold quickly answered upon sensing the Red Dragon's displeased tone.
"Serving you is the greatest honor of my life, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that I... I need some time to recall the mine routes." The kobold's cold sweat dripped off his chin.
"Clip-clop, clip-clop..."
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar, interrupting their conversation and giving the kobold a breath of relief.
Down the distant road, a number of fine horses sped towards them, ridden by humans dressed in leather armor, with crossbows at their waists.
The Red Dragon lowered himself slowly, trying to conceal his body, and softly used a text transmission spell on the kobold: "Who are they, do you recognize them?"
The kobold peeked out cautiously, noting the decorations of those human knights and clearly saw the faces of a few before speaking.
"Master, it's those slave traders who previously enslaved us. Their leader... I remember is called Hart."
"Human slave traders? Are they also here to seize the gold mine?"
"Master, these seem to be scouts. Originally, there were over twenty of them, some are professionals. The main force should be waiting behind." The kobold added.
"How convenient, we can use these people to scout the way." Cassius squinted.
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