Chapter 75: The Ambition of the Red Dragon

  Cassius zily y in the cave, the hardw pyers in Baator City through Langpu's magic mirror.

  "Keep up the good work, my dear leeks."

  In just one month's time, the oremely simple Baator City had dispyed a brand-neearahe city walls had beuch taller and thicker, and buildings with uyles had sprung up. The city had also gained a bit more vitality due to the ings and goings of pyers.

  The fact that I Go Eat Mantou, Singo, Summer Night Autumn Rain, and Born Battle Maniac obtaihat mysterious invitation was actually no ce but his deliberate arra.

  These people came with their own following in the gaming circle. Ohey discovered the use of fa tribution, the entire pyer unity would pay attention to it.

  For example, now, although Singo hadn't published strategy informatio, his loyal followers had begun to suspect the importance of fa tribution through analysis and had started to try to accumute it. It was believed that soon those big guilds would also start to pete for tributios.

  By then, Cassius's task of reaping bes without sowing would have been a great success.

  And after that, he would administer arong dose—the fa position system, which, based on fa tribution, would allow pyers to obtaiain positions iy, such as Ior, Tax Officer, Judge, Iigator, and even iure, when they capture human cities, it wouldn't be impossible to make them a town mayor or even a city mayor.

  As for sary, of course, it would mainly be issued in fa tribution, supplemented by money.

  Letting pyers experiehe pleasure of power while allowing Cassius to enjoy the pleasure of having people work for him for free, this was a win-win policy.

  It was believed that pyers would uand his as and be grateful.

  He was watg with great i when the Hobgoblin Dolo came to report.

  After several years, this Draic Bloodline Hobgoblin had beore seasoned, anding tens of thousands of goblinoid creatures and familiar with various military affairs within the Ember .

  "Master, the Wolf Riders have retly discovered traces of the Eagle Guards on the border of the Storm Highnds."

  Cassius's golden eyes narrowed slightly: "Oh? Haven't they not bothered me for a long time?"

  Dolo tinued: "During your slumber, we took in a dozen Pureblood Yuan-ti ahem to Northwind Fortress to gather intelligence."

  "A very good decision, but the teeth of snakes are poisonous."

  "Do not fully trust them; it's best to treat them as tools that be discarded at any time," Cassius said meaningfully.

  Yuan-ti are allotting to repd domiher races and then procim themselves as gods.

  And Pureblood Yuan-ti are the lowest existen Yuan-ti society. Their appearance is very simir to humans but ot pass humans' strict scrutiny.

  Because they always reveal some innate features, such as scaly skin, serpentine eyes, sharp fangs, or forked tohey wear cloaks and headscarves, disguise themselves as humans, infiltrate civilized pces to gather intelligence, or kidnap prisoners for interrogation and sacrifice, and even make deals with others to further their endless spiracies.

  "As you and, Master, that's exactly what we are doing."

  Dolo tinued.

  "Aly, these Pureblood Yuan-ti seem to have obtained information that the La Family intends to cooperate with the 'Northern Lion' Boscov Family from the south and the 'Double-headed Eagle' Nott Family from the northwest to form a joint army, and their target of encirclement from three sides is most likely us—the Ember ."

  "Five my bluntness, my great Master, the expansion of the Ember i years has already aroused the vigince of the northern tries. They covet old and fear our followers, but we have yet to receive true trials and proof of blood and fire."

  Cassius slowly stood up, his golden eyes looking down at Dolo: "So you mean we need a war?"

  Dolo k on one knee and respectfully lowered his head: "I think so, Master."

  "War, only war, make these pathetic, short-sighted humans realize your power."

  "Langpu, what do you think?"

  Cassius looked toward the magic mirror. These mirrors naturally ected to Langpu's "Mage Tower"; they followed the will of the red dragon and would only activate when he hem.

  In the mirror appeared Langpu's ugly and ferocious face. He had put on those gold-rimmed gsses again, holding a few magic scrolls in his hand.

  "Master, I also think the Ember needs a war. Acc to my statistics, the number of goblins in the has reached 13,457, and there are 10,341 kobolds. If we do not engage in tinuous, rge-scale warfare to e them, our food supply will no longer be able to fill their stomachs."

  Langpu deliberately pushed his gold-rimmed gsses and "iently" mentioned: "And relying on Dolo's, hmm... be called simple, even primitive breeding system, only fill a little bit."

  Fag Langpu's iional or uional mockery, Dolo's already red face flushed even more, but with the red draght in front, he didn't dare to act up.

  Cassius ighe schemiweewo and just asked:

  "Their so-called 'coalition army,' how long until it be assembled?"

  Dolo quickly replied: "The dukes of the northern tries do not have plete trol over their vassals. These humans shirk responsibility, bicker, fight for porofit, and are very ineffit. To gather a coalition army of tens of thousands, it would take at least three months, and that's a servative estimate."

  "Very good, three months is enough."

  A hint of danger fshed in Cassius's golden pupils.

  "Master, are we going to war?"

  Dolo's expression revealed extreme excitement. Hobgoblins are creatures who are naturally fond of war, which causes most of them not to live to die of old age. After obtaining the red dragon bloodline, his i brutality and desire for blood and fire became even stronger.

  "Dolo, don't be in a hurry. Let those Yuan-ti keep an eye on the northern coalition, and have your army under your and make all preparations for war—ons, drills, tactics. You should uand these things better than I do."

  "After all... you've been looking forward to it for a long time, haven't you?"

  "Yes, Master."

  Dolo hurriedly k on one knee, excitedly exhaling white smoke from his big red nose. He seemed to have imagihe se of the enemy's blood smeared on his cws.

  "Langpu, you start preparing the logistics work, using the spells you've developed over the years."

  "Yes, Master."

  "Sihey want war, then we will give them war.

  "As for when it ends... that will not be up to them to decide."

  The two followers took their orders a back to work.

  The Hobgoblin soldiers began to polish their long-unused ons and armor, duct pre-war drills, and discuss tactics.

  The Ogres cheered for the uping war, and upon learning they could use the enemy's corpses as rations, their morale soared even higher, celebrating around bonfires.

  The Gobli food deep into the Dragon Valley, st and reserving it for use in the war.

  The Kobolds began to make simple ons such as slings and bows.

  The red dragon stood atop the highest point of the valley, overlooking the busy followers, his golden pupils seemingly refleg bzing fmes.

  "It's time to get this massive war mae... running."

  Three months until the war.

  FAL