Negotiation!

"Hmm? You can actually speak Common Tongue?" Vermees revealed a surprised expression.

Although she had been imprisoned on the lowest level of the mage tower as soon as she passed through the portal, she had also realized that this was not the Faerûn she knew.

It was an entirely different magical world.

The fact that she could not sense the Weave anywhere in the surrounding environment was the best proof of that.

This Red Dragon had also tried to intimidate and threaten the apprentices who drew blood from her, only to discover that they could not understand Common Tongue at all.

The apprentices used another completely different language system when speaking among themselves.

Of course, for Faerûn, which connected to the multiverse, that was nothing worth making a fuss over.

After all, in the Forgotten Realms, intelligent creatures crossed into other worlds almost every day for all sorts of reasons and accidents, whether willingly or unwillingly.

Likewise, many creatures from other worlds crossed into Faerûn as well.

Some powerful spellcasters even maintained close contact and exchanges with powerful spellcasters from other magical worlds.

But now, hearing a boy from another world speak clear and articulate Common Tongue from Faerûn, Vermees began to feel that something was not quite right.

However, Raymond clearly had no intention of wasting precious time answering such insignificant questions.

He casually offered an explanation, then began recounting the situation in the mage tower and the Floating City outside before and after the plague outbreak.

Raymond had merely hidden the fact that he himself was the source of the plague.

When the Red Dragon heard that the Necromancer who had ambushed and imprisoned her had vanished, and that the apprentices who had taken her dragon blood and offended her majesty were all dead, she immediately burst into wild laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Good riddance! They got off too easily!"

"Yes, they got off too easily."

Raymond nodded, pretending to agree wholeheartedly.

Although the enormous beast before him was currently bound, he still kept a safe distance with great caution and did not dare get too close.

Who knew whether this Red Dragon would suddenly attack, open her mouth, and unleash a deadly cone of fiery breath?

An Adult Red Dragon's breath could easily melt most metals and even stone, and could even directly destroy magic items.

Vermees, however, paid no attention to this.

Proud and conceited by nature, she had long grown accustomed to mortals showing fear and reverence toward her.

Not to mention that the one before her was an underage "little runt."

However, she had clearly overlooked the two Corpse Constructs near the entrance that had been taken down by this "little runt."

Raymond might not have been powerful enough to compare with a Necromancer Archmage like Astar, but he was certainly no weakling.

At the very least, within this tower, few apprentices dared look down on the strange inventions, magical creations, and potions he carried with him.

The female Red Dragon stared at him with eyes like two balls of lava, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly as she commanded in a playful, arrogant tone, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and remove the magical restraints placed on me! Once the great Vermees regains her freedom, perhaps I will consider sparing your life and graciously allow you to become my slave or servant."

As the final word fell!

An overwhelming and astonishing pressure erupted from the Red Dragon's body.

Raymond felt every muscle in his body tense and stiffen beyond his control, as though he had been struck by a paralysis spell. Even his breathing stopped.

Fortunately!

This state of intimidation did not last long. He broke free through sheer willpower, and a flash of intense vigilance and apprehension passed through his eyes.

Raymond was not sure whether that frightening pressure had been the legendary Dragon Might or some other innate spell or ability.

In the Forgotten Realms, all True Dragons were innate spellcasters.

Like Sorcerers, they needed no study at all to master many high-level spells that made mages green with envy.

Adult Red Dragons in particular cast innate spells with power equivalent to a Level 7 Sorcerer.

Many spellcasters might strive for their entire lives and still never reach that level before dying.

Realizing that this "negotiation" might be more troublesome than he had expected, Raymond immediately took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm and rational, then bowed again.

"Thank you for your generosity and mercy. It would be an honor for a humble mortal like me to serve a great being such as yourself. But before that, I hope we can sign a binding magical contract to safeguard both our interests. After all, only by working together can we eliminate those troublesome guards on the path to the upper levels."

"A magical contract?"

An expression of surprise appeared on Vermees's face.

She truly had not expected this "little runt" before her to produce something like that.

After all, no ordinary magical contract could make a powerful Red Dragon with an inborn love of chaos honor an agreement.

"That's right. I have already written all the terms in advance. You only need to make a declaration of agreement, and the contract will take effect immediately."

As he spoke, Raymond pulled a scroll made from unknown leather from his satchel.

Unlike those Magic Scrolls that had been made no more than two or three years ago, this pale yellow scroll was clearly quite ancient.

The moment it unfurled, it revealed a vast expanse of eerie blood-red mysterious symbols.

Anyone who saw those symbols would immediately transform them in their mind into the text they knew best and understood most easily.

Vermees only glanced at it twice before immediately understanding that if she signed the contract and violated any of its terms, the dreadful curse contained within the scroll would take effect.

When that happened, all the treasure in her lair would instantly be randomly teleported to unknown locations.

For a greedy Red Dragon who treasured wealth as dearly as life itself, such a price was absolutely unbearable.

Thus, the smug expression on Vermees's face one moment was replaced by fury and rage the next.

Opening her fang-filled mouth, she spat sparks from her nostrils and throat while threatening him sharply, "You damned little insect! How dare you bargain with the great Vermees! I command you to remove the magical restraints at once! Otherwise, the moment I regain my freedom will be the day you die!"

Before her words had even faded!

Boom!

A loud crash and violent tremor suddenly came from the upper levels of the tower.

At the same time, the Binding Formation on the ground, which had glimmered with a faint ghostly light, suddenly dimmed somewhat.

Not good!

Raymond's heart immediately sank.

He understood that this was a sign of excessive energy consumption.

The unceasing assault of the undead outside was rapidly draining the mage tower's reserves.

It had been forced to reduce the magical energy supplied to maintain the Binding Formation so that the energy could be converted into offensive spells to kill and repel the undead attempting to break in.

The Red Dragon had clearly sensed that her restraints were weakening as well. She slowly rose from the ground, her eyes gleaming with the amusement of a cat toying with a mouse.

"Ah! It seems I no longer need you, doesn't it?

You mentioned the hordes of undead outside. They will soon exhaust the mage tower's energy.

When that time comes, nothing will be able to stop the great Vermees from destroying everything.

Whether this tower or the entire Floating City, all of it will become the property of the great Vermees.

As for you, you treacherous, cunning little thing.

I will let you taste the most agonizing and despairing way to die..."