Negotiation!

"Eh? You actually speak Common Tongue?" Vermes revealed a surprised expression.

Although she had been imprisoned on the lowest level of the Mage Tower the moment she passed through the Teleportation Gate, she had also sensed that this was not the Faerûn she knew.

It was an entirely different Magical world.

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

Moreover, this Red Dragon had once tried to intimidate and threaten the apprentices who drew blood from her, only to discover that they did not understand Common Tongue at all.

The apprentices also used an entirely different language system when speaking among themselves.

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

After all, in the Forgotten Realms, intelligent creatures crossed over to other worlds nearly every day for all kinds of reasons and accidents, whether willingly or unwillingly.

Likewise, many creatures from other worlds crossed over to Faerûn.

Some powerful spellcasters even maintained close contact and Business Dealings with powerful spellcasters from other Magical worlds.

But now, upon suddenly hearing clearly articulated Common Tongue of the Faerûn Continent from the mouth of a boy from another world, Vermes began to feel that something was wrong.

However, Zuo Si clearly had no intention of wasting precious time answering such irrelevant questions.

He casually offered an explanation, then began describing the situation in the Mage Tower and the Floating City outside before and after the outbreak of the plague.

Zuo Si had merely concealed the fact that he was the source of the plague.

When the Red Dragon heard that the Necromancers who had ambushed and imprisoned her had vanished, and that the apprentices who had taken her dragon blood and offended her dignity were all dead, she could not help bursting into wild laughter.

"Hahaha! They deserved to die! They got off too easily!"

"Yes, they got off too easily."

Zuo Si nodded, pretending to agree wholeheartedly.

Although the enormous beast before him was bound, he still kept a careful distance and did not dare approach too closely.

Who knew whether this Red Dragon might suddenly attack, open her mouth, and spew deadly cone-shaped Fiery Breath?

An adult Red Dragon's breath could easily melt most metals and even rock, and could even directly destroy Magic Items.

Vermes, however, paid no attention to this.

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

Especially when the one before her was an underage "little runt."

However, she had clearly overlooked the two Corpse Constructs near the entrance that this "little runt" had killed.

Zuo Si might not have been powerful enough to compare with an Archlich like Astar, but he was certainly not weak either.

At the very least, within this tower, few apprentices dared to underestimate the strange inventions, Magical Constructs, and potions he carried with him.

The female Red Dragon stared at him with two lava-like eyes, the Corner of the Mouth slightly raised, and ordered in a playful, arrogant tone, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and undo the magical restraints Enchanted upon me! Once the great Vermes regains her freedom, I may consider sparing your life and mercifully allowing you to become my slave or servant."

As her Last Word fell!

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

Zuo Si 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 intimidated state did not last long. He broke free through sheer willpower, and a strong trace of vigilance and apprehension flashed through his eyes.

Zuo Si was not sure whether the terrifying aura just now had been the legendary Dragon's Might, or some other innate magic or ability.

One had to know that in the Forgotten Realms, all true dragons were born spellcasters.

Like sorcerers, they needed no study whatsoever to master many high-level spells that made wizards envy them bitterly.

Adult Red Dragons in particular were equivalent to LV7 sorcerers when casting innate spells.

Many spellcasters might strive their entire lives and still fail to reach that level before they died.

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

"Thank you for your generosity and mercy. Being able to serve a great being such as yourself is an honor for a humble mortal like me. However, before that, I hope we can sign a binding Magical Contract to ensure both our interests. After all, only by working together can we eliminate those troublesome guards on the way to the upper levels."

"A Magical Contract?"

An unexpected expression appeared on Vermes's face.

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

After all, making a powerful Red Dragon who worshipped chaos by nature abide by an agreement was not something an ordinary Magical Contract could accomplish.

"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, Zuo Si took a scroll made from some unknown leather out of his satchel.

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

The instant it unfurled, it revealed a vast array of blood-red mysterious symbols that sent chills down one's spine.

Anyone who saw these symbols would immediately transform them in their mind into the words they knew best and found easiest to understand.

Vermes took only two glances before immediately understanding that if she signed the contract and violated any of its terms, the terrifying curse contained within the scroll would take effect.

At that time, all the treasure in her lair would instantly be randomly teleported to an unknown place.

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

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

She opened her mouth full of sharp teeth, sparks spraying from her nostrils and throat, and threatened sharply, "You damned little worm! How dare you negotiate terms with the great Vermes! I command you to undo the magical restraints immediately! Otherwise, the moment I regain my freedom will be the day you die!"

Before her words had even faded!

Boom!

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

At the same time, the Binding Array on the ground, which had been flickering with a faint ghostly glow, suddenly dimmed somewhat.

Not good!

Zuo Si's heart immediately sank.

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

The ceaseless assault of the Undead Creatures outside was rapidly depleting the Mage Tower's reserves.

Resulting in the need to reduce the magical energy supplied to maintain the Binding Array, so that the energy could be converted through Energy Conversion into offensive spells to kill and repel the Undead Creatures attempting to break in.

The Red Dragon had undoubtedly noticed that the restraints on her were weakening as well. She slowly rose from the ground, her eyes gleaming with the look of a cat toying with a mouse.

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

You just mentioned that the hordes of Undead Creatures outside would soon exhaust the Mage Tower's energy.

At that time, nothing will be able to stop the great Vermes from destroying everything.

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

And as for you, you sinister, cunning little thing.

I will let you experience the most painful and despairing way to die..."