Threat

Seeing the crowd's high spirits, Brandon quickly added fuel to the fire, his voice becoming even louder.

"Everyone here, four hundred years ago, Terry Lakman rode a giant eagle and led our ancestors here to establish the first North Wind Fortress. At that time, there were only three hundred people here."

"Over the past four hundred years, through countless trials and tribulations, our ancestors sacrificed their precious lives one after another, enabling this magnificent city to stand tall on the earth. This is a city that carries the glorious history of our ancestors, a city that carries our beautiful life, and a place where we live and work."

"Now, everyone has only one identity— North Wind Fortress Citizen."

"We must not let it fall into the hands of the evil dragon!"

Brand's silver sword drew a semi-circular arc in the air.

"For North Wind Fortress!"

The crowd's emotions rose even higher, after all, they had not yet seen the enemy, but had only listened to this textbook-like pre-battle speech and were moved by the Earl's "sincere" words.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Earl Brandon breathed slightly, thinking, "Hopefully they can hold on a little longer, ideally until His Excellency the Duke finishes the ceremony."

"For North Wind Fortress! For North Wind Fortress!"

"Slay the dragon! Protect your loved ones!"

The cheers continued; soldiers raised their spears, determined to fight for their daughters' future; merchants raised their arms and shouted, determined to fight for their own and their wives' happiness...

"Roar--"

However, a long roar interrupted the cheers.

Everyone felt a deep-seated fear.

The Wyvern were so numerous that they blotted out the sky and blocked out the sun's rays. They surged in from the horizon like a black tide, emitting hoarse and noisy roars.

"Damn it, aim the City Ballista!"

"Shoot them down!"

However, these monsters flew very high, and even the city's defensive crossbows could hardly reach them. They only managed to shoot down one of the lower-ranking Wyvern, which fell to the ground with a mournful cry.

Immediately afterwards, the Wyvern in the sky made way for it, and the huge Red Dragon coiled in the sky, slowly flapping its wings.

The Red Dragon backlit by the sun, its body seemingly surrounded by a ring of flames. Under the influence of the magic, a shadow far larger than its body was cast onto the ground, giving people a powerful sense of oppression.

People looked up and gazed at the exceptionally bright Golden Vertical Pupils, even from a hundred meters away, and couldn't help but recall the rumor of the "Purgatory Calamity" destroying 30,000 allied troops with flames.

The soldier's hand holding the spear trembled slightly, and it finally fell to the ground with a thud. The merchant, on the other hand, hid behind his wife, trembling with fear, afraid that the monster in the sky would notice him.

When the terrifying Wyvern finally descended, their previous ambitions were cast aside, and the Earl's impassioned speech was forgotten.

After all—this could really kill you.

The giant dragon in the sky suddenly spoke.

"A very good speech, but it was a bit too old-fashioned. I thought I had returned to the Second Era."

Brandon looked up at the sky, and even though he was a powerful Fighter, facing the Red Dragon still made sweat pour down his forehead.

"You evil dragon, you will not bewitch the citizens of North Wind Fortress!"

Finally, he mustered his courage and roared at the sky.

"Bewitchment?"

There was a hint of mockery in Keosius's tone.

"You're probably talking about yourself, aren't you? Using these seemingly reasonable but actually nonsensical reasons to entice them to serve as cannon fodder for the Old Vampire you're loyal to. You've really got a good plan."

This news had been kept secret by the City Guard for a long time, but many people already knew about it. Now, the Red Dragon casually revealed it.

Brandon finally lost his temper and pointed to the sky, shouting, "Slander!"

"That's a complete slander!"

Keosius ignored them, instead projecting the images of the Blood Slave from the bunker into the sky. "Gentlemen, this is what your beloved Duke, whom you serve, has done, turning your closest relatives into these blood-sucking beasts. To serve the nobility is ridiculous enough, but to serve such things is an even bigger joke."

"If you wish to remain loyal and die for him, then so be it."

A sinister smile appeared on the Red Dragon's face.

"But I'm not here for that. I'm here to deliver another message—if I don't see the city gates open and the white flags flying before dusk, then the flames will reduce everything here to ashes, whether it be your parents, partners, or children, they will all be treated equally."

"Notice--"

"This is not a discussion, but an notification."

The black tide of the Wyvern receded, and the Red Dragon vanished after leaving behind its last words.

Before leaving, Keosius thought to himself, "Is this Bard who wrote this story a pervert? Am I such an unscrupulous dragon?"

"Even cannibalism should have basic hygiene standards. This is so bad that even Ogre would find it hard to swallow..."

"No, we still need to find a chance to catch him and torture him severely."

The Red Dragon did not want to destroy the city known as the "Pearl of the Northern Lands," which he planned as the future main city for players and the starting point of his empire. Therefore, he adopted a tactic of encirclement without attack and propaganda threats to avoid direct destruction.

Having established his authority after the Trill Battle, what he needs now is to consolidate his rule and build a truly multi-ethnic empire.

In the square, Earl Brandon's expression was stern.

He looked at the restless crowd, at the pairs of eyes that were filled with fear, unease, or hesitation, and he knew that the situation was spiraling out of control.

It must be said that the threat posed by this Red Dragon was quite convincing, as it had just destroyed 30,000 allied troops, and Brandon's speech served as solid evidence, adding credibility to the Red Dragon.

"His Excellency the Duke said that we must hold out until night falls."

"This is my mission."

Thinking of this, a fierce look appeared on Earl Brandon's face.

He shed his mask of "approachability and kindness," and with an incomparably cold and arrogant gaze, looked down at the crowd of people with different expressions, and said coldly, "Citizens, please calm down and do not listen to the evil dragon's bewitchment."

"Anyone who disobeys orders and dares to rebel—will be killed!"

The Earl's trusted soldiers immediately took control of the scene.

But it wasn't just Eagle Square; countless people throughout the city clearly heard the Red Dragon's threat. Their reactions varied: some remained silent at home, others went to the city walls to contact acquaintances, and some even took action against the Rackman Dynasty's Gray Robe Spy spies.

For a time, undercurrents were swirling within the city.