The Baron's Fury

The Baron's Fury

Late at night, at the Baron's Manor.

Smack!

A pair of pale hands slammed heavily onto the tabletop.

"Trash! You're all a bunch of trash!"

The man cursed furiously, spittle flying everywhere.

His features were harsh, his face clouded with gloom, and his lean body was wrapped in formal attire.

Pinned to his chest was an exquisite little badge engraved with an eagle and crossed swords. Anyone knowledgeable would recognize it as the crest of the Eagle of the North Wind—the Rackman Dynasty.

His name was Todd Lachman, one of the old Duke's overlooked sons, perhaps the twelfth. He had been granted the title of Baron over this remote little backwater.

The man standing before the desk was Hart, a rather burly middle-aged man. Once a slave trader, he had later transformed himself into a steward of the Baron's Manor.

"My lord, I had no choice..."

"So you're telling me all those Kobolds ran away? And the Gold Mine was simply abandoned?"

"No, no, no, please listen to my explanation..."

"I don't want explanations. I want gold! Shiny, glittering gold! Without gold, I have no money to support the Baron's Manor, no money to raise an army, and no way to return to the family and fight my dear brothers for power. I can only eat dirt in this godforsaken place where even Goblins wouldn't shit!"

The more Todd spoke, the angrier he became. In the heat of the moment, he kicked the man before him without the slightest regard for noble etiquette.

Hart climbed back to his feet. There was not a trace of resentment on his face from being beaten; he merely said, "My lord, it all happened too suddenly. Half of the mercenaries we brought with us vanished without a trace."

"According to the mercenaries guarding the Kobolds in the depths of the mine, their companions disappeared before they could even cry for help."

"There really is a monster in that mine..."

"And we know nothing about it. We don't know its habits, nor do we understand why it suddenly attacked. Under those circumstances, to prevent Your Lordship from suffering further losses, I could only withdraw with the men first."

Todd shot him a contemptuous glance. "That only proves that you and the mercenaries you hired are utterly useless! If you had even a shred more ability, you wouldn't have fled without even seeing what the enemy looked like."

Hart wiped the cold sweat from his brow and smiled ingratiatingly. "Of course. How could lowly commoners like us compare to you? You possess the noble bloodline of the Eagle of the North Wind and are a powerful spellcaster."

Todd straightened his collar and said leisurely, "That was well said. You do have some sense after all."

The Baron sat down in the leather chair behind the desk, reclining slightly as he folded his hands. "Since things have come to this, do you have any remedy?"

"I need you to give me an answer."

Seeing that Todd's anger had subsided, Hart immediately let out a long breath. "My lord, we could ask the Duke to send several Eagle Guards to protect the mine. What do you think—"

"Eagle Guards?" Todd interrupted coldly.

"You actually thought of that."

"Don't you know they are Father's eyes and ears? If we let them enter the mine, the gold inside will have nothing to do with us anymore!"

"It will only be shipped to North Wind Fortress!"

Hart hurriedly added in panic, "It was my oversight, my lord. It was merely an insignificant suggestion. With your wisdom, you naturally have better methods. It's just..."

"Enough. If I don't see gold again next month, I'll take men there myself."

Todd cut off his excuse once more, staring at Hart with a gaze that sent chills down his spine.

"Yes... yes, my lord."

"My patience is limited. There will be no next time. Truly no next time, Hart."

Todd's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table.

"I understand, my lord." Hart hastily lowered his head, not daring to meet the Baron's gaze.

"Raise your head, Hart."

"Do you truly understand?"

Under the order, Hart reluctantly raised his head and met the Baron's eyes.

That gaze was ice-cold, with a faint scarlet glow deep within its pupils. It did not look as though he were gazing at a subordinate, but rather at a piece of meat on a dinner plate.

"My lord, I truly understand." Hart's voice trembled.

"Make preparations. Gather those useless mercenaries of yours."

"Yes, yes."

"My lord, I'll take my leave first."

After the Baron issued his order, he accepted it without hesitation, then withdrew as though fleeing for his life.

"Pant... pant..."

After closing the door, Hart gasped for breath. He knew he was still useful to this Baron; otherwise, he would not be able to leave so easily next time.

Inside the room, Baron Todd Lachman adjusted his collar once more before the dressing mirror. He unconsciously licked his lips, revealing the extraordinarily sharp teeth within.

This was also one of the Rackman Dynasty's distinguishing traits.

"Is this the place?"

The red dragon stood atop a rather tall hill, staring at the seemingly bottomless mine in the distance. A Kobold was clutched in his claws.

"Master, th-this is the place."

Gold Tooth unconsciously rubbed his head, barely recovering from the dizziness of high-speed flight.

"Then lead me inside."

"My great master, I am only a tiny Kobold. Th-this..." Cold sweat once again beaded across Gold Tooth's scaled forehead.

The mine was a nightmare to the Kobolds. Eight or nine out of every ten of its kin had been swallowed by that monster. Having escaped once, it absolutely did not want to go back.

Even with a red dragon backing it, unease still churned in its heart.

After all, dragons would not care whether a Kobold lived or died.

"What? You're unwilling?" Keosius said.

"Of course I am, of course I am."

Hearing the ill intent in the red dragon's tone, the Kobold hurriedly replied.

"To serve 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 route through the mine." The Kobold's cold sweat had already begun dripping from its chin.

"Clop, clop..."

Suddenly, the sound of hooves came from afar, interrupting the conversation and making the Kobold heave a sigh of relief.

Several fine horses came galloping down the distant road, carrying humans clad in leather armor with crossbows at their waists.

The red dragon slowly lowered himself, concealing his form as much as possible. Using telepathy, he whispered to the Kobold, "Who are they? Do you know them?"

The Kobold cautiously poked its head out, taking note of the human riders' attire and carefully studying several of their faces before speaking.

"Master, they're the slave traders who enslaved us before. Their leader... I remember his name was Hart."

"Human slave traders? Are they here to seize the gold mine too?"

"Master, these seem to be scouts. There were more than twenty of them before, including several professionals. Their main force should be waiting behind them," the Kobold added.

"What a coincidence. They'll do nicely to scout the way." Keosius narrowed his eyes.