Intimidation

Mirabar's ruling councilor, Sunderland Starglim, stared at the child before her in surprise. Yes! Sunderland was certain he was still a child. Though the boy was exceptionally tall and strong, and carried a composure and maturity beyond those of an ordinary youth, the inexperience and childishness on his face gave away his true age. The female councilor asked seriously, "Are you sure, little boy? Are you certain you aren't lying?" She looked at the guards behind Chen Jinyang with suspicion and curiosity.

What the hell! Little boy? Chen Jinyang's nose twitched with anger. This little wench! She really thought she was somebody. Even just counting his age from his previous life, he was old enough to be her uncle. Sunderland's extremely discourteous question caused an uproar among the caravan. Chen Jinyang's formidable strength had made them completely overlook William's actual age. Now, those who had known William before remembered that he was only sixteen or seventeen—still just a big boy.

The guard who had spoken up earlier had no choice but to step forward and confirm, "Honorable Lady Sunderland! William really was personally appointed as the person in charge by Mr. Elrago! We can all testify to that!" The other guards and mercenaries voiced their agreement.

Sunderland Starglim's bright blue eyes slowly swept over the people in the caravan. A Frost Giant?! A Drow?! When she spotted Phinia and Drizzt, her eyes widened, and she scrutinized them in great astonishment. With mocking amusement, the female councilor sneered, "Mercenaries, a child, an Elf, a Halfling, a Dwarf! Oh! And an evil Frost Giant and a Dark Elf! Little guy, what are you going to use to lead them? Your big oaf, or that baby face of yours? Or maybe those little milk teeth that haven't even grown in yet?" As she spoke, the woman even flirtatiously stroked Chen Jinyang's rather handsome cheek. (That rude gesture would earn her considerable glory in the days to come.)

Sunderland's flirtatious gesture made everyone's expression change. They looked at her with hostility, except for the carefree young Elf girl, who continued to giggle at Chen Jinyang's embarrassment. The guard who had spoken up was even redder in the face. Angrily, he said, "Councilor! Mr. William's strength is beyond question! You've been extremely rude!"

I'll be damned! In my two lifetimes combined, I've lived for fifty or sixty years. I've been cursed at, laughed at, cheated, feared, hated, and hunted, but I've never been so brazenly flirted with before. Today's a first. Chen Jinyang's face darkened, and he glared coldly at the brainless "cheap woman." He really wanted to slap her dead.

The two guards behind the woman who'd been deemed brainless also stared at the councilor, whose behavior was so unlike her usual self. They exchanged baffled looks, tightened their grips on their swords and shields, and moved closer. Sunderland found the grain caravan deeply suspicious and utterly unreasonable: a leader who was far too young, wounded guards, an inexplicable Moon Elf, an impossible child, a trio of Dwarves with unknown origins, an evil Drow and a Frost Giant. Anyone could find a whole pile of inconsistencies. Yet if they wanted to swagger so openly into Mirabar, even the crudest Orc in disguise would have done a better job. The shrewd female councilor was trying to provoke the boy, who looked more like a puppet than a leader, to discover their true intentions.

"Oh! Strong? Beyond question? Heh heh heh—"

Lady Sunderland Starglim's cleverness had failed her this time. She'd kicked a steel wall—and a very big one. Chen Jinyang stepped forward, grabbed Sunderland by her snow-white, delicate throat, and snarled, "Lady"—he genuinely had no idea what word in Common he should use to insult the woman—"do you have a problem?"

The woman's face went pale with terror as Chen Jinyang choked her. Her earlier elegance vanished. She flailed and struggled desperately, but there was no way she could break free of a hand stronger than an iron vise. The two guards tried to intervene, only for Chen Jinyang to brush them aside and send them flying.

Whether from haste or carelessness, a beautiful scroll fell from Sunderland's breast. William stepped on it, crushing it to pieces, and invisible magical power began to ripple.

Chen Jinyang brought his own "pig-jowl face" close to Sunderland's little face, now pale with fright, and asked coldly, "Please tell me, how am I supposed to prove my strength?"

The caravan guards panicked and hurried to plead with him. "William! Please, don't hurt Lady Sunderland! She—" Chen Jinyang turned and glared at the guard, making him swallow the rest of his words.

The guards who had gotten back to their feet tried to rush forward and rescue their mistress again. The soldiers on the wall hurriedly called for reinforcements, preparing to leave the city and punish the "disorderly" visitors. Chen Jinyang swept his free left hand, and a massive Palm Flame, several meters long, burst forth and scoured a wide stretch of empty ground. The snow, piled several feet deep, melted and steamed in an instant, and waves of heat rolled outward. The chaotic scene fell silent. A strange feeling settled over everyone—except the little girl and Phinia, who was holding her.

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath and froze—damn! Combat Casting? Quicken Spell? Silent Spell? Still Spell? A super archmage? The people in the caravan had even more theories. And with that terrifying hand-to-hand strength, he was practically the equal of a great wyrm! Could that have been a fire breath? Only the three who had lived with Chen Jinyang for several months, Phinia and the others, remained composed. Even the fearless Drow and the brainless young Elf girl lost their color. Sunderland was like a little hen caught by the neck. "Aw—!"

Everyone stared at Chen Jinyang in abject terror, as if they were facing the most terrifying dragon in Faerun's North—Klaus. Faced with the sudden silence, Chen Jinyang was confused. He looked around in bewilderment, and everyone he met lowered their heads instinctively, afraid to meet his gaze. At a loss, Chen Jinyang released the female councilor, feeling a little bored.

No one could help being afraid. Just by looking at Chen Jinyang, it was obvious he couldn't be a super spellcaster, let alone one who also possessed top-notch close-combat ability. Add in that astonishingly destructive fire breath, and he was basically the standard package for one of those fire-breathing dragons that walked the mortal world.

The Drow Drizzt forced down his fear and bravely stepped in front of Chen Jinyang. "Mr. Dragon, please calm your anger. This poor girl didn't mean to offend you, and we have no intention of fighting you. Please let her go."

Chen Jinyang snorted, but loosened his grip on Sunderland's throat.

Lady Sunderland, nearly scared witless, sat stunned on the cold stone pavement, screaming frantically inside: "Gods! Strike me dead with lightning! I actually lost my mind and flirted with a dragon! I flirted with a dragon! Gods! Let me faint!" The terrified woman shut her eyes and collapsed to the ground with utter insincerity, her eyelashes twitching faintly now and then.

Sigh! Do I really have that much presence? Chen Jinyang let out an extremely self-satisfied sigh, picked up the female councilor, who was pretending to be unconscious, and asked with a cheerful smile, "Dear Lady Sunderland! What do I need to do to prove myself?" The woman yelped as he lifted her. Looking at the dragon's fearsome face, she replied repeatedly, "There's no need to prove anything! No need at all! Great sir! You may come and go as you please!"

"And my caravan?"

"Your caravan may enter the city whenever you like! Please don't worry! We'll make all the arrangements for you! Except the Frost Giant and the Drow..." Seeing Chen Jinyang's expression darken, the poor female councilor's voice grew softer and softer until she fell silent.

Chen Jinyang, who was putting on airs like a pig with a scallion stuck up its snout, turned to look at everyone in the caravan. The guard who had spoken earlier had gone weak at the knees and was trembling unconsciously as he stammered, "W-William?" Chen Jinyang's expression stiffened. He replied stiffly, "My friends were wounded in battle. They need to find a Cleric for treatment."

"Please don't worry, sir! We'll take good care of your slaves"—Chen Jinyang didn't understand the word—"so you don't need to trouble yourself with these trivial matters! Please, come with me!" The female councilor had mistaken the caravan for prisoners of Chen Jinyang, the false dragon. Only a powerful, ignorant dragon would behave so unconstrainedly. That explained all the inconsistencies in the grain caravan, too, the overly shrewd woman thought. Poor Mr. Elrago. I'll mourn for you!

"Phinia! Alos! Mishaer! Let's go!" Chen Jinyang called to his three family members and followed Lady Sunderland, who was personally guiding them, through the city gate. Once Chen Jinyang and the others had left, the rest of the caravan and the soldiers on the wall erupted into chaos. "Gods above! We've been living alongside a powerful dragon for all these days!" "Moradin above! I knew he was an evil dragon! A human couldn't have kicked through my sturdy Dwarven steel shield in one blow! Only a dragon could do that! Otherwise, I'd be a bearded gnome!" "Ha ha ha! I actually fought a dragon! See? The dragon didn't kill me!"

The buildings in Mirabar were all built of stone, and the ground was paved with smooth, gray-white slabs. The occasional clang of metal reached their ears—the sound of smithing. For a renowned center of metal mining, that seemed rather unusual. The group strolled along the chilly stone streets. Sunderland's high leather boots and the guards' metal greaves clacked across the pavement, the sounds carrying far.

"Great Lord William! This is the largest inn in our town of Mirabar! Is there anything else you need? Please, just say the word!" The female councilor, smiling ingratiatingly and feigning elegance, led Chen Jinyang to an inn and served him a lavish meal.

Chen Jinyang glanced at the three Phinia was with, who were devouring their food, and said in a casual tone, "That's all! Just make sure to look after my friends. Oh, right! Help me find the village chief of Gnome Village—Old Sailu. I need to speak with him after we eat."

"How could we let you trouble yourself, sir? I'll bring Old Sailu to you myself!" Lady Sunderland backed out of the inn. Once outside, she wiped the cold sweat from her face, feeling faint. A dragon really was a terrifying creature! Just getting close to one had made her tremble and break out in a cold sweat! (She really had scared herself for nothing.)

She quickly turned to the guards beside her. "Yas! Go notify Marquis Erastu at once. A dragon that can take human form has entered Mirabar! Tell the marquis to prepare for any eventuality. Delier! Go to the Temple of Tyr and notify the high priest. Have the dragon's prisoners' wounds treated as soon as possible; they're potential allies! Find out what you can about this dragon! Also, keep a close eye on the Drow, but don't provoke him yet. And seal off the news—order the South Gate guards not to tell anyone about this!" The female councilor promptly issued her emergency orders and sent the guards on their way. She needed to calm down by herself first.

After the two guards left, the famous strongwoman of the North staggered, trembling, into an empty corner. She covered her face with both hands, sank to her knees, and sobbed quietly. It took Sunderland a long time to stop crying. She rose, wiped away her tears, and regained her strongwoman's composure before striding toward Mirabar's settlement for villagers from its dependent villages. She needed to find Old Sailu, the village chief of Gnome Village, herself and make absolutely certain he didn't anger the "dragon."