Ashen Dragon

"The players are already starting to expand their territories..."

"Not only in Dragon Valley and Northwind Castle but also in South cities like Cathis City and Kriburg, players' traces have been appearing."

"That's impressive..."

Cassius browsed the player forums and Ramp's Magic Mirror, silently marveling.

Yes, besides the Swashbuckler, some players had already left Barto City and ventured into unknown regions.

This was no easy feat. They had to break through the heavy obstruction of monsters at Stormy Ridge's periphery. Besides Ashen Nest, there were also Frost Giants, Hill Giants, scattered Orc resistance tribes. Although pressured to the edge of the ridge, these forces still retained some strength.

Moreover, these traveling players couldn't die easily. Once dead, they would be sent back to Barto City, nullifying all their efforts.

"Huh? What's that sound?"

Cassius's frilled, active dragon ears twitched and rotated, tracking the sound—Red Dragon hearing was far sharper than a human's, able to discern critical sounds and filter out background noise, focusing on noteworthy sounds.

"Ding—"

A sound came from a corner of the cave.

The "Arcane Priory Medal" was emitting a magical aura, a magic image appearing.

"The Anzeta Branch cordially invites you to join!"

"Gathering Time: Three days later"

"Location: Stratholme Fortress"

"Teleport Coordinates: 1345.8375.527"

The Arcane Priory, a famed wizard organization in later years, was founded by the renowned legendary Archmage Trafalgar.

Members gathered regularly to share spell knowledge, exchange research findings, and sometimes seek help to eradicate evil. This seemed to be the Anzeta Branch's first meeting.

"Quite a few notable figures from Anzeta would attend this branch meeting."

"I must join in the fun—"

With this thought, Cassius summoned the Magic Mirror.

"Ramp, come here immediately."

Ramp's ugly face appeared on the image, seemingly engrossed in counting his gold coins, showing the profound impact of Red Dragon Bloodline's greed on him.

"One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three..."

The coins clinked crisply as they fell.

Only when Cassius called him impatiently for the second time did he wake, panicking

"Ah, sorry, master, I'll be right there."

In no time, Ramp lumbered down from the sky, landing heavily before Cassius.

The ogre mage muttered, "Master, these 'Starfallen' you brought are so easy to deceive. I sell magic scrolls at three to four times the market price, yet they still rush to buy from me. Too bad these guys are dirt poor, their pockets hardly jingling. If everyone were this foolish, I wouldn't need to rob adventurers."

"Master, should I raise the prices a bit to earn you more gold coins..."

Cassius snorted out a puff of white smoke, "Ramp, you must understand the concept of long-term gains. Don't fish with a dry pond."

"The price of our goods should vary with their spending capacity. Have someone regularly check their assets. Always set the price so that they barely have any money left but aren't desperate enough to not survive. Isn't that the way?"

Ramp pondered momentarily, clapping with approval, "Master, your wisdom is admirable. I'll have my subordinates prepare."

Content, Cassius nodded.

This Ramp was getting the hang of squeezing the players dry. Truly commendable.

"But this time, I called you over not for the Starfallen matter."

"Come, take a look at this—"

Ramp looked toward the corner of the cave, spotting the semi-transparent magical image.

"The Arcane Priory?"

"That's right, interested in witnessing it?" Cassius asked with a smile.

Ramp's hideous, grotesque face immediately showed a trace of reminiscence and gratitude.

"Of course, master..."

Previously ignorant and not knowing what happened, he now realized he had mysteriously grown smarter.

As the Butler of Ashen Nest, Ramp had long occupied a high position and extensively researched spells. He had his Mage Tower and understood what had happened back then. He even managed to further modify the "Ring of Wisdom's Study."

Everything seemed orchestrated by the God of Fate. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

If that youthful, energetic mage apprentice hadn't gone wandering, and if Ramp hadn't knocked him out and eaten him, Ramp might still be an ordinary, muddle-headed ogre.

—like all ogres, only thinking about eating and sleeping, he would have no qualification to be part of the great plan of the Red Dragon.

But this experience changed his life, or rather, his "ogre life."

"Shape-shifting Spell!"

The enormous Red Dragon transformed into a black-haired, golden-eyed, noble young aristocrat, this time without any draconic features.

"Still feels a bit restrained."

Feeling his immense strength constrained by a human form, Cassius flexed his wrists.

He observed Ramp's massive frame, his brow slightly furrowing, "The Arcane Priory should be a good-alignment gathering. This form of yours might not be suitable."

"Yes, master."

Ramp quickly waved his magic wand, constructing a spell prototype through the Magic Web, transforming into a human.

"Shape-shifting Spell!"

But the human form was over two meters tall, fat, and stout, with bloated features, looking utterly horrendous. He resembled an ogre in human skin—which was actually the truth.

"Master, is this acceptable?"

Cassius looked at Ramp with some speechlessness.

"Can't you modify it a bit... This shape is far from being a normal human."

"It might even be better to take an ogre along."

But Cassius forgot that an ogre couldn't cast spells like a Magician "artist" by intuition and consciousness but needed the meticulous construction of a mage.

Ramp scratched his head, embarrassed, "Sorry, master. My spell prototype parameters weren't adjusted well. It might take seven to eight days to perfect it."

"Seven to eight days?"

"The Arcane Priory meeting will be over by then."

This won't do...

Cassius thought for a moment.

"Transform into a Steel Golem. At least it will look relatively normal. A noble spellcaster with a constructed creature guardian should be quite normal."

"Yes, master."

Ramp cast the Shape-shifting Spell again, this time successfully transforming into a three-meter-tall, fully metallic giant statue smoothly.

Though still ugly, at least no one would suspect him of being any sort of chaotic evil creature.

"Get me a cloak."

Ramp retrieved a long cloak imbued with "anti-spying" magic from his collection and draped it over Cassius.

Cassius toyed with the Mithril Necklace in his hand, stroking the pendant shaped like a door.

"Dimension Door."

With the coordinates confirmed, space gradually distorted, and a rift opened before Cassius.