[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-176":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162410,1504,"Chapter 176: A Special Delegation","ember-dragon-chapter-176",176,"\u003Cp>The Duchy of Bosk did not merely send a special envoy but dispatched a high-level delegation, complete with historians, bards, court mages, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading them was Count Treliska, a skilled diplomat known for his long-standing missions to the Holy Fadlan  Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His title was an honorary one without actual lands, symbolizing both his exceptional diplomatic achievements and Bosk’s emphasis on its foreign missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guided into the hall by guards, the handsome Count Treliska wore a luxurious ceremonial robe, bowing deeply and exuding a refined charm that reflected centuries of northern aristocratic tradition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greetings, esteemed Ember King.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I bring you the regards of Duke Leo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius remained reclining on the Iron Throne, gazing down at the envoy without responding immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere grew tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards in the hall tightened their grips on their spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Treliska appeared calm and composed, his slightly trembling hands and evasive gaze betrayed his inner nervousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His delegation members were even more visibly affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being mentally prepared, the fifty-year-old historian More turned pale at the sight of the twenty-meter-long dragon, breaking into a cold sweat and nearly fainting, barely remaining upright with the support of his attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The renowned female bard Yelena, nicknamed the \"Flower of Strapha,\" famous for her performances at grand banquets, was now ashen-faced and even let out an involuntary scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius found the scene rather amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing his golden eyes, the red dragon finally broke the oppressive silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Envoys from Bosk, I would like to extend a polite greeting to you as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, your duke recently orchestrated an assassination attempt against me. How am I to trust that you are not another batch of would-be assassins?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This statement sent shockwaves through the delegation, their hearts pounding in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a dangerous question caused cold sweat to bead on Treliska’s brow, but it had been anticipated in their planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following his rehearsed lines, he maintained as steady a tone as possible and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honored Ember King, the Duchy of Bosk had no involvement in that operation and was unaware of it. It was solely the reckless action of the Duchy of Nort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And as you are aware, they have already faced their due punishment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for those Lionheart Knights, they were disavowed by Bosk’s internal authorities. Their actions were personal, beyond our control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Treliska's words were abruptly cut off by Cassius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Envoy from Bosk, there’s no need to feign ignorance before me. Everyone here understands what has transpired, and I am well aware of your duke’s schemes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon's lips curled into a sinister smile, his brow scales slightly lifting, sending shivers down the delegation's spines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I welcome your role as so-called 'observers' this time, because only by witnessing the disparity in power can you refrain from stirring trouble in the shadows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled a breath of sulfuric air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, flies are easy to crush, but their incessant buzzing around one's ears can be quite annoying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Cassius's comment, Treliska felt a surge of indignation but dared not show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of hesitation, he mustered his courage and spoke with calm dignity:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Cassius, I acknowledge your immense strength. Even thousands like me combined could not match you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly lifted his head, struggling to suppress his primal fear as he locked eyes with the red dragon's golden pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t you being a bit arrogant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words threw the delegation into a panic, fearing that the dragon might erupt in fury and incinerate them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Cassius did not react with anger as they expected. Instead, he watched Treliska with amused curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you say that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encouraged by the dragon's response, Treliska steadied himself and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be frank, Anzeta is ultimately a remote land. Everything here resembles a wasteland—whether in wealth, culture, or strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Over the past decade, I have visited the southern Fadlan  Empire and the western Free Trade Confederation. I have seen lands flowing with milk and honey, treasures vast as the sea, and Sun Warriors who seem like demigods. Their splendor is unimaginable to the people of the north.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Cassius understood another objective of the envoy—luring the dragon south, exploiting his greed to redirect his might to other regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a clever plan. But with my current strength, venturing south would mean facing countless challenges.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing his golden eyes, the red dragon offered no response but said dismissively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have grown tired of Bosk's honeyed words. I will arrange for you to observe the battle at the Trier Throat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Record everything carefully and report it to your duke.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That might dissuade him from playing petty tricks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Cassius summoned his hobgoblin guards to escort the delegation out of the council hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More, Yelena, and the others, overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere of the hall, felt immense relief at Cassius’s dismissal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exhaled deeply, grateful to have escaped the red dragon's unpredictable wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Treliska, however, remained deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The delegation had reached the hall’s exterior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elderly scholar More dabbed at his sweaty brow with a handkerchief, grumbling: \"Treliska, you were far too reckless this time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you had angered that red dragon, we would all have been doomed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yelena hugged her arms, still shaken: \"That was terrifying, like standing under the blade of a guillotine, ready to drop at any moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, thank the gods for sparing us and allowing us to leave unscathed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Treliska frowned deeply, his eyes fixed anxiously on the locked metal doors behind them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he were so easily angered, it would mean he’s just an ordinary red dragon—capricious, mindlessly destructive, and insatiably greedy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such creatures, though reckless for a time, never last long and are eventually eliminated by those who uphold order.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But he did not behave that way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe he is not a textbook example of a cruel and savage red dragon but something far more cunning and terrifying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps… he truly will upend the rule of the north.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*************************************************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to read more chapters, you can Read (318) chapters ahead on Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier 1: $1\u002Fmonth for an additional 5 chapters. 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