Chapter 297: Intimidating the Trusted Aides

Inside the western barracks of the fortress, six red‑robed guards sat around the sand table surrounded by a shielding barrier. Hidden beneath their long robes were daggers and poison vials—this is the insignia of Ba Su's personal guard, and they are the only ones who know the truth about the "Advisor".

"That monster burned three more guards who spoke disrespectfully to him today," the one‑eyed captain said, downing a mouthful of strong liquor. "What on earth is Lord Ba Su thinking? Letting a dragon ride on Sai Er's head…"

"Shut up!" the deputy officer pressed his wrist. "Did you forget those 'accidental deaths' in the dungeon? That dragon can read minds… maybe it's listening to us right now."

A young guard in the corner suddenly spoke, "But don't you think… ever since it arrived, the fortress's defensive Magic Net has become riddled with gaps? Even the scouting hawks have been withdrawn…"

The group fell silent. They all remembered the night three days ago— the Scrollbook Dragon tore through the Crimson Tower like a silver storm, a cataclysmic spell froze an entire towering stone mountain into an ice sculpture, and the image of a senior red‑robed guard kneeling on one knee was etched into everyone's mind like a nightmare.

"Focus on your own duties," the deputy finally broke the deathly silence. "Red‑robed mages never tolerate failures… whether the enemy is a dragon or the Sai Er headquarters."

Naimi Xisi stood on the terrace of the Crimson Tower, his silver‑scaled cloak rustling in the desert night wind.

He lowered his gaze, his claw tips brushing the obsidian railing engraved with Divination Runes. These runes were his masterpiece of the past three days: a counter‑detection Magic Net disguised as a defensive barrier, enveloping the entire fortress in a false calm. The tower spirit "Crimson Eye" has been completely sealed; its current "vision" of patrol logs, magical flux, even the howling sand outside the fortress, are all illusions woven by Naimi Xisi.

"Self‑deceiving iron head…" Naimi Xisi sneered, his silver eyes reflecting the flickering fires of the fortress below. The Arcane puppets obeying the Crimson Eye still patrolled mechanically, utterly unaware that they had long become marionettes.

"Sir," Ba Su's voice came from behind, a red‑robed mage cradling a sealed order from the Sai Er headquarters. "The tower spirit intercepted a transmission from Iron Jaw Fortress; they will launch an assault on the Crimson Tower at dawn."

Naimi Xisi raised an eyebrow, turning to face him. "Oh? Iron Jaw Fortress? If I recall correctly, that's a Scattered Tower Forest stronghold, isn't it?"

Ba Su nodded, his face grim. "Those rats have been fighting us for years; for some reason they've recently gone mad, provoking our territory as if searching for something."

"But to attack a Mage Tower guarded by a nine‑ring mage?" Naimi Xisi scoffed. "They aren't that foolish yet, are they?"

Ba Su was equally puzzled. "I'm also curious; although they've recently acquired a batch of extremely powerful magical weapons, likely forged by some organization that employs shadow arts, I don't think they have the confidence to take me down unscathed."

The red‑robed mage sneered, "That three‑surname slave Ge Lu Ma Ke—speaking of him, he was once a slave who escaped from under my command."

"Later he joined the ranks of the Tyranny Church, with little success. But after the Tyranny Church fell, he leveraged a betrayal of his former master and rose to prominence within the Dark Sun Church."

Naimi Xisi's expression was inscrutable as he gazed at the glittering stars overhead.

The gods forever act as the chessmasters of all life on the Feren Continent; the church under the God of Tyranny Ban En—the Tyranny Church—was once a formidable power.

The Scattered Tower Forest was once merely a negligible peripheral faction of the Tyranny Church, an organization that handled dirty work, yet it also leveraged the Tyranny Church's influence to dominate the entire Frelen.

Iron Jaw Fortress has roamed the Ennoak Desert for ages; hasn't any righteous organization taken issue with it?

Of course there are, but they are powerless.

In the past, the force behind the Scattered Tower Forest was the Tyranny Church.

After the God of Tyranny died, the Tyranny Church fell apart. The followers of the God of Dark Sun Xi Rike seized the Tyranny Church's legacy, taking control of the Scattered Tower Forest and the San Ti Er Fortress.

Iron Jaw Fortress, as one of the Scattered Tower Forest's most important sources of income, was naturally absorbed into the Dark Sun Church's holdings.

Compared to the God of Tyranny, Xi Rike is a far more powerful and unrestrained evil deity. The Dark Sun Church boasts countless strongmen under its banner.

Regarding the news of Iron Jaw Fortress's impending attack, Naimi Xisi was indeed surprised, but that was all. He already regards the Crimson Tower as his own sphere of influence; if Iron Jaw Fortress intends to attack, it will face annihilation.

As for the possibility of the Dark Sun Church intervening?

He's not without backing! If the Dark Sun Church truly dares to strike him, he believes even the church of some dragon‑obsessed fanatic won't stand idle.

"Tell the tower spirit its death date… has been moved to tomorrow," Naimi Xisi said, then departed.

Ba Su returned to the fortress command room, staring at the tactical markings on the sand table. His promotion documents have been secretly sent to the Sai Er capital; if he can endure this assault, he will break free from this desert cage and ascend to the core of the Red Robe Council.

But the prerequisite for all this is that the dragon fulfills its promise.

"Do you truly trust it?" the trusted deputy officer whispered from behind. "That monster has severed all communication with the tower spirit; even the headquarters now believes this place is calm… If we lose, we won't even have a chance to call for aid."

Ba Su's fingertip traced the model of the Crimson Tower on the sand table, a cold smile appearing. "Defeat?"

His cold eyes, like a venomous snake, fixed on the deputy's pupils, making the latter break out in cold sweat: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking,"

He surveyed the deputies, saying coldly, "You are my most trusted subordinates, so even knowing the truth, I've never considered silencing you with murder."

"Likewise," he gave a sickly sweet smile, "even if you betray me, all that awaits you is the cleansing policy of the Sai Er headquarters."

!

Several deputies swallowed, hastily pledging loyalty: "…We are wronged, master, how could we dare betray you? With a flick of your finger, we would instantly become senseless Undead."

Ba Su snorted, "Better that not be the case. Remember, I may be greedy for life, but I'm not a pushover; you think that dragon can easily defeat me—what a troublesome being it is."

His gaze was as deep as the sea: "I'm about to return to Sai Er, yet at this critical moment an unknown powerhouse forces me to submit, turning me into a spy within the Red‑robed Mage circle. Do you think this is mere coincidence?"

The deputies exchanged glances, a hint of disbelief flashing in their eyes.

Could it be… the dragon's origin is also far from simple?

Ba Su watched the deputies' expressions and felt a slight relief.

Bound by his oath, he had to submit to that giant dragon. Being tied to this pirate ship, he naturally had to plan everything meticulously.

If any of these deputies had even a hint of betrayal just now, he would have killed them without hesitation.

However, although his words were meant to intimidate these subordinates, he was secretly speculating in his mind.

His misfortunes over the past few days were so extreme that he began to suspect the arrival of the Scrollbook Dragon was orchestrated by an unseen hand of fate.

Just as the red‑robed mages were discussing tactics.

On the dunes fifty li east and west, Abu Longruis folded his wings, his molten‑gold dragon eyes locking onto the Crimson Tower on the horizon.

"Found you…" the blue dragon's whisper turned into thunder rolling across the desert. He raised a forepaw, a bolt of lightning striking the sky, and dozens of glowing thunder spheres instantly appeared in the clouds. This was his declaration, also a provocation:

At dawn tomorrow, the Crimson Fortress will turn to scorched earth.

(End of Chapter)