Ember Dragon

Chapter 44: Sager Town

At night, the snowfall had nearly ceased, with only a few scattered flakes falling, leaving a thick layer of snow on the ground.

The town was dark and silent, with people locking their doors and windows, calling their children inside. Only the baron's castle remained brightly lit.

A stone marker at the entrance bore the name: Sager Town.

This was a small town located on the outskirts of the Lackman family's domain, surrounded by open and fertile land, ideal for farming. A century ago, an ancestor of the Lackman family had led his followers here to cultivate the land and establish Sager Town.

It was a bustling settlement with over a thousand residents, providing a constant supply of grain to the surrounding areas.

However, due to its remote location, the town had been repeatedly visited by brutal creatures such as frost giants, yetis, and even white dragons, forcing multiple reconstructions. Only about four hundred residents remained.

Most of them were serfs who couldn't leave, with a handful of small merchants, mill owners, stable hands, and servants attending to the nobles.

Only less-favored members of the Lackman family would be assigned here to supply food for Northwind Fortress.

Soon after Baron Todd was stationed here, rumors of a "night devil" emerged, with young women mysteriously disappearing at night, filling the town with fear as residents lived in constant dread.

Inside the baron's residence.

Baron Todd Lackman sat with his hands propped under his chin, his expression dark as he stared at the ornate wooden table, a silver goblet filled with thick red liquid before him.

"That damned Embers Nest."

At the mention of this name, a shadow seemed to pass over his face.

All the men he'd sent to the mines last time were wiped out, and his former steward Hart was said to have been captured, with only a few worthless serfs managing to escape.

He had initially thought these reports were lies fabricated by those base slaves, but just a few days later, the Lackman family's elite Northern Wind's Eagle Guard suffered severe losses in that place known as Embers Nest.

Only then was he forced to acknowledge the truth of the report.

A monster lair even Northern Wind's Eagle Guard couldn't take down, reportedly the stronghold of a red dragon known as "Flying Flame." With only his guards, how could he possibly mount an attack?

The gold was gone.

So were the soldiers.

All he had left were worthless, weak serfs and guards dispatched by his family.

Although he wasn't the family's eldest son, he was still a trueborn son of the duke.

Was he really destined to spend his life stationed in this remote place, providing food for the family while forever barred from the center of power?

"I will return to Northwind Fortress."

"Father will recognize me eventually."

At this thought, the baron's thin face grew darker, with a hint of hunger gleaming in his eyes.

It seemed he needed to feast on something fresh tonight to calm his mood.

"My lord, outside there's…"

A guard rushed in, opening the door hurriedly, clearly with something urgent to report.

But upon noticing he'd interrupted the baron's contemplation and the ravenous look in his eyes, the guard quickly fell silent.

Todd, seeing it was a guard, suppressed his bloodthirsty urge, staring at the guard and speaking slowly:

"What matter is so urgent?"

"So urgent… that you dare interrupt my rest?"

The guard felt a chill down his spine under Todd's gaze.

Though he'd only been assigned here recently, the baron was already whispered about as the "Bloody Baron."

A maid had mysteriously disappeared after soiling his attire while cleaning, never to be seen in Sager Town again.

With this memory in mind, the guard replied, trembling:

"M-my lord, it's Hart."

"Someone outside claims to be Hart, requesting an audience."

At this familiar name, Todd slapped the table, standing abruptly as he shouted:

"Impossible!"

"Wasn't he captured?"

The guard shook his head nervously, quickly replying, "I don't know, my lord."

Todd coldly ordered, "Bring him in."

The guard hesitated, saying:

"He… requested that you step outside to meet him, claiming to have something important to offer."

The guard's voice nearly trembled with fear.

Thinking of the lost gold, the soldiers, and the rumor of Hart's capture, Todd's fury boiled over as he sneered:

"Fine, fine!"

"Where is he? I'll go see for myself."

"Let's see how this deserter of mine, my dear subordinate, has been faring."

The baron's voice was tinged with barely suppressed anger.

"Yes, my lord."

The guard, terrified, obeyed and led the baron outside.

The baron's newly constructed mansion wasn't large, and after passing through the hall and a narrow, dozen-meter-long corridor, they arrived at the entrance.

Outside stood a ragged, filthy figure with tangled hair, appearing almost like a beast at first glance, bearing no resemblance to the once confident steward.

But Todd smelled the familiar scent of his blood, instantly confirming it was indeed Hart.

The baron spoke first, his tone laced with mockery:

"Hart, long time no see."

"Isn't this my once most trusted subordinate? The one who promised to bring me gold."

"Why have you returned after such a long absence?"

Hart, visibly anxious, responded, "My lord, I have important information to report."

"Oh? What information?"

Todd gazed at him with a half-smile, his eyes gleaming with hatred and hunger as he struggled to retain his composure.

Just as he was preparing to devour Hart after extracting the information, seeing him as a meal that had lost its value.

"I would request that your guards withdraw."

Hart's voice trembled slightly.

"Very well."

"Everyone, leave us."

Todd agreed, dismissing his guards and leading Hart to a secluded spot in the back garden of the mansion, aligning perfectly with his own intentions.

To Todd, Hart was walking right into his trap.

Baron Todd's eyes had turned blood-red, and he sneered, "Go on, Hart, I'm curious to hear how you plan to explain yourself."

Hart's trembling intensified, and his forced smile looked more like a grimace.

In a shaky voice, he replied, word by word:

"The… dragon… has… come."

Todd, taken aback, asked in confusion:

"What?"

But in the next moment, he found himself engulfed in a massive shadow, two wings spanning a large part of the night sky, blocking out the moonlight.

The red dragon looked down at the baron, its terrifying head twisted into a smile, with golden slit eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

"Need me to repeat it, Baron?"

"The dragon has come."