Chapter： 156 Easy to Invite a Dragon, Hard to Send One Away
"Your Excellency, Silver Dragon, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing the Mage's inquiry, Brian's expression remained unchanged, his gaze indifferent, and his voice deep, "Have your Chief come out to see me."
The connection between the Red Flame Staff and the portal to the Lava Demiplane became so clear with his approach that it almost felt tangible. However, because of the close proximity, the sense of connection was omnipresent, making it difficult for Brian to pinpoint its exact location.
But there was no doubt—it was inside this central city.
"This..."
The Mage's expression changed slightly, his brows furrowing tightly.
"Your Excellency, Silver Dragon, you must understand, you came uninvited, stepping into a human nation without permission. Asking our king to meet you, isn't that..."
Boom!
Dragon Claws slammed heavily onto the ground, sending dirt and stones flying, cracks spreading. The Mage's words were abruptly cut off, his face appearing somewhat pale under the moonlight.
The surrounding guards hesitated, unsure of what to do at this moment.
Brian's body slowly leaned forward, his shadow extending with his movement. The immense pressure from his size and presence made the guards in front of him collectively step back.
In front of Brian, the weapons they held tightly were nothing more than a psychological comfort.
Facing a massive dragon twenty meters long, even without Brian releasing Dragon's Might, they still found it hard to breathe.
"Don't make me say it a second time. I've already shown enough goodwill."
You call this enough goodwill... Under the blatant threat, the Mage dared not delay and quickly instructed a Spellcaster beside him to inform the Thorn Grand Duke of the situation.
As for whether the Thorn Grand Duke, as the leader of the Mocha Principality, dared to face a powerful Silver Dragon... he was unsure.
"Please wait here. Someone has already gone to notify the Grand Duke."
Brian remained silent, and the human guards didn't dare to make a sound either. The atmosphere around them was so tense it felt like a dark cloud.
It was autumn, and the night wind carried a slight chill that should have made people feel a bit cold. But now, many were sweating profusely, their foreheads beaded with sweat, and their palms gripping their weapons were also sweaty.
Ordinary people in the Mocha Principality might not be aware, but those present had some understanding of their duchy's situation.
Originally, the Mocha Principality, like a proactive wolf, had engaged in war to gain more influence. But after two high-ranking Mages disappeared in the far north Ice Field, they lost their key figures.
Following that, the brave and battle-hardened General Rosha, along with an elite army, also vanished.
With no other choice, the external troops were recalled, and the Mocha Principality became the weaker side, needing to be wary of surrounding duchies.
Even the Walker Principality, which they had recently conquered, was taken by an even fiercer wolf, and the spoils of victory became another nation's feast.
The double-edged sword of war had mercilessly stabbed Mocha.
The situation in the war was unpredictable. Even the Thorn Grand Duke couldn't have imagined that the Mocha Principality, which had been celebrating nationwide for conquering the Walker Principality at a minimal cost, would soon become a precarious structure.
The Red Dragon they had invited, during Mocha Principality's crisis, would frequently come to demand wealth.
Easy to invite a dragon, hard to send one away. The Mocha Principality had tried to appease it many times but still couldn't satisfy that creature's greed.
Moreover, the Mocha Principality was now being targeted by stronger duchies.
An envoy from a duchy had proposed a series of excessive demands, giving the Thorn Grand Duke a deadline to consider... Thorn Grand Duke's face was gloomy every day, looking troubled and exhausted.
At the same time, the sleepless Thorn Grand Duke was startled by the commotion outside, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Court Mage Rutherford requests an audience with the Grand Duke."
From the nervous and trembling tone of the speaker, Thorn Grand Duke sensed something was amiss.
"Come in. What’s happening outside?"
"A super-large Silver Dragon has descended here, demanding to see you."
Thorn Grand Duke's expression froze for a moment, then he carefully inquired about the situation. After understanding the general circumstances, a glint appeared in his eyes—not of fear, but of a glimmer of hope.
"Let's go. Take me there immediately."
"The guards here are no match for the Silver Dragon. It will take some time for the army to gather and arrive. If it harbors ill intentions, you might be in danger."
"Danger? The Mocha Principality has faced enough dangers already. Do you think I would fear danger?"
Thorn Grand Duke chuckled, then stepped into the night.
Before long, Thorn Grand Duke arrived at Brian's location. The crowd parted, making way for him. The surrounding guards saluted Thorn Grand Duke respectfully while remaining vigilant of Brian's every move.
By this time, Brian had already landed on the ground, his massive form making the surrounding buildings look insignificant.
He watched the elderly man gradually walk to the forefront from among the guards, silently observing.
Thorn Grand Duke wore a luxurious robe adorned with gold and silver thorn patterns. He looked quite ordinary, clearly advanced in age, with wrinkles covering his face and white hair mixed with dull gold strands.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed weary, as if he hadn't rested well in a long time.
However, in those seemingly cloudy eyes, Brian saw a glimmer of wisdom.
Thorn Grand Duke was just an ordinary human. There was no elemental aura around him, no magic within him, and his body appeared somewhat frail in the night.
But as an ordinary person, he exuded an invisible aura—a unique authority cultivated from long-held power, giving him a demeanor distinctly different from the Spellcasters beside him.
While the strongest Spellcaster here couldn't help but show fear and the ordinary guards trembled and sweated in Brian's presence, Thorn Grand Duke, an ordinary human, stood calmly, smiling, as if unaffected by any pressure.
Brian looked at the tiny figure before him, thinking that if he unleashed his Dragon's Might, the man wouldn't remain so composed.
The pressure Brian exerted on others now mainly came from the sheer size of a super-large creature compared to smaller beings, without using Dragon's Might.
This size-induced pressure could be resisted by ordinary people with enough determination and a strong mind.
But the supernatural force of Dragon's Might... Brian believed it could directly crush this frail human Grand Duke.
"Dragons are truly beautiful and powerful creatures."
Thorn Grand Duke waved away the guards beside him and walked closer to Brian, stopping about ten meters away, looking up at him.
"The Metallic Dragon Tribe has always been kind to humans, so I won't hesitate to offer our nation's strength to help you."
"So, mighty Silver Dragon, what brings you here?"
