Chapter： 157 I, Morton's Close Friend
Brian looked at Thorn Grand Duke with a half-smile, then slightly opened his dragon mouth, revealing sharp, snow-white dragon teeth.
His actions caused the surrounding guards to simultaneously change their expressions. Some moved to shield Thorn Grand Duke from the impending attack, while others raised their weapons, aiming at Brian, ready to strike.
At the same time, Thorn Grand Duke's face turned stern, and a heavy reprimand came from his gaunt frame: "Stop!"
Thorn Grand Duke's prestige was high. The moment he gave the order, the nearby guards immediately ceased their actions but still kept a wary eye on Brian.
When Thorn Grand Duke appeared and showed a calm demeanor unafraid of the mighty Dragon's Might, the morale of these guards increased significantly.
The oppressive feeling from Brian's enormous size diminished considerably, as if they had found a reliable backbone, even though this backbone was just an ordinary person without the strength to truss a chicken.
This trust was built over a long period.
There was no dangerous Dragon's Breath brewing in Brian's mouth, which made the Spellcasters preparing defensive spells breathe a sigh of relief.
They truly couldn't imagine the possibility of withstanding the breath of a super-large True Dragon at such close range.
If Brian attacked, everyone present would undoubtedly die.
Currently, in the Mocha Principality, there wasn't even a high-level Mage of the seventh ring. The strongest one was the first Spellcaster who spoke to Brian, a sixth-ring Mage who had exhausted his potential and had no hope of advancing to a higher level.
How could they make a super-large True Dragon wary?
On the other side, under the tense gazes of the crowd, a faint red glow flashed in Brian's mouth, transforming into a more than one-meter-long fiery red staff, which he deftly picked up with his massive Dragon Claws.
The moment the fiery red staff appeared, it captured the attention of all the surrounding Spellcasters.
The vibrant elemental energy, the extraordinary quality of the staff's material, the dark red crystal seemingly containing fluid Flame inside... It was like a candle in the night, making it hard for the Spellcasters present to look away.
A high-quality staff is something all Spellcasters desire.
Brian lowered his head, looking down at the diminutive Thorn Grand Duke. His platinum Dragon's Eyes devoid of any emotion, he spoke coldly: "I wonder if this Red Flame Staff can remind you of anything."
Thorn Grand Duke looked at the Red Flame Staff, pondered for a few seconds, then shook his head and said, "I have never seen it before. It looks quite excellent, a magical weapon that all Spellcasters would seek. However, being obtained by a powerful True Dragon is its fortune."
His voice was sincere, seemingly without pretense.
Immediately after, Brian's expression darkened slightly, and his tone grew heavier: "I come from the far northern Ice Field."
When Thorn Grand Duke heard the term "far northern Ice Field," he was first slightly stunned, then his face changed, and his gaze towards Brian became more uneasy.
According to intelligence, Morton's friend was a silver dragon...
However, what puzzled Thorn Grand Duke was that Morton's friend should be a female silver dragon, who transformed into a woman when entering human society and accompanied him.
But the silver dragon in front of him... didn't look female.
Seeing Thorn Grand Duke's expression change, Brian's face remained calm and unruffled. In a casual yet immensely pressuring tone, he slowly said, "I have a close friend who fled to the far northern Ice Field but was forced to perish with the enemy on the way, leaving behind only two offspring."
Brian paused, leaned forward, and lowered his head close to Thorn Grand Duke, his hot breath almost spraying onto Thorn Grand Duke's face.
"After that, a two-thousand-strong elite army went to the far northern Ice Field and was buried under the Ice and Snow."
"Their equipment bore the emblem of a thorny flower."
"You may not recognize the Red Flame Staff, but the thorny flower emblem should be very familiar to you."
Brian scrutinized Thorn Grand Duke, watching his expression gradually change.
He had previously suspected that the lava demi-plane portal had been obtained by the Mocha Principality; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent people to chase Morton all the way to the dangerous far northern Ice Field.
Upon arriving in this city, Brian saw numerous thorny flower emblems and some guards with similarly styled equipment, confirming his suspicions.
Thorn Grand Duke's expression shifted, and he finally let out a long sigh. Looking up at Brian, he suppressed a trace of fear in his heart and said, "Is the silver dragon here for Morton?"
After a pause, Thorn Grand Duke's voice became calm and he slowly said, "The metallic Dragon Tribe has always upheld goodness and justice, helping the weak and fighting evil, but they never interfere in normal human conflicts."
"Morton died in the disputes between nations. I actually have no personal grudge against him."
"If the silver dragon wants to take it out on the Mocha Principality because of this, I have nothing to say."
"I just hope you don't vent your anger on the innocent citizens of the Mocha Principality; they know nothing about this."
Swish!
A cold light flickered, and the surrounding guards' faces turned grim simultaneously, their blades glinting coldly in the chilly night.
The Spellcasters began to chant spells in low voices.
This time, Thorn Grand Duke did not stop them.
If Brian had come for revenge, even if they were no match, he wouldn't sit idly by.
Brian remained silent, looking at the guards who were treating him as a formidable enemy. He grinned slightly.
"Little one, I have no intention of killing today, but if anyone wants to challenge the bottom line of a True Dragon, I don't mind turning this place into a river of blood."
Thorn Grand Duke showed a hint of confusion and then asked, "If you're not here to avenge Morton, then why exactly are you here?"
Brian shook the Red Flame Staff and said, "This staff is also a key. What I need is what the key can open."
Upon hearing Brian's words, Thorn Grand Duke frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment.
He still harbored unrealistic thoughts that if he could open the passage to the lava demi-plane, even though the Mocha Principality was now at its lowest point, it could one day return to its peak.
"As Morton's close friend, I cannot allow his relics to be left outside."
"Now, I give you two choices."
"One, voluntarily hand over Morton's relics to me. Two, I turn this place into scorched earth and find them myself in the ashes."
The Red Flame Staff glowed slightly, and the surrounding temperature began to rise.
The increasing heat made Thorn Grand Duke uncomfortable, forcing him to take a few steps back, his face flushed by the firelight.
In almost the blink of an eye, five or six pea-sized red light clusters appeared in front of Brian, floating and bobbing in the air like little red elves, but they exuded an aura of destruction.
The Spellcasters felt immense pressure, their faces changing drastically as they hurriedly constructed defensive spells.
Brian ignored them, not paying them any mind at all.
