Chapter 95: The Baron's Banquet
Sg Town. Baron's Manor.
Lord Todd Lakanman sat with his hands folded, his expression heavy with anxiety. At his side stood his newly appointed steward—Charlotte, a smooth-tongued servant who knew exactly how to please her master.
Unable to contain himself, Todd turned to the steward with a trembling voice:
“What should I do? Father has already sent word—Allied Forces are likely to choose Sg Town as their base. If they find out about my connection with Ashen Hollow… then…”
He shuddered at the memory of his father’s blood-red eyes.
The steward remained calm. “You must make a choice, Lord Baron. You can become a loyal servant of the Evil Dragon… or you can become a hero of your own family.”
“How?” Todd grasped at the words like a drowning man.
“The first step is simple,” the steward replied. “Eliminate Hart. Report back to the family.”
Todd clenched his jaw, teeth grinding. “Yes! Yes! That scum—Hart—the traitor! He’s the one who brought that Red Dragon here! If it weren’t for him, I’d never be in this mess! That filthy dog!”
Indeed, Hart had grown increasingly bold lately—his surveillance of Lord Todd had become relentless, his arrogance unchecked. He no longer treated the Baron with even the pretense of respect.
This infuriated Todd beyond measure. How dare a former Slave Trader—once a cowering human beneath his feet—dare to rise above him?
The steward offered a quiet suggestion:
“Perhaps, Lord Baron, you need a banquet.”
“Oh?”
“Hart is brash, overconfident. He believes you’re too afraid of Ashen Hollow to act against him. So invite him. Use the feast as your chance to strike.”
Todd paused, his fingers slowly unclasping. Then, slowly, he nodded.
“Yes. Let him know… who truly holds power here.”
A crimson glow flickered deep within his pupils.
In the dimly lit hall, candlelight danced across the walls. The long table groaned under the weight of lavish feasts, flanked by several soldiers on guard.
Hart and Todd sat at opposite ends of the table. Charlotte stood nearby, poised and silent.
Hart broke the silence with a booming laugh. “So, Lord Baron, you summoned me just for dinner? I must say—your newfound ability to charm people is quite surprising.”
Todd forced a thin, hollow smile. “You’re quite right, Hart, sir.”
He rose slowly, adjusting his coat, then walked with deliberate steps toward Hart’s seat. Charlotte followed closely behind.
Hart, utterly unaware of danger, leaned back in his chair, smug and relaxed. “Is this it? Are you finally going to serve me?”
Todd reached his side. In his eyes, a crimson light flared.
“Yes,” he hissed. “But not as a servant. As a meal.”
With a sudden lunge, he lunged forward, fangs bared—aiming to sink them into Hart’s neck.
But there was no yielding flesh. No warm blood.
Instead, Hart’s neck—once soft and vulnerable—was now armored in jagged, crimson scales. The impact shattered Todd’s fangs like glass.
Todd recoiled in horror, clutching his mouth. “Impossible—!”
Hart laughed, a deep, mocking roar. “You, you little shadow-dwelling vermin… how could you understand the might of my master?!”
He rose slowly, muscles swelling beneath his torn clothes. The scales weren’t just on his neck—his cheeks were armored too, hidden beneath his hair. His eyes had transformed into piercing golden vertical slits. Claws, long and sharp, extended from his fingers.
Todd screamed, “Guard! Kill him! Now!”
The soldiers snapped to attention—then raised their spears.
But they didn’t aim at Hart.
They pointed them at Lord Todd.
A storm of gloom swept across Todd’s face, quickly replaced by rage. “You traitors! You’ve betrayed me!”
“Humans are always unreliable,” he spat. “I should’ve known!”
In a fit of desperation, he unleashed a spell.
“Mafu Armor Classid Arrow!”
A stream of corrosive acid shot toward Hart—but shattered against an invisible barrier.
Todd tried to teleport away, but the room was sealed.
Whisper Bloom—magically dampening enchantments—surrounded the space. No spell could pass.
Fury consumed him. “Another spellcaster?! This was a trap all along… and I was the one caught in it!”
Then it hit him.
Charlotte.
“You… you’re the traitor!” he roared, spinning around.
But the steward no longer looked humble.
She stared at him with cold, disdainful eyes.
A pulse of magic flared in her hands.
【Sleep Spell】
Todd’s body went limp. He collapsed to the floor, sinking into deep, magical slumber.
Hart kicked the unconscious Vampire Offspring with a grin. “Well done, Charlotte. This little bloodsucker’s weak, but he’s slippery—too many ways to escape. If he’d made it back to Northwind Keep, that’d be a problem.”
He chuckled. “Poor Lord Todd. Thought he was setting a trap for me… but the trap was for himself.”
Charlotte bowed slightly. “Hart, sir. My reward, as promised.”
Hart waved a hand dismissively. “Relax. Five hundred gold coins—every last one. No shortcuts. And the Manor’s Magic Scroll, plus all positions within Sg Town are yours. Just keep doing what you’re good at.”
Hart raised his silver blade, ready to end the vampire.
But Charlotte stepped forward, stopping him.
“Don’t kill him. Lanpu-sama specifically ordered that we study this Vampire Offspring.”
Hart froze. A shiver ran through him.
“…Oh,” he muttered. “Then this Lord Baron won’t be dying anytime soon.”
Once the deed was done, the soldiers revealed their true forms.
They were all members of the 【Magic Coin】 Guild—
Including Deputy Leader Mingyue, and famed mages of the future: Tianhuo, Wei Ai Fa Ye, Kabalieba, and others.
Even the serving maid—so obedient and quiet—was none other than the Flying Witch, disguised with flawless illusion.
Using the advanced flattery techniques learned from the New Era, these players had charmed their way into Todd’s inner circle in record time—gaining trust, respect, and access.
And poor Lord Todd, believing he’d secured loyal allies outside Ashen Hollow’s grasp… had no idea they were here for one thing: his head.
Charlotte crossed her arms, laughing triumphantly.
“Hah! This mission cleared, our Guild’s coffers are overflowing. From now on—Sg Town belongs to Magic Coin!”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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