Red Dragon has magic

Chapter 209: Gray Dwarf City

The Cloud Giant thinks that Leon belongs to the chaotic neutral camp, which is very special for a red dragon. However, Leon insists that he is quite lawful and can basically do what he promised and will not go back on his word easily.

Now that the city of the gray dwarves was found, Lyon released the drow as promised, even though the drow patrol originally had four people, but now only one survived.

"Such a big gray dwarf city..." Leon was not in a hurry to move forward, "Do you have confidence?"

Cecilia clutched her skirt with both hands and remained silent.

She originally just wanted to find a gathering place of gray dwarves, where there were only a few dozen or a hundred gray dwarves. At most, she could easily defeat the slaves with 20 or 30 gray dwarf warriors. How could she have the courage to provoke such a large gray dwarf city? Facing such a large gray dwarf city, at least an adult red dragon would be qualified.

"I'm not afraid as long as the master is helping me." Cecilia spoke.

"Do your own things and live a comfortable life." Lyon is confident that he can capture that gray dwarf city, but he doesn't want to do that. After all, his base is in Watchport, and he won't be able to rule it even if he captures that gray dwarf city.

I definitely won't rule, but such a big city of gray dwarves must have a lot of refined gold and mithril, maybe I can rob some. From slaves to slave owners, the gray dwarves are evil and cruel, and there is no need to worry about conscience when robbing the thieves. Thinking wildly, Leon suddenly felt a little moved.

Cecilia only heard Leon talking, not knowing what he was thinking. She curled her lips, thinking that if Tassela had something to ask, someone would definitely agree. Then she subconsciously looked down, stared at the shoes and said, "Just do it yourself... You're just a gray dwarf, I have plenty of ways to deal with it."

"What method?" Leon asked.

"The master is so smart, he will definitely guess it." Cecilia shook her head, "Let's go in."

Leon shrugged and followed Cecilia.

As soon as they approached the gray dwarf city, the city gate immediately split open, and six heavily armed gray dwarves came out, two holding swords and shields, and the other four holding loaded heavy crossbows.

"State your name and purpose of visit!" the obviously strongest gray dwarf ordered in dwarven language.

The surface world uses Common Language, and the Underdark uses Underground Common Language. Leon did not know Underground Common Language, but happened to know Dwarven Language, so he made up a purpose in Dwarven Language.

Lyon thought there would be some twists and turns, but who knew that when he said it, the gray dwarves actually believed it and made way for the team to let them enter the city.

Countless rooms dug out of huge stalagmites and stalactites were used as smelting workshops. Amid the clanging sounds of smelting work, the entire gray dwarf city was filled with sultry heat and thick smoke.

"When did you learn Dwarvish?" Cecilia was very surprised that Leon could speak Dwarvish.

“Not only do I speak Dwarven, I also speak Elvish and Infernal.” Leon said proudly, thinking that he learned Elvish from Tassera and Infernal from those tiefling maids.

Now he has mastered several languages, although they are limited to the level of daily communication. That was something he could not have imagined before. It was really thanks to his good memory as a red dragon.

"Let's try to communicate in Dragon Language." Leon found that there were invisible gray dwarves everywhere around him, and two gray dwarf guards were following them at a distance.

He believed that there were many gray dwarves who could speak the common language, but there were probably no gray dwarves who could speak dragon language.

"Okay," Cecilia hissed in response.

Lyon nodded, looking at the non-stop forging workshops around him emitting a hellish dim red light. He felt a little jealous at the lack of an industrial zone in his Watchport. He wanted to kidnap all those gray dwarves, but then he remembered that gray dwarves were generally sensitive to sunlight. Instead of building an industrial zone, he might as well go to the Lost Plateau and find the dwarves directly.

"What kind of dwarf is that dwarf who is smaller than the gray dwarf?" Cecilia was attracted by the small dwarf with blue-gray skin, straight white hair, pale eyes, and no pupils or irises. "A short gray dwarf, or another kind of dwarf? How come I have never heard of it before?"

The young dragon inherited a considerable body of useful knowledge from its parents, which was usually buried deep in memory until it was needed. As a green dragon, Cecilia did not need to learn anything at all. She knew everything about the forest, and in other aspects, she was only at the level of an ordinary adventurer.

"That's the Derro." Leon didn't inherit a large body of practical knowledge from his parents. He had read some setting books before and spent his free time in Tassera's library. "Like the gray dwarves, they were once dwarves, and were transformed as slaves of the mind flayers until they became what they are now."

Cecilia remained noncommittal, her curiosity satisfied.

Leon was concerned about those workshops, but Cecilia, who was a fun-loving person, was more concerned about two gray dwarf guards beating up a red-nosed hobgoblin merchant, and a gray dwarf couple quarreling...

"You won't forget the reason why we came out, right?" Leon noticed Cecilia's gaze, "You came here to find a way to contact psychic energy and awaken psychic energy, not to see family matters."

"I know, I know." Cecilia coughed. "Well, I found that the gray dwarves are quite capable... I found that everyone is working hard, unlike the goblins under my command who only know how to be lazy. They will not work at all unless they are whipped hard. They are the most active only when eating."

"If you're not active when eating, there's something wrong with your thinking," Leon added.

"What?" Cecilia couldn't catch Leon's joke. "Nothing." Leon didn't explain.

"Gray dwarves were once dwarves, and in many ways they are similar to dwarves." Lyon showed off his knowledge. "They generally abide by their duties. Whether as an individual or as a member of a family or clan, they are happy to accept their social status. They rarely use conspiracies and tricks to undermine their opponents. Instead, they are used to rolling up their sleeves and working hard to improve their prestige through the fruits of their labor."

"Now that you mention it, I think these gray dwarves are quite cute." Cecilia smiled.

"What if I tell you that their qualities are limited to their own people?" Lyon continued, "The honor and integrity that the gray dwarves show in front of their compatriots will not be shown in front of outsiders. When they trade with merchants of other races, they will constantly modify the contracts in order to gain an advantage, and try their best to enslave those city visitors who don't seem strong enough... Are you still listening?"

"Well, look at that bald gray dwarf holding a mace, do you think he is a psychic master?" Cecilia was indeed distracted, but she was not attracted by the gossip around her.

Since Cecilia was distracted by serious matters, Leon chose to forgive her disrespect and said, "I don't know. I just heard that the Gray Dwarf Mind Masters usually act as spies and operate in and outside the Gray Dwarf cities."

“Go ask.” Cecilia said excitedly.

"What do you want to do?" Leon was sure Cecilia had some conspiracy.

Cecilia laid out her plan in full and asked, "What do you think of my plan?"

"No problem." Leon said, "My dog-headed military advisor."

Leon quickly caught up with the bald gray dwarf holding the mace and said, "Hello."

The bald gray dwarf stopped and looked at Leon. He was very charming, but not very strong. He said, "Surface man, what do you want from me? If it's nothing important, don't blame me for being rude."

"If you are strong, then there is something important." Leon said, "Do you have psychic powers?"

"Of course I can." The bald gray dwarf raised his hands and showed off his biceps. "I am a powerful psionic priest."

"I need some people, some powerful warriors with psychic powers, to escort us to a place." Leon said, "As long as you are strong enough, I have plenty of money."

"What do you need so many powerful warriors who can use telekinesis for?" said the bald gray dwarf. "The place you want to go won't pass by those terrible mind flayer colonies, right?"

"We do have to pass by the Mind Flayer Colony." Leon said, "Isn't it okay?"

"Yes, of course, as long as you can pay the price." The bald gray dwarf touched his head, "Our asking price is very high."

"As long as you can get us there smoothly," Leon said, "tell us a number."

The bald gray dwarf reported a number, which was really exorbitant.

In order to make it look more realistic, Lyon thought for a moment and bargained the price in half.

"Deal." The bald gray dwarf said, "But you have to pay the deposit first."

"Ten gold coins." Leon took out ten gold coins from his pocket, "This money is enough to pay the deposit."

The bald gray dwarf took the gold coin, tossed it and weighed it, and said, "We'll meet at the entrance of the brewery tomorrow... Let me remind you surface people that surface people are only allowed to move around in the market area and cannot go anywhere else. There are invisible guards everywhere here, so don't think about doing anything tricky."

"Also, you look skinny and weak. If you encounter provocation, be careful and don't let them find an excuse to call the guards... In our place, any small mistake may lead to immediate execution." The bald gray dwarf said, "If you really can't help it, tell me my name. My name is Bernhard."

The bald gray dwarf muttered something and then left.

"How is it?" Cecilia asked. She decided to learn a few more languages ​​when she returned, otherwise she would be at a disadvantage when traveling abroad.

Leon recounted his conversation with the bald gray dwarf.

"Do you believe him?" Cecilia asked.

Leon just smiled, he was no longer a young dragon. When he first arrived, he was naive and believed everything. Now, except those masters of deception, few people could deceive him.

(End of this chapter)