novelraw Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77. The Throat of the Withered Dragon
Foolish?
Sylvia suddenly turned her head.
Two flames seemed to ignite within her silver-gray eyes as she stared directly at Logaris.
“So, Loga, are you saying that I do not even have the ability to protect myself?”
Her voice rose sharply, thick with hostility.
“Or do you think your magic can solve everything, while my sword is nothing more than a decoration?”
This is bad.
Here it comes again.
At the side, Esmeralda and General Victor exchanged a subtle glance.
Then they each silently stepped half a step backward, tacitly leaving space for the people who needed to talk.
“I am merely stating the facts.”
Logaris leaned forward slightly, showing no intention of retreating.
“As a leader, your value lies in decision-making and coordination, not in personal bravery.”
“No matter the circumstances, you should never place yourself in danger.”
He immediately proposed an alternative plan.
His speech was rapid, his logic so clear that it was difficult to refute.
“I will lead the meeting.”
“The plan has three simple steps.”
“First, Alectos must be present.”
“He is our only ‘trump card’ in negotiations with them and the fulcrum that can shift the course of this war.”
“His identity is more important than that of any of us.”
“Second, I am carrying several research products from my time at the academy—some ‘specialized explosives’ that are not convenient to display publicly.”
“If a conflict breaks out, I would have to divide my attention to protect you, which would make it harder for me to act freely.”
“Third—”
His gaze drifted toward the corner of the room.
There, Lilith was trying very hard to reduce her presence.
The Anti-Magic assassin suddenly stiffened.
She felt as though some natural predator had locked onto her.
“Bring her,” Logaris said calmly.
“A Sixth-Tier Nullifier is the best insurance against magical traps or surprise attacks from top-tier experts.”
Lilith: “…”
I am not.
I did not.
Stop making things up!
Sylvia stared fixedly at Logaris.
It seemed as though she wanted to find even the slightest flaw in that eternally expressionless face of his.
But there was none.
That face contained nothing but pure, absolute rationality.
The room fell into brief silence.
In the end, the flames in Sylvia’s eyes gradually faded.
Reason ultimately overcame the impulsiveness of a knight and the pride of a princess.
She took a deep breath and sat back down in the main seat.
The calm and decisive ruler of the Northern Territory had returned.
“…Fine.”
A single word represented her concession.
“We will proceed according to your proposal.”
“Logaris, Lilith, and Alectos will form a team and attend the meeting.”
“General Victor and I will remain at the Rime Valley frontline to guard against a surprise attack.”
“At the same time, the entire army will enter the highest alert state and prepare to provide support at any moment.”
The plan was settled.
Just as Logaris was about to leave to summon the others, Sylvia called out to him.
She walked toward him.
The two stood very close to each other—close enough to clearly see their reflections in each other’s eyes.
“Remember.”
“Your own safety comes first.”
Her voice was cold and composed, yet it carried a tone that allowed no refusal.
After speaking, she removed an ancient-looking short sword from her waist and handed it to Logaris.
The hilt was shaped like a ferocious wolf’s head.
The scabbard was engraved with a map of the Northern Territory.
It was the object entrusted to her by Grand Duke Fenrir—the symbol of supreme command over the Northern Legion.
The Fang of the Winter Wolf.
“The person you are negotiating with is a legion commander who commands a massive army.”
“Although you represent me, your status still falls short by one level.”
“With this, your words will carry greater authority.”
Upon seeing this, General Victor’s brow instinctively tightened.
Handing the symbol of Northern Territory military authority to someone outside the Winterhold family was completely against protocol.
He was about to speak.
But when the words reached his lips, he remembered all the changes Logaris had brought to the Northern Territory—and his determination in voluntarily undertaking this negotiation.
In the end, the old general merely sighed silently and said nothing more.
…
Late the next night.
East side of the Dragon Mountain Range.
Beneath the third peak.
The Throat of the Withered Dragon.
True to its name, the place was a narrow and twisted canyon.
On both sides rose towering cliffs that pierced the sky.
The freezing winds blew endlessly through the gorge, producing a shrieking howl like ghosts wailing in the night.
Three figures stepped into this land of death amidst the raging snowstorm.
Lilith, walking at the rear, had resistance written all over her body.
She buried half of her face into a thick scarf.
Her resentful eyes were fixed on the calm figure walking in front.
Her small face was scrunched up like a bitter gourd left overnight.
If it were not for that cursed Soul Binding contract tying her down, she would have fled eight hundred times already.
A top-tier assassin like her was now following a crazy mage to some desolate place where even birds refused to fly.
And they were meeting enemy generals face to face.
If this mission were posted at the Mercenary Rankings, even an S-rank mission would need serious consideration.
And what about her situation?
She did not even get the chance to negotiate a salary.
Alectos, walking in the middle, presented a completely different picture.
He had already removed his disguise as a human.
He now wore a set of simple clothing that still revealed the dignity of royal heritage.
His golden hair fluttered in the night wind.
The young man’s face showed nervousness.
But more than that, there was determination—the resolve of someone about to change his fate with his own hands.
Meanwhile, Logaris, walking at the front, seemed completely out of place in this tense and deadly atmosphere.
He looked as though he were conducting an ordinary field research expedition.
His steps were steady.
His breathing was even.
As he walked, he calmly wiped his glasses with a soft velvet cloth, removing the snow that had blurred the lenses.
At his waist hung the short sword representing the military authority of the Northern Territory.
The Fang of the Winter Wolf.
The ancient wolf-headed hilt flickered faintly through the swirling snow, adding an indescribable aura of intimidation.
Deep within the canyon, the wind howled like blades, sweeping up endless ice and snow.
When the three finally arrived at the appointed location, a tall and slender figure was already waiting in the storm.
The man wore a heavy white fur cloak, nearly blending into the snowy landscape.
He was Kane.
The commander of the Storm Legion, the Third Legion of the Demi-Human Empire.
The White Wolf Demi-Human.
He stood there alone.
No guards accompanied him.
He simply stood quietly beneath a massive rock, his presence as steady as a mountain.
He did not deliberately release any pressure.
Yet the terrifying aura of a Sixth-Tier powerhouse, perfectly fused with the surrounding environment, made the very air of the canyon feel thick and heavy.
Lilith blew warm air onto her fingers.
The alertness in her eyes rose to its highest level.
An expert.
A true expert.
“You are punctual.”
Kane spoke.
His voice was steady, like a rock polished by wind and snow.
He patted the glowing Communication Crystal at his waist.
“General Ulzok is listening.”
He added an explanation.
“His temper… is not very suitable for occasions that require patience.”
The moment he finished speaking, an earth-shaking roar exploded from the Communication Crystal.
The sound was so loud that even the snow accumulated in the canyon trembled and fell.
“Stop the nonsense, Kane!”
“Ask the important questions directly!”
Lilith rolled her eyes.
Great.
Another hot-tempered one.
Kane’s gaze swept across the three of them.
Finally, his eyes landed on Alectos.
The moment he saw the prince—who had discarded his human disguise and now stood with the dignified bearing of a Demi-Human royal—the calm expression on Kane’s face changed dramatically for the first time.
His sharp wolf-like eyes widened.
“Prince Alectos!”
His voice carried excitement that he struggled to suppress.
“It truly is you!”
In the next second, Kane suddenly stepped forward.
The aura around his body instantly sharpened.
His piercing eyes turned toward Logaris like blades, filled with vigilance and hostility.
“Your Highness.”
“Have you been coerced by these humans?”
“Please give the order!”
“Even if I must risk my life, I will take you away from here!”