Chapter 570: Tower of the Coast
Chapter 570: Tower of the Coast
Duke Aiden quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then said aloud, "Good day, Mr. Hermit. Thank you for your assistance to our family, and welcome to Silverfort. Your presence here is truly our honor."
"Good day, Mr. Hermit."
Chief Mage Koschek and the three Knight Commanders also bowed respectfully and greeted in unison.
Having chatted along the way, Heloise was less formal, simply smiling and saying, "We meet again, Mr. Hermit."
"You must be Duke Aiden, whom Miss Heloise mentioned."
The Hermit merely nodded in greeting and glanced around the hall before finally settling his gaze on Duke Aiden.
The Seaver family members in the hall were unaware that, in the Hermit’s, or rather Cassius’s, deep light green eyes, they were like open books, devoid of secrets—it was the crushing presence of superior life essence.
As a red dragon of ancestral bloodline, even in his avatar form, Cassius possessed a life essence far more powerful than theirs.
[Goldenflower Duke - Aiden (Class Level: Battle Master 12)]
[Seaver Blade - Simon (Class Level: Champion Warrior 20)]
[Master of the Arcane - Koschek (Class Level: Wizard - Conjuration School 19)]
[Captain of Mithril Hand - Feodor Pet (Class Level: Rune Warrior 16)]
"Tsk tsk, as expected of the chaotic Feanso continent. Even a noble ruling part of a city holds such power."
Browsing the information panel, Cassius couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
An epic-level warrior, a nearly legendary archmage, and several other extraordinary-class warriors.
This was merely the strength the Seaver family was willing to show on the surface.
Such a force could easily rule a duchy in the Northern Territories or even conquer the powerful Bosque Duchy.
Yet on the Feanso continent, in the largest, most prosperous city of the western coast—Victoria Port—they couldn’t even fully control the city and had to contend with three other great families.
Thinking of this, Cassius said lightly, "Heh, as expected of one of Victoria Port’s rulers, Duke Aiden. It seems your family is quite formidable."
At that moment, sweat beaded on Koschek’s forehead. The numerous spells he had arranged within Silverfort were useless before this Hermit.
Moreover, he felt something strange—the being before him had already seen through him. He had no secrets before him.
Simon subconsciously reached for the Seaver sword at his waist to protect the duke, though his hand trembled slightly.
Just now, he had felt an overwhelming aura that made him instinctively afraid.
"No need to be nervous. Mr. Hermit is our family’s benefactor."
Duke Aiden noticed the strange atmosphere and quickly forced a smile.
"Mr. Hermit, you protected our caravan and rescued my daughter. I don’t even know how to properly thank you. This is a small token of appreciation, a gesture of sincerity from our Seaver family. Please accept it."
He called several servants and had them carry over the chests prepared in advance.
They were extremely heavy, and the servants struggled to carry them before finally managing to place them before the Hermit and expertly opened them.
Instantly, golden light filled the hall.
The chests were piled high with coins—tens of thousands of gold pieces—along with exquisite gold jewelry and shimmering pearls like sand.
Clearly, Duke Aiden had thoroughly researched the tastes of bronze dragons, knowing their greed for gold and fondness for pearls as snacks.
Even those in the hall struggled to keep their breath steady at the sight of so much treasure.
—But it was clearly impolite to covet others’ wealth, and they quickly restrained themselves, focusing expectantly on the Hermit.
The Hermit’s eyes sparkled, his lips curled into a smile, and he nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased.
The golden glow reflected in his pale green eyes—evidently, even metallic dragons could not fully resist the greed rooted in draconic instinct.
But that was just an appetizer.
Duke Aiden continued, "Mr. Hermit, this is only a portion of our gratitude.
The value of the munitions brought back by the caravan can be measured in gold, but to me, my daughter—Heloise—is priceless.
I truly don’t know how to express my thanks, so I offer our most treasured collectibles from Victoria Port, hoping they please you."
"Clap, clap."
Duke Aiden clapped his hands. The hall doors slowly opened, and maids in luxurious attire filed in.
They held transparent glass boxes, each containing rare and magical items, some radiating vivid magical light.
Red coral from the sea, ships bottled in glass, naga noble crowns, massive rainbow-sheened pearls...
All were treasures from the ocean, meticulously prepared by Duke Aiden.
As he knew, besides gold and pearls, the "Coastal Dragon" bronze dragons also loved marine treasures, and the Seaver family had plenty in stock from their years at Victoria Port.
A dozen artifacts were presented before the Hermit, while Duke Aiden discreetly observed his reaction.
The Hermit admired the well-prepared items, and his pale green eyes shone with undisguised joy.
Duke Aiden knew his goal was achieved—the Seaver family had won the favor of an ancient bronze dragon.
The Hermit sighed, "It seems Victoria Port is indeed the most prosperous harbor city today. Your Seaver family is truly wealthy. In that case, I shall not refuse your kindness. I will accept these gifts. If you need assistance, have Miss Heloise toss that coin."
Duke Aiden gave a look, and Heloise stepped forward, softly asking, "Mr. Hermit, there’s something I’d like to ask you... Do you know who those cultists were that attacked us? The ones calling themselves worshipers of the ’Lord God’?"
The Hermit sneered, "Hmph, just a bunch of delusional worms. They don’t even realize their minds are enslaved—how laughable. But in usual terms, they’d be called... thralls of the mind flayers."
"Mind flayers?"
Koschek’s expression changed instantly, his face turning pale.
He had studied the multiverse under Trafalanro and understood how vile and dangerous these creatures were.
He searched his mind like a library, recalling the facts.
Mind flayers, also called illithids, translated in Undercommon as "mind plunderers" or "soul slavers," known among githyanki as "ghaik" (brain-eating freaks).
They are violent aberrations feared across the multiverse for their formidable psionics.
They extract and devour the brains of living victims, absorbing their identities.
These creatures dwell in twisted lairs deep in the Underdark, aiming to dominate all life and enslave minds.
Koschek murmured, "How could mind flayers appear in the surface world?"
The Hermit looked at him meaningfully. "Young mage, these worms’ history is far older than you know, and their greed far greater. Four hundred years ago, I destroyed a nautiloid ship of the mind flayers and learned of their so-called grand design."
Hearing this flood of revelations, Duke Aiden frowned, his expression growing grave. "Mr. Hermit, is Victoria Port their target?"
The Hermit replied calmly, "You could say that. But it’s not their only aim. It’s one of the reasons I came to Victoria Port."
Duke Aiden said, "Mr. Hermit, the Seaver family will provide whatever support we can. We hope to work with you to eliminate these monsters."
The Hermit replied, "Of course. But first, I’ll need a place to stay. Heh, I was hoping to return to my home in Talport, but I didn’t expect it to have sunk beneath the sea."
Duke Aiden quickly said, "Of course, Mr. Hermit. We will build you a mansion in the best part of the upper district, overlooking the sea."
The Hermit shook his head. "No need. The upper district is full of priests and nobles—boring. And I wouldn’t meet enough of the city’s diverse inhabitants."
"Then what do you propose?"
Gazing out the window at the bustling harbor, the Hermit’s lips curled slightly:
"Build me a tower in the lower district’s most chaotic and mixed-up area. Call it the Tower of the Coast."
Duke Aiden immediately agreed: "Yes, Mr. Hermit. Give us ten days, and we will construct your tower in the lower district."
Inwardly, he chuckled, already mourning the fate of the lower district’s criminal underbelly.
An ancient bronze dragon with a strong sense of justice taking up residence in the chaotic lower district would be a nightmare for thieves and cultists.
But the sinister goals of the mind flayers made Duke Aiden deeply wary—what were they after, trying to kidnap his daughter?
Suddenly, the Hermit spoke again, interrupting his thoughts.
"Oh right, Duke Aiden, don’t forget to move all this treasure into the tower."
With that, the Hermit opened a spatial rift and vanished, leaving Duke Aiden standing there, helplessly smiling.
Still a dragon, after all.
Victoria Port remained lively, with caravans and ships moving nonstop.
But rumors spread that Heloise, Duke Aiden’s daughter, had been ambushed by cultists, enraging the duke.
The famed Seaver Blade and the duke’s confidant, Simon Amorim, personally led hundreds of elite mercenaries into the chaotic Wilson District.
At first, local factions feared a massive purge, but instead, the mercenaries began construction, puzzling everyone.
Days later, a splendid blue tower stood in Wilson District, marked with a plaque: Tower of the Coast—completely out of place amid the rundown buildings.
Mithril Hand mercenaries escorted treasure into the tower, inciting the greed of nearby thieves and gangs.
Once finished, the mercenaries withdrew, leaving only powerless servants and a gray-robed man inside.
Though likely Aiden’s treasure, the poorly guarded tower and its dazzling wealth tempted the local criminals.
Some gangs and cults even joined forces with undead to raid the tower.
But after a stormy night of thunder and lightning, fishermen complained about the "Sea Queen’s" mood swings, and ash piled outside the tower.
Locals found that the raiding factions had mysteriously vanished, never to be seen again.
And so another rumor spread: the man in the Tower of the Coast who called himself the "Hermit" was a powerful sorcerer.
Some swore he was actually a terrifying dragon, though most laughed it off.
As the largest port in Silvermoon Bay, Victoria Port was highly inclusive. Races like orcs, dwarves, elves, and even naga were common sights.
Residents soon accepted the Tower of the Coast, treating it as a pawn shop for ocean treasures and a place to buy information.
It was the undead who were most drawn to the tower, often gathering in groups to receive missions from the mysterious Hermit.
To the players who spawned in Victoria Port, the "Hermit" in the Tower of the Coast had clearly become the most mysterious and important NPC.
Standing atop the tower, gazing out at the sea crowded with ships, Cassius narrowed his eyes:
"Originally, the Lord God’s cult kidnapped Heloise, using her to pressure Duke Aiden and gradually seize Victoria Port’s military power.
Now that I’ve saved the Seaver family caravan, let’s see what other tricks they have left."