Ashen Dragon

In the tense atmosphere, Cassius finally spoke,

"I see you have remarkable bones and exceptional intelligence, you're quite a talent. No, a magical talent. Would you be willing to become my retainer?"

Ramp heaved a sigh of relief and stopped casting the Fireball Technique.

He responded flatteringly, "From the perspective of submitting to the strong, of course, I am willing to become your retainer. After all, you are a powerful Red Dragon."

But before the Red Dragon could reply, he tentatively looked up and said in a low voice,

"However, I would also like to know, what benefits do I and my tribe get from becoming your retainer?"

"This ogre is really hard to fool, quite the Smarty. If it were any other Red Dragon, he would have been roasted to ashes with one Flame Breath. But not me, I have an eye for talent."

Cassius couldn't help but internally comment.

Given the rarity of spellcasters, the Red Dragon decided to show some deference to this ogre. He adopted the posture of a former-life leader giving a speech, and began slowly,

"I can tell, you are different from the usual ogres, you are very intelligent, seeking knowledge and wisdom."

Ramp nodded somewhat appreciatively.

Who could understand the bitterness of staying amidst a bunch of ogres who only knew how to eat?

"But do you really wish to spend your life eating and sleeping in this narrow valley?"

"Are you willing to only keep company with these tribemates, waiting for the day when adventurers break into the valley and turn you into bounty?"

Seeing the ogre somewhat moved, Cassius intensified his efforts, tempting the ogre like a devil from Hell,

"Don't you want to wield greater strength, see broader horizons, and have your name sung by bards?"

"Submit to me, I can provide you with endless food, unimaginable power, knowledge as vast as the stars, to truly realize your potential. I will build a great empire."

The Red Dragon paused for a moment, "Imagine, you will be a part of my grand blueprint."

Cassius's promises grew increasingly grandiose, figuring that the more the better when it came to boasting.

"I, I..."

The ogre was so excited he couldn't speak.

Ramp pondered, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

These words had a significant impact on him, making him, for the first time as an ogre, start to consider if there was more to life than eating.

The ogres had already gathered around but were afraid to disturb their leader. Yet when they heard the word "food," they couldn't help but cheer,

"Submit! Submit!"

"Food!"

They didn't understand much else but knew what food meant.

"Now, I need an answer."

"Are you willing to become my retainer?"

Cassius's tone was impassioned.

Finally, Ramp's gaze grew resolute. He raised his head, his plump body half-kneeling, and solemnly said,

"Witness this, gods. I, Ramp, lord of the ogres of Gluttonous Valley, the smartest ogre in the world, am willing to become your retainer and conquer this world for you."

The Red Dragon wasn't moved by this somewhat "magnificent" pledge of allegiance, he only felt a bit parched.

He thought to himself that this Smarty had stayed in the mountains too long, not having experienced the hardships of human society. Even with an intelligence of 17, he could be fooled.

"Cassius, your master, remember this name well."

"Yes, my noble master, I am willing to be your sword in hand, your shield in front, to charge into battle..."

The ogre spoke passionately, still wanting to continue his lines, seemingly already lost in the fantasy of the "great blueprint."

"Don't speak like that."

Cassius interrupted Ramp's impromptu performance,

An ogre standing three meters tall and weighing a ton speaking in such a bard-like tone sounded very odd.

"Yes, master."

The Ogre Mage wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Oh! Oh, oh, oh!"

The ogres cheered again, waving their assorted wolf fang clubs, wooden hammers, and big bone clubs.

In truth, they didn't know what had happened, only vaguely understanding that there seemed to be a new boss on top.

And according to the second smartest ogre in the tribe, Bighead, they would get to eat more, which made these gluttonous creatures very happy.

"We have a new boss!"

The "smartest" ogre in the crowd, Bighead, cheered.

Ramp solemnly corrected, "Not a new boss, he is master, or call him His Majesty."

"Okay, old boss."

Ramp, unable to bear it any longer, raised his big club again.

"Old boss, why are you hitting me again?"

"Ouch!"

...

While leading the ogres to move into the territory, the Red Dragon curiously asked the Ogre Mage,

"Where did you learn magic and those books from?"

Ramp scratched his head for a moment before answering,

"A few months ago, I ate a mage in a carriage, tender skin, very tasty. There were many books in his carriage."

As he recalled, this ogre couldn't help but lick his lips, a look of ecstasy appearing on his ugly face. It seemed that even wisdom couldn't change the gluttonous nature of these ogres.

"Under my command, refrain from eating humanoid beings."

"Yes, master."

Ramp's expression was somewhat disappointed. Those mages with tender skin were obviously very tasty, but for the sake of the "great blueprint" in his heart, he had to accept this harsh demand for an ogre.

However, for Cassius, it was a necessary requirement, not out of pity, but because he planned to recruit a large number of players. If his retainers kept their cannibalistic habits, they might end up being hunted by the players.

"By the way, take me to see that carriage."

The Red Dragon's expression was somewhat peculiar, he roughly guessed what had happened.

Following Ramp to a hidden spot in the valley, Cassius saw the wrecked carriage.

Although it had been abandoned for a long time, the exquisite gilded decorations still exuded an aura of luxury, and a gilded emblem was set on the carriage's inner wall—depicting an eye symbolizing true knowledge and two crossed magic wands.

"As expected, it's the Arcane Priory, and it's a high-member emblem."

"Such a waste."

Cassius remarked privately.

The Arcane Priory, a renowned mage organization founded by the famous Archmage Trafalgar.

Members regularly gathered to share spell knowledge, exchange research results, and sometimes seek assistance in eliminating evil. Their branches spread throughout Erezer, with one possibly in Anzeta.

Cassius marveled at the unpredictability of the Goddess of Fate.

An aristocratic mage apprentice, highly anticipated as a member of the Arcane Priory, bearing the hopes of many, with limited spell abilities, yet suffering from the arrogance typical of mages.

He defied orders, refused family help, stubbornly embarked on an adventure alone, possibly uttering youthful words like, "My fate is mine to decide."

He wanted to establish himself in the wild, slay monsters, rescue princesses, seize treasures, gain accolades, and create his own legendary adventure story.

But this poor apprentice didn't get far before being knocked out and swallowed by an ogre roaming around, ending up as lunch.

Not only were the precious books he carried lost, but the expensive magic equipment inherited from his family was also taken.

Ironically, the incident led to his killer, a rough and ugly ogre named Ramp, becoming a rare Ogre Mage.