Tale of the Red Dragon Without Dragon’s Might
Chapter 216 - 215: A Great Discovery

Chapter 216: Chapter 215: A Great Discovery

Crossroads City welcomes all races, even Mind Flayers, as long as they don’t cause trouble. However, such occurrences are rare, as Mind Flayers rarely stray far from the Elder Brain, let alone cross paths with a Githyanki.

The Githyanki, Biska, tall and slender with yellow-green skin, was known for her penchant for pillaging and looting. Yet, she wasn’t so bold as to raid Crossroads City. Her visit here wasn’t to scout potential plunder but rather to unwind after completing a mission. Her encounter with a magic item clearly imbued with the design styles of Mind Flayers was entirely accidental.

Her reaction didn’t escape the notice of the middle-aged shopkeeper, who eagerly asked, "Madam, are you interested in this bracelet?"

"No." As a formidable Githyanki Knight, Biska had hunted countless Mind Flayers and owned an assortment of spoils from them—rings, bracelets, cloaks, and the like.

"This object..." Biska said as politely as she could, "Where did it come from?"

She held no interest in the magic object itself. What intrigued her instead was its origin.

She thought that perhaps this magic item could lead her to a Mind Flayer colony, which she could then raze to the ground, earning Queen Vilakis’s praise in the process.

"We only sell; we don’t ask where it came from." The shopkeeper’s expression turned instantly colder at Biska’s question.

Had he not been a seasoned shopkeeper, familiar with Githyanki and their infamous short tempers—prone as they were to drawing swords and resolving matters through violence—he might have blurted, "If you’re not buying, don’t ask, you pauper."

Biska noted the shopkeeper’s cold demeanor. In a different place, she wouldn’t hesitate to draw her sword, press it against his shoulder, and interrogate him—perhaps cutting off an arm or a leg first to make her point.

Unfortunately, Crossroads City was no ordinary place. Powerhouses roamed freely here: dragons, giants, liches, devils—you name it. Outright belligerence would not end well. After considering her options, Biska retrieved a Gold Coin from her pocket, placed it on the counter, and said, "This is for you. Answer a few questions I have."

The shopkeeper picked up the Gold Coin and could immediately tell it was genuine. His face lit up, his attitude doing a complete 180 as he asked warmly, "What would the esteemed guest like to know?"

"Where did this thing come from?" Biska gestured toward the bracelet. "It looks brand new, without a single scratch. It must have just entered circulation. Did some adventurer enter the Dark Territory, kill a Mind Flayer, and sell it to you? Do you know where that adventurer is? I need to speak with them."

"Oh, this? It didn’t come from any adventurer. It’s merchandise from the Gold Shore Chamber of Commerce," the shopkeeper said after a moment’s thought, recalling whether he’d heard it from his boss or a mercenary delivering goods. "And they, in turn, acquired it from the formidable Cliff Sword."

Githyanki typically resided in the Star Realm. However, because the residents of the Star Realm neither aged nor reproduced, Githyanki had to use secret nurseries located in the remotest corners of the Material Plane to rear their offspring.

Biska also lived in the Star Realm under ordinary circumstances. If not for certain issues at a nursery—issues now resolved—she wouldn’t have come to the Material Plane. The thought of another formidable figure emerging in the Material Plane made her frown slightly as she asked, "And who is this Cliff Sword?"

"Cliff Sword isn’t someone—it’s a powerful Red Dragon," the shopkeeper explained, gesturing for emphasis. "It first appeared at the Lost Plateau, where it slaughtered hundreds—if not thousands—of Frost Giants, even killing a Great Evil Dragon that had antagonized it. Around that time, it also conquered Watchtower Port, establishing itself as a tyrannical ruler there for the past few years."

"If it managed to kill an adult Red Dragon, that means it must be at least an adult Red Dragon itself," Biska mused, rubbing her chin. "But why would a Red Dragon call itself ’Cliff Sword’?"

"Want to take a guess why it’s called Cliff Sword?" The shopkeeper hesitated under Biska’s glare, quickly deciding against teasing her. With a cough, he added, "You’d never expect a Red Dragon to wield a weapon, would you? But this one uses a sword. It once cleaved a cliff in two with a single strike, hence the name."

If Leon had been there, he would have held down the shameless fabricator’s head and demanded to know when on earth he’d ever sliced a cliff. "Stop spreading falsehoods! I’ve never cleaved a cliff, nor am I some Ruby Dragon..."

"Ridiculous—a Red Dragon using a sword." Biska knew Red Dragons far too well. In fact, she had one as a partner—though not as a mount. Their partnership was motivated by mutual greed: their spoils were split unevenly, but the Red Dragon took the larger share—a hefty 80%.

"If you don’t believe me, you can ask others. Everyone says Cliff Sword is this odd Red Dragon capable of wielding a sword... I didn’t believe it at first either, but with so many people saying the same thing..." The shopkeeper paused for a moment. "All I can say is, the world’s full of strange wonders."

Biska, lacking a nose but boasting keen, pointed ears that twitched slightly, tried to picture a sword-wielding Red Dragon. Seeing the earnestness in the shopkeeper’s expression, she found herself partially convinced. "That Cliff Sword—that Red Dragon—where did it get the bracelet?"

"I heard it annihilated an entire Mind Flayer colony," the shopkeeper replied, recalling the latest rumors. "It’s been lying low for years, but it finally did something big... or maybe something medium-sized, depending on how you see it."

"Didn’t you just say it’s reigning over Watchtower Port? Now you’re telling me it wiped out a Mind Flayer colony?" Biska frowned deeply. "Mind Flayer colonies are in the Dark Territory. How would a Red Dragon living on the surface go down there to destroy one?!"

"That I can’t answer—you’d have to ask it yourself." The shopkeeper shrugged. "Maybe it has a grudge against Mind Flayers."

"Maybe," Biska murmured thoughtfully. She wasn’t thinking about finding the Mind Flayer colony anymore. Instead, she wondered if she could speak with that powerful Red Dragon and form an alliance. Dragons harboring potential grievances against Mind Flayers were rare. "Continue. I want to know everything about Cliff Sword."

"I’d love to oblige, but the tale is a bit lengthy," the shopkeeper hesitated. "And, well, this is a business establishment."

Biska pulled out another Gold Coin and said, "That should suffice. Don’t overreach, or you might not live to spend what you’ve earned."

"Understood." The shopkeeper pocketed the coin and declared, "Ask away. I’ll tell you everything I know."

One hour later, Biska exited the shop and made her way to a restaurant. Inside, she spotted a red-haired girl with mid-length, lazily tousled hair, feasting with gusto. Approaching her, Biska asked, "Salovis, have you ever seen a Red Dragon wield a sword?"