Lynn's question was soon answered, but not by Finn. Instead, it was the summoned red dragon, Shamila, who responded. After discussing strategies with Finn, Lynn called upon her. When Lynn expressed his desire to ride her into the fray to instill fear, she regarded him for a moment before finally conceding.
For the sake of wealth, even a dragon could show some patience.
Riding a dragon was indeed no small feat, and without any serious training in horsemanship, Lynn was at a disadvantage. However, Shamila provided a solution: she cast a spell on Lynn, indicating that he could now climb onto her back.
"An experienced rider?" Finn exclaimed in surprise. This was a divine spell, not an arcane one, and should not have been within a red dragon's repertoire. However, Shamila was not inclined to explain, and Finn could only speculate that this dragon might possess clerical abilities or perhaps belonged to a class like Tiamat's avengers.
Nevertheless, the dragon kept her secrets and merely positioned Lynn on her neck before soaring into the sky, heading straight for Dagger Valley.
As they approached, Lynn realized he hadn't been mistaken that day. Shamila, as a red dragon, had scales that shone almost too brightly. They appeared semi-transparent, with flames flickering beneath them as she flew. Even from high up, those below could see the fiery silhouette of the red dragon passing overhead, explaining why she was dubbed the "Crimson Comet."
The powerful presence of the dragon was palpable. Upon her arrival in Dagger Valley, panic erupted among the townsfolk. Rumors had circulated that the dragon had just feasted in the valley, and now it appeared over the town, igniting chaos.
From the sky, Lynn observed the chaotic scene below. The town's guards were cowering, while nearly a third of the bandits engaged in battle turned tail and ran. Undoubtedly, these bandit fighters were far too weak, merely farmers wielding weapons.
Shamila let out a roar, satisfied with her intimidating presence. She didn't descend immediately; after circling twice in the air, Lynn finally signaled her to land in the center of the battlefield between the adventurers and the bandits.
On one side were the adventurers, and on the other, the bandits. Both groups were filled with dread at the sight of the dragon, yet as she hadn't immediately attacked, they remained cautiously observing. When they noticed a figure atop her back, whispers erupted among them.
A mage appearing on the back of a dragon would seem godlike in such a small town. The dragon alone was fearsome, but the thought of a mage capable of riding one left no room for rebellion in their minds.
As for the idea that this mage might be weak compared to the dragon—such thoughts were not ones the adventurers dared entertain.
"By the Dark Lord!"
Lynn remained silent; his role was to maintain an air of mystery while riding the dragon. The one speaking was Finn: the dragon's circling in the sky was intended to mark their arrival, and it was crucial for Finn to seize the opportunity to sway the crowd.
The priest moved through the throngs of people to the center of the battlefield. He bowed first to Lynn, then to Shamila, before turning to address the gathering crowd.
"By the Dark Lord! He blesses us with victory over our enemies!" Finn's voice boomed, resonating like a sermon at Sentinel Fortress. Unlike before, he brandished the Radiant Ring, activating its inner power. The emitted light caused gasps among the surrounding crowd; keen-eyed adventurers and bandits recognized it as an artifact of the Lord of Dawn.
The appearance of a Banes priest with an artifact suggested a hard-fought battle. Finn said little, but the crowd quickly grasped the implications: the rumors of a red dragon devouring Banes and Losanda's priests were unfounded. Clearly, the Banes' priest had triumphed over Losanda's, claiming the artifact, and his mage friend had tamed the dangerous dragon as a steed.
Finn was not just showcasing victory but was also discrediting the rampant rumors. He conveyed to the crowd that Banes remained powerful and unbeatable, that Dagger Valley belonged to Banes before and would continue to belong to Banes.
His actions, while somewhat brusque, succeeded in easing the tense atmosphere between the two sides. With the rumors deflated, prices would stabilize, which was tremendous news for everyone present.
However, Finn had no intention of letting them hear only the good news.
"I have heard that some are spreading slander, claiming my lord's priests fell to the dragon, even that they were slain by the priests of the Lord of Dawn! This is disgraceful gossip, and I will expose the source of these falsehoods! I know that unscrupulous merchants have concocted such lies to inflate prices. If anyone knows who spread these rumors, speak up now!"
His stern demands silenced the crowd momentarily. However, it wasn't long before someone shouted out.
"It's the Golden Wheat Merchants! They're the ones spreading the rumors!"
"And the Black Anchor Merchants!"
A chorus of accusations broke out. Finn didn't intervene; he let their voices rise and fall until nearly every merchant's name had been shouted. Only after the adventurers and bandits had exhausted their lists did Finn raise his hand for silence.
"For the treacherous smugglers, my lord will deliver swift and merciless justice. We won't even wait until tomorrow—we will eliminate all the crooked merchants tonight!"
The crowd erupted in shouts once again as Finn signaled for quiet. He turned to the bandits, speaking earnestly, "Now, I need hands to accompany me into the town to punish these merchants. If you truly have the guts, come with me!"
With that, Finn led the charge toward the town. Lynn patted Shamila, signaling her to take flight. From the skies, Lynn watched as the bandits surged into the town, some adventurers following closely behind.
That was enough: diffusing the rumors was merely a means to better control the emotions of the masses. Redirecting their anger toward the major merchant guilds would provide a reason for the bandits to follow their lead; all of this would happen under the auspices of the priest of Banes, allowing the adventurers to shoulder no responsibility and ensuring a smooth operation.
Finn had executed his plan well; the bandits, driven by the promise of supplies and a desire to minimize conflicts with the adventurers, were now following Finn's lead. Finn would continue to guide them step by step into a trap, turning them all into a collective moving northward.