Initially, Duke Tulip was deeply troubled by the elf refugees' accounts. It appeared Bruce had not only annihilated legendary-level elves but had also managed to confront five or six formidable warriors simultaneously.
Thus, Duke Tulip surmised that this green dragon must be the same one he had encountered in the north. The similarities in the descriptions and behaviors of Bruce, as recounted by the elf informants, were strikingly consistent with his own experiences.
Realizing the potential identity of the green dragon, Duke Tulip acknowledged that provoking Bruce was beyond his principality's capabilities.
Bruce's strength was such that he could effortlessly devastate the entire principality, a fact Duke Tulip had witnessed firsthand on the northern frontier.