Ashen Dragon-Chapter 1294 - 404: A Future Growing Ever Firmer

Seleucid Governorship, Sunset City.

The sound of gongs and drums thundered, the horns blared, and a powerful broadcast voice emerged from the city gates while banners were hoisted high.

"Warmly welcome the victorious return of the Imperial Army!"

"Hero Adrian of Seleucid makes great achievements again, annihilating the rebel group that intended to defect to the Kingdom of Cassandra!"

Adrian rode a Dragon Blood warhorse, leading the fully armed army along the newly paved wide asphalt road, preparing to return to the Ducal Residence.

He gazed at the distant skyline dotted with cranes and skeletal structures, at the giant airship hovering above the city, and at the wing-flapping Bipedal Wyverns. His emotions grew more complex, and he softly sighed from horseback.

"So fast..."

Too fast.

In just a month’s time, this city had undergone earth-shattering changes, gradually becoming unrecognizable to him.

But are these changes good or bad?

Thus far, Adrian still did not know and could only watch the bustling crowds and those peculiar buildings rising from the ground.

"Indeed, this is the speed of our Empire, unparalleled in the world!"

Beside him, a Half-Dragon from Anzeta

The city he once knew was becoming unfamiliar at a visible speed, filled with the noise of ongoing construction and mechanical roars, and the plan to change everything — the "Sunset City Development," was personally signed by him.

As the troops approached the city gates, the knights gathered there couldn’t help but puff out their chests, their tones full of pride, while Adrian nodded thoughtfully. The crowd had already spotted them and started cheering enthusiastically, with salutes and fireworks erupting in the sky.

"It’s Duke Adrian!"

"Hero! Hero!"

"I heard he wiped out the traitors who defected to Cassandra this time! Haha, I read the war reports from the front lines, not a single one of those disgraceful guys escaped!"

"Truly impressive, worthy of being our Governor."

"Indeed, a hero in every sense of the word! They say even the old Empire people from the North deeply admire him."

People crowded along the roadsides, cheering fervently.

Adrian waved in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, seeing mothers holding children, workers with dirt-covered faces, and neatly dressed officials, all with enthusiastic smiles on their faces.

As he drew near, the child being held kept waving his arms,.

After the signing of the agreement, large numbers of elite Imperial troops stationed in Seleucid, throwing fresh flowers gathered in the wild towards the convoy.

Adrian casually caught a bouquet, nodded with a smile, and the child immediately let out an excited cheer: "He waved at me! The Sun Knight waved at me! I want to be a hero too!"

Seeing such scenes, Adrian’s heart finally settled, the guilt and self-reproach of killing former comrades with blood-stained hands had diminished significantly.

Perhaps... this is the best result, all these sacrifices were worthwhile.

Thinking of this, Adrian straightened his chest and lifted his chin, like a true hero, walking towards the Ducal Residence under the embrace of the crowd.

—And this was also the responsibility bestowed upon him by the Empire, to become a brilliant yet harmless puppet capable of enhancing unity.

In the past month, Count Tiefling under Mezulash led the Imperial Guard and Nocturne Special Forces with decisive actions, thoroughly eradicating the various armed forces scattered throughout Seleucid.

Whether bandits, remnants of the Dragon Worship Cult, or private armies of the old Nobles, they were all swept away, and this war-ravaged land ushered in its long-lost peace.

With the signing of the "Seleucid Aid Plan" agreement, the Seleucid Region received numerous policy benefits and conveniences.

Compared to Anzeta, filled with factories, and Aisier, with its high land prices, Seleucid, reborn from the ashes of war, was like an undeveloped "virgin land," attracting attention from all over the Empire.

Luxury merchants and wealthy individuals from the North would not miss such a precious opportunity, investing millions of Gold Coins in the South on industrial, real estate, and entertainment projects.

At the same time, many Imperial official enterprises under the Royal Fund Association engaged in construction, repairing roads, expanding cities, and building factories, causing the entire Southern part of the Empire to buzz with activity, immersed in this economic boom called post-war recovery.

The more people suffered in war, the more they understood the value of peace and development. However, in the long history of humanity, war is the norm.

In this prosperous and flourishing atmosphere, the sense of belonging and identity of the Seleucid people towards the Empire surged rapidly, with many even abandoning their ancient Sun God beliefs to convert to the "Emperor Cult," venerating the Ashen Emperor as a divine being.

This land seemed poised to fully integrate into the massive behemoth known as the "Empire of Ashes," becoming an indispensable part of its sinewy and weapon-clad body.

...

Sunset City, Ducal Residence.

On an expensive beech desk with gold edges, stacks of documents piled high, almost occupying the entire desk, looking from afar like dozens of mountain peaks, imposing in their grandeur.

And in the midst of these towering documents, an Ogre wearing glasses was perusing and approving them at an unimaginable speed.