Ashen Dragon-Chapter 392 - 315 Competing Before the Throne

Chapter 392: Chapter 315 Competing Before the Throne

“Your Majesty, envoys from the Kingdom of Cassandra seek an audience… as do envoys from the Kingdom of Thrace; they too request an audience.”

The voice of the Tiefling Guard Captain came through.

“They all came?”

“They sure are quick, not leaving me a moment’s rest.”

Cassius shook his wings, stretched his massive dragon body, and couldn’t help but sigh.

The Kingdom of Cassandra was ruled by Audis Aragon, the eldest son of Aragon the First. He occupied the southeastern part of the Holy Fadlan Empire, owning vast territories including the Ataya Plains, Heris Basin, and Levin Great Forest.

The region was flat and expansive, with a mild climate year-round and remarkably abundant resources, known as the “Land Blessed by the Sun God.” It was also the heartland of the Holy Fadlan Empire.

The former old emperor had used Cassandra as his base, continuously expanding his territories, ultimately creating the behemoth that was the Holy Fadlan.

After the Great Collapse of Holy Fadlan, the vast body was split into three, with the Kingdom of Cassandra being the most powerful among them.

Now, this war of the kings had been going on for several months. The Divine Descendant Legion of the Kingdom of Cassandra fought on two fronts but still firmly held the Holy City of the former Fadlan Empire—called “Sunshine City”—Theodivacan and continued to occupy the Eternal Sun God Pyramid.

Information about the Kingdom of Cassandra was projected for all present in the hall to see.

Cassius casually asked:

“What do you think… the people of the Kingdom of Cassandra are here to do? Speak freely, don’t worry about my opinion.”

“Declare war!”

“They’re here to declare war on us!”

Tiniya eagerly spoke out.

The subjects in the hall felt a bit helpless. Even Ramp, her nominal “teacher,” hung his head low and covered his ugly face with a hand.

“Why?”

Cassius’s mouth twitched slightly.

Tiniya seemed to think she had been recognized, quickly wiggling her tail and jumping up enthusiastically to answer: “Master, you are so powerful; they surely can’t stand you.”

“Moreover, those ministers told me that Cassandra is the wealthiest place in the South. They say that the soil there flows with gold. If we could take it over, hehehe—”

“Aaargh—”

A scream interrupted her words.

The Atavistic White Dragon was kicked out of the hall, rolling a dozen times before wobbling to her feet outside—dizzy and disoriented.

“Alright, go play on the side.”

Cassius said blandly, then added: “Ramp, you are tasked with rigorously tutoring Tiniya in politics and history. I expect results within a year.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I will… not disappoint your high expectations.”

Ramp nodded repeatedly, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.

It was Marshal Dolores who stepped forward, half-kneeling on the steps, and said in a deep voice: “Your Majesty, I believe they are also here to seek cooperation.”

“Oh? Why do you think so?”

“The strategy of distant diplomacy and close combat.”

Dolores pronounced each word deliberately, using terms he had learned from players.

“To completely occupy Sunshine City, the Kingdom of Cassandra is simultaneously fighting the Kingdom of Seleucis and the Kingdom of Thrace. Even though Cassandra is the strongest of the three, it faces enormous war pressure.”

“And our Empire is deep behind the lines of the Kingdom of Thrace, able to use the Anzeta Corridor at any time to launch a surprise attack from behind.”

“If the Empire joins the war, even if it doesn’t severely deplete the Kingdom of Thrace, it will at least force them to hastily redeploy troops, diverting attention from the southern front and greatly relieving pressure on the Kingdom of Cassandra.”

Dolores spoke with confidence and assurance, causing nods of approval from everyone in the hall, including the Red Dragon.

“Very well.”

“Do you think we should join the war?”

“…”

Dolores lowered his head in thought, then slowly raised it with a firm tone and a look of ambition in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, I believe this is a rare opportunity presented by the Holy Fadlan Federation’s split. The Empire should gather all its forces in the South, cooperating with the Kingdom of Cassandra to attack the Kingdom of Thrace from the front and back, striving to completely carve up the Thrace region.”

“If the South were to unify into an empire again… it would be difficult for us to advance southward again, let alone achieve our grand plan to dominate the Fianso Continent.”

The Red Dragon did not nod in agreement this time. Instead, he continued looking at everyone in the hall, signaling them to continue the discussion.

The Ogre Ramp stepped forward calmly, similarly half-kneeling on the steps.

“Marshal Dolores, don’t you think you’re being a bit extreme?”

“The Empire has just unified Anzeta. The war and the nobles’ exploitation have severely damaged production in the old Northern Countries. This is a critical time for rebuilding and development.”

“We haven’t even fully absorbed our domestic territories, and you propose to throw all our strength into the South?”

“Even if the Empire were to conquer the Kingdom of Thrace, do you think we have the resources to manage it?”

Ramp’s words were sharp and relentless, directly questioning Dolores without sparing any room for maneuver—he had discerned Cassius’s opinion from the latter’s silence just now.

“You…”

Dolores’s face turned red, but years of high-ranking experience had taught him to control his anger.

The Goblin Marshal snorted coldly and countered: “Lord Ramp, by the time your five-year development plan is complete, the Kingdom of Cassandra will have long since destroyed the Kingdom of Thrace, and the Empire won’t even get a drop of soup.”

Ramp mocked: “You think the Kingdom of Thrace will be destroyed in three years? You think the Divine Descendant Nobles under Wilhelm are useless?”

Seeing he was losing the debate, Dolores resorted to learned rhetoric from his human strategist subordinates.

“Hmph, it seems you’re the one scared by their reputation. Are you underestimating the Empire’s strength? Or are you questioning the might of His Majesty?”

Ramp merely sneered and said leisurely, “Impressive, Marshal Dolores, you’ve started using the humans’ usual tactics…”

“Ramp, it seems you’re the one who has learned to be timid like those humans!”

“Courage without wisdom is recklessness. On this point, you might not even match Miss Tiniya outside.”

“You…”

“Enough.”

Cassius’s voice rang out.

Ramp and Dolores immediately quieted down and returned to their original positions.

Dolores, however, still shot glances of anger from the corner of his eye, while Ramp seemed quite pleased, half-closing his eyes with a serene look, showing no signs of having just been in a heated argument.

“Let’s end the pointless debate and invite the envoy from the Kingdom of Cassandra.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

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The subjects responded in unison.