Translator: AnubisTL
"Gordon, you must maintain your utmost patience. Do not act like those short-lived races, driven by their fleeting lifespans to be so shortsighted and impatient," Garos warned earnestly.
Iron Dragon Gordon assured him, "I understand! I promise to proceed steadily and will never act rashly! Garos, you know me best. Compared to Solgorn, that iron dragon who loves to boast empty promises, or Samantha, who always loves to steal the spotlight... I am far more steady and reliable than they are!"
His tone was filled with confidence in his own wisdom.
"By the way," Garos changed the subject, asking, "How is your current relationship with the Crystal Princess?"
The "Crystal Princess" he referred to was, of course, Princess Eileen of Lothurn, who had always doted on Gordon.
"Crystal Princess" was her official title. It had been bestowed upon her during her grand coming-of-age ceremony, when the old king spared no expense in gifting her a rare mineral vein rich in magic crystals as her exclusive private property. This lavish gift had caused a sensation throughout the entire kingdom at the time.
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"
Gordon's voice instantly rose, filled with undisguised pride. "She is as infatuated with me as ever! The luster of my scales, my elegant posture... oh, and of course, my 'wisdom'—all of it has completely captivated her!"
The Iron Dragon was lost in his own self-indulgent narrative.
Infatuated...?
On the other end of the telepathic link, the Red-Iron Dragon harbored profound doubts about such a claim.
He knew his brother all too well—perhaps because Gordon always craved what he lacked most, he habitually embellished and exaggerated his own charm. It had become almost an instinctual reaction.
Regardless, one thing was certain.
To keep a dragon as insatiable and massive as Gordon so well-fed and his scales so lustrously polished within the royal court... Crystal Princess Eileen must have been exceedingly generous, if not extravagant, in her material support of him.
After a moment's thought, Garos decided to throw a necessary splash of cold water on his brother's fantasies.
"Gordon, wake up," he reminded him in a low voice. "As far as I know, Crystal Princess Eileen is already over thirty."
"A princess of her status, who has already passed the prime age for marriage, should—under normal circumstances and according to human royal custom and political necessity—have long since been married into a powerful noble family that commands significant military forces."
"Or she could have been married off to a distinguished general to secure the army's loyalty... or perhaps used as a key diplomatic pawn, sent to marry into another powerful kingdom or duchy to solidify alliances and weave a web of mutual interests."
"Are you certain that, as a princess, she can remain completely unscathed, withstand all the pressure, and do so just to 'infatuate' herself with you—an... ahem, unconventional dragon?"
Clearly, Iron Dragon Gordon had considered this possibility.
He immediately replied, "Hey, don't worry about that, Garos. A few years back, Eileen did mention those annoying matters to me."
Gordon's tone was surprisingly light, as if he weren't concerned at all.
"She has always been naturally obsessed with exploring the ultimate truths of the arcane. Even as a young girl, she used this as an excuse to reject countless noble suitors. Now, she has received the favor and blessing of the Mystra Sanctuary. Her resolve is as firm as rock; she has long since vowed to dedicate her entire life, without reservation, to the halls of magic and her beloved Kingdom of Lothurn."
The Mystra Sanctuary was also known to its followers as the Church of Mystra.
That was its more widely recognized name in the World of Bernardo.
—The Holy See of the Goddess of Magic.
Though the alchemy-driven industrial civilization of steel and metal had flourished on the planet Bernardo, where Legendary-rank beings were common and a few had even reached the absolute pinnacle of power in the material world, faith and worship of the transcendent divine spirits had never truly faded.
Whether it was the Mystra Sanctuary, symbolizing the origin of magic; the Holy See of the Morning Sun, representing light and hope; or the Temple of the Scales, presiding over balance and contracts... these faiths had always held an indelible and significant place in the tapestry of history and the landscape of power.
The monarchs of various nations generally did not reject the influence of the theocracies.
On the contrary.
The vast majority of kings chose to wisely embrace theocratic power, even establishing a specific Holy See as their state religion.
They were masters of calculation and timing, adapting to the shifting political winds—sometimes choosing to secretly curb its influence, other times vigorously supporting its growth.
For this complex dance with the theocracy often brought unexpected stability and consolidation to their own rule on a deeper level.
Garos pondered in silence for a few seconds, finally made his decision, and said:
"Gordon, the time has come. You may cautiously disclose some information to Crystal Princess Eileen regarding the impending movements of the Ignis Dragon Clan. You need not reveal everything—merely hint that you have several powerful blood-kin brothers who have long been lying in wait, and they have completed their preparations to formally march into that vast, opportunity-rich wilderness."
Though the Kingdom of Lothurn had not yet officially entered the fray, war had already broken out between its vassal, the Duchy of Haltai, and the Duchy of Abel, which served as the arm of the Kingdom of Ribos. Both duchies also held numerous resource outposts in the Sierre Wilderness.
In a sense, the fires of the Federation's civil war had been officially ignited.
This meant it was finally time for the Ironforged Tribe, which had been gathering strength and tempering its might in the Shadowlands for years, to reveal its hidden, razor-sharp claws and fangs and march toward the resource-rich, vast, and unclaimed wilderness.
There was no telling how long the battle between the duchies would last.
Before the intensity of the war escalated fully and the more powerful kingdoms behind the scenes joined the fray, igniting an even more brutal conflict, they had to establish fortified camps, secure strongholds, outposts, and a firm foundation on the wilderness lands.
They had to gain a foothold there.
And then, they would wait for the more torrential, more violent flames to surge into the night sky.
With this strategic deployment as the premise...
Garos hoped to establish a preliminary understanding with the clever and influential Crystal Princess.
If this plan succeeded, he would secure a solid foundation—at least in terms of resource support. The crystal veins under the princess's control yielded far more than mere glittering trinkets; they produced precious magic crystals that could serve as a potent energy source.
Furthermore, he might even gain access to the solidified black oil crystals—a higher form of energy.
These were indispensable resources for anyone seeking to rapidly advance their life grade.
"Excellent! I've been waiting for this!" Gordon replied, his voice brimming with excitement.
He could already picture it: his powerful blood-kin, his brothers, carving out an empire and reigning supreme over the vast, chaotic expanse of the Sierre Wilderness.
Though Gordon himself was still far away in the Federation Royal Court—a place of prosperity that concealed a lethal undercurrent—the mere thought that he, Gordon, would play an irreplaceable role from within the enemy's heart in the Ignis Dragon Clan's grand conquest filled him with pride.
He couldn't help but let out a soft snort, puffing out his chest as a wave of immense pride washed over him.
(End of the Chapter)
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