Chapter 255: Bestowing Honors (II)
“Everyone, silence!”
The square fell utterly still once more.
Only then did Kai Xiusu begin his brief speech.
“Regardless of origin, race, or moral standing—so long as you contribute to the Kingdom’s advancement, you become part of our grand design. You shall earn immense Strength, and long, enduring life.”
The moment he finished speaking, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
“Wait… Humans can actually receive such an opportunity?”
“Is this not exclusive to Dragonline Followers?”
The murmurs echoed clearly—proof of the widening rift between Monster Subordinates and Humans in recent years.
After all, as the Kingdom’s dominant Ruling Class, the privileges enjoyed by Monster Subordinates were nothing short of staggering. To many of them, merely not slaughtering Humans outright was already an act of mercy. Equality? That was an absurd notion.
It was only natural, in their eyes, that Humans should remain Subordinates.
Kai Xiusu’s so-called Award Ceremony was not merely about granting greater Strength to his followers—it was a deliberate Political Statement. Through his overwhelming Influence, he sought to bridge the chasm between Follower and Human, steering the Kingdom of Ashen toward becoming a true Pluralistic Empire.
With a firm press of his palm against the Altar, a deep rumble echoed beneath the ground.
Hundreds of Stone Platforms rose from the altar’s surface.
But the most striking of them were the three at the very top—exquisitely carved, glowing faintly under the sunlight, standing mere meters from the Red Dragon.
—These were the Kingdom’s Duke’s Seats.
A symbol of longevity, overwhelming Strength, and supreme authority.
Kai Xiusu called out the first name.
“Lanpu.”
The Cannibal Magician soared forward with delight, landing gracefully upon the Stone Platform and half-kneeling.
As the Kingdom’s chief Council Minister, Lanpu’s status was beyond question.
With the Kingdom’s prosperity growing every day, his position had become unshakable—so much so that few dared challenge him. It was far wiser to remain on good terms.
Dolo, the Earth Giant Commander, had long resigned himself to his fate. After repeated defeats, his prestige among the strength-obsessed Follower factions had plummeted. He could no longer rival Lanpu.
Now, he merely crouched in silence, burying his ambition deep within. Though his gaze still flickered with disdain, and smoke curled from his nostrils like a furnace’s breath.
“Meizhuolashi.”
The Tiefling Oathbreaker stepped forward, drawing his blade with a flick of his wrist before leaping lightly onto the Stone Platform.
A murmur spread through the crowd—this time, far louder.
Beyond his own kind, most Familiars expressed clear disapproval of Meizhuolashi’s unique status.
After all, he commanded both the Tiefling Guard and the clandestine Nocturne forces—effectively holding the reins of the Kingdom’s defense. And in the course of his duties, he had inevitably alienated many.
Take Ali, the Skullcrusher—the bear-giant chieftain, a towering brute covered in thick, wild fur. He glared up at the platform with teeth clenched so hard his jaw muscles trembled. His massive war club was indented deeply by the grip of his knuckles, veins bulging beneath his skin.
It was Meizhuolashi who had led the raid that captured over a dozen Bear Goliaths involved in the infamous Bear Goblin Murder Case. Ali had never forgotten that humiliation.
Yet Meizhuolashi remained utterly unmoved.
To him, it was merely duty. As long as the Red Dragon trusted him, no one—no matter how angry—could shake his position.
“Dolo.”
The Earth Giant Commander didn’t wait. He scrambled up the platform with eager haste, half-kneeling.
He cast a sweeping glance over his subordinates below, nostrils flaring as hot white smoke poured from them—like a declaration of unshakable supremacy.
Though whispers still circulated, the three Duke positions were already foregone conclusions. Everyone had expected it.
Now came the real focus: the distribution of Barons, Marquises, Viscounts, and other titles—each a matter of direct consequence to the fortunes of the attending Humans and Follower alike.
The announcement of the Barons was no longer left to Kai Xiusu. Instead, Lanpu stepped forward, reading from a scroll.
Under the weight of tens of thousands of expectant eyes, the Ogre intoned the names of seven Marquises.
“Alje.”
“Chimera.”
“Jinya.”
“Shimao Ge.”
The Giant Eagle Knight descended in a spiral, while Chimera’s three heads roared in triumphant unison. The dragon-blooded Goblinoids flapped their wings wildly, and the crowd below erupted in a chorus of barking cheers.
Most of these individuals had been loyal since the days of Ashen Hollow—founding members, each guarding a powerful faction within the Kingdom. No controversy arose.
But when the Ogre calmly spoke the next name—
“Dailenna.”
—chaos erupted.
“Dailenna! She’s been chosen!”
“An absolute miracle!”
“At last, a Human Marquis!”
“Wait—a Human? Really?!”
The people cheered wildly. Seeing Dailenna ascend to the rank of Marquis, they saw not just a victory for one woman—but a vision of the future. A future where they, too, might one day sit upon that very throne.
As the official overseeing the Kingdom’s Foreign Affairs, Dailenna had spent the past three years carefully concealing her Serpent Folk origins. Instead, she cultivated an image of wisdom, grace, and gentle intelligence—earning the affection and loyalty of countless Humans. She was hailed as the “Flower of Northern Wind Keep.”
She even published an autobiography—fictitious, embellished, filled with dramatic tales of rising from a lowly maid to a high-ranking diplomat.
With her sharp mind, Dailenna had long sensed the Red Dragon’s intent to embrace Humans. So she had prepared meticulously—anticipating this moment. And now, her ambition had finally been realized.
The beautiful, poised woman waved to the crowd, her smile radiant and serene. With the help of her attendants, she ascended the High Platform—symbol of the Marquis’s seat—exuding the air of a woman who had earned her place through experience and wisdom.
But the Monster Subordinates reacted quite differently.
The Great Goblins, Ogres, and half-beasts turned crimson with envy. They gasped like beasts in heat, their breaths ragged, white smoke bursting from their nostrils.
“This weak little Human? How dare she be made a Marquis!”
“I challenge her!”
“Only the strong deserve to stand above me!”
“Scum—get down from there!”
Even after years, the edict from Storm Ridge still echoed in their minds: Strength rules. The weak serve.
Fueled by rage and ambition, the monsters screamed, jeered, and spat their defiance.
But Dailenna stood firm.
She ignored them all—her smile never wavered.
“Fools,” she whispered, looking down upon the furious mob, “you still don’t understand. The Master’s Will is the only law this Kingdom recognizes.”
A faint, almost imperceptible smirk curled at the corner of her lips.
In her eyes—cold, sharp, unyielding—there lingered a contempt so subtle, it could barely be sensed.
(End of Chapter)
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