Chapter 391: Negotiation and Miracle
Kai Xiusu gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Yet his gaze lingered past the Envoy, drifting toward the dozens of crates stacked behind him.
Muscular Ogre Tribesmen strained under the weight, heaving the heavy wooden crates onto a waiting Steam Locomotive—this new mode of transport now common across many regions. Even the Ogres, strong as they were, could feel the dense weight within the crates. A faint suspicion stirred in their minds: gold, undoubtedly. But the presence of the Red Dragon silenced every thought of rebellion.
"Indeed," Kai Xiusu said, his voice calm. "Two million gold coins—your sincerity exceeds even my expectations."
Saxise pulled out a silk handkerchief, wiping the sweat from his brow, then raised his staff in a formal bow. "Of course, Your Majesty holds your Empire in the highest regard. He sees peace and friendship between our nations as the last hope for stability. That is why I was sent."
"This," he continued, gesturing toward the crates, "is the诚意 of the Kingdom of Thrace. And the诚意 of King Wilhelm himself."
Before he finished speaking, Saxise drew a pre-prepared parchment scroll from a hidden pocket within his robes. With deliberate care, he unrolled it.
Inscribed with enchanted Common Tongue script, the text declared: The Kingdom of Thrace and the Empire of Ashen shall enter into a Peace Treaty, refraining from aggression against one another for one year.
But Kai Xiusu’s expression darkened. A tangible aura of draconic power radiated from him, thick and suffocating.
"Tampering with a pact... is never a wise move."
"As a descendant of Aragon I, do you not even possess the most basic sense of honor?"
"Your Majesty, I— I did not—" Saxise’s hands trembled violently, sweat pouring down his face.
Stupid King, he thought bitterly. You thought this trick would save your land. But now you’ve brought me to this brink.
"I want the Kartpa Hills," Kai Xiusu stated bluntly.
Saxise forced himself upright, voice strained. "Your Majesty, the Kartpa region is barren and desolate. It holds no value. We could offer compensation in other ways—"
"Enough." Kai Xiusu’s voice was ice. "Do you truly believe I care about land?"
"The Empire of Ashen will never be choked by any single kingdom."
"If Thrace refuses to surrender Kartpa, then I will forge a military alliance with the Kingdom of Cassander and take that land by force!"
He paused, then slowly rose from his seat, his figure casting a shadow over the room. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Then, when the time comes… you won’t just lose Kartpa. You’ll lose two-thirds of your territory north of the Radiant Mountain Range."
A hurricane of draconic power surged forward. Saxise collapsed backward with a cry, his hand flailing—his parchment instantly dimmed, then crumbled into ash.
"Y-Your Majesty! You’ve misunderstood! This was only one proposal! Not the final pact!"
Frantically, he fumbled in his robes and pulled out another scroll, raising it high and unrolling it with trembling hands.
This time, the terms were clear:
The Kingdom of Thrace hereby cedes the Kartpa region to the Empire of Ashen.
Signed: Wilhelm Aragon
"Your Majesty! This is our true treaty!"
The truth was, King Wilhelm and his ministers had no real desire to surrender the barren Kartpa region—yet they refused to give it up too easily. To do so would undermine the kingdom’s dignity and embolden the Empire of Ashen. So they crafted multiple versions of the pact, sending Saxise to negotiate fiercely, hoping to retain control over the vital gateway to the Anzeta Great Wasteland.
Now, with no hope of persuasion, Saxise revealed the final document.
"Your Majesty… what say you?"
"Unimpressed," Kai Xiusu replied with a cold smirk. "Truly, the blood of the old Fadalan Empire still runs thick in you. Pride and arrogance—etched into your bones. You think I don’t know your game? You’ve presented me with a dozen lies just to trick me?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty! We have always upheld peace and honesty—toward you and—"
"Ah, but do you truly believe I’m ignorant of the situation in the South?" Kai Xiusu cut him off, stepping forward with deliberate calm.
"I hear your frontlines are crumbling. Your armies have retreated over a hundred kilometers under General Taimur of Cassander. You’ve lost city after city. Even the capital is under threat."
The shadow of the Emperor loomed over Saxise like a storm.
"So tell me… who gave you the nerve to bargain with me?"
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
After a long silence, Saxise slowly rose to his feet, adjusting his robes with trembling hands. "Then… what else do you require?"
Kai Xiusu remained composed.
"Fortunate for you… you are lucky. Though I despise your pride, I do not wish for Cassander to triumph."
"You should thank me. My demands may even benefit you."
Saxise blinked, confused. He said nothing, waiting.
Then, Kai Xiusu’s voice rang out.
"Beyond the land in the treaty, you must purchase weapons from the Empire."
"Once the transaction is complete, I will sign the agreement."
As he spoke, the parchment flew from Saxise’s hands and floated into the Red Dragon’s grasp.
Then, under the escort of the Tiefling Elite Guard, Saxise and his delegation were led out of the chamber.
"Please, this way. The Emperor has made arrangements."
Strange—those guards who had once stood watch at the Altar now formed a line and marched away in silence.
As they walked, Saxise still felt the lingering dread of the Red Dragon’s power, the oppressive presence that had crushed him. Yet a strange thought tugged at him.
"Why… why did he make us buy weapons?" he whispered to Deyef beside him. "I thought he’d just demand gold coins."
Deyef remained silent for a long moment before offering cautiously:
"Perhaps… he truly wants us to win?"
"Boom!"
The ground trembled violently. A deep, rumbling roar shook the earth. Dust clouds billowed into the air, and then—far above—came a long, echoing Dragon’s Roar.
Saxise instinctively turned. Where the Isdalia Grand Altar once stood, a massive cloud of dirt and debris now swirled. And within it—something immense emerged.
As the dust cleared, their disbelief turned to awe.
The earth itself surged upward—nearly a hundred meters high—forming a towering platform that lifted the entire altar into the sky. The grand temple was now suspended in midair, its golden spire gleaming under the sun, visible to all within the city.
And there, atop the altar’s highest peak, stood Kai Xiusu—calm, indifferent, as if he had merely moved a pebble.
It was a miracle.
"Long Live Emperor Kai Xiusu!"
"Long Live the Empire!"
"This is the Emperor’s Might!"
"Whoa… can a faction leader actually lift a wonder with his bare hands?!"
Humans, monsters, and players alike gazed upward, voices rising in stunned reverence.
Saxise stood frozen, mouth agape. As a mage, he knew—this was no ordinary spell. To reshape terrain on such a scale required a Nine-Ring Spell. And yet, the Emperor had done it with ease, without even a flicker of strain.
This was the ultimate expression of individual might.
"By Amanata…"
"Thank the gods… thank the gods we made peace."
After a long silence, Saxise finally exhaled, hand pressing against his chest. He could not help it—he was relieved, trembling with the realization that he had just narrowly avoided utter disaster.
(End of Chapter)
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