https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-455-The-Alliance-of-the-Fire-Dwarf/13676886/
Chapter 454: Victory Banquet
Inside the Bronze Palace, Fire Dwarves played their Copper Wind Instruments, while Empire officers and soldiers drank freely, reveling in celebration.
“Long live King Kai Xiusu!”
“Great Red Dragon!”
“Invincible!”
The air buzzed with excitement, thick with the aroma of fine wine and the smoky scent of Charred Roast Meat. Fire Dwarves and Imperial soldiers danced together, joyfully marking the fall of their common enemy—the Fire Giant.
Beside Kai Xiusu stood Fire Dwarf Noble Shalin, raising his goblet in a quiet toast.
“Your Majesty, you destroyed half of the City of Iron and slew the Fire Giant’s Emir. Your strength… is truly awe-inspiring.”
He paused, hesitating slightly, then offered a wry smile. “But… you’ve gone too far. You may have drawn the attention of the Fire Giant’s Great Sultan.”
Kai Xiusu lifted his own goblet to his lips, sipped, and smiled in reply.
“Shalin, I have no fear of him.”
“As long as the Great Sultan doesn’t act himself, no one can defeat me.”
“The Holy Flame Prince still wanders the Earth. The Great Sultan won’t risk his life over a mere Emir.”
He set the goblet down, his pale golden eyes locking onto Shalin’s with a gaze heavy with meaning.
“Now, let me be frank.”
“Your Bronze Fortress… is the real danger.”
Shalin’s pupils snapped wide. The flames atop his head flickered, dimming slightly.
“The Emir is dead—his dignity shattered. But the Great Sultan cannot retaliate against you.”
“Then… who will bear the brunt of his fury?”
“…You mean…” Shalin’s grip on his Scepter trembled. His voice wavered.
“The Bronze Fortress,” Kai Xiusu stated, unwavering.
“Remember, the Empire has already stationed troops within the fortress. We’ve stood together against the Fire Giant’s armies.”
“The Empire can retreat at any time from the Elemental Plane of Fire. But you cannot. Your fortress cannot flee. And the Fire Dwarves cannot leave their homeland.”
“Shalin, I truly pity your people. That’s why I came to warn you.”
“I regret not killing every last Fire Giant. Otherwise, this news would never have reached the Great Sultan’s ears.”
Kai Xiusu stared into the Fire Dwarf’s eyes, slowly shaking his head. His voice carried a soft, sorrowful tone—almost mournful.
“This… this…” Shalin’s copper-forged body trembled. Visions flashed through his mind: the fortress breached, his people enslaved, lashes falling upon their backs.
He had suspected this possibility, but hearing it spoken aloud by the man himself sent a chill through his soul.
In truth, within the Elemental Plane of Fire, the number of Fire Dwarves enslaved by the Fire Giant far outnumbered those who remained free.
Yet Kai Xiusu asked a question that seemed unrelated.
“Shalin, how many Fire Dwarves lived in the Bronze Fortress a thousand years ago?”
Shalin blinked, puzzled. After a moment of reflection, he answered, “About four thousand.”
Population growth was slow—forged through painstaking craftsmanship. Thus, Fire Dwarves were rare, and this number was substantial.
“And now?” Kai Xiusu pressed. “How many live in the Bronze Fortress today?”
“Three thousand seven hundred and forty-one.”
Shalin answered without hesitation.
Kai Xiusu feigned confusion. “Your kind live long lives. Over a thousand years… surely new generations have been born?”
“Of course,” Shalin said, his face darkening. “But… the Fire Giant sends raiding parties periodically. They steal our people.”
Kai Xiusu spoke with cold clarity. “So, Shalin. The only reason the Fire Giant tolerates the existence of your fortress is because you provide them with a steady supply of Fire Dwarf slaves.”
Shalin nearly shouted in protest. “The Fire Giant tried to enslave us all before! But they failed!”
“Because once enslaved, your people stopped forging new lives,” Kai Xiusu countered calmly. “They abandoned the craft.”
“The Fire Giant abandoned their plan not out of mercy—but because they desire a constant stream of slaves.”
He chuckled softly.
“Shalin, do you know of a plant in the Material Realm called Lettuce? Human farmers harvest it every time it grows. That way, they never run out of food.”
Shalin’s beard trembled. He refused to believe it—yet the logic was terrifyingly close to the truth.
“And now?” Kai Xiusu’s voice cut like thunder. “Under the Great Sultan’s wrath… do you think he’ll allow the Bronze Fortress to survive?”
Each word struck like a hammer, shattering Shalin’s psychological defenses.
For a long time, silence hung in the air. Then, Shalin finally whispered, “What… should we do, King Kai Xiusu?”
A faint, almost imperceptible smile crossed Kai Xiusu’s face. He had achieved his goal.
Once he had swayed this noble, the rest would follow naturally.
“The Empire of Ashen,” he said, brushing it off with casual ease.
“You mean…” Shalin bowed his head, deep in thought, his expression torn. But after a moment, he lifted his gaze, jaw clenched.
“Then, I must thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
“I must decline. The Fire Dwarves will never be followers. Never slaves. Not a thousand years ago. Not a thousand years from now.”
His flames flickered wildly with every word—yet his tone remained resolute.
Fire Dwarves were stubborn. Few could change their minds.
“Slap!”
The sudden sound echoed through the hall.
Half-Red Dragon Selkan, who had been silently listening, slammed his fist onto the table and rose to his feet, shouting in fury.
“Dare you defy this honor? The Emperor grants you a priceless opportunity—yet you reject it?”
“To refuse King Kai Xiusu is to stand against us all!”
Instantly, every Imperial officer and soldier in the hall stood. Rifles were raised, aimed at the Fire Dwarves, faces hard with hostility.
“What are you doing?”
“Fire Dwarves will never be slaves!”
The Fire Dwarves, now enraged, seized their Copper Hammers and Iron Shields, forming a defensive line.
The air crackled with tension—thick with the scent of gunpowder. One spark, one misstep, and the hall would erupt in fire.
But Kai Xiusu raised a hand, his voice calm and commanding.
“Enough. Put down your rifles.”
At the Emperor’s command, the soldiers quickly lowered their weapons.
Kai Xiusu casually patted Shalin’s shoulder, smiling.
“Shalin, you’ve misunderstood me.”
“What I meant was… the Empire of Ashen can become a steadfast ally to your city-state.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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