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Chapter 455: The Alliance of the Fire Dwarf
“King Kai Xiusu… you’re saying…” Shalin’s eyes were wide with disbelief, his copper-colored face etched with shock. The Fire Dwarf noble had hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind to reject the alliance—prepared, in his heart, to face the wrath of the Red Dragon Emperor. Yet now… there was a turn of fate.
Kai Xiusu gave a subtle nod.
“Yes. Allies.”
“Equal collaboration. Mutual benefit.”
“Rest assured, Shalin, the Empire will not betray you as the Fire Giants have. In fact, I am willing to seal this pact with a binding contract.”
“Could you… elaborate?” Shalin asked cautiously, his voice trembling with surprise.
Equal allies. Mutual cooperation.
He couldn’t even believe his ears—this was a proposal from a Dragon Emperor, a being of arrogance and fire, yet the terms were… reasonable.
Kai Xiusu spoke calmly.
“The Empire will send its army to help defend you against the Fire Giant invasion.”
“In return, we will supply you with advanced weapons and a variety of Empire goods, all exempt from taxes.”
“But as the foundation of this alliance, you must allow the Empire’s army to garrison the Bronze Fortress, and provide a certain level of military funding.”
“You must also permit Empire merchants to summon and hire Fire Dwarves to craft items—rest assured, they will pay in full Golden Nael.”
“And finally, we require a concession zone within the Bronze Fortress, along with an Empire Embassy, dedicated to managing all affairs between our two peoples.”
With a flick of his hand, flames coalesced in midair, forming a glowing Magic Contract. The terms were crystal clear—exactly as he had spoken.
“This…” Shalin hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. “King Kai Xiusu… is that truly all?”
He still couldn’t believe it.
The reason was simple—this was, in his eyes, a perfectly equal treaty. One that actually favored the Fire Dwarves!
Opening trade, paying for protection, allowing Empire-hired artisans, establishing a concession zone and embassy—these were all unusual, yes, but not unreasonable.
There was no forced labor.
Even more importantly, there was no infringement on the Fire Dwarves’ noble authority, no interference in their leadership.
Could it be… that this seemingly ferocious Dragon Emperor was, in truth, a monarch who cherished peace?
At least in this moment, Shalin saw no flaw. Only benefit.
He lowered his head, voice thick with gratitude and remorse.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“I misjudged you. I truly believed you sought to enslave us. Thank you for your magnanimity.”
“I must admit… you are the most generous, the most compassionate monarch I have ever known.”
Shalin raised his Scepter, signaling the Fire Dwarves behind him. Then, with solemn resolve, he declared:
“King Kai Xiusu, if this is your will, the Fire Dwarves of the Bronze Fortress will become loyal allies of the Empire.”
“We will wield our Copper Hammers, crafting for you and your people the finest, most exquisite works with our unique Fire Dwarf artistry.”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Behind him, the Fire Dwarves struck their shields in unison, their voices rising in a thunderous cheer. Flames roared atop their heads, intensifying the heat in the hall until it felt like the very air was on fire.
The banquet continued long into the night, into the next morning. The Fire Dwarves, ecstatic, drank deep of fine wine, staggering drunk, laughing and boasting with Empire soldiers, playing games and shouting insults in good spirits.
Thus began the collaboration between the Empire of Ashen and the Fire Dwarves.
---
Elemental Plane of Fire, Burning Wastes
Kai Xiusu shifted into his colossal Dragon True Form, lying sprawled across a range of deep brown basalt hills, gazing at the crimson sky.
Within him, Fire Elemental Energy surged, gathering at his core. The Dragon Crystal on his chest pulsed faintly.
Half-Red Dragon Selkan approached and knelt halfway.
“Your Majesty, I have come.”
Kai Xiusu gave a slight nod. “Well done. No trace of performance in your act.”
This was his plan—playing the red and the white, the stern and the kind, to make the Fire Dwarves accept the terms.
Yet after a pause, Selkan could not hold back.
“But… Your Majesty, I still don’t understand. Why offer such generous terms to these Fire Dwarves?”
“They’re only a few thousand souls, holed up in a small fortress. Why grant them equal status with the Empire?”
Kai Xiusu smiled faintly.
“Have you read the Empire’s official publication—The Doctrine of Colonization?”
Selkan’s face flushed slightly. “Forgive me, Your Majesty… I haven’t had the chance to read it yet.”
Kai Xiusu continued, his voice low.
“If we were truly equal, yes, this would be a fair treaty—mutual military access, tariff-free trade.”
He paused, then grinned, exhaling a plume of sulfur-scented smoke.
“But when the power imbalance is this vast, the so-called ‘equality’ is nothing but a farce.”
“Granting the Empire garrison rights? They lose sovereignty over their territory.”
“Granting trade rights? They lose control over their economic lifelines.”
“Allowing Empire-hired Fire Dwarves? They become slaves to Empire capital.”
“And the Fire Dwarf nobles? They become loyal puppets of the Empire.”
“This, the scholars of the Empire call Neo-Colonialism—far more sophisticated than outright slavery. And the Bronze Fortress will become our first base in the Elemental Plane of Fire.”
Selkan fell silent, pondering deeply.
On the surface, the treaty granted equal rights.
But in reality, due to the Fire Dwarves’ underdevelopment, they could never truly exercise those rights on equal footing.
Through this agreement, the entire Bronze Fortress would be opened—fully accessible—to the Empire.
Kai Xiusu stretched his massive frame, rising slowly from the basalt hill, spreading his vast wings.
“Go, Selkan. If you wish to become Governor of the Empire’s holdings in the Elemental Plane of Fire, study this matter well.”
The words struck Selkan like lightning. He dropped to one knee, head bowed.
“Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Governor of a colony—a concept still foreign to him.
The Empire of Ashen had always used a vertical administrative system in the Anzeta Great Wasteland, where local officials held little real power.
But now, Selkan had a new dream—serving under King Kai Xiusu, governing the Elemental Plane of Fire itself.
The Red Dragon gave a final nod, then flared his wings with a mighty stroke.
A hurricane of ash and ember sparks roared across the burning wastes, and his massive form soared into the sky.
Subduing a few thousand Fire Dwarves? A trivial task.
The true prize—beyond the interdimensional realm of the Fire Titans—was what truly mattered.
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