The Ember Dragon Chapter 598: Negotiation with Bair - Novel Cool

Chapter 598: Negotiation with Bair

A sly, amused glint flickered across Bair’s handsome face.

"Allies? Hmm. It’s been quite some time since I’ve heard such an invitation—ever since I lost my position as Lord of Avernus."

"Bair, my good man," Kai Xiusu said, his tone blunt yet measured, "let’s be honest—your reputation across the Multiverse is less than stellar. Cunning, ruthless—unhesitatingly betrayed your former master in the past, stripping her of everything."

Bair bowed once more, his expression utterly unshaken, his smile as polished and polite as ever.

"King Kai Xiusu, to a pure Devil, such actions are not flaws—they are accolades."

"True enough," Kai Xiusu replied, spreading his vast Wings behind him as he rose from the throne. He began to pace slowly through the grand palace, his eyes locked onto the towering Demon. "In the Empire’s diplomatic doctrine, we have no eternal allies, no eternal enemies—only eternal benefits. The Empire of Ashen does not care about a partner’s past, their battalion, or their stance. Whether we collaborate depends solely on whether they can deliver tangible benefits."

He paused, deliberately. Then, with a sudden, thunderous motion, he unfurled his Wings wide—casting a colossal shadow over the chamber.

"Whether it’s the Five-Colored Dragon or the Metal Dragon, Heaven’s Mountain or Hell itself—anyone who shares a common interest, a shared enemy, is welcome to collaborate with the Empire."

Bair lifted his head, meeting the Red Dragon’s pale golden vertical pupils. A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"So it seems," he murmured, "we share a common enemy."

"You’re correct," Kai Xiusu nodded slightly. He gave a subtle glance to the Cannibal Magician beside him.

Lanpu understood instantly. From the Dimensional Sack, he withdrew a scroll of parchment and presented it to Bair.

Kai Xiusu added, "With a common enemy, it’s only natural we exchange intelligence. Deeper insight into our foe is vital."

Bair glanced at the scroll. His black pupils flickered—just for a moment—revealing a shadow of unmistakable hatred. He snorted, a cold, contemptuous laugh escaping him.

"Hmph. Of course. That madwoman’s work. So crude, so sloppy. She’s never been a noble or elegant Devil—more like a mindless demon, really."

Centuries of bitter enmity between Bair and Zaril burned beneath the surface. Bair had once—truly—devoured her flesh, savoring every bite of his enemy’s meat.

Kai Xiusu didn’t care about their history. In fact, the deeper Bair’s hatred for Zaril, the better.

The Red Dragon exhaled sharply, sending a plume of sulfur-scented white smoke into the air.

"This was stolen from a noble of Thrace by my subordinates. And there are likely dozens more such pacts scattered across the kingdom. But compared to what we know, you—living in Avernus, entangled with Zaril for millennia—must know far more."

"Of course, King Kai Xiusu. When it comes to allies worth collaborating with, I always give my full support."

Bair extended a hand. Flames erupted from his palm, swirling in the air until they coalesced into a shimmering, three-dimensional projection—its aura radiating the oppressive heat of Purgatory. Even Lanpu stared, stunned.

Before them now stood a desolate wasteland of jagged rock, rivers of blood winding through cracked earth. The sky was black, broken only by the occasional streak of intense heat—a comet falling, leaving behind smoking craters. The battlefield was vast, empty, littered with weapons and skeletal remains.

"Let me remind you," Bair said, "Avernus is the first layer of Hell—the Field of Blood Battles. It’s the closest to the Prime Material Plane of all the Nine Hells."

With a snap of his fingers, the image shifted. A towering obsidian fortress now loomed in the sky, its walls adorned with charred corpses. Above it, a figure hovered in the storm-wracked heavens—a woman wrapped in flame, her tattered robe stained with blood. Her eyes burned with a frenzied white light, as if capable of annihilating all things.

Kai Xiusu stared at the vision, murmuring under his breath:

"That’s Zaril."

Bair nodded. "Yes. That woman is Zaril—the current Lord of Avernus. A fanatic obsessed with the Blood War. And… my nominal superior."

Having failed in the Blood War and disappointed Asmodeus, Bair had been stripped of his title and forced into the role of Zaril’s advisor. The term “superior” was technically accurate.

"In the past century," Bair continued, "Zaril began sending agents into the Thrace Region. At the time, Thrace was still part of the Fadalan Empire—designated a garrison for the Angel Bloodline Legion. You know, of course, that Zaril was once a fallen Blazing Sky Divine Attendant. She has a particular fascination with arrogant, powerful Angels who share her bloodline—so much so that she successfully corrupted one of their divine offspring, dragging him into Hell."

"But the Holy Fadalan Empire was still at its peak. The old Emperor declared war without hesitation, leading his divine offspring into Avernus itself. Zaril was forced to surrender the fallen soul’s spiritual essence—her humiliation was complete."

A grim, almost gleeful smile tugged at Bair’s lips. Though he hadn’t fought in that war, the memory of Zaril’s defeat still brought him joy.

Kai Xiusu raised an eyebrow. "Remarkable. That old Emperor of Fadalan truly was formidable."

Bair nodded, then scoffed. "Still… a fool. A mortal who dared to dream of replacing a Divine Being? Pathetic. After the Great Collapse of the Holy Phaldran Empire, the Feiansuo Continent descended into chaos. And Zaril—ambitious as ever—saw her chance. She wanted to exploit the disorder, seizing every possible benefit in the Material Plane."

A fierce grin split Bair’s face. "If I were still in power, I’d have joined the fray. Honestly, the Material Plane now is irresistible. War brings us countless fallen souls."

"But you’re not in power," Kai Xiusu cut in coldly. "Otherwise, you’d already be an enemy of the Empire."

Bair chuckled, rubbing his temple. "Of course, King Kai Xiusu. As you say—no eternal friends, only eternal benefits."

Kai Xiusu leaned forward. "So tell me—what’s her ultimate goal in collaborating with Thrace? The souls of those fallen Angelic offspring?"

Bair shook his head. "No, no. The Angelic bloodlines have already been corrupted beyond purity. Their souls aren’t worth much. Zaril’s plan has grown far more… ambitious."

He looked up at the Red Dragon, his expression unreadable.

"Her current objective? Thrace. She intends to drag the entire kingdom into Hell—transform it into a soul domain entirely her own."

"Bold ambition," Kai Xiusu murmured, genuinely surprised. "A madwoman. Thrace is a nation on par with Anzeta, with millions of souls. And she wants to consume it all?"

Bair’s voice dropped to a whisper. "When souls fall into Hell, they’re marked, claimed by specific Devils—harvested to fuel their power. That’s how a Devil’s Soul Domain grows. If Zaril becomes the master of Thrace, she’ll command an endless stream of souls, a vast army, and her strength will become unimaginable."

His black eyes flared with renewed fury—his handsome face twisting into something monstrous, almost demonic.

"So… I cannot allow her to succeed. If she does, I’ll never have a chance to rise again."

Kai Xiusu’s golden vertical pupils gleamed like molten fire. He spoke with absolute certainty.

"Excellent. Then we’re in agreement. The Feiansuo Continent will become the Empire of Ashen’s territory—whether it’s Thrace or Cassander, they will both be part of our dominion. Any force that stands in our way will be crushed without mercy."

The Red Dragon’s voice rang with unshakable confidence—clearly, this was only the beginning of the Empire’s grand design.

Bair nodded slowly. "To be honest, I’ve been watching you and your Empire for some time. I predicted your southern expansion. I believed you were the only one capable of defeating Zaril. Even if you hadn’t summoned me, I would’ve reached out. I would’ve become your loyal ally."

Then, suddenly, Kai Xiusu tilted his head, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Bair, if I were to defeat Zaril… and you were to reclaim your throne in Avernus… would you still support my unification of Feiansuo?"

Bair spread his hands, feigning innocence. "King Kai Xiusu, I’d love to say yes. But would you truly believe me? As you said—no eternal allies. At this stage, I support you. Our common enemy, our shared benefits—those are the only true foundations of cooperation, aren’t they?"

Kai Xiusu laughed—a deep, hearty chuckle.

"Ah, Bair. You’re right. Who would trust a Devil’s word? Very well. Let’s discuss the details of our collaboration—and how we’ll seal this pact."

The word “pact” lit up Bair’s eyes. No Devil could resist the thrill of a contract.

But Kai Xiusu’s next words shattered that illusion.

"Lanpu, bring the pre-prepared treaty."

"Yes, Master."

The Ogre Magus bowed, then withdrew a stack of thick folders from the Dimensional Sack. Hundreds of pages—filled with dense, intricate text—lay before them.

Imperial Alliance Treaty with the Bair Faction

This document had been crafted by over a hundred legal minds from the Imperial Legal Department, painstakingly compiled over days of nonstop work. Footnotes alone numbered in the tens of thousands—leaving no loophole for a Devil to exploit.

Lanpu handed the treaty to Bair, expressionless.

"Bair, my lord. This is the treaty the Empire has prepared for you. Please review it carefully—avoid any missteps."

Bair’s face froze. His lips twitched. The irony was bitter—he, who had so often used such overwhelming, incomprehensible contracts to bind mortals, now found himself on the receiving end.

After a pause, he said, "King Kai Xiusu… this is…"

Kai Xiusu spoke calmly. "Just a small measure to ensure fair collaboration. I must admit, I simply cannot trust a Devil—especially one infamous for betrayal—when it comes to a pact."

Under the shadow of Kai Xiusu’s vast Wings, his words carried undeniable weight.

Bair tried to argue. "But this isn’t fair! You must know—"

"Bair," Kai Xiusu interrupted, his voice like steel. "You must understand—our collaboration is not equal. The Empire’s dominance is inevitable. You are replaceable. Even without you, Zaril has countless enemies in Hell. We can always find another Great Demon willing to cooperate. But you… Bair, your only chance to reclaim your throne lies in working with us. We chose you not for complexity—but because you know Zaril best, and you pose less of a threat than most Hell Lords."

His tone remained flat—pure, unemotional fact.

"Y-you—"

Bair clenched his jaw. A faint ember of rage flickered in his eyes. But he knew—deep down—that Kai Xiusu was right. This was his only shot.

At this moment, dignity, pride—those were just empty words. What mattered was reclaiming his power.

And besides…

Devils were the masters of pacts. They understood their essence better than mortals ever could. They could twist any clause, exploit any ambiguity—turn even the most rigid contract into their advantage.

Even if this treaty was written by the Empire, Bair had no doubt he could become its true master.

With a long, deliberate gaze at Kai Xiusu, Bair bowed slightly, smiling.

"Forgive me, King Kai Xiusu. I lost my composure for a moment. I will… carefully review your meticulously prepared treaty. For the sake of a stronger alliance."

With a sweeping gesture, he summoned the hundreds of pages. They rose into the air, arranging themselves in perfect order.

Then, with a single touch, the entire treaty—over a million words—flashed into Bair’s mind.

> "Bair Power acknowledges and respects the Empire of Ashen’s leadership in establishing a new order across the Feiansuo Continent."

> "In case of conflict with Zaril Power, the Empire and Bair Power shall mutually support each other through all political, economic, and military means."

> "Devils under Bair Power may sign pacts with Imperial Citizens, granting the chosen their Hellish strength."

Bair scanned the text. To his surprise, it felt… fair. No arbitrary, tyrannical clauses. No hidden traps.

And yet—deep in the fine print, he found loopholes.

Real ones.

His eyes narrowed. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

(End of Chapter)

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