Ashen Dragon

"Your Majesty Cassius, what is this..."

Sharin's eyes were full of confusion, his bronze face brimming with disbelief.

This Fire Dwarf noble had hesitated for a long time before deciding to refuse. He had originally prepared to face the wrath of the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon. Unexpectedly, there was still a turning point.

Cassius just gave a slight nod.

"Yes, an ally."

"An equal cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial alliance."

"Rest assured, Sir Sharin, the Empire will not be like the Fire Giants, speaking without honoring their word. I can even sign a contract with you."

"Can you be more specific?"

Sharin asked cautiously, his face full of surprise.

An equal relationship ally.

A mutually beneficial cooperation.

He couldn't believe it—this was a condition that an arrogant dragon, and an emperor at that, could propose.

Cassius responded in a calm tone: "The Empire would dispatch troops to help you resist the invasion of the Fire Giants."

"At the same time, we would sell you advanced weapons and various imperial goods, exempting all taxes."

"However, as a basic condition for cooperation, you must allow the Empire's troops to station in the Brass Fortress and pay a certain military fee."

"You also need to allow imperial merchants to summon and hire Fire Dwarves for forging items, but rest assured, they will pay sufficient ginnar."

"We would need an Ashen Empire concession area within the Brass Fortress and establish an embassy responsible for handling various affairs between the Empire and the Brass Fortress."

Cassius waved his hand lightly, flames gathered in mid-air, forming a magical contract, the terms of which were exceptionally clear and almost exactly as he had previously stated.

"This..."

"Your Majesty Cassius, are these the only terms?"

Sharin asked in confusion, still somewhat disbelieving.

The reason was simple—

In his view, this was a completely equal treaty! The Fire Dwarves would even gain more!

Opening up trade for goods, paying for protection, allowing the Empire to hire, establishing a concession and an embassy...

These, though novel to him, were entirely normal matters.

No forced labor for the Fire Dwarves, and more importantly, no infringement on the Fire Dwarf nobility's authority, completely non-interfering with his rule.

Could it be—this seemingly ferocious Dragon Emperor is truly a peace-loving monarch?

At least in his current view, this treaty posed no issues and only brought benefits to the Fire Dwarves.

Thinking about this, Sharin bowed his head, speaking gratefully and slightly guiltily:

"Sorry, Your Majesty."

"I misunderstood you just now, thinking you wanted to enslave us! Thank you for your magnanimity."

"I must say, you... are the most tolerant and benevolent sovereign I have ever seen."

Sharin picked up his scepter, signaling the Fire Dwarves behind him to come forward, then solemnly said:

"Your Majesty Cassius, if this is so, the Fire Dwarves of the Brass Fortress are willing to become loyal allies of the Empire."

"We will wield the copper hammer and use the unique skills of the Fire Dwarves to craft the finest items for you and your people."

"Dong, Dong, Dong!"

The Fire Dwarves behind him struck their shields with copper hammers in unison, producing crisp sounds.

They cheered, the flames on their heads blazing fiercely, making the air in the hall even hotter.

After this conversation, the banquet continued, lasting until the next morning. Excited Fire Dwarves drank fine wine, becoming incredibly intoxicated, boasting with the Empire's soldiers.

Thus began the cooperation between the Ashen Empire and the Fire Dwarves.

...

Fire Elemental Plane, Burning Wildlands.

Cassius transformed into his enormous dragon form, lying on the dark brown basalt hill, gazing at the orange-red sky.

The fire elemental energy within him kept gathering, and the Dragon Crystal on his chest shimmered faintly.

The Half-Red Dragonfolk Selcan came to the Red Dragon's side, half-kneeling.

"Your Majesty, I have arrived."

Cassius nodded slightly, praising: "You did well, without a trace of feigned performance."

This was his plan.

Playing both good and bad cop, to make the Fire Dwarves accept their treaty.

But Selcan, hesitating for a moment, couldn't help but say:

"But... Your Majesty, I still do not understand, the conditions you gave those Fire Dwarves are too favorable."

"They, a mere few thousand people, occupying a small fortress, why should they be equal allies with the Empire?"

Cassius merely laughed and asked: "Have you read that Empire-official book, *Colonial Theory*?"

Selcan's face reddened slightly, but he responded truthfully: "Sorry, Your Majesty."

"I... haven't had the time to read it yet."

Cassius continued: "If we and the Brass Fortress were matched in strength, then this indeed would be an equal treaty, military interconnection, mutual tax exemptions..."

He paused, smiling, exhaling a breath of sulfurous smoke.

"But when the strength between the two sides of a treaty is vastly different, so-called equal treaties are just a joke."

"By granting the Empire the right to station troops, they lose their territory; granting the Empire trade rights, they lose control of their economic lifeline; granting the Empire the right to hire Fire Dwarves, the Fire Dwarves will become slaves to the Empire's capital..."

"And these Fire Dwarf nobles will become faithful puppets of the Empire."

"This concept is termed 'neocolonialism by Empire scholars. It is far more advanced than direct enslavement. The Brass Fortress will become the Empire's first stronghold in the Fire Elemental Plane."

"This..."

Selcan bowed his head in deep thought, savoring the Emperor's words.

On the surface, the treaty granted equal rights to both parties. However, due to the underdevelopment of the Fire Dwarves, they were unable to achieve the rights stipulated in the treaty equally with the Empire. Through the treaty, the entire Brass Fortress would be open to the Empire.

Cassius stretched his body, slowly standing up from the basalt hill, spreading his broad wings.

"Go, Selcan, if you wish to become the Empire's Governor in the Fire Elemental Plane, study more on this matter."

Hearing Cassius's words, Selcan was greatly encouraged and hurriedly knelt and bowed.

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Governor of the Colony, another relatively unfamiliar term.

Because the Ashen Empire adopted a hierarchical management system in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, local officials did not have significant autonomy.

And now, Selcan had a new goal—to manage the Fire Elemental Plane for His Majesty Cassius!

The Red Dragon nodded slightly, then flapped his wide wings vigorously, stirring up a storm filled with ashes and sparks on the Burning Wasteland, his massive dragon form soaring into the sky.

Subduing thousands of Fire Dwarves was just a minor affair for him. The realm of the Fire Giants, spanning planes, was truly worthy of his attention.

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