You Really Are Something, Griffin

"Grand Speaker Griffin's invincible elite forces are approaching the Goth border, and the vanguard legion will reach Nar within half a day... Mayor, this is your opportunity."

The lobbyist bowed humbly. "Or should I address you, Your Excellency Marquis?"

On the table lay a heartfelt letter, a land deed for the imperial capital, a decree bestowing fertile land in the eastern province of the empire, and a huge check from the imperial bank.

A dual promise from Grand Chancellor Griffin and the Emperor.

Absolute safety guaranteed; family members can be escorted away immediately; noble appointment by the Holy Empire; new fiefdom; enormous wealth; a joint promise from the two supreme beings... all he needs to do is nod his head.

Fate can change in an instant, and everything will be in your hands.

Because he is the lord of Nar.

"Your Excellency White Joyce," the messenger pleaded, "The whole world is watching you."

Goth's important southern border town, the first target of the Council's military advance, if this city could surrender and oppose Kang De, it would serve as a model for the entire Goth.

Only by winning battles without bloodshed can morale be greatly boosted.

Therefore, after the outbreak of war, the greatest efforts were made to persuade and convince the nobles of Nar to surrender... while Goth's persuasion efforts in other provinces and cities were also underway simultaneously.

The envoys came not only from the Northern Council, but also from various countries and forces across the continent. Large and small interest groups were all involved, and they were surprisingly in sync about this matter.

They were all urging their "partners" to seize the opportunity and make a fortune.

Because the nations were not content with simply obtaining magical artifacts from Griffin that could counter Forbidden Spell.

They also wanted to divide Goth, incite resentment and hatred among Goth People towards Kang De, and prevent the Cathayan from taking over and ruling the country—this was their ultimate goal.

No one wants to see Kang De wielding his Forbidden Spell stick all day long.

They also did not want to see him replace human labor with his demonic alchemical military science, thereby liberating millions of peasants from the fields and turning them into a raging natural disaster that swept everything.

We must absolutely not allow Kang De to acquire more land and people.

This was a tacit consensus among monarchs.

Mayor White Joyce of Nar sat in the cast-iron chair, feeling the chill creeping up his back and hips. The chair had no cushion, a family tradition symbolizing "don't sit too long, walk around and look around."

He used the chilling cold to awaken himself.

Mayor White coldly replied, "Your Excellency, are you suggesting I abandon my monarch?"

"I'm just trying to persuade you to recognize true loyalty."

The lobbyist smiled and said, "I'm not advising you to betray him. What I mean is, you should know the harm the Cathayan have done to Goth. How many nobles did he kill after he came to this country? You've heard about his cruelty and brutality. Kang De's atrocities have aroused public outrage throughout the world. There isn't a single noble who doesn't condemn him. Are you really sure you want to cling to this unwise loyalty?"

He leaned forward and whispered, "As a wise nobleman, you should understand that Kang De will soon take control of this country and rule according to his own will and desires. At that time, will there be any way for nobles like you to survive? I've heard you often complain that the common people under your rule are abandoning their homes and fleeing to Distant Harbor. Once he rules over all of Goth, will there still be any good days for nobles?"

"Is it really wise to resist to the end here? The Grand Speaker's first target is Nar. This place will become a meat grinder. Even if you risk your life here and abandon everything, like Mayor Nick Valentan... he died for it and was praised by the Goth People, but his entire family was gone. What did he gain? Even if you fight to the death here and gain Kang De's approval, what can he give you?"

At this point, the lobbyist pushed several contracts and documents forward.

"Please don't forget, even if His Majesty the Emperor has made some mistakes in the past, he is still a nobleman after all. No matter how nice Kang De's words are, he doesn't stand on the same side as the nobles."

Mayor White glanced at the door outside the hall, then at the earnest envoy before him, and suddenly sighed, "You must have been prepared to come here."

The lobbyist was taken aback. "What?"

"If I don't agree..." the mayor said indifferently, "Then someone else will agree."

The envoy's expression changed slightly, but he forced a smile and said, "It wouldn't come to this. We all respect you very much."

Mayor White calmly replied, "With such generous terms, His Majesty the Emperor is determined to offer them. If I refuse, I'll give them to someone else... Surely someone will be tempted."

The messenger had already sensed the uneasy atmosphere; his expression shifted as he made a final effort.

"Please be rational, Mayor White. Impulsiveness and hot-bloodedness are meaningless. Think about your family's heritage, think about your relatives, think about the innocent civilians of this city... Do you really want to drag them into the war and let them all die for the sake of so-called loyalty?"

He shouted, "If you agree to these conditions, your family will be immediately sent to the Empire to enjoy a better life. You will have a higher title and a larger fiefdom. We will even do everything in our power to guarantee your safety. And after Nar declares independence, Kang De will not dare to retaliate against the city, because he still wants to rule Goth. None of the people will be harmed—no one will be hurt!"

"That makes a lot of sense."

White slowly stood up and sighed heavily.

"The gifts from His Majesty the Emperor and the Grand Speaker are very good, and I am tempted by them, but I still cannot agree to your request. I choose to heed the Grand Duke's call and stand on His Highness Kang De's side—although I don't understand why the Grand Duke made such a strange statement..."

He slowly drew the short sword from his waist, and said to the messenger with a gentle expression, "Are you curious to know why I made such an irrational decision? Come, let me tell you."

Mayor White walked toward the pale-faced messenger.

"It's not for the sake of so-called loyalty."

"It's not some Goth People courage or fighting spirit either."

"It's not about feeling grateful to or approving of Kang De either."

"It wasn't inspired by Nick Valentan's story either."

"But because..."

He reached out and grabbed at the messenger.

The lobbyist, who was already staggering backward, revealed a ferocious expression at this moment. The dagger slid nimbly into his hand, and his Dou Qi burst forth brilliantly as he slashed towards Mayor White's throat!

At the same time, Shadow like flowing water in the four corners of the room, and shadow assassins appeared silently and swiftly attacked. The killers who had bypassed the guards and sneaked into the room at some unknown time revealed their deadly fangs.

But the messenger only saw the mockery in Mayor White's eyes.

This made his heart skip a beat.

What went wrong?

No, it's perfect. The number of powerful individuals in Nar City is limited, and those stationed at the mayor's residence are even fewer. The nobles who agreed to the uprising are ready to act, and the area around the residence is under control. Once the attack begins, the situation will be immediately under control... Where could there be a problem? Where is it?

--The next moment, he heard a sound.

It seemed to affect the spirit from the material realm, to roar from reality into the depths of the soul; that violent roar intimidated all mortal beings, causing the deadly attack to pause for a moment...

--A roar erupted!

A figure suddenly appeared in front of Mayor White, the dagger coated with a deadly cursed poison snapped in two, and the golden vertical pupils radiated unparalleled mental pressure. The messenger felt as if someone had grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up with ease, instantly losing all power to resist.

Because that's... a dragon!

The sounds of flesh and blood being pulverized rang out one after another from the other side. Eight Shadow Assassins were blasted into pieces of flesh and blood, while three figures, as dazzling as bright flames, stood tall and came into the envoy's eyes.

--That's a dragon too!

That's why I'm rejecting you.

Mayor White patted the envoy's stunned cheek with the back of his sword.

"Four heads! Damn it, Kang De sent four dragons to my side!" he grinned. "You bunch of idiots, you can't even outsmart him with underhanded tactics, how could I dare to associate with you?"

"Watch your words, Mr. Mayor." One of the dragons said calmly, "We are not employed by His Highness Kang De. As a valuable potential client of our company, our chairman has decided to offer you a free premium security experience. You see, we've already protected you; isn't it worth the price?"

Another dragon walked to the table and put away the contracts and checks.

The mayor's eye twitched. "... What's going on?"

The dragon glanced at him. "The spoils of war, the chairman will share with His Highness Kang De."

Mayor White opened his mouth, "This is at least for me..."

Having spent less than half a day together, he was already beginning to doubt life and the world—the legendary arrogant and cold dragon, the legendary self-important Kang De... neither of them seemed quite right.

"It's no longer yours." The dragon bowed politely and explained patiently, "According to the terms and conditions of the free trial service, all loot obtained by our dragon operators while providing free services is handled by our company. This should be stated in Article 4.4.3.2.6 of the contract."

Mayor White exclaimed angrily, "That contract that's longer than the Goth Lord's laws?"

"Look on the bright side, Mr. Mayor," the other dragon smiled. "Even if you were given these things, would you have the guts and the ability to cash them in to the Emperor? The Chairman and His Highness Kang De do. So, these are worthless paper in your hands, but wealth in theirs. Why not do them a favor and send these worthless papers away?"

"This..."

Mayor White was somewhat confused by the few words he was given and eventually gave up in frustration.

Arguing about this is pointless.

He held the dagger to the messenger's neck. "Now you understand."

The messenger cried out in despair, "There's no need for this! Please don't kill me. Just throw me in the dungeon. If things change and the Grand Speaker gains the upper hand, at least you'll have a way out... Please spare my life for now, and I will do my best to repay you in the future!"

"What's the point of saying this in front of these dragons?" White sighed. "Kings fight, risking their lives and constantly in danger of dying, while we mere mortals are the ones who do it. Your Excellency, I have no choice but to do this, it's regrettable... Bear with it, I'll send you on your way soon."

Knowing he had no chance of survival, the envoy finally cried out, "Neither the Grand Speaker nor the Emperor will let you go!"

"I know, but what can I do? You've given me the Emperor's terms, but the Emperor has a history of betraying Goth, and his credibility is questionable. I don't know if the Emperor will fully honor his promises if I raise the banner of rebellion and flee to the Empire as he says. I'm too far from His Majesty; I don't know if he'll keep his word."

"And because I live so close to the Distant Harbor, I know what's happening there, and I understand Kang De even better."

"I know what he's been doing for the past six months."

He took a deep breath, plunged the short sword into the man's throat, and twisted it forcefully.

"I know that if Kang De says he'll kill my whole family, he really will."

The messenger's eyes widened in pain and despair. The shadow of death lingered on his pale face. Blood gushed out as the sharp dagger sliced through his spine. With a chilling scraping sound, the blade tore through the last bit of flesh, and his head was severed.

White held the head in his hands.

"Therefore, I regret to inform you, my friend, that just as you could not refuse this dangerous persuasion and mission, I could not resist Kang De's threats and coercion. If I had a choice, I would also hope that this city would not be drawn into the war, and that I could become a high-ranking nobleman in the empire and live a more carefree and superior life."

He closed his eyes for this brave messenger.

"Unfortunately, Kang De told me that there was a mayor named Nick Valentan who sacrificed his entire family to defend the country without ever retreating an inch. Therefore, we nobles who survived the Goth-Moon War, if we kneel before foreign enemies, our entire family will be wiped out... I know he meant what he said."

Having said that, he presented the head to a dragon and whispered, "Please deliver this to the West Goth Company's office and say that this is Nar's sincerity and response to His Highness Kang De. This city will fight alongside Distant Harbor. Please, His Highness Kang De, have mercy on us and do not let the events of Valentan be repeated in this city."

The dragon reached out to catch it.

Mayor White did not immediately release his grip. Instead, he looked directly into the dragon's eyes and said sincerely, "I know you look down on humans, and that's alright. But I beg you... the contracts promised by those emperors are extremely valuable. I have no objection to you taking them as spoils of war. Considering the immense wealth I've brought to Dragon Island this time, please don't treat this head carelessly. After showing it to the people from the West Goth Company, please bring it back. I want to preserve this envoy intact and send him back to his homeland."

The dragon looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Please don't be so formal. You are our customer, and we are providing you with security services."

The dragon extended its hand, and the assassins' weapons floated into the air. It breathed out its dragon breath, melting the metal and casting it into an iron box, into which the head was placed. Another dragon drew the gushing blood from the ground, pressing it back into the headless corpse, then sealed the wound and froze it.

Mayor White was greatly surprised and said softly, "Thank you."

"It was nothing." Watching his colleague leave with the iron box, the dragon who had acted first said, "You shouldn't have spoken your true feelings just now. Since you've decided to side with Prince Kang De, you could have embellished your stance, letting both Kang De and the Grand Duke see your loyalty and will."

"His Highness Kang De's instructions to me were cold and rational, consistent with the rumors. He is extremely suspicious and trusts no one. Trying to play mind games with him is pointless and will only annoy him."

The mayor shook his head and said, "I am not Nick Valentan, nor are most of the nobles in this country. Heroes are always in the minority, which is why loyalty is encouraged and virtue is praised... Kang De should be grateful."

The dragon asked curiously, "Fortunate?"

White said indifferently, "If Nick Valentan were alive today and saw what Kang De is doing to this country, saw Kang De's attempt to usurp and control Goth, saw his consistent hostility and suppression of the nobles, would this Goth hero still fight alongside this Cathayan like he did in the Battle of Valentan? If the Goth nobles were all as fearless as Mayor Nick, what would Kang De have to face?"

"Unfortunately, heroes are always few and far between, and none of us are heroes... What nobles? In reality, we are just like commoners, pawns caught up in the power struggles and wars, never having the right to choose."

He suddenly pushed open the door. The mayor's residence was situated on higher ground, overlooking the city. The city was ablaze with fire, and nobles, instigated by a conspiracy, led their private armies and mobilized thugs, gladiators, and mercenaries, creating a commotion and attempting to seize control of the city.

But from the direction of the West Goth Company's office, a purple light pierced the sky, and a huge amethyst prism appeared out of thin air, hovering in the air and opening up an invisible domain.

The dazzling brilliance faded, revealing the chilling gleam of the iron armor.

Guns began to roar.

Mayor White said calmly, "It has begun... This city will experience the ravages of war."

The dragon beside him advised, "Don't be so pessimistic; the war won't reach this city."

"It definitely will." The mayor paused for a moment, then let out a bitter sigh. "I'm not a hero, but I'm not stupid either. I've been governing this city for a long time, and I have a lot of things under my control. I know about the plans and actions that Distant Harbor has taken against Nar these days."

"Kang De could never have foreseen that Griffin's target was Nar. In other words, targeting Nar was part of his strategy from the beginning. If I'm not mistaken, the important southern towns bordering the Council are all part of his plan... This is actually one of the reasons why I bowed down to him."

This was a strange statement, and even a dragon couldn't follow its train of thought. The dragon, now in human form, frowned and asked, "Could you elaborate? Why did Kang De devise this plan?"

"Of course, he was confident he could defeat Griffin's army. Besides, he wanted to seize control of Goth southern cities as quickly as possible, using them as... springboards and transit points."

White remained silent for a moment before saying, "He probably has some ideas and demands regarding the northern provinces of the Council."

The dragons were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other in horror.

Only White's smile was bitter as he looked down at the messenger's headless corpse, filled with pity and a sigh.

We are all mortals, and we are never in control of our own destiny.

"Alright, everyone, stop watching. I need to give orders, take control of the city, suppress the traitors, and prepare to fight alongside Prince Kang De. Please continue to protect me."

He smiled and shouted, "Drive the invaders out!"

Hours later, Griffin's invading army officially entered the country.

The eyes of the entire continent are focused on the border between Goth and the Council, and the area near Nar will become the focus of fierce struggle, where the battles will determine the fate of many.

Military observers from various nations are in place; these military elites are ready to assess the advantages of Griffin's defensive magic device over the Distant Harbor, which will determine the nations' further diplomatic actions.

Reconnaissance aircraft from the Distant Harbor region soared through the sky, transmitting real-time military intelligence from the front lines back to Distant Harbor. Griffin's advance troops did not advance directly after entering the territory, but instead began operations on a plain.

The Wyvern took off, and the high-energy, high-powered irradiation magic device was set up first, deploying Deceleration Field that prevented the reconnaissance aircraft from getting close enough to conduct reconnaissance.

Centered on the Deceleration Field, the vanguard of the engineering corps clearly began its work. Alchemists assembled and activated numerous golems and alchemical puppets, while earth mages moved earth. They began methodically setting up various magical devices and spell arrays, and...

"Father! I've discovered something astonishing..."

Horus's communication crossed space and reached Kang De, who was far away on Earth—his hardworking father was still taking advantage of the flow of time to fleece others as much as possible in another world.

He temporarily handed over the command of the Mortal World military to Horus, only summoning him in times of emergency or special circumstances—but now, the Iron Son clearly felt it was time to inform Kang De.

He even repeated, "--Absolutely amazing."

Earth, North America, within Titan.

After hearing the information, Kang De muttered, "Damn..."

You're something else, Griffin.

The Parrot asked alertly, "What? Griffin received aid from the Star Palace?"

"No..." Kang De said in a complicated tone, "He seems to be digging trenches..."

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PS1: I just can't seem to get into writing this... I've written about two chapters' worth, but I'll leave the second chapter for tomorrow to avoid further delays. That's all for now, time for bed.