Kazur's Devotees

Talilo Desert, Shalin City.

Inside the Empire Expeditionary Force's headquarters, Dolo sat with a group of senior Imperial officers for a joint war council. Christina also attended as a "dragon research expert" familiar with the Red Dragon Sect.

Dolo looked around, his sharp gaze sweeping across every Imperial officer present. With his hands folded on the table, he said in a low voice:

"Everyone here is the pride of the Empire, warriors under the great Embers of the Burned Emperor. I believe you understand the significance of this war as clearly as I do—it is the beginning of the Empire's hegemony over the Feanso Continent, an indispensable step toward realizing the Great Blueprint."

Dolo lowered his hands and slapped them heavily against the table. His tone grew increasingly impassioned, and an unusual light flickered in his light gold eyes.

"If we win, the Embers of the Burned Empire will inherit Holy Fadlan's abundant legacy and become the largest, most powerful empire on this land.

"Each of us will proudly straighten our backs and raise our heads beneath the Empire's glory. We will obtain raw materials from all over the world and build factory after factory, skyscraper after skyscraper, their chimneys belching thick smoke. Humans, dwarves, elves, giants, orcs—those inferior races will toil diligently in the Empire's factories. Everything they possess will be used to produce abundant goods for us.

"Poverty, hunger, and disease will be eradicated from the Imperial homeland. We will receive the finest treatment, enjoy the most prosperous lives, and become the most confident, proud first-class citizens in the world.

"Before the Empire's guns and steel, all inferior races will tremble, while the peoples who carry the bloodline of Embers of the Burned will become the eternal rulers of this world!" At the end, Dolo clenched his massive