Ostana smiled. "Serving a true dragon is certainly different from serving an ordinary mortal. It always comes with some risks. But compared to what you can gain—whether fame, fortune, or even the sense of accomplishment that comes from realizing your ideals—a little risk is nothing. More importantly, it's never boring."
She truly didn't seem to find it tiring at all. Even her unchanging, placid smile carried a hint of pride. Clearly, her loyalty to her liege was absolute.
Yang Xiyi couldn't shake the feeling that the woman's words had a hidden meaning. But a clever man like him knew what he could afford to understand—and what he couldn't. So he smiled and repeated, "Indeed. We ordinary, uncultured commoners really don't know what to say beyond offering our thanks for your efforts."
"Besides, what I said just now was only a joke. The Enlightener ruins were discovered within your territory, after all. Before receiving an official invitation from your side, the Empire, as your friendly diplomatic partner, naturally wouldn't commit the discourtesy of bringing a massive fleet to your star system's orbit."
"Friendly diplomatic partner, huh? We're being pointed at by a thousand naval guns right now. What have we done to deserve such treatment, when all we have is a temporary survey station that can hold a thousand people at most?" Yang Xiyi said with a smile.
"I can understand your misgivings, and I apologize. But I hope you'll understand that His Highness, Prince Soluka, will soon be setting out with the united fleet. They'll be conducting some routine tactical formation drills here, so perhaps a little misunderstanding might occur."
"This misunderstanding of yours isn't some kind of metaphysical concept, is it?"
In response to Yang Xiyi's sarcasm, the chief of staff simply laughed heartily. "As you said, the universe