Watching Susie leave, Fang came over and said hesitantly, "My lord, I think she has a point. Our relationship with the Flying Dragon Family isn't all that close anymore. If the Wyvern Family really is raising Devils, you can't blame us for going after them."
Landen patted Fang on the shoulder. Clearly, most of his trusted subordinates thought the same way. But Landen knew things weren't that simple. Dragon Tooth City was currently in a highly unstable balance, and whoever disrupted it would pay a steep price.
"These are two separate matters. Last time, after we supported the Sea Beastmen, their fighting strength clearly increased. So why did Breyak end up being ambushed by dozens of High-Ranks?"
"Uh..." Fang wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin.
"Because the two sides were evenly matched to begin with, and both had a certain expectation of the costs and outcome of the conflict. Once one side breaks the balance, the other has to commit more forces to turn the situation around," Landen said. "But if both sides increase their forces, their losses will increase, too."
"I'm willing to give the Sea Beastmen strong support in their war against the Sea Monsters, because nearly every land-based power—the Human Empire, the Dragon Race, and the Elves included—is hostile toward the sea. No matter how much I support them, I'll still be on the moral high ground," Landen continued.
"But in Dragon Tooth City, I can't commit unlimited resources. Besides, the relationships between the great families are incredibly complicated. The Wyvern Family has not only a Legendary National Pillar, but also the best mage academy in the Dragon Kingdom. Its Archmages come from all the great families. I don't have the time or need to deal with such a tangled web of connections