"Marshal Red-White Rose, head of the Iron Ridge Kingdom's delegation, pays respects to Your Highness, the Dragonrider."
"Bruce Silver Hand, head of the Blast Furnace Kingdom's delegation, pays respects to Your Highness, the Dragonrider."
In Thorn Castle's reception hall, Liszt met the heads of the two kingdoms' delegations: one was a young, handsome knight, while the other was an elegant middle-aged knight.
Smiling, he extended a hand in invitation. "No need for such ceremony, gentlemen. Please, take your seats."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Marshal hailed from the Red-White Rose Family, a family of great eminence in the Iron Ridge Kingdom. Bruce, meanwhile, was born into the Silver Hand Family, a ducal family without a dragon. They were a collateral branch of the Blast Furnace royal family, the Golden Crown Family, much like the relationship between the Blue Blood Alliance and the Sapphire Family.
Sending envoys of such noble status clearly demonstrated the importance the Blast Furnace Kingdom and Iron Ridge Kingdom attached to Liszt—or rather, to the Invisible Dragon Bard, Little Fire Dragon Rio, Light Green Gem Dragon Isen, Gray Cast Iron Dragon Ornn behind him, as well as the magus A Ke.
Before formally discussing the purpose of their missions, the delegations from both kingdoms first presented their gifts.
The King of Iron Ridge had sent a batch of grain, metal resources, and several strands of glittering Golden Fleece. This was the wool of the earth-aspected super dragon beast, the Golden Goat, its importance comparable to the Phoenix Feather of the Flame Dragon Bird—strictly speaking, these gifts were much the same as those brought by the previous delegation.
The Blast Furnace Kingdom had brought no grain, metal, or other resources, since they had traveled on a floating giant ray and could not carry too much.
However, the king's gifts