Black Lake.
Shortly after Lord Black Lake returned to Ironthorn Castle, Ferrum followed him there.
Inside the palace, Zane sat on the cast-iron Throne, propping her head up with her hand. Her expression was calm, seemingly unconcerned about the previous confrontation and conflict, and was instead pondering other matters.
"Mother." Ferrum entered the palace, bowing his head in greeting.
"Um."
Zane finished his thoughts and looked at Ferrum below. "It's been five years. You've changed a lot. Come here, let me see you."
As instructed, Ferrum walked to the foot of the Throne.
Zane leaned forward slightly, scrutinizing the Nether Dragon in front of him. At this moment, Ferrum looked like a Young Dragon, exuding a certain aura.
In fact, the previous Ferrum also had a kind of blade-like sharpness, but after all, it was a medium-sized species and was far from enough to create oppression. The most powerful Giant Dragon in the world are all large species. The Royal Strain of the Great Dragon each have their own aura: the Iron Dragon is profound, the Purple Dragon is arrogant, the Red Dragon is violent, and the Gold Dragon is majestic. They are the concrete symbols of power and Giant Dragon Giant Dragon.
Now, Ferrum has also become a large species, with all its scales turning into a jet-black color. However, it still doesn't have the primal power style of the Iron Dragon, nor is it the same as other Royal Strain of dragons. With its cold and austere armor scales, it looks very heroic, like a young Dragon King.
"His talent for Consume Gold, Absorb Iron is indeed outstanding, and his current strength is also very good."
Zane commented, "However, it's a bit too big."
"Go around here," she said.
Ferrum understood her meaning, circled back around the Throne, and positioned himself behind Throne. He moved with absolute agility, his footsteps making no sound.
"You did a great job today, I'm satisfied." Zane placed his hand on his neck, his voice pleased.
"But I think my mother was wrong."
"That's what Ferrum said."
"What?"
"I think Mother acted too aggressively today; that wasn't right," Ferrum repeated.
"I was just about to say a few words of praise when you started to show disrespect."
Zane narrowed his eyes. "What's going on this time?"
"Anyone can say respectful and obedient words, but that's not true respect; it's just fear. I love my mother, which is why I say these rebellious things. Given your temperament, if I don't say these things to you, I'm afraid no one else will dare to say them to you in the future."
Ferrum said, "Chief Veloa convened the meeting to prepare to mobilize the entire territory and gather forces. While Mother's dominance over the dragons in the Red Fort is undoubtedly impressive, it hasn't brought any substantial benefits. On the contrary, it has made other members more dissatisfied and suspicious. If we were to attack the Tagoma Kingdom, the family would already be at a disadvantage before the war even begins."
Zane tightened his grip on the scales. "Is it any of your business to tell me what to do about war?"
"I don't understand the war, but I see the situation at Black Lake very clearly. When my mother was asleep, I came to Black Lake several times at Barloz's request to help. All I saw was riots and rebellions. Clans were tearing each other apart and killing one another. My mother ruled Black Lake with bloodshed and brutality, and all they believed in was bloodshed and brutality."
Ferrum said, "Under those circumstances, nothing we did had much effect. We could only resort to violence to suppress them, but that still couldn't stop the population loss and flight. Now, the villages and settlements of Black Lake are devastated and empty. After Mother awoke, she was determined to attack the Tagoma Kingdom immediately. She must have already seen the current state of Black Lake. Apart from the Ironthorn Castle's Royal Warband, how many soldiers does Mother think Black Lake has left to fight?"
"Approximately ten thousand people."
"Ten thousand people are far from enough to conquer a Short-lived Species Kingdoms."
Ferrum said, "Mother has used such force to coerce the lords of the Red Fort into raising their armies, but what will you do if they refuse your summons?"
"I can break their bones."
Zane said, "Moreover, I will not be stingy with the spoils of conquest. What Taigo could do, I can do too. The lords who follow me will receive land, wealth, and slaves. Isn't that exactly what they want? They have no reason to refuse."
"You're not stingy with the Black Lake Clan either, but the situation at Black Lake is right in front of us. Does Mother really think that the dragons in our clan are more loyal or easier to control than the Black Lake Clan?"
"What do you want to say?"
"Mother's strengths lie in conquest and war, not in ruling. I agree with Lord Leighton's point that mobilizing the entire territory is no trivial matter and requires the whole family's concerted efforts. Therefore, please sit down and have a good talk with the lords."
"A bunch of idiots who disobey orders on the Battlefield out of sheer courage, and then hesitate and timid off the Battlefield. I have nothing to say to them."
Zane looked slightly thoughtful. "Those two new Young Dragon are nothing to worry about, and the three Adult Dragon... Ferrum, my son, do you think your companions are any good?"
What does Mother want to do?
"I can make them face reality, throw them into the dungeon and imprison them for a period of time. During this time, you will take over the entire wilderness, maintain stability, and prepare my army for war. Can you do that?"
"I can't do it."
Ferrum immediately shook his head. " The Streamlands Legion, the Steelspine Plains Legion, and the Red Tide Shoal Legion are the three most loyal legions of the family, and even the Veloa Red Fort Legion has not been able to fully bring the Red Keep Legion under his control. If they lose their lord, in addition to the army, the entire wilderness will inevitably revolt. Mother underestimated the influence of the lords of the lands and overestimated the Juvenile Dragon's abilities."
He originally intended to say that the premise of their agreement was not to harm the family, and if Zane acted in this way, he would absolutely not provide any further support, but would instead regard him as an enemy.
However, given Zane's temperament, such vehement opposition will likely only have the opposite effect.
So let's try to coax her a little.
"They are all fools, but they do have some redeeming qualities. If it weren't for the urgency of the situation, I wouldn't have taken action against them so easily."
Zane stroked Ferrum's scales, lost in thought once more, "How can I make them behave?"
Ferrum raised his eyes and scrutinized Zane's expression. This Legendary Dragon had always presented herself as cold and ruthless, powerful, fierce, and arrogant. However, after enduring her unpredictable moods and getting close to her, Ferrum discovered that she was not without weaknesses.
Zane's ability to govern is the complete opposite of her war prowess, and her understanding of politics is also superficial. She only thinks about methods of conquest and slaughter, and doesn't know how to gain the recognition of other dragonflight members.
With these thoughts in mind, the sensations on the scales compelled the Nether Dragon to slowly grind its teeth.
He was now Juvenile Dragon, no longer the fledgling he once was. Physical maturity brought about a change in his thinking, and Ferrum found it difficult to tolerate Zane's caresses; he had a strange feeling about it.
"How?"
The Legendary Dragon's senses are incredibly sharp. In her prime, Zane possessed an absolute awareness of the surrounding space, and no change in the aura of Ferrum could escape her notice.
"Given the current situation, talks are imperative."
Ferrum moved his head away and said, "I want to know how much authority I have in my mother's heart, and how much status I hold. If my mother is willing to give me her support, I can go and negotiate with the lords of the lands on her behalf to accomplish this task."
"You can have all the permissions."
Zane thought for a moment and replied, "But our determination to attack the Tagoma Kingdom will not change. Nothing is a reason for us to change our target. If they still resist, I can accept Wildlands scorched by fire."
"Then, I'll go."
Ferrum bowed his head in greeting.
"There's no need to rush. You dare to speak disrespectfully, do you think you're afraid of me? Stay at Black Thorn Castle Keep for the next couple of days, have dinner with me, and help me take care of things in my territory."
Zane grabbed the Nether Dragon's horn. "My son went to talk to them, not to beg for anything, but to give them a chance to think it over themselves. As long as those guys still have brains and can think, they'll know that what I said is definitely true."