Ashen Dragon-Chapter 432 - 354: Audience Again

Continuing to walk towards the center of the city, he arrived before the Isdalia Grand Altar.

The ground rose high, forming a cliff, lifting the entire altar into the sky, much like the fabled Sky Garden.

Naven noticed this building from a great distance, which made him think he was hallucinating—to witness such a sight seemed impossible in reality.

But as he truly beheld the altar, he understood—it was the work of a spell. Surely, a mightily powerful caster had made the earth rise and the ground elevate.

"A miracle of a building, special weapons, legendary level casters… These are not possessions of a mere fledgling nation."

"Could it be they possess the entire heritage of an ancient empire?"

Or perhaps… behind them stands a deity as powerful as His Majesty Amanata?"

"The Ashen Empire… How many secrets do they conceal? Their ambitions surely extend beyond Anzeta."

Naven looked up at the towering cliff, deeply anxious about Cassandra's future.

Suddenly, a Tiefling's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Lord Naven, it's here."

"Please, ascend alone to the audience.

The Tiefling Guard Captain extended his hand, gesturing "please."

"Thank you."

Naven, with an increasingly anxious heart, ascended the spiral stairs carved into the smooth cliff wall.

The altar was high; it took him nearly twenty minutes to reach the top.

Fortunately, Naven was himself a near-extraordinary priest. Bathed in sunlight, his constitution was much superior to that of an average person, preventing him from becoming winded.

"We meet again, Naven."

A familiar voice came from the top of the altar.

Naven hurriedly looked up in nervousness, but instead of the anticipated Red Dragon, he saw a young nobleman with black hair and golden eyes.

The man wore a luxurious scarlet robe with gold threading and an opulent gem-encrusted crown. His face was strikingly handsome, and his pale golden eyes were so profoundly deep that they invoked a desire to worship.

He reclined on the throne with a casual demeanor, but his every move emanated an oppressive air. Such a demeanor was like the authority of a deity, one that could not be concealed.

—This was Cassius in human form.

"He, he looked even more noble than Lord Audis."

"More like… a god."

Naven's heart suddenly birthed a particularly audacious, almost outrageous thought. If he voiced this before His Majesty Audis, it could very well warrant death.

Naven Bassarius shivered.

He recovered from his shock and astonishment, realizing the true identity of this "young nobleman" in the distance.

Thinking of this, Naven immediately bent deeply, bowing: "Greetings, Your Majesty Cassius. Apologies for my earlier rudeness."

"But allow me to explain briefly - your empire astounds me, and your valor leaves me in awe, which led to my making such a lowly mistake."

Cassius casually conjured small flames in his hand, then looked at him and said indifferently: "Say no more, I do not care about these things."

He chuckled lightly, his tone quite playful: "Congratulations to your Majesty Audis, once again holding the Holy City, securing the symbols of Holy Fadlan's imperial power."

"Thank you for your concern."

Naven said: "Your Majesty, I bring with me… from His Majesty Audis…"

"I know why you're here."

Cassius interrupted him.

Flames in his hand formed glowing red beads and then disappeared.

"I have said, I am a ruler who loves peace, and now is the empire's period of development. At least within this year, the Ashen Empire will remain neutral and will not partake in the kingdoms' war of Fadlan."

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Hearing this, Naven sighed in relief.

The Ashen Emperor himself uttered these words.

Absolutely genuine.

This meant that the Ashen Empire was not a military ally of the Thrace Kingdom!

The worst-case scenario he feared had not yet come to pass!

Thinking this, Naven resolved to attempt once more: "Your Majesty Cassius, His Majesty Audis said that as long as you can form an alliance with us, he is willing to…"

"This matter is not up for discussion."

Cassius interrupted once more.

He looked at Naven below the steps, asking strangely: "Do you think—I am a dragon so easily bribed with gold?"

Naven instantly sweated, hastily lowering his head and responding: "Of, of course not, Your Majesty."

"I traveled from the Anzeta Corridor, witnessing many things. Your subjects praise your wisdom and foresight."

This was not mere flattery but what he saw and heard with his own eyes and ears. Naven, posing as a traveling merchant, noticed this while passing through various cities.

After the Ashen Emperor's legendary mythical "national tour," the Ministry of Propaganda greatly extolled and shamelessly embellished, even publishing a popular story "The Grace of His Majesty Cassius."

People spread the word, and the emperor's image indeed grew more magnificent within the country. Farmers, merchants, and citizens all felt his blessings. His image was almost becoming synonymous with the empire.

"The emperor's position is quite clear."

"It seems… I will disappoint His Majesty Audis; it appears I cannot make the empire our ally."

Seeing Cassius's steadfast stance, Naven sighed deeply in his heart, burying this thought within.

But this time, he still had another important task to accomplish.

Naven took a deep breath, tentatively glancing at the man on the throne.

Observing his unchanged expression, he lowered his head, speaking again: "Your Majesty, we have one more matter, uncertain if it is appropriate to mention."

"Speak."

"During our battles with the Thrace Army… we discovered weapons similar to those from the Ashen Empire."

"So—you suspect the Ashen Empire is aiding Thrace?"

The voice carried a hint of anger.

This questioning made Naven's scalp tingle.

He hastily waved his hand, fearfully explaining: "No, not like that, only His Majesty Audis is curious and wishes to know about those weapons…"

"Heh, you guessed correctly, those weapons are from the Ashen Empire."

This answer left Naven taken aback, stunned in place.

But Cassius continued: "But this is by no means aid, merely the most ordinary trade."

"They paid gold, the empire provided weapons, it's that simple."

"This…"

Naven was momentarily at a loss for words.

Such unique weapons could indeed be sold? And sold to potential enemies?

"Your Kingdom of Cassandra appears to have no right to interfere with the trade relations between the empire and the Thrace Kingdom?"

"Of course."

Naven responded sincerely.

"Our Ashen Empire has always advocated free trade."

"With enough gold, you could obtain such weapons, even ones more advanced than those sold to the Thrace Kingdom."

Cassius's lips curved into an undetectable smile, but Naven, bowing respectfully and trembling with excitement, did not notice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Naven responded with immense excitement.

He harbored the thought—perhaps, this visit could change the course of the war!