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Translator: AnubisTL
After further in-depth discussions and the finalization of more specific details, Iron Dragon Solgorn finally left the Swamp of the Dead.
Although he had failed to secure the Venomtail Tribe's direct loyalty, his primary objective had been achieved.
—He had successfully shaken the Venomtail Tribe's resolve to ally with other factions, pushing them into a neutral position.
"Chief, do you truly believe Silver Dragon Frostmark is secretly supporting the Ironforged Tribe?"
An old shaman with a face full of wrinkles couldn't help but ask after the iron dragon's departure.
Naris gazed in the direction the iron dragon had gone and slowly shook her head. "That question is completely irrelevant."
"If the human and orc allied forces defeat the Ironforged Tribe, they will surely suffer heavy casualties. We can then simply reap the benefits. Conversely, if the Ironforged Tribe wins a pyrrhic victory, we will have an opportunity to strike while they are weak."
"As for Silver Dragon Frostmark..."
Her serpent tail swayed gently, a shrewd glint in her eyes. "Given his usual style, even if he intervenes, he won't destroy us directly. At most, he'll issue a warning first. If the Ironforged Tribe demonstrates overwhelming strength, it won't be too late to swear fealty then. Either way, we, the Venomtail Tribe, have left ourselves a way out."
In the southwest of the Frontierlands, the setting sun of Dragon Valley dyed the cliff walls blood-red.
Garos slowly exhaled a breath of turbid qi as the drum-like thrumming in his chest gradually subsided, concluding today's Dragon Heart Tempering.
Dewdrops condensed on the cliff walls were shaken loose by the aftershocks, and waves of heat billowed from the gaps in the red-iron dragon's slightly parted scales.
Just then, a familiar tremor pulsed from the depths of his bloodline—the Chain of Kinship had been triggered.
"The Venomtail Tribe's stance has been ascertained."
Solgorn's voice echoed: "These swamp crawlers are far more cunning than humans or orcs, plotting to sit back and watch the tigers fight."
Though the Six-armed Serpent Woman concealed her true intentions well, she couldn't escape the mind mage's insight.
He detailed his conversation with the Venomtail Tribe and the serpentmen's reactions.
"It's only natural. I would have done the same in their position," the red-iron dragon said. "Once we crush Dawn and Iron Blood, these serpentmen will kneel before us."
The chiefs of the Frontierlands' original Four Great Tribes were all roughly equal in power—around the level of a grand artificer's alchemical giant. There wasn't much of a gap between them.
Facing three of them at once, especially if they coordinated and used special abilities, would be troublesome.
But if they only had to deal with two... The red-iron dragon's thorn spikes glowed faintly with battlelust, and his martial dragon aura surged within his body.
"By the way, I've taken a liking to the chief of the Venomtail Tribe," the iron dragon suddenly declared.
Garos nodded slightly. "The Six-armed Serpent Woman... She has a remarkable bloodline and is exceptionally powerful. It's only natural that you'd be interested. But don't let this distract you from our grand design."
The iron dragon replied bluntly, "How could the desires of the flesh compare to the magnificent vision we hold?"
"I am not the foolish White Scale. I can control my impulses. If the Serpent Woman ultimately chooses to oppose us, I will kill her without hesitation."
His words were low as thunder, decisive and final.
For the iron dragon, nothing compared to his burning ambition to establish a Dragon Kingdom. Besides, he felt no affection for the Serpent Woman—only a flicker of lust. Solgorn would not let such a thing cloud his judgment.
Garos felt relatively reassured by Iron Dragon Solgorn and said no more.
After a moment's thought, the red-iron dragon asked, "Solgorn, tell me how this war should proceed. What are your thoughts?"
After a few seconds of silence, Iron Dragon Solgorn's voice came slowly, methodical and orderly: "Assuming the humans and orcs have fully united, their advantage lies in having more mid-to-upper-level bosses and elite soldiers than we do. This gives them high tactical flexibility and the ability to fight on multiple fronts."
"Our current situation is that we have an ample supply of the lowest-tier hyena-men and kobolds, who are expendable. Our top-tier combat power exceeds theirs, but we lack a sufficient number of mid-to-upper-level bosses. The golems produced by the alchemy workshops can partially compensate for this, but they are still not enough."
The war had just ended, and the goblins' alchemy golems had been largely destroyed—less than one in ten remained.
Although the alchemy workshops were operating day and night under Samantha's leadership and the grand artificer's assistance, the number of newly produced war golems was far from enough to fill the gap left by the war.
"We have occupied the entire south with numerous strongholds, but it's still early days. Manpower is tight, and the southeastern territories haven't been fully integrated yet, making a comprehensive defense difficult."
"..."
As time ticked by, Solgorn first analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.
Using his mind mage abilities, his thoughts were now sharp and swift, quickly dissecting the situation with thorough precision.
Finally, Solgorn paused and concluded, "I suggest we simultaneously employ a 'top-down decapitation' and 'bottom-up attrition' strategy to compensate for our lack of mid-level forces."
Garos nodded in approval. "Hmm, that's exactly what I was thinking."
After a brief silence, the red-iron dragon's smile faded, and his tone turned serious. "War is imminent. We have no time to slowly savor the fruits of victory or consolidate our territory. The allied forces of humans and orcs could attack at any moment."
"Prepare for war. Send orders to the familiar bosses at every stronghold—tell them all to ready themselves for battle."
Immediately, a series of commands were relayed through communication devices, reaching the ears of each boss.
The Ironforged Tribe had only recently concluded its war with the Gold Tooth Tribe. The chosen were still basking in the afterglow of victory. They let out battle cries that pierced the heavens, their fighting spirit blazing and their morale soaring high for the war to come.
They knew deep down:
After this battle, the Ironforged Tribe's banners would fly across the Frontierlands.
And they, regardless of how lowly their original race might have been, as long as they were Ironforged Clan members following the great Lord of the Crimson Wings, would share in this glory and become the masters of the Frontierlands.
When that time comes...
Even the lowliest servants working on the assembly lines will surely feel a surge of pride, knowing the Ironforged Tribe has conquered the Frontierlands.
(End of the Chapter)
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