Kaelthrog.
After the Legendary Ancient Dragon from the Helmod Dragon Clan finished speaking, he quietly watched the Red Iron Dragon opposite him, waiting for his answer.
Opposite him, Galos was momentarily speechless.
"A stinking outsider, coming to Aura to beg!"
This phrase inexplicably floated into the Red Iron Dragon's mind at this moment.
Although the specific circumstances were somewhat different, his thoughts at the moment were somewhat similar.
The strength of the Helmod Dragon Clan was a fact; they had remained active despite the encirclement and suppression by the Raging Waves Dragon Domain and multiple coastal city-states, even establishing a terrifying reputation around the Boiling Sea, which in itself proved their power.
Moreover, they were a Dragon Group on the side of Order—at least, so they claimed.
But no matter how they glossed it over, it couldn't change the essence that they were a band of robbers and a group of pirates.
Plundering merchant ships, ransacking ports, demanding ransoms... these acts of burning, killing, and looting had long been recorded on the wanted posters of various coastal nations and sung as terrifying stories by countless sailors.
"Allying with them might provide a powerful boost."
"But the image the Aura Kingdom and I have cultivated for years would collapse rapidly in a short time, ruined completely. I would be immediately dragged down by the Helmod Dragon Clan, becoming a target hunted by everyone across the continent."
Galos silently weighed the options in his heart.
The risk was too great.
Aura had just ended its war with the Xio Kingdom. Newly occupied lands needed to be integrated, internal construction needed to be advanced, and diplomacy with neighboring countries needed to be maintained... Now was absolutely not the time to openly ally with a notoriously evil Dragon Group.
However, what if he directly and firmly refused?
Kaelthrog represented the entire Helmod Dragon Clan. For this clan to stand tall in the Boiling Sea for centuries, its leader was certainly no pushover.
Galos was never one to make enemies casually.
He needed to find a suitable way to phrase it—one that refused the Helmod Dragon Clan's request for alliance without completely burning bridges.
In fact, if he could avoid a public alliance to prevent drawing fire upon himself, while still finding a way to utilize their strength and turn it into his own assistance, that would be the best course of action.
The Red Iron Dragon's silence lasted a bit too long.
This silence caused Kaelthrog to misunderstand.
He thought Galos was seriously weighing the pros and cons of an alliance, hesitating rather than thinking of a refusal. So, he decided to strike while the iron was hot and further elaborate on the benefits of allying with the Helmod Dragon Clan.
"His Majesty Ignis."
"When we have selected a landing site and are establishing a nation belonging to Hermoode, if the Aura Kingdom can provide formal recognition and support, and publicly conclude an alliance, we will surely give a generous return."
He leaned forward slightly to give his words more weight.
"The vast sea areas, undersea mineral veins, rare seafood, and magical Materials controlled by the Helmod Dragon Clan..."
"All of these will be open to Aura with priority, and trade will be conducted under the most favorable conditions."
"And more importantly, no matter what kind of threat Aura faces in the future—be it a coalition of human kingdoms or the covetousness of other hostile dragons—with just a single summons, the raging waves and thunder of Hermoode will descend."
"We will make all enemies understand that attacking Aura is making an enemy of us."
As he spoke, fine electrical sparks crackled at the tips of his dragon horns and the edges of his wings, making the surrounding air glow faintly.
"Your Majesty, this is a win-win. No, this is a victory for all ambitious dragons."
"You have already torn a hole in the Dragon Ridge Mountains of the North, proving with iron and fire that dragons can establish their own kingdom outside of human rules. Now, let Hermoode drive another nail into the Western Coast."
"We will be in the North and West, forming a pincer movement and supporting each other."
"The land kingdoms will be constrained by us. In time, the entire continent's coastlines and heartlands will be places shadowed by dragon wings."
Evil Dragons... Galos slightly furrowed the scales on his brow.
Kaelthrog spoke of "Evil Dragons" so naturally, as if Galos were one of them.
But the Red Iron Dragon had never admitted to belonging to the Evil Dragon camp, at least not in public.
While Aura's path to statehood was indeed accompanied by war and conquest, it was carried out within the established framework of rules of the various nations.
He had the witness of the Metal Dragon Domain, relatively compliant reasons for declaring war, and the signing of post-war treaties... All of this was starkly different from the naked plundering of the Helmod Dragon Clan.
"Kaelthrog, I need to correct your wording."
The Red Iron Dragon said directly.
The Blue Dragon was slightly startled, his gaze focusing on the Red Iron Dragon.
"The Aura Kingdom rose from the wilderness and gained a foothold in the North, but this does not mean that 'Evil Dragons can easily establish a nation.' These are two different things."
"My success was built on specific timing, strategy, and... a certain degree of external recognition."
"If the Helmod Dragon Clan wants to land and establish a nation, with the notorious reputation you've left behind and those well-known evil deeds, the resistance you will face will far exceed what Aura faced back then. You will not only be fighting the defenders of your target location, but you will likely draw in the joint intervention of multiple surrounding kingdoms, and even a formal crusade from the Metal Dragon Domain."
He looked directly into the Blue Dragon's eyes and continued, "I am not belittling Hermoode's power; I am simply stating a fact."
"You have ambition, which I appreciate; but you must also realize that the path you have chosen is very difficult."
Opposite him, hearing the Red Iron Dragon's blunt and even somewhat sharp words, Kaelthrog did not show any anger.
In the values of traditional Evil Dragons, a notorious reputation and evil deeds often carried a kind of alternative praise; it meant power and deterrence.
He simply grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth suited for tearing prey.
"Your Majesty, the clan is naturally aware of what you've said."
Kaelthrog said, "We have contended with the Raging Waves Dragon Domain in the Boiling Sea for centuries, and our conflicts with other coastal city-states are countless. We are well aware of how many bounties are on our heads and how many pairs of hateful eyes are behind us."
His massive head tilted up slightly.
"However, since we of Hermoode have decided to land and establish a nation, we are already prepared to meet all challenges."
"We will not fight a battle we are not sure of; we will not implement a plan that has no chance of success."
The Blue Dragon's words revealed a strong confidence.
This confidence was not blind arrogance, but a foundation settled after countless storms and bloody conflicts.
"Could it be that this Dragon Group has some special reliance to dare make such a decision?"
Galos thought to himself.
Thinking carefully, an evil Dragon Group that could remain active and even grow under the continuous strikes of the Raging Waves Dragon Domain could never have a ruler who was a brainless fool.
Their choice to plan a landing and nation-building at this point in time must have been after careful consideration and assessment of risks and rewards.
They might even possess some key intelligence or bargaining chips.
Just as the Red Iron Dragon was calculating in his mind, Kaelthrog's voice suddenly lowered a bit.
"Your Majesty, about you... I have heard many interesting rumors. I wonder if they are true or false."
"What rumors?" Galos asked.
The Blue Dragon's vertical pupils narrowed slightly, and electrical light swirled around the edges of his eye sockets.
"It is said that you have deep connections with certain Metallic Dragons, and even certain Metal Dragon Domains."
Kaelthrog said slowly, "You once won a championship in a competition held by the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm; you were once ambushed by a Legendary Bronze Dragon during a journey, yet under the guarantee of the Fubo Dragon Domain and by virtue of that Gold Dragon King's decree, you left the Dragon Domain unscathed... These stories circulate in different versions, but what I've said should be closest to the truth."
The scales on Galos's brow tightened slightly.
When Aura was founded, there were Metallic Dragons present as witnesses. This matter was widely spread, so it wasn't surprising the Blue Dragon knew.
But the championship in the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm, the ambush by the Bronze Dragon, the intervention of the Fubo Dragon Domain... these things were not widely known to the outside world.
"Where did you hear these things?"
He asked.
Kaelthrog smiled slightly.
"It seems these stories are true."
"As for the source... our Dragon Group has been entrenched in the Boiling Sea for years, and being enemies with the Raging Waves Dragon Domain has long been commonplace. For an enemy, we naturally do everything in our power to understand them and collect all possible intelligence."
"It was during the process of sorting through this intelligence that we accidentally heard about your deeds."
"An Evil Dragon with both Five-Colored Dragon and Ferrodragon Bloodlines, maintaining a distant yet connected relationship with multiple Metal Dragon Domains... this in itself is enough to be eye-catching. Digging along these clues, more details surfaced."
Galos stared at the Blue Dragon.
He thought for a few seconds and then asked, "Since you already know that I have dealings with the Metal Dragon Domains and might even have some degree of friendship, why did you come here trying to ally with me?"
"Aren't you worried that I will reveal your plans to the Metal Dragon Domains or draw a clear line between us?"
Hearing this, Kaelthrog let out a laugh as deep as muffled thunder.
"Forgive my bluntness, Your Majesty."
He reined in his smile, and his tone became serious.
"You possess the Bloodlines of both the Five-Color Dragons and the Ferrodragons, which is inherently contrary to the nature of Metallic Dragons, as incompatible as fire and water."
"Those fellows who call themselves good and noble—can they really understand your ambition and hegemony? Will they really wholeheartedly support Aura's future expansion?"
The Blue Dragon leaned forward, closing the distance with the Red Iron Dragon.
"The friendship of Metallic Dragons is built on your current superficial compliance with order and your restraint over your own ambitions."
"Once you show a stronger desire for conquest, or touch upon the tenets they strictly adhere to in any other way, do you think those Metallic Dragons will still stand on your side without hesitation?"
"Perhaps a few Metallic Dragons are on good personal terms with you and won't be your enemy."
"But the majority of Metallic Dragons will absolutely regard you as a target that must be eliminated."
Galos didn't answer immediately, just listening quietly.
To some extent, the Blue Dragon's words were not wrong.
Galos himself had never fully trusted the Dragon Domains; he always maintained a certain level of vigilance and distance.
But it was undeniable that the background of the Dragon Domains was indeed very important to him right now. this relationship had shielded him from much unnecessary trouble and won him time for development.
As for what would happen in the future... that was not something that required deep planning right now.
"Look at history, Your Majesty."
Kaelthrog's voice continued, "How many times have Metallic Dragons joined forces with human mages and Paladins to nip our ambitions in the bud?"
"They see us as Incarnations of evil and disaster, even going so far as to join forces with other races to harm their own kind."
The Blue Dragon's words became increasingly passionate, and the electrical light around him became active, jumping and flashing between his scales.
"Your Majesty, what flows in your body is, after all, the Bloodline of an Evil Dragon."
"And an Evil Dragon should, in the end, associate with Evil Dragons."
"Rather than pinning your hopes on those Metallic Dragons who will sooner or later leave because of ideological conflicts, it is better to ally with the Helmod Dragon Clan, who truly understand you, support you, and have the same natural pursuits as you."
"Those Metallic Dragons? They have never been worth fully trusting."
"Setting aside other Dragon Domains, let's talk about the Raging Waves Dragon Domain."
"Nowadays, intense changes are happening there. The number of dragons who view Evil Dragons as enemies that must be eliminated is surging. In the future, their attitude toward you will not be substantially different from their attitude toward us."
"And we, the Helmod Dragon Clan, are the allies you should truly choose."
"We will not bind you with hypocritical tenets; we only believe in the firm bond formed by power and interests."
After the Blue Dragon finished speaking, his massive body leaned back slightly, giving the Red Iron Dragon room to think and waiting for his final response.
Galos remained silent, his mind working rapidly, weighing every point in the Blue Dragon's words.
It had to be said that Kaelthrog, as the messenger of the Helmod Dragon Clan, indeed possessed excellent eloquence and insight.
His words were not entirely without merit.
The friendship of the Metal Dragon Domains was indeed uncertain, and as Aura developed, the possibility of ideological conflicts was real. A powerful Evil Dragon ally could indeed provide significant assistance.
However, Galos's heart was also very clear.
If he really publicly allied with the Helmod Dragon Clan, the disadvantages would definitely outweigh the benefits.
Regardless of whether they intended to use him and treat the Aura Kingdom as a shield, even if their sincerity could be guaranteed, this "friendship" came with too many risks and uncertainties.
As for the Metallic Dragons, the Raging Waves Dragon Domain under the Bronze Dragon King might cause trouble in the future.
However, the Eternal Radiance Dragon Realm and the Fubo Dragon Domain currently maintain a clearly friendly attitude toward Galos.
This relationship was hard-won, and he could not easily abandon it for the sake of a pirate Dragon Group.
"I need to find a way..."
Galos said to himself in the depths of his heart.
"I must avoid being immediately tied to Hermoode's chariot, while also turning the power of this Dragon Group to my own use as much as possible, or even exploiting them in reverse."
The Red Iron Dragon pondered for a few seconds, and his thoughts gradually became clear.
A feasible plan slowly took shape.
"I have understood the ambitions of the Helmod Dragon Clan and your praise for me."
"The picture you have painted is indeed fascinating, and the hidden dangers you pointed out for me are not without reason..."
Hearing this, the expression of the Ancient Blue Dragon did not relax; instead, it became slightly solemn.
The years he had lived were long enough for him to have witnessed countless negotiations and dealings.
An opening like the one Galos used—first giving affirmation and expressing understanding—was often followed by a 'but,' and the content after that 'but' was usually a rejection or a major revision of terms.
Noticing the change in the Ancient Dragon's gaze, Galos's voice only paused for a brief moment.
Then, without evasion, he shifted the topic.
"But, I cannot agree to your request for recognition of your nationhood or the conclusion of an alliance."
Kaelthrog's neck muscles visibly tightened, but he restrained other reactions, only asking in a deep voice, "His Majesty Ignis, I represent the Helmod Dragon Clan, and I have crossed the mountains with the greatest sincerity."
"If you are to explicitly reject our alliance, please at least give me a sufficiently persuasive reason."
"So that I may report back truthfully to the leaders and let them understand your considerations."
His tone remained polite, but a hint of displeasure was faintly revealed in its depths.
Galos nodded slightly.
"I also hope to see the rise of another nation dominated by dragons; that would mean we are no longer an isolated case, and that the age of dragons might truly be returning."
"I also hope to have a powerful ally who can provide mutual support at critical moments."
"However, the timing and the cost do not allow me to make the choice you desire."
"The Aura Kingdom is not yet stable, having just ended its war with the Xio Kingdom and signed a treaty. The newly occupied lands still need time to be digested and integrated. At this moment, if I were to publicly conclude an alliance with a notorious group of Blue Dragon pirates, we would immediately become the target of the entire continent."
Kaelthrog opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to argue.
He said, "Your Majesty, risks and rewards always coexist. Our Helmod Dragon Clan also has other Evil Dragon allies. As long as we prepare thoroughly and act swiftly..."
Galos raised a front claw in a gesture to stop, interrupting him:
"Let me finish, messenger."
Kaelthrog took a deep breath, swallowed his unfinished words, and remained silent.
"I am not rejecting Hermoode's friendship, nor am I failing to recognize your strength."
Galos spoke unhurriedly, "Quite the opposite. I believe the Helmod Dragon Clan is very much worth befriending. Maintaining contact and cooperating at certain levels would be of great benefit to Aura's future development."
"But the method of cooperation needs to change a bit."
Kaelthrog's vertical pupils narrowed slightly, revealing a searching look.
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
Galos said, "There will be no formal alliance between Aura and the Helmod Dragon Clan."
"We need to maintain distance between us; in fact, we must maintain a hostile relationship in the eyes of other races."
Hearing these words, a look of contemplation and realization flashed in the Blue Dragon's eyes.
"You mean..."
"On the surface, we treat each other as enemies, or at least as strangers, but in secret, we can exchange intelligence, provide material support, and even carry out some hidden coordination."
"This way, we can combine our strengths without being immediately seen as a massive risk by the nations of the continent, which would lead them to join forces against us."
Galos nodded with satisfaction.
He expressed approval of the Blue Dragon's quick understanding.
"Exactly. This kind of relationship is more flexible than an alliance exposed to the sun, and it is harder to target."
"We can adjust the depth of our cooperation according to the actual situation, without being restricted by public treaty obligations."
Kaelthrog's massive head lowered slightly, falling into a long silence.
Clearly, the Red Iron Dragon's proposal was completely outside the Helmod Dragon Clan's prior expectations. He needed time to digest it and assess the pros and cons.
A few seconds later, he raised his head again and looked at Galos with a sharp gaze.
"But this also means that the Helmod Dragon Clan needs to face all the pressure during the landing process alone. This does not align with our original intention of seeking allies to share the risk."
This Ancient Dragon is indeed not easy to fool... Galos thought to himself, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Kaelthrog, you are right."
The Red Iron Dragon did not argue; instead, he admitted it frankly.
"Under this model, the Helmod Dragon Clan indeed needs to face immense pressure alone."
His voice paused slightly, his eyes narrowed, and he said, "However, since the Helmod Dragon Clan dares to plan a landing to establish a nation and appears so confident, you must have already made full preparations for the difficulties you are about to face."
"Aura's support in the shadows will effectively lower the difficulty of your success and reduce unnecessary losses."
"If, on this basis, the Helmod Dragon Clan still lacks the confidence to establish itself... then I suppose there is no need for us to conclude a formal alliance anyway."
The purpose of an ally is to increase the chances of victory, not to shoulder the risk of certain defeat.
Galos's meaning was clear.
If the Helmod Dragon Clan did not have the certainty of victory themselves, then any form of alliance was a castle in the air.
Kaelthrog fell silent.
His massive head lowered slightly, and arcs of electricity flowed rapidly through his vertical pupils, as if thunderclouds were brewing in the depths of his eyes.
Clearly, he was swiftly weighing the pros and cons of this proposal.
The Red Iron Dragon's plan was vastly different from what the Helmod Dragon Clan had originally envisioned, but thinking about it carefully... it didn't seem unfeasible.
While secret cooperation could not immediately share the overt pressure, it could provide substantial aid while avoiding premature exposure and a full-scale encirclement.
A few seconds later, Kaelthrog raised his head.
"Your Majesty's proposal... I need time to consider it carefully, and I also need to discuss it in detail with the leaders of the Dragon."
Kaelthrog said, "This matter is of great importance and is not something I can decide alone."
"I will take the entire contents of today's conversation, as well as your specific proposal, back to the Boiling Sea exactly as they are and report to the leaders. The final decision will be made by them collectively."
"As it should be."
Galos nodded, "Regardless of your final decision, I hope we can maintain a channel of communication between us."
"One more friend is always better than one more enemy."
"A win-win situation is what I look forward to."
Kaelthrog took a deep look at the Red Iron Dragon, trying to read more information from the majestic face covered in dark red scales.
A moment later, he spread out one front claw, palm upward.
Strands of electric arcs condensed in his claw, eventually forming a fist-sized azure sphere. Inside the sphere, lightning and vortices seemed to swirl incessantly, emitting a faint and steady magical fluctuation.
"This is a token; please accept it, Your Majesty."
The Blue Dragon handed the sphere over: "When our side has reached a decision, we will contact you through it."
Galos extended a sharp claw, gently picked up the sphere, and toyed with it between his claws to examine it.
Seeing this, Kaelthrog fully spread his wings, and the patterns on the wing membranes lit up one by one.
"His Majesty Ignis, the deep sea and the volcano may be ten thousand miles apart, but burning ambition knows no boundaries."
Whoosh!
His massive wings flapped suddenly, and the strong airflow kicked up a whirlwind.
His body soared into the air, heading straight for the sky. At the same time, he summoned a thick, ink-like black cloud to hide his form and Aura, and soon vanished into the vast sky above the Dragon Ridge Mountains.
Only when the black cloud had completely disappeared from view did Galos slowly withdraw his gaze.
The White Dragon Beskar, who had been silent for a long time, approached at this moment, his tone carrying unconcealed admiration.
"Your Majesty, that was truly brilliant."
"Pretending to cooperate with the Helmod Dragon Clan while using them as a shield."
"In this way, we can strengthen our influence on the Romanian Plain, while on the other hand, we gain more attention and support from the Metal Dragon Domain, making them feel that Aura's stance is firm."
"Haha, a win-win means we win twice!"
Galos turned his head and looked at the White Dragon beside him.
"Pretending to cooperate?" The Red Iron Dragon repeated the phrase, then slowly shook his head. "No, Beskar, there was no falsehood in what I said to Kaelthrog."
The White Dragon was stunned for a moment.
Galos turned his gaze back to the horizon where the Blue Dragon had disappeared.
He said, "Cooperation with Hermoode is indeed what I want."
"A powerful Dragon Group attempting to land and establish a nation can tie up the attention of more kingdoms and the Raging Waves Dragon Domain. This has a hundred benefits and not a single harm for Aura's development."
He paused, a deep light flickering in his eyes.
"It's just that, if something truly happens to the Helmod Dragon Clan in the future... we can easily clear ourselves of any connection. As long as there are no formal alliances out in the open, everything else is easy to handle."
Beskar suddenly understood, a look of tacit understanding appearing on his dragon face.
It was best to maintain a vague state between Aura and Hermoode that allowed for both advance and retreat.
If the Helmod Dragon Clan developed smoothly, Aura could secretly benefit; if they encountered major setbacks or even faced collapse, Galos could clear himself of any connection without hesitation, or even kick them while they were down.
"Galos, you are actually quite suited to be a Psion."
The Amethyst Dragon's whisper echoed faintly.
"Before this, I always felt that you mainly relied on that Iron Dragon relative to handle such matters, which allowed the Aura Kingdom to develop in an orderly fashion, while you only needed to focus on your own strength. But looking at it now, I still underestimated you."
"I just don't like tedious negotiations, but that doesn't mean I am not good at them."
Galos looked straight ahead and responded in his heart.
A few days later.
In a place where sunlight could never reach, deep within a dark and secret trench.
The water pressure here was enough to crush steel, and the darkness was as thick as a physical substance. Only the ghostly blue cold light of certain bioluminescent creatures occasionally flickered past, reflecting massive and hideous silhouettes.
Surges of undercurrents billowed and echoed here along with heavy, slow breaths.
The three Great Wyrm leaders of the Helmod Dragon Clan had already fully understood Galos's intentions and proposal from the information Kaelthrog brought back.
"Not giving public recognition, and even appearing hostile to each other on the surface... but forming an alliance and cooperating in secret?"
The first voice spoke, low like muffled thunder from the seabed, carrying a certain playful tone.
"Heh, that Red Emperor... to be able to establish a dragon nation on land, he indeed possesses extraordinary wisdom. He is no foolish dragon."
The second voice took over, its tone revealing neither joy nor anger, only calm analysis.
"He wants to use us; he doesn't truly want to form an alliance, at least not the kind of alliance we expected."
The third voice spoke slowly, hitting the nail on the head.
"Exactly. However, aren't we also trying to use the Aura Kingdom?"
The first voice spoke again, with a hint of coldness: "So-called alliances have never been anything more than mutual exploitation. Both we and he are well aware of this."
A brief silence followed.
Only the sounds of undercurrents and the breathing of giant beasts intertwined in the darkness.
"In any case, his proposal... does indeed have its merits."
The second voice finally said, "Let's agree to it for now."
"Cooperating in the shadows is always better than being completely isolated and without aid. Let us see in the future who can truly have the last laugh and who will be the ultimate winner."
"Seconded."
"Agreed."
The whispers gradually faded into silence.
The undercurrents continued to surge. In the dark deep-sea trenches, the will of the dragons had made its decision.