"Gorton, maintain your utmost patience. There is no need to act like those short-lived species, driven by their brief lifespans to be impetuous and eager for quick success."
Garros reminded him seriously.
Iron Dragon Gorton promised:
"I understand! I guarantee I will proceed steadily and never act rashly! Garros, you know me best. Compared to Solrog, that Iron Dragon who loves to make empty boasts, or Samantha, who always wants to show off... I am much more stable and reliable!"
His tone was full of affirmation of his own wisdom.
"By the way."
Garros changed the subject and asked, "How is your current relationship with the Crystal Princess?"
The Crystal Princess he referred to was, of course, that Lothern princess who doted on Gorton—Elena.
Crystal Princess was her official title. Its Origin was the grand coming-of-age ceremony where the old king spent lavishly to gift her a rare mineral vein rich in magic crystals as her exclusive private asset. This generous gift caused a sensation throughout the kingdom at the time.
"Great! Very great!"
Gorton's voice instantly rose, filled with undisguised pride: "She is as infatuated with me as ever! The luster of my scales, my elegant posture... oh, and of course my 'wisdom,' they all have her deeply enchanted!"
The Iron Dragon was immersed in his self-indulgent narrative.
Infatuated...?
The Red-Iron Dragon, on the other end of the mental link, held deep doubts about this claim.
He knew his brother too well—perhaps because the more one lacks something, the more one craves it. When describing his own charm, Gorton habitually added embellishments and exaggerations; it had almost become an instinctive reaction.
But regardless.
To be able to raise Iron Dragon Gorton, a massive dragon with a huge appetite, so plump and sturdy in the royal court with such glossy scales... Crystal Princess Elena's material support for him must be extremely generous and unstinting.
After a moment's thought, Garros decided to pour some necessary cold water of reality on his brother, who was immersed in fantasy.
"Gorton, wake up."
He reminded him in a deep voice: "Crystal Princess Elena's age, as far as I know, has already exceeded thirty."
"A kingdom princess of such noble status who is past marriageable age would normally, according to human royal custom and political needs, have long since entered a political marriage with some powerful, high-ranking noble Family within the country."
"Or she would be married to a fierce general with illustrious military achievements to secure the army's loyalty, or... be used as an important diplomatic pawn, married off to another powerful kingdom or duchy to consolidate alliances and weave a network of interests."
"Are you sure that, with her status as a princess, she can always remain independent and withstand all pressure just to be 'infatuated' with you... well, an unconventional dragon?"
Clearly, Iron Dragon Gorton had not completely failed to consider this issue.
He immediately replied: "Hey, you don't need to worry about that, Garros. A few years ago, Elena did mention these annoying matters to me."
Gorton's tone seemed quite relaxed, as if he wasn't worried.
"She is naturally obsessed with exploring the truths of the arcane. As early as her youth, she used this as an excuse to decline countless noble suitors. Now, she has even received the favor and blessing of the Mystra Sanctuary. Her resolve is as firm as a rock, and she has long since made a grand vow to dedicate her life unreservedly to the halls of magic and her beloved Kingdom of Lothern."
The Mystra Sanctuary was also known as the Church of Mystra among believers.
Its more widely known name in the world of Bernardo was—
The Holy See of the Goddess of Magic.
Even though on this planet named Bernardo, the alchemical industrial civilization represented by iron and metal was highly developed, and powerful lifeforms of the Legendary rank were not uncommon—even with supreme existences that touched the ceiling of power in the material world—
Faith in and worship of transcendent deities had never truly vanished from this world.
Whether it was the Mystra Sanctuary symbolizing the Origin of magic, the Dawn Holy See representing the hope of light, or the Libra Sanctuary in charge of balance and contracts... the presence of these sects has always occupied an indelible and prominent place in the long river of history and the map of power.
The kings of various nations were usually not repelled by the forces of divine right.
On the contrary.
The vast majority of monarchs would wisely choose to accept divine right, and would even establish a specific Holy See as the national religion.
They were calculating and assessed the situation, choosing to secretly curb its influence or vigorously support its growth depending on different needs.
Because this complex dance with divine right often brought unexpected stability and consolidation to the monarch's own rule on a deeper level.
Garros pondered in silence for a few seconds before finally making a decision, saying:
"Gorton, the time has come. You can try to cautiously reveal some information to Crystal Princess Elena regarding the upcoming movements of the Ignas Dragon Flight. You don't need to tell her everything, just hint—that you have several powerful blood-related brothers who have been dormant for a long time, and they have finished planning and are about to officially march toward that vast wilderness full of opportunities."
Although the main body of the Kingdom of Lothern had not yet officially entered the war, the Duchy of Haltai, its vassal, and the Duchy of Abel, the arm of the Ripos Kingdom, were already embroiled in fierce conflict. Furthermore, they both had many resource outposts in the Serel Wilderness.
In a sense, it could be said that...
The fire of the Federation's civil war had been officially ignited.
This also meant that it was finally time for the Molten Iron Tribe, which had been accumulating strength and tempering itself in the Shadowlands for several years, to show its hidden sharp claws and march toward the resource-rich and vast unclaimed wilderness.
No one knew how long the battle between the duchies would last.
Before the intensity of the war fully escalated and those more powerful kingdoms behind the scenes entered the fray directly, igniting an even more tragic fire, they had to pitch solid camps on the wilderness land and establish stable outposts, frontlines, and a Foundation.
They had to gain a firm foothold there.
And wait for the even more surging and violent flames to soar into the sky.
Under the premise of this strategic deployment,
Garros hoped to reach a preliminary cooperative understanding with that intelligent and influential Crystal Princess.
If this could be successfully Advanced, he would gain a solid backer at least in terms of resource security—the output of the crystal vein in Her Highness's hands was not just shiny, mundane decorations, but precious magic crystals that could serve as energy sources.
Furthermore,
There might even be an opportunity to obtain a supply of those solidified black oil crystals that represented a more Advanced form of energy.
These were indispensable resources for those who wanted to quickly increase their Life Level.
"Good! I've been waiting for this!"
Gorton replied excitedly.
He just had to imagine the scene:
The spectacular sight of his powerful blood brothers expanding territory and claiming kingship in that vast and chaotic land of the Serel Wilderness.
Even though Gorton was currently far away in the prosperous but lethally dangerous Federation royal court... just thinking that within the grand hegemony belonging to the Ignas Dragon Flight, there was also an irreplaceable contribution he, Gorton, was silently making from the heart of the enemy camp.
He couldn't help but hum, puffing out his chest, feeling a sense of immense pride.