Chapter 483 Power is the only passport (Seeking monthly votes)
March of the year 346 in the Gregorian calendar.
The snow on the Longji Mountains has not completely melted, and the high peaks are still crowned with white, but there are already scattered tender green leaves and new buds stubbornly breaking through the mountains, announcing the approach of spring.
Behind the Crimson Flame Royal City.
The steepest peak is called Stargazing Cliff, where the Red Iron Dragon stands atop the cliff, overlooking the vast kingdom.
A biting wind blew in from the north, carrying the chill of late winter.
His broad dragon wings were folded at his sides, and his eyes calmly reflected the mountains and sea of clouds.
It has been more than two years since the Olympic Games were suspended.
During this period, the Kingdom of Aura has recovered considerably from the wounds inflicted during the war through recuperation and post-war reconstruction.
After all, given that the Red Emperor himself led the campaign, the losses suffered by the Aura Legion were not particularly severe.
The work of providing compensation to the fallen, repairing damaged areas, and initially pacifying newly occupied territories is proceeding in an orderly manner.
The tense nerves throughout the kingdom relaxed slightly.
Crops have sprouted again in the fields, rhythmic knocking sounds echo from the mines, and the markets have returned to their former bustle.
After that, once Theo's reparations arrive and the spoils of victory are absorbed, the losses from the war will be made up for in a very short time, and the Kingdom of Aura will become stronger at an even faster pace.
The chilly spring wind continued to sweep across Wangxing Cliff.
Galos's gaze crossed the kingdom's borders and landed on the more distant horizon, in the heart of the Romanian plains, the stage where many human kingdoms vied for supremacy.
"Garos, important news has arrived."
A deep voice echoed in his mind.
Galos's gaze flickered slightly, but he did not turn his head, responding in his mind as well.
"Sologer, speak."
Iron Dragon Sorog's voice was steady and clear as he recounted the intelligence he had just received.
"The Kingdom of Reipos dispatched an official delegation, which arrived in the capital of Lorthern yesterday evening."
"The mission was of a very high caliber, led by a prince and the chief court mage. Considering the continuous defeats of Rebos in the battle of Quinn Heights and the successive falls of the border fortresses, they are probably going to surrender this time, well, surrender under the guise of 'peace talks'."
Galos was not surprised by this.
He paused for two seconds, then slowly said, "It was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm even a little puzzled as to why Rebos is only now proposing peace talks."
With the fall of Quinn Heights, the interior of Reiber was wide open, and the signs of defeat were already obvious.
Since they have the courage to make tough decisions and cut their losses in time, they should have chosen to negotiate earlier, which might have allowed them to retain more bargaining chips.
By now, Lorthorn's forces are likely already close to its core area.
Talking at this time will inevitably come at a heavier price.
"Perhaps, the invisible hand behind Reboss can no longer provide them with support."
Galos narrowed his eyes, pondering to himself.
Rebos's victory in the First Civil War on the Plains of Romania was quite puzzling.
It's understandable to unleash some secret magical artifacts or new weapons, but the development, manufacturing, and use of strategic weapons capable of turning the tide of battle cannot be accomplished independently in a short period of time.
There must be a much larger force supporting it.
As for who it is...
The leaders of the various states on the plains all had their own suspicions.
The Holden Empire, that behemoth that dominates the Atlanta continent and focuses on the "Abyss Development Project," is the prime suspect.
Everyone tacitly agreed that they were unaware of the situation and never discussed it openly.
Galos and Sorog did not have this taboo.
Iron Dragon Sorog stated bluntly, "The Holden Empire is focused on their Abyss development project, the Federation has been dissolved, and the Holy King has been confirmed dead."
"The Holden Empire's attention and resources are probably no longer focused on the Romanian plains."
"Therefore, their support for Rebos has likely been interrupted or significantly reduced."
"Otherwise, the war between Rebos and Lorthern wouldn't have turned into a one-sided affair so quickly; there would have been at least a few more twists and turns."
Galos remained silent for a long time, the mountain wind howling through the gaps in his hard scales.
Then, he suddenly turned his thoughts back to the country of Aura.
He said, "The two deep rifts within our territory seem to have been relatively quiet recently."
"According to normal patterns, large-scale wars and deaths in the material world often stimulate the abyss, leading to increased rift activity and frequent demonic tides."
Iron Dragon Sorog paused for a moment, seemingly also retrieving relevant memories and information.
"Something is not right."
"Moreover, to be precise, the Abyssal Rift is not 'quiet,' but 'completely calm.' This unusual calm has lasted for several years, but we didn't pay any attention to it before."
From the moment the Abyssal Rifts first appeared within the territory of Aura, they have been like two scars that can never fully heal.
Demons always try to slip through the rift, requiring the stationed army and mages to remain vigilant and conduct regular cleanups.
Now that they have calmed down for a long time, it seems like a good thing at first glance, saving a lot of manpower and resources.
But this only made Galus more cautious.
That's the Abyss, the most chaotic and evil plane in the multiverse, bar none, completely devoid of the word "peace".
This unusual stillness is more like the calm before the storm, concealing even greater dangers.
“The frequent appearance of abyssal rifts across the continent, according to intelligence analysis, is most likely related to the abyssal development plan being implemented by the Holden Empire.” Galos sorted out his thoughts. “The fact that it has become so calm now may also be an effect of that development plan entering a new phase.”
"The Holden Empire... what exactly did they do in the abyss?"
There is currently no answer to this question.
Garos gathered his scattered thoughts and gave Tielong a clear instruction: "Pass the word down to strengthen the control and alert level of the two abyssal rifts. Don't be fooled by the apparent calm and let your guard down."
Iron Dragon Sorog immediately replied, "Understood, that's exactly what I was thinking. I'll give the order shortly."
His attitude toward potential threats is highly consistent with that of Galus.
After a pause, Sorog brought the topic back to the current situation: "The news that Rebos is preparing to surrender has spread, and our long negotiations with Theo should be coming to a final conclusion. We won't drag it out any longer."
"Once Theo's first batch of reparations arrives, we can officially launch the first step of the 'Northern Development Plan'."
"Use this money to recruit a large number of experienced craftsmen and scholars, systematically train our own people, accelerate the construction of roads, the establishment of towns, and the improvement of the defensive fortification system in the newly occupied territories, and at the same time further expand and arm the Aura Legion... We must transform the gold coins and materials from Theo's reparations into real strength for the kingdom as soon as possible."
After explaining these specific business plans, Tie Long remained silent for a few seconds.
When he spoke again, his tone was tinged with emotion.
"If the peace talks between Lorthorn and Rebos are successfully concluded, it means that the large-scale war that has swept across the Romanian plains for many years will soon come to an end."
"A chaotic era is coming to an end."
"Yes, an era has come to an end."
Galos repeated in a low voice, his gaze still fixed on the distant horizon.
Sorog continued, “Theo’s spine was broken, and Reboss was forced to bow his head and sue for peace... As for Aura, we rose from the wilderness, were baptized in blood and fire, and have become an important force that can influence the situation of the entire plain.”
"Garos, we did it."
"This is just the beginning, Sorog."
Galos's voice remained calm and composed, without a trace of arrogance: "Peace is merely a lull between two wars."
"The ambitions of human nations will not disappear because of a peace talk, nor will the development and expansion of Aura stop."
“Our enemies may lie dormant, but new ones will inevitably emerge, and they may even become more numerous and more hidden. Strength is our only passport.”
Afterwards, the two discussed some other things, and the communication ended about half an hour later.
Galos shook his enormous head.
He stretched out his strong limbs and wings, then swooped down and began to hone himself in the clearing between the mountains.
No matter how the external situation changes.
He firmly believed that his own strength was the most solid foundation of the kingdom.
Two weeks have passed in the blink of an eye.
Garros is in the Dragonspine Mountains, immersed in deep thought about the domain and how to prioritize its development.
Just then, a clear and high-pitched dragon's roar came from the sky, growing louder as it approached.
He looked up and saw a dazzling golden streak of light pierce through the clouds high in the sky, swooping down in a graceful and swift arc. As it approached, its speed decreased sharply, and it finally landed steadily on the ground, stirring up a shockwave mixed with dust and remnants of snow.
The golden light gradually faded, revealing the figure inside.
It was a female golden dragon with a slender and graceful body, yet it also possessed a sense of power.
Her scales shimmered in the afternoon sun, like flowing liquid gold, each reflecting a pure light.
At this moment, her beautiful dragon face was filled with undisguised excitement and pride, her tail swaying left and right.
Nasha the Golden Dragon, a specially appointed diplomat of the Kingdom of Aura.
Since the war between the two Auras was suspended and Aura and Theo entered a long and tedious negotiation phase, Natasha has repeatedly and strongly requested to be sent to Theo as an official diplomat of the Kingdom of Aura to personally participate in the negotiations and strive for the greatest benefit for Aura.
In her words.
"It would be very interesting to watch those humans haggle over every little detail in the terms and conditions, racking their brains but unable to come up with a solution. Besides, I can overwhelm them with my wisdom and aura."
After careful consideration, Galos finally granted her request.
On one hand, Natasha's status as a pure golden dragon represents order and justice in the eyes of the human nations. Her presence can, to some extent, soften Aura's fierce image and reduce hostility.
On the other hand, Galos also made it clear to her in advance that there were no bottom lines that could be compromised, especially the core terms such as the arms restrictions on Theo, and asked her to communicate with Iron Dragon Sorog in real time during the negotiation process.
"Good news! Good news!"
Before Natasha had even fully regained her footing, she couldn't wait to speak, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.
Galos slowly turned his head to look at her.
"Take your time, Natasha. It seems there's been some progress on Theo's end."
The golden dragon raised its beautifully sculpted head: "The agreement! The Norton Treaty! It's finally signed!"
"After two years and countless disputes, the draft alone went through seventeen revisions, but just yesterday at midnight, in the hall of Silvershine City, King Theo signed his name."
Natasha spoke rapidly, her tail slapping against the cliff face, sending pebbles tumbling down.
The so-called Norton Treaty is a formal treaty named after that decisive battle.
The name was finalized after multiple rounds of discussions between the two parties.
Aura's side hoped to remind Theo not to forget where they failed and why, and to remember Aura's strength and inviolability; Theo's side, on the other hand, believed that naming the treaty after this shameful place might more profoundly stimulate the people, remind them of the lessons of this crushing defeat, and thus inspire them to rise from shame.
"Tell me the specifics, and pick out the most important clauses."
Natasha didn't reply immediately, but tilted her head, her bright dragon eyes fixed on the red iron dragon.
She coughed softly, raised one of her front paws, and seemingly casually groomed the shimmering scales on the side of her neck.
Galos paused for a moment, then understood. He shook his head helplessly, a low laugh escaping his throat.
“You did a fantastic job, Natasha.”
"The Kingdom of Aura is fortunate to have such a brave, resourceful, and hardworking diplomat as you. The Kingdom will remember your contributions."
Upon hearing this, Jinlong shook his head in satisfaction, his smugness growing even stronger.
"That's more like it! I played an indispensable and crucial role in the entire signing process of the Norton Treaty!"
She declared this.
In reality, she mostly served as a mouthpiece for Aura's will and a symbol of his power, with Sorog handling most of the specific terms and negotiation details remotely.
However, as a diplomat from the victorious nation, negotiating with the defeated nation was a wonderful experience.
For Natasha, this experience was second only to a thrilling fight in which she ultimately emerged victorious.
Natasha immediately cleared her throat, straightened her posture, and began to report as if reciting a familiar story.
"First, territorial changes."
"It is officially confirmed that the entire area north of the Emerald Mountain Range, the former border of the Kingdom of Theo, including the entire territory of the provinces of Essen and Aris, is permanently placed under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Aura. The Kingdom of Theo must recognize Aura's complete sovereignty over the above-mentioned area and abandon all claims."
"Second, war reparations."
"Theo shall pay a total of 180 million gold coins in installments over twenty years. The purity and weight of each gold coin shall be based on the 'Golden Aura' minted in our country. Theo is allowed to partially compensate with magical materials, rare minerals, alchemical products, military equipment, and technical blueprints of equivalent value. The first installment of 80 million gold coins shall be delivered within three months after the treaty takes effect."
"Third, trade and commerce."
"Theo must open its trade routes and markets, establish formal trade relations with Aura, grant Aura merchants and goods the most favorable treatment, impose tariffs not exceeding five percent, and refrain from suppressing or restricting the flow of Aura goods in any way."
Fourth, political diplomacy.
"The Kingdom of Theo recognizes the Kingdom of Aura as a sovereign state and establishes formal diplomatic relations. Theo shall not form alliances with any country that expressly or implicitly opposes Aura. If Theo wishes to form an alliance with any other neutral country, it must consult with the Kingdom of Aura in advance and reach an agreement."
"Fifth, and most importantly, arms restrictions."
"The Kingdom of Theo is prohibited from developing and building strategic weapons, and is prohibited from investing national resources in the cultivation of legendary powerhouses. The current number of legendary powerhouses must be maintained. If new legendary powerhouses are added, they must be reported to Aura. Aura has the right to send observers to regularly inspect Theo's military industrial facilities and magic research institutions to ensure that they comply with these terms."
Natasha finished speaking in one breath, then took a deep breath: "There are a lot of detailed clauses, such as the extradition of prisoners of war, the development of airspace, etc., but the core is these five clauses."
She paused, then added, "To get them to sign, I smashed the table at the last minute."
“I said, ‘Theo people, if you think these terms are too harsh, we can have the Red Emperor fly over Silvershine City twice.’ Theo diplomats didn’t dare to say a word, their hands were shaking so much they almost dropped the pen. Haha! In the end, their king compromised and signed it himself.”
Galos listened quietly.
He was not entirely unaware of the two-year-long negotiation.
Iron Dragon Sorog regularly reports on progress, and he has also personally given unquestionable instructions on several key terms.
Now, just as he had expected, stimulated by the news of Rebos's surrender, Theo's side no longer had any expectations, completely abandoned the tug-of-war and delay, and the dust had settled.
Originally, Theo's negotiating team had been using delaying tactics, hoping that Reboss could gain the upper hand, or even win, in the war with Lorthern.
In that case, given Rebos's influence at the time, he could have intervened in the peace talks between Aura and Theo, and mediated or amended the Norton Treaty.
This would at least reduce the cost to Theo to an acceptable level.
Unfortunately, now that Rebos is in dire straits and news has arrived that he is preparing to sue for peace, Theo's last hope has been dashed.
They had to face reality.
Accepting Aura's conditions is the only option.
“You’ve worked hard, Natasha,” Garros said slowly. “You’ve done very well these past two years.”
"Go to my treasury and choose some gems; that will be your reward."
Natasha, receiving the praise, replied without any modesty, "Of course! Don't you know who I am? I am a noble and powerful golden dragon."
“Those old foxes of Theo, including their king and their legends, were all rendered speechless by my rebuttal.”
As he spoke, Jinlong straightened his expression and looked at the majestic Red Iron Dragon: "However, in the end, they were able to sign because they were afraid, afraid that you would come down from the sky again and rush straight to Silvershine City from space."
Galos exhaled a scorching breath, without saying anything more.
The Kingdom of Aura, a nation he founded and which rose from the ashes, finally won the capital for development and... the right to be revered through a hard-fought battle.
But as he and Sorog said, this is just the beginning.
(End of this chapter)
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