From a personal point of view, Gwen regarded Melita as a friend. At the same time, he also had a natural kindness and admiration for the glorious Giant Dragon civilization. But his decision could not be made solely from his personal point of view. As the ruler of an empire, he had to ensure that every wealth created by his citizens was used in the right place.
Now that Tarlonde was in trouble, Melita and the other emissaries had not officially asked for help, but it was only a matter of time. Gwen could certainly provide help, but there must be an equivalent benefit behind the help — political benefit, technological benefit, economic or resource benefit, and even purely humanitarian benefit. All of these had to be taken into consideration.
And it was after comprehensive consideration that Gwen finally decided that assisting Tarlonde at this time would be an investment with amazing potential returns.
A centipede dies but never falls down. The Tarlonde civilization, which was once at the peak of this planet, was a treasure trove even if it had fallen. Even without considering the ancient technology buried in the wasteland and the wealth accumulated by the Giant Dragon that had not been destroyed in the war, the Giant Dragon itself was a force that could not be ignored for the mortal kingdoms on this planet. And the opportunity to help these powerful creatures … was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Gwen sat on the sofa, seriously thinking about the meaning behind this matter and the necessary propriety of taking various actions. Rebecca curiously looked at the expression of the ancestor beside him. After a long while, she could not help but ask, "Ancestor, what are you thinking about?"
Gwen looked at the girl and smiled. "I'm just thinking about providing assistance to Tarlonde … It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Giant Dragon to be indebted to us."
Heti blinked and her mind became active. "Do we need to let the merchants' move '? We can buy a lot of surplus and even old grain from the northern countries in advance so that the countries can't provide more food to Tarlonde before the first harvest season of this year. We can become the biggest pillar of the Giant Dragon Kingdom, and even provide the only food aid. This will be a monopoly of aid. With the Dragons' tradition of abiding by contracts and morality, we will get the largest and longest support from Tarlonde. This will probably cost a lot of money, but it will be worth it. Compared to the support of the Dragons, the food is just a small cost. "
Heti's ingenious idea made Amber and Rebecca look at her a few more times. Even Gwen looked a little surprised. But after a short moment of thought, the latter shook his head. "To be honest, your idea is quite … to my mind. We could do it in the past, but not now."
Heidi was stunned for a moment and did not react for a moment. "Why?"
This time, before Gwen could speak, Amber spoke first. "Isn't it simple? Times have changed. In the past, Cecil was fighting alone. But now, we have to establish an alliance and set a set of rules for everyone to abide by. We eat meat, but we can't not even leave soup for others. Even if we go one step further, we have to leave some meat for others. Otherwise, if things go too far, who in the world will be willing to believe in Cecil's' common destiny '? "
Gwen and Heti were surprised by the half-elf's long speech. The latter's eyes widened. "This doesn't sound like something you would say!"
Amber put her hands on her hips. "What's not like? Isn't it just a matter of forming a gang? I've seen a lot of it in the slums … "
The half-elf's words were somewhat reasonable, but her smug look was still very annoying. Heti held back for a long time to not blow her head off with a Frostbolt. Of course, the main reason was that even if she did, she would not be able to hit the half-elf. After giving Amber a sideways glance, Heti turned her eyes back to Gwen. "So, ancestor, how should we ensure that Cecil has the initiative in this matter?"
"It's very simple. Although we can't buy food to monopolize the aid, we can be the first to stand up and call and organize." Gwen laughed and took the opportunity to teach Heti what to do in the future international order. "The biggest difference between playing a role in an alliance and being a 'lone hero' is that your 'right to speak' can be equivalent to actual strength and even resources. As long as you take the lead in doing something with your prestige and ability to check and balance, then even if you don't actually do anything, everyone will think that you're the one who has contributed the most.
"Of course, others are not fools. If we really don't contribute anything, then no matter how great our prestige and right to speak will gradually fade away. Besides, the embryonic form of the alliance has not yet been established, and we don't have much prestige and ability to check and balance. So, we still have to throw in real money. Of course, the cost of doing this will be higher than those who say 'one part of the effort, two parts of the words, and three parts of the gesture', but it will definitely last."
Gawain explained patiently while Heidi listened attentively. She felt that she had benefited a lot from just a few words of advice. These were all angles that she had never considered before, but after she understood them, she immediately realized what was going on.
"Alright, it'll take days and nights to finish talking about these things." Finally, Gawain realized that it was getting late, so he stopped talking. There was even a complicated and self-deprecating smile on his face. "I'm really an old man now. I've unknowingly started preaching."
"Please don't say that. These 'preachings' have benefited me a lot," Heti hurriedly said. "Your experience and wisdom are a valuable asset."
"Okay, okay, there's no benefit in flattering me." Gwen smiled and waved his hand. Then, he turned back and looked at the dragon egg placed not far from the sofa. It was still quietly standing on a base with a groove, glowing with a pale golden light under the light. The runes on its surface were flashing, and mysterious patterns were looming in the eggshell. Gwen's face slowly became strange. "Let's think about how to deal with this thing."
Gwen's words immediately pulled everyone's attention back to the dragon egg. Amber could not help but walk around the dragon egg. She could not help but ask, "Speaking of this dragon egg, this thing really has nothing to do with you? You were called over by the Dragons Goddess in the middle of the night, and I don't know what they talked about all night. Not long after you came back, Tarlonde sent the dragon egg over and asked you to take care of it. Why does it sound like … Oh my god!! "
Amber's second half of the sentence ended with a cry of surprise. An ice magic ball almost the size of her head brushed past the tip of her ear and flew into the distance. Heti had unknowingly grabbed her staff and was staring at the shame of all things. Gwen was still whispering to her. "Next time, try to lower the focus of the spell a little bit."
Amber's cold sweat flowed down her forehead. Rebecca looked at her and trembled, not daring to say a word. At this time, the latter finally remembered that she had said something similar not long ago. At the same time, she vaguely felt that she was in need of a beating.
After a moment, Heti finally put away her staff. The chief steward stared at Rebecca and Amber, then looked at the dragon egg, and then at her ancestor. "Have you really decided to hatch it? We still can't be sure of the real intention of that 'god' entrusting this dragon egg to you. Even if he doesn't mean any harm, the consequences of hatching this thing is too unpredictable. "
"I understand your concern, but we have to try first to know how this thing will react to external stimuli," Gwen said. "And to be honest, aren't you curious about this?"
Heti stared at the dragon egg. After hesitating for a long time, she nodded embarrassedly. "… Yes, I'm also curious about what will come out of this thing."
"Arrange a special room for it. Maintain a suitable temperature according to the parameters indicated by Melita, and then let the technicians set up the magic net and conversion device in the room," Gwen said as he pondered. "After that, arrange for people to take turns to watch the dragon egg for any abnormal changes."
…
Cecil City was still brightly lit at night. The artificial lights shone on the ground, creating a glorious city at the foot of the Dark Mountain Range. In a square near the central city, Cassandra was curiously observing the human capital, which was very different from the northern port.
She was in the form of a sea serpent, crawling under the street lights on the edge of the square. The light of the street lights shone on her shiny scales, giving her a dreamy glow. Tyre, who was yawning, followed beside her, wriggling his head from side to side as he moved forward. Cassandra dragged the latter out by force. After all, the deep-sea witch was unfamiliar with the city. She needed a guide, and Tyre was the only one of his kind in the city.
The citizens of Cecil nearby occasionally cast curious glances at the two sirens walking in the square, but no one was rude enough to disturb them. This city had a wonderful pride and reserve. Although the people living here had a strong curiosity and spirit of exploration, they always maintained a restrained and polite posture in front of outsiders. Cassandra did not know how this custom was formed, but she appreciated it.
"Can't you wake up?" After Tyre almost fell asleep for the third time, Cassandra finally could not help but say, "When I came to you in the evening, you said you were going to catch up on sleep. When I came to you in the evening, you were still catching up on sleep. It's almost ten o 'clock now, and you're telling me that you're going to catch up on sleep. Don't you think there's something wrong?"
Tyre raised his eyelids and looked at his siren whom he had not seen for a long time. He said lazily, "Nonsense, it's already late. Of course, I have to sleep. I go to bed at ten o 'clock sharp. Is my schedule unhealthy?"
Cassandra had heard of the name 'Sleeper Tyre' when she was in Antavien. But this time, she could not help but facepalm when she heard Tyre's self-righteous theory. "Of course, it's okay to sleep at night, but you're awake during the day. I'm curious. Have you ever been awake in a day?"
Tyre raised his head. "Why not? I'm awake in my sleep! "
Cassandra was speechless.
The Deepsea Witch shook her head helplessly. Her snake tail slithered toward a night shop not far away. A few citizens who went to work at night passed by the roadside. Two of them glanced at Cassandra's tail curiously. Although they quickly smiled politely and looked away, Cassandra still noticed them. At the same time, she thought of the strange gazes she had often encountered since she came to the city today. She frowned and could not help but look at her siren beside her. "Tyre, I feel a bit strange."
Tyr looked up with sleepy eyes. "What's strange?"
"Aren't the people of Cecil familiar with sirens?" Cassandra pointed to her tail. "But today, it seems that many humans were surprised when they saw me and were very curious about my tail."
"I don't know why," Tyr shrugged carelessly, his long tail arching as he sauntered forward. "Why don't they stare at my tail? So, there must be something wrong with you. Okay, okay, let's go. I'll show you the nearby commercial street. After that, I'll go back to sleep. "
Is there something wrong with me?
Cassandra thought thoughtfully, then shook her head. She raised her body and wanted to keep up with Tyre, who was already far away. She had just crawled two steps when she finally noticed Tyre's tail.
In an instant, the Deepsea Witch realized the problem.
"Tyre!! Haven't you learned how to crawl normally?! " Cassandra shouted. "Oh, the endless deep sea. For the sake of the queen, if you can't do it, can you change your legs and walk upright?"
"No, I can't walk with my legs. I can't sleep at any time."
Not far away, Tyr waved his hand and used his own set of reasons to dismiss Kassandra's request. The Witch of the Deep Sea was angry and shouted angrily from afar. Beside them, the nightless city became noisier and more prosperous under the lights.
Human travelers from the city-states in the northwest strolled in the streets, talking about magical technology and the roar of the machines in the factories.
Short gray elves walked through the night market stalls and the crowd. Tall western orcs and dark-skinned Redvale people strolled in the streets with humans.
Above the magic network broadcasting device not far away, a holographic projection was showing a documentary about elven culture. A few blond Silver Elves with long ears stopped under the projection and looked at how humans understood the customs rooted in the tropical forest with curiosity.
In the direction of the port further away, the northern ships sailing at night had just docked. A group of young people from the old king's city had just landed on this land. They carried the passion for the future, and the legendary Demon Tycoon Phil was their hero.
There was the sound of wings flapping and humming in the sky as a huge shadow swept over the city. Under the navigation lights and flashing navigation lights, the silhouette of dragon wings could be vaguely seen. Those were the students from the Dukedom of the Holy Dragon. They were training to fly at night under the guidance of their instructor. They were wearing training Steel Wings as they took off from the Imperial Academy, passing through the city to the training camp in the western forest, where they would complete the two-week spring training camp with the cadets.
The best Dragonborn students in each class would receive a brand-new, permanent Steel Wings for free, with Princess Rebecca's personal signature on it.
On the high tower of the Autumn Palace, Melita Pânia withdrew her gaze from the sky. She watched as the excited Dragonborn students streaked across the sky, and finally smiled.
"It's getting better …"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
