Chapter 424: The Second Audience
Continuing towards the city center, Navin arrived at the Great Altar of Isthalia.
The ground had risen dramatically, forming a cliff that elevated the entire altar into the air, resembling the fabled Hanging Gardens.
From a distance, Navin had already spotted this structure, which was the primary reason he thought he was hallucinating—such a spectacle seemed too surreal to exist in reality.
But upon seeing the altar up close, he realized—it was the result of magic, undoubtedly cast by an immensely powerful spellcaster who caused the ground to rise.
"A miraculous structure, specialized weapons, legendary-level spellcasters… This is not something a newly established nation could possess."
"Could they have inherited the entire legacy of an ancient empire?"
"Or perhaps they are backed by a deity as powerful as His Majesty Ammanata?"
"Just how many secrets is the Ember Empire hiding? Their ambitions surely extend far beyond Anzeta."
Navin raised his head, gazing at the towering cliff that resembled a pillar supporting the sky, deeply concerned for Kassande's future.
Suddenly, the voice of a Tiefling interrupted his thoughts.
"Lord Navin, we've arrived."
"Please ascend the steps alone to meet His Majesty."
The Tiefling captain extended his hand, making a polite gesture.
"Thank you."
Filled with apprehension, Navin ascended the spiral staircase carved into the smooth cliff wall.
The altar was situated at a great height, and it took him nearly twenty minutes to reach the top.
Fortunately, Navin himself was a near-transcendent priest. Bathed in sunlight, his physical endurance far surpassed that of ordinary people, preventing him from becoming breathless.
"We meet again, Navin."
A familiar voice came from the top of the altar.
Navin quickly looked up, tense, but he didn't see the massive red dragon he had expected. Instead, a young nobleman with black hair and golden eyes sat before him.
The man wore a luxurious crimson robe adorned with golden threads and a gemstone-studded crown. His face was strikingly handsome, and his pale golden eyes were profoundly captivating, compelling reverence from those who met his gaze.
He lounged casually on the throne, but every gesture radiated an aura of dominance. His presence exuded the authority of a god, an inherent quality that could not be hidden.
—This was Cassius in human form.
"He… He appears nobler than Lord Otis."
"He seems more… like a god."
Suddenly, an audacious and treasonous thought crossed Navin's mind—a thought so bold that voicing it in front of King Otis could cost him his life.
Navin Besalius shivered at the thought.
It was only then that he snapped out of his shock and realized the true identity of the "young nobleman" before him.
Realizing this, Navin quickly bowed deeply, bending at the waist. "Greetings, Your Majesty Cassius. I apologize for my rudeness earlier."
"But please allow me to explain. Your empire's magnificence overwhelmed me, and your presence mesmerized me, which led to my careless mistake."
Cassius casually conjured flickering flames in his hand, then turned to glance at Navin, speaking indifferently. "No need to explain. I don't care about such things."
With a faint chuckle, Cassius added, his tone playful, "But congratulations to your King Otis for once again holding the Holy City and firmly grasping the symbol of Fadlan's imperial authority."
"Thank you for your concern."
Navin replied, "Your Majesty, I bring with me King Otis's—"
"I know why you're here."
Cassius interrupted him.
The flames in his hands condensed into glowing red beads before vanishing.
"I've said before that I am a ruler who loves peace, and right now, my empire is in a developmental phase. At least for the next year, the Ember Empire will remain neutral and will not interfere in the wars between the kingdoms of Fadlan."
Hearing this, Navin breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ember Emperor had said it himself.
There could be no deceit.
This meant that the Ember Empire had not allied militarily with the Thrace Kingdom!
The worst-case scenario he had feared had not come to pass!
Feeling more at ease, Navin decided to press further. "Your Majesty Cassius, King Otis said that if you agree to an alliance with us, he is willing to offer—"
"There's no need to discuss this further."
Cassius interrupted again.
He looked down at Navin standing at the foot of the stairs and asked in an odd tone, "Do you think I'm the kind of dragon who can be easily bought with gold?"
Navin broke into a cold sweat, quickly bowing his head. "O-of course not, Your Majesty."
"As I traveled through the Anzeta Corridor, I witnessed firsthand how your people praised your wisdom and foresight."
This was not mere flattery—it was something Navin had seen and heard for himself. Disguised as a traveling merchant, he had been astonished by what he observed in various cities.
After Cassius's legendary "national tour," the Ministry of Propaganda had launched an extensive campaign, shamelessly glorifying his deeds and even publishing books like The Grace of His Majesty Cassius, filled with popular tales.
Word of mouth had further elevated Cassius's image domestically. Farmers, merchants, and commoners alike had experienced his benevolence, and his image had become almost synonymous with the empire itself.
"The emperor's stance is clear."
"It seems I will disappoint King Otis. It looks like forming an alliance with the empire is impossible."
Seeing Cassius's firm stance, Navin sighed deeply and buried the thought of an alliance.
However, he still had another important task to complete during this visit.
Taking a deep breath, Navin cautiously glanced at Cassius on the throne.
Observing that his expression remained calm, Navin lowered his head and spoke again, "Your Majesty, there's another matter I'd like to discuss, if I may."
"Go on."
"During our battles with the Thrace army, we discovered weapons resembling those used by the Ember Empire."
"So—you're suggesting that the Ember Empire is aiding Thrace?"
His voice carried a hint of anger.
The accusation made Navin's scalp tingle.
He quickly waved his hands and explained fearfully, "N-no, that's not it! King Otis was merely curious and wanted to understand these weapons better…"
"Heh, you're not wrong. Those weapons did come from the Ember Empire."
Navin was stunned, frozen in place.
But Cassius continued, "However, this isn't 'aid' in any sense. It's just ordinary trade."
"They paid in gold, and we provided the weapons. It's as simple as that."
"This…"
Navin was momentarily at a loss for words.
Such specialized weapons were available for sale? And to their potential enemies, no less?
"Does your Kassande Kingdom have the right to interfere in our trade relations with the Thrace Kingdom?"
"Of course not."
Navin responded earnestly.
"The Ember Empire has always promoted free trade."
"As long as you pay enough gold, you can also acquire such weapons—perhaps even ones more advanced than what Thrace has."
A subtle smirk appeared on Cassius's lips, but the bowing, breathless Navin didn't notice.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Navin replied, overwhelmed with excitement.
In his heart, a new thought emerged—perhaps this diplomatic mission could change the course of the war!