Translator: AnubisTL
Garos's gaze flickered slightly as he fell into thought.
Back then, upon learning of the old king's critical illness, he had already gathered general information on Lothurn's key princes through various channels.
The First Prince, the heir apparent, was a textbook example of a ruler meant to preserve a legacy—indulgent, mediocre in talent, and limited in ability... He was practically a carbon copy of the old king in his youth.
But he wasn't entirely useless.
The First Prince was exceptionally skilled at reading his father's desires, keeping the old king delighted. This royal favor was his greatest political asset. At the same time, he was a master of the aristocratic social game, a smooth operator who knew how to play all sides. Leveraging his status as Crown Prince and making ample promises, he had built a complex web of support among a vast number of noble lords.
The Second Prince, who ultimately committed the regicide, was the complete opposite.
His temperament was as fierce as fire, he revered strength, and he possessed remarkable innate talent.
In his youth, he had volunteered to leave the comforts of the court behind, plunging headlong into the harsh conditions of military camp to hone his skills. Decisive and relentless in battle, he won the awe and loyalty of the rank-and-file soldiers with his iron fist and martial prowess. This earned him considerable prestige and the favor of many high-ranking officers, even the army's top generals.
However, his flaws were equally apparent.
His temperament was too uncompromising, too rigid to bend. In his youth, disgusted by the arrogance of the nobility, he had personally beaten a corrupt Marquis's son to death in the street. While this act showed his fierce spirit, it also sowed the seeds of his own misfortune.
As he grew older, he became even less tolerant of injustice. He developed a profound hatred for the corruption and greed of the aristocratic circles. His hardline approach made him countless enemies and led to his ostracization by the nobility.
For most of his life, he remained far from the political center, stationed at the front lines on the border, living the life of a pure soldier. He was less a prince and more a true general.
It was only when the old king was on his deathbed, urgently summoning all his children back to the palace for the last time, that the Second Prince rushed back from the border, covered in the dust of travel.
As the old king lay dying, officially declaring the First Prince his successor, it was said that the Second Prince remained silent and expressionless throughout, offering no objection on the spot.
Yet, shortly after the old king's funeral, and on the eve of the First Prince's formal coronation...
The Silent General, who seemed to have accepted his fate and shown no interest in the throne, struck with the force of a thunderbolt, instigating an event that shocked the entire Federation.
Blood stained the palace. He had murdered his brother to seize the throne.
"The entire process is riddled with too many baffling questions," Garos analyzed calmly. "As a core power of the Federation, the Kingdom of Lothurn's palace heartland must be guarded by legendary powerhouses and shrouded in a critical magic barrier."
"The First Prince, who was about to be crowned, would have been surrounded by the most elite guards, under the constant watch and protection of countless eyes."
"The Second Prince... how did he manage to commit fratricide and usurp the throne under the same palace guards, right under the noses of those legendary powerhouses? After succeeding, how did he so swiftly quell the situation, intimidate all potential opponents—especially the legendary powerhouses who supported the First Prince—and ascend the throne without triggering a full-scale civil war?"
A series of questions swirled in Garos's mind.
He thought for a moment and asked, "What role did Crystal Princess Eileen play in all this?"
Iron Dragon Solgorn's mental response carried a hint of caution. "Gordon reports that the Crystal Princess was not present at the palace during the bloody moments of the coup. Therefore, she is unaware of the most central and specific details of the assassination process. However..."
Solgorn continued to convey the information: "...she has always been quite close to the Second Prince."
"Even when she was very young, she repeatedly expressed her admiration for her older brother, who fought for the country on the front lines. She even confided her envy of the Second Prince's military career to Gordon."
"After the usurpation, she was also one of the first members of the Royal Family to explicitly declare her support for the Second Prince's accession to the throne."
Immediately after, the Iron Dragon continued, "After the fierce new king ascended, he declared full-scale war on the Kingdom of Ribos in the name of being a Descendant of the Holy King and maintaining the unity and stability of the federation. The original proxy war had escalated into a war between kingdoms."
"During this period, the Crystal Princess's previous trade and cooperation with us did not cease. Instead, it became more frequent and urgent after Gordon awoke. She contacted us through Gordon multiple times, promising more generous rewards than ever before, seeking to commission the dragon pack to strike at the logistics bases and other camps established by the Kingdom of Ribos in the wilderness."
The Iron Dragon paused. "However, considering you had not yet awakened, the dragon pack lacked a unified core will. I had Gordon temporarily decline these requests, citing the fact that the pack's core members were all in hibernation."
Garos narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his dragon pupils.
"The next time she makes a similar request, you may accept it."
He had made his decision.
The environment in the Frontierlands had deteriorated, and resources were scarce. The Federation's control over the wilderness had also plummeted to its lowest point. Moreover, he himself had awakened.
The time had come.
The Ironforged Tribe's march to expand into the Sierre Wilderness was about to officially begin!
The red-iron dragon's eyes reflected the firelight of the banquet, and it was as if he could see the Sierre Wilderness about to be set ablaze.
"There is one more thing," Solgorn said, changing the subject. "Nick is requesting an audience."
Nick, the once downtrodden and humble little merchant, was now a key familiar who controlled a massive Gemstone Merchant Guild and played a crucial role in the development of the Ironforged Tribe.
"A mortal's life is ultimately too short."
Garos recalled the old servant: He has no class talent, just an ordinary man who is already nearing the end of his life.
He remembered the promise he had once made to Nick.
When the man showed the resolve to stake everything on a single throw, to fight unto death, Garos would grant him the opportunity to transform into a dragon blood creature, extending both his life and his loyalty.
But the risks of dragon blood transformation were extremely high, and a practical problem also emerged.
Once Nick dies, the Gemstone Merchant Guild he built with his own hands will likely face turmoil and a power vacuum.
He is a rare, intelligent man who knows how to read the situation, and his loyalty has been tested.
But what about his heir? I cannot guarantee that his successor will be as intelligent, as loyal, or as capable of understanding my will and continuing to serve me efficiently.
Garos silently weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
After a moment's thought, he looked toward a boisterous corner of the banquet.
The two massive heads of the green dragon Ludwig and the black dragon Seraphina were huddled together like conspiring schemers.
Despite the banquet's deafening roar, the two dragons spoke in hushed tones, yet Garos still caught fragmented words.
White Scale. Four-on-one. Must avenge. Wash away the shame. Insult.
He didn't need to listen any further. Combining the adolescent dragons' past experiences with the gleam of excitement in their eyes, Garos instantly grasped their scheme.
It was obvious.
As they grew stronger and their place in the ecological hierarchy steadily rose, the gap between them and the white dragon had narrowed. These adolescent dragons were no longer willing to endure the humiliation and suppression of the prime-age white dragon, Treacy. They were secretly plotting a rebellion to overthrow her.
As for the center of the storm—what was the prime-age white dragon Treacy doing?
Her massive, snow-white body lay sprawled contentedly atop a mound of frozen meat and ice. Her colossal left claw gripped a piece of frozen rock antelope larger than her own head, while her right claw clutched a barrel of mead, which she drank with sheer delight. All the while, a young white dragon was massaging her talons.
She seemed completely oblivious to the adolescent dragons' plot, utterly immersed in the festivities.
(End of the Chapter)
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