Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 285 The Time Has Come, the Sanctuary, Divine Authority

“Gorton, maintain your utmost patience. There’s no need to act like those short-lived creatures that live only a day and die in an instant, driven by their short lifespans and driven by short-term gains.”

Galos reminded him earnestly.

Iron Dragon Goldon assured:

“I understand! I promise I will proceed steadily and surely, and will never be reckless! Galos, you know me best. Compared to Sorog, that Iron Dragon who loves to talk big, and Samantha, that show-off... I am much more stable and reliable than them!”

His tone was full of self-affirmation regarding his intelligence.

"correct."

Galos changed the subject and asked, "What is your relationship with Princess Crystal like now?"

The Crystal Princess he was referring to was, of course, Princess Lorthene—Elena, who doted on Gorton.

Crystal Princess is her official title, which originated from the grand ceremony that symbolized her coming of age. The old king generously gifted her a rare vein of crystal rich in magical crystals as her exclusive private property. This lavish gift caused a sensation throughout the kingdom at the time.

"Great! Excellent!"

Gorton's voice rose instantly, filled with undisguised smugness: "She's as infatuated with me as ever! The sheen of my scales, my graceful posture... oh, and of course, my 'intelligence,' all fascinate her!"

Tie Long was engrossed in his self-indulgent narrative.

Infatuation...?
On the other end of the mental link, Hong Tielong held a deep skepticism about this claim.

He knew his brother all too well—perhaps because the more you lack something, the more you crave it, the more Goldon habitually embellished and exaggerated his own charm when describing it; it had almost become an instinctive reaction for him.

But no matter what.

To be able to keep the enormous, voracious dragon Gordon so well-fed and with such glossy scales in the royal court... Princess Elena of the Crystal must have been extremely generous and lavish in providing him with supplies.

After a moment's thought, Galos decided to pour some necessary cold water on his brother's fantasy.

“Gorton, wake up.”

He said in a deep voice, "As far as I know, Crystal Princess Elena is over thirty years old."

“A princess of her noble status, who is past the marriageable age, should, under normal circumstances and according to the conventions and political needs of human royal families, have long ago married into a powerful noble family in the country that holds a large army.”

"Or she could marry a general with distinguished military achievements who could stabilize the morale of the army in order to win over the troops, or... she could be used as an important diplomatic pawn and married off to other powerful kingdoms or duchies to consolidate relations between allies and weave a network of interests."

"Are you sure that, given her status as a princess, she can remain untainted and withstand all the pressure, all for the sake of being 'infatuated' with you... well, that unconventional dragon?"

Clearly, Iron Dragon Gorton did not completely ignore this issue.

He immediately replied, "Hey, you don't need to worry about that, Galos. Elena did mention these annoying things to me a few years ago."

Gordon's tone was quite relaxed, and he didn't seem worried.

"She is naturally obsessed with exploring the mysteries of magic. Even in her youth, she used this as a reason to refuse countless noble suitors. Now, she has received the favor and blessing of the Mystra Sanctuary. Her mind is as firm as a rock. She has long since made a grand vow to dedicate her life to the temple of magic and the Kingdom of Lorthene that she loves so much."

The Mystra Sanctuary is also known as the Mystra Church among believers.

It is known more widely in the Bernardo da Vinci world by that name.

—The Church of the Goddess of Magic.

Despite the highly developed alchemical industrial civilization on this planet called Bernardo, where steel and metal are the hallmarks of advanced technology, legendary life forms are commonplace, and even a few supreme beings have reached the pinnacle of material power, the belief in and worship of transcendent deities has never truly disappeared.

Whether it's the Mystra Sanctuary, symbolizing the origin of magic, the Dawn Church, representing the hope of light, or the Libra Sanctuary, which governs balance and contracts... these sects have always occupied an indelible and significant place in the long river of history and the map of power.

The monarchs of various countries are generally not averse to the power of theocracy.

in contrast.

Most monarchs would wisely accept divine authority, and some would even establish a particular papacy as the state religion of their country.

They are shrewd and calculating, able to assess situations and, depending on the circumstances, either secretly curb their influence or vigorously support their growth and expansion.

This complex interaction with divine authority often brings unexpected stability and consolidation to the monarch's rule at a deeper level.

Galos pondered in silence for several seconds before finally making his decision, saying:
“Gorton, the time is ripe. You can try to cautiously reveal some information to Crystal Princess Elena about the upcoming actions of the Ignas dragons. You don’t need to tell them everything, just hint that you have several powerful blood brothers who have been lying low for a long time and have already made plans to officially march into that vast and opportunity-filled wilderness.”

Although the main body of the Kingdom of Lorthen has not yet officially joined the war, the Duchy of Haltai, which is its vassal, and the Duchy of Abel, which is the arm of the Kingdom of Reipos, are already embroiled in war, and they both have many resource outposts in the Sel Wilderness.

In a sense, it can be said that...

The flames of civil war in the Union have been officially ignited.

This also means that the Ironforge tribe, which has been honing its skills in the Shadowlands for years, is finally ready to unsheathe its hidden claws and march into the resource-rich and vast unclaimed wilderness.

It is unknown how long the battle between the duchies will last.

Before the war escalates to a full extent and those more powerful behind-the-scenes kingdoms openly engage in battle, igniting even more devastating conflicts, it is imperative to establish fortified camps, strongholds, outposts, and foundations in the wilderness.

To gain a foothold there.

Waiting for an even more turbulent and violent blaze to soar into the sky.

Under this strategic deployment.

Galos hopes to reach an initial cooperation agreement with the intelligent and influential Crystal Princess.

If this matter can be successfully advanced, at least in terms of resource security, he will have a solid backing—the crystal mines controlled by this princess produce not just glittering, mundane ornaments, but precious magical crystals that can serve as a source of energy.

Go further.

Those solidified black oil crystals, which represent a more advanced form of energy, may also have the opportunity to obtain a certain supply.

These are essential resources for quickly increasing your life level.

"Great! I can't wait!"

"Gorton replied excitedly."

Just imagine that scene:
The magnificent sight of his powerful blood brothers conquering new territories and dominating the vast and chaotic lands of the Serbian wilderness.

Even though he, Gorton, was currently far away in the prosperous yet deadly Federal Court... when he thought about the magnificent empire belonging to the Ignas Dragon Clan, he realized that he, Gorton, had made an irreplaceable contribution silently in the heart of the enemy camp.

He couldn't help but hum softly, puffing out his chest, feeling an immense sense of pride.

(End of this chapter)