A Dragon against the Whole World

"Those Metal Dragons! They usually present themselves as dignified and orderly! But in private, they are hypocritical and treacherous!"

Marquis Marcus’s temples throbbed with anger as he accused.

"They must be coveting the resources of the Sel Wilderness, yet unwilling to sully their so-called ’goodness’ and ’order’ reputation, so they chose to secretly support an Evil Dragon as a proxy! What a great plan!"

"What rivalry between Metal Dragons and Five-Colored Dragons?"

"What unending conflict between Good Dragons and Evil Dragons?"

"It’s all a deceitful charade to fool other races!"

"In the face of real interests, they are simply birds of a feather! They are a group of self-important, arrogant, greedy, and shameless giant lizards! They are potential enemies to all kingdoms of humans!"

Marquis Marcus grew increasingly enraged as he spoke.

Clearing the Sel Wilderness and reestablishing the kingdom’s authority there was originally his strategic plan.

If successful, amid the current chaotic and unstable dynamics of various nations, he would surely earn great merit for the kingdom and gain many benefits, as well as further reliance from the King.

However now, the brutal reality smacked him in the face like a loud slap.

A promising legend died in battle, many compatriots captured.

He could foresee that his days in Iron Crown City would not be easy.

Inquiries from the King, attacks from political enemies, pressure from the military... would soon follow.

Marquis Marcus’s inner resentment wished he could summon his forces at all costs, to skin and dismantle the Red Iron Dragon, and wipe the Molten Iron Tribe off the map of the Sel Wilderness, to vent his anger!

However, lingering reason told him that events had already developed beyond his control.

How to minimize the damage, and reduce the negative impact of this incident on the kingdom, was now the most urgent problem he needed to consider and resolve.

"Issue the order immediately!"

Marquis Marcus forcibly suppressed his tumbling anger and feelings of humiliation, making himself calm down, his voice raspy as he issued the command.

"All military action plans surrounding Sel Wilderness, from now on, are fully suspended! Without my direct order, no troop shall enter the wilderness, nor engage in any form of conflict with the Molten Iron Tribe, to avoid further escalation."

"And... what about the captured soldiers? How should we handle this..."

A staff officer hesitated for a moment but dared to ask.

Marquis Marcus closed his eyes, words squeezed through his teeth with difficulty.

"Send someone... in a gentle manner, attempt contact with the Molten Iron Tribe to discuss the redemption of the prisoners."

"The conditions... can be appropriately relaxed, as long as their demands are not overly excessive, they can be considered."

Humiliation!

What an immense humiliation!

A legend fallen, the kingdom’s foundation and prestige damaged, many compatriots turned into captives, and now they must swallow their pride and negotiate with some wild barbarian, monster leader.

Marquis Marcus felt a burning flame in his chest.

It was a pain mixed with extreme anger and humiliation.

But in the current complex and dangerous situation, no matter how much anger and unwillingness he harbored, he could only swallow his frustration and bitterness.

Though the Theo Kingdom was potent, domestic politics were just settling, and externally there were neighboring nations eyeing them greedily and numerous pending issues.

Going to war with a powerful Evil Dragon Lord and his legendary Golden Dragon, even a possible Fubo Dragon Domain.

The risks and costs were truly enormous.

However, this matter shall not simply end here.

Marquis Marcus silently vowed that once the kingdom’s other problems gradually subsided and the domestic situation stabilized, the Theo Kingdom would never forget the immense humiliation and losses suffered in the Sel Wilderness.

That fertile and vast land, would never be given away lightly.

Meanwhile.

Lothern, Waldo Royal City, Observatory Tower.

Crystal Princess Alina, along with Iron Dragon Gordon, who was closely related to her, stood within a spacious and grand hall.

In front of them, the Astrolabe projected an even clearer three-dimensional image than the Theo Kingdom’s side, evoking a feeling of being there.

The image presented the same battle on the Silent Plain.

Seeing the King of Molten Iron crush the Legendary Sword Saint with a single claw, Iron Dragon Gordon felt his blood boil, full of envy, and began reflecting.

Simultaneously, a thought involuntarily sprouted in his mind.

"Why is it always Galos that draws all the attention, and not me?"

He fell into deep thought, his dragon face showing a mixture of confusion and contemplation.

"Could it be my previous thoughts were wrong? That he is the true dragon of destiny? And I, only due to being one of his blood kin, am sheltered by him, sharing a portion of destiny’s weight, hence encountering success after success and turning danger into safety?"

Gordon pondered.

Standing by the Iron Dragon, Crystal Princess Alina also showed deep contemplation in her eyes.

Regarding the battle between the King of Molten Iron and the Legendary Sword Saint, her expectations weren’t optimistic, and she was even mentally prepared that her blood kin brother Gordon, who had operated in the wilderness for a long time, might face a disastrous defeat due to the kingdom’s strong intervention.

However, the final result greatly exceeded her expectations.

The King of Molten Iron’s power was somewhat unfathomable, seeming connected with Fubo Dragon Domain, backed by dragons.

Powerful enough to reverse legendary individual strength, alongside a profound dragon domain background... Alina quickly realized she needed to further adjust her strategy towards the Molten Iron Tribe.

Furthermore, it is worth noting.

Since the Saint King reappeared and the civil war ended, though the Lotheren Kingdom gained unprecedented prestige and stability, it faced numerous accumulated internal affairs.

The vast Sel Wilderness naturally became an indispensable part of the kingdom’s future strategy.

Alina had already requested King O’Brien, her brother, indicating her long-term attention towards the situation changes in the Sel Wilderness, hoping she might primarily handle diplomacy and affairs related to the wilderness.

King O’Brien, after considering, agreed to her request.

Thus, Alina was aware of the message that Theo Kingdom’s Legendary Sword Saint Kairos was leading an army into the Sel Wilderness.

That’s why she could so swiftly pass the key intelligence about the ’Unfinished Sword’ to the Molten Iron Tribe via Gordon.

It was both a gesture of goodwill and a probe into the Molten Iron Tribe.

Originally, her subsequent plan was for Kairos to swiftly clear those so-called Regional Kings, then dispatch carefully selected personnel to intervene as mediators or representatives of the Lotheren Kingdom, to reap the fruits of victory, incorporating Sel Wilderness into Lotheren’s sphere of influence, at least partially.

But now, the development of the situation diverged completely from her scripted expectation.

Kairos failed to clear the wilderness, instead permanently losing his life there, the Unfinished Sword shattered.

Meanwhile, the King of Molten Iron demonstrated formidable power and connections.

"Exterminate the Molten Iron Tribe?"

Alina’s mind flashed this thought but she quickly shook her head, instantly rejecting it.

Pushing a potential friend or ally to the opposing side is undeniably the most foolish decision in the world.

The Crystal Princess contemplated briefly, her heart making a resolution.

She intended to evolve the limited cooperative relationship with the Molten Iron Tribe into a deeper alliance, establishing firmer and profound interests binding.

The King of Molten Iron’s rapid growth and the potential he displayed, along with the backgrounds he involved.

All these warrant the Lotheren Kingdom’s continued heavy investment.

"Gordon, ask your brother for me."

The Crystal Princess slightly smiled, saying: Does he have the interest to become the legitimate, ruler of the entire Sel Wilderness—the King of the Wilderness?"