Chapter 777 - 437: Sowing Discord, Ultra-Giant Red Lotus Form

Chapter 777: Chapter 437: Sowing Discord, Ultra-Giant Red Lotus Form

The celebration of the founding banquet lasted for a total of nine days.

However, after the festivities of the third night came to a close, the Red Iron Dragon had already vanished from the bustling main venue of the banquet.

All the tedious diplomatic engagements were handed over to the Iron Dragon Solrog.

Galos’ patience for the unpredictable, capricious monarch drama only lasted for several nights.

Initially, he found it somewhat novel and interesting, but before long, his innate pursuit of power started to stir, and he grew weary of these insincere occasions.

Just as Red Silver Dragon Deborah and Elf Dragon Vera had anticipated.

Galos felt discomfort all over, as if countless ants were crawling under his scales, his heart yearning to experience fatigue and pain.

Having been accompanied by these feelings for many years, they became an indispensable part of Galos’ routine.

In a conscious state, if he didn’t engage in high-intensity exercise for several days, he would feel a sense of emptiness.

Nevertheless, even though the Red Iron Dragon Emperor was no longer present, the enthusiastic atmosphere of the banquet did not cool.

The leaders of various tribes and legion commanders from the Ola Kingdom gathered in groups, loudly talking and laughing, enjoying the fine wine and delicacies with bravado, particularly the Gluttonous Demons, whose manner of eating was wildly uninhibited, never ceasing.

The Iron Dragon Solrog, in his true form, sat steadily in his seating area, whispering to a few important legion commanders.

His calm and stern demeanor made him stand out among the many Dragons.

His majesty was second only to the departing Red Iron Dragon Emperor.

At this moment,

Marquis Butler, with a standard enthusiastic smile on his face, strolled over.

"Lord Regent Solrog," Marquis Butler stopped at a fitting distance, bowing slightly, his tone respectful, "Such a grand occasion is truly impressive."

"To assist the great Emperor Ignatius in ruling this vast land and numerous formidable subjects, your achievements are truly meritorious."

"This makes me sincerely admire you."

Solrog slowly turned around, looking at the other party with calm, unwavering eyes.

He nodded his massive head, responding in a voice without any emotional fluctuation, "The Marquis flatters me."

"The King is like the sun, we are the stars."

"To share the King’s burdens and manage the affairs of the kingdom is merely my responsibility, not worthy of credit."

"You are too modest, sir."

Marquis Butler chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the bustling scene, seemingly sighing casually, "Such a vast foundation, intertwined with countless military and state affairs, must be extremely taxing to govern and not an easy task at all."

Then, he subtly shifted his tone, "Emperor Ignatius, with his great talent and vision, has his sights set on broader horizons."

"The day-to-day governance, the burden of keeping the kingdom running, must largely fall on your shoulders, my lord."

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering, "Sometimes, those like you, who hold significant responsibilities and manage affairs independently, can more deeply understand the hardships and challenges involved. They can more clearly discern what kind of external cooperation and support can truly help alleviate that heavy burden of governance, making the kingdom more stable and enduring."

"My Ripos Kingdom has always appreciated practical individuals like yourself."

"We are always willing and ready to explore closer, mutually beneficial collaboration possibilities with the true doers and power wielders within the kingdom."

"Furthermore," he offered the most tempting condition, his voice lowering even further, "regardless of what benefits the Lotheren Kingdom previously promised your country, we in Ripos are willing to double that offer."

This statement, on the surface, seemed to acknowledge Solrog’s hard work and commend his abilities and significance.

In truth, every word was filled with subtle insinuations.

He emphasized Solrog’s power and responsibility as an independent leader, hinting at the possible "neglect" due to the Emperor’s detachment, while presenting an enticing offer of cooperation.

Most critically, it subtly shifted the focus of cooperation from the entirety of the Ola Kingdom to Solrog himself, the Regent King.

Solrog quietly listened to the end. On his dragon face covered with iron-gray scales, there was no trace of emotion, not even a flicker in his eyes, as if the topic was merely today’s weather.

He simply tapped the ground with one thick, sharp claw,

Then, the Iron Dragon opened his mouth, revealing a smile-like expression.

"The Marquis is...considerate," his voice was steady as iron, devoid of any emotion, "However, the King and I share the same bloodline, our will is united."

"We have always been of one heart, jointly building the present and future of the kingdom."

"The affairs of the kingdom, whether large or small, operate under established laws and procedures."

"As for the burdens..." Solrog paused, then said, "To personally participate in governing such a magnificent kingdom, witnessing its growth and strength is a rare honor in itself to me, how could there be talk of hardship?"

"The goodwill from the Ripos Kingdom is acknowledged."

"However, the future path of the Ola Kingdom and its diplomatic strategies are matters the King and I plan and decide together. There’s no need for friendly nations to be overly concerned. If the collaboration matter mentioned by your esteemed country is truly beneficial for the long-term development of the kingdom, Marquis, you might submit detailed documents through official diplomatic channels, and we shall discuss them according to procedure."