"Gordon, maintain your utmost patience. There's no need to act like those short-lived beings, driven by their brief lifespans to seek quick success."
Galos reminded him earnestly.
Iron Dragon Gordon guaranteed:
"I understand! I promise to proceed steadily and never act rashly! Galos, you know me best. Compared to Sorog, that Iron Dragon who talks a big game, and Samantha, who always seeks the limelight... I am much more stable and reliable than them!"
His tone was filled with self-assurance.
"By the way."
Galos changed the subject and asked, "What is your current relationship with the Crystal Princess?"
The Crystal Princess he referred to was naturally Princess Lothorn, Elena, who doted on Gordon.
Crystal Princess was her official title, originating from the grand coming-of-age ceremony where the old king, at great expense, gifted her a rare magical crystal mine as her exclusive private asset. This generous gift caused a sensation throughout the kingdom at the time.
"Very good! Excellent!"
Gordon's voice instantly rose, filled with undisguised pride: "She is as infatuated with me as ever! The luster of my scales, my graceful demeanor... Oh, and of course my 'wisdom,' all deeply captivate her!"
The Iron Dragon was immersed in his self-indulgent narration.
Infatuated...?
The Red Iron Dragon, on the other end of the mental link, held deep skepticism about this claim.
He knew his brother too well—perhaps because one desires what one lacks most, Gordon always habitually embellished and exaggerated when describing his own charm. This had almost become his instinctive reaction.
But no matter what.
To be able to keep Iron Dragon Gordon, such a robust giant dragon with an enormous appetite, so well-fed and sleek-scaled in the royal court... This Crystal Princess Elena's material provisions for him must have been extremely generous and unsparing.
After a brief thought, Galos decided to pour some necessary cold water of reality on his brother, who was lost in fantasy.
"Gordon, wake up."
He reminded him in a deep voice: "Crystal Princess Elena's age, as far as I know, has already exceeded thirty."
"A kingdom princess of her noble status and past marriageable age, under normal circumstances, according to human royal custom and political needs, should have long since married into a powerful, high-ranking noble family with significant military power within the country."
"Or married a battle-hardened general who could stabilize military morale to win over the army, or perhaps... be used as an important diplomatic chess piece, married off to other powerful kingdoms or duchies to solidify alliances and weave a network of interests."
"Are you sure that, as a princess, she can always remain aloof, withstand all pressure, just to be 'infatuated' with you, this... well, unconventional dragon?"
Apparently, Iron Dragon Gordon had not entirely failed to consider this question.
He immediately responded: "Hey, you don't have to worry about that, Galos. Elena did mention these annoying things to me a few years ago."
Gordon's tone seemed quite relaxed, as if he wasn't worried at all.
"She is naturally obsessed with exploring the profound truths of arcana. As early as her youth, she used this as an excuse to politely decline countless noble suitors. Now, she has even received the favor and blessing from the Mystra Sanctuary, her resolve as firm as a rock, and she has long made a grand vow to dedicate her entire life, without reservation, to the temple of magic and her beloved Lothorn Kingdom."
The Mystra Sanctuary is also known as the Mystra Church among believers.
It is more widely known in the Bernardo world as—
—The Church of the Goddess of Magic.
Although on this planet named Bernardo, the alchemical industrial civilization, represented by iron and metal, is already highly developed, and powerful life forms of legendary level are not uncommon, there even exist a few supreme beings who have touched the pinnacle of the material world's power ceiling.
However, the belief in and worship of transcendent deities have never truly vanished from this world.
Whether it is the Mystra Sanctuary, symbolizing the origin of magic, the Church of Dawn, representing light and hope, or the Sanctuary of the Scales, presiding over balance and contracts... the presence of these denominations has always occupied an indelible and significant place in the long river of history and the map of power.
The monarchs of various countries usually do not reject the forces of divine authority.
On the contrary.
Most monarchs choose to wisely accept divine authority, even establishing a specific church as their national religion.
They are shrewd calculators, assessing the situation and, according to different situational needs, either secretly curbing its influence or vigorously supporting its development and growth.
Because this complex dance with divine authority often brings unexpected stability and consolidation to the monarch's own rule on a deeper level.
Galos pondered in silence for a few seconds, finally making a decision, and said:
"Gordon, the time has come. You can try to cautiously reveal some information about the upcoming movements of the Ignas Dragon Group to Crystal Princess Elena. You don't need to disclose everything, just hint—that you have several powerful blood kin brothers who have been dormant for a long time, and they have completed their planning and are about to officially advance into that vast and opportunity-filled wilderness."
Although the main body of the Lothorn Kingdom has not yet officially entered the war, the Haltay Duchy, its vassal, and the Abel Duchy, the arm of the Rybos Kingdom, have long been embroiled in war, and they both have many resource strongholds in the Serre Wilderness.
In a sense, it can be said that—
The flames of the Federation's civil war have been officially ignited.
This also means that the Molten Iron Tribe, which has been accumulating and honing itself in the Shadow Lands for several years, is finally ready to reveal its hidden sharp claws and advance into the resource-rich, vast, and unclaimed wilderness.
It is unknown how long the war between the duchies will last.
It is imperative to establish solid camps, stable strongholds, outposts, and foundations in the wilderness before the intensity of the war fully escalates, and those more powerful kingdoms behind the scenes enter the fray, igniting an even more brutal war.
To gain a firm foothold there.
And await the rise of even more surging and violent flames.
Under the premise of this strategic deployment.
Galos hoped to reach an initial cooperative understanding with the intelligent and influential Crystal Princess.
If this matter could be successfully advanced, at least in terms of resource assurance, he would gain a solid backing—the output of the crystal mine controlled by Her Highness the Princess was by no means just glittering mundane ornaments, but precious magical crystals that could serve as an energy source.
Furthermore.
There might also be an opportunity to obtain a certain supply of solidified black oil crystals, which represent a higher form of energy.
These are indispensable resources for rapidly increasing life levels.
"Good! I've been eager for this!"
Gordon replied excitedly.
Just imagine the scene:
His powerful blood kin brothers expanding their territory and reigning supreme in the vast and chaotic lands of the Serre Wilderness.
Even though he, Gordon, was still far away in the prosperous but treacherous Federation royal court... But just thinking that he, Gordon, also had an irreplaceable contribution, quietly made from the heart of the enemy camp, to the grand dominion of the Ignas Dragon Group.
He couldn't help but hum lightly, puffing out his chest, feeling immense pride.