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Chapter 448: Shalin's Respect
"Your Majesty Cassius, please wait a moment."
"The supreme ruler of the Brass Fortress, and my father, will come to greet you."
After leading Cassius and the others to a finely crafted bronze palace, Green said this.
Selkan stepped forward, glanced around, then nervously leaned closer and said in a low voice:
"Your Majesty..."
"We previously only resided on the outskirts of the Brass Fortress, but without a doubt, this city is incredibly valuable."
"It could completely serve as the Empire's stronghold in the Plane of Fire. Now that you are here, along with thousands of imperial soldiers, perhaps we could..."
The half-dragon's heart pounded, his eyes filled with ambition.
For the Empire's military, expanding territory was everything; having such thoughts was perfectly normal.
Cassius gently shook his head.
"No, Selkan."
"The most valuable treasure here isn't the Brass Fortress itself but the fire dwarves within it."
"The Empire has no roots in the Plane of Fire. We need a native species with deep roots as allies."
He glanced at Selkan beside him and continued.
"Also, haven't you read the Empire's publication, 'On Colonization'? Controlling a race isn't solely about brute force."
"I was short-sighted, Your Majesty."
Disappointment flashed in Selkan's eyes as he lowered his head, carefully reflecting on Cassius' words.
Ordinarily, he wouldn't have the qualification to meet the emperor, so now that he had this precious opportunity, he made the most of every second.
"Your Majesty."
"They're here."
The adjutant beside him reminded.
In the distance, a group of fire dwarves wearing brass kilts approached, led by one wearing a miniature crown and holding a bronze scepter.
The leading fire dwarf glanced at Cassius and then deeply bowed.
"Shalin Cardoso, at your service, great Majesty Cassius. Green has already explained the purpose of your visit."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, esteemed master of the Brass Fortress."
Cassius nodded in greeting, studying the fire dwarf noble with golden pupils that carried a hint of gravity.
This fire dwarf noble was not as weak or simple as he appeared.
As the master of the Brass Fortress, he was likely thousands of years old, with a lineage possibly tracing back to ancient mythological eras.
"This must be taken seriously."
"The fire dwarves are excellent 'allies.' If we can control them, the Empire's potential gains will be immense."
Cassius thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Shalin was also discreetly assessing the humanoid dragon before him.
What made the fire dwarf uneasy was that even in human form, this dragon exuded an overwhelming dragon's presence.
It reminded him of the ancient progenitor dragons that once dominated worlds and disrupted the multiverse.
"Caution is essential; his arrival may determine the fate of the Brass Fortress."
Shalin thought.
He silently thanked himself for insisting on accepting the dragon-blooded warriors from the material world despite opposition.
Otherwise, it might have been them, not the fire genies, facing the dragon's wrath.
With this in mind, Shalin spoke first, his bronze-cast face smiling warmly.
"Your Majesty Cassius, you have once again helped us repel the fire genies' invasion. I'm at a loss for how to properly express our gratitude."
He extended his hand, bowing slightly in a gesture of invitation.
"How about this: we will hold a grand banquet in the palace to thank you for your assistance, celebrate your visit, and showcase the hospitality of the fire dwarves."
"Additionally, we have prepared over ten thousand gold coins as a token of our appreciation."
Shalin lowered his stance significantly. He had likely dealt with many dragons and understood their vanity and greed.
Even the most peculiar dragons couldn't change their nature, and the fire dwarf noble believed this approach would satisfy the dragon emperor.
However, Cassius' response surprised him, causing his pupils to flicker.
"There's no need for that now."
Cassius shook his head slightly, smiling as he spoke.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You fire dwarves and the fire genies are sworn enemies, and my vassals are also being hunted by the fire genies."
"Given this, the Empire and the fire dwarves should naturally be allies."
"Besides, with a powerful enemy ahead, shouldn't we eliminate the fire genies first and discuss banquets and rewards later?"
Shalin was momentarily stunned.
This dragon wasn't greedy for gold? And didn't seem to crave glory either?
After a brief thought, the fire dwarf noble quickly agreed.
Cassius continued, his eyes radiating an intense flame that made the fire dwarf shiver.
"Besides, my banquet won't be held in your Brass Fortress but in the City of Iron."
"Understood."
The fire dwarf swallowed nervously.
Cassius reassured him: "Don't worry, Lord Shalin. My wrath is directed solely at the fire genies who insulted me, not at you fire dwarves."
"Now, I only want information about the 'City of Iron.' I heard you were responsible for its construction."
Shalin nodded solemnly and replied, "Long ago, when the fire genies were still our allies, we helped them build many cities..."
"The Brass City is our greatest masterpiece, but as for the so-called City of Iron, haha."
He chuckled and then continued, "It's just a crude imitation, riddled with flaws in my view."
"The fire genies are nothing but thieves who kidnapped our people and stole our creations. The finest craftsmanship will always remain with the fire dwarves!"
Shalin gripped his scepter tightly, speaking with conviction.
Cassius smiled. He had long observed this trait of the fire dwarves—mention their past glory, and they would proudly puff out their chests.
He could potentially exploit this to control the fire dwarves of the Brass Fortress.
He wouldn't resort to the crude method of "enslavement" but rather employ a more cooperative form of labor.
Green softly added, "The newly appointed fire genie lord, Emir, has just taken office in the City of Iron."
"The last celebratory banquet was ruined by Lady Misha, so he will likely host a new one soon..."
The implication was clear.
The fire genie noble would definitely attend the upcoming banquet, presenting a perfect opportunity.
Cassius chuckled.
"Excellent. I believe I've found my rightful 'banquet.'"
The gathered fire dwarves collectively swallowed hard. If their heads weren't aflame, they might have been drenched in sweat.