Chapter 492: The Empire
Outskirts of Northwind Fortress, Iron Dragonwing Palace.
Olivia stood outside the grand gates, visibly excited, like a child awaiting praise.
"Cassius, I have convinced the elders of my clan. They have agreed to send reinforcements to assist us..."
"Apologies, Lady, but His Majesty will not be accepting any audiences at this time."
Tiefling Captain Ekmon extended his spear, blocking the familiar woman's path.
Ekmon had experienced one of the red dragon's slumbers before. He knew just how perilous the situation inside could be.
Even His Majesty's "waking temper" alone could bring catastrophic consequences to mortals.
"But..."
Olivia furrowed her brows in disappointment.
Convincing the silver dragon elders of her clan to assist their former enemy had taken all her effort and eloquence.
In the end, it was only after the still-recovering Grand Elder Oszedro personally intervened that they finally accepted Olivia's request and agreed to dispatch forces to aid the Ember Empire.
"If it means defeating the demons, I am willing to ally with the wicked dragon."
Those were his exact words.
For an ancient silver dragon devoted to order, abyssal demons—beings of pure chaos—were their eternal foes.
As Olivia pondered, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Lady Olivia, His Majesty has already entered slumber."
She turned and was surprised to see the massive figure before her.
"Lord Langpu?"
The ogre grand mage bowed slightly, speaking with polite decorum: "However, His Majesty instructed me beforehand to express his gratitude for all you have done for the Empire."
Langpu raised his staff, conjuring a portal leading to the Imperial Council Hall before Olivia.
"His Majesty believes your contributions have been substantial. He wishes for you to enter the Imperial Senate and discuss the details of cooperation with the ministers."
"Additionally, His Majesty has reviewed your latest proposal and expressed approval, though some modifications are required for its implementation."
"Thank you."
A pleased expression surfaced on Olivia's face.
The Imperial Senate—this was the true center of power, the authority that drafted the Empire's policies and laws.
Gaining entry meant becoming part of the highest echelons of the Ember Empire.
Olivia believed that her persistence would bring a better future for this nation—and guide Cassius toward order and benevolence.
However, in reality, this was both Cassius' "reward" for Olivia and his attempt to counterbalance the evil-aligned forces at the Empire's top ranks.
"Lady Olivia, please follow me."
Langpu made a courteous gesture of invitation—though such etiquette seemed oddly amusing coming from an ogre.
"Alright."
Yet, before stepping into the portal, Olivia turned back, gazing at the familiar palace.
After a moment's hesitation, she softly asked, "Will His Majesty... be asleep for long?"
Her concern was not unfounded. To mortals, a single dragon's slumber could last an entire lifetime.
And for a "special" dragon like Cassius, not even silver dragons knew how long he would sleep.
Ten years?
Thirty years?
Or fifty?
She did not know why she cared about the slumber of a "former enemy," but for a silver dragon, this was an important question.
Langpu responded solemnly, "Lady Olivia, you need not worry. His Majesty has said he will awaken in one year."
"That soon?"
Olivia let out a relieved sigh, her expression finally easing.
Everything seemed to be progressing as she had hoped.
The silver dragons were about to enter the Empire's decision-making body, striving to bring order and benevolence to this nation.
She cast another glance at the palace, tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, and, for some reason, her blue-gray eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Cassius, sweet dreams."
She murmured almost inaudibly, then stepped through the portal to the Imperial Council Hall.
Cold winds swept across the Anzeta Wasteland, northern snow gradually melting. Months passed in the blink of an eye, and March was approaching.
In truth, in the initial period after the Starfallers' departure, the Empire's development lost some of its momentum.
Without those tireless, eccentric individuals, many factories faced labor shortages, product sales stagnated, and technological advancements slowed.
However, the Imperial Chancellor soon introduced the "Empire Protection Act", "Economic Revitalization Strategy", and "Foreign Trade Regulations" to improve workers' conditions, expand export channels, and open broader markets for the Empire.
The Ember Empire was still a growing nation. The departure of players only had a limited impact, and the ongoing war in the south continued to bring in a steady flow of arms orders.
Without the players' help, the Empire's growth rate slightly slowed, but industrial expansion continued, and the prosperity of its citizens became visibly apparent.
More and more Anzetans moved from villages to cities, chasing the so-called "Empire Dream," hoping to become wealthy nobles of dragon blood.
For the Empire's laborers, the Starfallers' departure actually improved their lives—at least employers could no longer suppress wages so easily.
On the military front, the Ember Empire also achieved significant progress.
Count Jesse Swan led the Southern Continent vanguard, firmly establishing a fortress in the Kartpa region, securing the land under Imperial control.
Additionally, Tahan City became a hub for the Empire's southern trade group, with merchant convoys constantly passing through, bringing prosperity to the city.
They even extended influence into southern Thrace, building fortifications along the border and frequently dispatching scouts for reconnaissance.
However, preoccupied with its own southern conflicts, Thrace dared not challenge the Empire's probing incursions.
Meanwhile, the Empire's conquest of the Fire Elemental Plane progressed smoothly.
Count Serkan led the Imperial Fire Elemental Legion, seizing two former fire genie cities—Cast Iron and Black Iron—and bringing tens of thousands of fire elemental creatures under the Empire's rule, including fire lizards, fire dwarves, magma dragons, and even fire genies.
Additionally, he established indirect colonial control over the Brass Fortress.
Though the Brass Fortress remained nominally ruled by fire dwarves, it had effectively become the Empire's forward base in the Fire Elemental Plane.
The diligent fire dwarves mostly worked for Imperial dragon-blooded nobles and merchants—under the guise of "free employment."
Meanwhile, as the war between the Giantling Empire and the Holy Flame Legion intensified, the Empire profited immensely by selling arms to both sides.
They even seized an abandoned fire genie city once occupied by the Holy Flame Legion, renaming it "New Northwind Fortress"—a name chosen by Count Serkan, a true son of Northwind Fortress.
In the Underdark, the Ember Empire's conquests terrified the native denizens—drow, gray dwarves, swamp bearfolk, and deep gnomes.
The city of Shadowwing, once ruled by the Shadow Dragon Drow, was obliterated by Count Hart and his skeletal army, eradicating all its inhabitants.
The Empire's undead hydra legions swept through the Underdark like a tidal wave, leaving entire cities trembling.
Coupled with the legends of the "World-Scorching Dragon," the destruction of Dragonshadow City, and the death of Mortifel, the Ember Empire cemented itself as an entity not to be trifled with.
Meanwhile, Count Zayko signed favorable treaties with gray dwarves who willingly submitted, spreading these agreements throughout the Underdark.
Gradually, several city-states expressed nominal allegiance, including Secco Rock City's deep gnomes, Huanzo's gray dwarves, and the ratfolk of the Underground Kingdom.
Even the drow of Menzolaya sent envoys, seeking temporary peace with the Empire.
Even these sinister and ambitious drow hesitated to provoke an empire wielding an undead army and a red dragon.
Thus, through force and diplomacy, the Ember Empire's Underdark vanguard expanded its domain, rising as a new and ever-growing power.
Over time, the name of the Ember Empire spread not only across Feanso but throughout the world of Erezaghe.
Yet, to different people, it meant different things—
A land of guns and cannons, a remote northern wilderness, a monster-filled empire, or simply the homeland of those insufferable "Prime Material folk."
But one fact remained universal—
It was an empire ruled by a mighty dragon.