Chapter 69: Reconciliation and Distribution of Interests

The clamor of war gradually subsided, replaced by the occasional groans from the ruins, the dull sound of giant dragons flapping their wings in the distance, and the crackling of flames licking the wreckage. The air was filled with a heavy mixture of odors: gunpowder smoke, blood, charred wood, stone powder, and a faint smell of ozone and sulfur belonging to giant dragons and magic.

The inner city gate of Kanansen slowly opened, making a heavy and harsh friction sound. The magic barrier rippled like water waves, and finally dissipated thoroughly.

The first to step out was the city lord Kanansen. He removed his damaged battle armor and changed into a dark casual suit, but still couldn't hide the fatigue between his brows and the scars on his body. His pace was a bit heavy, making a "rustling" sound as he stepped on the ground covered with gravel and rubble.

Sakavi, transformed into a human form, greeted him. He wore a robe that seemed to be woven from shadows, with black scale patterns vaguely visible on his forehead, and those molten gold vertical pupils still carried an unsettling sense of oppression. His walking posture was calm and unhurried, as if the ground under his feet was not the ruins of a city, but his private territory.

They walked in silence for a while, from the relatively intact inner city gate toward the outer city that had become a purgatory scene. On the edge of the inner city, one could still see the outline of the city in the past. Although the streets were covered with cracks and impact craters, most of the buildings on both sides were only damaged, not thoroughly collapsed. Some garrison and survivors were clearing obstacles and rescuing the wounded.

"Viceroy Sakavi, thank you very much for your assistance. Let's end our previous grievances. You can take as many of the various magical items and wealth in this city as you want." City lord Kanansen was the first to break the silence.

"Compared to this, I am more curious why the Church of Light did not come to protect you. Aren't you traditional allies?"

"Hey, there is no tradition. It's just that there are people in the church at home. Since Sailina passed away, the relationship between our family and the church has gradually drifted apart. I have three sons and one daughter. The eldest son died in the battle for the city, the second son became a Holy Knight and died in a battle to crusade against cultists, and the youngest son is only ten years old."

"It seems the Church of Light is not that holy! I thought it was very holy."

"Viceroy is joking. Without enough benefits, who will really put in effort? This is also the reason why I desperately send people to the Church of Light. With my own people, there is finally some right to speak, and they are not really good at seeing death and not saving."

The further out they went, the more tragic the scene became. This was one of the main battlefields. The entire block was razed to the ground by powerful range magic, leaving only scattered twisted metal frames and charred broken walls.

The corpses of Cult of the Dragon believers and the garrison fell crosswise, some burned into charcoal, some corroded beyond recognition by acid, and some torn apart by huge force. A tattered flag embroidered with the Cult of the Dragon emblem was half-buried in the rubble, soaked in dark blood.

"Then why were you besieged by the Cult of the Dragon? I don't think it's because your family has no one in the church and they think you are easy to bully!"

"Actually, there are still people. Several of my nephews are in it, but they are only High-Level, and their right to speak is not high. This time being besieged is also because they saw death and did not save, intending to divide this city. The main reason is that I have extreme hatred for five-colored dragons, killing and enslaving them at every turn, which seriously violated the core interests of the Cult of the Dragon."

"Is that so? Then can I slap you to death now?"

"Don't worry! I won't be against giant dragons in the future. I am not the kind of person who repays kindness with enmity. My parents died under the dragon breath of a red dragon just because they happened to be in the market and were instantly swallowed by flames. Since then, I have hated five-colored dragons."

In the original commercial district near the edge of the outer city, the destruction here was more thorough, and almost no complete structure higher than the knees could be seen. Wealth and prosperity became the most ironic funeral objects at this moment. Melted gold and silver mixed with broken magic crystals in the ashes, occasionally reflecting eerie light.

A gust of wind blew, rolling up black ashes and charred famous parchment, among which a price list of some kind of commodity could be vaguely seen. Sakavi didn't look at the city lord beside him, but kicked a metal lump that had been burned and melted, which might have been an exquisite sculpture, and said casually: "The spoils of the Cult of the Dragon, I want seventy percent."

Kanansen's footsteps paused, and he took a deep breath of the air filled with the smell of burnt paste: "This is Kanansen City, my city. All the spoils should be..."

"Should be distributed by the winner." Sakavi interrupted him, finally turning his head, his molten gold pupils shrinking into a thin line, "And I am the only winner today. You, and your city, are just... survivors." His gaze swept over the hellish scene around him, and the meaning was self-evident. Without him, there wouldn't even be ruins here.

"As for the cost of my 'support'..." Sakavi continued to walk forward, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather, "The appearance fee of six Legendary Rank five-colored dragons, and the old account between us that has not yet been settled, let's give a discount." He stopped and stood in a relatively open area that was once a square, looking back at Kanansen. "I want the exclusive mining rights of the 'Star Fall Vein' for the next fifty years."

Kanansen raised his head violently: "Impossible! Star Fall Mine is the lifeline of this city! That is used to manufacture..."

"One of the main materials for weapons against giant dragons. I know." A cruel smile appeared on Sakavi's face, "So, this condition is very fair. Either agree, or..." He didn't continue, just stepped lightly on the land that had been ravaged by the war under his feet.

Kanansen looked at Sakavi's unquestionable eyes, and then looked around at this scorched earth that needed huge resources and time to rebuild. He understood that this was not a negotiation, this was a notification. In the face of absolute power, he had to accept it. He finally closed his eyes slowly and nodded with difficulty.

The Star Fall Vein is not in the Astral Plane, but on a small plane. In fact, not all planes are popular. Those without mineral veins are almost disliked by everyone. After all, without a large amount of ore, civilization cannot be developed.

Because of this reason, a situation has derived: some organizations specialize in mining, selling, or looting mineral veins. After thoroughly squeezing the value of a plane, they sell it. The small plane famous for producing Star Fall ore under the name of Kanansen City is exactly this.

"Don't be sad. To show my sincerity, I plan to give you another gift. I think you will like it very much. If I remember correctly, your daughter's remains were destroyed in this war, right?"

"Why are you mentioning this? I warn you, don't try to have designs on her. I know you are a necromancer, and I know very well what things you will do."

"But it's already too late. Vierna, come here, remember to bring that thing over."

Subsequently, Vierna carrying the coffin appeared from the shadows. Looking at the black inscribed coffin, Kanansen was angry to the extreme, but he couldn't beat the two Legendaries. Subsequently, Sakavi pushed open the coffin lid and said: "Wake up, your house was smashed by people from the Cult of the Dragon, hurry up and get up and see!"

Sailina, who slowly opened her eyes, felt extremely shocked by the situation around her, while City lord Kanansen on the side looked at his daughter with trembling hands, full of disbelief.

"Sorry, I dare not offend the one guarding the River Styx, so I can only make you a one that cannot cast magic. Of course, the soul has not changed at all. I can guarantee this point, no need to thank me."

"You get out of here immediately, my house doesn't welcome a villain like you!"

Sakavi: "…………."

Vierna: "Were you dumped by someone? Hahahaha! I didn't expect you to spend so much time making a flesh puppet with perfect details."

"Ahem, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. Sailina, you go to the inner city to see your brother first. I have things to discuss with these two. That Sakavi, where did we just talk to? Oh right, it's the Star Fall Vein, right!"

"City lord Kanansen, I want all the five-colored dragons in your hands, whether dead or alive, including dragon-beasts. You have no opinion on this, right?"

"No, no, this should be sent to you. Besides, there are a few magical items in my city. You can see if there are any you want, and I will give them all to you."

…………

"This fragment of the 'Star Dome Prophecy Book' is not a magical item, but ancient taboo knowledge. It is a piece of parchment that records the laws of the operation of the Astral Plane and certain world fate nodes. It cannot directly give you power, but it can let you 'see'. Of course, interpreting it requires a price, sometimes it is sanity, sometimes it is... lifespan."

"This is the 'Scroll of Dragon Binding Contract', yes, you heard that name right. Of course, it's not the original version. This is just an ancient document studied by ancient dragon-born mages on how to conclude equal alliances with the dragon race, attached with some lost rune knowledge aimed at the dragon race's magic circuits."

"Shadow Leap Dagger, don't look at it as an ordinary dagger. It allows the holder to perform short-range shadow jumps, and more importantly, it can tear through most conventional space blockades. For... existences who want to come and go freely in certain places, it is very helpful."

"Echo Branch, a withered branch of the World Tree from a perished elven kingdom. It cannot resurrect life, but it can record and release a powerful spell or a key conversation. In some cases, it can become the most fatal evidence, or the most precious experience."

"Of course, you can only choose two. These are things that money can't buy. I don't have many here either. I hope you won't be too greedy, that would be very difficult for me to handle."

In the end, Sakavi chose the "Star Dome Prophecy Book" and the "Scroll of Dragon Binding Contract". Compared with various magical items that can be manufactured, knowledge is obviously more precious. If you lose this opportunity, there may not be another one next time. ===== CHAPTER 70 =====