[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-465":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162409,1504,"Chapter 465: The Sultan’s Negotiation","ember-dragon-chapter-465",465,"\u003Cp>Chapter 465: The Sultan’s Negotiation\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trace of disappointment flickered in Cassius’ pale golden eyes as he shook his head regretfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ismail had been resurrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Cassius was confident in his ability to deal with the Sultan, he had no way to kill the Pasha right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he could barely withstand the Sultan’s furious assault—after all, the Sultan possessed pseudo-divine power. Even a projection of him was no easy opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ismail’s gaze fell upon the menacing red dragon, and his face instantly twisted in fear and unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, you——\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this happen! You were supposed to be decapitated!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How dare you kill me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image of his sudden death, his head rolling on the ground, was still fresh in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he lowered his head and looked at his shrunken body, he realized that most of his power had drained away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... what did you do to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice trembled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when he had faced death, he hadn’t been this terrified. The loss of his strength filled him with true fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength was everything to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the strongest fire elementals were worthy of serving as the Sultan’s direct subordinates, the noble Pashas of the fire elemental kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he lost his strength, in the warlike fire elemental race, he could easily be replaced by an ambitious newcomer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ismail!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You fool!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sultan interrupted angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ismail turned toward the distant projection of the Sultan, his expression immediately turning to one of dread and panic as he knelt before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me for failing you! You even used your power to resurrect me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Sultan paid no attention to his weakened Pasha, instead focusing on the red dragon, his eyes burning with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If looks could kill, the Sultan would have already flayed and dismembered Cassius a thousand times over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius, however, didn’t care in the slightest. He casually licked his lips, as if savoring the moment, and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sultan, I’m here to negotiate. Let’s call a temporary truce.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Negotiate?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire elemental couldn’t believe his ears. His tone was seething with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You invade my realm, seize my cities, kill my subjects, and slay my servant!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all that, you dare speak of negotiation?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius shook his head gently, dismissing the accusation. \"Sultan, that’s just your perspective. From my view, your subordinates attacked my followers and insulted me to my face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything I did was merely self-defense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius remained unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The justification didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even an absurd excuse like \"defending myself while razing a fire elemental city\" could be said without him batting an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among creatures aligned with the forces of evil, only one thing mattered—power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Sultan had appeared in person with his full pseudo-divine strength, Cassius would have fled without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If escape were impossible, groveling wouldn’t have been out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, it was merely a projection of the Sultan. What could he possibly do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Self-defense, you say!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I don’t stop you now, will you defend yourself all the way to the Brass City?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sultan’s roar echoed across the scorching plains, kicking up waves of heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he quickly calmed down, staring coldly at the distant red dragon, deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things had already escalated to this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blind rage would achieve nothing and only make him appear incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cassius, I know who you are. The offspring of Tiamat, conqueror of the Anzeta Wasteland in the Material Plane, self-proclaimed Ember Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk, you’ve certainly made a name for yourself recently—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But to come uninvited into the fire elemental plane and trespass into my realm, aren’t you afraid you’ll never leave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you understand the kind of being you’ve provoked?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sultan’s words were laced with undisguised threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius nodded slightly and responded with a flattering tone, \"Of course, I understand who you are—master of the Brass City, supreme ruler of the fire elemental kingdom, and sovereign of the fire elemental plane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On any other day, the Sultan would have taken this as mere flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But coming from a dragon who had just killed his servant and absorbed his power, it was nothing but sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sultan’s expression grew darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing that long string of titles, Cassius paused for a moment before continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if you could manifest your true form here, I wouldn’t dare step foot into the fire elemental plane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the Sultan with a mocking smile and added, \"It must be quite uncomfortable, being impaled by Prince Zaman Ruhl’s Holy Flame Lance. I heard you’re still pinned to your throne.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You greedy, arrogant red dragon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sultan couldn’t hold back his rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’ words had hit another sore spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Months ago, Prince Zaman Ruhl had led a rebellion of fire dwarves through secret tunnels into the Brass City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Flame Prince had infiltrated his palace and thrown a deadly spear that had nearly killed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, the Sultan remained confined to the Brass City, nursing his wounds and unable to leave the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city was under tighter security than ever before, with all passageways sealed and rigorous inspections conducted everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glaring at Cassius with venomous eyes, the Sultan asked, \"Who sent you? What do you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who sent me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius repeated the question with a chuckle before continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That depends on your decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you insist on making an enemy of the Ember Empire, then I’m Prince Zaman Ruhl’s secret weapon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will fly across your vast kingdom, sweeping through every fire elemental city and encampment, slaughtering them like Death itself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were brimming with menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of panic crossed the Sultan’s face—barely perceptible, but there nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius wasn’t bluffing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frontlines were stretched thin, and cities throughout the kingdom were dealing with slave uprisings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the fire elementals’ elite forces were locked in battle with Zaman Ruhl’s followers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Sultan himself, severely wounded, spent his days recuperating in the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such strained circumstances, there would be no one to stop a war machine like this ancient red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius continued, \"But if you agree to a truce with the Ember Empire, forget these misunderstandings, and extend your apologies to me and the empire—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then this incident can be seen as a mere mistake. I won’t interfere with your Burning War, and I could even provide military support within my means.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius lifted his head, his monstrous face wearing a calm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I always strive for peace and don’t advocate for violence. All conflicts can be resolved through negotiation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t you think so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1098,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","ccc14af4e0205c75cec2f4c512232460ed140c25194352150d681fa786d96b24","ember-dragon-chapter-176","ember-dragon-chapter-175",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]