[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-470":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},1162426,1504,"Chapter 470: The Empire’s Situation","ember-dragon-chapter-470",470,"\u003Cp>Chapter 470: The Empire’s Situation\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Grand Altar of Isthalia, over a hundred court mages of the empire gathered, raising their staffs in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by violent fluctuations, a massive spatial rift, stretching over a hundred meters, appeared above the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive, majestic red head emerged from within, followed by its thick neck, broad wings, and powerful forelimbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The supreme emperor of the Ember Empire, the dragon ruling the Anzeta Wasteland—Cassius Claudious Norrixius—arrived today in his loyal Isthalia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Roar—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius slowly closed his eyes, savoring the long-lost sensation of commanding everything within the empire’s territory, and let out a joyful roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, welcome back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu stood on the second-highest tier of the altar, respectfully welcoming the return of the red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the empire’s prime minister, only he could occupy this unique position and be the first to greet the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him were the two dukes, Medrolash and Dolo, each leading the empire’s elite forces and the tiefling guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome back, Your Majesty—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundred court mages behind him echoed in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers on the altar knelt down in neat rows, their rifles resting on the ground, producing a crisp sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, the white dragon rushed over in a mix of running and flying. This time, she didn’t dare get too close but excitedly lay on the ground, her thick tail wagging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body, nearly twenty meters long, caused the ground to tremble slightly with her movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius scanned the surroundings and finally fixed his gaze on the empire’s prime minister, Langpu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Langpu, you should have received the news about the empire’s colony in the Elemental Plane of Fire, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Master. Congratulations on another great victory. I’ve already had your achievements recorded in the \"History of the Ember Empire\".\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogre knelt on the ground, his voice filled with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You subdued the fire dwarves, defeated the fire genies’ pasha, and even made the Sultan sign a pact with us, bringing enormous benefits to the empire. Every citizen should remember your feats and be grateful for your kindness! I’ll immediately have a new monument made—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not what I’m talking about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’ mouth twitched slightly, and he couldn’t help but interrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a glance, Medrolash leaned over to whisper something to Dolo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following their orders, the surrounding soldiers, guards, and court mages retreated in an orderly manner, leaving only a few high-ranking officials—and the completely clueless Tinia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you dispatched personnel and transported supplies to the colony? The living conditions there are extremely harsh, and ordinary clothing and food will quickly burn to ashes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu responded promptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve sent an envoy team composed of Mechanist Church players to the Brass Stronghold, along with many supplies enchanted with heat-resistant spells.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Additionally, the Ministry of Technology is working on developing weapons, clothing, and food tailored to the unique environment of the Elemental Plane of Fire. Initial results should be available within a month, which will greatly reduce the cost of spells. You need not worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Burning War is also a rare opportunity. I’ve appointed Selkan as the governor of the colony in the Elemental Plane of Fire. He must establish a firm foothold and seize benefits amidst the chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, prioritize the development of specialized weapons against elemental creatures. This war will last for a long time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu grinned, revealing an ugly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Your Majesty. The guys in the arms industry are the most greedy. They’ve already tasted the sweetness of selling arms, and many have made a fortune, creating an atmosphere where they’ll do anything for profit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With any opportunity to make a profit, they’ll swarm like hungry wolves, devouring all the gold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as if remembering something, he frowned and said, \"However, to cut costs, some have started concealing the number of workers, exploiting legal loopholes, and even evading taxes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’ expression instantly became more serious—this was a bloodthirsty monster he had cultivated with his own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it had begun to reveal its claws, showing its ugly face across the entire continent of Feanso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While individual power was holding the line, Cassius did not see it as a catastrophic threat but rather as a vicious dog helping the empire expand. Still, he had to prevent these monsters from becoming parasites gnawing at the empire’s foundations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vicious dogs needed to be disciplined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They should taste flesh but also feel the sting of the stick, ensuring they never forget who their master was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems the problem has grown beyond its initial stage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius narrowed his eyes, contemplating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Langpu, have the Ministry of Justice work overtime to patch the loopholes and increase penalties. Also, drag a few prominent examples to the courts to make a public display—kill the chicken to warn the monkeys. They shouldn’t be given any chance to exploit loopholes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing how seriously the emperor took this matter, Langpu immediately lowered his head and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius continued, \"Do you remember the story I once told you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, Master. Even a thousand-mile-long dyke can collapse due to a small ant hole.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Medrolash. \"It seems things have been too peaceful domestically lately, to the point where some people can’t restrain their petty ambitions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let Nocturne draw some blood. It’s been a while since they’ve had any fresh victims.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Medrolash’s expression didn’t change, but he promptly knelt down and gave a concise, firm response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, having just returned from the Elemental Plane of Fire, I need to rest at the royal palace for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember, during this time, no one is to disturb me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius yawned, casually tearing through the space in front of him with his claws to create a massive flame portal. He stepped inside, returning to the long-unseen royal palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few battles, he indeed needed some rest and time to digest his newly acquired power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, a storm was about to sweep through the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month later, the Imperial Corporate Law was officially enacted, with retroactive effect, causing a massive uproar within the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several prominent dragonblood nobles who had led the violations of regulations were publicly executed, and some enterprises skirting the edges of the law received \"personal visits\" from Nocturne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some particularly \"creative\" players had their assets confiscated and were imprisoned for long-term labor reform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, the empire was plunged into an icy silence. The atmosphere of \"violating imperial law for gold\" diminished, giving way to a wave of \"abandoning humanity for gold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the empire’s officials, the latter was merely a normal phenomenon, while the former was absolutely unforgivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, some discovered that within Anzeta, strict legal controls applied—no slavery, no tax evasion, no exploitation to death. But things were much freer in the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although they still had to pay taxes to the empire, certain unspeakable freedoms could be exercised there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, they began reaching out to the priests of the Waukeen Church, those who had \"sold their souls for gold,\" and launched a grand external expansion campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>",1183,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","907f45eef4c0c8991a80146e39a36a2fe1366e214545b953c269b27aafc4e439","ember-dragon-chapter-188","ember-dragon-chapter-187",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]