Daniels took half a step forward, looking up at the Red Iron Dragon on the high platform.

"Your Majesty, for the sake of Atlan, and for Aola itself, I implore you to agree."

His voice was earnest, his gaze sincere, as he said, "As long as we stand united against the external threat, no matter how powerful the Abyss's invasion is, we will surely be able to turn danger into safety, calm the chaos, and reestablish stable order."

So here comes the question.

Who brought the Abyss here? And who caused this chaos?

Garoth did not respond immediately.

He looked down at the young human envoy.

His black pupils were like embers after a flame had been extinguished, reflecting Daniels's figure, yet making it impossible to guess what lay hidden within them.

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Only the wind whistled faintly as it slipped through the cracks in the windows. The sunlight outside slanted in, casting mottled shadows on the stone floor. On the high platform, the dragon's scales gleamed with a dark luster, like solidified magma.

After a moment, he slowly spoke.

"Halden sent you here, with earnest words, a respectful attitude, offering many praises and speaking of numerous dangers."

"But, from beginning to end, you did not mention one thing."

Daniels was slightly taken aback.

"What?"

"The source of the Abyssal invasion is your Halden."

The Red Iron Dragon's gaze fell upon him, making Daniels feel an invisible pressure.

"This disaster began because of you. It was you who developed the Abyss, you who extracted its energy, you who brought those things into this world. And now, you want others to bear the consequences for it."

"You ask me to act, to clean up your mess for you."

"But from start to finish, you haven't said a single word about Halden's responsibility."

Hearing this, the Halden envoy fell silent. He lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the stone slabs of the floor, looking at those mottled shadows.

A few seconds later, Daniels raised his head again.

"Your Majesty, you are right."

He did not refute or make excuses, choosing instead to stand straight and take the hit, facing this pointed question head-on.

"This is all our fault."

"We developed the Abyss, extracted its energy. We thought we could control everything, believed our wisdom and caution were enough to handle any risk. But we were wrong."

"We have paid the price, and all of Atlan is bearing this price for us."

He paused, then said, "We have realized this as well, and now, we only wish to make amends, to salvage what we can."

"This is not to shirk responsibility or for self-comfort, but because we must do this."

"Before resolving the crisis of the Abyss, the Red Iron Dragon will mobilize the entire nation's strength to restore the damage Halden has suffered."

The Red Iron Dragon gave a slight nod.

Regardless of whether they could actually do it, this attitude was at least acceptable.

When a problem arises, not shirking, not pushing the blame onto the Abyss or the demons or something else, but directly admitting it was their own mistake... not many people could do that.

"You said that currently in Atlan, only I can destroy the falling Sky Cities."

Garoth changed the subject, saying, "But Halden's influence is not limited to Atlan."

"Across all of Bernardo, I am not irreplaceable. The orcs of Kantum, the elves of Nausil, the powerful from other continents... surely someone among them can do the same thing."

"Why not seek help from these beings, and instead come to me?"

"In the most widely circulated ranking system, I am just an ordinary, unremarkable Advanced Legendary."

Daniels shook his head.

"Your Majesty, there is no need for such modesty. To us, you are irreplaceable."

His tone was firm, without any hesitation.

"The orcs of Kantum fear the world isn't chaotic enough."

"For them, the Abyssal invasion is not a disaster, but an opportunity. An opportunity for chaos, for slaughter, for plunder. The deity they worship is an even more chaotic and evil higher existence, no less dangerous than the demons."

"Expect them to help fight the Abyss?"

"No, they will only take advantage of the fire to loot, stab us in the back, and make things even more troublesome."

"The elves of Nausil are not our allies. However, to be frank, if they weren't deeply mired in the Fury Curse, the elves might indeed lend a hand. But right now, they are simultaneously facing the Scourge of Fury and orcish aggression. They can barely manage themselves, let alone help us."

"And outside the empire, there are no suitable candidates either."

Daniels said, "Take the dragons, for example. Those few Metal Dragon Kings are powerful enough, but they will not leave their own dragon domains, will not take this risk."

"And evil dragons like the White Scourge, who have attained the Mandate of Heaven, would similarly only stir up trouble amidst the chaos."

"They wish for the world to be as chaotic as possible. The more chaotic, the more opportunities for them."

"Most crucially, not all who have attained the Mandate of Heaven possess the power to destroy a Sky City with a single strike."

When he said this last sentence, a trace of awe entered Daniels's tone.

He raised his head, looking up at the Red Iron Dragon on the high platform.

"Your Majesty, your strength, we have seen it."

"You have twice purged rifts, including one containing a Great Demon. We understand what these achievements mean better than anyone."

"Your rank is indeed not high, but that is because you have far surpassed the conventional standards of rank measurement."

The Red Emperor of the Aola Kingdom was very young.

In the lifespan of dragonkind, two hundred years was merely the starting stage.

Many dragons at this age were still accumulating power and exploring the world. Yet this Red Iron Dragon already stood at the center of the world stage, his performance completely defying conventional logic.

This was undoubtedly the bearing of an Immortal.

If nothing unexpected happened, he was highly likely to ascend to Immortality and become the mightiest dragon in all of Bernardo.

In the past, Halden would absolutely never have allowed such a dragon to grow unchecked.

They would have assessed the risk, formulated countermeasures—either recruit him, binding him to their war chariot with resources and benefits; or strangle the threat, eliminating him before he truly grew up.

But now...

Resisting the Abyss was paramount.

After finishing, Daniels awaited the Red Iron Dragon's response.

The Red Iron Dragon listened to the Halden envoy's explanation.

His expression remained unchanged. "You wish for me to act, to destroy the Sky Cities on the verge of losing control for you, to block the Abyss's erosion, and prolong the empire's survival."

He paused, his gaze narrowing slightly.

"But, what will you offer in exchange?"

"I have lived for over two hundred years. From a hatchling wandering the wilderness to the position I hold today, I have seen empty promises, seen people go back on their word after the fact, seen kingdoms that were once fervently sworn to agreements turn their faces faster than flipping a page."

"If you come asking for my help with nothing but fervor and pretty words, then there is nothing to discuss."

Daniels showed an expression of understanding.

He gave a slight bow, his movements respectful.

"Your Majesty is right. I was just about to speak of this matter."

He straightened up again, placing his hands together in front of him, posture proper.

"A savior deserves a reward, as it should be. Although Halden is in a precarious situation, the accumulated foundations remain. We are willing to offer a sufficiently substantial price in exchange for Your Majesty's intervention."

The Red Iron Dragon said nothing, merely watching him quietly.

Under his gaze, Daniels began listing items one by one.

"First, legendary-grade items."

"Halden's Treasure Vault houses exquisite pieces left behind by powerful figures throughout the ages."

"Weapons, armor, accessories, functional items... a wide variety, of superior quality."

"We will provide you with a list. For each Sky City destroyed, you may freely select three items. If you have any special requests, we can even have them custom-made specifically for you. Halden's craftsmen are among the finest in all of Atlan."

The dragon's claws rose and fell.

Thump, thump, thump... The sound echoed in the hall, as if urging him to continue.

Daniels understood and continued, "Secondly, Ancient Gems."

"You should know that almost all Primordial Stones are within Halden's inventory."

"Those mineral veins in the central continent, those legendary places said to hide treasures, were long ago emptied by us. What other kingdoms can find are, at best, inferior products. The true Primordial Stones are all in our hands."

"We can give you one Power Gem first."

Garoth's gaze sharpened.

The Aola treasury also held many gems—accumulated from years of mining, seized from enemies, tributes from vassal states... a wide variety of types and qualities. But indeed, there were no true Ancient Gems in the literal sense.

And these gems had another collective name.

—Primordial Stones.

They referred to the most primitive, ancient, and powerful gems.

It was said they were formed from the condensed precipitation of blood shed by the deities and the Primordial Gods, also known as the Primordial Wastes, during their war. Each Primordial Stone contained a trace of primordial power, thus directly bestowing various peculiar and powerful effects.

Take the Power Gem Daniels mentioned, for example.

Setting it into one's body could provide the host with a strength enhancement for a long period, significant enough to tip the scales of battle. One could also directly consume it to gain an extreme burst of strength for a short time, at the cost of the gem being completely destroyed.

It is worth mentioning that Halden possessed Primordial Stone detection technology.

It was their unique technology, capable of detecting the presence of Primordial Stones deep underground. Relying on this technique, almost all the Primordial Stones in Atlan had been dug up by this empire. Now, there were still many mineral veins in the central continent, but they probably didn't contain a single Primordial Stone anymore.

"Like the legendary items, for each out-of-control Sky City destroyed, we will give you one Primordial Stone."

After saying this, Daniels looked up at the Red Iron Dragon.

But he still did not speak.

He merely gave a slight nod, signaling Daniels to continue.

The envoy took a deep breath and continued, "Your Majesty has foresight. In addition to tangible items like artifacts and gems, we have also prepared alchemical technologies for you."

"Black Oil Crystal Refinement Technology."

"This is one of our proudest technologies, capable of pushing the purity of black oil crystals beyond the tenth grade, up to a maximum of twenty."

"You should know that the black oil crystals circulating on the market have a maximum purity of only grade eight or nine."

"Only Halden can produce those above grade ten."

Black Oil Crystal Refinement Technology...

This was indeed useful.

Aola currently relied heavily on black oil.

Whether for the alchemy workshops, golem propulsion, or daily energy needs, they couldn't do without black oil. It was like blood, the energy supporting the entire kingdom's operation.

Most crucially, he needed black oil crystals, and the higher the purity, the better.

The quality of the black oil crystals Aola currently produced was gradually becoming insufficient for him.

The Red Iron Dragon gave a slight nod.

"Continue."

Daniels fell silent for a few seconds.

His expression became somewhat complex, as if weighing something. Then, he spoke.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness. Apart from the aforementioned conditions, we have only one last thing."

"Speak."

"We can share the alchemical technology that allows cities to float in the sky."

His voice was serious.

"Suspension technology?"

"Yes."

Daniels nodded.

"With it, you can raise the Red Emperor Capital into the clouds, overlooking the entire Rhen Plateau. Even, if you wish, you can build a new royal city in the sky above the central continent, overlooking those newly acquired territories, like a deity."

"You would become the true master of the skies."

Garoth said calmly, "Your engines get corrupted by the Abyss. Not interested."

Daniels shook his head.

"Your Majesty may not be aware."

"The corrupted engines are our fifth-generation Skysoar Engines."

"Their core design does indeed rely on Abyssal energy. That was the choice we made in pursuit of the ultimate. The fifth-generation engines' output is over five times that of the fourth generation, yet their consumption is negligible. We gambled too much for this advantage."

"But we still have the fourth-generation Skysoar Engines."

"They require absolutely no Abyssal energy, operating solely on vast quantities of black oil or other compatible energy sources. Although consumption is higher, they excel in stability, safety, and immunity to corruption."

At this point, the Halden envoy sighed slightly.

"Back then, for the sake of the entire nation's ascension, we abandoned the fourth generation and chose the fifth."

"Everyone thought the fourth generation was outdated, backward technology, something that should be phased out. Thinking about it now... perhaps that was a mistake."

Garoth raised his head.

He looked through the skylight at the distant outlines of the Sky Cities.

Almost all dragons favored the feeling of looking down upon the world from high above.

The commanding, commanding perspective, the spirit of seeing all mountains as small beneath one's feet, the feeling as if the entire world lay at one's feet—it was a temptation all dragons found hard to resist.

To be frank, Garoth liked it too.

One of his great pleasures was standing atop the dragon court, admiring the vast, magnificent scenery.

Standing there, watching the sea of clouds churn beneath his feet, the sun rising from the east, his own kingdom awakening in the dawn light—that was the most relaxing moment of his day.

But no matter how high the dragon court was, it wasn't truly in the sky.

If he had the manufacturing technology for these Skysoar Engines...

He withdrew his gaze, looking at Daniels.

"Continue."

Cold sweat beaded on Daniels's forehead.

"Your Majesty, we need your power, so naturally we must offer sufficiently substantial things to show our sincerity. But..."

"That is all of the above."

He said, "Legendary items, Ancient Gems, Black Oil Crystal Refinement Technology, Suspension Technology... this is everything Halden can offer in exchange for your intervention."

"We can negotiate further on the specific quantities of the first two, but what we can offer is limited to these."

Garoth carefully scrutinized the Halden envoy.

That's about it.

Applying more pressure wouldn't squeeze out anything more.

So, Garoth knew when to stop.

"Hmm. I sense Halden's sincerity."

He said.

Daniels let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."

He bowed and said, "The specifics of technology transfer, material delivery... specialized personnel will come later to discuss with your kingdom. What is your opinion?"

At this point, if Garoth just nodded, it would mean agreement.

But the Red Iron Dragon did not answer immediately.

His dragon claws lightly tapped the edge of the high platform, emitting low, dull thuds. Each sound seemed to fall upon the envoy's heart, striking his anticipation.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

A few seconds later, the Red Iron Dragon spoke.

"Has Halden sent other envoys? To other kingdoms?"

He asked.

Daniels was slightly taken aback, then nodded.

"Yes, we have dispatched multiple envoys to several of the more powerful kingdoms. Halden needs all the strength it can muster. Resisting the Abyss requires everyone's effort."

He paused, adding earnestly, "But I can swear on my life that you are absolutely the one we value most."

Garoth asked, "What can they do?"

Daniels thought for a moment and replied, "Clear out demons, contain small to medium-sized rifts, provide support when necessary."

"We have predicted that more rifts will spread, but their scale will not be large."

"They can hold the ground, prevent the spread of demons, stop the spread of small and medium rifts, but... we don't expect them to destroy Sky Cities. In all of Atlan, only you can do that."

"Other powerful beings might be able to destroy a city, but they cannot guarantee destruction with a single strike, cannot ensure a rift won't form."

"Only you can do it perfectly."

Garoth's dragon claws stopped tapping.

He looked down at Daniels, a contemplative light flickering in his eyes.

Halden had shown sufficient sincerity, including technologies and resources they would never have shared before. Black Oil Crystal Refinement Technology, Suspension Technology—these were the very foundations of Halden's statehood. And now, they were willing to share them.

The envoy's attitude was also very humble.

Daniels remained respectful from start to finish, admitting mistakes, accepting criticism, cooperating with negotiations.

And this, to some extent, indicated...

They basically had no other choice.

After brief consideration, Garoth had his answer in his heart.

There wasn't really much to think about.

Regardless of whether Halden's attitude would change in the future, whether their gratitude was genuine or a temporary expedient, whether they would turn their backs later—at the very least, for now, everyone was in the same boat.

If Halden fell too early, Aola would also suffer damage.

Once those Sky Cities fell, creating more large-scale rifts, Aola could not remain untouched either.

Moreover, Halden wasn't offering empty promises.

What they provided was tangible. Both sides could be said to be getting what they needed.

He looked at the envoy.

"You may return. Have the person responsible for the specific negotiations come."

Daniels' face lit up with joy, and then he deeply bowed, performing a grand salute.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Halden will make preparations. Once a Sky City is about to lose control, we will notify you immediately."