Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 719 - 407: It Was All Arranged by Great Uncle

Chapter 719: Chapter 407: It Was All Arranged by Great Uncle

"In that case, I think we have a basis for cooperation. There’s no conflict of interest between us."

"Oh, finally willing to speak?"

"Of course, but not now."

After saying this, the girl, under Noah’s slightly surprised gaze, stepped forward, allowing Noah’s sword to pierce through her neck. In the next moment, the divine light in her eyes faded, returning to its original green color, but as the divine light dissipated, her vitality also ebbed away.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Noah frowned, and Dragon Flame ignited on the sword’s edge, instantly incinerating the girl’s remaining corpse. He then looked around, finding no more enemies.

"Hmph!"

Noah was extremely dissatisfied with the Elf Goddess’s behavior, but there was no way he could reach her Divine Country to retaliate. So for now, he could only note down today’s grievance and repay it in the future.

With no corresponding opponents left, Noah withdrew his will, taking back control of his body from the severely defeated Alexander. The confident expression on the Dragon-man Monarch’s face instantly turned into one of desolation and lament.

He knew there was a certain gap in strength between himself and his great-uncle Noah, but he hadn’t expected it to be so vast.

His great-uncle had merely descended with a will, yet could manipulate his body to contend evenly with a Divine incarnation. Although it seemed that the Divine incarnation had reached some sort of agreement with his great-uncle, willingly offering its blood at the end.

But this was enough to showcase his great-uncle’s formidable power. At the very least, that Divine incarnation wouldn’t show such weakness in his presence, showing disdain and not considering him at all.

However, Alexander didn’t wallow in self-pity. He quickly regained his composure, once more commanding his retreating Dragon Knight Army, launching a pursuit against the defeated Jinlin.

He hadn’t forgotten that the war was not yet over. He intended to bring the South under the rule of the Atlas Kingdom. The southern countries must either submit to him and become vassals or face annihilation—there was no third option.

Yet, Alexander soon detected something amiss because he found that alongside his pursuit, many Elf Tribes were actually choosing to surrender to him.

Initially, Alexander ignored these surrendering Elves, leaving their disposal to his soldiers. However, as more and more Elf Tribes surrendered, even claiming it was by Divine decree, Alexander had no choice but to take it seriously.

"Great-uncle, Elves are beginning to surrender to me on a large scale. How should I deal with them?"

Faced with such an anomaly, Alexander dared not act rashly because he recalled that the Elf Goddess who descended had reached a pact with his great-uncle and ultimately had her neck pierced by his great-uncle’s sword.

"According to kingdom law, how should war prisoners who surrender be dealt with?"

"For enemy soldiers who lay down their arms, treat them with kindness. Do not kill, insult, or harm their property, provide active healing to the injured, and properly handle the bodies and belongings of deceased war prisoners!"

Alexander frowned, reciting the relevant laws. Although these were basic principles inscribed in the law, the real-world implementation was another matter because this was material his father had directly copied from the Golden Dragon Code.

"Since there are relevant statutes, implement them according to those statutes. Why ask me!"

"I understand."

Alexander paused, then suddenly understood.

Noah, seeing his grandnephew who thought he had comprehended everything, slightly curled his lips but didn’t bother to correct him.

Since the Elves, under Divine influence, began surrendering en masse, there was no need for wanton slaughter. Patient assimilation could be beneficial in weakening the enemy’s combat will, as well as future integration and governance.

The Moon Order Alliance began to collapse, although it was only partial, as they had only failed in their southern offensive. Yet, in their western campaigns, they had advanced triumphantly, destroying countless countries.

With a relentless momentum, they conquered and plundered without encountering any notable resistance. Where the Elf Army went, countries surrendered one after another. It was completely spineless, devoid of any spirit of resistance.

But even so, it provided maneuver space for the Silver Moon Royal Court. The southern defeat by the Alliance led many small and medium Elf Tribes, previously committed to the Alliance, to harbor grave concerns about its future.

Even as the Alliance continued its victorious rampage in the west, amassing seemingly thrilling victories, it couldn’t quell their agitation and unease.

They saw the frailty and vulnerability beneath the Alliance’s facade of might. Comparatively, the Silver Moon Royal Court, with its unified theocracy and highly centralized power, was a more appealing allegiance.

A single failure in war caused a shift in the political landscape of the behemoth entrenched in Central Earth. The Silver Moon Royal Court, which had previously retracted and consolidated, seemingly did nothing yet reaped some benefits, gaining the allegiance of many anxious Elf Tribes, enriching the middle and lower levels of the Royal Court.

However, compared to the Silver Moon Royal Court as the legitimate authority, the Atlas Kingdom, as the victor in the southern anti-Elf invasion war, garnered the most.

Not only did it seize all of the Elves’ southern continental war gains, logically committing its legion forces, but it also gained numerous vassal states, establishing the Dragon-man race’s dominance in the South.

Of course, the Atlas Kingdom also reaped thousands of Elf war prisoners. A less scrupulous power might have sold these prisoners as spoils, but given the Atlas Kingdom had abolished slavery, they couldn’t resort to such measures.

Thus, Alexander first contacted his sister, requesting the Silver Moon Royal Court buy back the prisoners. However, the Dragon-man Monarch overlooked something because the standard for accommodating prisoners followed the copied legal statutes, so,

"What? They don’t want to leave?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, many Elves express a desire to join us—they want to stay..."

The Dragon Rider Corps Commander’s face showed a strange expression.

Although it wasn’t his first time seeing prisoners of war wanting to defect and pledge allegiance, it was his first time witnessing the once proud Elves exhibit such a humble stance, requesting to join. It must be said, it was quite a pleasant experience.

"How could this happen?"

Alexander was also perplexed because he had already arranged with his sister to release the prisoners in batches,

"They don’t even want to go back? Have they become addicted to being prisoners of war?"

"Perhaps so."

Alexander quickly realized the issue’s core. The Elves captured on the southern battlefield weren’t the pampered princes and princesses of the Silver Moon Royal Court but rather the genuinely suffering wandering Elves.

These folks, though guided by the Divine, entered the Material Realm to enjoy a brief respite, but past hardships hadn’t changed much because they soon found themselves on the battlefield again, enjoying little of the respite.

Yet, unexpectedly, after their defeat, they experienced unprecedented benevolent treatment in Alexander’s prisoner camp.

This led many wandering Elves to forget their previous troubles and not want to leave; they even wished to join Alexander’s ranks and fight for him.

If prisoners were treated this well, one could only imagine the official soldiers’ usual treatment. Given that, why not stay?

As for Elven pride and racial honor, what did that have to do with them? They were already wanderers, so there were no such formalities. Wherever they found comfort, they’d stay; wherever the benefits were higher, that’s where they’d thrive.

"Your Majesty, what do you think should be done?"

"Isn’t that obvious? Incorporate and reorganize all those Elves who wish to stay voluntarily, forming a new legion."

By this point, Alexander no longer hesitated. He interpreted everything happening as his great-uncle’s arrangement. Since that was the case, there was no need for thought; just go with the flow.