Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 793 - 444

In Uther City, within Gladiya Palace, in Thunder Hall, sat one elder after another of the Augustus family, their faces heavy with shadows, casting an oppressive atmosphere in the hall, as if one had plunged into deep waters, struggling to breathe.

"Absurd, ridiculous, laughable! What right do they have to make such unreasonable demands of us!"

"Have those people forgotten whose land they’re standing on?"

"The blood of our Augustus ancestors flows across that land, and they gained it without any cost, yet now they want even more!"

Resentment, anxiety, dissatisfaction, rage, or perhaps gravity—all these emotions filled the eyes that finally rested at the end of the conference table, on a monarch crowned in majesty.

This was the current Family Head of the Augustus family, known for his unmatched strength and power. Yet, the eyes of many elders looked upon him with mistrust and caution.

All because, on either side of the Family Head’s cheeks, the visible dragon scales were unmistakable signs of the dragon species, even though he had employed the Transformation Technique to conceal them.

Ordinarily, this was nothing; the Augustus family elders could accept it. Compared to the leader’s bloodline, his strength, vision, and decisiveness were evidently more important.

But the problem arose when rumors from the Holy Dragon Land, from Elisium City, reached Uther City, and the meaning of the golden dragon scales suddenly changed.

"These are unverified rumors, likely just lies meant to sow discord. Your current reaction plays right into the hands of certain entities, doesn’t it?"

Facing so many scrutinizing and suspicious gazes, Alexander had no choice but to speak.

From a personal standpoint, he didn’t want to call this family meeting. Yet, the increasing flow of messages from Elisium City had stirred unrest in the entire family and the capital city Uther.

Whether as King or as Family Head, he had to hold this meeting to stabilize the trend, or at least to calm these people’s emotions, or else an unpredictable chaos might truly occur.

"By sitting here and speaking, we’re indicating that these aren’t just rumors. We’ve already gone to verify these statements."

"These aren’t orders issued by the Holy Dragon Ancestor, nor do they represent the Ancestor’s will. Also, the Radiant Hall hasn’t issued any administrative decree relating to this."

Alexander spoke with solemnity. This wasn’t merely a political issue; if mishandled, it could lead to a war of unimaginable scope. As the first favored of the Holy Dragon and the current head of the Augustus family, he bore a heavy responsibility,

"These are merely rumors circulating in the streets and alleys of Elisium City."

"Rumors? Even if His Majesty the Holy Dragon isn’t aware, and although his band of fairies don’t support it, we can be certain of one thing. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Those dragon-men are quite dissatisfied with our Augustus family. They hold significant negative views against us, harboring tremendous aversion and hostility. The dragon-men despise us, Family Head, do you understand what that means?"

"It means nothing. The poor will resent rich merchants; commoners will resent nobles. The weak will always blame the strong. Where is such a thing not found? Where is such complaining absent?

By making a fuss and exaggerating these issues, you are intensifying those conflicts that could otherwise be ignored. What are you trying to do? Destroy the contract between our Augustus family and the Holy Dragon Ancestor?"

Alexander continued to try to de-escalate the situation and to downplay the issues.

Upon hearing those alarming rumors, he personally went to Elisium City, reached out to the Dragon Demon King, and sought to confirm the truth of the news.

Indeed, he was a favored of the Holy Dragon, but he was also the head of Augustus. The golden dragon bloodline imbued him with an intense sense of responsibility. He refused to betray his bloodline or his heritage.

What should have been a coherent unity had shown signs of fracture and opposition during his incumbency, a situation that truly made his head spin.

Through confirmation from the Fairy Queen, Alexander learned of the dissatisfaction among the dragon-men towards the Augustus family and further understood their demands.

He certainly couldn’t accept these. If he relinquished the tax to the Southern Province, the Augustus family would definitely revolt against him, and he could forget holding onto his seat as Family Head.

As for exchanging the territory and abandoning the existing Atlas Kingdom, there was even less reason to entertain that notion. The family had cultivated this legacy for so many years, and to abandon it, even for a wider territory—what would it matter?

The value of land isn’t just in its size or even its natural resources. Crucial is its geographical location. A civilized place cultivated for years compared to a wild, beast-filled barbaric land – the value difference is as vast as heaven and earth.

If he accepted these terms, he would surely become the most inept Family Head in the history of the Augustus family, as well as the most foolish King of the Atlas Kingdom. He would be nailed to the pillar of shame, enduring beyond future generations.