Ashen Dragon

Chapter 536: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens Chapter 536: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens The demon attack in Isdalia created quite a stir, but fortunately, the demon was dealt with in a very short time, causing minimal damage to the square.

The celebration of Coronation Day continued, with people reveling in the streets, fully enjoying this rare day of festivity.

“Long live His Majesty Cassius!”

“Long live the great Red Dragon!”

“March south to Thrace, occupy Fadlan!”

“Southerners are all cowardly bastards! They don’t deserve such good land!”

Drunks waved the imperial flag in the streets, arm in arm, staggering along, cheering enthusiastically.

They even turned the slogan “Conquer the South” into a catchy little tune, singing it unevenly.

These people were called “Conquest Party members” by domestic scholars, the beneficiaries of the empire’s expansion, most holding high status in the country, many from the military.

The Conquest Party advocated for the conquest of the South, plundering resources, dumping goods, and accomplishing the grand blueprint of the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon’s world rule, which was also the mainstream thought of the empire.

Confidence, valor, and arrogance characterized their style of action.

Compared to ordinary people, these guys were more extreme, with some proposing to turn all Southerners into imperial slaves to serve the noble imperial citizens.

Some even suggested slaughtering all the Southerners, declaring that only imperial citizens deserved to enjoy this sacred and fertile land.

Because of this, they were fiercely criticized by domestic scholars and publicly castigated by Councillor Olivia in the imperial assembly, with her words being quite harsh.

Lady Olivia publicly pointed out: these Conquest Party members were “remnants of the Northern Nobility” and “the cancer of the empire.”

Some extremists even mounted organized attacks on Councillor Olivia.

But for some reason, though she appeared to be a frail woman, every attack on her ended in failure.

In the streets, the Conquest Party members continued to sing loudly, their high spirits undiminished even by the roar of the steam locomotive.

“We must fiercely slap those filthy Southerners.”

“We’ll peel the dirty skin off that cunning little guy and present it to His Majesty.”

“We’ll burn their houses, occupy their land, and let the imperial flag fly over the ruins…”

In that frenzied crowd, a Bugbear baron seemed to recall something and suddenly cursed loudly, spitting drunken saliva into the air.

“And those damn demons who dared to attack the Imperial Capital! Who gave them the guts!”

“Exactly, that tavern was destroyed by the demon! I used to frequent that place.”

“How dare they provoke the people of the great Red Dragon!”

The surrounding crowd echoed, recounting the demon’s deeds and angrily condemning the empire’s “weakness.”

Suddenly, a Bugbear shouted: “Prime Minister Ramp has already been tainted by human weakness, not only ignoring the South but also enduring this silently, which is an insult to His Majesty Cassius!

Lord Dolores is the leader everyone looks up to, being particularly strong externally, often proposing to tear up treaties and send troops south. He is the true follower of the great blueprint!

If you ask me, the empire should lead its army into The Abyss and completely annihilate the demons!”

He climbed onto a high platform beside the square, raising his arm and shouting, with the surrounding Conquest Party members echoing, stirring up waves of enthusiasm.

“Conquer The Abyss!”

“Skin and gut those damned demons!”

“Annihilate the demons, destroy The Abyss! Blood sacrifice His Majesty!”

Thousands of imperial citizens raised their arms, roaring, venting their hatred for the demons.

The scene was quite lively, making onlookers feel passionate, but for the City of Isdalia, with its population of fifty thousand and covering over a hundred square kilometers, this was just an insignificant corner.

“Dong——”
The noon bell rang, and the impassioned melody of “Cassius’s Hymn” echoed.

In the city, whether human, Great Goblin, Tiefling, Lizardfolk, or Ogre, they all seemed to have agreed to collectively look up at the Isdalia Grand Altar raised high in the sky.

These diverse imperial citizens, some clasping their hands, some prostrating on the ground, some holding gold coins, were all praying.

They might be praying for their husband who was dispatched to the Fire Elemental Plane to return safely, or for their factory at home to secure more orders, or for their caravan to reach its destination smoothly…

Perhaps some people were not so devout, but under the subtle influence of imperial propaganda, it had become a habit.

“Dong——”
“Dong——”
As the third bell rang, the entire city, even the entire empire, erupted into jubilation.

Just a few years ago, at this same time, His Majesty Cassius had personally crowned himself, establishing this vast multi-ethnic empire.

…

In the suburbs of Northwind Castle, within the Steel Dragonwing Palace.

Outside the magnificent palace, the towering mountain had become peculiar, large areas of black rock exposed, with magma flowing slowly through the valleys.

Now, it looked more like a volcano.

The air on the mountain became extraordinarily hot, with ashes and sparks scattered in the air, and occasional bursts of hot flamestorms carried by the north wind.

The once lush woodland was reduced to a layer of thick ash and charcoal, with charred stumps protruding, and deer, birds, wild boar, and other forest creatures had long fled.