Ashen Dragon

George knew the impact of his actions, but for friends who were familiar with him, such help was just a matter of convenience.

Indeed, George was not fond of socializing, and after his rise in status, there were very few people he could still call "friends."

Grace put his military cap back on and said, "This is not for show; it is an essential part of military hierarchy.

After all... you are now the esteemed Lord Earl, even qualified to ride the Imperial Express, while I'm still just an insignificant Dragonblood Baron."

George looked at the large military base in the distance and casually remarked, "Isn't this what you wanted?

A safe, stable job, living in the bustling City of Isdalia, no longer fearing for your life on the battlefield..."

Grace nodded, "You do have a point."

George then asked, "You're more informed than I am. Is the Imperial Military Department planning any major moves recently?"

Grace seemed surprised, "As an Earl, are you not aware of this? Military forces from all over the Empire, even from the colonies, are mobilizing.

According to speculation, the Empire is likely to take advantage of our victory in the Abyss War to initiate a full-scale war against the Kingdom of Thrace."

George nodded slightly, agreeing, "That's what I thought... It aligns with my speculation."

"Swish—"

A tearing sound followed by the explosive noise of flames erupted, causing all the officers present—including George—to turn their heads towards the source of the noise.

The space rippled, and a vortex of flames appeared not far in mid-air, distorting the surrounding air with its intense heat.

Immediately after, a Fire Drake flapped its fiery wings and roared as it flew out, with an armored, imposing Half-Dragon Knight riding on its back.

Suddenly, the Dragonblood Nobility around started discussing eagerly, all looking towards the figure in the sky.

"Who is that?"

"Is that... an officer from the Fire Elemental Plane expeditionary army?"

"Wait, I recognize that lord. He's the newly appointed Dragonblood Marquis and Governor of the Fire Elemental Plane colony—Lord Selcan."

"What? The Governor of the Fire Elemental Plane has personally come to attend the meeting!"

The surrounding officers were shocked, quickly saluting the Marquis in mid-air, and even George took off his cap, placing his fist over his heart to give a standard "Loyalty Salute."

But that was not all; the space further away fluctuated again, and a dark portal slowly opened.

Accompanied by the crisp sound of bones, a Skeleton Dragon-Serpent slithered out, with a man in a black robe and pale skin riding on its back.

"It's Lord Hart from the Gloomy Region! He actually came too..."

Around the military base, more portals spontaneously opened, with expeditionary army officers from various Imperial colonies appearing one after another.

"Fire Elemental Plane, Gloomy Region, Wind Elemental Plane, Fairy Wilderness..."

George, looking at the increasingly crowded base, said to Grace, "Seeing this, the Empire really is making a big move."

Grace nodded seriously, "Indeed."

But he smiled and continued, "However, this doesn't have much to do with someone like me who stays behind in the Empire without ambition.

Lord George, I wish you undefeated in the South; I will pray for you to His Majesty Cassius in the Empire."

...

Soon, everyone arrived inside the military base, where a spacious hall had been entirely transformed into a podium, capable of accommodating thousands of people.

Troops from all over the Empire, even from various parts of the Multiverse, were assembled together.

Humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Ogres, and even Starfallen who were long expelled from Humanity... Various Races appeared here, and many officers who could make it to the venue were Dragonblood Nobility.

As a Dragonblood Earl, George rightfully received a front-row seat, looking at the spacious podium with great anticipation.

Inside the venue, the officers were abuzz with discussions.

"The Abyss War hasn't been over for long... Are we really going to go to war with the Kingdom of Thrace?"

"Hmph, cowards, we Conquest Party members have been wanting to declare war on them! Those Fadlan people do not deserve such fertile land!"

"As imperial soldiers, are you still afraid of war? We are the Retainers of His Majesty Cassius—"

Suddenly, a majestic and powerful voice echoed in the hall.

"Gentlemen—"

People turned their heads towards the podium, only to see a towering figure appearing there, his face fierce, his skin scarlet, broad dragon wings on his back, surrounded by swirling smoke.

"The aura is indeed too powerful, do you feel it? It's the oppressive force of the bloodline!"

"This is..."

"The Great Red Dragon, see his posture? Truly worthy of being the Duke of Dragon Blood of the Empire!"

"In the name of Cassius, it's Marshal Dolores! He is personally giving us a lecture."

This was indeed one of the Empire's three Special Dukes, the Grand Marshal of the Military Department—revered as the "Dragon Fury War Maniac," Great Goblin Dolores!

Dolores opened his mouth full of fierce teeth, retracted his wings behind him, and a puff of gunpowder smoke blew out of his nostrils.

"Silence."

Instantly, the military officers in attendance went silent, the hall, capable of holding ten thousand, became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Imperial military training was much stricter than the previous "Nobles' Military" of the North, focusing not on individual valor but on obedience.

Randomly selected soldiers could recite the "Imperial Military Drill Regulations" verbatim, and upon hearing a command from a superior, they would react reflexively.

At this moment, the Imperial officers in the hall all stood tall and straight, like flagpoles standing erect.

Only then did Dolores give a satisfied nod, and continued, "I believe you should also know the reason why I have gathered you here."

The Dragon Vein Goblin suddenly clenched his fist, and a giant magic image of the map of Fianso Continent appeared behind him—

Dolores pointed his claw at the area marked "Thrace Kingdom" on the upper part of the map, saying in a deep voice:

"Conquest."

Dolores then turned around, pacing back and forth on the spacious podium, his low voice echoing in the hall, creating ripples of echoes.

The scenery behind him also changed, showing the southern land riddled with craters, pockmarked by artillery, where displaced people were emitting sorrowful cries.

"Gentlemen, look at those Fadlan People, how excessively greedy they are, possessing such rich and fertile lands, yet squandering it so.

Anzeta has been silent for too long, this remote region had been considered a wilderness by the southern people, until just over a decade ago...

The great, supreme His Majesty Cassius rose like the Sun, completely changing everything!

Dolores's voice grew even more vehement and forceful, rebounding off the four walls of the hall.

Now, the era when other countries divided the continent and the oceans, and Anzeta people were content with the wilderness has passed—we too, demand our share of the lands under the sun."

"Conquest!"

He raised his Bloodfire Battle Axe, spread his broad wings, and shouted aloud.

"Conquest! Conquest!"

"For His Majesty Cassius, for the Ashen Empire!"

The hall instantly erupted, the war-obsessed officers all followed Dolores's shout, raising their arms and echoing loudly.

The Conquest Party members, already impatient for the war to begin, even started singing and emitting deafening roars.

In the frenzied crowd, George too raised his arms, shouting till hoarse, his heart filled with dragon blood pounding.

Yes, conquest.

What a wonderful term, it was through the conquest of the North that he had become a member of the Dragonblood Nobility.

He would lead his army, in the name of the Empire, in the name of Cassius, to conquer the South, until reaching the pinnacle of power in the Empire.

This former serf from the North, now a Dragonblood Earl, thought so.