Another Audience

Continuing toward the city center, they arrived before the Grand Altar of Isdalia. The earth surged high into sheer precipices, lifting the entire altar high into the sky like the fabled hanging gardens. Navin had spotted the structure from afar, and it was the primary reason he had thought he was hallucinating—such a wondrous spectacle looked nothing like something that belonged in reality. Yet standing before the altar in person, he finally realized that this was the work of magic. An astonishingly powerful spellcaster must have made the earth heave and raised the ground aloft. "Miraculous architecture, extraordinary weaponry, a legendary-tier spellcaster... This is never something an upstart realm could possess. "Could they possess the complete heritage of some ancient empire? "Or rather... do they also have a mighty deity behind them, comparable to Lord Amaunator? "The Cinder Empire... just how many secrets does it hold? Their ambitions surely extend far beyond Anzeta." Navin looked up at the towering precipice like a pillar supporting the heavens, deeply troubled for the future of Cassander. Suddenly, the tiefling's voice sounded, breaking his train of thought. "Lord Navin, here we are. "Please proceed up alone for your audience." The tiefling guard captain extended a hand in an inviting gesture. "Thank you." With immense apprehension, Navin began his ascent along the winding staircase carved into the smooth cliff face. The altar stood exceptionally high; it took him nearly twenty minutes of climbing to reach the top. Fortunately, Navin was himself a cleric nearing the extraordinary tier. Bathed in sunlight, his constitution was far superior to that of ordinary men, sparing him from being left gasping for breath. "We meet again, Navin." A familiar voice drifted down from the crest of the altar. Navin hurriedly, nervously looked up, but instead of the enormous red dragon he had expected, he saw a young nobleman with black hair and golden eyes. The man wore a magnificent crimson robe embroidered with gold thread and a gem-encrusted circlet upon his head. His features were strikingly handsome, and his pale golden eyes were unfathomably deep, inspiring an instinctive urge to bow and worship. He reclined casually upon his throne, relaxed in posture, yet every gesture bore a terrifying majesty—an aura akin to divine authority that could not be concealed. It was Cassius in human form. *He... he looks even more noble than Lord Otis.* *Even more... like a god.* A presumption so audacious it bordered on treason suddenly crossed Navin's mind. Were he to voice such a thought before King Otis, it would surely cost him his life. Navin Bessarius shuddered. Only then did he snap out of his shock and astonishment, realizing the true identity of the "young nobleman" before him. At the realization, Navin hastily bent low in a deep bow. "Greetings, Your Majesty Cassius. Forgive me, I was discourteous just now. "Please permit me to explain: your empire fills me with awe, and Your Majesty's magnificent presence left me entranced. That alone led me to commit such a crude lapse." Cassius casually conjured little tufts of flame in his palm, glanced over at him, and murmured impassively, "No need for further words. I care nothing for such trivialities." He chuckled, his tone faintly amused. "Though I should congratulate your King Otis on defending the Holy City once more, holding firm the imperial symbol of Holy Fadlan in his grasp." "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Navin said, "Your Majesty, I come bearing King Otis's..." "I know why you have come." Cassius cut him off. Flames coalesced into glowing red beads in his palm, only to vanish into thin air a moment later. "As I have said, I am a peace-loving ruler, and the empire is currently in a phase of development. For at least this coming year, the Cinder Empire will remain strictly neutral and take no part in the wars among the kingdoms of Fadlan." Hearing this, Navin actually breathed a sigh of relief. The Cinder Emperor had spoken the words himself. There could be no deception in this. It meant the Cinder Empire had not become a military ally of the Kingdom of Thrace! The worst-case scenario he had feared had not come to pass! With that in mind, Navin resolved to try once more. "Your Majesty Cassius, King Otis stated that if you are willing to forge an alliance with us, he is prepared to offer..." "Out of the question." Cassius cut him off again. Gazing down at Navin below the dais, he asked in a peculiar tone, "Do you think... I am the sort of dragon so easily bought with gold?" Sweat instantly drenched Navin's back. He ducked his head lower in haste and replied, "O-Of course not, Your Majesty. "Throughout my journey through the Anzeta Corridor, I saw and heard much. Your subjects everywhere praise Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight." This was not mere flattery; it was what he had witnessed with his own eyes and ears. Disguised as an itinerant merchant passing through the cities, Navin had been genuinely astonished by what he saw. Following the Cinder Emperor's legendary, myth-steeped "nationwide tour," the Propaganda Department had vigorously extolled and shamelessly whitewashed him, even publishing popular tales like *The Grace of His Majesty Cassius*. Spread by word of mouth, the emperor's stature within the nation had grown increasingly towering. Peasants, merchants, and townsfolk alike felt his benevolence; his very image was bordering on becoming the embodiment of the empire itself. *The emperor's stance is crystal clear.* *It seems... I will fail King Otis's expectations. I truly have no way to win the empire over as an ally.* Seeing how resolute Cassius was, Navin sighed deeply within and buried the notion away. Yet on this journey, he still had another vital task. Taking a deep breath, Navin cast a tentative glance at the man upon the throne. Noticing the emperor's expression remained tranquil, he lowered his head once more before speaking again. "Your Majesty, there is one more matter, though I know not whether it is my place to speak." "Speak." "During our clashes with the Thracian forces... we discovered weapons bearing designs resembling those of the Cinder Empire." "So—you suspect the Cinder Empire of aiding Thrace?" A hint of displeasure seemed to tinge the voice. The sharp query made Navin's scalp prickle. He waved his hands in a frantic, panicked explanation. "N-No, not at all! It is only that King Otis was curious and wished to ask Your Majesty about the..." "Heh. You guessed correctly. Those weapons did indeed come from the Cinder Empire." The candid response caught Navin entirely off guard, leaving him frozen where he stood. Yet Cassius continued, "However, that was by no means aid. It was merely ordinary trade. "They pay gold; the empire supplies weapons. It is as simple as that." "This..." For a moment, Navin had no idea what to say. Such extraordinary weaponry was actually for sale? And sold to their potential enemies, no less? "Your Kingdom of Cassander has no right to question the trade between my empire and the Kingdom of Thrace, does it?" "Of course not," Navin replied earnestly. "Our Cinder Empire has always championed free trade. "So long as you pay enough gold, you too may obtain such weapons—perhaps even... more advanced than the batch Thrace received." The corner of Cassius's mouth curled into an imperceptible smirk, but Navin, bowing respectfully and breathing heavily with excitement, failed to notice. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Navin answered with overwhelming fervor. A thought sprang into his mind—perhaps this mission would allow him to turn the tide of the war!