Translator: AnubisTL
When Garos laid out his demands—specifically the formal cession of sovereignty over the Scaly Earth Rift Road and its surrounding territories—Earl Mills's initial, instinctive resistance quickly faded.
He couldn't ignore the facts.
The federal garrison was useless. A full-scale expedition had already failed, and assembling another force capable of threatening the Ironforged Tribe would be nearly impossible. Since the Scaly Earth Rift Road was already effectively lost and unlikely to be reclaimed, it could no longer bring any benefit to his family. It might as well be used as a bargaining chip.
To the calculating Earl Mills, an uncontrollable exclave was worth far less than the captured elite members of his private army.
Ordinary soldiers could be recruited and trained again.
But the high-ranking officers—the Rune Knights, Alchemists, and Abjurers—whom the family had invested countless time, resources, and effort to train... each one of them was a pillar of the family's military power.
If they were all lost in this damned Sierre Wilderness, the Albert Family's accumulated military foundation would suffer a severe blow.
Alliances between nobles had always been as fragile as cobwebs.
Once the Albert Family showed any sign of obvious decline, those noble lords—who had been watching them like hawks and harbored long-standing grudges—would swarm like sharks scenting blood, ruthlessly kicking them while they were down and seizing the opportunity to carve up and devour their interests.
Next.
The two parties began long and cool-headed negotiations over the specific compensation amount, handover details, and other matters.
The attitude of both negotiating parties was unusually calm, not at all like two mortal enemies with a blood feud, but rather like they were handling a purely commercial negotiation.
The hourglass of time flowed silently.
After repeated bargaining and probing of each other's bottom lines, the two parties finally reached an agreement on their demands.
Under the witness of the God of Justice, the Albert Family would sign a legally binding document, formally ceding the Scaly Earth Rift Road.
At the same time, they would pay a massive sum of gold coins—an amount large enough to make Earl Mills' heart bleed—as war reparations and ransom for the prisoners.
All of this was to buy back the captured family elites.
Throughout the negotiations, Earl Mills' demeanor was exceptionally cautious. He repeatedly and emphatically asked Garos to confirm the current condition of the key prisoners—especially the rune knights, alchemists, and abjurers—and whether their injuries were severe.
"I do not trust mere verbal promises," Earl Mills stated. "I will dispatch a trusted family envoy as soon as possible, carrying the formal contract to the Sierre Wilderness."
"To ensure the sanctity of the contract and the fairness of its execution," he continued, "a high priest from the Temple of the Scales will accompany the envoy. The final signing ceremony will be completed under the radiant witness of the God of Justice."
Just then, Garos's low voice suddenly rang out again, changing the subject. "Oh, Earl Mills, there is one... less important prisoner I think needs a special mention."
"A poor wretch calling himself the Flower Knight, Charles Haynes."
His voice was flat and devoid of emotion, as if he were describing an insignificant object.
"He is not a member of your Albert Family, yet he claimed to be fighting for your family's righteous cause when he mustered the courage to issue that ridiculous challenge to me."
"Unfortunately, he failed. And he failed miserably."
"Considering I have personally twisted his limbs, shattered most of his bones, and left him to spend the rest of his life gasping for breath on a sickbed—a complete and utter cripple who can only survive with others' help..."
"A mere one hundred gold coins."
Garos casually named a price. "I can be merciful and spare his life, handing him over to your Albert Family like a piece of damaged luggage."
A useless waste with a hollow name! A loser!
The thought of the trade route and the astronomical sum of gold coins his family was about to lose filled Earl Mills with a surge of frustration. His brow furrowed, his expression darkening.
"This man has nothing to do with our family. Do with him as you wish. The Albert Family has no interest in whether he lives or dies."
Hearing this, the dragon on the other end of the communication suddenly seemed to become incredibly petty. Like a merchant haggling over every penny, he countered, "Ten gold coins. Just ten gold coins, and I will spare his life. Otherwise, to save on food, I can only throw him to the hyena-men."
"Believe me, it will be an agonizingly slow death."
Earl Mills felt a wave of disgust as the evil dragon continued to haggle over the price of a useless wretch. His patience for pretense had completely vanished. Dropping all pretense, he declared with cold bluntness, "The Albert Family will not pay a single copper coin for a useless person who has lost all value. His life or death is entirely up to you."
With that, the negotiation that had decided so many fates finally came to an end.
Meanwhile, in the distant Sierre Wilderness.
At the red-iron dragon's feet, Flower Knight Charles Haynes propped himself up against the cold ground, having heard every word of the conversation that had sealed his fate.
So... my life and worth are not even worth a single gold coin to them?
His eyes flashed with shock, disbelief, and bitterness, before finally settling into a profound sorrow and clarity.
After his gaze shifted violently for a long moment, it slowly regained its calm, and he let out a long sigh, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
With this, the so-called kindness he once owed the Albert Family had been fully repaid—first through this near-death mission, and now by their ruthless abandonment.
From this moment on, they owed each other nothing.
The Ironforged Tribe also possessed contract-type items, acquired through the Gemstone Merchant Guild, to be kept in reserve for times of need.
According to the contract he had signed earlier, his life and future now belonged to the terrifyingly complex red-iron dragon before him.
"Charles Haynes."
The red-iron dragon's deep voice broke the silence.
"Let's not talk about so-called champions of justice like you, who are so easily deceived and manipulated by lies."
"That 'benevolent' Earl Mills you spoke of secretly harbors a vast number of orphans and beggars, brainwashing them into fanatical soldiers who know only family honor and will die without hesitation for him. He then sends them to the cold battlefields, squeezing every last drop of value from them."
The dragon's eyes fixed on the knight. "Now, do you still insist he is a kind lord? A truly good man?"
The Flower Knight slowly and heavily shook his head, the last shred of illusion in his eyes completely shattered.
"As our contract stipulates, your life and freedom belong to me, but I will not force you to commit evil deeds," the red-iron dragon said, its voice calm and devoid of emotion. "So, prepare to practice the principles of punishing evil and promoting good that you believe in."
"Your target is Mills Albert."
"Go kill him."
(End of the Chapter)
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