Chapter 609: People's Choice
At the top of the Great Altar of Istalia, Cassius sat on the newly built marble throne to accommodate his growth in size, puffing out a puff of hot white smoke."Having said that, you should know what to do."
Under the throne, hundreds of clan leaders including ogres, hobgoblins, tieflings, lizardmen, and wyverns from all over the empire gathered together.
Many followers with special status, such as the White Dragon and Chimera, also crowded around the altar, occupying a place. There were even more than a dozen representatives of the players.
At this time, the empire's population was close to 10 million, the internal racial structure was becoming increasingly complex, and the management system was somewhat bloated.
Most of the people present were members of the Imperial Senate, and almost every one of them had a title of Earl or above. They were the big shots who truly controlled the direction of society. Of course, there was only one person who could decide the fate of the empire - the Burning Emperor.
"Rua! Kill them all and take all their money! Let these damned humans see how powerful you are! Oh, and don't forget to take all the frozen meat from their homes!"
Cassius didn't even need to look up to know who made such a statement.
Sure enough, the white dragon Tiniya was shaking its tail, holding its head high, and roaring with extreme excitement, as if it wanted to fly to the south to rob right now.
The red dragon simply ignored her suggestion, looked around, and swept his followers with a calm gaze.
After thinking for a moment, Dolo, who was also the Imperial Army Marshal and Minister of Military Affairs, took a few steps forward and half-knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I think Miss Tinija's words are a bit exaggerated, but not entirely unreasonable. You once said: 'Truth is only within the range of cannons.'
This operation will be the Empire's first appearance on the continent of Feanso, and we must leave a 'deep' impression on them.
We should crush their armies, hang all the rebels on the gallows, turn their cities into smoke-filled ruins, and make these provocative guys feel fear from the bottom of their hearts! "
Dolo's report was sonorous and powerful, allowing everyone present to feel his confidence and determination, as well as the ruthlessness that came from his heart.
Cassius just glanced at him indifferently, neither agreeing nor objecting.
Dragon-blood monster, this is the underlying color behind the Burning Empire’s bright and beautiful appearance.
The beast in their hearts has been suppressed in the iron cage of the empire for too long. Only in war can it be completely released, wantonly unleashing the brutal and destructive desires in their hearts.
But Trump followed closely and stood up, speaking freely under Dolo's unfriendly gaze: "Master, I think Duke Dolo is still too extreme. His emotions have outweighed his rationality and may even harm the interests of the empire. He is no longer suitable to preside over this operation."
"Trump, you—"
"Duke Doro, please follow the rules and speak in an orderly manner."
Without waiting for the other party to explain, Trump used a higher level of authority to freeze the air around Dolo, making him unable to make any sound.
"Destroying everything in North Ethel may sound satisfying, but this will only make the major forces in Feanso hostile to us, and may even prompt them to unite to fight against the empire, a 'huge and evil existence'.
What we need to do is to demonstrate the strength of the empire and gain a firm foothold in the continent of Feanso.
Therefore, we should make full use of the advantages of the Empire's mechanized and magical forces, and before anyone can react, launch a lightning strike on the enemy and completely destroy the forces entrenched in North Ethel.
Afterwards, we will occupy all the cities there, forcing other powers to acknowledge the existence of the Empire with reluctance."
"But that damned human insulted His Majesty! He also insulted the Empire!"
"We can't just let them go so easily!"
"Yes, let them pay the price! Let them see with their own eyes the iron torrent of the empire!"
The hobgoblin and bugbear officers waved their weapons and kept shouting - this is the current trend in the Burning Empire.
In the eyes of these extreme warmongers, as long as the other side shows even the slightest resistance and does not surrender to them, it would be a great insult to the empire and to His Majesty Cassius, and they would have to pay a "painful price".
There are almost no doves in the current imperial leadership, only hawks and relatively less extreme hawks. Peace activists like Olivia have long been squeezed out of the core of power.
"But this is not in the interest of the empire! It only satisfies the desire for destruction of you idiots!"
"What we demand is the interests of the empire! His Majesty Cassius's authority is sacred and inviolable! Anyone who wants to challenge it - should be crushed to pieces!"
"I think you are blinded by greed! You say you are doing this to protect His Majesty's dignity, but in fact you are doing this to consume more shells so you can earn more gold coins, right?
His Majesty Cassius said that meaningless killing will only bring trouble. His Majesty wants an orderly country, not a lair of beasts!"
Just like that, the two parties on the Great Altar of Istalia once again started a heated debate over the tactics of moving south, with spit and spit flying everywhere.
Both sides used what Cassius said as their own arguments, accusing each other of not being loyal enough and not caring enough about the empire, which was quite like "quoting from classics".
But Cassius had no patience to listen any further. He just looked up, and the people who were arguing fiercely suddenly quieted down. The meeting hall, which was so lively just now, suddenly became silent.
The dependents present all raised their heads, and hundreds of eyes were focused on the huge body of the red dragon.
Cassius looked down at everyone and said calmly, "Three days. Within three days, I want to see the empire enter a complete wartime state."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
No matter whether they were ogres, hobgoblins, humans, tieflings, or even larger monsters and dragon beasts, they all half-knelt on the ground, bowed their heads respectfully, and responded in unison.
In the Burning Empire, the emperor's every word and action is worthy of everyone's following, studying and pondering. There are even publishing houses that print "The Emperor's Instructions". These books are extremely popular in the empire and sell very well.
Three days, this is the deadline given by Cassius.
For any normal big country, completing war preparations in three days is almost an impossible task, but the Burning Empire is different.
Entering a state of war is as easy as pressing a button and starting a machine for the Burning Empire, because in a sense, the empire has never entered a state of true peace.
——The military factories have been continuously producing weapons and ammunition, and the imperial army has been continuously training, which can be transported to the south at any time via the extensive railways.
It is a huge machine carefully built by Cassius and other high-ranking officials of the empire for war, and every citizen of the empire has involuntarily become a part of it.
And now, with the emperor's decree, this terrible machine is about to be fully started, spewing out thick smoke and appearing on the vast continent of Feanso.
At this time, the city of Istalia was in a state of complete excitement. Even if one was hundreds of meters in the air, one could still hear the enthusiastic shouts of the people in the city and the passionate and rhythmic melody of the "Hymn to Cassius".
On the stairs of the great altar, Olivia, wearing a smart black dress and holding a thick stack of documents, was hurriedly walking towards the top of the empire.
However, the fully armed Tiefling guards soon stretched out their spears, crossed them together, and blocked her way.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Olivia, His Majesty is talking to Lord Trump alone. We cannot let you in without His Majesty's oral order." "But... I have something important to say to His Majesty!" Olivia looked solemn and spoke quickly, even her silver hair looked a little messy.
She ignored the guards' attempts to stop her and just kept shouting, "Your Majesty Cassius—"
"Let her in."
A familiar voice came from the top of the altar, and the tiefling guards immediately did as they were told, retracting their spears and allowing the silver-haired girl to pass smoothly.
Olivia strode forward, and what came into her sight was a red dragon that was much larger and more unfamiliar than she remembered. It was lying on the top of the altar, like a sculpture in a temple, for everyone to worship.
For some reason, the silver dragon felt that Cassius had become more distant, as if he was no longer the dragon he could talk to, but a lofty existence that only appeared in myths and legends.
Although they exist in the world at the same time, they seem to have entered different dimensions, parallel to each other, close at hand, but difficult to touch.
All the words I had thought of on the way were stuck in my mouth and I couldn't say a word.
Olivia bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before she mustered up the courage to speak: "Your Majesty Cassius, you deceived me again."
"You once promised that the Burning Empire would only sell weapons and bring a better life to its people. You would not invade other people's territories, nor would you initiate any war.
At that time, I believed what you said and took the initiative to join the Imperial Parliament and work for the people everywhere, hoping that the Burning Empire would become a better and more orderly country.
Olivia raised her head stubbornly, tears welling up in her eyes, and her voice became choked and sobbing.
"You lied to me again. You said the Empire would not start a war, but what about now? I saw your declaration of war with my own eyes - more accurately, your declaration of invasion!"
Cassius grinned and said calmly: "Olivia, the Burning Empire has always been a peace-seeking country."
Olivia was a little annoyed and couldn't help but ask, "Peace? Your soldiers are gathering on those railways, and countless terrible weapons are being transported to the south. You will cause even greater disasters in North Ethel!"
"Disaster? I don't think I'm bringing disaster. I'm clearly bringing peace to Fianso."
Cassius slowly stood up, stretched his body, and shook his head slightly. His expression and tone were quite relaxed, and there was no trace of the seriousness of the impending war.
"Olivia, do you know that the Three Emperors' War has been going on for three years and has not stopped yet?
According to data from the Imperial Statistics Department, at least million people died in this war, and countless people were affected and displaced, and this was just for the selfish desires of the three kings.
I am tired of the endless wars in this land, and I want to bring peace and order to the tens of millions of people living in Fadran, and bring them true peace. "
Olivia sarcastically asked, "You mean peace achieved through aggression?"
Unexpectedly, Cassius nodded and said meaningfully: "War is the only way to achieve peace. It is not an end, but a means.
After destroying the three kingdoms in succession, the Empire will bring true order to the continent of Feanso, and at least a hundred years of peace - just like what Holy Fadlan did in the past."
"You, you still want to destroy the three kingdoms?"
Red Dragon said righteously: "Of course, they are the source of all wars.
It was these guys who claimed to be descendants of gods who were above everyone else and used every possible means to fight for the old emperor's legacy, which led to many tragedies on the continent of Feianso."
Cassius' words were powerful and firm, as if he was the one on the side of justice rather than a shameless invader.
Olivia was shaking with anger: "This, this is sophistry, I'm tired of these sweet words.
Your Majesty, Cassius, stop using these words to decorate yourself. You are clearly doing this for your own selfish desires! To expand your territory! This is a naked act of aggression!
You are sacrificing your own people and using their lives for profit!" At this moment, Silver Dragon's emotions finally burst out.
As a creature of good nature, it would be difficult for her to sit idly by and watch a war of aggression take place, especially when she is one of the invaders - something no metallic dragon could tolerate.
"Personal desires?"
The red dragon grinned, only to shake his head with extra confidence, and exhaled a puff of sulfur-smelling smoke.
"No, you're wrong, Olivia."
He suddenly stretched out his giant claws and grasped the silver dragon that had transformed into a human form in his claws. Then he spread his extremely broad wings and flapped them, creating a strong gust of wind, and soared into the air from the top of the Great Altar of Istalia.
"Cassius, what do you want to do?"
Olivia couldn't help but scream. In panic, she even forgot to use honorifics. However, as a young silver dragon, she was completely unable to resist the current red dragon.
"I just want you to be clear," Cassius said.
“Clear what?”
Olivia looked down at the ground from high in the sky and saw that Istalia was extremely lively at this moment. The tall chimneys were spewing out thick smoke and the steel monsters were running.
The streets, squares, and even the outskirts of the city were filled with bustling crowds of people, including civilians in cloth, guards in armor, and nobles in robes.
"Conquer those damned Southerners! Destroy their army!"
"Long live His Majesty Cassius! Conquer! Conquer! Conquer!"
"For the great blueprint of the Burning Empire!"
Regardless of their identities, these imperial people all looked fanatical and excited, waving the imperial flags in their hands and shouting passionate and rude slogans.
Even the teenage children took to the streets, selling newspapers and singing popular songs in support of the war.
"This is."
Looking at those faces that were different but had similar expressions, Olivia felt a little dazed and ironic, and even began to doubt her own behavior.
Is she really "petitioning for the people" or is she just satisfying her own moral desires?
Could it be that she is the one who blocked the tide of history for her own selfish desires?
Cassius flapped his wings, smiled and said to the silver-haired girl in his claws: "What I want to correct is that this war was not caused by my own selfish desires, but by
The choice of the people of the empire."
(End of this chapter)
