Ashareena moved to a secluded spot in the room, slowly opening her hands to release her innate abilities.

Illusory flames appeared from the void, gradually engulfing and surrounding the figure of the Dragonbranded Witch. The light and shadows in the flames flickered and swayed, unstable magic symbols began to twinkle in order. Within a few breaths, Ashareena seemed to have merged with the flames entirely, her red hair slowly rising, silently floating in the air like fire, while a multitude of illusory, low voices emerged at the boundary between the flames and the real world, echoing more and more clearly in Ashareena’s mind.

That was a "language" beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, only understood by Dragonbranded Wizards or Dragonbranded Witches as a "Psyche Echo."

Sir Golosh and several advisors quietly waited on the sidelines, watching Ashareena communicate with another Dragonbranded Witch far away at Dragonwatch Keep - once the flames stabilize, they would know that Duke Balogar was beside the opposing Dragonbranded Witch, and he should now be aware of those "new things" presented by the Cecil Clan.

This process lasted for about half an hour, after which the illusory swirling flames gradually calmed down.

Ashareena gently exhaled, a fine sheen of sweat slid down her forehead, evidently maintaining such ultra-long-distance "Psyche Echo" was not an easy task, even for a Dragonbranded Witch it took a significant toll.

Sir Golosh waited courteously for a minute and then stepped forward once he saw Ashareena had regained her composure: "Did Duke Balogar respond?"

"Reporting promptly was the right decision, the Duke first affirmed this," Ashareena glanced at Sir Golosh and the advisors, nodding slightly, "The Duke’s exact words were:

"The Cecil Clan has their eyes on our mineral resources, while we are interested in their Magic Guide Technology and industrial products.

"The issue is that Magic Guide Technology and industrial products can be continuously produced from academic facilities and factories, whereas steel and magic crystals won’t endlessly sprout from the ground. Exchanging resources for industrial products entails enormous risks and long-term loss.

"If the Cecil Clan sets up their factories in the Sacred Dragon Kingdom, they might even use our ore to manufacture machines, then sell them to us at a higher price, which wouldn’t be worthwhile.

"As for their numerous investment plans - in some ways they are beneficial to the Sacred Dragon Kingdom, but if uncontrolled, the kingdom may turn into the Cecil Clan’s backyard market and ’farmland.’

"Overall, the Cecil Clan’s sincerity and cunning are both present. They may genuinely want to create a more prosperous and affluent future, but in this future, they will be wealthier than others - a very normal thought, and in some sense, it actually proves their diplomatic intentions are genuine and credible.

"Reject all investment proposals completely owned or highly controlled by the Cecil Clan, refuse all projects involving fundamental industry, education, and resource development, be cautious with their railway investment - we need railways, but they must be the Dragonborn’s own.

"The Dragonborn will agree to open regular commercial channels with the Cecil Clan, agree to station ambassadors for civilian exchanges, we can exchange magic crystal raw materials and magical knowledge for their Magic Guide Technology and industrial products, we are willing to hire their technical personnel at a price that satisfies them, everything can be openly priced and must be openly priced.

"On such an equal and sincere basis, the Dragonborn are willing to make the Cecil Clan a friend - including joining their ’Cecil Settlement.’

"The Cecil Clan will agree, Sir Golosh. The Sacred Dragon Kingdom is on the common border of Cecil and Typhon, and they value that ’Settlement’ more than you imagine; as long as the Sacred Dragon Kingdom is willing to join their Settlement, many things can be negotiated.

"Finally, every piece of wealth granted to the Dragonborn by the mountains has its value, use them well."

Ashareena recounted this lengthy message, finally finishing, and took a light breath: "That’s it, Sir Golosh."

Golosh listened solemnly to every word of Ashareena’s recount, and only after she finished did he exhale deeply: "Indeed, His Majesty Balogar is more far-sighted and astute than we are..."

"Humans are craftier than we imagined," an advisor muttered intolerantly, "I’m beginning to doubt their ’sincerity’..."

"Yet that’s precisely the rule of the human world," Ashareena glanced at the advisor who spoke, "They will inevitably seek greater benefits, and we will inevitably negotiate for our own interests. Gawain Cecil might be a heroic figure, but the Emperor of Cecil is certainly an old fox, which is not contradictory."

"Interaction between nations is inherently a business deal, bargaining is a normal part of it. As long as the final price reaches a level both parties deem appropriate, then both parties can be considered close and sincere partners," Sir Golosh shook his head, a hint of smile on his face, "Luckily, I’ve dealt with humans from the Wilder Clan quite a bit, I can still manage."

"Let’s all go back and rest for now," Ashareena said, "Tomorrow afternoon we’ll begin a true ’engagement.’"

The remaining advisors took their leave one after another, finally, Ashareena also nodded to Sir Golosh: "Then I’ll return to my room first, if there’s anything to ask..."

Just as the Dragonbranded Witch was speaking, Sir Golosh suddenly furrowed his brow, then quickly strode towards the nearby floor-to-ceiling window.

The knight leaned out, outside was a sky with only half a sunset remaining, the contours of the Dark Mountain Range meandered beneath the twilight glow, the vast world showing no abnormalities.

"Sir Golosh?" Ashareena frowned, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I feel Maji’s presence..." Sir Golosh’s gaze remained fixed outside the window, scanning continuously between the clouds at high altitude, "There’s no mistake, it’s indeed her presence, and... it seems she deliberately leaked it..."

Ashareena naturally knew about Maji’s situation, understanding she was a girl a bit "rebellious" like herself back in the day, and this Sir Golosh before her in some aspects resembled her father back then—an eloping daughter and a father worried to the bone, this curious coincidence seemed to transform into a traditional skill in Dragonborn society under this context, making Ashareena’s expression a bit nuanced.

She also leaned out to look outside, her gaze swept across the sky and earth, muttering lightly as she looked: "Maybe she really is nearby, after all, we’ve received news..."

The Dragonbranded Witch was about to finish speaking when a shadow suddenly emerged from the clouds on the side of the Autumn Palace.

As the distance and angle changed, the shadow quickly became clearer, drawing a graceful arc in the air while approaching the ground. Asharena’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she even forgot what she was going to say, taking just a few breaths to observe the details of the shadow—

It was a dragon armed with steel, a terrifying creature tearing through the twilight sky with an imposing presence.

She flew past the Cloud Bottom towards the earth, her wings edged with steel resembling blades and bones, rune-adorned armor shimmering with streams of Magic Power, intertwining with the last remnants of twilight among the clouds. She was clearly headed towards the Autumn Palace—in that head covered with strange masks and crests, a pair of confident eyes unabashedly scanned the direction of the Autumn Palace.

Those eyes finally fell upon Sir Golosh.

She let out a roar in midair, then suddenly adjusted her angle, skimming the balcony of the Autumn Palace at an extremely close distance, seemingly heading towards the open ground behind the palace.

Asharena blinked for the first time then, realizing she had her mouth open the whole time, only remembering to speak at this point: "Is that... Maji?"

Sir Golosh, like Asharena, was stunned, even slower in his reaction than her. Upon hearing Asharena’s words, it was as if he woke from a dream, opening his mouth but still showing disbelief: "That... that should be her, but..."

"She’s flying—it’s not gliding, it’s actual flight, and that’s clearly some kind of ancient magical device," Asharena quickly regained her ability to analyze and think, speaking rapidly, "It seems that’s what she achieved in the human world—Sir Golosh, is she showing this to you?"

"I don’t know..." Sir Golosh replied instinctively, then suddenly turned and strode towards the door, "But I know she’s finally willing to meet with me!"

On the way here, the gentlemanly sir spoke to Asharena nonstop about educational philosophies, mulling over how—if he encountered his daughter in the Cecil Empire—he should maintain composure, dignity, and authority; yet at this moment, it seemed all his boasting and contemplation had vanished.

As Asharena watched the sir’s determined stride away, she suddenly recalled receiving news of her father’s illness twenty years ago, having no choice but to return from the human world to the Sacred Dragon Kingdom. She remembered pushing open the long-lost family door, and seeing her supposedly critically ill father rushing towards her with a radiant face in the courtyard.

—She still can’t beat him to this day, and her father appears healthy enough to live at least another five hundred years.

"Are all fathers such fools..."

The Dragonbranded Witch couldn’t help but mutter softly, then swiftly followed Sir Golosh, who had already dashed out through the door.

No one stopped them.

Before long, Sir Golosh found his daughter on an open field near the Autumn Palace, uncertain of its use.

Maji had already landed on the open field—special preparations were made for her dragon form here, and it was also used to park several Dragon Cavalry Aircraft belonging to the Administrative Office. Considered Maggie’s Landing Pad, it was where she stopped for rest every day after flying and relaxing with her mastered Wings of Steel.

She still maintained her dragon form to boost her confidence. Watching her father run along the path illuminated by street lamps, with a red-haired lady trailing behind him.

She recognized the lady—Asharena, an "idol" to many young Dragonborn, a true adventurer in the human world, whose experiences were one of the reasons Maji decided to leave the Sacred Dragon Kingdom.

But today was not for discussing those matters, and Maji thought it might put Lady Asharena in an awkward situation if she brought it up in front of her father.

"Maji," Sir Golosh approached the dragon-formed Maji, and despite the light from the magic crystals illuminating the surroundings, he couldn’t help but step forward a few more feet, as if eager to see more clearly, "Is it really you..."

"Father..." A deep growl, tinged with a peculiar sentiment, emerged from the dragon’s throat as she bowed her head, "It’s been a long time."

A massive, sharp, chillingly fierce iron chin descended upon Sir Golosh like a giant axe—there was a split-second where the gentlemanly sir even wondered whether his long-lost daughter intended to finish him off.

Fortunately, he reacted in time, grasping the cold, hard steel at the last second amid a resounding thud, as he cracked the ground beneath his feet. Maji’s somewhat anxious voice quickly followed from above: "Ah! Sorry!!"

"I guess you didn’t mean it..." came Sir Golosh’s slightly trembling voice from below. He released his grip, calmly pulling his foot from the ground, endeavoring to appear as the authoritative father, intending to question Maji about her attire and the odd iron chin—but he really tried, yet the laughter of Asharena beside him when he extracted his other foot from the hole broke through.

"Apologies..." Asharena said helplessly while trying to restrain herself, "But I really couldn’t help it..."

The laughter of the Dragonbranded Witch completely shattered all the authority and presence of the gentlemanly sir.

Yet, from another perspective, it saved this father and daughter pair unsure of how to begin their conversation.

Sir Golosh looked at Maji, and Maji also bowed to look at her father, and finally, they couldn’t help but laugh.