Morning descended quietly upon the Crimson Royal Castle.
The skies above the Dragon Realm burned with dark crimson light while volcanic winds drifted endlessly across the colossal obsidian fortress. Rivers of molten lava illuminated the distant mountains like glowing veins beneath the world itself while silver dragonfire continued flickering across ancient towers and royal walls.
Inside the master chamber—
Kel quietly prepared to leave.
The atmosphere felt strangely calm today.
No royal ceremonies.
No massive farewell banquet.
No kneeling nobles.
Exactly as he wanted.
The Dragon Emperor robes had already been folded away.
Instead—
Kel wore simple black traveling clothes layered beneath a dark cloak while several ancient storage rings rested calmly upon his fingers. His expression remained relaxed while checking several documents one final time beside the enormous obsidian windows.
Honestly—
He only wanted to leave peacefully.
No disturbances.
No unnecessary attention.
No dramatic farewell.
Just quietly return to the Aurelia Empire and resume handling the disasters waiting for him there.
Unfortunately—
Kel had long learned something very important.
Whenever he wished for peace…
The world itself somehow became complicated.
A knock echoed from the chamber doors.
Kel sighed immediately.
"…Of course."
The doors slowly opened afterward.
And immediately—
Kel realized peaceful departure was no longer possible.
Velor entered first.
The Crimson Dragon King wore magnificent black royal armor lined with crimson draconic embroidery while a heavy fur-lined royal cloak rested behind his shoulders elegantly. His crimson eyes remained calm today while traces of royal authority naturally surrounded him now.
Beside him—
Vistara entered gracefully in a long crimson royal dress decorated with silver dragon patterns.
And behind them—
Several unfamiliar draconic individuals followed.
Seven total.
All dressed formally.
Each carried diplomatic insignias of the Dragon Realm.
Kel stared silently for several seconds.
Then slowly narrowed his eyes.
"…Velor."
The Dragon King immediately straightened slightly.
"Yes, Master."
Kel pointed calmly toward the diplomats.
"What is this?"
The atmosphere became awkward instantly.
Even the diplomats looked nervous suddenly.
Because despite everything—
Standing before the Dragon Emperor still felt terrifying.
Velor awkwardly cleared his throat afterward.
"I was thinking…"
That alone already sounded dangerous.
"…about signing a trade treaty with your empire."
Kel blinked once.
"…Trade treaty?"
Velor nodded quickly afterward.
"The Dragon Realm is an extremely high-density mana realm. We possess overwhelming concentrations of mana-rich resources…"
Kel folded his arms quietly while listening.
Velor continued.
"But because of that…"
His voice strangely became less confident.
"…we lack many low-density materials."
Kel stared at him blankly.
"…What low-density materials could dragons possibly need?"
That question immediately created awkward silence.
Because honestly—
Most beings across the world desperately chased higher-density materials.
Rare metals.
Ancient crystals.
High-concentration herbs.
Divine ores.
Not weaker ones.
Velor visibly struggled finding proper words afterward.
"Well…"
His expression became strangely uncomfortable.
"We—"
Vistara suddenly stepped forward calmly.
"I'll explain."
Velor immediately looked relieved.
The silver-haired dragon woman folded her arms beneath the chamber light.
"The Dragon Realm possesses abundance in extremely dense materials."
Her voice remained composed.
"However, overly concentrated resources are difficult to stabilize for ordinary usage."
Kel's expression slowly shifted into understanding.
Ah.
That actually made sense.
Vistara continued calmly.
"Low and medium-density resources are necessary for balancing many production systems."
She began listing them smoothly.
"Forging stabilization."
"Medicine crafting."
"Alchemy balancing."
"Art creation."
"Architectural rune stabilization."
"Civilian enchantments."
"Food cultivation."
"Potion dilution."
"Educational tools."
"Textile production."
The diplomats nodded rapidly afterward.
One older draconic scholar even spoke nervously.
"Our realm evolved around warfare and survival for too long…"
His golden eyes lowered slightly.
"We neglected ordinary civilization development."
Kel quietly stared at them afterward.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because it revealed something important.
The Dragon Realm possessed overwhelming military and individual strength—
But weak civilian infrastructure.
Which meant—
Economic integration between realms could become extremely profitable later.
Kel's dark eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Then finally—
He sighed softly.
"…Fine."
Velor immediately brightened.
Kel casually adjusted his cloak afterward.
"You can come with me."
The diplomats visibly relaxed afterward.
And just like that—
Kel's peaceful departure officially disappeared completely.
Outside the Crimson Castle—
Massive dragons already waited beneath the burning skies.
Velor and Vistara transformed first.
BOOOOOOM—
Ancient draconic mana exploded across the fortress while colossal crimson dragons emerged beneath swirling storms of power.
The seven diplomats transformed afterward as well.
Different colors.
Different bloodlines.
Silver.
Black.
Bronze.
Dark blue.
Each radiating overwhelming draconic pressure.
Kel calmly stepped atop Velor's forehead afterward.
Then—
The dragons ascended.
BOOOOOOM—
The skies themselves trembled.
Volcanic clouds shattered apart while the massive draconic formation crossed through the Dragon Realm rapidly toward the dimensional portal leading back into the Wildness.
Far below—
Countless dragons watched silently.
Because this sight itself looked absurd.
The Dragon King personally carrying a human.
And not as transport.
But with complete loyalty.
The dimensional portal appeared eventually.
A colossal fracture floating above the ancient Wildness forests.
The dragons crossed through moments later.
Reality distorted briefly.
Then—
The skies changed completely.
The volcanic heavens disappeared.
Replaced instead by the colder darker atmosphere of the Wildness connected to the Aurelia Empire.
Ancient forests stretched endlessly beneath them while enormous mountains covered the horizon.
And within only minutes—
The Southern Territories appeared.
The southern region of the Aurelia Empire.
A land scarred heavily by history.
A land once devastated repeatedly by dragons.
The moment the draconic formation entered southern airspace—
Everything exploded into chaos.
ALARMS echoed across cities instantly.
Massive bells rang violently.
Military towers activated.
Defensive formations awakened.
Because the south remembered dragons very well.
Too well.
Entire bloodlines had once been burned alive.
Cities destroyed.
Kingdoms shattered.
The southern territories remained fractured for generations afterward because of draconic invasions.
Fear toward dragons still existed deeply here.
And yet—
The one who eventually united the south…
Had been Kel himself.
Though not as Kel.
But as another identity.
Herald.
Master Alchemist Herald.
The mysterious wandering genius who reorganized southern alliances, restored infrastructure, built economic systems, and united the constantly fighting noble factions into the Southern Noble Council.
A false identity.
Yet ironically—
One of Kel's most influential ones.
Far below—
The news spread rapidly toward the Southern Council Headquarters.
"DRAGONS HAVE ENTERED SOUTHERN AIRSPACE!"
"PREPARE DEFENSES!"
"ACTIVATE THE BARRIERS!"
"CALL THE DUCALS!"
Panic erupted instantly.
Inside the council headquarters—
Three rulers gathered quickly.
Duke Altair.
Duke Kael.
And Duchess Seraphine.
The three highest authorities of the southern territories.
Years ago—
These three houses constantly fought each other endlessly.
Political conflicts.
Territory disputes.
Military tensions.
Until Herald appeared.
And convinced them of one terrifying truth.
If the south remained divided—
The capital nobles would forever treat southern people as barbarians.
Weak.
Disposable.
So eventually—
The Southern Noble Council was formed.
A united southern alliance.
And now—
The same south once fractured by dragons suddenly faced seven dragons descending from the skies directly toward their headquarters.
Naturally—
Everyone prepared for war.
But the moment the dragons landed—
Silence spread instantly.
Because someone stood atop the largest crimson dragon.
A man wearing dark robes beneath a heavy cloak.
Black hair.
Calm posture.
And the moment the southern leaders saw him—
Their eyes widened immediately.
"…Herald?"
Duke Altair nearly forgot breathing for a moment.
Even Duchess Seraphine froze silently.
Because they recognized him instantly.
The mysterious man who changed the south completely.
Kel calmly stepped down from Velor afterward.
The massive crimson dragon lowered his head respectfully before transforming into draconic human form once more alongside the others.
The sight itself looked unreal.
Dragons.
Standing respectfully behind Herald.
Even the Southern Council guards looked completely stunned.
Duke Kael slowly spoke first.
"…What exactly is happening?"
The atmosphere felt extremely tense.
Especially because the seven draconic diplomats carried overwhelming pressure naturally.
Yet before anyone could question further—
Duchess Seraphine stepped slightly forward.
Her long dark silver dress moved elegantly beneath the southern winds while sharp violet eyes remained fixed directly on Kel.
Among all southern rulers—
She was the most dangerous politically.
Cold.
Calculating.
Terrifyingly intelligent.
And unfortunately—
She had unconsciously developed feelings toward Herald over time.
Though she never fully understood why.
Perhaps because intelligence attracted intelligence.
And Herald's mind had always felt monstrous.
Her lips parted slightly.
"…You disappeared for far too long—"
But before she finished—
Kel calmly raised one hand.
"We can discuss everything inside."
His voice remained composed.
Naturally authoritative.
The entire area became quiet immediately.
Kel slowly looked toward the gathered southern leaders afterward.
"I know all of you have questions."
His dark eyes briefly glanced toward the dragons standing behind him.
"About why I disappeared."
"Why I returned with dragons."
"And why these people are here."
A faint wind moved through his black cloak afterward.
Then calmly—
Kel smiled slightly.
"But first…"
His gaze shifted toward the massive Southern Council building.
"Let's go inside."
"I'll explain everything properly."
And unknowingly—
The moment those words were spoken—
The future relationship between the Dragon Realm and the Aurelia Empire…
Officially began.