Iron Dragon's Advancement Journey

Page 120

　Humans are creatures that naturally feel a sense of superiority when they see someone who is less fortunate than themselves.

　Three days after the disaster, the refugees of Waterdeep were living in tin shacks, eating hot meals, and sleeping on cotton (synthetic fiber) blankets—all thanks to the unusual construction crews brought by the new public lord. At this point, few people considered the fact that kobolds, goblins, trolls, and grey dwarves were all evil creatures. It was those "evil" creatures who had dug them out of the ruins and mud; it was those "evil" creatures who had built their homes; it was those "evil" creatures who had brought them massive quantities of magically frozen fish and pure white wheat flour—a simple fact…

　However, since it's the majority, it means there are still a minority who disagree. Aside from those who take advantage of the chaos and the various cultists who symbolize disaster, people like Elminster, Kelben Black Staff, and even Piergellen all clearly understand what Casalos is doing, but they have neither the reason nor the ability to stop it.

　"I didn't expect the disaster to be this big..."

　The Thinker and the Chanter have returned to Waterdeep, and they are filled with remorse after witnessing the secondary disaster they caused, even though they know they had to do it to save Waterdeep—that's the awkward nature of bronze dragons.

　"You certainly wouldn't believe it, but since the dawn of time, the natural disasters of Faerûn have been controlled by the authority of the gods. Unless they are caused by magic, they don't have much of an impact. You've never witnessed the true power of nature. But that's not your fault. As long as you're of sound mind, no one will truly blame you. I don't have any good way to help you get through your own inner struggles. However, I will give you a fair judgment so that you understand and take responsibility for yourselves, if that makes you feel any better."

　Shaking off non-existent dust from his wings, Casalos took off and flew toward another striking building in Waterdeep City—the Waterdeep Palace.

　As the administrative seat of Waterdeep, Waterdeep Palace suffered some damage in the earthquake, but its adjacent Waterdeep Mountain was almost unaffected by the tsunami, and its basic structure remained intact. Casalos specially arranged for an elite engineering team to repair this iconic building in advance so that an emergency meeting of lords could be held.

　An hour later, the atmosphere was heavy in the secret meeting room inside the Deep Water Palace.

　Casalos sat at one end of the conference table in human form, with the remaining 11 members of the Secret Lords Alliance scattered on either side—during the search and rescue operation, two more missing Secret Lords may have been rescued, and their identities were no longer a secret in Casalos's eyes.

　Elminster, Lyra Silverhand (wife of Kelburn Blackstalker), Piergalen, The Thinker, The Tidecaller, as well as the Steel Dragon Brothers and the Landlady, all participated in the meeting in public. They were not members of the Secret Lords Alliance, but they held a sufficiently representative position in Waterdeep.

　On the conference table was a meticulously drawn map of the damage to Deepwater Refuge, showing the extent of the damage and the progress of reconstruction in each area.

　“First of all, I want to thank you all for surviving this disaster.” Casalos broke the silence, his voice firm and powerful. “We have lost five members of the Alliance, an irreparable loss. But now, we must face reality and rebuild Waterdeep.”

　Kelben Black Staff, wearing a magical mask that concealed his identity, sat in the corner, his gaze sharply fixed on Casalos: "Before we discuss reconstruction, I'd like to confirm one thing: what are your intentions? This so-called 'engineering team' clearly exceeds the scope of ordinary rescue forces."

　If his identity hadn't been known long ago, Casalos wouldn't have been able to see through the strange object's disguise. That's probably what gives him the confidence to speak so frankly now.

　Tie Long smiled slightly: "My intention is very simple: to make Waterdeep City rise again, stronger and more glorious than before."

　"Through your rule?" Lyra Silverhand suddenly spoke, her voice filled with obvious dissatisfaction. "This is dictatorship, Casalos! You are depriving Waterdeep of its right to choose freely!" As the Harp Master, she instinctively and unconditionally abhorred authoritarian politics—Cassaloz was actually quite puzzled as to how Mystra, the second-generation goddess of magic, a neutral and benevolent deity, had managed to raise the Harp Masters' Alliance, this chaotic and ridiculous organization, together with other benevolent deities.

　The meeting room erupted in commotion. Some echoed Leila's views, but most remained silent, clearly having already accepted Casalos's absolute leadership.

　Casalos stood up, his heavy gauntlets slamming onto the conference table with a dull thud.

　"Freedom?" It sneered as it looked around. "Look at those refugees, look at those ordinary citizens who have lost their homes and loved ones! They have lost everything because of your so-called freedom!"

　Its voice echoed in the conference hall: "It was your 'free' decision-making that led to the mishandling of the Barr issue; it was your 'free' will that caused the entire action plan to deviate, ultimately leading to the need to resolve the Ansu issue through an underwater volcano!"

　Silence filled the conference room. Even the Kelburns couldn't refute the fact that the tsunami was indeed a chain reaction stemming from their previous decisions.

　If Casalos's plan is followed, and Baal is blasted into the sky to seize the Tablet of Fate and summon the AO, the divinity that Baal infused into Anzu will be taken back with the return of the gods. In that case, Anzu will become an ordinary undead dragon, which can be dismantled in one turn by the Underwater Thinker and the Tide Chanter.

　It was the blunders of Elminster, Kelben Black Staff, and others that allowed Anzu to grow stronger under the blessing of divinity. The Thinkers, having exhausted all hope of delaying, decided to use the power of the underwater volcano to destroy it. Otherwise, once Anzu landed, its blasphemous power, blessed by divinity, would have been enough to turn Waterdeep into a true dead city, and Casalos would have been powerless against it.

　Its current power of disintegration can indeed shatter the divinity of a saint without divine support, but it is still too young. It can move freely in Ansu's blasphemous domain, which is large enough to cover the entire Deepwater City, but to completely destroy it is a pipe dream.

　“From this day forward,” Casalos’s tone became firm and unquestionable, “I will take full control of Waterdeep. The Alliance of Secret Lords still exists, but the final decision-making power rests with me. This is not a request, but an order!”

　Elminster sighed heavily: "You already have enough supporters, and I think it's futile to oppose you, especially since I'm not even from Waterdeep."

　"Then let's move on to the next topic."

　"The disaster in Waterdeep is largely under control. It's time to hold those responsible accountable!" Casalos clapped his hands. "I propose that the former public lord Pier Galen, the great sage Elminster, the toothed dragon 'Shaving Tooth' Romosada, and the absent archmage of the Black Staff Tower, the current Black Staff Archmage Kelben Orosan, bear primary responsibility for indirectly causing this disaster by arbitrarily altering the plan. The contemplator Ohmora Sedar and the Tidecaller Kenneth Zmnor bear secondary responsibility for being forced to trigger the underwater volcanic eruption."

　"Now, in accordance with the trial traditions of the Secret Lords Alliance of Deepwater City, we invite the victim's representative and all the parties involved to take turns speaking, presenting evidence, filing lawsuits, or making defenses..."

　The atmosphere in the secret meeting room became unusually subtle.

　Casalos looked around at the faces, some silent, some uneasy. Now, as the sole true lord of Waterdeep, he would act as judge, sentencing those responsible for this catastrophe. Of course, this was just the beginning.

Chapter 376

　While formalities are necessary, essential procedures cannot be omitted; this is a crucial step in establishing a new order.

　“Now, in accordance with the trial tradition of the Secret Lords Alliance of Deepwater City, please have the victim's representative and all the parties involved take turns speaking, presenting evidence, filing charges, or making defenses…” Casalos placed his hands on the conference table, his indigo eyes gleaming with a calm light.

　The Watchers received orders to represent the victims—everyone in the city was a victim, and any few people from all walks of life with good reputations could serve as representatives.

　The first to stand up was an elderly man with graying hair, his clothes tattered, his face covered in dust, yet he still maintained a dignity unique to nobles. Casalos recognized him as a minor nobleman from the coastal district named Harford Ravenwood, whose entire family had perished in the disaster.

　“My wife, my children, my servants… they’re all dead.” The old man’s voice trembled but remained firm. “Their screams before they died still echo in my ears. I’m not a spellcaster, and I don’t understand the complexities of the divine plane, but I know that if these self-proclaimed protectors hadn’t changed the plans without authorization, if the bronze dragon hadn’t detonated the underwater volcano, my family would still be alive today!”

　The old man's accusations struck the hearts of everyone in the meeting hall like a heavy hammer. Even the most resolute paladin, Pilgalen, lowered his head, his sharp eyes dimming.

　Then, several surviving merchants in the commercial district stood up, tearfully recounting their losses. Their anger was mainly focused on the Secret Lords' Alliance's failure to take timely and effective measures, but none of them specifically blamed heroes like Pilgalen or Elminster.

　When it was Piergellen's turn to speak, the legendary paladin slowly rose, his silver armor appearing dull and heavy in the dim magical light of the room.

　“I, Pierre Galen, take full responsibility.” His voice boomed, yet was filled with regret. “As the Watcher Commander, as a member of the Secret Lords Alliance, I had a duty to organize the most effective action against the threat of Baal. But I failed—not because of my incompetence, but because of my pride.”

　He turned to Casalos, his gaze resolute: "When Casalos proposed a solution to deal with Baal directly, I felt it was not the way of a hero, too radical and cruel. I insisted on facing Baal in the manner of a paladin, which gave Him time to unleash His power. This is my responsibility, and also my sin."

　Click.

　Casalos's gauntlets snapped shut; he wasn't surprised by Pilgalen's bluntness—honesty and integrity were the greatest characteristics of a paladin. These qualities were admirable in ordinary times, but could have disastrous consequences in certain crises.

　Elminster sighed softly, closing the spellbook in his hand. His aged voice rang out: "Pilgalen, you don't have to take all the blame. As a mage who has witnessed countless histories, I should have seen further. However, I was also bound by my past experience, believing that conventional methods could be used to combat Baal's threat. This was my mistake."

　Shaving Teeth chuckled, his dragon-like hoarse voice revealing disdain: "I have nothing to say. Everything on this land is a farce. I only care about profit. As long as I get enough reward, I'm willing to take any responsibility."

　But Casalos could see that although Shaving Tooth seemed nonchalant, a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes—even this greedy fanged dragon could not completely ignore such a massive disaster.

　When it was the Bronze Dragon's turn, the Thinker Ohmora Serdar said heavily, "I saw Anzu about to land, saw its blasphemous power that could turn the entire Waterdeep into a dead city, and I... made a painful decision."

　Tide Singer Kenneth Zimno nodded in agreement: "Detonating an underwater volcano was a last resort, and we did our best to minimize the damage. But we couldn't have foreseen that the tsunami would be so violent, and that is indeed our responsibility."

　Both bronze dragons looked extremely remorseful; Casalos could almost feel the guilt emanating from them. This wasn't feigned; it was genuine. The bronze dragons' actions had indeed saved Waterdeep, but they had inadvertently brought about a new disaster.

　The last to speak was Lyra Silverhand, representing her "absent" husband, Kelben Blackstalker. This shrewd mage rarely admitted her mistakes, but today she unusually lowered her proud head: "The Orosan family believes that we do indeed bear some responsibility in this incident. My husband, as the master of the Blackstalker Tower, should have correctly recognized the power of a saint, rather than treating it as an ordinary threat. Such consideration was too short-sighted, and we are willing to bear the corresponding responsibility for compensation."

　The hearing lasted a full two hours, with each party giving detailed statements. Representatives of the residents of Deepwater City lamented their losses, while those responsible admitted their faults. Ultimately, all eyes were on Casalosz, awaiting his final verdict.

　Casalos slowly stood up and surveyed the entire arena. At that moment, it seemed to truly transform into an ancient and wise judge, rather than a deformed young iron dragon.

　"After a detailed hearing and careful consideration, I hereby announce the following ruling: Pierre Galen, Elminster, Romosada, and Kelben Orosan bear primary responsibility for the disaster caused indirectly by their unauthorized alterations to the plan; Ohmora Sedar the Thinker and Kenneth Zimno the Tide Singer bear secondary responsibility for triggering the underwater volcanic eruption that caused the tsunami."

　Iron Dragon's voice echoed in the conference hall, each word clear and forceful: "Furthermore, all parties must compensate the victims according to the extent of their damage, and proactively provide all possible support during the reconstruction of Deepwater City. At the same time, I propose the establishment of a special committee composed of three secret lords, two commercial representatives, one civilian representative, and myself, to oversee the implementation of the reconstruction plan."

　"And the thinkers and the chanters, as the direct causes of the disaster, will be sentenced to serve Waterdeep City unpaid for 200 years..."

　Casalos's ruling was neither too harsh nor too lenient, taking into account both the victims' losses and the actual circumstances of the parties involved. It avoided imposing any unrealistic penalties and instead focused on future reconstruction.

　Everyone present, including the high-ranking officials deemed responsible, nodded slightly in acceptance. The outcome was expected, deemed "fair" enough in their perception without being overly harsh. No one raised objections; even the teeth-scratching incident was merely a shrug of tacit agreement.

　"That concludes the second item on the agenda," Casalos announced, noticing that the atmosphere in the meeting room had lightened slightly from its heavy tone. Everyone understood that this trial was merely a formality, a way to give both sides a way out.

　For a legendary paladin like Pilgalen, admitting wrongdoing was no difficult task; and for an old mage like Elminster, an apology was entirely expected. As for Shaving Tooth—it didn't care about guilt at all, as long as it brought profit. The two bronze dragons still appeared remorseful, but their guilt was genuine, and the gratuitous service actually lessened their inner turmoil.

　The true purpose of this trial was not merely for Casalos to demonstrate his impartiality and wisdom as a leader, but also to clarify the allocation of power. From now on, it would control all decisions in Waterdeep. Those powerful figures who had once acted arbitrarily would now have to obey its commands.

　“Now, let’s move on to the third topic: the matter of aiding and taking over Baldur’s Gate.” Casalos’s gaze swept over everyone, even Elminster, who had been engrossed in his spellbook, looked up. The mage clearly sensed the importance of this topic and closed his book to listen attentively.

　Casalos cleared his throat and continued, "The Baldur's Gate in this..."

Chapter 377

　The disaster was devastating. The city had already suffered an unprecedented magical plague, then endured immense destruction under Baal's subsequent horrific conscription, and now it had been struck by earthquakes and tsunamis. Order had completely collapsed within the city; less than a tenth of the inhabitants remained, and the remaining population was fleeing rapidly—but the entire Sword Coast had been ravaged by the tsunami, and the Chonzae River had become a vast swamp surrounding Baldur's Gate; they had nowhere to go.

　“This is an opportunity for us,” Casalos said firmly. “Baldur’s Gate is located on a vital trade route and occupies a strategic position. I suggest that Waterdeep should immediately send aid to Baldur’s Gate to help restore order there and bring it under Waterdeep’s control when the time is right.”

　Even Lyra Silverhand couldn't offer any objections to this proposal. The importance of Baldur's Gate is well-known, and bringing it under Waterdeep's sphere of influence would undoubtedly greatly enhance the Crown of the North's influence.

　Moreover, given the current chaotic situation, Baldur's Gate is indeed in dire need of external assistance to restore order.

　Even Elminster merely sighed, pulled out his spellbook again, and continued studying the magical knowledge he had become rusty in the turmoil, no longer participating in this meeting that had little to do with him.

　The old mage had seen through Casalos's ambition, but he also understood that, in this situation, perhaps the Iron Dragons' rule was indeed the best option.

　Casalos watched all this with satisfaction. Driven by a series of coincidences, his Northern Plans made great progress—first, he completely controlled Waterdeep, then expanded his influence to Baldur's Gate, and finally established a Northern Federation with himself at its core, forming a stable triangle with Dragonlands on the southern Churt Peninsula and Damara in the far north, with the entire continent of Faerûn in his sights.

　“Then it’s decided,” Casalos announced. “We will send a joint force of Dragonvein Kobolds, Grey Dwarves, and a portion of the Waterdeep City Guard, led by Roy Balk, vice-captain of the Flamefist Mercenary Group, to Baldur’s Gate to restore order there as soon as possible.”

　3. Scholars say

　Just as dawn was painting half the sky red, I was awakened by the sound of hammers striking anvils. This sound hadn't stopped for days, day and night, without ceasing. The dwarves of Dragon's Territory were forging those so-called "standardized components" again; I heard they needed tens of thousands of them just to keep up with demand.

　Three years after the great tsunami, Waterdeep has once again become the crown of the North.

　I slipped on the cloth shoes that were uniformly issued by the dragon collar—though they were called cloth shoes, their thick rubber soles were more sturdy than leather boots underfoot—and pushed open the iron door of the container house. We fishermen call these big metal boxes "tin houses." They're lined with wooden planks and cotton wadding, keeping us warm in winter and cool in summer, much better than the dilapidated thatched huts we used to live in.

　"It's a new day again," I stretched, "a new day for Master Long."

　What is it like to live under the rule of a dragon? A few years ago, I might have answered that it was living in fear, stripped of all freedom, living like a sheep in a pen, trembling and waiting for the day when you would become the dragon's snack and that fear would end.

　After all, that's what scholars have always said.

　I'm not very educated, and when scholars talk about it so eloquently, I naturally believe them. But a few years ago, a large number of dragons suddenly appeared in Deep Water City, and bards began telling dragon stories in the streets. That's when we started to realize that not all dragons are evil and chaotic.

　Dragons come in many forms. Some are chaotic and evil, destroying everything and killing indiscriminately; some are lawful and good, following the rules and never harming anyone, even helping those in need; and many more exist in the middle, like our Waterdeep dragon—Lord Casaloz. He is neither lawful and good nor chaotic and evil, but rather like two sides of a mirror, strictly adhering to order yet indifferent to good and evil.

　Scholars say that such a dragon is called "orderly neutral".

　It follows its own rules, but the specifics of those rules are entirely up to its whim. We ordinary folks with little education can hardly understand these things.

　But at the same time, we also learned that even the kindest dragons are greedy. They are always watching your wallet and will try every means to empty every penny from your pocket. So, at that time, I began to think that living under the rule of a non-evil dragon, our lives should be guaranteed, but wealth would stay away from us; while living under the rule of a dragon that strictly enforces order, harsh laws would shackle our freedom—after all, that's what scholars say.

　Now, we, all the inhabitants of Waterdeep, have been living under the rule of a dragon for almost two years now, a dragon that is not evil and strictly adheres to order.

　The story of that dragon ascending to the throne of Waterdeep is truly legendary. It was at the tail end of a period of turmoil; the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami had reduced Waterdeep to ruins. I was unloading fish at the dock when the black waves crashed against the breakwater. At that moment, I thought I was going to die.

　But I survived, dug out of the ruins by a burly half-dragon soldier. I was covered in wounds, and I almost thought I was going to the underworld. Shadow servants were grabbing my soul, trying to drag it away.

　Just then, Lord Casaloz's engineering team appeared like a divine intervention. They surged out of the portal in a vast procession, carrying strange machines I'd never seen before, dressed in uniform work clothes, and all working with boundless enthusiasm. Dragonkin kobolds, goblins, trolls, grey dwarves… these races, usually inspiring fear in everyone, were surprisingly organized into a well-organized rescue effort under Lord Casaloz's command.

　Ah, I remember how many noble lords and devout priests turned pale with rage that day. They said Lord Dragon was evil, that he brought only evil henchmen, and that he used only evil methods to destroy the foundations of Waterdeep. Yet these very "evil" fellows rescued all the survivors within three days, built temporary shelters, and restored basic order.

　I remember that day, a richly dressed nobleman stood on the ruins shouting that Lord Dragon had violated the traditions of Deepwater City and disrupted the long-standing aristocratic system of rule. Before he could finish speaking, a disheveled fisherman rushed up and punched him in the nose.

　"Has your damned tradition ever saved us?" the fisherman roared. "What benefits has your long-standing system ever brought us?"

　The nobleman was surrounded by a group of homeless commoners, his face ashen. It was the first time I had ever seen a nobleman show fear in front of commoners. Just then, a dragon's roar descended from the sky, and Lord Casaloz himself flew to the scene, announcing in his deep and majestic voice: "From this day forward, Waterdeep will be under my complete control. This is not a request, but an order."

　At that moment, everyone present fell silent, including the noble lords. Because we all understood a simple truth: it was Lord Dragon who saved us, not those high-ranking nobles and priests.

　I found out I was wrong.

　The dragon does indeed greedily eye every coin, regarding every penny in our pockets as its wealth—but it is far more "greedy" than we imagine; it even considers us part of its wealth. Therefore, it doesn't want to take all the coins from our pockets; instead, it wants our wallets to bulge…so that its wealth can grow faster, because what is ours is itss, and we are itss. And precisely because we are also itss, it will spare no effort to protect us, just as it would guard its own treasure trove.

　This idea might sound strange at first, but if you think about it carefully, it actually makes a lot of sense.

　The half-dragon soldier who rescued me at the dock that day later explained to me: "Lord Dragon sees Deepwater City as his treasure trove, and you are the most precious treasure within that treasure trove."

Chapter 378

　"Its treasure."

　Strict laws have indeed deprived us of our freedom, but they have not become shackles. On the contrary, such deprivation has brought us even more freedom. Thieves lost their freedom to steal, and ordinary residents gained the freedom to open their doors and windows for ventilation; villains lost their freedom to carry weapons in the streets, and residents gained the freedom to stroll in the streets anytime and anywhere; those who use force lost their freedom to kill in the streets, and residents gained the freedom to visit each other after dinner while enjoying the sea breeze.

　With the privileges of the aristocracy stripped away, ordinary people gained the freedom to participate in activities that were originally reserved for the nobility...

　Scholars in Faerûn generally consider this to be the ultimate evil, because it deprives nobles of their inherent rights and their lofty status, and breaks the order that Faerûn has relied on to maintain social stability since ancient times.

　Every time I hear these words, I want to laugh.

　I'm not a scholar, so I don't know what they mean by order and stability. To me, order is simply about everyone keeping to themselves and not bothering others. As for stability, isn't that just about having enough to eat today and knowing you'll have enough tomorrow?

　Admittedly, the nobles have had their privileges stripped away by Lord Dragon, but what exactly were they taken away from them? The right to arbitrarily whip commoners? The right to execute slaves without trial? The right to squander the people's hard-earned money for their own selfish desires?

　I once worked for a nobleman's household and had two ribs broken by his butler just because I accidentally spilled a jar of wine. Back then, I had nowhere to complain. But now? The laws of Dragon Territory clearly stipulate that anyone, noble or commoner, who breaks the law will be punished, and the punishment is clearly written on a stone tablet, which no one can change without authorization.

　But like the 50,000 people of Deepwater City, and even the nearly one million people of the entire Seepage Territory, I am now an ordinary citizen living under the rule of the dragon. We can truly feel that our lives are better than before—no, that's not entirely true.

　Because under the rule of the aristocratic order, our lives could not be called living, but only survival.

　Back then, I had to get up before dawn every day and run around the docks carrying loads heavier than myself. After a whole day's work, the copper coins I earned weren't even enough to fill my stomach. If I was lucky enough to find scraps of food discarded by noblemen, that was considered a holiday. In winter, more poor people froze to death on the streets than sailors died in shipwrecks.

　And now? I go to work on time every day, work for a few hours, and get a fixed salary. My wages are enough for me to have two hot meals in the canteen, and I can save the rest. Who knows, maybe one day I can buy a small yard and have my own little plot of land.

　Speaking of work, things have changed drastically. Lord Long built many "factories" and assigned us to different categories. I was assigned to the shipyard, where I was initially responsible for marking lines and drilling holes in iron plates with a special ruler every day. Later, I learned the art of painting, which was very simple, but more respectable than any of my previous jobs.

　Sam, an old dockworker, once complained to me that the job was too monotonous, repeating the same actions over and over again, nothing like the fun he used to have at the docks. I just smiled, thinking: Have you forgotten your comrades whose legs were crushed on the docks? Have you forgotten those brothers who were swept away by the waves and never returned?

　Those scholars also said that the dragon was an evil dictator who assigned a job to each resident of the Deepwater Territory: some farmed, some wove, some herded, and many more went into one "factory" after another to repeatedly perform some not-so-difficult tasks under the assignment of the gray dwarf foreman.

　But in my opinion, what's wrong with that? At least now we have a reliable job and we won't go hungry. What those noble gentlemen call "freedom of choice" is nothing more than "freedom to starve" for us common folk.

　Those scholars told us we should unite to resist the dragon's rule and take control of our own destiny... I'm not quite sure what taking control of our own destiny means. Was it helping Old Piqué harvest cotton for a week under his whip, not only earning a penny but also owing him 13 copper coins? Or was it being watched by One-Eyed Clyde, carrying goods at the dock for half a day until I fainted, only to be dragged away and fed to his vicious, biting dog?

　They live comfortably, how could they know our suffering?