CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 33: DIVERGENCE_2

Jones still focused on undermining the dragon’s peak. After that, Jones had not discussed it with Richie anymore. The matter seemed to have reached a conclusion, no need to consider further. At least that’s what the lichs thought, as they had already begun actively preparing for war.

Gateways to other spaces, more undead "consumables" were sent from other places. The undead’s stronghold was bustling with activity.

Until two days later, Elder Gjestav of the Golden Dragon Clan appeared. Jones was invited to the meeting with Elder Gjestav. The location was a space similar to a basement, dug out by goblins when they were tunneling.

...

"You want to withdraw troops?" Richie slammed his hands on the table and questioned sharply, "Are you trying to violate the alliance again?"

"No, this is not a violation of the alliance," Elder Gjestav said helplessly, "On the contrary, we are enforcing the alliance. There is no clause in our alliance that demands the complete extermination of the black dragons. Your father, the previous Lord Lich King, even personally said that equality and justice should also be ensured for the black dragons. Isn’t that right? You were present at that time."

"But they killed my father!"

"Not every black dragon was involved in the assassination of your father, even fewer participated in the actual act. It is unfair and unjust to those black dragons who did not commit any wrongs."

"But they still stand together, don’t they? This means they all support it! Elder, listen for yourself!" Richie angrily pointed a finger at the dome of the underground space.

Even through the thick layer of soil, they could still hear the shouts from the dragon’s peak.

"Lich King! Don’t you want to avenge your father? Come and kill us! We’re waiting for you right here!"

"You might not believe it, but when we killed your father, he begged for mercy! He was a cowardly lich!"

"Oh right, didn’t your father have a Black Cat? That cat was so scared it lost control of its bladder! Believe me, it’s true, I was there!"

Richie’s teeth were grinding audibly, and he glared furiously at Elder Gjestav.

Lowering his head, Elder Gjestav said softly, "This incident shows us the true colors of our long-time ally. Believe me, we Golden Dragons are now equally disgusted with them. We have no intention of renewing our alliance with them, nor do we wish for any form of connection, let alone protection. But... You really need to consider this issue seriously."

"I don’t need to consider it!" Richie said sharply.

"If Heaven really sent troops, how should we respond?" Ignoring Richie’s refusal, Elder Gjestav widened his eyes and intensified his tone, "If we are defeated here, what will happen to our Golden Dragon Clan? What will happen to your father’s long-held dreams? We all hate the black dragons, but hatred changes nothing. It only drags us into a mire, causing us to lose our way and ultimately destroy everything we hold dear."

"My father never compromised! I will never compromise either! If I can defeat the black dragons, I can defeat the angels!"

"And how do you plan to defeat them? Can you tell us, your allies?"

"I don’t need to tell you!"

"We are allies, are we not? When you ask us to fulfill our duties as allies, shouldn’t we also have the rights of allies? Not only do you need to evaluate, but we also need to evaluate."

The atmosphere was already extremely tense.

Richie was obviously furious, facing this great crisis, the Golden Dragons equally showed no sign of retreat. Both sides were at a stalemate.

Jones sat silently beside Richie, quietly glancing at Richie.

After a while, Elder Gjestav stood up slowly, leaning on the table, and said softly, "I do not intend to force you, but time is pressing. We must come to a final decision, hope you can consider seriously. I will return in half a day. Let’s hope we can reach an agreement before the deadline."

Saying so, Elder Gjestav crossed his hands before his chest, bowed, and walked away.

In the small underground space, only Richie and Jones sat side by side, with a shabby wooden table covered in dirt, some chairs, and an oil lamp swaying gently on the table, casting shadows of Richie and Jones on the rock wall.

The two sat quietly, the whole world silent. Apart from the distant mocking of the black dragons, there was no other sound.

The voices were so piercing, it was as if the entire world had only them left.

A moment later, Richie suddenly stood up, lifted the table, and threw it against the rock wall, smashing it to pieces.

The oil lamp fell to the ground, igniting a small fire, illuminating the underground space brightly.

Jones continued to sit quietly in the chair as if nothing had happened, only staring at the fire with a look of helplessness in his eyes.

Richie was already trembling with anger, "Brother, will you support me? We will fight them to the end. No matter who tries to stop our revenge, we must not retreat, even if it is Heaven or Hell. Father cannot die like this; a few black dragons cannot erase the wrongs they committed."

Jones remained silent.

"Won’t you support me?" Richie continued, "Don’t worry, I have a way to defeat the Angel Army. It’s not hard to think of."

"Alliance with Hell?" Jones suddenly asked.

As he asked the question, Jones himself was surprised. It was the simplest solution, but originally it should have been the most impossible. Yet, at this moment, Jones suddenly felt it was the most likely choice Richie would make...

After a long silence, Richie replied, "Yes, it may be the only way. Will you support it?"

Hearing this answer, Jones was visibly disappointed, "Will my support or lack thereof change your decision?"

"Of course, you are my brother. My only brother. With Father gone, other than Mother, you and Dora are the people closest to me. We should stand together."

"This goes against Father’s beliefs."

"No, it doesn’t," Richie abruptly turned his face and said, "Father also allied with demons, didn’t he? He received the Demon Lord’s power, although it was later withdrawn. Mother told me about this."

"I was by his side at the time." Looking at Richie, Jones said softly, "To be precise, Father received a ’gift’ from the demon, not an alliance. It was a ’gift,’ not an alliance. The Demon Lord demanded nothing from Father, only retained the right to withdraw the ’gift.’ There were no other conditions. Can we now negotiate similar terms with Hell? I doubt it."

Richie held his helmet and took two steps in the underground space, even stepping directly over the fire pit. Turning back, he spread his hands and said to Jones, "We have no other choice, this is the only option!"

"No, we have other choices; you just refuse to accept them." Jones trembled slightly, took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and said, "You said Father’s last words were to tell you not to hate. Hatred cannot recover anything. Isn’t that right? Perhaps we should abide by Father’s last words. Father valued his dreams more than his own life. Are we going to destroy all that he worked for just to avenge him?"