CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 272: BEYOND THE WAR GOD

The voice of the Dragon Lady echoed coldly in the hall: "Catherine... Your Highness, have you also reached the War God level? No, that can’t be! If you truly had, you wouldn’t need to provoke His Majesty before making a move! You are definitely not at the War God level yet!"

At first, she seemed uncertain, but the more she spoke, the louder she became, as if convincing herself in the process.

In any case, the Dragon Lady didn’t believe that Catherine had reached the War God level like the king.

And she had to say it.

Because negotiations in the Royal Court were a war in themselves, and in war, every inch was contested!

The king gestured with his hand, signaling the Dragon Lady to remain calm.

Then, smiling at Catherine, he said: "Since the lady’s injuries are no longer a concern, I am relieved. Very well, let’s begin. I have been looking forward to the upcoming three negotiation competitions." With that, he returned to his throne without looking at the Dragon Lady.

The expression on the Dragon Lady’s face turned extremely unpleasant.

Andrew and the others from the Warm Fire Commerce Association were also somewhat surprised.

They hadn’t expected that the king would truly retreat just like that!

However, upon thinking a bit further, it was clear: the king’s earlier choice to side with the Magic Guild was not due to any strong alliance, but for his personal interests and the continuation of the royal bloodline.

Now, seeing that Catherine’s injuries were healed and her strength had advanced further, from the king’s standpoint, there was no reason to oppose Catherine for the Magic Guild. It was wiser for him to step back and remain a bystander.

Seeking a fair negotiating environment? Very well, I will provide it. This was the king’s clear message through his stance.

"But, in the upcoming negotiation competitions, if we encounter any issues on our side, this king will undoubtedly bare his sinister fangs again, won’t he?" Understanding this, not only Andrew, but also Barbara, Susan, and Dean Charlie were filled with an indescribable disgust.

They truly detested people who were opportunistic and excessively shrewd, always ensuring they never suffered any loss.

Catherine seemed accustomed to it, letting out a cold laugh, and calmly sitting on the throne beside the king.

Then Catherine looked towards Dean Charlie, nodding slightly.

Dean Charlie nodded back, stepping forward towards the center of the hall, his gaze fixed on the members of the Magic Guild opposite.

In the vast Eternal Frost Hall, for a moment, only Dean Charlie’s footsteps could be heard.

The Dragon Lady took a deep breath, knowing that to win back the king’s "favoritism," mere words about Catherine’s lack of War God level strength were useless. They had to prove themselves in the upcoming negotiation competition!

She got up and walked towards Dean Charlie.

The atmosphere on site quietly turned solemn.

Under the silent gaze of many eyes, the leaders of the negotiating parties stopped in the center of the hall, facing each other.

The Dragon Lady raised her hand and flicked it, and with a dragon’s roar, a dark red stone slab flew flatly towards Dean Charlie with densely written small characters on it.

Dean Charlie reached out to catch the stone slab while blowing out a breath, conjuring a scroll from thin air that unfolded in mid-air, also covered in densely written small characters, flying towards the Dragon Lady, who caught it with her hand.

"What... what’s going on now?" Havier, feeling suffocated by the suddenly quiet and solemn atmosphere, shrank his neck and whispered.

Andrew, however, didn’t hear the question from this young brat.

Susan and Barbara heard, but had no time to respond.

It was Sabye who finally spoke up, speaking in a low voice as well, explaining: "This is the ceremonial stage of mutual confirmation of ’negotiating conditions’ between both parties before the official start of the negotiation competition."

This Flame Realm’s negotiation had its unique style.

The negotiation aspect actually took place behind the scenes before the meeting.

When the parties officially met, they would present the pre-discussed negotiation terms written on the stone slab and scroll, confirm them, and proceed directly to the subsequent actual competition. Rather than a negotiation, it’s more like a gamble.

Dean Charlie lowered his head to read the pre-discussed terms on the stone slab, carefully reading through them before nodding: "No problem."

The Dragon Lady also finished reading the terms on the scroll, flicked her wrist, and a mini Fire Dragon emerged from her palm, burning the scroll to ashes instantly, saying, "I have no problem either. Hmph, as if you dare to tamper with the pre-determined negotiation terms!"

Dean Charlie’s expression remained unchanged, unprovoked by the other’s obvious taunting.

The king on the northern side of the hall nodded, saying: "Since both parties have confirmed without any mistakes, then you two can begin directly."

As he spoke, he extended his hand, making a "please" gesture.

According to traditional custom, the negotiation competition consists of three rounds.

The first round is a duel between the leaders of both parties, followed by a one-on-one among the younger generation, and then a two-on-two among the younger generation.

Havier, who hadn’t done any prior research, was astonished: "They’re starting to fight already? So... so quickly?"

Indeed, it was that quick.

Andrew solemnly watched the two in the arena, observing how after the king’s words, Dragon Lady immediately surrounded herself with faint dragon shadows, accompanied by dragon roars that seemed to pierce through the soul, an extraordinary presence!

In contrast, Dean Charlie was also channeling his power, intertwining "fire" and "wind" elements, radiating from his body, which, though not as imposing, was equally formidable against the Dragon Lady.

Thus, at least on the surface, the Royal Court was no longer the main ground for the Magic Guild, nor was it for the Warm Fire Commerce Association, temporarily restoring neutrality.

With the king’s temporary retreat, there was a basis for the negotiation competition to proceed under a relatively fair environment.

"But, the battle is not yet over. If we do not perform well in the upcoming competitions, it will still be very dangerous, or even more dangerous." Andrew thought seriously as he looked at Dean Charlie and the Dragon Lady, who were about to engage, thinking, "It’s about to begin."

After many twists and turns, the Royal Court negotiation following this Flame War was finally... about to start.

...

...

"The Royal Court negotiations should have started."

At the same time, at the Crimson Spear.

The first Crimson Knight, Peter, now had another scar on his face, his upper body wrapped in thick bandages. He glanced northward, then withdrew his gaze, saying, "Bring my war spear. Also, bring that Holigar guy out of the cell!"

Four subordinates quickly brought up an ancient, weathered giant war spear. The mere fact that it couldn’t be stored and carried in a Storage Space indicated it was no ordinary weapon.

Peter took the war spear and, accompanied by Old Herb, climbed the fortress wall, facing west.

To the west of the ’Crimson Battle Lance’ stood the super stronghold, ’Dragon’s Nest’.

Now, the Dragon’s Nest was in ruins, because during the last battle of the Flame War, Peter had led his troops to withdraw from the Dragon’s Nest while severely damaging it, leaving only a torn fortress for the Magic Guild’s army.

But standing on the wall now, gazing at the Dragon’s Nest opposite, Peter’s expression was extremely grave.

There, on the fortress wall of the Dragon’s Nest, stood an elder in black, with a long beard and a strange sharp horn on his forehead, standing indifferently. Though seemingly at the same height, there was a bizarre sense of being looked down upon, unsettling.

Peter recognized the man.

Because the old, long, and strikingly conspicuous scar on his face was owed to that elder many years ago!

That elder was named Gus.

Beyond the rank of War God, residing in the Realm of Magic.

Gus was... one of the three Earth Fire Scholars of the Magic Guild.