Warhammer: Return of the Dragon.

The people passing by in silence were busy with their daily work. The wartime situation was different from usual, and it was difficult for many workers to adapt.

The once amiable and genial boss turned into a bloody executioner who squeezed every ounce of sweat from the workers, demanding that the factory not even have a moment's rest in exchange for wages comparable to regular wages.

Some people wanted to protest, and the trade unions that arrived at Qingyan Port demanded a reduction in working hours, believing that this was a serious violation of the law set by the king.

But soon, these people realized that the so-called law is just a tool to serve those in power. When the basis for determining the law comes from the king, justice is the front and back of a coin, which can be flipped at any time according to needs.

Anaheim has no obvious pillar industries, and the court's positioning of it is only to transform it from a military fortress to a transportation transit point, but this does not mean a lack of labor.

Thousands of workers are still carrying wooden boxes and sacks on their shoulders, working on the edges of ports that are beyond the reach of steam cranes. The news of the war has made countless businessmen, who regard money as their life, smell the scent and swarm in like wild dogs.

The tired crowds, the hurried streets, the elves standing in the corners and discussing things, the annoying sounds of carriages and whistles, and the extremely calm gaze of the ruler all made Carl marvel.

"They don't know you. This is rare in the Empire. Every Elector will receive a lot of attention when he travels."

"They don't think the king is willing to walk on the same muddy streets. My father's coronation as the Phoenix King has given the Caledor family a strong divine color. Many people have rumored that the dragon will rule Ulthuan together with the phoenix...

If I came here on a dragon, they would prostrate themselves and show their best side, but when I walked to the darkest and most obscure street corners, they could see their truest side. "

"This is a manifestation of being close to the people. Sometimes it is difficult for us to understand how true the news presented is. Only by measuring the land under our feet ourselves can we understand what responsibility is."

The seemingly complimenting words were greeted with Dracniel's laughter: "Karl, I regard you as a friend, there is no need to say flattering words. In your eyes, do I really care about humans?"

"No matter what, at least the humans under your rule have gained a piece of land where they can live peacefully. This is far better than the rulers who were so eager to build their territories into paradise but ended up turning them into hell."

Carl's eyes were sincere. He could see fatigue and exhaustion in the workers' eyes, but no fear of tomorrow. They might be nothing more than high-class livestock in the eyes of the elves, but they still got something hard-earned in this world - life.

"It's an interesting metaphor. It reminds me of what the Phoenix King said about you before you set out on your journey."

"I'm very curious about this. I've never been able to adapt to the atmosphere of communication between your father and the High King. They seem... very close."

Prince Caledo stopped a carriage. He did not bring guards with him when traveling and was much more familiar with the local customs than his subjects imagined.

The elf invited the emperor and the marshal to enter the old-looking carriage, and said to the driver, "Arms Factory No. 3."

The driver looked embarrassed, turned his head and said through the window:
"Sir, the Anaheim carriages usually don't leave the city. The route to Arsenal No. 3..."

Five gold leaf coins convinced the driver and also blocked out the sound.

Sitting opposite each other, the carriage seemed a bit crowded due to the size of several big men.

The elf drew aside the curtains and continued the previous topic while looking at the changes in the surrounding streets.

"He believes that you are a qualified emperor and that the empire will achieve unprecedented success under your rule." "This may be the best news I have heard in recent months, but the words of the Phoenix King during the summit make it hard for me to believe it." Carl seemed to be responding, but in fact he was considering what Prince Caledor wanted to express.

The Emperor was not so naive as to think that he could gain Caledor's friendship simply by keeping silent about the war in Bretonnia.

With the exception of His Majesty Magnus who had a positive opinion of Imrik, the then Dragon Prince, most of the knights and high-ranking officials who had come into contact with him, without exception, had the impression that he was arrogant, stubborn, but understood the needs of humans.

Weze, the Grand Master of the Griffin Knights at the time, made a classic comment, "He looks down on all humans except the pious, but as long as you can show your value and are willing to show respect and awe, he will not hesitate to look at you."

"Don't think too much of the Caledor family. My father was a playful monarch, but his responsibilities overwhelmed his hobbies... Imagine, apart from Magnus, is there any emperor who could allow him to stay in the empire for several months?"

Draconian made a veiled comment on his father's unreliability, twisted his body and leaned against the carriage, looking for a comfortable position.

"He seeks a solid triangle, one part of which was once held together by the faithful, when elves, humans, and dwarves worked together to solve a problem that had plagued them for thousands of years.

The elves ended their eternal division, the dwarves successfully recaptured their long-lost mountain fortress and rediscovered their gods, but only humans... I'm sorry to say that I don't consider Bretonnia a part of humanity.

They made the wrong choice at the wrong time, but will eventually meet the right fate. "

Without waiting for Karl to ask, Prince Caledor maintained a calm tone and said, "Karl, Ulthuan needs humans to form a force that can be controlled. It doesn't matter who controls it, but it can't be Bretonnia.

My terms are Artois, Bastogne, Montfort, and Quinaris, and a thousand-year non-aggression pact between the Kingdoms of Ulthuan and the Empire."

The non-aggression pact is nothing more than a conspiracy with the elves to divide Bretonnia...

Karl hadn't expected that Draconian's conditions were so... generous. It was no exaggeration to say that this would allow the empire's territory to expand by one tenth and establish two more electors.

“Whether you take it in the name of the Emperor or annex it in the name of Prince Altdorf, I don’t care.

Perhaps one day Reikland will be able to annex Westerland, and together with Bretonnia's territory, it will occupy half of the Empire, but you don't have much time left, Carl."

Kurt overheard all the conversations. Marshal Rick did not expect that the elves would be willing to share the results of the battle. This... the temptation was simply hard to resist.

The emperor's shoulders were trembling, as if he was considering the balance between interests and reputation. Karl's furrowed brows also fully demonstrated that he really couldn't bear to refuse this condition.

The Empire is not like Bretonnia. It has countless fertile lands and pastures. Compared to spending a lot of effort to open up new land in the Black Forest, the land of its southern neighbor is undoubtedly more tempting.

Marshal Rick was the first to point out a doubt: "Prince Draknir, let's not talk about how many years your father will rule as the Phoenix King. The thousand years of peace you promised refers to the next Phoenix King..."

"No matter who the next Phoenix King is, he cannot interfere with this decision." (End of this chapter)