From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 762: Second Ascension to the Throne and Prince Silver Dragon?
The heavy alloy door of the conference room closed silently behind Amber and Isabel, like a barrier that isolated them from the hypocritical warmth and calculations inside.

Amber walked steadily, and Isabel followed quietly behind her, her high heels hitting the metal floor and making a crisp echo.

The cold light in the corridor illuminated the two people, lengthening their shadows.

"What a great show, don't you think, Isa?" Amber exclaimed.

Isabel nodded after hearing this: "Yes, I never thought that the two sides would be able to reach an agreement so quickly, and immediately kick Norton II out."

Amber's eyes couldn't help but become a little cold at this moment. He had to admit that these nobles were cold-hearted and had never changed.

Fence-sitters like Duke Soren and Duke Duke can still sit on the throne and continue to hold the title of Duke of the Empire. This is the biggest irony for those dead soldiers.

It was as if the top leaders of the empire were playing a game of power redistribution, and they didn't care how many people had to die for this game.

Amber didn't want to get involved in the mess of this corrupt empire right now, but he kept this account in mind and silently increased other service fees that would be charged when doing business in the Star Empire in the future.

Amber never does business at a loss, and he will never clean up other people's mess for nothing.

With the successful conclusion of the negotiations, the tense atmosphere of confrontation on the Saint-Saunière track also quietly eased.

However, although the huge fleets of both sides slowly withdrew their threatening attack postures, the reconnaissance and fire control units that were still on alert, as well as the deflection force fields that had not yet been completely lifted, still silently told of the fragility of this peace.

The two celestial fortresses, like giant beasts in the sky, faced each other from a great distance, their huge outlines casting silent shadows against the starry background.

When Amber and Isabel returned to the exclusive lounge in the Crown Fortress under the guidance of Lilith to have a good rest, Princess Agnes suddenly came to them in person.

She had already changed out of the gorgeous dress she had been wearing and put on a relatively simple and elegant casual outfit - God knows how this princess managed to bring along a change of clothes even when she was seeking emergency shelter.

However, this outfit still made her look less fierce and more gentle, but the majesty and determination in the depths of her red eyes and between her brows had not diminished in the slightest.

The captain of the Royal Guard, Natalia, and the Duke of Hastings also arrived behind her like loyal shadows.

"Mr. Amber, Lady Isabel." Agnes greeted them.

Amber leaned lazily on the soft sofa, not even intending to get up. She just raised her chin casually and looked at her calmly.

Isabel beside him stood up and nodded slightly in response gracefully, maintaining due politeness.

"The war on the planet's surface and in orbit has basically subsided, and order in the capital is being restored, all thanks to the great help of the Atlas Group." Agnes went straight to the point without any pleasantries, and her tone was full of gratitude.

"No need to be polite, Princess."

Amber interrupted her diplomatic rhetoric directly and spoke in a flat tone.

"There is a contract signed between us in black and white."

He picked up a glass of amber wine from the table next to him, shook it gently, and watched the light refracted in the wine, creating a hazy glow. He added:

"According to the contract between us, you should pay the first phase of payment now."

When Amber finished speaking, the air seemed to stagnate for a moment.

There was a slight pause in Agnes's movements. She obviously hadn't expected Amber to ask for payment so directly at this moment.

The Duke of Hastings beside her immediately coughed lightly and put on a warm smile:
"Mr. Amber, you see, the empire has just experienced such a violent turmoil, and the new king is about to ascend the throne, and the finances need to be recalculated and handed over."

"That's a problem you need to solve. Besides, it's a change of emperor, not a change of financial team~"

Amber's tone remained calm, but it sounded equally irresistible.

"According to the rules of the Atlas Group, we never accept credit. If you must buy on credit, there is one more thing I hope you know - Atlas, debts must be repaid."

He turned his gaze towards Agnes, his eyes sharpening. "If it weren't for your status and sincerity, and the fact that we have a basis for future cooperation, according to Atlas' standard procedures, we would need to receive the full payment before we would send troops."

Amber's words directly blocked all the prepared remarks of the Duke of Hastings, and the old duke's face suddenly became a little ugly.

Perhaps because she was used to dealing with Amber, Agnes was calmer than her old minister. She nodded and rubbed the ring on her index finger a few times.

Soon, Isabelle's uncle, the empire's printing press, the first person to take money out of his crotch, and the Minister of Finance, Jacques Kohl, walked in quickly.

"Your Highness, the Duke, Mr. Amber, Isa~"

Jacques Cole had a perfect smile on his face as he greeted everyone in turn. When his eyes finally fell on Isabelle, there was obviously a bit more gentleness and kindness in them, like an elder.

"Sir Jacques, regarding the payment of the first installment of cooperation funds to Atlas Group, I would like to trouble your Ministry of Finance to handle it immediately." Agnes stated her request directly without any nonsense.

The smile on Jacques Cole's face froze instantly. He looked troubled as if he understood something, and then turned to Amber with gritted teeth:

"Mr. Amber, you see, the current situation of the empire's treasury is indeed very tense. We have just experienced a war and the expenditures are huge. Can we have some time to spare?"

As he spoke, he looked at Isabel. Although he didn't speak directly, the meaning in his eyes was very clear - 'Little Isabel, can your uncle talk to Amber and ask for some leniency?'

However, in response to his hint, Isabel just smiled, and the meaning in her eyes was also very clear - 'Uncle, business is business.'

Amber didn't care about anything else, her eyes kept shifting between Princess Agnes and Jacques Cole, while she continued, "Your Highness, my Lord, let's not waste time beating around the bush and transfer the money immediately, otherwise I think all our subsequent cooperation will be out of the question." "Mr. Amber, we are actually thinking about the future of the empire, look at this..."

"First, transfer the money, sir. I still remember your handsome and firm words when we were on the ground. 'The money for saving the emperor will be paid by our Ministry of Finance!' Is that what you said?"

Jacques Cole wanted to say something else, but seeing Amber's uncompromising expression, he could only sigh deeply in frustration.

"Okay, I'll do it right away, you are really..."

Then, he began to contact his subordinates through his personal terminal to handle the emergency transfer of huge sums of money. The expression on his face was so painful that it seemed as if he was cutting his own flesh.

Amber nodded in satisfaction and took a sip from her wine glass.

Business is business, even if you are brothers, you have to settle accounts clearly, not to mention that I just suffered a loss.
-
In order to quickly stabilize the chaotic and turbulent situation within the empire, Princess Agnes and others showed amazing action and a hint of impatience.

They decided almost immediately to hold the coronation ceremony again the next day without any further delay!

Because the Grand Palace area in the capital Saint-Saunière, which symbolized the imperial power, had been almost completely razed to the ground in the earth-shaking battle between the Star Dragon and Amber, it was no longer suitable as a venue for such a solemn ceremony.

Therefore, the venue for the second coronation ceremony was chosen to be the main conference hall of the Coronet Fortress, which had just changed hands and was now actually controlled by the Atlas Group.

All ceremonies were kept simple, without all the red tape, with only one core goal - to make Agnes Barbara Leon the new, undisputed, and legitimate ruler of the Star Dragon Empire as quickly as possible!
The night before the coronation ceremony.

The interior of the Crown Fortress was brightly lit, and a large number of bionic humans were busy arranging the venue based on some information they had received about the royal ceremony.

Of course, this service also requires additional charges. According to Amber, he would not let his bionic people work for others for free.

Agnes found Amber and Isabel again, but this time, she dismissed all her followers and guards and came alone.

The door of the lounge closed behind her, isolating her from the noise of the outside world.

"Mr. Amber, I want to talk to you about the ownership of the Crown Fortress."

Agnes looked straight at Amber without beating around the bush and went straight to the core issue that was still unresolved.

Amber heard what Agnes said and replied slowly, "Your Highness, I remember we have discussed the ownership of this fortress before?"

"The previous discussion did not reach a final conclusion." Agnes' voice remained calm, without much emotion. "But this fortress, no matter from which angle you look at it, is one of the most important strategic assets of the Star Dragon Empire."

"Strategic assets~ Then we can also conduct friendly business cooperation."

Amber began to practice Tai Chi with a shrewd smile unique to businessmen on her face.

"For example, we can sign a long-term agreement, where Atlas Group will be responsible for the daily maintenance, upgrades and combat readiness of the fortress to ensure that it is always in the best condition. As for the cost, we can give the Empire a very favorable price."

Amber's implication was clear: If something goes into my pocket, don't expect me to spit it out again. If the Empire wants to use the fortress, it's not impossible, just pay for it~
The two sides had a few meaningless arguments, and then Agnes raised her hand and decisively interrupted Amber's business talk.

"Okay Mr. Amber, we don't have to talk about this anymore."

Her voice was still cold, but it seemed to contain some unusual determination, and her red eyes were now staring at Amber without blinking.

Deep in her eyes, there was a complex light that Amber had never seen in her before. It was a mixture of extreme calm prudence and a hint of gambling.

"I have a proposal."

Agnes' voice was not loud, but it caught Amber's attention at this moment.

"A proposal that can solve the ownership issue of the Crown Fortress once and for all, and enable the cooperation between the Atlas Group and the Star Dragon Empire to reach an unprecedented and unbreakable level of closeness."

Amber raised his eyebrows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say anything, but waited for Agnes to continue.

He would like to hear what kind of shocking plan the soon-to-be-throne queen could come up with.

Agnes took a deep breath, as if she had used up all her strength, and then she said something shocking.

"I hope that you will marry me, Mr. Amber, after I ascend the throne."

“Puff—cough cough!”

Amber choked on her own saliva at the sudden shocking statement. She coughed violently a few times, her face full of undisguised surprise.

Isabel next to her also widened her eyes instantly, her delicate face full of disbelief, and she subconsciously looked at Amber.

The entire lounge fell into an eerie silence.

Agnes completely ignored Amber and Isabel's reactions and continued:
"After we get married, I will officially grant you the supreme title of 'Prince of the Silver Dragon' of the Empire. In this way, you will be officially recognized as a member of the Leon Royal Family, and the ownership of the Crown Fortress will naturally no longer exist. It belongs to the Empire as well as you. The interests of the Atlas Group and the Star Dragon Empire will also be permanently bound together through this closest relationship."

After saying this, Agnes just looked at Amber quietly, calmly but at the same time as if she was making a huge gamble on the future of the empire.

"Mr. Amber, what do you think of my proposal?"

(End of this chapter)