"According to the code you wrote, each of us, including me, must loudly say that phrase before and after meals and classes," the principal explained, closely following Alvis's steps.

Alvis looked inside the classroom, where a portrait painting of Raphael hung above the blackboard.

This was designed by artists, painters and aestheticians under his instructions, with the aim of embodying the majesty, power, authority and awe of the crimson dragon - most importantly, to make Raphael look awesome!

An awesome look could attract the gaze of these children, making them willing to understand the crimson dragon and be brainwashed by its ideology.

In the painting, Raphael was in a prone crawling posture, his long neck curved back and head extended forward in an arched shape. His front claws were not bared but drooping slightly like a duck's webbed feet, exuding a calm demeanor. Both pairs of wings pressed downward in a stance ready for charging, complementing the powerful knotted muscles of his draconic body to emanate an aura of domineering majesty.

However, the artists did not depict Raphael's eyes as golden, but a sheet of blackness as if closed.

This made it even harder for outsiders to discern whether the crimson dragon in the painting was enraged, pleased, heartless or indifferent. The unknown bred fear, especially when unable to fathom the psyche of an invincible demon dragon. The spiritual realm of this painting instantly ascended another level.

At least those ignorant children were willing to gather beneath it and discuss.

"Keep it up," Alvis said.

"Right, if any students emerge who worship the crimson dragon, treat the school rules as gospel, and strictly discipline themselves in words and deeds, they must be publicly rewarded. Spread the word that this is excellence. And grant them authority and status on par with school administrators to assist the teachers."

"Yes! Yes!" The principal sweated profusely as he scribbled notes, the frantic pace taxing his aging heart.

"If students obey orders, heap extra praise on them to make them feel they did the right thing. If there are troublemakers deliberately picking bones, stirring up conflict and defying orders, don't punish them as long as they don't violate school rules."

"But have the other students isolate them, insult them, denounce them from the depths of their character, and make them feel the loneliness of being ostracized within these walls. Force them to admit wrongdoing and thoroughly reform. Then immediately praise and affirm them, letting the other students re-accept and encourage them. Let them experience the rush from hell to heaven. This way, even the most stubborn will be assimilated."

"Understood!" The principal didn't care whether this mechanism was reasonable or not. Since this wasn't the human realm anyway, he only needed to ensure his own wellbeing.

Since Alvis centralized the education of all Erl's children, he naturally had to mold their mindset to a favorable side.

This could fundamentally change Erl's deformed state, making the human community willingly serve this regime.

First was the core - Raphael was undoubtedly the most important, he had to be Erl's deity in the mortal realm that everyone unquestioningly revered.

This wasn't just flattering Raphael, but a means to unify the hearts and minds of a populace with no historical roots, forced into labor while harboring hatred towards the rulers. There had to be something transcending culture, history and ancestry that occupied people's psyche and thoughts - and that could only be a god.

However, since Raphael wasn't a true god, he had to be artificially deified.

Around this core, Alvis planned to use even more radical military management to tame the next generation of humans.

They would never develop thoughts surpassing the law - the crimson dragon would be their faith, the source of vitality and inner drive.

They would willingly devote everything, without fear or dread, becoming true "real men" and "pure dudes" - just stripped of their humanity.

They would massively participate in Erl's operations, influencing the entire kingdom with this masculine, muscular, brutal and sanguine style.

Alvis wasn't worried they would revert, since this ideology was instilled in childhood, extremely invasive and exclusive, not possibly turning sentimental. He himself was a prime example.

Rather, those not receiving this education would be devoured and assimilated - the expansionist appeal of this ideology being awesome, callous, masculine and rationally inhumane.

Males would want to become this, females would worship such males.

In this way, Erl's awkward geopolitical situation could be empowered for change.

Alvis entered the classroom to lecture the ex-military teachers, with the principal sitting in the back to audit.

He needed to cultivate numerous lower-ranking officers and staff.

"Unfortunately it will take at least ten years for any effects. How to sustain until then is a major problem," Alvis inwardly sighed as he began the lecture.

Time quickly passed to dusk.

After class, Alvis took the lead in loudly declaring: "We are the great soldiers of the crimson dragon Raphael! We will inherit this honor and responsibility in the future! Like the valiant heroes of Valhalla, we offer Him everything!"

...

Meanwhile, at the parade grounds in the northern suburbs, the figure hailed as the living deity, the crimson dragon Raphael, loudly exclaimed upon hearing the dismissal pipes: "Finally freed! I am off work!"

He had personally experienced the suffering and helplessness of the dragon kin's daily routine - this feeling of liberation from confinement was too pleasurable.

Raphael first flew to the peak of Pillar Mountain.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Arnold, how about this dragon?"

The golden dragon looked helplessly at the cowering Nicole. "Too slow-witted and cowardly, feels like a housecat raised by humans."

Raphael flapped his wings and dove down, pinning Nicole who shrieked in fright.

"Keep screaming and you'll join those two!" Raphael warned, pointing at the hanging dragon bodies.

Nicole tearfully nodded frantically, desperately covering her mouth to avoid another sound.

"How do you think if she could potentially work as a laborer, solving the issue of moving large materials," Raphael mused to Arnold after a moment.

The golden dragon rubbed his claws. "You are the sovereign here, we act on your commands."

He changed tack. "However, it would be better if Nicole could serve as combat power."

Raphael shook his head: "One burden is capable of dragging down ten thousand elite soldiers. Fools should know their place."

"Starting tomorrow, you will report to a human named Alvis in the northern suburbs!" The red dragon swept Nikole away with his tail, and asked Arnold:

"What was the situation when you went to escort the ships yesterday? Did the humans across the northeast river harass you?"

Arnold shook his head: "No, it was very peaceful, there weren't even any human ships around."

Raphael nodded: "Kindly stay vigilant of the humans across the river, they have the capability to directly attack my two territories."

"I will gladly serve."

...

Alvis ended his workday and returned to a house in the center of Erl.

It was a small exquisite house equipped with a heating furnace, the only downside being it had no neighbors.

"Dad's home!" Hess and Misha had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, finally greeting their father's return excitedly and demanding hugs.

"Come here!"

Alvis relaxed his rigid expression, revealing a heartfelt happy smile.

He picked up the two children, one in each arm, while his wife Helen was quietly waiting by the sumptuous dining table.

"You must be tired." Helen came over and took Misha to lighten Alvis's load. "Was everything smooth today?"

Alvis smiled affectionately: "Smooth sailing. I'm the governor appointed by the red dragon himself, with an extraordinary group of bodyguards. How could it not be smooth?" He pointed to the rat dragons and blood wyverns guarding around the house.

"But…" Helen wanted to say something but closed her mouth, nervously looking around before lowering her voice:

"I don't mean any disrespect, only that - are you really working together with a dragon? Is that really reliable?" She frowned with worry.

"I can understand, your thinking has been occupied by the Empire's long-standing human supremacist propaganda," Alvis smiled. "You think only humans qualify as an intelligent race, capable of establishing governments, nations and order. Other dragons, demi-humans, orcs, and monsters may dominate in novels, plays and films because that is fantasy. But in reality it's too fantastical."

Helen silently nodded.

Alvis caught the rambunctious Misha and Hess running around the table and placed them firmly in their chairs:

"But this world is not like that. Before humans, each race built glorious histories of their own. They may have declined, but that doesn't mean they devolved into beasts. Given the chance, making a comeback is no problem."

"I've simply chosen to side with the red dragon."

"But…" Helen said uneasily with her head lowered, "Lord Cornet is supposed to lead an army to reclaim this place. Won't you end up fighting him to the death? He's done so much to help us…"

Alvis's face instantly froze like stone, ice-cold: "This is also fate. But I will never abandon this family and many people's lives for a debt of gratitude. I will defeat him!"

The atmosphere became rather stiff. Hess and Misha didn't understand what their parents were talking about, only drooling over the red wine beef stew, pan-fried dragon bone fish, potato and onion casserole on the table.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's care about our family instead," Alvis broke the gloom, smiling. "Are these ingredients from yesterday or today?"

Helen also didn't want to dwell on such a heavy topic, living each day well was what she should focus on:

"Hmm…the potatoes and onions are from three days ago. Those - called blood wyverns, right? - they deliver a huge sackful every day, the house's small pantry can't even fit them all. I told them to send more next week."

"The beef was personally delivered this morning by Amelia's butler. He said it's from a rare black-horned demon bovine, with a chewy but not dry texture; eating it allows the body to develop more robustly. Since Hess and Misha are still growing, I accepted it."

Alvis served his wife a few spoonfuls of beef and plenty of sides, then distributed food to the two children, finally serving himself a large helping of potato casserole.

"Dad, do you like potatoes?" Misha asked with an innocent tone, looking at her father's plate.

Alvis didn't answer, only smiling and patting her head, continuing to listen to Helen recount their domestic matters.

...

Meanwhile, at the training camp in the northern suburbs:

"Anubis, has our Sinister Wing been split up?" The black dragon Zenny bluntly asked the wolfman.

"Split up my ass! Sinister Wing was always an extremely loose organization to begin with. It only attracted so many people by taking advantage of the chaotic environment on the Strife Plains!"

Anubis threw his military cap and lay tiredly on a hammock, rudely replying.

Saphirette and Paladin sat silently in the corner.

"Were you promised some benefit? Or did you read a few books and think you're cultured now?" Zenny began mocking. "Otherwise why are you the only one allowed to be an officer while the three of us are left out in the cold?"

Anubis immediately jumped up: "What did you say? Wasn't it you guys who pushed me out to face that demon red dragon in the first place! You want authority but don't want the responsibilities that come with it. Where does that opportunity come from?"

Ever since Alvis began consolidating the forces under his command to build an army, Saphirette, Zenny and Paladin were automatically excluded.

Because these three either had special races, or eccentric personalities combined with individual powers that were too overwhelming. Alvis believed they should be treated as "strategic weapons" like Raphael.

The wolfman Anubis, on the other hand, rose through the ranks by relying on loyalists and iron-fisted rule to seize the team leader position. His individual strength would not be overwhelmingly beyond the norm, making him suitable to undergo officer training.

But this made the other three very resentful, feeling like Anubis had sold them out.

However, with Raphael personally overseeing the camp every day, no one dared cause any incidents, leaving them to silently seethe until now, likely stretching into the future.

"Saphirette is so bored," the little witch sighed, unusually expressing her feelings through action.

Anubis let out a cold snort before lying back down, awaiting the evening's training.

"A bunch of fools! If this place can really keep going, then I'll be a legal citizen with high office and plenty of profits. Why would I go back to being some mercenary leader?"

...

The noble manors:

The Amelia and Komo families had already erected tall fences and walls, severing the paths to the other manors.

Of the original twelve, only ten remained.

However, Shena didn't care about any of this, as over this period he had monopolized the collection of scattered precious materials and ores, also stockpiling enough uraninium as an energy source.

More importantly, he had gathered the most critical experimental materials - living body.

"Although the agent destroyed my void laboratory, luckily I still have a large underground lab. Although not as convenient and secretive as the void lab, in the current environment of Oakenburg, no one can discover it. And even if discovered, they can't do anything to me."

Wearing a light blue alchemist's robe with his trademark pince-nez glasses on the bridge of his nose, Shena's gaze swept over the living body trapped in cages.

"Demi-humans, dwarves, humans, monsters, dragon pets!"

He paced over to a cluster of small cages, originally the dragon pets trafficked by Deluca that he had covertly collected.

"Unfortunately no dragon kin, they're too powerful and currently the authorities - just like when the Garron royal family was in power, I couldn't capture humans in bulk - but now there are no such scruples!"

Shena turned to another cluster of sealed tanks.

These enclosed transparent tanks were filled with a life-preserving liquid to keep the living body in an unconscious state without dying.

The elderly, children, women, men, mentally ill patients, elites and more.

Sorted by age and class, all kinds of humans were present.

"Your families will only think you died in the dragon's breath, or fled to Ryton and Chalaran. There won't be any 'missing persons investigation committee' to cause trouble, so resign yourselves to lending your lives to this alchemical experiment!"

Shena couldn't help but laugh loudly. Tonight, he would initiate eternal life!