The next morning, the upper echelons of Erl gathered again on the lawn inside the palace castle.

Raphael had demanded these daily meetings, where they would inform him of all the major events that happened the previous day, and any major decisions had to be reported to him.

"Surely Crimson Dragon doesn't actually want to take matters into his own hands?"

The core nobles whispered among themselves.

"Even if he did, the lower and middle ranks are all our people. We've infiltrated every aspect of Erl. Without our cooperation, this regime will be paralyzed."

Those with some insight were more at ease, as they truly controlled all levels of Erl's power structure.

Although Amelia and Komo had broken away from the noble group, they could not possibly have absolute loyalty like the dragon kin. Instead, they formed their own small faction. On issues of overall interest, they would only side with the many other elites, not becoming one with the Crimson Dragon.

Alvis' face looked grim at this time, brushing off consolations from others.

Soon, Raphael came plummeting down from the sky, the gale winds and shockwaves nearly knocking the unsuspecting crowd to the ground.

"You're all very punctual, good!"

He said coldly in a crawling posture as he looked at these humans, nodding his head.

"Yesterday we reconsidered and drafted a new list with specific tasks. Please review it."

Evan frowned slightly, patting the sand and dust off his body as he stepped forward, presenting Raphael with a stack of papers to review.

But Raphael shook his head, declining to take them. "This is too troublesome. I have a good idea - let one of the humans proficient in Draconic read it out for me."

As he spoke, he opened his dragon claws, and two young human females appeared before everyone.

"Sister!" Evan exclaimed in surprise, raising his head.

"Evelina Tomiray," Raphael described in a flattering tone. "A famous top student at the Dragon Academy. She even successfully healed my wife - oh, I suppose you didn't know I was already married?"

"She is now my secretary. And Garry Vattier, your own sister. However, your father Sch…err…Donier Vattier has decided to have her dedicate the rest of her life to serving me, working alongside the previous lady as my assistants to help manage things."

Raphael's words left Evan and the other elites stunned.

"Why are you all speechless?" Crimson dragon joked. "Human affairs are too complicated. Me taking on two assistants is perfectly reasonable, isn't it?"

"Of course, of course," Evan said hurriedly, nodding as he wiped sweat from his brow. But when no one was paying attention, he shot Garry a vicious glare, warning her not to say anything reckless.

"Read it," Raphael said curtly, his face turning cold once more as he instructed Evelina to read the contents on the paper.

"Understood." She picked up the paper carefully and began to recite it.

After she finished reading it, Evan asked, "How's that? What are your intentions?"

"Why are they all humans?" Raphael retorted bluntly.

"You wish to include the dragon kin? No problem," Evan readily flattered him.

"No," Raphael said, lowering his long neck to bring his draconic body before Evan. The peculiar secretions and overwhelming pressure from the dragon made Evan involuntarily lower his head.

"What I mean is, why are there no dwarves? This is the Kingdom of Erl. Look at the city walls." His dragon claw pointed toward the castle. "The twin warhammer banners of the dwarves are hanging there, with no human sigils. How can you leave them out?"

"Dwarves?" Evan suddenly recalled this minor faction.

But according to the previous division of power, the dwarves should have already belonged to Alvis' camp. He had no authority to decide on this matter.

He turned his head, but that ruling official's expression was indeterminate. Alvis ignored the anxious gazes from the dwarf elders and stood like a wooden post, unmoving.

Eventually, after some hushed discussion among themselves, the dwarf elders left Alvis' side and approached Raphael, bowing deeply before him.

"Great Crimson Dragon, our lord. Thank you for speaking up for us," the long-bearded elder said, his beard dragging on the ground.

He continued, "As you said, Erl is the ancient homeland of the dwarves, a millennium-old cultural gem. It's said our ancestors emerged alongside the ancient dragons, the two races sharing a long-standing friendship. So we beseech you to allow our king, Naisa, to return. He will not fail you."

Raphael smiled. "Correct, that was my intention. Erl is the realm of dwarves. I only intervened in response to the humans' acts of brigandry!"

He suddenly glared at the assembled nobles, two jets of draconic flames spewing from his nostrils! The humans cried out in alarm, scattering to take cover. In their panicked state, they forgot all sense of decorum, falling over with disheveled hair and clothes in an embarrassing display.

But this was mere intimidation. Raphael soon extinguished the small flames and turned to continue speaking. "Now that the threat of war is about to be eliminated, it's time for Erl to get back on track. Naisa is the king who should wield a king's authority. I will lend him my full support!"

He then glanced at Alvis. "Governer, I assume you will support this as well?"

"Of…of course."

Raphael nodded in satisfaction. "From now on, the dwarves must be involved in management across all industries, and should hold core positions. That will be all."

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With that, he flew deeper into the palace.

"Garry!"

As soon as crimson dragon left, Evan charged angrily up to his sister. "You've abandoned the dignity of a noble, angering Father to go serve the Crimson Dragon. You're an adult now so I can't really lecture you. But to involve yourself this deeply! Do you know how…how dangerous he is?"

However, Garry just looked at her brother and rolled her eyes with a muttered, "You're just afraid I'll reveal our family's dirty secrets…pretending to care about me…"

Evan dearly wished to slap this girl, but thinking of Crimson Dragon, he could only hold back.

He leaned in close with a low warning, "Don't say anything reckless! I don't want any trouble at a time like this!"

Ignoring his words, Garry took Evelina's hand and scampered into the palace to find Raphael.

The pallid Alvis prepared to leave as well.

Baroness Amelia stepped forward to ask, "What's going on? What exactly did you discuss with him in private yesterday?"

Alvis didn't answer, only quickening his pace to board a carriage and depart.

"Let's go home," he instructed.

The carriage soon arrived at the exquisite little house in the city center. Alvis leapt off and strode inside.

"Hello, sir Alvis," the dragon kin in the courtyard greeted him.

But he ignored the guards who were once his most trusted, pushing the door open and entering the house directly.

"I originally thought my merits and achievements would allow me to occupy a position here without relying on Raphael, but I didn't expect his countermeasures to be so swift and vicious."

Yesterday, Crimson Dragon was clearly hinting for him to reveal the misdeeds of the human nobles during their rule, as well as the problems he had seen and discovered since taking office himself.

"Raphael wants to truly control Erl himself, but the old Morey nobles have already turned this place into an iron plate with their operations. I am his breakthrough."

He reflected on the root cause - this was a struggle for power. Crimson dragon enjoyed sovereignty but it was an empty shell. The seemingly meek human nobles extended their tentacles into every corner, becoming one with Erl itself.

Alvis should have continued his loyalty to crimson dragon, but his mentality had changed.

In the past when he was a mere territory steward, surrounded by grotesque dragon kin, there were no rich material enjoyments. Currency didn't even exist - it was more like spiritual servitude which he didn't care about.

But now he held the ruling power over millions of humans. The adulation, fear, and flattery from his kinsmen, the refined noble pleasures, the power of life and death - anyone would want to grasp it all for themselves.

Especially Alvis, who had defeated the imperial allied forces. He felt his contributions elevated him to be just one step away from Raphael's level, granting him a certain foundation to become increasingly dismissive of crimson dragon's authority.

But the result was the current situation.

Hil was still sitting in the living room, while Helen sat beside her in a dull manner. The servants carefully cleaned the place, and the two children remained upstairs.

"Has the master's complexion been well lately?" Hil asked with a smile as she saw Alvis return.

But Alvis ignored the pleasantries. "I've already done as you instructed by defaulting to support the dwarven independence. So can you spare my children now?"

But he was only met with a shake of the head in refusal.

"You!" Alvis' rage flared instantly - his achilles heel was his family. He charged forward, intending to restrain the rat dragon!

But Hil easily gripped Alvis' hands as he tried to grab him, the crimson dragon's blood granting him a strength no ordinary human could match.

"Please, stop this!" Helen cried out in fear as she ran over, not daring to address the rodent monster directly, only able to plead with her husband to quickly surrender.

However, Alvis' reddened face remained defiant as he tried to pull his hands free, struggling in vain as the pendant around his neck shook loose.

"Alvis, everyone has an bottom line - the master, you, me, we all do," Hil said slowly.

"But you cannot let subjective will dominate your body and soul, thinking fury's power can help you achieve everything. No matter how you struggle or rage against the master, the consequence will only be utterly miserable - a moment you will absolutely regret."

The rat dragon's words gradually calmed Alvis down.

"Fine, I admit I had some delusions of grandeur," he finally said. Hil released grip on his hands, and Helen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"But I've proven my worth through actual actions! Humans have self-respect and dignity! I cannot possibly grovel before Raphael again like a court jester!" Alvis snarled coldly, twisting his neck.

Hil remained unfazed. "I'm just a tiny, lowly desert rat. By sheer luck, I ate the seeds of a magical plant and awoke some mana. Later on, I became the master's leader."

"I've learned much knowledge and many skills. From the complex society of human relations, I've also seen certain patterns emerge. I acknowledge the master cannot solely rule humans through intimidation and death - you need your own wealth, private spaces, dignity. I can understand and respect that, just as I hope you won't insult or mock the dragon kin's way of life."

Hil's words were plain and sincere. After Helen helped Alvis to a seat, he fell into deep thought.

"But every individual has a circle they cannot easily overstep, lest they face deadly consequences. Master too has a circle, but his is so vast it seems boundless. It took me a long time to grasp my own circle. I thought someone as intelligent as you would have already figured yours out, but it seems not."

Alvis buried his head in his hands for a long while before finally raising it. "I can provide you with the operational details of Erl and confidential files on certain key individuals every day, but don't be in such a hurry."

Hil nodded. "Of course. No matter what the master thinks, I don't see you as one of us, but as a complete natural human. I will protect the identities and safety of my cooperative partners."

It turned to leave but stopped at the open door to add: "Oh, your daughter doesn't have to comply, but your son must be sent to the Academy - those are the master's direct orders. If you're unwilling, you can discuss it with him in person."

"What!" Alvis nearly erupted again, but Helen quickly restrained him. "Let it go, dear. Just let Hess go. I don't want to repeat the experience we had at the Deluca household."

The dragon kin loyalists still faithfully guarded the courtyard outside, but Alvis knew that if Hil ordered them to immediately slaughter his entire family, these people would not hesitate to carry it out mercilessly.

A single, extremely reluctant word escaped through his clenched teeth: "Fine."

Hil gave a slight nod in thanks for his cooperation.

After leaving the house, a blood wyvern that had been waiting promptly snatched Hil up and flew towards Pillar Mountain.

"Alas, a drifting apart," Hil sighed, shaking her head as she watched the house grow smaller in the distance.

...

Inside the palace, Naisa knelt excitedly before Raphael.

"Respected crimson dragon lord, thank you for deciding to restore my freedom!"

Raphael lounged in the vast gardens, his claws propped on a pavilion as he said bluntly, "Let me be direct - you dwarves are just a scattered bunch, without any real power to speak of. Not worth wasting brainpower beating around the bush."

He leaned closer to Naisa, his dark golden vertical pupils flashing a threatening light. "Don't think this alone allows you to defy me, or delude yourself into thinking you've truly become a sovereign king who can foolishly ruin his own reputation and drag me down with you!"

Naisa, who had been under soft house arrest and was unaware of the recent war, asked in puzzlement, "Has some extraordinary event occurred?"

Raphael gave a cold laugh as he explained everything, then said coldly, "That's how it is. Humans are so cunning and arrogant. I currently have no way to deal with their disconnect between the upper and lower echelons. Every single person is a mere gnat deceiving me. Even Alvis has been tempted to try and deceive me. However, this is not my only trump card - you are one of them."

Naisa inwardly cursed. He immediately realized he was being pushed out as a lightning rod to draw resentment.

It seemed this dragon intended to expel the humans while preserving Erl, leaving Naisa himself in charge.

The dwarves were merely being used as targets, while the dragon schemed and plotted from behind.

"Very well, I will obey your command."

Raphael nodded. "In the past, I placed you under house arrest for fear you would covet my wealth - things like Erl's ancestral treasures and the trove of Pillar Mountain, which all belong to me!"

Naisa swallowed his anger. "They are yours."

"But now the situation grows ever more complex, and I don't want to upend the chessboard. So you will obediently stand at the fore. Rest assured, I will support you from the shadows. You can indeed enjoy the treatment of a king for a time. This place will be your personal estate - you can appoint guards and demand guests seek an audience."

Naisa gave a strained laugh. "You need not go that far."

Raphael concluded by clenching his claw, crushing the pavilion beneath it. "Tomorrow, you will begin participating in governance. Mind your status and authority."