Chapter 854 — Progress
Blade of Dawn · Page 4 of 4
And their attitude, by all appearances, was firm. This was the fruit of careful deliberation—perhaps even a decision reached after contacting the Dragonblood Archduke by some means. It was not something a few words could alter or reverse.
But driven by curiosity, Gao Yang could not help asking: "I'd like to hear the specific reasons."
Sir Gorosh exchanged a glance with Asharena beside him, then turned back and met Gao Song's gaze with earnest candor. "Your Majesty, the dragonkin have approached this exchange with sincerity and openness, and I believe you have done the same.
"We are all here to seek new friends in this vast world, and to work toward a shared and luminous future.
"There is a saying in the Holy Dragon Duchy: the lone climber has courage, but the one who climbs with companions has both courage and wisdom. The dragonkin are not as closed and xenophobic as the outside world imagines—in fact, we are glad to make friends. But the friends we make are those who can climb the heights together with us, advancing and retreating as one.
"Your Majesty, for the past thousand years and more, the dragonkin have seldom set foot outside the mountains of the Northern Reaches, for nothing that happened on this continent ever stirred our interest. Now we have opened our gates—and we opened them of our own accord. We opened them to seek an ally, and the dragonkin hope all of this can be built upon equality, respect, mutual benefit, and honesty."
Gao Yang looked quietly into Sir Gorosh's eyes. Two seconds later, he suddenly laughed.
"Of course," he said, with great cheer and ease. "Then let us discuss a new proposal."
His manner was calm, as though he had foreseen everything all along.