Chapter 1084 — The Turning of an Age
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
Under such circumstances, rather than trading "hostages" for interests that no longer mattered, it was better to seize the moment to strengthen his own reputation within the "Union" and reinforce the persuasiveness of the "community of shared destiny," exchanging them for a positive international image—and besides, he was very much looking forward to just how much profit the "flourishing centers of commerce" Luo Yan had promised might bring.
Afterward, they settled the handling of numerous post-war affairs—the details would still require diplomats and the think tanks of both sides to negotiate in full, but the broad directions had been fixed in this reception room. As time wore on, the sun that had risen at dawn climbed gradually to mid-sky, and the topic of the war's aftermath finally drew to a close.
Gao Yang let out a breath, looked at Luo Yan seated across from him, and brought up another matter: "There is something else I came here today to tell you."
"Another matter?" A flicker of doubt crossed Luo Yan's face. "Regarding what?"
Gao Yang picked up a Sorin tree-fruit and, studying its smooth red surface in the sunlight, said slowly: "Thalrond—do you know that name?"
"Thalrond…" A thoughtful expression rose at once on Luo Yan's face, and he nodded slowly. "Not long ago it was a name wholly strange to me, but lately I have heard a great deal of intelligence concerning it—half of it from your publicly circulated newspapers. It is the realm of the giant dragons, in the far north, beyond the Eternal Storm, is it not?"
"Correct," Gao Yang nodded. "Of course, the Eternal Storm has now vanished, and all that stands between us and the dragon realm is a vast stretch of sea."
"…The realm of dragons. I once thought it was only a legend—everyone thought it was only a legend. Though we all know dragons truly exist, many tales describe them as creatures dwelling in other spaces, like the elemental beings or the spirits of the ethereal realm," Luo Yan said, a trace of emotion in his tone. "Who would have thought that beyond the Loren Continent there exists a civilization founded by giant dragons?"
Gao Yang regarded Luo Yan quietly; he deliberately waited two seconds before unhurriedly breaking the silence: "Yes, that civilization truly exists—and not only does it exist, they will also become a member of the Union."
The room fell instantly silent. Even a man as steady as Luo Yan was somewhat dazed in that moment, and Matilda beside him could not conceal her astonishment either, staring wide-eyed and frozen for a good while—only when Gao Yang spoke up to break the stillness did the two of them come back to themselves.
"You look surprised," Gao Yang said with a smile.
"What did you just say?" Luo Yan stared at Gao Yang, wide-eyed, unable to hide the shock in his voice. "You said… you even invited the dragons to this conference? The real dragons?!"
"Yes," Gao Yang nodded. "Although Cecil has already publicly revealed the true existence of the dragons through the media, the matter of their attending the Union conference is still being kept secret, so it is only natural that you did not know—I deliberately controlled that information. In any case, the dragons will appear at the Union conference and join us as a nation of mortals. I believe this will greatly advance the conference's proceedings."
By now Luo Yan had recovered from his astonishment. He composed himself, and at the same time grew thoughtful: "…Indeed. If the dragons were to descend from the sky and declare their will to join the Covenant, then those delegates who harbor doubts and waver toward the Union would surely be profoundly shaken. I cannot imagine who would still raise a voice of opposition under such circumstances—they might not even be able to keep thinking calmly… This is a card no one could have anticipated."
Having said that, he could not help looking up at Gao Yang again, a trace of puzzlement in his expression: "Who else knows of this matter?"