MTLNOVEL Chapter 05: Dragon Valley (5)_2
"Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five..." Gray counted one after another. In the blink of an eye, there were already one hundred and fifty. Meanwhile, the growth rate also began to gradually slow down.
Elder Gjestav smiled and said, "They can all see this rune. As long as you allow it, they can join. This will become an important communication channel for you, helping you understand their thoughts and letting them understand you. However, I must remind you first, those who join this key are inclined to support you. Even if every one of them likes you, that is very normal. That does not mean you have succeeded. One hundred and fifty, compared to my eighteen thousand clansmen, is still a very small number."
"Thank you, Elder Gjestav." Gray bowed again in thanks.
...
Night fell, and the forest was filled with dreamlike, beautiful fireflies.
The Dragon Clan once again brought a mesmerizing dinner to the delegation members.
The dwarfs happily drank and made noise. The knights of the Silver Moon Knight Order also joined in.
Only Gray sat quietly alone, listening to one noisy voice after another in his mind.
"How's it going?" the Black Cat asked softly while munching on a fish.
*"Two hundred and fifty people now, still increasing, although the rate is slowing. I'm studying how to leave something inside so that new members can get the answers they want immediately as they enter."* Gray replied.
*"Did they ask you many questions?"*
*"Hmm..."*
*Gray genuinely didn't know how to answer this question. Because the key always felt chaotic.*
*In this world, there are all kinds of people. And when there are eighteen thousand dragons, there are also all kinds of dragons. Some questions couldn't even be considered questions, while some made Gray completely unsure of how to answer.*
"Lord of Lich King, I greatly admire your ideas. But I believe the most important part should be war. My point is, every great history must end with a great war. Peace makes people want to nap."
"Shut up, you just want to fight! I can see it!"
"No, I just want to enforce justice through fighting!"
"Your idea itself is wrong! It deviates from the original idea of the Lich King. The goal should be justice, not fighting!"
"We can balance both! Trust me! I already have a perfect plan!"
...
"Actually, I think the Black Dragon Clan should not be included, otherwise, you will regret it. We Golden Dragons have regretted it for tens of thousands of years."
"If they are not included, wouldn't it violate the original intention?"
"What does it matter? The original intention could be amended, right? We haven't truly started yet, maybe we should take this opportunity to amend it. 'For the future of the living beings on Keltos Continent, excluding the Black Dragon Clan.' Yes, just adding this clause would be perfect. Very simple."
...
"I'm more concerned about how we would fight against Heaven and Hell if we truly join. I have read records of their wars from ten thousand years ago, it's too horrifying. Dreams are wonderful, but we shouldn't join a war that we are bound to lose."
...
"I have a great plan, I read it in a novel. 'Lich Knight'? No, not this one, another one..."
...
"If we make great contributions for the future of Keltos Continent, shouldn't the territories be redivided? I'm not eyeing human territories; I'm concerned whether, as they enjoy the justice we provide, they should do something for us? This should be a fair exchange, those who contribute more should enjoy privileges. Strength-based superiority, isn't it?"
...
*Noisy, all kinds of voices, chatting incessantly. Gray didn't know who they were, where they were, their names, and most of the time couldn't get a word in.*
"Lord of Lich King? Lord of Lich King? Are you listening?"
"Lord of Lich King? Can you answer the questions we're concerned about? We want an answer."
"I'm getting impatient. I'm communicating with my parents and siblings, hoping they can also stand by Lord of Lich King! Lord of Lich King, are you sure you don't want to say something? If you don't speak, I will withdraw and never support you again!"
After a long silence, Gray softly said in the key, "First, war is only chosen when we have no other means. Choosing war proactively will violate our original intent because war itself brings more injustice."
"Oh, so you're saying we need to fulfill our dreams with empty words? No, that's not what we want to see."
Suddenly, five consciousnesses left the key.
"We will not recognize any privileges, privileges themselves deny fairness. Fighting for Keltos' future is our own decision. We pursue justice itself, not the privileges justice brings us."
"So, we will be equals with the humble humans?"
Suddenly, another five consciousnesses left the key.
"Once the original intention is set, it cannot be amended, only deepened. Otherwise, everything we've done will become meaningless. When we exclude the Black Dragon Clan out of personal likes and dislikes, we've set boundaries for the future of Keltos Continent. At the same time, we will not pursue the fairness and justice belonging to Keltos, but only our own fairness and justice. Because, we have already monopolized everything, which violates the basic principle of fairness and justice."
"Lord of Lich King," a voice said, "I must remind you, there are no Black Dragons here, it's all Gold Dragons. You wish for our support, to stand against the Blacks, yet you tell us to protect their rights. This won't help you convince us."
"But my goal is not merely to convince you. Pursuing a new future for Keltos Continent is our true goal."
"But I think you should change your strategy. If the Gold Dragons are willing to join you, then the Black Dragons they detest should not be included. If the Blood Clan joins you, then the werewolves detested by the Blood Clan shouldn't be included either. Those are attractive terms."
Suddenly, twenty consciousnesses left the key in one breath.
Sporadically, there were still people joining. Simultaneously, some left.
Some expressed confusion about Gray, some consoled Gray, others said they would continue to observe...
The number of consciousnesses in the key fluctuated slightly, although still upward, it had already lost its original momentum. In the end, it halted at around three hundred.
"How's it going?" Vivian asked softly.
Gray replied softly, "I think they didn't understand what I talked about today."
"Didn't understand?"
"Yes, what they like is just a certain feeling. Just like most humans like knight novels and praise heroes, but that doesn't mean they are willing to become heroes, nor does it mean they are willing to stick to virtues and dedicate themselves like knights. They just envy the flowers and applause heroes enjoy. Or rather... privileges."
The team members looked at each other.
The Black Cat hesitantly asked, "Did you make it clear to them?"
"I did."
"How did you say it? I mean, did you put it a bit more tactfully?"
"I just said it truthfully."
"So, some people left?"
"Yes."
"Thank God, it's just the beginning, and some people have already betrayed us. We were hoping to convince them all." The Black Cat sighed helplessly, "Well, it's what was expected. If you hadn't said it, you wouldn't be Gray. I just praised you as an excellent negotiation expert today, now I'm taking it back."