novelraw Chapter 440: Population Migration, Two Lords
Chapter 440: Population Migration, Two Lords
Time moved like a fierce wind, carrying dust and messages of change, rushing forward without pause.
Before anyone noticed, the sultry heat that belonged to late summer and early autumn had faded, replaced by an increasingly thick chill.
Near the northern border by the Permafrost Tundra, fine white snowflakes had already begun to drift down from a gray sky, quietly dressing the land in a modest silver coat.
Yet across much of the Ser Wilderness, everything still blazed and boiled with activity.
New cities designed according to grand blueprints were gradually taking shape, their silhouettes filling out, high walls springing up; along the winding border line, fortresses and watchtowers rose like bamboo shoots after rain, forming an initial defensive network; roads connecting the kingdom’s various territories spread like extending blood vessels, carrying vitality to every corner of the wasteland.
The skeleton of the Aola Kingdom was rapidly being filled with flesh and blood, growing ever more imposing and orderly.
At the same time, just as many farsighted beings had predicted.
When a powerful, stable new order with astonishing development potential rises in a once chaotic wilderness, the population flows of surrounding regions will inevitably change.
As the fame of the Aola Kingdom and the Red Iron Dragon Emperor grew day by day,
especially after the tale that “the Red Iron Dragon Emperor fought four at once and killed four Dragon-Worship Cult legends” spread, embellished through countless retellings,many hesitant, wavering intelligent beings could no longer hold back their impulse.
A migration wave with an extremely wide reach erupted.
Numerous intelligent species—some powerful individuals traveling alone, some entire clans or tribes of notable scale—rolled like waves from the southern borderlands adjoining the Ser Wilderness and from deep, secluded mountain forests, ultimately converging toward the rising Aola Kingdom.
Among this tide of migrants were some formidable intelligent monstrosities.
For example, a rather large griffon flock left the steep peaks and cliffside nests they had occupied for generations, crossed mountains and rivers, and descended under the boundless sky of the wilderness.
They flocked together, wings linking like a moving black cloud sweeping the horizon.
Finally, accompanied by successive sharp war cries, they landed in a designated mountain territory assigned to them.
Out of respect for this force, iron dragon Sorog personally received these long-traveled griffons.
They had sharp eyes, hooked beaks, eagle-like heads, clawed limbs and lion-like bodies, and massive wings layered with feathers... all these traits together sketched the griffon’s majestic form.
Among them, the leader was especially huge, far larger than its kin.
What drew even more attention was the long feathers growing along the edges of its wings, which shimmered with a metallic golden sheen in the sunlight.
This was a rare, highborn bloodline branch among griffons.
— the Golden-Plumed Griffon, possessing the potential to step into the legendary tier.
“Honored War Prince, we have heard of the great renown of the Aola Kingdom and the Red Iron Dragon Emperor, and we respect you deeply. So we crossed mountains and rivers with our whole clan to seek refuge. We beg your kingdom to accept us.”
The Golden-Plumed Griffon bowed its head and spoke in clear, fluent Common, in a deep voice.
Sorog’s gaze was steady and sharp as it landed on the Golden-Plumed leader, studying this powerful monster whose body and life level both surpassed many others.
He had chosen to receive them in person not only because their numbers were large and their strength could not be ignored, but also because the leader itself was formidable.
That leader’s life level had at least reached nineteen, and might very likely have reached twenty—
just below legendary.
“Before coming to the Aola Kingdom, with your strength and the size of your clan, you should have once been a dominant monster lord in your region.”
Iron dragon Sorog spoke slowly, saying, “Now, look me in the eyes and tell me the true reason.
Why give up the territory and position you cultivated for so long to travel a thousand miles to a country still unfamiliar to you? Don’t pacify me with hollow flattery about revering the dragon nation.”
As he spoke, spiritual energy lit up in the iron dragon’s eyes.
His gaze was like a torch, as if it could penetrate the body and see straight into the soul.
Under Sorog’s scrutiny, the Golden-Plumed Griffon fell silent for a moment, as if organizing its words or weighing pros and cons.
A few seconds later it spoke again: “You are right, Honored Prince, I was indeed once a ruler of my own domain.
And the reason I chose to leave is that aside from strength, my intelligence surpasses most of my kin.
This intelligence gave me the ability to see the situation clearly, but it also brought more troubles and a sense of powerlessness.
Originally, we lived for generations in a mountain range within the Divine Kingdom of Theo, with our own hunting grounds and airspace. From the outside, we probably looked majestic.
But I know clearly that all of that was only a facade, a fragile illusion.
The humans of the Divine Kingdom of Theo allowed our existence, and they never truly sent legendary champions to exterminate us, but that was not because they were kind-hearted or foolish.
On the contrary...”
Anger pressed under the Golden-Plumed Griffon’s voice, “Our feathers, our claws, our beaks... even our bones and blood are prized as excellent magical conduits and alchemical materials by those humans!
From time to time, adventuring parties or even entire armies come to hunt us down.
I fear legendary might and cannot recklessly annihilate those attackers, so I can only watch my people being continually harvested.”
“They even stoop to stealing our unhatched eggs, taking them away to domesticate and enslave, using them to forge their vaunted griffon knights!”
After hearing the griffon’s words full of anger and humiliation, Sorog understood their reason for the clan migration.
In short, this exceptionally intelligent Golden-Plumed Griffon refused to remain a stifled lord in a human kingdom. Upon learning of the dragon-founded wilderness nation, after hesitation, it finally resolved to seek refuge.
The only issue now was:
Accepting this griffon clan would very likely anger the Divine Kingdom of Theo and could become a spark for diplomatic friction.
But so what?
The Aola Kingdom and the Divine Kingdom of Theo were geographically adjacent and already bore old grievances. Each side was close to a powerful homeland—Lothrian and Reebos—that were mutually hostile.
They were already potential, even destined, rivals.
One more matter would not change the overall situation.
Once he thought this through, iron dragon Sorog’s huge head nodded slightly, his mouth curving into a smile.
“The Aola Kingdom welcomes your choice and arrival.”
He said in a deep voice, “Here, as long as you obey the laws of the crown and fulfill your duties, you will gain far broader freedom of hunting grounds and the right to soar the skies than ever before.
This is the dragon’s promise to you.”
Hearing this, the griffon leader’s taut nerves relaxed.
It folded its wings completely against its sides and lowered its head deeply toward the iron dragon.
“Thank you for your acceptance.”
“From today on, our claws and beaks will fight for the borders of the Aola Kingdom, fight for the honored dragons!”
Iron dragon Sorog bowed his head slightly in response.
Right now, what the Aola Kingdom lacked most was not undeveloped land, but a sufficient number of intelligent subjects willing to abide by order.
With the Golden-Plumed Griffon’s strength and the scale of its clan, Aola would gain another lord.
However, Sorog would not immediately hand over lordly rank and authority.
At the very least, the griffon clan would need to prove their loyalty and capability by making sufficient contributions to the kingdom. Only after testing and assessment would they be granted heavy responsibilities—this was the prudent approach.
Behind the Golden-Plumed Griffon flock, various other races kept arriving to pledge themselves.
Beyond commonly seen wilderness races—gnolls, kobolds, lizardfolk—there were rarer groups like tree spirits, shapeshifters, turtle-people; even some drakes with dragon blood flowing in their veins were drawn by the Red Iron Dragon Emperor’s renown and made the journey.
And there were other lord-level powerful beings besides the Golden-Plumed Griffon.
The Yaqi Serpentine Leopard, a giant black panther with four serpents growing from its shoulders, led packs of four-headed and six-headed serpent-leopards.
They also came from the Divine Kingdom of Theo, which lay relatively close to Aola.
This Yaqi leader’s life level reached twenty, on par with the Golden-Plumed Griffon.
As days passed, many humans came to join as well.
Free people and serfs struggling to survive under the old kingdom’s noble infighting and heavy taxes heard from various channels that a new kingdom had risen in the wilderness—one that, upon swearing fealty and obeying its laws, would grant land, sufficient food, and the dignity of intelligent beings. So they dragged their families, risking the journey across the border toward this land of hope.
Some overlooked craftsmen, scholars, and low-level mages—talented but unrecognized or unsuited to the old kingdom’s rigid system—were attracted by Aola’s rapid development and urgent need for talent. They hoped to realize their potential here and gain status and resources unattainable in their former hierarchy.
Among them were also fugitives and mercenaries wanted in the southern nations.
They saw this newly established land with fledgling laws and incomplete order as either an ideal refuge or a new gold rush full of opportunity.
In short, for various reasons, many kinds of intelligent beings ultimately set foot in Aola’s territory.
The household registration officers of the Citadel of Crimson Flame and the emerging cities were consequently overwhelmed.
Verification, registration, allocation, guidance… the kingdom was efficiently absorbing this fresh lifeblood and integrating them into its rapidly growing body.
“Two lord-level monsters? Hmm, understood. Arrange their placement flexibly based on the situation.”
In the Dragonback Mountains, the Red Iron Dragon had just finished an intense training session. Through a mental link, he was communicating with iron dragon Sorog.
Garoth was not surprised by the influx of so many new people.
He knew full well that as his renown gradually strengthened and spread, while it would bring many challenges and potential enemies, it would also inevitably attract more beings eager to change their circumstances, seeking shelter or opportunity.
That was the natural result of power and order.
“Notably, the two powerful monster leaders and most of the clans seeking refuge come from the Divine Kingdom of Theo, which borders our territory. The human migrants are mostly from border towns or villages of Theo as well.”
Sorog added, “Such large-scale population loss cannot fail to be noticed by Theo’s high command; they certainly will not sit idly by.”
The Red Iron Dragon replied, “That is unavoidable.
We seized the wilderness they regarded as their backyard; they cannot swallow that humiliation. The conflict between the two kingdoms will only deepen. Each will view the other as a thorn in their flesh; reconciliation is unlikely.”
He paused slightly, then continued issuing orders: “Among the human migrants, there will be a mix—perhaps many spies and agents sent by Theo. Remember to have Russell and his scouts intensify inspections and root out these hidden dangers.
Also, more outposts and fortresses must be constructed along the border where the wilderness meets Theo.
Plan ahead for possible difficulties—we must prepare against the Divine Kingdom of Theo.”
Sorog nodded on the other end of the mental link, responding, “Yes, I have considered this and have started arrangements.”
After a brief thought, the iron dragon shifted the topic proactively.
“According to our agreement with the Lothrian Kingdom, their sorceress advisory corps and senior craftsmen are arriving in our country in succession.
Those already here have completed handovers and begun planning more efficient road networks, teaching advanced construction and manufacturing techniques, and guiding the establishment of an alchemical industry system.”
He paused, sounding slightly hesitant: “They request no reward and present themselves very humbly, but I wonder if some hidden cost might be concealed within this?”
Sorog had always been wary of human kingdoms.
Even after years of cooperation with Lothrian and with Gordon serving as a bridge, he still could not fully trust them.
Garoth answered deliberately, “A cost? Of course there is one.
There are no free lunches in this world, no truly gratuitous generosity without strings.
Lothrian is willing to give these benefits not purely out of investment, and it has nothing to do with Gordon.”
The Red Iron Dragon lifted his head slightly, his gaze seeming to penetrate space toward the distant south.
He said in a low voice, “Set aside other influences, the fact that we can effectively check the Divine Kingdom of Theo already achieves Lothrian’s purpose, and the effect is significant.”
The brutal wars that once swept the southern nations had temporarily quieted, but the undercurrents and power games between nations had never truly vanished.
Relations remained tense and delicate, the nations constantly engaging in invisible contests.
In this context, supporting a potentially strong wilderness nation was effectively gaining a powerful ally while simultaneously constraining and draining a hostile kingdom’s resources.
Those strategic gains for Lothrian were as valuable as winning a direct battle.
That said, the benefits Aola gained in the process were also real.
Even without Lothrian’s active support and cooperation, Aola and Theo would likely have drifted toward conflict due to geography, resources, and historical grievances.
The current cooperation between Aola and Lothrian was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
As Garoth analyzed the pros and cons of relations with Lothrian, Sorog’s mental fluctuations suddenly rose on the other end of the link.
Garoth sensed the change sharply and asked directly, “What is it? Something else?”
Sorog composed his thoughts and then said, “It’s about inviting the Luckbringer.”
“We sent envoys to the Church of the Goddess of Fortune, and they have arrived safely and conveyed our willingness to cooperate and a special invitation to Archbishop Alya.
The church responded positively, saying they are willing to send personnel to Aola for detailed talks.
But... they told our envoy that almost exactly during the time of our official nation-founding ceremony, the Luckbringer will be going to the far-off Arotala Continent to carry out an important mission.
They cannot confirm when she will complete that mission and return.”
“The church therefore proposed that they could instead send another senior archbishop to come and discuss cooperation in detail.”
The Arotala Continent lies west of the Atlantis Continent.
It is the dominant territory of the elven empire, Nausil.
Like the Atlantis Continent, Arotala is not fully unified; besides the dominant elven empire, there are kingdoms, principalities, and independent city-states founded by other races.
The Red Iron Dragon’s thick tail flicked once, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
He suddenly realized this was likely not a mere coincidence.
The Luckbringer’s traveling to the Arotala Continent at such a time probably meant her luck attribute was exerting influence in some unseen way.