Chapter 257: Honoring the Emperor (IV)

The nobility of the Burning Ashes Kingdom is not the traditional five-level nobility system of the North. It merely borrows the name. In fact, it is a more detailed eighteen-level nobility system.

Every great title has three smaller grades, and even the most basic citizens are divided into first-class, second-class, and third-class citizens.

For example, Trump is the highest-ranking first-class duke, and the burning emblem on his chest has an additional dragon wing carving decoration - this symbolizes the special importance of the red dragon.

These titles are not related to land, but only determine your status and treatment in the kingdom, as well as the gift of dragon veins. Moreover, they are almost never inherited by bloodline, but only granted and advanced by merit.

This time, due to Cassius's political need to eliminate the barriers between humans and monsters, as well as for publicity considerations, the standards for conferring titles were set relatively simply, and even a few humans were specially crammed in.

However, as the kingdom continues to expand, the granting of titles will inevitably become more stringent in the future, the judgment of merit will also be standardized, and the value of these titles will continue to increase.

Under this standard, for an ordinary human soldier to become a first-class citizen is already the limit, and to go further may require the power of professionals.

Such a setting is also intended to make the kingdom a more formidable war machine, and to play a role in the future all-out war in Anzeta, or even in the war with the southern countries.

By then, there won’t be so many “lucky ones”, only the brave ones who crawl out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

And when nearly 50,000 new players pour in, they will also be integrated into this system and become a part of the Burning Kingdom's chariot, crushing all forces that stand in its way as the kingdom expands.

"Master, the gift can begin now."

Trump warned carefully.

Cassius nodded slightly but said nothing.

Today, he can make tens of thousands of people bow down to him just by relying on the dragon power that he released unintentionally and the power and authority he has accumulated over the years.

Red Dragon didn't need to explain anything, just a little hint would attract countless people. Even his every move would be interpreted in various ways by people.

Just like this awarding ceremony, many smart people have seen that Cassius wants to help humans take power.

And most of them know that opposition is pointless.

"Roar--"

The red dragon raised its head slightly, let out a powerful roar, and spread its wide wings.

His bloody mouth was overflowing with hot white smoke, brilliant flames were gushing out of the spiracles on his neck and tail, and the dragon crystal on his chest released an incomparably dazzling light - at this moment, he was like a miniature sun, making it impossible for almost everyone present to open their eyes.

[Blood Gift]

Afterwards, streams of flames containing terrifying energy flew out from the top of the platform and connected to the bodies of the three dukes like glowing threads.

The seeds representing the power of the ancestral dragons flowed into the dukes' veins and gradually merged into their blood. Since they had already been endowed with dragon veins, the gift did not bring too many changes to their physical form, but brought the most thorough sublimation of their life levels.

This grace lasted nearly ten minutes.

The change is radical and magical in nature, and the evolution will eventually appear in their physical bodies.

"The effect is not bad."

Cassius nodded slightly.

In his sight, the challenge level of [Hornet Warlord - Doro] has jumped to level 12 and is still rising. [Sword of the Oathbreaker - Medoras] has also reached level 13, and [Giant Intelligent One - Rump] has reached a terrifying level 15.

By the time they had completely absorbed this power, it would be difficult for them to find an opponent, at least within the Anzeta Wilderness. Then, Cassius' mind moved, and something even more surprising happened -

With the crackling sound of the burning flames, the flowing flame threads that merged into the bodies of the three dukes instantly split into several parts and connected to the seven marquises. Then they split again and merged into the bodies of the twelve earls.

The recipient of the dragon vein takes on the seed of bloodline power and waits for further evolution.

Those who had never received the dragon veins underwent a drastic transformation, wailing in pain and moving towards a higher life form. For example, the "Flower of North Wind Castle" Delena grew small spiral horns on her head, scales vaguely appeared on her cheeks, and she groaned.

The human wizard, Guillermo, Trump's assistant, had curled up and wrapped his whole body in a magic robe, but the dragon horn pierced it.

However, most of them maintained their basic human form, but had some dragon characteristics and possessed the essence of magic.

Compared to the original uncontrolled violence, intensity, and wanton venting of the red dragon blood gift, Cassius can now better control this blood power, taking into account the physical fitness of each recipient, and keep it at just the right level so as not to burn the recipient to death.

Hundreds of silk threads flickering with fire, like magnificent waterfalls cascading down, or like a huge dense web woven from flaming spider silk, connect all those who receive the gift together and continuously pour the power of the dragon on them.

People looked up at the gleaming threads and gazed at the red dragon that was as dazzling as the sun.

A word suddenly came to their minds.

--miracle.

Yes, a miracle.

Compared to the king's reward, this awarding ceremony is more like God's grace to believers.

Many of them had seen the complicated and lengthy investiture ceremonies of the dukes of the northern countries. The majesty and grandeur of those ceremonies combined were not even one ten-thousandth of this ceremony. And Cassius's status within the kingdom was closer to those high-ranking beings.

He is not just an ordinary ruler, but has become a more symbolic existence.

Cassius did not need to interfere too much in the country's internal affairs. He only needed to be there, and no one would dare to attack the country without thinking.

In the crowd, Faro Trishid was shielding his eyes from the dazzling light with his hands.

He collapsed to the ground in panic, his whole body shaking violently, and his voice was already filled with tears.

"How could it be?"

"How can something like this be defeated?"

However, the Harper Alliance lurker did not notice that among the people nearby who had been attracted by his attention, several of them had eyes revealing extreme greed.

They all want to be the new "George".

"catch him!"

"He's a spy!"

Several people shouted one after another, fearing that the duck in their mouths would slip away and they would lose the chance to become "first-class citizens".

The crowd nearby once again started a wave of enthusiasm.

(End of this chapter)