"Woo——"

With the roar of the whistle, the steam train slowly pulled into the platform. This train was beautifully decorated with luxurious compartments inside. It was also located in the upper city of Istalia.

However, this "special car" has arrived at a more core area, named after the former location of the Burning Embers Nest - the New Storm Highlands.

Around the station stand various buildings of various styles, including simple and hideous caves, rough and bold tents, and tall and magnificent reinforced concrete houses.

Those who live here are all famous "big shots" in the Burning Empire, and the minimum standard for admission is to be a Dragon Blood Earl.

"We have arrived at Xinfengbao Gaopo Station. Dear passengers, please get off the bus in an orderly manner.

Thank you for your contribution to the empire, long live Cassius!"

Following the steward's impassioned voice, humans, hobgoblins, tieflings, and ogre nobles with distinct dragon features got off the train one after another.

In the distance, a human noble in military uniform and carrying a leather bag walked quickly and boarded the train. He also had dragon scales and golden vertical pupils that represented his noble bloodline.

However, at this moment, this dragon-blood noble seemed a little tired. His golden vertical pupils were filled with black bags under their eyes, and he did not show the vigorous energy of a red dragon's follower at all.

——He was George. At the awarding ceremony a few days ago, he was promoted to Earl of Dragon Blood.

As a special train for the empire, the interior of the compartment was extremely luxurious, with red dragon paintings with gold frames hanging on both sides, soft carpets on the floor, and leather sofas.

George sat on the sofa, took a sip of the tea that had been prepared on the table, looked down at the silver watch on his wrist, and frowned slightly.

"Another emergency meeting. Is there so much going on in the military department lately?"

It's no wonder that George felt strange. In just a few days, the Imperial Military Department had held more than a dozen meetings.

However, he had just been promoted to commander of the 3rd Army Division and was busy with the integration and handover of the troops, so he had not been able to spare any time.

But this time, Marshal Dolo personally ordered that all senior generals must be present and no one was allowed to be absent. George had to take time out of his busy schedule and rush to the meeting.

The Empire's special train is exceptionally stable and extremely fast, and it is said to have high-level magical protection that can even withstand six-ring spells.

Soon, the train drove out of the city of Istalia and sped across the vast wasteland on the outskirts of the city.

The scenery outside the window changed rapidly and was often obscured by the steam emitted by the running train, but George still turned his head to look out the window, quietly looking towards the south.

In the distance are endless farmlands. In the golden rice fields, the wheat rises and falls like waves, and there are also huge steel beasts roaring and operating in the rice fields.

But George's eyes were fixed on the cloudless blue sky, as if he saw the rich and vast land of Fianso - which would become the battlefield for his future conquests.

Suddenly, George seemed to remember something, his eyes lit up, and he murmured to himself: "Yes, no wonder the military department has to hold so many meetings.
Perhaps, the great expansion of the empire is about to begin, and our expeditionary force will go south to conquer the vast continent of Feanso."

Expansion, conquest, and achievement, aren't these exactly what he dreams of?
He had imagined this scene countless times in his dreams: he raised his sword, with trumpets blaring and artillery fire roaring behind him, and he led his army to capture one magnificent city after another in the south.

Finally, he will stand before His Majesty Cassius, stand at the pinnacle of power in the Burning Empire, and become a true "big man".

Now, he has become the Earl of Dragon Blood, and this seemingly unattainable goal - perhaps not far away, but just lacking an opportunity.

Thinking of this, George's expression became more excited, and his golden, reptilian vertical pupils flickered slightly.

The fatigue and impatience in his eyes were swept away, and the Dragon Blood Earl became energetic again, his face filled with ambition.

"Give me some water."

George drank the tea on the table and called the waiter. He even began to look forward to the meeting that would take place soon.

"Woo——"

"We have arrived at the Empire's First Military Training Base. Please get off the bus in an orderly manner, distinguished passengers, and remember the kindness of His Majesty."

Surrounded by waiters, George walked slowly down from the special train. He immediately saw Grace waving at him not far away.

"Good day, Count George."

"Count George, I have long heard of your great name. I admire your bravery on the battlefield."

"Do you still remember me? We were stationed in the same war zone together."

"So you are the Count George I have heard of in the Imperial Daily."

Seeing George getting out of the car, the lower-status dragon-blood nobles around him came over to greet him, wanting to leave a good impression in front of this "upstart".

George was a little impatient, but he still forced a smile, dealt with them one by one, and came to Baron Grace.

Grace took off his hat, bowed respectfully, and said with a smile, "Good day, Lord George."

George waved his hand and said helplessly: "Okay, Grace, we have known each other for a long time, don't pretend here."

All of a sudden, the surrounding dragon-blood nobles looked at Baron Grace sideways and started talking in low voices.

How could a mere baron be on equal footing with an earl? Baron Grace was a man worth courting.

George knew the impact of his actions, but for friends he was familiar with, this little help was just a matter of convenience.

You have to know that George doesn't like socializing, and after his status has risen, there are not many people he can still call "friends".

Grace put on his military cap again and said, "This is not just a pretense, but a necessary etiquette between superiors and subordinates in the army.

After all, you are already a distinguished earl, and you are eligible to ride on the imperial train, while I am just an insignificant dragon-blooded baron."

George looked at the tall military base in the distance and said casually, “Isn’t this what you wanted?

Safe, stable jobs, living in the prosperous city of Istalia, no longer having to worry about going to the battlefield."

Grace nodded: "That's true."

George asked again, "You are more informed than me. Is the Imperial Military Department planning to make any big moves recently?"

Grace was a little surprised: "As a count, you didn't even pay attention to this? The armies of all parts of the empire and even the colonies have begun to mobilize.

According to everyone's speculation, the Empire is probably going to take advantage of the momentum of its victory in the war against the Abyss to launch a full-scale war against the Thracian Kingdom."

George nodded slightly and agreed, "Is that so? It's pretty much what I guessed."

"Shh-"

There was a sound like tearing cloth, followed by the sound of flames exploding. The officers present, including George, all turned their heads and looked towards the source of the sound.

I saw ripples in space and a vortex of fire appeared in the air not far away, making the surrounding air hot and distorted.

Then, the fire dragon flapped its flaming wings and flew out with a roar. On its back was a majestic half-dragon knight in armor. All of the dragonblood nobles immediately started talking and looking at the figure in the air.

"Who is that?"

"Is this an officer from the Fire Elemental Plane Expeditionary Force?"

"Wait, I recognize that lord. He is the governor of the Fire Elemental Plane Colony, the newly promoted Dragonblood Marquis—Lord Serkan."

"What? The Governor of the Fire Elemental Plane is also here to attend the meeting in person!"

The officers watching were shocked and quickly saluted the Marquis in mid-air. Even George took off his military cap, put his fist on his chest, and gave him a standard "loyalty salute".

However, this is not the end. There was another fluctuation in the distant space, and a dark portal slowly opened.

With the crisp sound of bones, a skeleton dragon snake crawled out, and on its back was a man with pale skin and wearing a black robe.

"It's Lord Hart from the Underdark! He's here too."

Around the military base, more portals opened out of nowhere, and expeditionary officers from various imperial colonies appeared one by one.

"The Elemental Plane of Fire, the Underdark, the Elemental Plane of Wind, the Feywild."

George looked at the gradually crowded base and said to Grace, "It seems that the Empire is really going to make a big move this time."

Grace nodded seriously: "Who said it wasn't?"

But he smiled and continued, “But this probably has little to do with a garrison like me who stays in the empire without any ambitions.

Sir George, I wish you success in the south. I will pray for you to His Majesty Cassius in the Empire."

Soon, everyone arrived inside the military base. The spacious hall was converted into a podium, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people.

Imperial soldiers from all over the empire and even from all over the multiverse gathered together.

Humans, tieflings, hobgoblins, ogres, and the Starfallers who had long been expelled from the human race. All races appeared here, and many of the officers who were able to arrive at the scene were dragon-blooded nobles.

As the Earl of Dragon Blood, George naturally got a front-row seat. He looked at the spacious podium with an extremely expectant expression.

Inside the meeting room, the officers were talking among themselves.

"It hasn't been long since we started the war against the Abyss. Are we really going to go to war with the Thracian Kingdom?"

"Humph, coward! We, the Conquerors, have long wanted to declare war on them! These Fadlanders don't deserve to own such a rich land!"

"As soldiers of the Empire, are you still afraid of war? We are the followers of His Majesty Cassius—"

Suddenly, a majestic and powerful voice echoed in the hall.

"Everyone——"

People looked towards the podium and saw a tall figure appear there. He had a ferocious face, large red skin, broad dragon wings on his back, and smoke surrounding him.

"This aura is so powerful, can you feel it? That's the pressure of bloodline!"

"This is."

"Great Red Dragon, did you see his figure? He is indeed the Dragon Blood Duke of the Empire!"

"My Lord, it's Marshal Doro! He is the one giving the speech to us personally."

This is none other than Doro, one of the three special dukes of the empire and the Grand Marshal of the Military Department, the dragon vein earth elf who is honored as the "Dragon Fury War Maniac"!
Doro opened his fang-filled mouth, folded his wings behind him, and a puff of smoke blew out of his nostrils.

"quiet."

Suddenly, the officers present fell silent, and the meeting hall that could accommodate tens of thousands of people became so quiet that only a pin drop could be heard.

The military training of the Empire is far more rigorous than that of the former "noble army" of the North, and what they value most is not personal bravery - but obedience.

Pick any soldier and he will be able to recite every article of the Imperial Military Drill Code. Upon hearing orders from their superiors, they will perform corresponding actions like conditioned reflexes.

At this moment, all the imperial officers in the meeting hall held their heads high and stood straight, like standing flagpoles.

Doro nodded in satisfaction and continued, "I believe you all know why I gathered you here."

The Dragon Vein Hobgoblin suddenly clenched his fist, and a huge magical image instantly appeared behind him - it was a map of the continent of Feanso.

Doro pointed his claws at the block marked with "Kingdom of Thracian" on the top of the map and said in a deep voice:
"conquer."

Dolo turned around and paced back and forth on the spacious podium. His deep voice echoed in the conference hall, creating waves of echoes.

The scene behind also changed accordingly. The devastated and cratered land in the south appeared in the image, and the displaced people were crying sadly.

"Look at the Fadrans, they are so greedy, they have such rich and fertile land, but they waste it like this.

Anzeta has been silent for too long. This remote area has been regarded as a wild land by southerners until more than ten years ago.
The great and supreme Majesty Cassius rose like the sun and completely changed everything!
Dolo's voice became more and more passionate and powerful, bouncing off the walls of the hall.

Today, the time when other countries divided the continents and oceans while Anzeta people were content with the wasteland is over - we also want a place under the sun. "

"conquer!"

He raised the blood and fire battle axe in his hand, spread the broad wings behind him, spread his arms and shouted.

"Conquer! Conquer!"

"For His Majesty Cassius, for the Burning Empire!"

The meeting place instantly became lively, and those officers who were obsessed with war followed Dolo's call and cheered.

The conquerors, who had been impatient for the coming of war, sang songs and even let out deafening roars.

In the fanatical crowd, George also raised his arms high and shouted at the top of his lungs, his heart filled with dragon blood beating fiercely.

Yes, conquer.

What a wonderful term! He became a dragon-blood noble during the conquest of the north.

He will lead his army, conquer the south in the name of the empire, in the name of Cassius, until he reaches the pinnacle of power of the empire.

This former northern serf, now the Dragonblood Earl, thought so. (End of this chapter)