Chapter 366: The Integrity of Drow Elves

The Dwarf King did not make any excessive demands; instead, he proposed two simple conditions that touched Muria's heart.

First, the markup on wines sold to the Dwarf Principality should not exceed twice the local price in the Kingdom of Lockman.

Second, when purchasing weapons forged by dwarves, no excuses or methods should be used to press for lower prices. Transactions must be conducted at prices that do not harm the interests of dwarf craftsmen, ensuring they do not operate at a loss.

These conditions were so straightforward that Muria agreed on the spot. At this moment, he became curious about what exactly the merchants of Lockman had done to the dwarves of the Xerman Principality.

After all, this Dwarf King did not seem to be a cruel ruler but was unexpectedly reasonable. It made Muria wonder what had led him to overthrow the previous ruler and harbor hostility towards Lockman, amassing troops at the border.

Muria did not question the Dwarf King about these issues directly, as it would be too awkward. He remembered that he now controlled the Skalrett family's intelligence network; he could simply ask the head of intelligence later.

Once Muria agreed to the Dwarf King's conditions, the king readily consented to open the borders for merchant traffic. After all, the Xerman Dwarf Principality was in dire need of the wines, foodstuffs, and mineral resources from human kingdoms.

If it weren't for previous human merchants collectively manipulating the economic state of the Dwarf Principality, treating the hardworking and honest dwarf craftsmen like fools and fattened sheep ripe for slaughter, he wouldn't have expelled the human merchants and sealed the borders.

After settling the terms for opening the borders, Muria watched the Dwarf King, waiting for him to take his leave voluntarily as he prepared to summon the delegation from the Drow Elves of the Underdark.

However, the burly, muscular Dwarf King, who did not fit human beauty standards, showed no signs of leaving and even looked rather awkward, causing Muria a bit of indigestion.

"Your Grace, is there something else you wish to discuss?" Muria finally had to ask, as the Dwarf King made no move to leave.

"Duke Muria, I seek your assistance," the Dwarf King said, reluctantly using formal language. Setting aside his pride for the sake of his subjects, he remembered why he had come to seek the aid of the Gold Dragon Grand Duke.

"Please speak, Your Grace." Seeing the Dwarf King's serious demeanor, Muria sat up straight, his expression solemn. Dwarves were a stubborn race that rarely asked for help from other races, and if they did ask for help, it was only from very specific creatures. Otherwise, they would rather endure alone.

"Three years ago, in the largest mining site in our kingdom, the Yead Mountains, a spatial rift to the Abyss appeared in one of the mines. Due to delayed reporting and suppression, demons from the rift used a blood sacrifice to stabilize it," the Dwarf King explained, clenching his fists with anger and helplessness. "Over these three years, the rift has been expanding and is about to become a full-fledged portal to the Abyss."

"Which tier of legendary demons guards this rift?" Muria asked directly. The fact that the Dwarf King was asking for his help indicated that he was unable to handle the rift alone.

"I estimate it's at least a fifth-tier legendary demon." The Dwarf King looked distressed. "Three years ago, when I first heard of it, I ventured alone into the mine to close the rift. However, a very powerful demon lord was there. It merely reached out a hand and easily repelled me. If the demon had fully manifested, it could have killed me on the spot. Fortunately, because it is so powerful, it has been unable to fully cross through the rift for three years.

"But if we do not stop it soon, this demon lord will eventually bring an entire demon army to my land."

"Is this why you ordered the expansion of your military?" Muria asked, previously believing that the Dwarf Kingdom was unstable and, like the Medis Kingdom, might have planned to take advantage of Lockman's weakened state to invade.

Without the Skalrett family's central leadership, even though the overall strength of the kingdom had grown since its founding, it was still treated dismissively by other powers.

But it turned out that the expansion of the Xerman military was for self-defense, not aggression. Considering the dwarves' racial traits, they typically do not initiate invasions; satisfied with their own lands, as long as they have ale to drink and iron to forge.

"Yes, kind Duke Muria, I beseech you to send ancient dragons to help us suppress this spatial rift. We must prevent that demon lord from emerging," the Dwarf King Magni Bronzebeard earnestly requested, setting aside his ruler's dignity.

"Which of you could spare the time for this?" Muria

 glanced at the ten ancient dragons around him, who were nonchalant or even dozing off, and asked aloud.

"Duke Muria, based on this Dwarf King's description, the demon lord's strength is likely high-tier legendary. It would be risky for just one dragon to go; I recommend sending three ancient dragons for safety," a brass ancient dragon transformed into a blond woman suggested, clearly interested in the mission.

Soon, after Dwarf King Magni hinted at a substantial reward for the ancient dragons who would help suppress the rift, two more expressed their willingness to go.

After scheduling a time, Dwarf King Magni Bronzebeard left feeling relieved, now free from a major concern. The dragon he was most grateful to was not the three ancient dragons, but Muria, because without him, where would he find three ancient dragons to call upon?

...

"Your Grace, Duke Muria," greeted the Drow Elf delegation from the Underdark as they entered, led by the legendary Drow Elf Ilyss, who immediately and unashamedly knelt down, drawing sideways glances from many ancient dragons. It was rare to see a legend so unabashedly shameless.

But Ilyss couldn't be blamed for her lack of decorum; she had planned to leave with her delegation immediately after the ceremony to return to the Underdark and report to that dark-skinned scoundrel.

Unexpectedly, before they could even leave the palace, they were intercepted by three human legends who insisted they stay and wait for Duke Muria's summons.

"Do not be nervous." Seeing the pale-haired, dark-skinned, and shapely Drow Elves following Ilyss collapse to the ground in a rustle, Muria couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't expected his presence to intimidate a legend to such an extent.

"I only wish you to convey a few words and some conditions to your Queen Divinely Favored."

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