Faerûn's dragon race, those who understand the Imaskar Empire, would never think of provoking them without reason.
At this time, the Imaskar Empire was at its peak, a time of national prosperity. Countless extraordinary creations were capable of leveling territories, and the power of the mechanized lords was astonishing. The Imaskar Empire occupied the entire East of the vast continent of Faerûn.
According to the historical information Garon had obtained.
When the Imaskar Empire was embroiled in the war that led to its destruction, it was during the flourishing period of Netheril, capable of standing toe-to-toe with the Imaskar Empire at its strongest.
However, Netheril wasn't yet a match for the Imaskar Empire at this time. If it confronted the Imaskar Empire without external intervention, Netheril would be obliterated in a matter of days.
The Imaskar Empire was so powerful at this moment.
Moreover, Sorin possessed a city and was a newly risen mechanized lord himself, naturally not showing any fear in front of Garon, even though he knew he was no match for the silver dragon in his sight. The power of the Empire gave him infinite confidence.
"Hmm, it's been a long time since I've seen someone so arrogant."
Garon slightly shook his head.
This guy, exuding the confidence of an Imperial citizen.
A normal legendary true dragon might have left to avoid trouble from the Imaskar Empire, especially when just passing through with no grievance against Sorin.
But what Sorin didn't know was that this legendary dragon's target was the Imaskar Empire he was relying on.
"A city lord, a duke of the Empire."
"From him, I can get a lot of information about the Imaskar Empire."
After Sorin revealed his identity, Garon had no intention of letting him go.
Since they were not far from the Imaskar Empire, a battle with a legendary mechanized creation would cause a significant commotion, possibly drawing the Empire's attention. Thus, Garon planned to end the fight quickly, even if it meant using some of the power of time.
The silver dragon looked at the mechanical titan, its gaze gradually becoming deep and dangerous.
At the same time, an abyssal and infernal aura of profound might emanated from Garon.
Boom!
A ring of dragon aura solidified, spreading like a level-ten hurricane. With Garon at its center, ancient towering trees were uprooted, dust and dirt flew everywhere, and cracks spread across the ground. The might of the dragon aura that landed on the mechanical titan made this metal giant tremble slightly, activating its protective shield.
Looking at the awe-inspiring silver dragon in his sight, Sorin's heart tightened, and the pressure mounted.
He seemed to have provoked an existence he should not have.
The name of the Imaskar Empire did not frighten his opponent but seemed to provoke an even stronger hostility for some reason.
If the other party was not afraid of the Empire's might, his mechanical titan seemed insufficient to face the fury of the legendary dragon.
"Warning, warning, detecting a large-scale energy convergence."
Under the oppressive aura of the rising silver dragon, the mechanical titan's AI crazily issued warnings.
Sorin's face darkened, then squeezed out a smile.
"Wait—"
He intended to adjust his attitude to avoid a direct conflict with the silver dragon and then gather a mechanized army to annihilate it later. However, before Sorin could finish speaking, the mechanical titan's AI warning sounded again frantically, alerting Sorin to prepare for the opponent's attack.
"Then, face me."
In the low dragon tongue, the silver dragon's wings violently flapped, pulling a silver light through the air, rushing towards the mechanical titan with a breathtaking momentum.
Garon, once he decided to act, used his full strength in the blink of an eye.
The dragon's aura burst forth fully, pressing down heavily. The energy shield around the mechanical titan trembled with ripples and swayed in the air. If not for the shield's psychic defense effect, Sorin, with his high-level mechanist's mental strength, would instantly lose his ability to resist under Garon's dragon aura.
Meanwhile,
The silver dragon, moving at extreme speed, completely exceeded the mechanical titan's targeting system.
When the mechanical titan reacted, the silver dragon, larger than this Imperial weapon, was already close at hand, and both entered the attack range of the other.
Boom, boom, boom!
At that moment, the titan's engine overloaded, emitting a deafening roar like rolling thunder in a dark cloud. Numerous creatures living in the Dragonjaw Mountains shivered, paralyzed with fear, due to the sudden outburst.
The mechanical titan's chest armor opened.
Inside was a dazzling orb of light, brewing with destructive power, overshadowing the bright sun with its glaring light. A large number of energy particles in the surrounding space were sucked into the titan's chest, rapidly enhancing its energy level.
It aimed at the swiftly approaching silver dragon, ready to strike.
However, the unexpected happened.
The silver dragon, which had just barely been caught by the sensor, suddenly disappeared. Simultaneously, the world turned upside down for the mechanical titan, with the clear sky appearing above and the solid ground below.
The mechanical titan fell to the ground, a large hole gaping in its chest.
The power source was removed.
"Warning, warning, mechanical titan under unknown attack, unable to detect titan engine, lost ability to move."
Having lost the titan engine, its energy core, the mechanical titan had no power source, and the AI's warning voice grew weaker and weaker.
Observing the situation tensely, Sorin was stunned.
In his eyes, the mechanical titan had yet to make contact with the enemy when, in the blink of an eye, it was lying on the ground, apparently a lot had happened that Sorin was completely unaware of.
"What... What happened?"
The legendary-level mechanical titan was instantly defeated, a baffling situation that made Sorin shiver with fear.
He was a high-level mechanist, not an ordinary person, and he also controlled the mechanical titan, an Empire masterpiece.
A mechanical titan could easily defeat ordinary legendary creatures, but its armor was broken without any resistance, and its engine removed.
It was precisely for this reason that Sorin realized just how terrifying the existence in front of him was.
Suddenly, the sunlight dimmed, and the enormous, majestic dragon head covered the sky, appearing close in his sight.
The powerful dragon claw reached out, grasping the mechanical titan's head.
The platinum dragon's gaze seemed to penetrate the armor, falling indifferently on Sorin, overwhelming him with pressure. Although the cabin's temperature was suitable, Sorin's back was already drenched in sweat.
Garon began to apply force.
Crack, crack! Cracks appeared on the mechanical titan's head, its armor gradually caving under Garon's strength.
Amid the piercing sound of metal twisting, several children were startled awake.
Countess tightly hugged her child, looking towards her mainstay, Sorin.
"Please forgive me, I will present enough treasures to redeem my life!"
Sorin shouted loudly.
He had just become a duke, he was young, and he did not want to die unknowingly under a dragon's claws.
Garon paused his movements.
"Do you want to come out yourself, or should I pull you out?"
He spoke without emotion.
Hiss!
In a series of faint sounds, the armor on the mechanical titan's forehead opened again.
Sorin's frail body was exposed under Garon's claw.
Garon smiled.
Under Sorin's tense gaze, the silver dragon's claw grabbed him, pinching him between its fingers.
Without the protection of the mechanical titan, facing a super-sized legendary true dragon up close, Sorin truly realized his insignificance. In the dragon's claw, he tried to struggle, but the huge dragon claw was immovable, steady as a mountain.
Then, Sorin saw the other dragon claw of the silver dragon.
Crackle, crackle! Amidst flashing sparks, the mechanical titan's heart, the removed titan engine, was in the other dragon claw, with mechanized runes faintly visible.
"I am a duke of the Imaskar Empire, the lord of Maple Leaf City."
"I possess vast wealth."
Sorin took a few deep breaths, bit his lip, and calmed himself down.
Dragons are always attracted to treasures. He planned to use the dragon's greed for treasure to stabilize it first, then find an opportunity to report this dangerous creature to the Empire and request a military siege.
"As long as you spare my life, I swear by my honor as an Imperial duke, all of Maple Leaf City's centuries of accumulation will become your wealth."
"And, I promise you that the Imaskar Empire will not cause you any trouble afterward."
"On the contrary, I hope to earn the friendship of a legendary true dragon. Every year, I will offer treasures."
In the dragon's claw, the calm Sorin spoke eloquently.
However, Garon just watched him with a calm gaze, showing no reaction to his words.
The dragon's tangible gaze increased Sorin's pressure.
Silent, the silver dragon also gave him an ominous premonition.
Sorin paused for a few seconds, then braced himself and continued, "If you kill me, it will bring you no benefit."
"The death of a duke will not go unnoticed by the Empire. To maintain the inviolability of Imperial dignity, you will face pursuit from the Imperial army."
"I believe a wise dragon will make the right choice."
Sorin again presented the Imaskar Empire as his backing.
He was not wrong.
After all, he was a duke, a lord of a city, and already a part of the Imaskar Empire's nobility. If Sorin suddenly disappeared, the Imaskar Empire would definitely investigate.
Unfortunately for Sorin, he encountered Garon.
"I think there's a third option."
Garon spoke in a low, indifferent tone.
Sorin was slightly stunned.
"Please speak."
At this point, Sorin was no longer as nervous as before, because he found that this legendary dragon didn't seem to want to kill him. Otherwise, with a slight force, the dragon could have taken his life. If it wanted to kill him, it would have done so long ago.
"Betray your Empire and swear loyalty to me."
Garon got straight to the point.
Sorin's expression froze.
Betray the Empire... The Imaskar Empire's methods of punishing traitors were very harsh.
Once discovered, his entire family would be immediately enslaved.
There were slaves in Maple Leaf City. Sorin knew all too well how the Imaskar Empire treated slaves. Imperial slaves had no human rights, worse off than pigs and dogs, subject to arbitrary abuse and torture. The Imaskar Empire was a paradise for mechanists, but hell for slaves.
As for himself, he would suffer the most severe punishment from the Empire.
Even after death, his soul would be extracted and tortured eternally.
Seeking life but not finding it, seeking death but not able.
Sorin opened his mouth, wanting to negotiate other possibilities with Garon.
"Great Dragon, I..."
Garon interrupted the duke.
"You have no choice."
"Betray the Empire and swear loyalty to me, you can still return and be your city lord."
"Loyal to the Empire, defying my will, then what awaits you is eternal death."
Garon spoke clearly.
His tone was calm yet dangerous.
In the claw of the silver dragon, under the irrefutable voice of the dragon, Sorin struggled inwardly.
The honor of the Empire, personal life and death, family dignity... Sorin's mind was in utter chaos, unable to make a choice for a time.
It was as if two little people were incessantly arguing in his mind.
"Sorin, you enjoy various privileges from the Empire, you shouldn't betray the Empire, only cowards betray their Empire."
"Betray? One should only be loyal to oneself, nothing is more important than oneself. Face your true desires; you don't wish to die for the Empire."
"Think about the Empire's nurturing, its trust in you."
"Are you willing to give up a comfortable life? You've just become a duke, with a bright future ahead."
"Moreover, someone has to betray the Empire, why can't it be you?"
"..."
Minutes later, Sorin was still engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
But from the moment he hesitated, Garon knew Sorin's deep-rooted decision.
Those truly loyal to the Empire would have decisively refused the moment they heard his demand. Hesitation, doubt, consideration... all these indicated Sorin's attitude; he was not someone who placed the Empire's safety above his own life.
Garon decided to add fuel to Sorin's wavering heart.
The dragon claw holding Sorin slowly tightened.
The pressure from all sides made Sorin's face change drastically.
"Loyal to the Empire, I respect your choice."
"Now, I grant you, death."
The scythe of death arrived at Sorin's neck, slowly approaching.
Under the threat of death, Sorin's vacillating heart instantly made the final decision.
He chose to be loyal to himself.
"Wait, Great Dragon."
Sorin hesitated for a moment, then under the calm gaze of the silver dragon, he lowered his head and changed his words: "Master, I am willing to swear loyalty to you."
"Good, you made the right choice,"
Garon said.
In the claw of the dragon, Sorin felt relieved after making his decision, his demeanor relaxing considerably.
"Swear under the witness of the Eternal and the Dragon of Time that you will be loyal to me and become my faithful pawn."
Sorin took the oath.
After saying it, he intuitively knew the terrible consequences of breaking the oath, signifying that his oath's witness was a god-like existence.
Then, Garon imprinted a mark of time on Sorin.
Under Garon's deliberate action, a feeling of being monitored pervaded Sorin's mind, inescapable like a shadow.
Sorin himself was a high-level mechanist, not a weakling.
But knowing that he had been marked, he couldn't detect even a trace of the time mark, thinking about the mysterious fall of the mechanical titan, Sorin became even more fearful of Garon's unfathomable methods.
Garon released his claw.
Looking down at the subdued Duke Sorin, Garon said in a deep voice, "Tell me what you know about the seven secrets of the Imaskar Empire."
Sorin was slightly stunned.
So he was aiming for the Imaskar Empire from the start, and I was hoping the Empire's name would repel him... Duke Sorin bitterly smiled.
He wasn't stupid.
The silver dragon, revealing its fangs, clearly aimed for it.
"Among the seven secrets of the Empire, four are held by the Imperial family."
"The remaining three are controlled by three great mechanized lords. We are both dukes, but our status in the Empire cannot compare."
"The first secret of Imaskar, a crown, is held by the Emperor."
"The Imaskar crown can forcibly control all of the Empire's mechanisms, a symbol of supreme authority, capable of suppressing any mechanist's rebellion."
"The second secret of Imaskar..."
Since he had to sell out, he might as well do it thoroughly.
The Imaskar Empire would not forgive a traitor, so Sorin, reluctantly, tried to trust in the power of the silver dragon to stand against the Empire.
Gradually, Sorin disclosed everything he knew about the secrets to Garon.
Garon then asked many other things about the Imaskar Empire, such as powerful mechanized creations, how many legendary mechanists there were, and so on.
As an Imperial duke, Sorin knew quite a lot.
As he spoke, the image of the Imaskar Empire gradually formed in Garon's mind.
After listening, Garon narrowed his eyes, contemplating how to get his hands on the Imaskar secrets.
Especially the Imaskar crown.
"The Imaskar Empire is currently flourishing, with thousands of mechanized lords, most of them legendary mechanists, and numerous weapons like mechanical titans guarding the cities. Getting the secrets by force is next to impossible."
Just Maple Leaf City, where Sorin was, had twelve mechanical titans.
If he hadn't left the city alone to personally kill his brother, driving a mechanical titan, Garon wouldn't have so easily captured an Imperial duke, and Maple Leaf City wasn't even a major city in the Imaskar Empire.
The mechanized army of the capital, as described by Sorin, made even Garon wary.
Garon's gaze swept over the mechanical titan, assessing this mechanized creation.
"The mechanical titan, among the legendary mechanized creations, is only mid to lower tier. The Imaskar Empire's military strength is truly befitting of its name."
"To get the Empire's secrets, perhaps waiting for the Imaskar Empire to face a formidable enemy, stirring the waters, would be possible."
Garon didn't know when the Imaskar Empire would start to decline.
The current Imaskar Empire showed no signs of weakening, the foremost power in the eastern Faerûn, and according to Sorin, the Imperial family was not satisfied with its current territories, planning to expand into other directions of the continent to unify it.
"The Imaskar Empire has the strength to do so."
"But at the time of its destruction, it still wasn't the sole dominator of the Faerûn continent."
Garon quietly pondered with the information he had.
He wasn't sure if his thoughts were correct, but from the information he now held, he felt it was very possible.
If there wasn't some incident, the Imaskar Empire expanding now, Netheril wouldn't have had a chance to develop, and the future floating city empire wouldn't exist.
With the strength of this mechanized empire, the current Faerûn had no force that could resist them.
So, what could have caused the Imaskar Empire's expansion to fail, remaining in eastern Faerûn?
Garon silently thought.
"Sorin, when does the Imaskar Empire plan to start its expansion?"
Sorin thought for a moment, "The Empire is getting stronger, and the mechanized lords are hoarding countless weapons. The current territories can no longer satisfy the royal family and lords, and conflicts between mechanized lords are escalating, friction unceasing."
"To ease the Empire's internal conflicts, a conquest war is imminent."
"The royal family hasn't issued specific instructions."
"But in my estimation, in as little as one year or as much as three, the Empire will wage war and advance towards other regions."
As a mechanized lord, though one of the weakest newly appointed, Sorin was still quite knowledgeable about the Empire.
Listening to Sorin's words, Garon pondered.
"Repair the mechanical titan and return to your territory."
"When I need you, I will naturally notify you."
"Your task is to maintain your duke title, while increasing your influence within the Empire, gaining more trust and information from the royal family. When necessary, I will support you."
Garon said solemnly.
As night fell, this newly risen mechanized lord returned to his territory.
"Now, it's a waiting game."
Garon knew he couldn't shake the Imaskar Empire.
But its decline and destruction were destined; Garon only needed to wait, waiting for the Imaskar Empire to provoke their real enemy.
With Sorin as his piece, he could anticipate the Empire's moves in advance, combining it with the future he knew to choose the most appropriate moment to act.
This might take a long time.
But time was what Garon had in abundance, especially within this timeline.
The patient hunter lay in wait, silently awaiting the moment of weakness of his prey.
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