OBS Chapter 727 Agreement Reached
Chapter 727 Agreement Reached
“Master Dungel, these are the human envoys who have come to visit. Their king hopes that you will use your runic knowledge accumulated over thousands of years to provide them with assistance.”
Tanger nodded slightly, his movements steady and without any unnecessary fluctuations. His gaze slowly swept over Cod and the human envoys accompanying him, taking in the expression of each of them.
He stood still, his voice steady and deep, and spoke directly, meeting Cod's gaze:
"Human messengers, you have come from afar. Please state clearly which area of runic technology you seek."
Kod stood at the front of the envoys' procession and did not immediately respond to Tangel's question.
He repeatedly considered his purpose for this trip. Within the territory of the Kingdom of Heldran, people's livelihood, city defense, and military equipment all needed the support of runic technology.
He suppressed his eagerness, organized his thoughts, looked up at Tangel, and began to speak clearly:
"The rune technology we need covers multiple fields, from basic workshop forging to city defense runes. The most important of these is the technology that allows souls to manipulate machines."
When Dungel heard Codd say he wanted rune technology related to the soul, he immediately let out a soft snort, the last syllable of which carried a clear hint of doubt. His gaze refocused on Codd, all the calmness in his eyes vanishing, leaving only seriousness.
"That's impossible."
He didn't mince words, giving his conclusion directly, leaving no room for negotiation in his tone.
Upon hearing Dungel's disagreement, Guren, seated on the throne, turned to the rune master and spoke:
“These humans once helped my fellow humans and have done us dwarves a favor. For my sake, please grant their request.”
"Your face?"
Tanger turned to look at Guren, his tone filled with undisguised rebuttal.
"You've lived for hundreds of years, and you still dare to talk about face in front of me."
Dongel didn't stop talking, continuing to berate Guren, his dissatisfaction clearly evident in his voice:
"The rune technology related to the soul is the crystallization of thousands of years of continuous summarization and layer-by-layer deduction by rune masters throughout the ages. The weight of this knowledge is beyond your comprehension. Once it is leaked, can you, a child who is only five hundred years old, bear even the slightest consequence of the resulting disaster? You dare to mention your face? When I officially took over the position of rune master, you weren't even born yet. It's not your place to plead for me!"
Keder stood aside, listening to Tanger's continuous rebukes of Guren, and a distinct sense of bewilderment arose in his heart.
In human society, the throne holds supreme authority, and no one dares to so openly rebuke a monarch. The dwarves' way of interacting is completely different from his understanding of the relationship between ruler and subject. He turned to Hafdan beside him, lowered his voice, and said:
"It seems that the relationship between rulers and subjects among you dwarves is different from the rules we humans follow."
Hafdan responded immediately, his tone filled with respect for Dongel, showing no sign of disrespect:
"A Rune Master is a scholar who has mastered all the rune techniques of the Dwarves. In addition to inheriting a vast amount of knowledge, one must also possess the valuable qualities recognized by the Dwarven race in order to shoulder this responsibility. A Rune Master is born in the race only once every five hundred years, and the frequency of the High King's succession is far less than this cycle. Therefore, Rune Masters are highly respected in the Dwarven race, and the High Kings of all ages have always maintained sufficient respect for Rune Masters and have not suppressed their knowledge with their status."
After beating up Guren, Tanger ignored the throne beside him and turned his gaze back to Kord, asking:
"Humans, why are you so insistent on demanding the rune technology that allows you to manipulate machines with your souls? Tell us the real reason."
Kod did not conceal anything and truthfully revealed the human kingdom's plans and crises:
"My king hopes to use this technology to resurrect the souls of fallen soldiers on the war machine, so that in the future battle against the Hand of God, the human race can be strengthened and its territory and lives can be protected."
"What?! The Hand of God!"
Dongel's eyebrows visibly lifted, and his entire aura changed, his previous seriousness now tinged with shock.
He stopped dwelling on the issue of technology leakage and instead posed a new question to Codd:
How many years have passed in the human calendar now?
Koder didn't understand what the human calendar was, nor did he understand why Tangle asked about the year system, yet he still answered truthfully:
"It is now the year 1465."
Tanger nodded again, tapped the runestone on the side of him with his fingertips, muttered a few words to himself, and then looked at Cod with a completely changed attitude.
"The time is indeed fast approaching. It seems that the prophecy left by that wizard was not a false statement."
He paused, then reorganized his words, discussing the details of the cooperation with Cod:
"I can assist you in completing your concept of a soul manipulation machine and deliver the corresponding rune technology, but this requires an equal price from both sides. The entire process of core inscription of soul runes, energy calibration, and soul binding must be personally controlled by me to prevent you humans from abusing the technology and doing things that could cause disaster."
"At the same time, the dwarves also need your human technology to achieve technological complementarity between the two sides, which is the basis for this alliance."
Koder quickly weighed the options in his mind, and after a moment's thought, without much hesitation, he looked at Tanger and spoke:
"We have no problem and accept all the conditions."
Both sides then arranged for their accompanying clerks to draft the terms of the alliance clause by clause, clearly recording the scope of technology exchange, the details of the control of soul runes, and the process of transporting the equipment in the documents.
After both parties repeatedly checked each clause to ensure there was no ambiguity, Kord and Tanger each affixed their seals to the covenant document. Guren, as a witness, also left his seal belonging to the Dwarven Kingdom at the end of the document.
With the alliance agreement signed, Dongel put away the documents and looked at everyone present:
"I need a day to gather my rune-writing apprentices and organize the corresponding experimental instruments and engraving tools. I will then arrange for a team to transport all the equipment to human territory."
Upon hearing this, Guren's expression softened considerably, the embarrassment from his earlier scolding vanishing completely. He looked at Kod and the human envoy and proposed:
"The alliance has been formed, which is something to celebrate. The dwarves will hold a grand banquet to welcome the human guests who have come from afar."
Kord nodded in agreement and accepted Guren's invitation. The two then parted ways, awaiting the start of the evening banquet.
As night fell over the territory, the banquet was held as scheduled. Guren walked to the center of the square in front of the palace, raised the huge stone goblet in front of him, which was overflowing with ale. He tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, then slammed the bottom of the goblet heavily onto the stone platform.
"The banquet begins!"
Gulun's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire square.
The dwarves in the square raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank the wine. They gathered in twos and threes to chat and celebrate, creating a continuous commotion.
Kod stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the dwarves raise their glasses and drink heartily. He thought to himself that these dwarves might have been looking for a legitimate reason to gather and drink, and the alliance was just the perfect opportunity.
At the same time, a group of dwarf children broke free from their elders' hands and ran to the human soldiers wearing steam armor, surrounding them in the middle.
The older dwarf child looked up at the soldier's armor and asked:
"Are you a human wizard? Can you breathe fire? We've heard legends that human wizards can control fire."
The soldier looked at the gathered children, a smile spreading across his face, and began to give them instructions:
"Step back a bit, get further away from me, and I'll show you."
Upon hearing this, the children immediately laughed and ran away, retreating to a safe distance, still staring at the soldier with expectant eyes.
Once the children were in place, the soldier raised his arm and activated the flamethrower on his arm. Crimson flames shot out from the nozzle, the column of fire shooting straight forward, streaking across the night sky and leaving a bright trail.