Chapter 1092: The Joint Maritime and Aerial Watch Circle

The expressions of the various national representatives varied, but aside from the three great empires, a common thread ran through their reactions: unmasked worry.

“May I ask a question?” A tall, dark-skinned delegate rose to his feet. He hailed from the northwestern frontier of the Ogure Tribal Nation, a leader chosen by several independent city-states north of the Taimu Forest. His gaze fixed seriously on Melita. “How strong is the dragons’ magic resistance? How tough are their scales? I apologize if my question seems blunt, but this is crucial information for us.”

Melita seemed to have anticipated such inquiries. She remained composed, even offering a polite smile as she replied. “No need for formalities. The dragons have come here seeking equal and open communication with the friends of the Loren Continent. As for your question… it’s difficult to give a precise measurement. Dragons vary in strength, and different types have different magical affinities.

“To generalize, an average adult great dragon has magic resistance above the median level. If healthy and without specialized combat gear, most spells below intermediate rank cause no harm whatsoever. Intermediate spells can inflict some damage, but only if delivered in sufficient numbers and sustained attacks, depending on the caster’s power. A newly promoted intermediate-level mage with limited mana would pose no threat to an adult great dragon.

“High-level to legendary-tier spellcasters can effectively challenge adult great dragons, but the inherently fragile bodies of most mortal races remain a fatal weakness—surviving a dragon’s fiery breath requires strong armor and protective shields.

“That’s just regarding magical resistance. As for our scales’ toughness… are you familiar with city gates cast entirely from purple steel? With an additional layer of mithril plates about a finger’s thickness? A black dragon’s scales are roughly that strong. Other dragons’ scales are somewhat weaker—comparable to purple steel without the mithril reinforcement.”

The leader from the northern city-states listened intently. When Melita finished, he pondered for a moment, deciding it was best not to voice any harsh words here. He sighed and sat back down.

Another delegate couldn’t hold back and stood up. “Then how are we supposed to… shoot down these dragons that you say have been ‘expelled’ from Talrond? If they’re as powerful as you describe, this clearly exceeds the defensive capabilities of many nations. Perhaps well-fortified kingdoms can handle such attacks, but ordinary borderlands don’t always have legions stationed!”

The term “dragon disaster” was an awkward but unavoidable reality for the representatives. The envoy from Talrond stood here with a sincere desire for peaceful coexistence with the nations of Loren, yet their rogue kin were anything but harmless. How many mighty dragons would harass Loren’s borders? This confirmed threat was far more chilling than the recently ended Divine War.

“This is exactly what I was about to address,” Gawain stood at that moment, scanning the room until all eyes settled on him. “We are forming an alliance primarily to resolve ‘security issues.’ One of our initial tasks is to deal with threats to member states’ safety—such as rogue dragons.

“One of the alliance’s core principles is mutual vigilance and assistance. Every member nation has the responsibility and obligation to safeguard the alliance’s interests. With that in mind, I call upon those capable of confronting rogue dragons to establish a ‘Joint Maritime and Aerial Watch Circle’ around the Loren Continent. The plan is as follows:

“Using the continent’s circumnavigation route as a baseline, we will create a comprehensive monitoring network composed of maritime lookouts, patrol vessels, coastal ports, and civilian fleets, constantly alert to threats from beyond the continent. At key points in this watch circle, we will station air defense bases, anti-air ships, and military ports to protect alliance members at all times.

“Considering that rogue dragons may pose a long-term threat, this watch circle will operate as a sustained project until the danger is eliminated. At that point, we will reconvene to discuss whether to maintain the facilities and forces established during the watch period.”

After finishing, Gawain paused to allow the representatives to voice their opinions. The first to rise was a gray elf with long hair draped over her shoulders—the leader of the gray elves from the Ogure Tribal Nation. Gawain recognized her immediately: Wenna Whitebloom, a longtime ally of Cecil. The petite woman lifted her head, her expression serious. “Who exactly will be responsible for establishing this ‘Joint Watch Circle’?”

Gawain glanced at the Silver Empress Belsethia beside him and then at Emperor Rosetta of Typhon farther away. After confirming their agreement with a look, he turned back to the gray elf leader and nodded. “Cecil, Typhon, and the Silver Empire. The three nations will each take charge of maritime, land, and aerial defense lines according to their capabilities. We can intercept small groups of dragons harassing Loren, and if a large-scale invasion occurs, we can quickly mobilize sufficient forces to bring them down. Additionally…”

He looked toward Melita nearby. She immediately nodded and stood to respond. “Talrond will also dispatch a number of aerial units to join the nations of Loren in establishing this watch circle. This is a difficult responsibility for us, but the dragons will bear it fully.”

“No need to be so pessimistic, Ambassador,” Gawain smiled gently at Melita. “There will be three opportunities for dialogue, won’t there? I believe most dragons who make wrong decisions when invading other nations do not do so out of true malice. If they knew there were other options, I’m confident the vast majority would choose to return to civilized society.”

As he spoke, he inwardly reflected: no matter how you look at it, building a defensive line against the dragon disaster was inevitable. It was necessary to ensure the safety of alliance members, to advance the circumnavigation route plan, and to further secure Cecil’s influence over Loren. But this was not something Cecil could shoulder alone—not even with a few more years of stable development could he build a military force capable of encircling the entire continent. So bringing in “partners” was unavoidable.

He didn’t regret this, though. From the start, cultivating allies had been part of his plan. The world was vast, and Cecil’s path was long. He already sensed the approach of crisis. Time was limited, and the situation urgent. He couldn’t solve all the world’s dangers alone. Heroism had its limits; only collective progress could bring greater hope.

While Gawain pondered, Wenna Whitebloom’s voice rose again from across the room. “Then who will bear the costs of establishing this Joint Watch Circle? What must protected member states give in exchange for this ‘security’?”

There’s no such thing as a free lunch—even children understand that. The shrewd gray elves understood it better than most. The cost of such a watch circle would be enormous. Even with the three great empires and a group of dragons cooperating, protecting the entire Loren Continent would not be easy. Protected member states would likely have to pay some price to make this arrangement fair.

After all, Gawain had just mentioned the alliance’s first principle: “mutual vigilance and assistance, with every nation responsible for the alliance’s interests.” Put simply, when trouble arises, everyone shares the burden. Those with strength contribute strength, those with wealth contribute wealth, and those with nothing… well, they might have to pay a price higher than money.

Gawain glanced at the gray elf and cleared his throat. “Rest assured, the purpose of this Joint Watch Circle is to protect our shared lands, not to extort or plunder any member state. Protected nations will not bear any military expenses or ‘hire fees.’ They only need to provide necessary garrison locations. The operating costs will be partly covered by revenue shares from the circumnavigation route belonging to Typhon, Cecil, and the Silver Empire, and partly by Talrond. Since Loren and Talrond have yet to establish trade links, Talrond faces its own difficulties, so Cecil will temporarily cover that portion.”

He paused briefly, then added, “Of course, as alliance members, states along the watch circle also have responsibilities—joining the circumnavigation route and signing an alliance trade agreement with us to welcome a more prosperous new era. This is the most basic and important contribution each member makes to the alliance as a whole.”

The representatives murmured among themselves, seriously weighing the issue and the hidden costs behind Gawain’s terms. The tall leader from the Northern City-States soon stood again. “So, only alliance members who also join the circumnavigation route will be included in the watch circle?”

“That’s inevitable,” Gawain nodded. “We can’t protect a nation that chooses to distance itself from the alliance. That’s basic mutual respect, isn’t it?”

“…Then can we say this is a form of disguised ‘kidnapping’ or ‘extortion’?” A delegate who had not spoken before stood up. “Forgive my bluntness—I don’t mean to malign this great plan, but since we’re holding this meeting, a voice of skepticism is necessary, isn’t it? Now we must join an alliance to be protected. It sounds as if those who don’t join will be destroyed by dragons. I know it sounds conspiratorial, but… who can guarantee everything happening in Talrond is true?”

Questions and doubts were expected, and Gawain welcomed them. Only through thorough questioning and clarification could the new alliance build a solid foundation and a future free of hidden dangers. But this time, he did not answer. Instead, Rosetta Augustus stood up from nearby.

“Please distinguish correctly between ‘kidnapping,’ ‘extortion,’ and ‘equal rights and obligations,’” Rosetta’s voice was low and calm but carried undeniable authority. “First, the Joint Watch Circle is not mandatory. Anyone may refuse to join or leave after joining. Even the alliance itself is voluntary. If a member believes their interests and dignity are not protected, they may withdraw at any time. As long as they have not attacked other members during membership, this is not a breach of the pact.

“Second, the watch circle’s protection is a ‘benefit’ for nations unable to confront rogue dragons alone. Living safely within the alliance is a basic right, and enjoying rights requires bearing corresponding duties and responsibilities. I do not see joining the circumnavigation route and accepting the alliance as ‘extortion.’ It is mutually beneficial.

“Finally, if anyone still doubts the events in Talrond… I believe the dragon ambassador has something to say.”

Rosetta looked toward Melita Pernia nearby. After a slight nod, he sat down. Melita rose calmly, expression unreadable, and fixed her gaze on the delegate who had spoken.

“Talrond is now open to the nations of the Loren Continent—we always welcome new friends to visit our homeland,” she said calmly and deliberately. “Talrond will establish airports in the Principality of the Holy Dragon and the capital of the Cecil Empire, with at least three round-trip ‘flights’ to Talrond every week. Although our transport duties are heavy, we have more than enough capacity to carry a few extra passengers. And rest assured, the dragons will ensure the safety of all travelers throughout the journey. Sir, would you be interested in applying for the very first spot?”

The representative’s expression shifted immediately. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Melita to throw out such an invitation on the spot. The unexpected proposal left him momentarily at a loss. After a brief pause, he shook his head. “No… not this time. But perhaps I’ll consider it if the opportunity arises in the future.”

Gawain instinctively glanced at Melita. From what he knew of the dragon lady, he was almost certain that this “invitation” was an impromptu move on her part—probably tinged with a hint of resentment. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized there might actually be some potential here…

He’d have to discuss it with her later, see if they could really set up a “Talrond Wasteland Tour” project—provided they could guarantee safety, of course. Such an endeavor would require significant protection from Talrond’s side, but they could charge a premium. There were plenty of wealthy fools in this world willing to spend a fortune chasing the mysteries of dragons… explorers, and those wizards obsessed with hidden knowledge, many of whom were richer than anyone could imagine.

If they pulled this off, it might just be the breakthrough Talrond desperately needed in its current predicament. Who knows? This could be the first influx of foreign currency for these struggling dragons…

These tangled thoughts flashed through Gawain’s mind in an instant before he quickly reined them in. He turned back to the still slightly awkward-looking representative. After confirming the flag behind him and cross-referencing his mental notes, a smile spread across Gawain’s face.

“Actually, Ambassador Seward’s question just now was perfectly reasonable. I believe it reflects the concerns many here share. When a new organization is formed, its members need to build mutual understanding and trust. That starts by bringing doubts and risks into the open, discussing them transparently, and resolving them together. This is one of the Alliance’s core principles: openness, transparency, and honest trust.

“There’s no need for anyone to worry. Just as the Alliance’s formation has yet to be voted on, the proposals regarding the joint maritime and aerial patrol zones and the continental flight routes are still preliminary plans—not yet up for decision.

“We all need a thorough understanding of the future Alliance before making any definitive judgments. So far, we’ve discussed many of the crisis-related issues… Now it’s time to turn our attention to more positive and constructive matters.”

(End of chapter)