The Villain Who Made the Empire Prosper

The Legendary Tongue

“I will provide 100 units. Only 100 units.”

William, the commander of the Wyvern Knights, shoots these words at me with obvious displeasure.

“That amount is more than sufficient.”

I nodded compliantly.

In the original novel, he was the most loyal of loyalists who, after the Emperor’s death, refused to surrender even a single wyvern knight during the ugly war Randor waged to seize the throne. Even when his family was burned at the stake by Randor before his eyes, he never surrendered the Wyvern Knights.

His willingness to provide 100 wyverns must be due to the Emperor’s orders. He said he would only provide 100 units, arguing that if all 300 wyverns moved to the Rako Mountains, they wouldn’t be able to protect the Emperor and the capital in case of emergency.

“I don’t trust you.”

Commander William growled while staring directly at me.

“I don’t know what scheme you’re plotting by asking for wyverns, but I doubt it’s really about stopping Sultan Saladin’s ambitions.”

“You may not believe it, but that’s truly the reason.”

“The 100 wyverns will return to the capital weekly. Divided into three groups, they will rotate to guard Baron Elrond’s territory. Of course, the Guardian Dragon will remain stationed there.”

With those words, Commander William revealed both his distrust of me and his intention to monitor me. By having the 100 wyverns rotate weekly instead of staying permanently, it would be difficult to win them over. He must have implemented this measure because he doesn’t trust me.

And those 100 returning wyverns would report everything they saw and heard in detail to Commander William. If they noticed anything suspicious, William would likely order the 100 wyverns to kill me to protect the Emperor.

It was exactly as I had read in the novel.

“That works out perfectly. Would it be alright if we have the wyverns carry some cargo during their trips?”

But I didn’t respond with an evil smile hiding conspiracy or subtle threats. I was planning to use wyverns for delivery anyway, so if they suggested it first, well, all the better for me.

“What?”

“I plan to move some of the goods received from the Western Continent to the capital. Since they’re going back and forth anyway, could we attach these items to the wyverns? They’re making the trip anyway.”

“…Are you saying you want to use wyverns as delivery shuttles?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“I’ve even come up with a name. ‘Wyvern Delivery – Order Today, Receive Tomorrow.’ That’s how we’ll advertise it to the nobles in the capital. Since they’re making weekly trips anyway. Would that be acceptable?”

An undisguisable look of bewilderment appears on Commander William’s face.

“Well… I suppose there’s no problem with that.”

“Could you let me ride a wyvern? I’d like to try it once.”

Commander William makes an expression that seems to ask if I’ve eaten something wrong. But I just smiled at him brightly.

“I’ll show you how to create a magnificent empire where the people don’t go hungry and the treasury isn’t depleted. Just watch.”

“Stop spouting nonsense and get out of here.”

Though he snapped at me curtly, I maintained my smile as I left his presence.

The wyverns were incredibly fast.

With 100 wyverns and one Guardian Dragon, I was able to reach Elrond’s territory in the Rako Mountains from the capital in just half a day.

As a bonus, I had to vomit heavily upon arrival due to my first wyvern ride.

Dragons.

These monsters were covered head to toe in impenetrable scales, could fly faster than arrows, and breathe flames hot enough to melt steel. While the Western Continent had thousands of elephants in their army, the Eastern Continent had these creatures.

The Wyvern Knights were the military unit that tamed and rode these dragons.

The dragons they rode were typically about 30 meters in body length with 25-meter wingspans, but occasionally there were abnormally large ones.

These monstrous creatures, with body lengths reaching 70 meters and wingspans of 60 meters, were far stronger and more ferocious than other dragons, and such specimens were honored with the special title of Guardian Dragon.

They were special dragons that refused to let ordinary humans ride them, accepting only those born of imperial blood who were avatars of dragons. According to the original novel’s setting, this generation’s Guardian Dragon only acknowledged Karia as its master and followed her commands.

“This, this is really… this is really… how?”

The merchant guild’s interpreters, who had been working, rushed out of the building with their mouths agape at the sight of 100 wyverns and one massive Guardian Dragon landing gracefully from the sky.

And they weren’t the only ones.

Everyone working in Elrond’s territory prostrated themselves in terror at the sight of the dragons.

After all, the Wyvern Knights symbolized the very authority of the Emperor.

Only the soldiers of the Iron Blood Corps remained standing, seemingly accustomed to the dragons.

“Randor!!”

Well, of course. Princess Karia, completely smitten with me, was only concerned with running over and embracing me tightly, dragons or not.

“Let’s go inside.”

I led the Wyvern Captain, the interpreters, Karia, and the Iron Blood Corps officers into the building to begin our meeting. The wyverns were stored in temporarily excavated tunnels.

“Soon we will be facing Sultan Saladin.”

Everyone was surprised at my words.

“The Sultan, you say? Don’t tell me you plan to wage war using the wyverns? We were mobilized to prevent war in the capital, not to invade enemy territory according to your ambitions!”

I shook my head at Captain Gerard’s hostile question.

“Nothing like that, Captain Gerard. It’s not us who will be waging war – they’ll be coming to us.”

“What?”

While Captain Gerard was surprised, I turned to the interpreters.

“You sent pigeons to the Golden Palace where the Sultan resides, right?”

“Yes. We sent word to the capital using one of our merchant branch’s dedicated messenger birds, requesting permission to establish and conduct trade through the new route.”

“Then the Sultan must be on his way here now, leading his elephant corps and army. Using his subordinate sorcerers to employ space-compression techniques, they’re advancing at supernatural speeds, passing through three or four cities per day. To someone as ambitious as him, a land trade route with the West would be too tempting to resist.”

At my words, Karia clenched her fists.

“I swear. They won’t even touch a hair on Randor’s head.”

“Oh, Your Highness. We can’t have a war. Just a show of force should be enough.”

“How should we demonstrate our force? Perhaps if we burn one of their cities as an example…”

The invincible Karia.

Truly valiant and unmatched in military command and combat, she may be the strongest in this world, but she’s quite useless in situations like this. After calming her down, I explained how to make a show of force.

“Send 200,000 Iron Blood Legion troops to the opposite side of the trade route. Have them dressed sharply and arranged in formation, like during victory parades in the capital, more for show than combat. Then have the wyverns fly overhead to create an atmosphere of fear, and finally, we’ll descend before the Sultan on guardian dragons with our interpreters.”

The interpreters look at me with worried expressions.

“Will the Sultan stop his war ambitions just by seeing 200,000 troops and wyverns? Considering his ambition, it might actually provoke his fighting spirit and make him declare war immediately.”

“That’s true. But the key here isn’t the wyverns, guardian dragons, or the Iron Blood Legion. This is the key.”

With that, I stuck out my tongue.

The legendary tongue that had swayed even the Emperor and the Empire’s strongest princess was displayed before everyone.

“I’ll use this to persuade him.”

I was confident.

“With this, I’ll defeat his legion and secure the trading rights.”

I knew exactly what to say to the Sultan and which points to touch upon.

And three days later…

“Enemy raid!!! Your Highness!! You must come see!!!”

We could see an enormous elephant corps filling the horizon, along with even more infantry approaching. Their numbers were frighteningly vast, revealing the Sultan’s ambition.

“The Great Conqueror! Unifier of the Western Continent! The Eternal Lord Salah ad-Din sends word to the one responsible for the trade route!! You have two choices!! Either surrender the trade route and keep your life cowardly! Or face an honorable though terrible death by the blade of God’s Legion! What is your choice!!”

The Sultan’s messenger approached Karia and me, who were camped on the plains before the trade route, delivering the threat in an intimidating tone. I advanced toward the Sultan on a guardian dragon, accompanied by ten trembling interpreters and a murderous Karia.

Up to this point, anyone would think war was inevitable.

But exactly 30 minutes after the Sultan and I met…

“Hahaha!!! I like you!! Very well! Withdraw the legion! And I shall grant you trading rights! Randor!!! My brother!!!!”

I managed to get the Sultan to declare me his brother.

The shocked expressions of the ten interpreters and Karia were quite a sight to behold.

“Captain Gerard reporting his return.”

A week later, Wyvern Captain Gerard returned to the capital with 100 wyverns. After receiving Gerard’s greeting, Commander William quickly led him to the Order’s secret chamber where no one could hear them.

“Pay your respects. This is the great Prince, His Highness Golden Adran.”

Gerard’s eyes widened when he saw Golden Adran waiting for him in the secret chamber. He immediately prostrated himself.

“I am honored to be in the presence of the Empire’s Light.”

“Please rise, Captain Gerard. This is a private meeting between us. Let’s set aside formalities for now.”

At Adran’s words, Gerard carefully rose.

“The Prince wishes to hear about what happened in the Rako Mountains. What did that cunning Randor intend to do with 100 wyverns, and what transpired in the Rako Mountains during your stay there. Report everything clearly.”

“Yes.”

Gerard bowed his head and began his explanation.

“Three days after we reached the Rako Mountains, the Eternal Lord Sultan Saladin’s legion arrived at the Golden Plains opposite the trade route. He brought a great army of 500,000 troops and thousands of war elephants.”

Adran’s eyes widened.

“If Sultan Saladin brought such a large force, war should have broken out. Yet we’ve received no reports of war. Please explain what happened.”

“Yes. The Sultan said he would give two choices. Either surrender the trade route and keep our lives cowardly, or face an honorable death at the hands of God’s Legion while defending the trade route. Upon hearing this, Randor went to meet the Sultan on a guardian dragon with the interpreters and Princess Karia. He didn’t return for four days.”

“Did he die?”

“No. He returned just this morning before we departed, bringing mountains of gold, silver, and treasures provided by the Sultan. And then…”

When Gerard hesitated, Adran pressed urgently.

“And then? Did he conspire with the Sultan to conquer the Eastern Continent? That treacherous minister would surely say such things.”

“No. Incredibly, he said he secured exclusive trading rights for the land route with the Western Continent. He also said the Sultan gifted him ownership of the Golden Plains to build roads.”

“……….How on earth?”

“Randor was bragging about how he buttered up the Sultan. Would you like to hear that story?”

“Tell me. I want to hear it.”

At those words, Captain Gerard began his explanation.

“As soon as Randor met the Sultan, he threw the Sultan’s words right back at him.”

“What words?”

“He boldly told the Sultan he would give him two choices. Whether to take the sword or take the gold.”

Adran’s expression crumpled at those words.

If he hadn’t heard wrong…

“Isn’t that a threat?”

Those words were indeed a threat to the Sultan.

Captain Gerard nodded with an incredulous smile.

“Yes, Your Highness. That minister, ridiculously enough, started with a threat in his first meeting with the Sultan.”