Chapter 478: Olivia's Proposal
"According to the proposal presented by Count Dawn Drake, the Empire will continue to conduct in-depth research in various emerging military fields."
"We plan to invest seven million two hundred thousand gold Nars, focusing on large-scale elemental weapons, long-range destructive weapons, and tracked armored combat vehicles."
"I object!"
A clear female voice echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention.
They saw a silver-haired, blue-eyed woman raise her slender hand and stand up from her seat.
She wore a dignified and elegant long dress, and a hint of anger showed on her delicate, charming face. Her blue-gray eyes were filled with fearlessness.
—That was Olivia, now an Imperial parliamentarian.
She adjusted her silver-framed glasses, looked through the documents in her hands, and continued to speak aloud:
"According to the statistics department's data, military spending has already accounted for 20% of the Empire's total budget. This level of military expenditure is a huge burden for the Empire's people."
"Not only do I oppose Duke Dolo's further increase in military spending, but I also believe the Empire should reduce military expenditures and allocate more funds to areas like education, healthcare, and poverty relief."
"I have here a new proposal that details the measures the Empire should take in these areas and reallocates the budget accordingly."
The hall erupted into an uproar, buzzing with discussions.
"It's that Parliamentarian Olivia again! How dare she say that?"
"She's crossing the military's line."
"Tsk tsk, she actually dares to directly refute Count Dawn's proposal. What boldness."
"Humans are humans—just wasting resources. Investing money in the weak is no better than tossing it into a river!"
The citizens in the hall had varied expressions: some sneered, others remained silent, and still others praised her courage.
This hall was the renowned Imperial Parliament Chamber, the primary venue for the Empire's congressional meetings.
The chamber was divided into two levels, with neat rows of red seats on each level, accommodating tens of thousands of people.
The upper walls were decorated with stained glass and seven murals depicting the history of the Ember Empire and showcasing the Emperor's achievements.
At the very center of the dome, a majestic dragon's head was carved. Its pale golden vertical pupils overlooked everything within the parliament chamber, symbolizing the Emperor's supreme authority.
At the southern end of the chamber was the golden imperial throne under a regal canopy, where the Emperor could sit at any time.
In front of the throne was the Prime Minister's seat—an enormous gold-and-red cushioned seat filled with wool but without a backrest. Sitting there at the moment was Langpu, wearing a look of amusement.
"Tsk tsk."
"It looks like the military might be in trouble. Some folks need a bit of a wake-up call lately."
The ogre's lips curled into a slight smile.
If a regular person raised an objection, Dolo would make sure they didn't end well—but Miss Olivia's identity was far too unique.
A silver dragon.
Close ties with His Majesty.
Residing in the side hall of the Iron Dragonwing Palace, she could theoretically escalate matters directly to His Majesty.
Following institutional reforms, the Empire adopted a bicameral system: the Lower House, composed of commoners, and the Upper House, made up of dragon-blooded nobles, also known as the "Dragonblood Parliament."
The Upper House consisted of over six hundred dragon-blooded nobles, holding legislative and fiscal authority during congressional sessions.
The Lower House primarily played a supportive role in the Parliament Chamber, overseeing the Upper House's work, assisting in legislation, and exercising powers like "delaying authority" and "questioning authority" to amend or veto proposals.
Although this was the theory, Lower House parliamentarians rarely used their powers to directly confront the dragon-blooded nobles. They often limited themselves to offering minor suggestions.
The actual ruling class of this country—or, rather, the class temporarily entrusted with authority by Cassius—was evident.
The Imperial Parliament Chamber was a cauldron of turbulence at this moment.
Upper House parliamentarians—the dragon-blooded nobles—sat in three sides of red tiered benches on the upper level, glaring at Olivia with obvious discontent.
"Who does she think she is?"
"Military affairs are none of their concern!"
"A mere human, daring to criticize Count Dawn's proposal? That was endorsed by Duke Dolo!"
"Exactly. Count Dawn is the visible manager of the Crowburm Military Industrial Group."
Lower House parliamentarians sat on simpler chairs in the lower level, most too intimidated to even breathe loudly. They whispered among themselves, careful not to provoke the Duke.
Still, many parliamentarians with academic backgrounds expressed support for her.
"Who is she?"
"Why is this woman acting so reckless?"
"But I think she's right—military spending in the Empire is indeed too high, to the point of exhausting the populace."
But Olivia clutched her documents, standing in her spot, fearlessly meeting the gazes of the dragon-blooded nobles with determination.
"As a member of the Lower House, I have the right to question Duke Dolo's proposal and even delay it."
"How dare you!"
A bear goblin count slammed the table, glaring at Olivia, who spoke boldly below.
"This is a decision made jointly by Duke Dolo and six hundred dragon-blooded nobles, bearing the Emperor's decree and highest authority. How dare you challenge it?"
Olivia's tone was calm as she replied: "But this aligns with the Empire's regulations."
Seated in the elder's cushioned seat, Dolo was not enraged. He simply waved his hand, signaling Count Dawn to speak.
Count Dawn immediately stood up and said in a low voice: "Parliamentarian Olivia, it seems you have never worked in government. You must not understand how the Empire operates."
"Increasing investment in the military industry won't be a financial burden—it will bring us substantial returns and create numerous jobs."
"Have you not read the Empire's financial reports? The Crowburm Military Industrial Group is a key pillar of the Empire's treasury! Without continued investment in the military industry, where would we find the funds for education and healthcare?"
"That's sophistry."
Olivia retorted.
"The Empire's assets do not belong solely to the military. They are the fruits of countless citizens' hard work, and they deserve proper compensation."
"If this money continues to flow into the military industry, it will only end up in the dragon-blooded nobles' pockets!"
A single comment stirred the entire chamber.
People in the Parliament Chamber were shocked—no one expected someone to openly "declare war" on the dragon-blooded nobles!
Scholars and citizens admired her courage, but they also sighed in pity for this radiant woman.
The dragon-blooded nobles were behemoths in the Empire's political, military, and even economic realms.
Crossing them would make it impossible for this woman to survive in the Empire, potentially even leading to her death.
Count Dawn said: "As far as I know, according to the Empire's regulations, any action from the Lower House requires over sixty percent approval from its members to be effective."
The bear goblin count glanced around, looking down at the parliamentarians seated below. He calmly asked: "Members of the Parliament, do you support Parliamentarian Olivia's stance?"
"Raise your hands if you do."
The chamber fell deathly silent.
The atmosphere seemed frozen. Those who had previously voiced support now stayed silent in unison.
They were not idealists, after all.
No one wanted to risk offending the military for the sake of an impractical proposal, especially not to support a relatively inexperienced parliamentarian.
Olivia looked anxious, her left hand clutching the hem of her skirt, but she was helpless.
After all, the opposition was following protocol.
This was what she found unjust about the Empire's system: actual power lay in the hands of the military aristocracy.
Parliamentarians like her seemed irrelevant.
Count Dawn maintained his composure, but a sneer played at the corner of his mouth. He stowed his documents: "Since no one has any objections, then…"
"I have objections."
A calm voice interrupted.
Dawn turned toward the source of the voice, his expression shifting to one of astonishment, even shock.
"Did the military department not see my statement on 'Beware Barbaric Development'?"
"The people of the Empire have indeed not received fair treatment. Cassius once said: 'It's unrealistic to make the horse run while not feeding it.'"
"If this continues, their labor efficiency and quality will decline. Both emotionally and logically, the Empire's officials should provide them with their deserved benefits."
Sitting on the grand gold-red cushioned seat, the Empire's Prime Minister, Langpu, straightened up, a twisted smile spreading across his face.
"If that's what you mean…"
Dawn lowered his head, his voice dwindling, his earlier confidence completely gone.
That was the Empire's Prime Minister—when Cassius rested, he represented the highest authority.
In other words, Langpu held a veto power over the proposal.
"The Prime Minister is absolutely right!"
"Duke Langpu is truly benevolent. If you ask me, the Empire's welfare should have improved long ago."
"Exactly. Didn't the last worker uprising happen because the military squeezed too hard?"
Suddenly, as the Prime Minister spoke, the Parliament Chamber became lively again, with various factions joining the discussion.
Previously silent parliamentarians now spoke up eagerly, quoting sources and supporting the Prime Minister's statements.
Meanwhile, Dolo, still seated in the elder's cushioned seat, wore an exceedingly grim expression.
At his signal, the military generals also hurriedly stood up, doing their utmost to counter these arguments.
"Was that incident caused by the military?"
"You're slandering us! Those rioters were paid off by the Northern nobles! They plotted to overthrow the Empire and started this rebellion!"
"The continent's current situation is far from stable. If we abandon military development, how can the Empire secure its foothold in the South?"
"But from a long-term perspective, welfare and healthcare are indispensable!"
Both sides engaged in a heated verbal battle, with tempers flaring, and the atmosphere in the Parliament Chamber grew increasingly intense.
—Before long, the matter had gone beyond the proposal itself, morphing into a political confrontation, a power struggle between the military and the government's administrative sector.
"This…"
Olivia clutched her thick stack of documents, looking at the quarreling crowd. She opened her mouth, feeling at a loss.
"No matter what, I'll stick to my responsibilities."
"This country shouldn't be like this—it can be better."
Olivia pursed her lips, silently resolving herself.
Yet she felt a deep sense of helplessness, as though nothing she did could make a difference.
Despite the Empire's self-proclaimed values of "democracy and equality," it was in reality a tool for various interest groups to engage in power plays.
As a parliamentarian with no connections or money, she couldn't truly voice her opinions or influence the Empire's decisions.
The just, kind-hearted silver dragon detested this atmosphere.
Wait—
Connections?
In the Ember Empire, who had the strongest connections?
The answer was undeniable.
Olivia's blue-gray eyes suddenly lit up, but they quickly showed hesitation and uncertainty.
Would that really be right?
Ultimately, the silver dragon made up her mind to do her utmost—even if it meant compromising her dignity.
Olivia glanced toward the distant palace and murmured softly: "Maybe I should talk to Cassius."
The outskirts of Northwind Fortress, Iron Dragonwing Palace.
This palace, built into the mountains and shaped like dragon wings, remained as magnificent and grand as ever.
This was the legendary residence of the Ember Emperor—the Red Emperor, the Scourge of the Infernal, the Devourer of Souls—the red dragon Cassius Crowburm Norrixius.
To many of the Empire's citizens, this palace, home to the red dragon, was so sacred that it rivaled a divine kingdom on earth.
To the various intelligent races of the Faianth Continent—humans, elves, dwarves—this palace symbolized endless wealth.
Indeed, this Emperor was quite famous across the continent.
However, what made him so well-known wasn't his valiant feats against Oszedro—it was the Empire's merchandise.
Goods marked with the dragon head and the words "Made in the Empire" were renowned for their novelty, usefulness, and affordability. They had infiltrated every aspect of life on Faianth.
On brutal battlefields, soldiers fired at each other with Empire-made firearms; on cold winter nights, farmers slept soundly in Empire-made woolen coats.
People often said that this red dragon Emperor amassed countless gold coins by selling products like guns, woolen sweaters, and tobacco stamped with "Made in the Empire."
It was rumored that this red dragon Emperor hollowed out a mountain near his palace and filled it with his billion gold coins.
Many adventurers coveted it, but no one dared to try. Even the bravest often met their end within the Empire's borders.
And so, in stories passed around the continent, this immensely wealthy dragon was said to slumber every day atop a mountain of gold.
But in truth, Cassius had spent little time sleeping over the past year, instead delving into spells and absorbing his power.
Inside the palace's main hall, an enormous red dragon lay sprawled on the ground. His claw reached out, flames and lightning intertwining at his fingertips, clashing with each other.
Yet the lightning grew dimmer and was eventually extinguished by the fire.
"So that's how it is… What a pity. As an element master, I can't harmonize two elements at once."
"Do I have to visit the quasi-elemental plane of lightning again?"
Cassius sighed regretfully, sulfurous smoke wafting from his mouth.
Supporting himself on his strong forelimbs, the red dragon slowly rose, his thick tail brushing against the wall behind him.
"It's starting to feel a bit cramped. I'll expand it in a few days."
The palace's main hall felt increasingly restrictive and narrow to Cassius now.
The red dragon, over forty meters long from head to tail, was officially considered a "super-massive dragon."
This surpassed the physiological limits of most ordinary red dragons. Even ancient dragons over twelve hundred years old rarely reached such a size.
What was more terrifying was that this was not Cassius's peak—far from it. This red dragon was still growing rapidly at a juvenile dragon's rate, and no one knew just how large he would eventually become.
Could he be an ancestor dragon?
Even dragon gods like Tiamat, Bahamut, and Sardior were closely watching.
But their eyes could no longer pierce the Empire's domain to witness what was happening. Within the red dragon's Empire, even deities were blindfolded.
Suddenly, Cassius sensed a familiar rain-like presence. Using his domain authority, he perceived the outside world—there was a former guest outside the palace.
"Olivia?"
"Now that's a rare visitor."