Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 813 454: Tribute from All Nations, Honoring the Holy Dragon, Worshipping the Heavens, Destiny Descends

"Sacrifice to the heavens? What does that mean? Which divine is the heavens?"
On the Seredis Continent, in the Westland Holy Kingdom, within the Pera Holy Radiance Hall, the red-robed archbishops and numerous ministers each took their seats. The Divine Authority Faction and the Monarch System, who would usually argue endlessly over various issues, were at this moment troubled by a single issue.
This was a demand made by the Dragon Clan Monarch from the distant Other Shore Continent. As one of the leading hegemonic nations on the continent, the Westland Kingdom initially faced the military threat of the Dragon Clan with intentions to resist until the end.
Because their kingdom was a Holy Country, believing and worshipping multiple powerful and just divines, yet accompanied by numerous divine guidance decrees suggesting believers not to participate in this secular unification war, the Divine Authority Faction, without divine reliance, quickly changed their stance, becoming peace advocates or rather, surrender advocates.
When the divine had clearly indicated not to interfere, faced with the Metal Ancient Dragons hovering overhead, even those war advocates wanting to demonstrate martyr spirits and resistance courage against oppressive powers would quickly be suppressed by others prioritizing life.
After all, they were from the Metallic Dragon Race, not the fierce and brutal Colorful Dragon Clan, subjected to the Metallic Dragon Race. The actual damage was minimal, despite slight embarrassment on the surface.
Indeed, after submitting to that Holy Dragon self-proclaimed as the Golden Sun, the Holy Dragon did not assign any dragons to interfere with their domestic politics. The king remained the king, nobles were still nobles, and the power structure remained unchanged.
The Dragon Clan only required their submission, along with annual tributes. For the Westland Kingdom, already prepared to submit, such a demand was exceedingly low.
Merely paying tribute, this was much better than they anticipated. After all, the Metallic Dragon Race is a Dragon Clan, inherently greedy no different from the Colorful Dragon Clan.
Thus, upon hearing the demand, the minister responsible for negotiations agreed without hesitation, only to find out soon after that another order from the Holy Dragon arrived.
This time, it required them to prepare sacrificial offerings for the heavens, essential to be rare treasures. As for how precious they should be, it was up to them to determine.
"No matter who the heavens is, the offering must be prepared!"
"Even if it's an Evil God, does it matter? What then becomes of our Holy Kingdom?"
"A meaningless assumption. That's the Metallic Dragon Race. If they collectively intend to sacrifice to an Evil God, there wouldn't have been any divine decrees descending initially."
"Indeed, the heavens cannot be an Evil God, perhaps a True God affiliated with the Dragon Clan."
The views of numerous Divine Authority bishops and kingdom ministers quickly converged, while the young monarch sitting on the throne remained silent.
Without a crown on his head or a scepter in his hand, since the arrival of the Holy Dragon, these symbols of the kingdom's submission to the Holy Dragon had all been handed over.
Whether he had them or not, it made little difference; in a country such as this, the king is merely a symbol or decoration, with actual power weakly limited to the vicinity of the Royal City.
Once this group of individuals comes to a decision, it's likely up to him for actual implementation, because tributes require the monarch to personally go.
"A Dragon Clan True God, what kind of offering should we present?"
"Isn't the Dragon Clan's demand clear enough? The rarer, the better."
"Ha, then go ahead and offer the most precious treasure from your family!"
"This is a demand on the kingdom, not on our family!"
"Then what is there to say?"
Under external pressure, the barely unified Monarch System and Divine Authority Faction began to argue again,
"At a time like this, is there still need for arguing? Haven't you thought that this is just a test from the Holy Dragon? Given such vast freedom of choice, if we don't present treasures matching the kingdom's status, while other kingdoms present even rarer treasures, what do you think the Dragon Clan will do?"
A Cardinal sitting at the head of the table frowned and impatiently tapped the table.
"It can even destroy our Holy Kingdom? We are a kingdom under the protection of the divines."
The Finance Minister slightly twitched his corpulent body, frowning. He was the least willing to hear about presenting any treasures, because the cost would inevitably be borne by the kingdom, with the ultimate trouble left for him to resolve.
"The kingdom certainly won't be destroyed, but to execute you disrespectful insects defying dragon authority under the name of disrespect is quite feasible."
"Are you joking?"
"This is not a joke. I have already inquired. Not only our Holy Kingdom received this demand. All nations submitting to the Holy Dragon need to prepare offerings for the heavens. They are all like us, free to choose, but must show respect to the Holy Dragon and the heavens."
"This is a selection, a test, and don't think of trying to take advantage of it. The Dragon Clan only requires us to pay tribute, likely because of this.
If anyone dares to slight the Dragon Clan, they are bound to face the wrath of the Holy Dragon. You have seen the might of the Holy Dragon and don't wish for it to reappear in the skies of the kingdom, do you?"
"Indeed."
"Since this is the case, we can present multiple treasures to demonstrate our respect for the Holy Dragon and the heavens."
"I think that's not a good idea; we shouldn't offer too many. This is only the first sacrifice, and once the sacrificial rites begin, it won't be just once."