Titan King: Ascension of the Giant Chapter 1544 Fifteen Cities for Peace

Moreover, the Order of the Dandelion had scored a huge, unforeseen boon. Elara permitted the Order to set up guild branches throughout her lands for spreading arcane knowledge. This one key allowance immediately bestowed upon Rhazuun—who had been idling as nothing more than a liaison in the Stoneheart Horde—a vast surge of merit inside his guild.

In addition, Elara revealed herself as a shrewd, war-forged warlord. Winning her backing ensured the Order of the Dandelion gained a mighty military supporter amid the turbulent battles looming ahead.

"The Stoneheart Horde... it's far more powerful than it seems on the surface, isn't it?" Cloudsong asked, his face serene yet his thoughts churning over the deeper meanings.

"My friend, the Stoneheart Horde is a realm brimming with chances," Rhazuun replied with true sincerity. He understood bards well; they wandered endlessly, drawn to the aroma of grand legends. Yet the Horde stood apart. It was an ascending, boldly expanding empire. In this place, his bard friend would discover an endless fountain of epic sagas to perform. Consider the First Highness, Elara—her forthcoming conquests were bound to become timeless myths.

"You're saying there are still endless stories here waiting for me to discover, right?"

"Naturally!"

Rhazuun lifted his glass for a toast. Cloudsong clinked his against it, the chime of crystal binding the silent accord between longtime companions.

…

In distant, unexplored realms, the assault on Lionheart City teetered on the edge.

Without the radiant protective barrier raised by the demigods, the city would have been devoured by the flood long ago, left as submerged ruins. Outside the walls, the terrain had already submerged, warped into a furious inner ocean.

"Honored lords, this was all a grave mix-up!"

Hovering right outside the shield, the Divine Sigil family's demigods, Gotaition and Yalennu, appeared anew. Their faces stern, they locked eyes on Orion and Leonidas.

"We moved based on misleading intel from our lesser kin," Gotaition declared, his voice full of righteous conviction. "We thought a treasured family heirloom had been taken by your ally, sparking our prior aggression. After coming back, we launched a full probe. Turns out, our offspring lusted after that sea region and tried wielding us to wipe out the native sea monsters."

"The brazen fools behind this trickery have faced harsh discipline already," he added seamlessly. "The Black Lion family stands ready to deliver official regrets and compensations to your ally, aiming to clear this error."

His words carried such firm belief and flawless reasoning that they almost rang true.

The air grew strangely awkward. Orion, Leonidas, and Kraken just gawked at Gotaition, eyes bulging in total disbelief.

Gods above. Spouting lies without a single blink, Leonidas sent mentally, awed by Gotaition's brazen, flawless performance. Credit where it's due—the Divine Sigil family. With a viper like him leading, the Black Lion clan is headed for glory.

"Well, with you explaining it that way, I guess a misunderstanding did occur between us," Leonidas said out loud, his tone abruptly casual and laced with mirth.

They're masters at this game. Handing us the win while keeping their dignity, Orion messaged his comrades. Kraken, your decision?

In truth, the foes' sudden shift to diplomacy eased Orion's mind. For demigods, dodging full war preserved crucial power and supplies for real dangers later. He and Leonidas were just here as Kraken's enforcers; they could steer the fight, but the ultimate call rested with Kraken. Orion and Leonidas wouldn't encroach or overshadow the sea titan's moment. They recognized the moment to yield and honor their battle-brother's command.

If their 'apologies and reparations' involve handing over the ocean zone and some coastal settlements, then we're done here, Kraken responded firmly, staking his terms.

Hmph. You handle the words, brother, Leonidas muttered via mind-link, a spark of annoyance rising. He'd seen Gotaition and Yalennu never glancing away from Orion even once. Among them, the adversaries only valued Orion's judgment. To the Divine Sigil demigods, Orion alone posed the real, deadly peril.

Orion nodded faintly. He advanced, floating above the peak of the gigantic wave.

"The ocean has always been my friend's territory, and your Divine Sigil family staged this whole 'misunderstanding'. If you wish for us to let it go, very well. Surrender twenty coastal cities to my friend." Orion's voice rang with unyielding resolve, offering zero space for negotiation.

Yet for Gotaition and Yalennu, Orion's stipulation appeared as a gleaming golden escape route.

The duo of demigods shared a brief look, unable to mask a glimmer of delighted shock. This result fit neatly within their tolerable bounds. To powerhouses like them, twenty human coastal cities held no value whatsoever.

They paused in silence momentarily, exchanging thoughts via hidden telepathy. At length, Gotaition broke in.

"My lord, twenty cities exacts a steep price. It would gravely undermine our lineage's base. We can provide only half of that."

His voice had gentled, slipping into the rhythm of a merchant sealing a bargain. As envoy for the Divine Sigil family—a force at demigod level—they needed to preserve their prestige. Whatever figure Orion proposed first, a counteroffer was mandatory. Outright rejection was off the table, but bargaining preserved the facade of control.

"Eighteen!"

"Twelve!"

The spectacle defied reality. Two doomsday titans dickered over millions' destinies like lowly traders at a bustling fish stall.

"Enough. Fifteen cities," Leonidas cut in, patience exhausted as he moved next to Orion to state their final terms. "Persist in bargaining, and we abandon civilities for outright battle."

Gotaition and Yalennu observed Orion's grim quiet. They 'pondered' through a drawn-out, charged interval before staging a highly persuasive show of bitter hesitation.

"Agreed. Fifteen cities it shall be," Gotaition yielded with exaggerated weight, performing as if utterly drained by the concession.

Polished experts. Perfect for the grandest arena, Leonidas remarked inwardly to Orion and Kraken, highly amused by the demigods' dramatic mastery.

"My lords, the Divine Sigil family keeps its promises," Gotaition stated fluidly. "We request you withdraw the tide without delay, allowing us to reduce damages on all sides."

A masterfully woven plea. Since those fifteen coastal cities now legally were Kraken's, allowing the mystic tsunami to engulf them would simply wreck the sea beast's recent gains.

"Retract the tide," Orion commanded, nodding to Kraken.

He aimed not to seize leadership; rather, Gotaition and Yalennu had directed all speech solely at him. Moreover, for observers, their group required a clear spokesperson for the parley.

Kraken grasped the public perception instantly. He acknowledged with a nod and, before the pair of foe demigods, directed his hordes of abyssal creatures to pull away the seas.

In a flash, the furious ocean turned back. The devastating floods battering the protective barrier started dropping noticeably.

With the "misunderstanding" formally settled, finalizing the treaty's details would prove straightforward.