"Why do you show such an expression? Surely you are not the only one who wishes for the favor of the Great Snake. On this land, there are too many who feel troubled by the defects of their own race."
Seeing the noble’s expression shift from disdain to shock and ultimately speechless, the Snake-man Priest was very satisfied with Orff’s change in demeanor,
"You are not alone. In some ways, you are even fortunate, for you have not achieved any merit, yet you have received the baptism of the Cycle Snake’s Original Blood.
In our Empire, only true pureblood nobles, after establishing great deeds, can receive such a blessing."
"So, am I now considered a noble of the Empire?"
In this underground palace, there were many like him, half-human, half-snake, and Snake-man Priests with snake-like features, yet largely maintaining a human form. There was also a kind of big snake with humanoid arms, but these snakes seemed to hold a very low status in this palace, akin to servants.
"If you wish to become a true imperial noble, you will still need to achieve merits, but this is very easy for you. Just use your original identity to help us expand our influence."
The Snake-man Priest explained.
To conquer the world purely by force is too costly; first dispatch a vanguard, use irresistible benefits to tempt the local ruling class, and train a group close to the empire. This greatly reduces the difficulty encountered in conquest, and it has proven effective time and again.
Just as the Snake-man Priest spoke eloquently, a long and ferocious snake head suddenly emerged from the metal buildings, spouting a deadly poisonous cloud into the air.
Orff looked at the creature’s head, resembling both a snake and a dragon, and his youthful face, covered with snake scales, showed a cautious expression as he sensed a strong threat.
"That is a Snake Dragon unique to our Empire. Want to take a look?"
The Snake-man Priest displayed a reserved smile; such a scenario had played out countless times before.
He knew that those who themselves possessed great power and influence, until they witnessed the empire’s might, even if transformed into Snake-men, would harbor many subtle thoughts.
Only by truly demonstrating the empire’s strength and extinguishing all thoughts of resistance would they serve the empire wholeheartedly, striving to integrate into it.
Orff, albeit sensing danger, agreed without hesitation because he wanted to validate the reality of the Sitra Empire. If it indeed was an empire, then he certainly had no reason to resist or sever ties.
"Snake Dragon? Did you transform them from dragon creatures?"
Walking through what was called the most important core area of the Snakes Hall, Orff was stunned as he watched a multi-headed dragon roar in anger, yet still constrained within the conversion array.
As the array operated, the shadow of a massive snake appeared. The ferocious dragon monster emitted a painful wail, and then its form slowly began to change.
"Of course, but these converted Snake Dragons can only be used as war beasts. Snake Dragons with true potential need to be converted from True Dragon Eggs and nurtured from a young age."
The Snake-man Priest observed the Snake Dragon, whose life form was being gradually altered amidst the wailing and pain, and its already fierce vertical pupils became even more ferocious in such savage transformation.
"Converting True Dragon Eggs? Are the empire’s higher-ups all born through such conversion ceremonies?"
Orff had a flash of insight, asking with a hint of sarcasm.
If the Snake-men converted later could also attain high positions in the empire, wouldn’t that mean he had a chance too?
If the Sitra Empire possessed such inclusiveness, offering him a pathway to ascend, then serving it might not be out of the question.
"Only a part; the conversion ceremony is a way for the empire to supplement new blood!"
The Snake-man Priest corrected,
"I know what you are concerned about, whether pureblood like me or like you, converted through the ceremony into Original Blood Snake-men, the treatment within the empire is judged by merit, without other distinctions."
"Can I see the conversion ceremony for the True Dragon Eggs?"
Orff, with his mind set at ease, made another request.
As expected, Orff saw in a palace some dragon eggs of varying colors: red, blue, green, black, and white, which belonged to the Colorful Dragon Clan.
He wasn’t surprised that these Snake-men could collect the Colorful Dragon Eggs. Even as a grand noble of a duchy, he could have collected some if he wished.
However, he lacked the corrupting ceremonies controlled by the Snake-man Empire, and even if he collected the dragon eggs, he would only sell them as materials, not hatch or raise them, as that would be foolish.
The True Dragon Species is born with inheritance and possesses sufficient understanding of the world before birth. The Dragon Clan’s concepts are formed at the moment of birth.
Any attempt to domesticate the Dragon Clan would only incur their enmity. Historically, countless forces have tried to domesticate dragons and ultimately failed miserably.
But the Empire’s domestication of dragons is different; they convert the dragon eggs before hatching, causing the original True Dragon torque to corrupt, transforming them into Snake Dragons.