The room was silent for a short while that seemed practically eternal. The giant clans' chieftains were looking at the old man with eagerness. They could all recognize what was going on at the moment. Eisen had created a contract that would cost him his life and every single possession of his if he were to tell even a single lie in his next words.
And judging from that being, the reaper behind the old man's back, it was clear that this was truly an overseer of a magical contract, and an incredibly powerful one as well.
"My name is Eisen de Grandour, son of the first Grandour, and I'm the Original of the Mechanical Arts. I, as well as the other Originals, were placed into this world with a simple task in mind; to curate and guide it in the exact way that Samuel wished. In the case of a rebellion against this, we would be punished severely... which led to the creation of the giants' curse," Eisen started to explain.
How exactly the curse came about was a secret that not even these people knew, but that changed the moment that the reaper's scythe didn't move for even a fraction of an inch. The old man was telling the truth.
However, before any of the chieftains could even comprehend what Eisen said, he already continued on, "The final task we were given was for us to come up with a method to create true new life which would act as the hosts for another realm's people, who come to this place for enjoyment. As a game for them to play.
But even then, those people, who now roam the world as the 'Artificials' on the central continent, are just a ploy to gather enough essence of 'experience' to connect this world to the other one, to introduce magic into that realm so that Samuel could rule there as he does here. But in order to do that, he needs the 'Artificials' to keep playing the game that Samuel prepared for them.
He needs to create excitement for them. That excitement comes not only in the form of a war between Chromatic and Metallic dragonkind, but once that battle has concluded... Samuel wants to start the war between the central continent and your country."
Eisen finished, and glanced back at the reaper. Realizing that the statement it was here to judge had ended, it released the scythe from Eisen's throat, before simply disappearing into the same dust that had formed its body to begin with. The old man sat back down on his seat, and closed his eyes. Because now, it was time to let the chieftains react.
"What... what are you even saying?" the desert giant chieftain muttered out, being the first to speak. She jumped up from her seat and slammed her hands into the stone table, cracks spreading out from the place that she hit, "A game?! They're just treating our lives as expendable for their own damned enjoyment?!"
The chieftains seemed to relax at Eisen's words. The Irngrad in particular looked happy to hear this. Inwardly, he was clearly quite anti-war, even if he said he would like to keep the final decision up to the other chieftains. That being the case, the Irngrad looked at the old man sitting across from him, "That... thank you. I truly cannot thank you enough."
"What are you thanking me for? I didn't really do anything, did I?"
"Of course you did. Without you, we would have simply played into that man's hands, but like this..." the Irngrad said, standing up from his seat. He looked at the chieftains around the table, "I believe we have everything we need to come to a decision already. Will we strive to prevent this war to the best of our abilities?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the hands of every single chieftain in the room had been raised. Even the ones that seemed generally pro-war agreed with this statement. Knowing that they would have to fight against extremely powerful, immortal soldiers, while also having to fend off the control of a seemingly nigh omnipotent being, only an idiot would agree to something like that.
It would be a war certain to be lost. At the very least, they didn't want to play right into Samuel's hands.
With a broad smile, the Irngrad clapped his hands together, "As such, it has been decided. We will prepare for a diplomatic meeting with the representatives of the central continent immediately."
"Ah, about that-" Eisen started, quickly raising his hand, "It's just a suggestion, but how about you call for to take place in Asgard? If not in our capital, Prototype, we should be able to find a perfect spot amongst our islands. Not to mention, even once Xenia manages to create a way to block Samuel's control, at least in the beginning, it will require a lot of space and maintenance to keep up.
We will create this 'safe space' in our country, so you can be sure that any conversations you have are truly held with each other, and not with Samuel in your mids."
The Irngrad smiled and nodded. He didn't even have to think about it for long, "It will be as such! Once the representatives of the central continent agree, we will start preparing for our journey to your country, Lord Eisen."