Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 537: The Pattern is Set, Welcoming the Protagonists of the Era

It was on the second day after the Tier-2 Flame Mage Tower in Liwei Keep began operating effectively.

Alovier finally led his five hundred black-armored knights, displayed his war standard, and headed north with a sky-swallowing and earth-rending momentum.

The one who came along was not that Anna who had "just turned eighteen," but Falcon Karl.

He came personally from the Falcon Capital.

Li Wei didn't quite understand at first, but when he saw Alovier lead the five hundred black-armored knights to Fierzway Fortress first, and then take a large detour, he roughly understood. He knew that he had finally demonstrated his united front value.

That Assassin Squad probably wouldn't appear anymore.

He had upgraded for nothing, but this should also be considered normal. Assassins weren't suicide soldiers; the more top-tier the assassin, the more they required propitious circumstances—the right time, the right place, and the harmony of people. None could be lacking.

If the conditions were unsuitable, there was no need to court death.

"Li Wei! You've worked hard during this period, and you've suffered a lot of grievances. This is my fault. But what makes me even happier is that you were able to pull through. This is good, very good!"

At this moment, Falcon Karl seemed even more hale and hearty than he was half a year ago, and his whole person looked more normal. Was it because his Collective Sanity had increased?"Lord Karl overstates it. Being able to share Your Excellency's burdens is my honor."

Li Wei spoke cheerfully and enthusiastically. The previous talk of good father-in-law and good son-in-law was treated as if it had never happened. As long as both sides tacitly avoided discussing it, it didn't exist.

Otherwise, Li Wei was quite worried that Falcon Karl would insist on bringing his daughter Anna over for a coerced trade.

The host and guests were all very harmonious. After entering the fortress reception hall and taking their seats, Falcon Karl waved his hand, dismissing his attendants and guards, leaving only Alovier.

With tacit understanding, Li Wei also asked everyone to leave, remaining alone. Including Hathaway and Li Yue, all had to step out. He could guess what Falcon Karl wanted to say and what he wanted to do. Yes, as things stood now, Li Wei was already qualified to formally negotiate with Falcon Karl.

After only the three of them were left in the room, Falcon Karl casually activated a Six-Star Heaven-Veiling Card. In an instant, a visible ripple spread out, sealing the entire room.

Then, Falcon Karl stared straight at Li Wei for a good while before asking, "Li Wei, you've reached the 4th Tier? A Light Ranger?"

"Yes, it was a bit rushed. I was forced to scramble by that assassin previously. For the sake of my own little life, I had to desperately increase my strength. But to tell you the truth, this has also caused hidden dangers for me for at least twenty years. Without twenty years of time, I won't be able to display my true peak strength."

Li Wei told the truth. Now that Falcon Karl had come personally, this was an attitude. Furthermore, Falcon Karl was different from his younger brother, so it was suitable to speak bluntly.

Everyone had ambitions, but they absolutely didn't play dirty tricks—at least not outside the scope of the rules.

Hearing these words, Falcon Karl nodded, "Your advancement speed is indeed too fast. I guess you must have bound your sixth profession card with an advanced card, otherwise it would be absolutely impossible for you to upgrade so quickly. The advantage of doing this is that you no longer have to worry about assassins, but the disadvantage is that you need decades to stabilize your foundation."

"Li Wei, I am very glad you can open your heart to me, and I also appreciate your methods and talents. It is a pity that Anna couldn't become your wife, but now, we still have opportunities for deep cooperation. I want to ask you now, do you have any intention of competing for the position of King of the Locke Kingdom?"

"I don't. My strength is insufficient, and there is no meaning to it. But I am determined to win the title of Flame Duke." Li Wei said calmly. This was the appropriate goal, especially a prudent decision he made after understanding the situation on the Ascension Continent.

"Very good. It seems our goals do not conflict. Today, I can tell you the truth. My father, Duke Will, actually has no intention of competing for the Emperor's throne of the Orson Empire because he knows he is not qualified enough. But letting him compete for the King's throne of the Locke Kingdom, he finds too boring. If it were a thousand years ago, he might have been very interested. So, in a hundred years, he will give up the Will Duchy and the title of Duke Will, in exchange for the qualification to join the Nine-Star Council, just like that Duke Brennus."

"Li Wei, you are now also a 4th-Tier Legend, so many things can be told to you."

"You see this Ascension Continent with its intricate, numerous, and unfathomable factions, where the waters run as deep as the sea. But in reality, that is only for you all. Although the entire Orson Empire Reconstruction Mission has a full one hundred years, I can tell you that the time deciding the final direction will not exceed twenty years. In twenty years, the dust will settle and everything will be perfectly clear."

"Jiang Xinran was very clear about this, which is why she took a reckless risk at the very beginning, wanting to seize the first wave of settlement chips. Unfortunately, she lost everything completely. But you, Li Wei, successfully, luckily, and relying on your own strength, have actually already grasped the first wave of settlement chips."

"Let me put it this way: those who want to compete in the Orson Empire Reconstruction Mission are only three kings. As for the other nine grand dukes, after initial probing, they have already made their decisions."

"I don't know about the other two kingdoms right now, but just regarding our side, Duke Juniper, Duke Kaidel, and my father, Duke Will, actually all intend to enter the Nine-Star Council. The rest of us juniors are the candidates competing for the King of the Locke Kingdom."

"Currently on our side, with my younger brother Parker admitting fault, no one is my opponent anymore. As for Duke Kaidel's side, his noble heir, Maclay, also has a significant advantage. Finally, there is Duke Juniper's fifth son, Marquis Rogge!"

"The three of us will compete for the throne of the Locke Kingdom over the next twenty years. And the Neans have even put out the word that in the upcoming invasion by the Neanderthal Army, they will only attack the Three Tyrants. The rest, as long as they give up competing for the right to reconstruct the Orson Empire, will be friends of the Neanderthals."

"Of course, just listen to these words casually. But it is an open scheme, because our goal is the Kingdom's throne, which is in irreconcilable conflict with the three kings reconstructing the Orson Empire."

"So by saying this, Li Wei, you should understand that no matter how the situation changes, there are no opportunities for those small and medium-sized factions anymore. There are none, and that includes you; there is no room to maneuver either. The entire pattern of the Ascension Continent has already been set in the nearly one year from the start until now."

"Currently, Duke Juniper's heir, Rogge, is quite far from us. They are currently battling Tyrant William. Although there are victories and defeats for both sides, they actually have no chance anymore."

"And here, we still need to launch a decisive grand battle against Maclay. One battle will determine everything. This grand battle will very likely erupt sometime in ten years. At that time, my father, Duke Will, will hold the rear for us, and Duke Kaidel will hold the rear for Maclay, ensuring that this grand battle won't be interfered with by a third party."

"Victorious as King! This is also a tacit understanding. A single throne is not worth both sides fighting until their family foundations are shattered into powder."

"So right now, Li Wei, I am willing to take out 5% of the founding shares from my Troubled Times Pioneering Card and solemnly invite you to join my team. If I become King, I will confer upon you the title of Flame Duke. If I lose, consider it your bad luck. How about it?"

After hearing these words from Falcon Karl, Li Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of the wheels of history turning. Or rather, a feeling that this chaotic era, which seemed vigorous and about to be beaten into a pot of porridge, was coming to an end.

This Duke Will, Duke Kaidel, and Duke Juniper were equivalent to three great aristocratic clans—powerful families in prosperous times, and capable of declaring themselves kings in chaotic times.

It hadn't even been a year, and they had already secretly carved up the layout of the world.

They could even have secret collusion with the Neanderthals.

Where was there any business for the bottom-level mud-legs?

Although he didn't want to admit it, and although he wasn't convinced, the general trend was like this, and he had to bow his head.

"Alright! I agree!"

Li Wei made his choice very decisively. There was no need to refuse. Just like at the end of the Sui Dynasty, with beacons of war everywhere, so what if there were thirty-six rebel kings? Weren't they still just paving the way for the Guanlong Aristocracy?

In the end, whether it was him, other small and medium factions, even Falcon Karl, even Duke Will, including the other dukes, they were all supporting characters in this mission!

The true protagonists were only those three kings. The mission was opened for them, the Ascension Continent was built for them. If they couldn't defy heaven to change fate and couldn't turn the tide, they could only fail, and their lives and thousand-year accumulations would all go down the drain.

It was a very simple principle.

If they won, they would be the Emperor of the Empire, carp leaping the dragon gate, dragons soaring the nine heavens.

If they lost, they would have nothing.

And these supporting characters, minor characters, and even passersby A and lowly commoners, all had to preserve their lives as much as possible, and then wait for the general trend to change.

Otherwise, even if Falcon Karl defeated Maclay and defeated Rogge, so what?

If Tyrant William could defeat the invading Neanderthal Army, command a mighty force of millions, and sweep across the world, at that time, Li Wei would definitely follow Falcon Karl, run outside the city gates, kneel there, and welcome the King's Army with food and wine!

Dare to resist?

Dare to be smug?

He wouldn't dare, otherwise he would be smashed to pieces!

Do not treat yourself as the protagonist of the mission; this was the most important point.

Next, Falcon Karl quickly completed the gifting of the founding shares, making Li Wei an advisor in his territory. This was more convincing and more effective than becoming his son-in-law.

From then on, everyone was truly a family.

"For these next ten years, or these twenty years, don't act recklessly. This is a medium magic world; grind your destiny more, grind your experience more, and conserve your strength. That battle between us and Maclay might happen, or it might not. Everything depends on whether Tyrant William can win that war against the Neanderthal Army. I hope you can understand this: those three kings, plus the Neans, these four factions are the true protagonists of the era. We are all just free add-ons."

"As for those Samsara Travelers and Contractors, they all occupy the ecological niche of hyenas."

Falcon Karl spoke with profound meaning, and he was also very satisfied with Li Wei's attitude. This was a very cautious and steady young man, and crucially, he had a bottom line.

This was good. With a bottom line, they could engage in appropriate exchanges of interests to avoid mutual concession, internal friction, and internal involution.

Otherwise, the protagonists of the era hadn't even taken the stage to sing the grand opera yet, and these minor supporting characters started fighting to the death; it would truly be a joke.

Just like Jiang Xinran, just like his younger brother—they were destined to be clowns!

They could never turn over a new leaf.

It was laughable that Parker still thought he had a deeply rooted affection for Jiang Xinran...

How absurd.