Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 548: Negotiator

For the next dozen days, Li Wei had been waiting for news from Falcon Karl. He felt that at the very least, Falcon Karl should hold a Faction Meeting to discuss things.

But he thought wrong.

There was no news at all.

It seemed Falcon Karl had resigned himself to fate.

Would the Mandate of Heaven bless Tyrant William?

Li Wei didn't know. He only knew that if one day in the future, Tyrant William's grand army arrived at the gates of Liwei Fort, he would have a high probability of surrendering!

Because this battle couldn't be fought.

He couldn't win.

Who could have thought that Tyrant William would establish an overwhelming advantage in this single battle?

Currently, Liwei Fort had less than 4,000 combat-ready forces. How could they resist?And so, day by day passed. The Great Frost had reached its peak, no longer expanding, but also no longer fluctuating, instead maintaining a constant high-pressure state.

Against this backdrop, the day for the second logistics resupply arrived.

Zhao Xuanxuan, Thomas, and the soldiers of the Blazing Legion, Ice Legion, and Guard Legion who had fallen in battle returned to the ranks one after another. Returning at the same time were Second Aunt, as well as massive amounts of food, vegetables, and various materials, which naturally included the dismantled supplies from the two Tier-1 Mage Towers.

From now on, Li Wei would no longer conscript soldiers and commoners from the Blazing Territory. He would only have the remaining commoners form a Resident Governor System for self-governance, having them provide a certain amount of food supply every year.

In the future, if the Orson Empire Reconstruction Mission failed, then he would still have the chance to return to the Blazing Territory, continue being his Lord, and everything would be as before.

But if Tyrant William truly succeeded in reconstructing the empire, then everything would be meaningless.

What Lords, what Dukes, Marquises, Counts, or territories—all would be disbanded. Under the new rules of the Commandery-County System, even if he could scrape up a Count title, it would only be an honorary title. He would have to find a way to become an Aristocratic Clan.

Tyrant William certainly wouldn't go as far as to 'topple the landlords and divide the fields', but he absolutely wouldn't allow a state within a state, or a situation where 'my vassal is not your vassal'.

At that time, the choice would be to either go into exile in other kingdoms, or... it seemed there wasn't any other choice.

But Li Wei also felt that things wouldn't be this simple. After establishing an empire, there would certainly be aspects that were better than the Kingdom's fiefdom lord system, allowing one to gain greater benefits.

He would just wait and see.

After receiving the personnel and supplies from the Blazing Territory, Mark also received the Priests of the All-Heavens Temple. From now on, those fallen in battle could only be resurrected in the All-Heavens Temple at Liwei Fort.

Subsequently, Li Wei opened Ah Qing's Territory again, directly transporting all the commoners and garrison soldiers from there.

Over two hundred thousand people! Fortunately, it was as warm as spring inside Liwei Fort now. Fortunately, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and several other departments had been preparing for months in advance, with enough food and adequate housing. With the assistance of He Yibo, A Su, and others, everything was quickly settled.

Li Wei didn't have to worry about the specifics. This was the benefit of setting up the five departments previously.

But just at this time, he noticed that the total population of Falcon Karl's small faction had actually broken through four hundred thousand in this short time!

Among them, about two hundred and ten thousand people were contributed by Li Wei, and the remaining population was relocated by Falcon Karl from his original territory.

If one added the populations of the territories of the other Marquises and Counts under Duke Will, then the total population had successfully broken through one million!

Although the vast majority were ordinary people, in this kind of Medium Magic World, once the gears of war started turning, in just a few years, who couldn't raise 100,000 armored soldiers?

"No way, are Duke Will and Duke Kaidel going to join forces to resist Tyrant William? Isn't this just waiting for the Neans to seize an opportunity?"

For a moment, Li Wei's mood was quite complex.

However, very soon, Falcon Karl finally passed on a message, convening a Faction Meeting.

Was it a pre-war general mobilization?

As the light of the Pioneering Card continuously lit up, a few seconds later, Li Wei entered the demiplane. Before long, he saw Falcon Karl, Allovell, Duncan, Li Siyuan, and Fieldsvae arrive one after another. But closely following them, four strangers also entered the meeting.

This time was indeed unusual.

Falcon Karl didn't take the initiative to introduce them. He just had a solemn expression and, after sitting down, didn't speak for a long time. It could be seen that he was quite depressed.

The silence continued like this for a full three minutes before another human silhouette arrived late to this demiplane meeting. But when Li Wei saw the newcomer, he couldn't help being shocked, because the newcomer was actually Jiang Xinran!

No, it wasn't her. Her soul had already returned to her hometown, where she had a perfect ending.

This was her puppet-transformed body, just like those two bodies Mountain Eagle Parker had controlled previously. So whose External Avatar was this?

"Everyone, we meet again!"

At this time, she smiled and spoke. Although she was ninety percent similar to Jiang Xinran, it was definitely not her. It was another woman, very old, even though she was trying hard to act young... he couldn't think about this!

Li Wei quickly focused his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.

"We pay our respects to the Royal Consort!"

Sure enough, Falcon Karl stood up with a gloomy and complex expression, leading Li Wei and the others in a slight bow. It was actually the Royal Consort, that wife of Tyrant William, an old Mage who had lived for over a thousand years, but after a thousand years was still a 4th-Tier Mage... No, she had advanced.

This thought flashed through Li Wei's mind like lightning. In the next second, he forcefully hit the brakes, but it was still too late. The Royal Consort had already turned her gaze toward him, though she didn't cast a Mental Shock on him, only showing a slight trace of surprise.

"Please take a seat, everyone. I came today with friendly intentions, and I have just met with Duke Will. As you know, Will is an old friend of mine. A thousand years ago, William, Will, Juniper, Kaidel, and I were a standard five-person squad. We started out in the Yunyang Empire, went through a rough journey, first defected from the Yunyang Empire through a Special Mission, founded the Locke Kingdom, and then, after being nurtured for a millennium, started this Orson Empire Reconstruction Mission."

"It can be said that the reason you all can have your current status today is actually built upon the Locke Kingdom, built upon the foundation of our five-person squad. It is you who enjoyed our platform, it is you who utilized our channels. Without us, you would be nothing. Absolutely do not say that all of this was fought and won by yourselves."

"If you are not convinced, you can also bring a five-person squad, or a ten-person squad, and go fight and win it yourselves."

The Royal Consort said with a smile, "Of course, rules are still rules. Old Will has the right to refuse, and he also has the right to compete for the position of Great Emperor. Including everyone sitting here, you all have the right to claim the title of King or Emperor, as long as you are strong enough."

"And this is also the reason why I came here as a negotiator. I am very happy to inform everyone that I have advanced. I am now a 5th-Tier Radiant Mage, a 5th-Tier Epic existence, and simultaneously the second 5th-Tier Mage in this current Ascension Continent, as well as the sixteenth 5th-Tier Epic combatant."

"I think you should understand what this means. Prior to this, there were no 5th-Tier Mages in the three kingdoms; only the High Priest of the Neanderthal Giant Crocodile Tribe was a 5th-Tier Mage, and there are two other 5th-Tier Epics in their tribe, one is a Warrior and one is a Knight. So we have always been very passive. Now it's fine, we already possess the ability to stand as equals in this regard."

"And just now, I had a chat with Old Will, and he reached an agreement with me. That is, ten years from now, once the Neanderthal grand army is fully mobilized and comes to invade, William and I need to defeat the Neanderthal grand army. As long as we can defeat the Nean army, Old Will is willing to withdraw and enter the Nine-Star Council. We are all friends of many years, and he doesn't want things to reach the point of tearing faces. Not to mention, if we slaughter each other and the Neans seize the opportunity, that would be too stupid."

"Say what you will, this is ultimately just a mission, a mission conducted to explore more ancient magic. Otherwise, who gives a damn about the empire?"

"You understand what I mean, right? And I came here, actually wanting to invite you young people to participate in that war ten years from now, which is destined to be great, destined to go down in history."

"Because Old Will can sit on the mountain to watch tigers fight; he has this qualification, he is a 5th-Tier Epic, he can directly enter the Nine-Star Council. Do you have this qualification?"

"If we lose, do you think you can enjoy the fruits of victory? Forget it. The Nean army, having gained more resources, will sweep over like locusts. We can't beat them, and you definitely can't beat them. Three Nean 5th-Tier Epics, what the hell are you going to fight them with?"

"Take you, Li Wei, for example. If you hadn't very smartly joined Will's faction back then, then in at most a month, I would have sent my avatar Jiang Xinran to destroy and subjugate you, right? You recognize her. At that time, you didn't even have a decent city, what the hell would you use to deal with me?"

"And over the past six months, through this method, I have wiped out fourteen and subjugated twenty-nine small factions just like you—developing rapidly, full of vitality, and thinking they can vie to be kings in chaotic times. The reason I didn't make a move against you was because of Old Will! So don't think about 'Are Kings and Generals Born to Be?' That set of logic is useless."

"In short, this is the purpose of my visit. If we lose, you will undoubtedly die. But if we win, carrying the prestige of a great victory over the Neans, with an army of hundreds of thousands arriving at the city gates, what else can you do besides kneeling outside the city gates and welcoming the King's Army with food and wine?"

"At that time, the military authority in your hands will be taken back, the soldiers under you will be dispersed. You can either leave the legion to be commoners or mercenaries, or at best you can be an Imperial Centurion. Your territories and your castles will be nationalized. Do you understand? The Commandery-County System! Would you dare to be unconvinced? Would you dare to rebel?"

"Because absolute power comes from absolute military force! If you can't beat them, you have to join them!"

"So right now, I am giving you this opportunity. Believe me, don't talk about any hundred-year empire reconstruction mission. The critical node of this war has already arrived. Ten years from now, we will fight to the death with the Nean army. The victorious will be king. There will be no reversals, no tearing at each other, unless a 5th-Tier Mage can appear in the other two kingdoms, but that is impossible."

"The reason William and I dared to initiate the empire reconstruction mission is because we found many Orson Empire ruins and deciphered many of the ancient magics within them. We are amply prepared."

"When the time comes, they will only choose to withdraw. Whatever kingdom they were before, they will still be in the future. They just came to this medium magic Ascension Continent to harvest a round of mana."

"So, think about it carefully."

"If we participate in the war, what can we get? Can our territories, castles, and legions be preserved?"

At this time, a man who looked very much like Karl spoke. It seemed to be another son of Duke Will.

"They will! But there are conditions. That is, you must at least accumulate Military Merits to the level of an Imperial Chiliarch. Actually, you don't need to simply apply the empire in your understanding; it's different. Even the ancient Orson Empire actually allowed the existence of minor Lords. An Imperial Centurion was allowed to have fifty soldiers, three hundred households of commoners, and an estate of twenty square kilometers. An Imperial Chiliarch was allowed to have five hundred soldiers, one thousand households of commoners, and an estate of one hundred square kilometers."

"In short, you don't need to worry that we will mechanically apply any Commandery-County System. That set of rules is only effective for commoners. As Merit Nobles in the process of pioneering and establishing the empire, you have privileges. And because of the special background of the Alliance of Myriad Heavens Lords, you don't need to worry about the emperor executing meritorious officials, nor do you need to worry about dissolving military power over wine. Rest assured, as long as you can establish Military Merits, everything you have in the empire will only be better than when you were in the Locke Kingdom!"

"Even executing Cross-Border Missions will be changed from once every five years to once every ten years. Of course, the taxes in this regard will still remain at fifty percent."