novelraw Chapter 583: Negotiation
Chapter 583: Negotiation
[Global Proclamation]
[The Kingdom of Sarleon and Emperor Karl of the Orson Empire successfully signed a peace treaty five years ago. Both sides announced that they would no longer attack each other and would be friendly for generations. At the same time, Emperor Karl also allowed the king and Lords of the Kingdom of Sarleon to take away all the benefits they had obtained on the Ascension Continent.]
[After several years of preparation, the king and Lords of the Kingdom of Sarleon finally packed up their harvest and recently returned to their original national territory in full. They voluntarily gave up the competition for the Empire Reconstruction Quest, but they also took away approximately 8% of the Mana Reserve of the Ascension Continent, including but not limited to various resources.]
[Global Proclamation]
[The Rylinbas Kingdom and Emperor Karl of the Orson Empire successfully signed a peace treaty three years ago. Both sides announced that they would no longer attack each other and would be friendly for generations. At the same time, Emperor Karl also allowed the king and Lords of the Rylinbas Kingdom to take away all the benefits they had obtained on the Ascension Continent.]
[After several years of preparation, the king and Lords of the Rylinbas Kingdom finally packed up their harvest and recently returned to their original national territory in full. They voluntarily gave up the competition for the Empire Reconstruction Quest, but they also took away approximately 12% of the Mana Reserve of the Ascension Continent, including but not limited to various resources.]
[Global Proclamation]
[The Orson Empire's Imperial Myriarch, Duke Porcupine Alowell, led a large army and recently breached the lair of the Ascension Continent's natives, the Neanderthal Giant Crocodile Tribe. They slaughtered all visible Neanderthals. The rule of the Neanderthal Giant Crocodile Tribe on the Ascension Continent has completely come to an end. A small portion of Neanderthals escaped the Ascension Continent, attempting to seek the help of the Aum Empire established by the Neanderthals. In the future, this may lead to a war between two massive empires.]
"Phew! It has finally come to this step."
At the foot of Dindal Snow Mountain, Falcon Karl's large army had already been fighting here for nearly eight years. So much so that both sides had relied on the terrain to build solid primary cities and continuous Fortresses.Over the past eight years, both sides had tried all sorts of strategies and tactics, slaughtering endlessly. It was absolutely an unprecedentedly tragic Battlefield.
But now, with the Neanderthal's lair conquered by Alowell, that false king William finally couldn't hold on anymore.
Actually, Karl also was almost unable to hold on. In this war, the false king William had exhausted all his methods and trump cards. He had almost completely depleted the foundation his dad, Duke Will, had accumulated over a thousand years.
Yes, in terms of foundation, Old Vere was not inferior to William in any way. They were teammates in the same squad a thousand years ago; who could be inferior in what? Not to mention the Neanderthal main force that Old Vere had annihilated in one battle earlier; that was truly a bountiful supply.
Relying on that supply, Karl's side had raised over a thousand Fourth-Tiers in one breath, not to mention additionally raising one Rank 5. Even so, with three Rank 5s fighting against the two Rank 5s on the opposite side, they still fought so arduously.
But in the end, he still managed to seize the initiative.
The two kingdoms of Rylinbas and Sarleon simply wouldn't shed a tear until they saw the coffin. Before the Neanderthal lair was conquered, they wouldn't leave no matter what was said. It seemed very much like as long as the opportunity was right, they would rather lose massive reputation and Sanity to fight for it.
But fortunately, Alowell was truly awesome. By completely wiping out the Neanderthal lair, he forced those two kingdoms to leave. At the same time, the false king William also finally had no other options.
Although everyone knew that this false king William still had one last Ultimate Move in his hands, which was a Combat Breakthrough, promoting to the Sixth-tier.
When that time came, the false king William alone would be able to annihilate Karl's hundred thousand-plus army. But limited to thirty minutes, he would have to leave the Ascension Continent. However, his Crown Prince was not capable; not a single one was.
Karl would be dead, but Alowell's side still had a 200,000-strong army.
Not to mention there was also a restless Li Wei over in the Locke Mountains. Motherfucker, in just these eight years, this little brat had already managed the Locke Mountains like an iron bucket. Eight years ago, his comprehensive combat power was less than twenty thousand; nowadays, it had already broken through to thirty thousand.
Truly, if the false king William really did that, Karl wouldn't dare say who would have the last laugh.
Therefore, this peace negotiation was also necessary.
Sigh, if there hadn't been this Li Wei, Karl really would have been willing to trade his own life plus a 150,000-strong army in exchange for the false king William using his ultimate. That way, victory would basically be certain.
Even if the Rylinbas Kingdom and Sarleon Kingdom plundered away 20% of the Mana Reserve, the remainder could still be kept within the pot. But now—
Thinking of this point, Falcon Karl, the current Emperor Karl, felt as disgusted as if he had eaten a fly.
Especially since Li Wei could now provide him with +6 Collective Sanity, and even freaking held 5% of the Pioneering Card's Founding Shares————
What a sin ah!
"Let's go, brother. We'll go meet Old William."
At this moment, Karl took Black Hawk Hulk and rode out of the formation alone, crossing The Wilds that had been ravaged by war and left riddled with holes. Over there, the false king William and his false queen Mary also came out alone.
With the war fought to this point, actually, all cards were already on the table, and all methods had been exhausted.
"Karl, truly the younger generation is to be feared ah. I didn't expect that after we had a relationship as uncle and nephew, it would eventually turn out like this."
The false king William wore luxurious and majestic Six-Star Divine Armor. Beneath him was a rare Six-Star Warhorse. The aura around him was so powerful that it could even steadily suppress Karl and Hulk by half a head. He indeed could promote to Tier-6 Immortal at any time.
But he was truly unwilling.
Promoting to Tier-6 Immortal meant having to go to the Nine-Star Council, but that didn't mean severing ties with the original Kingdom. The original Kingdom would still need to provide him with massive amounts of Resources and Taxes every year to support his continued advancement.
Above the Sixth-tier was a Demigod.
Therefore, if he had a powerful Empire under his command, the difference between that and having a Kingdom was far too great.
But, in the end, he still couldn't out-scheme his old pal.
"Uncle William, let's speak frankly and not beat around the bush, nor is there a need to exchange pleasantries. I know you still have an Ultimate Move in your hands right now. But if it comes to that, you will be unwilling, and I will also be unwilling. Therefore, I can allow you to take away 15% of the Mana Reserve and voluntarily withdraw from the Empire Reconstruction Quest. What do you think?"
Falcon Karl said loudly.
"Hehe, 15%? That sounds quite sincere. Actually, it is indeed as you said. Fighting this battle up until now, it has already lost its meaning. I'll still go back and be my King of the Locke Kingdom. How about this, Karl, I won't make things difficult for you. 18%. I will only take away 18% of the Mana Reserve. This way, you can still have 60% of the Mana left to forge the Magic Seal. You need to hurry up though. That Li Wei under you currently controls at least 2% of the Mana Reserve. For every day you delay, you lose from your own wallet."
"Sorry, Uncle William, 15% is my bottom line. You also know what I will face next. Perhaps in less than three hundred years, the Neanderthals' Aum Empire might launch an empire war against me. If I cannot get enough trump cards at this moment, leading to a crushing defeat in the future, then I might as well settle for the next best thing and go back to being the King of the Locke Kingdom. Believe me, Uncle William, you cannot compete with me right now."
"At worst, I'll just let that Li Wei be this Emperor of Orson. I'm actually quite looking forward to him being beaten Scared Witless by the vengeful Ni Legion. Only then can I vent my anger ah!"
Falcon Karl laughed heartily, Not Yielding an Inch. This had already been calculated.
Within this line, he still had a fifty percent chance. Otherwise, what the hell was there to play? Everyone might as well just quit and give up together.
No, actually if he chose to go be the King of Locke, the benefits would be even greater than now, both safe and comfortable. But who made him have to supply Old Vere? This Empire was actually seized for his dad, Will.
"Haha, Karl ah Karl. I lost this hand of cards, and I see your hand isn't easy to play either. How about this, I'll give Jiang Xinran to you in exchange for 1% of the Mana Resources? Although this woman's ambition is a bit big, if you have a Soul Black Card in your hands, disciplining her will be without pressure. Most importantly, this woman has some history with your subordinate Li Wei. In the future, if you want to deal with Li Wei, she will be a good assistance. Moreover, Jiang Xinran will definitely be able to promote to Rank 5 in the future."
Hearing this, Falcon Karl was clearly moved. Yes, Li Wei disgusted him too much.
But, to have him deal with a Li Wei who hadn't committed a single fault—that was also truly underestimating him too much.
As long as they passed this stage, Li Wei would be a great loyal subject of the Orson Empire. In the future, once the Neanderthals launched a counterattack, Li Wei would also have the responsibility to defend the territory.
"Sorry, Uncle William. Jiang Xinran should still stay under your command."
"Hmm, Karl. You are so confident? Aren't you afraid I'll make a Combat Breakthrough to the Sixth-tier and directly kill you brothers? I currently have ten Binding Black Cards in my hands. If I use them on you, although you will still be Resurrected upon death, you will never be able to enter the Ascension Continent again. All your efforts will flow down the drain. Do you want to try?"
The false king William finally turned his face cold.
But Falcon Karl smiled. "If it's truly like that, then I would have to thank you. Uncle William, why haven't you made your move yet? Us two brothers came calmly at this moment, actually just waiting for you to break through to the Sixth-tier. After breaking through to the Sixth-tier, you can only stay on the Ascension Continent for thirty minutes. Then why don't we make a bet: will your Crown Prince have the last laugh, or who will have the last laugh?"
"I die, but my daughter Anna has already married Alowell. Our family's interests actually won't have changed much. But without you holding down the fort, do you think your Royal Consort can still hold the situation? Her Collective Sanity has dropped too much!"
"A joke! After destroying you two, Cruz will immediately lead the army west and can destroy Li Wei with a snap of his fingers. Then he can reorganize the defense line. At this moment, Alowell's legion is still at the Neanderthals' lair. It would take at least a month to return. One month is enough to resolve all problems!"
"Alright. Then Uncle William, let's run a war game. We don't need to run a war game on Alowell, just one targeting Li Wei. Over the past eight years, you might not have had time to pay attention to this Li Wei, but I have always been paying attention to this fellow. Come, let us see who will actually have the last laugh. Uncle William, you wouldn't even be too afraid to run a war game, right?"
Falcon Karl smiled radiantly, as if he had old William completely figured out.