Night’s Nomenclature

Chapter 959: Tattoo

A Li Clan Class A airship continues its northward flight in the northern Federation.

After traveling nearly 200 kilometers, a vast, imposing black Air Fortress looms in the distant sky, its overall black color exuding a chilling aura.

As the airship approaches, the Air Fortress's main artillery cannons slide on the bottom tracks, automatically locking onto the target.

The Li Clan airship doesn't continue its advance but lands directly on the ground.

The hatch opens, and Li Yunshou stands on a nearby open space, gazing silently at the Air Fortress in the sky.

Blackwater's arrival in the East Continent Federation signifies that Blackwater City's forces have joined with the Storm City fleet; the Duke of Blackwater has arrived.

This time, the Roosevelt Kingdom doesn't rush south but halts to consolidate the six cities of northern Shendai and Lùniǎo, establishing a new regime here, along with numerous, shadowy military bases.

A large number of able-bodied men in the cities are forcibly conscripted, all reduced to slaves.

Now, the south is hastily retreating, while the north is filled with wailing and lamentations.

The next moment, an airship descends from Blackwater, landing. The hatch opens, and a white man looks down at Li Yunshou from above, speaking in fluent Chinese: "Li Yunshou." "It's me," Li Yunshou nods.

"Search him," the white man says. Two soldiers behind him rush forward, disregarding Li Yunshou's identity, almost tearing his clothes to pieces during the search. Li Yunshou, as the head of a major East Continent conglomerate, should have received better political treatment, but now he is treated like livestock. The experts on the Li Clan airship angrily try to rush forward to fight, but Li Yunshou raises his hand: "It's alright."

After the search, the white man gestures to him: "Get on our airship. The Duke of Blackwater wants to see you." The Blackwater City airship quickly ascends, coming above Blackwater, and waits for the alloy hatch on the deck to open before slowly descending. Several black slaves escort Li Yunshou, like a prisoner, to the command room.

The Duke of Blackwater sits in the command seat, looking down at Li Yunshou below, and asks in English, "You are the head of the Li Clan?" An Asian time traveler beside him translates in Chinese: "You are the head of the Li Clan?

Li Yunshou nods: "I am."

The Duke of Blackwater looks at Li Yunshou with interest: "What are your demands?"

Li Yunshou calmly says: "All Li Clan members will be granted citizenship, and all residents in cities under Li Clan jurisdiction will be free people, not slaves."

The Duke of Blackwater bursts into laughter: "A conglomerate actually wants to protect its own flock. Is that meaningful?"

Li Yunshou says: "It is. The residents of the six northern cities have all become slaves, and I know exactly what fate awaits them. With the Li Clan's help, unifying the East Continent will be easier and more efficient. The cost is merely granting citizenship to 31,922 Li Clan members; you will also gain millions of free people. For you, this is a costless deal, very profitable."

"If I were a businessman, this would indeed be a very profitable deal," the Duke of Blackwater slowly retracts his smile, "but unfortunately, I'm a ruler."

Li Yunshou looks up at him: "What do I need to pay?

The Duke of Blackwater smiles: "In my opinion, the entire East Continent is already in the hands of His Majesty the King; you just haven't seen through this outcome yet. Of course, your request isn't difficult. Your Li Clan people can avoid becoming slaves, but you...will become my slave."

As soon as he finishes speaking, people on both sides rush forward to grab Li Yunshou's arms, fixing him to a chair. A white woman holds an automated tattoo tool, and in just over ten seconds, she tattoos two Chinese characters on Li Yunshou's forehead: "slave."

Li Yunshou doesn't struggle; he just sits blankly in the chair, his eyes dull.

The Duke of Blackwater and hundreds of soldiers in the command room all laugh, looking at him: "Don't worry, you're special. Next, on all the land crushed by the Roosevelt Kingdom, except for your Li Clan's people, everyone will have these two words tattooed on them. They will become slaves of the Roosevelt Kingdom, and their children will also become slaves of the kingdom, bearing these marks. Then, your Li Clan's descendants will all thank you for your sacrifice."

This is the true cruelty of war; it not only destroys your body but also humiliates your will. In imagination, war is simply a back-and-forth exchange of blows until the other side is eliminated. However, the humiliation suffered by the defeated side will last for hundreds of years. Women will become breeding tools, men will become livestock-like laborers. This is the price the Federation will pay if it loses.

Now, the Duke of Blackwater wants to let the whole world know that Li Yunshou has become his slave, thus breaking the Li Clan's last will.

Whenever Li Yunshou appears in public again, everyone will see the two characters on his forehead.

The Duke of Blackwater's voice turns cold: "First, the Li Clan troops must assemble within two days and begin attacking the southwestern Qing Family. Don't let me discover any trickery from the Li Clan; otherwise, I will try all the women in the Li Clan. Then, I will let all the nobles of the Roosevelt Kingdom try them."

"Second, the Li Clan must seize City 10 within three days and establish No. 18 and City 10 as forward bases for my Roosevelt Kingdom. All supplies must be assembled there."

"Third, issue a warrant for the arrest of your Li Clan's Li Changqing. She took away the Li Clan's airship, causing huge losses to the kingdom. Capture her and bring her to me."

Li Yunshou takes a deep breath and understands.

The airship takes Li Yunshou out of the Air Fortress. The Duke of Blackwater sits in the command seat.

A nearby officer whispers: "Do you believe in his loyalty?

The Duke of Blackwater coldly laughs: "I don't need his loyalty. Keep a close watch on those Li Clan people; not a single one is allowed to leave City 18. Only as long as these people are here will the Li Clan have to become the rolling wheels under our war machine. Li Yunshou dares to use the lives of over 30,000 Li Clan people as chips; he dares not."

For a family, this is a huge number, almost encompassing all the core members of the Li Clan.

If they die, the Li Clan will cease to exist.

At this moment, the Blackwater City airship lands. The white man opens the hatch with a smirk and pushes Li Yunshou out of the airship.

Li Yunshou slowly walks out.

The Li Clan soldiers stare blankly at the tattoo on his forehead, their faces flushing with anger and humiliation.

The white man stands on the gangway, watching them, unzipping his pants and aiming...

However, a Li Clan expert is quick-witted and pulls Li Yunshou away, preventing the urine from splashing on him.

The Li Clan soldiers are about to attack, but Li Yunshou stops them: "The overall situation is paramount."

The white man laughs loudly, closes the hatch, and leaves.

Li Yunshou and others return to their airship; everyone is silently subdued.

"Fight them!" someone shouts: "How can we endure such humiliation? This is our family head; they actually carved words on our family head's face!"

Others sigh: "Fight? Then what? It's easy to say fight, but what about our wives and children? Who will protect them? Family head, how did you talk to them?"

Li Yunshou nods: "No Li Clan member will be enslaved."

Then, he takes out a satellite phone and sends a message: "It's not just the Blackwater City fleet that's coming; there's also the Phoenix City fleet. I overheard their soldiers talking, mentioning the Phoenix City fleet's arrival."

After sending, Li Yunshou hands the satellite phone to Li Shu beside him: "Destroy it."

Li Shu asks in a low voice: "Did you hear this from the Air Fortress?

"Mm," Li Yunshou nods.

Many people, after experiencing the Li Clan under Li Xiurui's rule, subconsciously compare the eldest son, Li Yunshou, to this Old Master.

After Li Yunshou's succession, most of his actions have been about preserving the status quo and not about expansion. Therefore, some online comments describe Li Yunshou as relatively mediocre among the Li Clan's generations of family heads, lacking outstanding talent.

However, in fact, few people know Li Yunshou's past. He was admitted to Qing He University with the top score that year. During his university years, he was very low-key, not holding any student union positions and rarely appearing in public. However, upon graduation, he obtained three degrees: philosophy, political economics, and law.

After succeeding as the head of the Li Clan, Li Yunshou has always diligently stayed in the Secretariat handling government affairs. However, before anyone saw his accomplishments, news of his surrender to the Roosevelt Kingdom came out.

Li Shu asks in a low voice: "Family head, you didn't want to surrender, did you?

"It doesn't matter anymore," Li Yunshou pats his shoulder: "Look forward."

The airship takes off and flies back to City 18 after two days. When it lands in front of the Baopu Building, hundreds of Li Clan members gather on the helipad waiting.

When Li Yunshou comes out, a woman walks up and spits at him: "Traitor! We'd rather be slaves, we'd rather die, than accept your so-called protection."

Another person steps forward to scorn him: "You're also worthy of being the family head? You're far worse than the Old Master!"

Hundreds of people take turns to scorn him. Li Shu and others want to protect Li Yunshou, but Li Yunshou stops them: "It's fine; let them curse."

Hundreds of people cursed for nearly an hour before tiring out and leaving. Li Yunshou's clothes were soaked, his body covered in the foul smell of saliva.

He slowly walks into the Baopu Building, takes off his clothes, and takes a shower. When he comes out of the shower, he passes a mirror and stops, quietly looking at himself in the mirror, and at the tattoo on his forehead.

Li Yunshou changes his clothes, walks out of the room, and says to Li Shu outside: "Summon the Secretariat's national policy advisors and military advisors; prepare to formulate a strategic plan to attack the southwest."

Li Shu asks: "Don't you need a rest?"