V3: Chapter 9:

…

Speed is everything.

It's not good enough to be on time.

It's best when you're there before you need to be.

Given the fact that I don't exist in some wuxia world, I wasn't about to become an esteemed elder primordial jade demon ancestor god that can kill my opponents before they can think. Nor did I have the innate talent to become a blender like Ilych. In this world, all that I could do was predict, have things ready before I need it, and use what I've got prepared at the right time at the right moment.

Preparation was key to my survival.

That's why I'm stockpiling everything from money, food, influence, and even strategic resources and not giving any away. However, stuff lying around in warehouses rarely does any good, and I couldn't have things shipped overnight. The ability to get something from across the world in a few days didn't exist in this world… or it shouldn't.

But my attempt at a Flying Pony Express was finally working

It took a while to make boxes that the flying horses could pull. Everything from needing to find enough people who could use magic, to training those people, and then getting enough people without the capacity to act as artillery or as healers. Sifting through tens of thousands of people, getting a few thousand who could use magic, and then putting those through a sieve finally yielded what I needed.

A way to get what I had where I needed it to be when I wanted.

Yeah, instead of building a T1 Wonder while reaching my desired stockpile level, I built an overnight, flying delivery service.

Don't judge me for wasting money. I don't want to hear a word, unless you've also had to deal with transporting things across a whole continent with a circle of mountains at the center, a hostile polity guarding most of the main roads, and treacherous, monster-filled terrain everywhere else!

It barely works, and the upkeep is eye-watering, but it gets the job done and I can get what I need when I need it!

That's all that matters.

…

"This is far more impressive than you implied, King of Wisdom." Saintess Sirena spoke while standing to my right. Even though I kept my eyes straight and looking forward, her chest remained in the corner of my vision. I did my best to ignore them by looking up into the sky. The runway for my arriving order was just a hundred meters of dirt with some dry, loose hay at the very end for emergencies. "This is just like the stories about our Ancestor's flying vehicles, which they used to even cross the stars."

Yeah, no.

These aren't logistical shuttlecraft that can go into orbit, lady.

Those aren't even available until the endgame, and you'll need Ancient Wrecks to make them. They're great if your opponent has air superiority and you just want to walk all over them, but there's better use for Ancient Wrecks than shuttles.

Waaayyyy, waaayyyy better uses, especially for the shitshow that was endgame.

But back to me trying to keep boobs out of my face.

I mean, looking at the results of my hard work.

"It is said in the stories that the Ancients had thousands of these and that they took most when they fled from the world." The lucky ones managed to get away before shit went down. Unfortunately, according to the lore, even those who got off the planet had only a fifty percent chance of getting to safety. The other fifty died after running out of fuel, food, air, or blown apart. "I don't know if mine will ever cross the stars, but I hope that many can be spared from the trials and terrors of crossing the continent in caravans. I knew many as my time in a warband who died merely traveling."

"A noble goal. I am sure that the High Justiciar would be happy to support your network, once the city has been established."

Yeah, I don't want death cultists promised eternal paradise to have access to flying transports.

So, I ignored the offer and watched as the levitating carriage with wheels hit the ground. The first dozen tries had the wheels explode on contact, until someone figured out how suspension systems worked and made them. Those also made regular carriages work better and sold like hotcakes, so it wasn't a one-off invention, therefore I considered it a small win.

"Alright, everyone. Time to work." I gestured and my soldiers went forward to start lugging off cargo onto other wagons, this time pulled by regular horses, and who didn't need two mages constantly casting levitate on them. The wagon was about half the size of a universal container back home, but needed six winged horses, two wagon drivers, and two mages. If it were the size of a universal container, then it would take roughly double the number of winged horses, drivers, mages. Weight was the limiting factor, and we did our best to get optimal container-shape and most efficient staffing. "We have nine more people who need to rest up above! Let's go!"

Man, I'm really getting old, if I'm proud over making lots of flying boxes.

Whatever.

The flying wagon and its staff and horses were led to a designated area for rapidly transferring supplies from one container to another, while another was signaled to descend. They could loiter, but I wanted them back in the system. I wanted as many people as I could up there.

Anyway, I checked on a box as stuff began to be transferred.

Sacks of grain lay within, with my crest on them, ready to be delivered to assuage the pain of hunger across the continent.

And, of course, win hearts and minds when they were delivered.

Soft-power or hard-power?

The right answer is always both.

…

Interlude: Khalai

…

Irksome.

After spending so much time with Jackie, I'd grown used to having a calm, logical, and kind person as a peer.

Yet, instead, I find myself confronted by those who choose to not understand.

"The Council of Marsh-Lords have said that they will not arrive. Neither will the Academy be sending a representative." We called for action. We called for everyone to come together against a common threat. We found only a few heading the call. Even upon lofty thrones, upon the great towers from which our previous selves once ruled, we could not unite. "The Scholars are interested, but the Forgers refuse to attend any meeting with them."

I was nearly tempted to denounce all those that do not deign to attend.

In their hands lay the power and strength to change the world entire, because of the rings that they had and used to rule over their Citadels. From the foundries created by the Ancients, there came forth anything that the heart desired, and from everlasting gardens were fruits and grains that could feed tens of thousands, as well as seeds that were hardy and strong.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

If we all joined hands, if we united our Citadels, then there would be nothing for any of us to fear forevermore.

Yet, still, we all look upon one another with hate or distrust.

It tempted me greatly to denounce them, but as Jackie said, I could not simply do as my heart wished.

"Tell them that they are both welcome and that will not change." I spoke, and thus it was so. I strove to abandon the Merchants of the Marsh and the Academy to their whims. Instead, I focused on those who would arrive. The Conquerors and the Guardians were to join us. With Jackie's people, then there would be four assured to be present. That knowledge calmed me. "How goes the preparations to house them and feed them?"

Jael, my ever-competent advisor, nodded at my words and looked quite dashing with his hair pulled back and glasses. He was trying a bit hard to look scholarly though, even if he did make me feel better after Jackie's continued disinterest. Besides, Jackie would never wear tights, cute shorts, garters, a vest, and a tie.

Sigh, what a waste.

But back to important matters.

"The King of Wisdom has done as he said and provided all that we needed to rapidly create the meeting hall. All the supplies were brought by air. Amongst the supplies were hardy greens and seedlings. The same which he had our gardens grow to sow into our fields for the coming drought." A dozen? A hundred? Perhaps, a thousand? I did not know how many steps Jackie saw ahead, but I did luxuriate in the keenness of his vision. I strove to emulate him, but for now I would rely upon him. "Saintess Sirena offered for us to support his wonderous composition on our lands, but he did not accept. Our coffers will be spared from your whims, High Justiciar."

"My whims would've given us the knowledge and training needed to emulate Jackie's project." I levelled a glare at Jael, only for him to roll his eyes. "Do you not agree?"

"The price would've been too steep. Please, recall that despite all his modesty and honor, the King of Wisdom has another Citadel at his beck and call and they grow in efficacy when they are interlinked." Ah, matters of the treasury always made me wince. However, I forced myself to listen. Jael did not do this entirely out of jealousy. His was a keen mind from a long and storied bloodline. Much of his family has ensured that our mines produced to their utmost and they were doing the same above ground. "He has not deigned to share how much more he gains than others, but many are sure that he has at most has thrice the output of one Citadel. That is before the wealth and industry of his nation is taken into account with all his fanatic citizenry."

"Ah, I intended to ask you about that. We can do the same, correct?"

"We would be foolish not to, High Justiciar." Jael nodded and I readied myself for another lecture on numbers, on population, and on food. All important things, but I cannot ignore the matter that I longed for romance and festivities and diplomacy more. So, I had to brace myself. "However, my suggestions will have to wait. We have a guest."

"Thane."

"I am here, High Justiciar." Thane entered through the windowsill. The great height of the immense Citadel meant little for such an accomplished mage as him. His cloak fluttered, and I pouted at his full state of dress. I needed to grow used to the prudishness of the other races. Thankfully, the wizened sage merely laughed at my stare and he tipped his wide-brimmed hat my way. "I have finished studying the recent attack on your guest. It was a school of magic that I am familiar with. A common spell used on the battlefield taught by the Academy."

"How sure are you of this accusation?"

"Sure enough that I would eat my boot, if I am wrong." Thane laughed lowly and accepted a cup of tea on a saucer from Jael. Despite aging so much faster than my own kind, he had his appeal and was healthy in body, too. Dark-skinned and with a gray beard, he almost looked like a Warden, but he was in fact of the Descendants. Sometimes, I wondered why the Ancients would leave their progeny with so few gifts, but when ones such as Thane Blackmore and Jackie shone so brightly and so frequently… I disabused myself of the notion that they erred. The Descendants learned quickly, had the most Champions arise from their number, and they were the most numerous. "The Academy prides itself in a rigorous regimen for its battle mages. This casting was textbook. Amplified force, channeled in a tight beam, and strengthened with energized particulate. Exactly as writ in this book right here from my old alma mater."

Thane pressed the book onto my desk, already helpfully on the page he'd mentioned, and gave me a fatherly smile.

These Descendants had a penchant for being quite attractive, but not forthcoming, didn't they?

Jael cleared his throat and drove me from my errant thoughts.

"Let it suffice to say that any of my caliber can determine the truth of the matter with ease. The fact that the King of Wisdom has not said as such can only mean one thing: that he intends to use the assassination attempt to his advantage."

Those words caught my attention.

"And, pray tell, how would he hope to do that?" Jael spoke in my stead with a sigh and a shake of his head.

"By reputation alone, the continent entire knows that he must know. Therefore, by saying nothing, he holds it a threat. Whether he blames the Academy or not is irrelevant. He lives after an assassination attempt, he has not decried it, and now he looks across the land urging all others on." Thane said with a smile and I managed to piece together what he was insinuating, even though Jael's frown only deepened. This wasn't a matter of the mind, but of the spirit, with which I was far more familiar.

"I see. It is a challenge to all who may try that they may, but that they should fear the consequences he can force upon them when they do." The Academy could pay reparations with ease. They could even claim they had nothing to do with the attempt and that the King of Wisdom was using them as targets. However, by saying nothing, he was driving them mad, wondering what his next move was, in a duel of words and politics where preparation and pageantry were both of the greatest import. "Magnificent. And, everyone knows this… yet they cannot do the same as him. He shakes the Academy without saying a word and in his silence issues a challenge that all others will find themselves lacking. Brilliant."

Thane gave a nod at my assessment and I luxuriated at the knowledge that I did well.

Jael blushed lightly at my explanation, only understanding after I spoke, but soon enough he cleared his throat as the sound of bells echoed from the growing city at the base of the Citadel.

Our first guests were here, and for the first time, I was to meet a Conqueror in the flesh.

I clapped my hands together and my servants, Nale and Jun came forward with eager gazes and my clothes already in hand.

Time to get dressed and to impress.

Jackie's quite splendid with all his ideas, and I'm sure that he'll dazzle, but his methods were too honest for what was to come.

Times such as these required a little more than honesty to resonate with the entire continent and demean those who refused to come.