The judge had long understood the underlying reasons behind the town of Montaj’s disrespect of Armad. He knew that the townspeople were acutely aware of Armad’s identity and significance. It would be impossible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to claim ignorance of who Armad was. However, the judge was also keenly aware of the complicated dynamics stemming from Armad’s perceived weaknesses. Foreseeing potential disrespect from various quarters, he had prepared for such eventualities well before they departed from the capital city. This preparation became even more critical when Armad’s father entrusted him with the governance of the town of Tiriba.
The judge pondered on how, despite global recognition of Armad, his neighboring kings and local leaders often failed to show him the respect he deserved. This lack of respect was intimately tied to Armad’s known vulnerabilities. Even though residents in the vicinity of Tiriba were fully cognizant of who Armad was, his widespread reputation for weakness overshadowed his authority, leading to a lack of reverence from neighboring rulers.
The judge firmly believed that if the town of Tiriba had been assigned to other notable progenies of the emperor, such as Prince Ikenga or Prince Sufa, the scenario would have been markedly different. The king of Montaj, for instance, would not have dared to impose an exorbitant demand for 98% of the town’s monthly income under the pretense of providing protection. The judge speculated that even the previous version of Armad, before his noticeable transformation, might have conceded to part with a portion of his monthly income, though certainly not as high as 98%.
The turning point came when the judge learned that Armad had outright refused to concede any percentage of his monthly income to the king of Montaj. Not only that, but Armad had also gone so far as to injure the messenger, who was known to be at the peak level of Deva, a formidable status. This act of defiance reassured the judge that Armad had undergone a significant change. The prince he once knew, who had been plagued by weakness, no longer seemed to be burdened by it.
This transformation left the judge both intrigued and perplexed. He wondered about the catalyst for such a profound change in Armad. Even the grievous event of his mother’s death had not elicited such a dramatic shift in his demeanor and resolve. Now, it appeared that something, or someone, had fundamentally strengthened Armad’s spirit and resolve. He had become fearless, confronting challenges head-on without hesitation. Moreover, his cultivation was progressing at an unprecedented rate.
The judge had long suspected that the recent rapid transformations of Armad were linked to the maid, named Nusi. Just weeks ago, she was at the level of ki condensation, but now she was on the verge of reaching the level of deva. He had also observed the numerous pills in the prince’s possession. Regardless of the source of these changes, the judge saw Armad’s transformation as a positive development. The Armad he once knew, the one who had left the capital city with him, had been devoid of hope and ambition. But now, this reformed Armad instilled in him the belief that their goals were within reach.
The judge felt a sense of pride in Armad’s achievements, knowing that if Armad ascended to the throne as emperor, he would become the chief adviser and superior judge. This would elevate not just his virtue but also that of his lineage. Similarly, if Ikenga were to become emperor, the judge under his rule would hold a position surpassing that of the council members of Emperor Ayrion. Therefore, Armad’s success was intrinsically tied to his own. This realization led him to set aside any concerns about the mysterious cause of Armad’s sudden improvement. Whatever the catalyst, it was something significant and beneficial. The key point was that Armad was progressing, and progress was paramount.
“My Lord,” the judge began, his tone cautious yet firm, “don’t you think this retribution is too harsh? We shouldn’t act hastily. You’ve already proven your worth to me time and again. I never imagined we could achieve victory over the wild people, yet you led us to triumph. I doubted we could overcome the ten towns that attacked us simultaneously, but you succeeded. Now, with the Montaj posing a threat, I am confident that given enough time, you could secure victory over them as well. But time is a luxury we don’t possess at the moment. Don’t you think we should have avoided injuring them? We could have allowed them to return home peacefully and established a temporary peaceful relationship, at least for the six months until your father’s envoys arrive to assess the progress you’ve made in this town. After that, we could then strategically plan our attack and deal with them accordingly. However, now that you’ve injured one of their members and killed a deva, I fear any chance of peaceful relations has been irrevocably destroyed. It will now be exceedingly difficult to resolve our differences without resorting to battle.”
Armad remained silent for a moment, contemplating the judge’s words. He knew the judge was right to some extent, but there was a strategic rationale behind his actions. Before deciding to injure Liam, Armad had carefully considered and calculated every potential outcome. He understood the implications of his actions, but he also believed that sometimes bold moves were necessary to secure a greater future.
“Judge, don’t you think that if we do not eliminate or injure him, they will continue to be arrogant, thinking that we are still weak? Remember, you recently said that in the world of cultivation, a person’s power is everything. Both you and I know that if they don’t fear our cultivation power, nothing will stop them from attacking us within six months. If that is the case, why can’t we show them our power? Even if they do not become afraid of our cultivation power, we will have reduced the number of our enemies.
Look at this person. His cultivation will not work again for the next two years. Even if his cultivation resumes, he will not be able to continue from the level he was because I have already destroyed his core. He will spend a lot of time in the hospital. I am quite sure he is one of their great warriors. Additionally, here is this deva that I killed. Haven’t we reduced their number?
Moreover, I want him to return home and narrate to his master how I destroyed his core easily without any problem. He did not even notice when I destroyed it. I want that to create fear in the heart of their king. Only by instilling fear in their minds can we warn them. I don’t want them to stop attacking us because they pity us; I want them to stop because they fear us.”
The judge remained silent for a while, contemplating the prince’s words. He took a long breath and closed his eyes, reflecting on the situation. Indeed, this prince had changed. Since the time he ordered the killing of the captain of the king’s legion and the subsequent retributions he made, requiring fearless decisions and displaying the powerful cultivation of the Wilberforce tribe, the judge believed that the prince had either changed or that the blood of the Wilberforce tribe was now awakening within him, exhibiting a power that the prince didn’t possess before.
The judge’s concern was not with the prince’s transformation but with ensuring their victory. He understood the brutal logic behind the prince’s strategy. Fear, rather than pity, would serve as a stronger deterrent against their enemies. The judge knew that instilling fear would be more effective in the long run, preventing future attacks and solidifying their position.
“Consider it done, my Lord,” the judge finally responded, his voice steady and resolute. “I understand your reasoning. We will try to stop the bleeding so that he will be able to reach home with what remains of his life. We will eliminate all the devas they brought with them and let the remaining people who have not reached the level of deva carry their leader home. When he regains consciousness, he will then narrate what happened to his king.”
The judge’s words carried a weight of finality, acknowledging the prince’s authority and the necessity of their actions. The strategy was clear: by allowing the injured warrior to return home and recount the devastation wrought upon him and his comrades, they would sow seeds of fear and doubt within the ranks of their enemies. This psychological warfare would be just as crucial as any physical battle, ensuring that their foes thought twice before challenging them again.
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Armad nodded in agreement. The judge had already hoisted Liam over his shoulder and was making his way out of the room when Armad called him back.
“I want you to select one hundred soldiers from the battalion of two thousand that we brought from the capital,” Armad instructed. “Choose those who have spent the most years at the peak of core formation level and are on the cusp of reaching the pre-deva stage. I want the hundred most powerful among them. If there are more than one hundred soldiers who meet this criterion and have spent over five years at the peak of core formation, bring them as well. I want them to meet me this evening.”
“Consider it done,” the judge replied without hesitation, not needing to know the reason behind the order. With remarkable ease, he carried Liam out of the room. Despite being an elderly man who occasionally bent his back, he managed to lift Liam, a robust individual, effortlessly. Though the judge had never been seen in combat, it was widely believed that he possessed significant cultivation power.
Meanwhile, in the town of King Konfot, the deva left by Armad led a small battalion to seize control of all the companies and businesses once owned by the town’s elite. Now, wherever one went in the town, the flags of the Wilberforce Empire could be seen fluttering in the air. The town had fully come under the dominion of Armad and the Wilberforce Empire.
This was not an isolated victory. In the other eight towns of the region, where Armad had dispatched Nusi, five devas, and an old man named Kalidu, the mission had also been successful. In each town, they discovered that the elite members had already fled to the neighboring region of Montaj. As a result, the remaining inhabitants were powerless to defend themselves, allowing Nusi and her battalion to easily breach the towns, conquer them, and set up camp before moving on to the next.
Even the town of Fida, perched atop hills, did not escape Nusi’s strategic prowess. She used her abilities to manipulate trees, climbing and capturing the town with ease.
Now, nine towns and a large village, which many did not consider significant enough to be called a town, located beneath the hills of Fida, were under the control of Nusi and her battalion. Everywhere one looked in these towns, the flags of the Wilberforce Empire waved proudly, signifying their new allegiance and control.
With the help of the struggles she endured and the potent pills that Armad provided, Nusi’s cultivation had already surpassed the 10,000-year mark. However, her cultivation did not stagnate at 10,000 years as Armad’s cultivation did. Instead, it soared beyond 11,000 years, reaching an impressive total of 11,200 years. Unlike Armad, who had hit a bottleneck at 9,999 years, Nusi faced no such barrier, demonstrating her.
As a result of her advanced cultivation, the size and power of the trees she materialized increased significantly. When they reached the town of Fida, which was strategically located atop hills, they engaged in a prolonged battle and suffered the loss of about 200 soldiers. However, Nusi’s abilities turned the tide. By materializing her powerful trees, she was able to extend their reach to the top of the hills. These trees ensnared the town’s defenders, extracting every drop of water from their bodies. The gruesome result was that the defenders’ corpses, reduced to mere skeletons covered in desiccated flesh, collapsed from the hills and shattered upon hitting the ground below.
As they continued their conquest, capturing one town after another, the old man named Kalidu was increasingly astonished and frightened by the sheer power of Nusi’s cultivation. Her formidable skills left him in awe. After successfully conquering all the towns that Armad had tasked her with, Nusi did not immediately return to the town of Tiriba. Instead, she methodically revisited each conquered town to ensure that no potential for chaos remained. She left a single deva in each of the five towns, while the rest of the towns, which did not have a deva, were each assigned 50 core formation cultivators. Nusi understood that these towns had not yet fully pledged their allegiance to her cause. However, in the face of overwhelming power, even those who did not pledge their loyalty had to conceal their dissenting opinions.
The most demoralizing factor for the townspeople was the realization that their elite members had already fled. This abandonment shattered any hopes of organized resistance. Even the once-arrogant youth of the towns were left disheartened. They had no choice but to surrender and wait. They pondered whether the person said to be the son of emperor Ayrion would deliver justice or condemn them to slavery.
After ensuring that everything was settled, she led her battalion of one hundred people, leaving the remaining forces to serve as security for the newly conquered towns. Surprisingly, when she began her journey home, she did not bring along any Deva. Even more unexpectedly, the person she left to oversee the towns was none other than Kalidu. According to her original plan, she would never have left Kalidu in charge; however, this was a direct order from King Armad. Because of this, she had no choice but to let him oversee the towns, instructing the Devas to follow his directives unless he issued orders that contradicted Armad’s guidelines. If he did, they were to send a direct message to her or Armad.
With everything arranged, she departed from the towns and headed toward Tiriba, a journey that typically took three days. Since her group was small and highly mobile, they did not stop to rest. Within two days and twenty hours, they reached Tiriba, where Armad himself came to welcome them, accompanied by his judge.
Nusi’s appearance had changed and darkened. Although there were no signs of blood on her body or clothes, she bore the marks of long journeys and battles. She had spent almost a month traveling from one town to another, engaged in various skirmishes and conflicts. The weariness of continuous combat and travel was evident in her demeanor and appearance.
Armad led Nusi to his large conference hall. They sat alongside him and his judge to discuss the recent events and the future course of action. With you Nusi returned from your mission, commander Silaini is the only one yet to return from his mission. Still, Armad received no message from him.
Nusi began to narrate the details of their conquests, describing how they managed to capture the towns and, in line with Armad’s orders, how she left Kalidu to oversee them instead of someone else. Her recounting was thorough, detailing the strategies used and the challenges faced.
As she spoke about Kalidu, it was clear from her tone and expression that she did not trust him. Observing this, the judge interjected, “My Lord, I too wonder why you left that man, Kalidu, to oversee the towns. Additionally, we still need to decide what to do about King Konfot’s town. The king is still alive. Are you going to let him continue ruling, or do you have other plans for him?”
Armad just smiled. After a moment, he looked at the two of them and began to speak.
“First of all, I want you to understand that the old man possesses something truly extraordinary. I’m quite certain that none of us have fully comprehended the depth of his thoughts and plans. What I mean is, that he has the intellect and strategic mind to oversee those towns independently, without our direct involvement. Additionally, he is seen as one of their own, especially in the town of Konfot. Even in the other towns, people are aware of him, or at the very least, they know of his position in the council of King Konfot.
You might not fully grasp this yet, but right now, there is a unique relationship between these towns. The kings of these towns united to attack us. Previously, they didn’t have any harmonious relationship, but their collaboration with us has fostered a sense of unity. We ended up killing their kings in battle. If we were to appoint an outsider to rule them, it would take a considerable amount of time for them to surrender, regardless of how many gifts we promise to give them.
However, Kalidu is perceived as one of their own, someone they believe can deliver justice for them. This perception might even lead them to think that by collaborating with him in the future, they could regain the liberty of their towns. If I were to assign either of you, they would not extend the same cooperation. Any obedience from them would stem from fear, not respect or trust.
We haven’t explicitly told Kalidu what we expect from him; this is a test. We will give him time and observe his actions. We have stationed five devas in the towns for now, and soon, we will increase the number of devas overseeing these towns for us. Ideally, we should have two devas in each town, tasked with reporting on Kalidu’s activities. Kalidu’s role will not be limited to overseeing the towns; he will also be responsible for selecting individuals to serve as small kings in those towns while he remains their leader. He will choose people who have the support of the townsfolk. We will maintain oversight over them all. Anything that happens in these towns will reach our ears. The townspeople know that disobedience will not go unpunished, and eliminating them would not be difficult for us.
The devas left in the towns will ensure that there is no deceit or underhanded behavior. However, if we were to appoint a stranger to rule them, it would take significantly longer for them to comply with our authority, and as you know, we don’t have time to waste.”
Armad took a long breath, allowing his words to sink in.