The judge's recommendation stems from the fact that the individuals he dispatched to deliver remedies to the town of Montage have yet to return. While he has not explicitly communicated his concerns, he is deeply troubled by the situation and suspects that these messengers might have been intercepted, captured, or even killed by the authorities of Montaj. Given the gravity of this situation, the judge is growing increasingly anxious about the potential threat that Montage poses. In light of these developments are why during this council meeting, he proposes a strategic shift: rather than remaining passive and waiting for Montage to potentially launch an attack against them, he suggests that they take the initiative.
Armad, hearing this suggestion, fell silent for a moment, contemplating the gravity of the proposal. A slow smile spread across his face as he realized that among all the suggestions the judge had previously given him, this one resonated the most. Since his unexpected arrival in this world, he has constantly found himself on the defensive, reacting to threats and attacks from various factions. He reflected on his past experiences: the wild people who first attacked his town, forcing him into a position of self-defense; the relentless assaults from the king’s legion, the town of King Konfot, and Fida, all of whom had targeted him unprovoked. In each instance, he had been compelled to protect himself and his people, never once initiating the conflict.
Armad’s thoughts raced as he considered his current situation. With the substantial power he now wielded, it seemed logical to him that he should shift his strategy from defense to offense. Waiting for the enemies to strike first had always put him at a disadvantage. He nodded decisively and began to speak, his voice steady and resolute. “No problem,” he said, “I appreciate your advice greatly. The secrets we have been trying so hard to protect, such as the herbs that can awaken the core and the secret of my pull string, have already been exposed to our enemies. We can no longer afford to hide. We must embrace the reality that these secrets are out and adapt our strategy accordingly.
“However, this does not mean we will recklessly expose all our security measures. We must remain vigilant and protect our core strengths. Yet, we can no longer hide our weapons and our power out of fear that information about our capabilities might be revealed. Doing so only serves to weaken our standing in the eyes of our enemies. If we continue on this path, it will lead us astray, just as you suggested. We shouldn’t solely focus our attention on the 2000 soldiers of my battalion. Instead, we should expand our scope to include the people of this town. I firmly believe that among the townspeople, there are individuals who have reached the peak of core formation level. Some of them have secluded themselves in meditation, dedicating their lives to the pursuit of cultivation.
Besides the people of this town, we will also find individuals at the peak of core formation level in the towns we have conquered. For example, there is the old man Kalidu, who has been at the peak of core formation level for a long time. Although he is renowned for his power, I am quite sure he has still not reached the pre-deva level. Apart from him, there are many like him, individuals of significant power whom I observed during the coronation of the kings. These individuals have been hiding, not out of cowardice, but because they conflicted with the kingdoms we dethroned. Now, they have emerged from the shadows, compelled by the change in power dynamics after we conquered the towns.
Although there is no significant loyalty between us and these individuals, they are aware that they are now under our rule and must follow our orders. Hence, if we call for a battle, they will be obligated to come and participate. This leads me to believe that there is no problem in including the power of their cultivation in our plans. If we include them in our plan, the worst scenario we will face is betrayal, where one of them might expose our secret of the pills that can increase the power of cultivation.
If this betrayal occurs, whose attention will this secret draw? I think it will be the king’s legion. They are already inclined to eliminate us, regardless of whether they get wind of our pills. The major tribes are already aware that we possess this secret in the tribe of Wilberforce. Unless it is reported that we have the skills to extract cultivation from others and enhance our own, the major tribes will not attack us. Therefore, I believe that continuing to fear the king’s legion discovering our pills is fruitless and will hinder our progress.
We must take decisive action. Gather the people who have been at the peak of core formation level for a long time but have not yet reached the pre-deva level. Bring them to us and interrogate them. While we do not fear that our secret will be exposed, we will not hire individuals whose details and history do not align with our mission. Conduct thorough interrogations. I am confident that, given your status as a judge, you have the means to evaluate them and discern whether they are giving truthful or false answers.
Summon these individuals, even if they number 300 or more. I will provide the pills that increase cultivation. By doing so, we will elevate new people to the deva level within our region. This strategic move will not only strengthen our forces but also send a clear message to our enemies. We are not just defending ourselves; we are proactively increasing our power and preparing to take the offensive if necessary.”
As he spoke, his voice resonated with an authority reminiscent of the great kings. At that moment, both Nusi and the judge could do nothing but bow in obedience and loyalty. The judge couldn’t help but compare the way Prince Armad spoke now to how he once heard the emperor speak. In his mind, he thought, “Blood doesn’t lie. After all, the prince resembles his father.”
Instantly, the judge began contemplating the prince’s words. There was something that the prince didn’t even mention. Up until now, the prince has had the protection of the tribe of Wilberforce. While this protection isn’t foolproof, offering only 30 to 40 percent security, it is still significant. This was evident when the soldiers accompanying Commander Kisa attempted to assassinate the prince. It showed that while people might not be afraid to kill him, they would not do so publicly, no matter how powerful they were. Even the major tribes couldn’t act openly. If they wanted to kill him, they would have to do it secretly and make it seem like a battle, not an intentional assassination.
This protection stems from the fact that everyone knows Prince Armad is the son of Emperor Ayrion. Even if the emperor declares that the prince failed the mission given to him, the prince would return and continue living in the palace of the Wilberforce tribe. This reality imposes caution on anyone who considers harming him because of the influence of the Wilberforce tribe, whether they like it or not. Since people must be cautious of the Wilberforce tribe, Armad enjoys a level of protection for now.
If you look at this issue from a different perspective, you can understand that they now have six months to one year before the emperor decides whether to let the prince govern the town independently. During this period, the prince enjoys the protection of the Wilberforce empire. This window of time is critical for the prince to empower his battalion and utilize every available resource to bolster his strength. He must transform himself into a formidable figure, one who instills fear in anyone who might contemplate attacking him.
The judge understands that when the emperor declares that the prince has the right to govern the town of Triba independently and build his empire, and once the prince’s mission is completed, the Wilberforce empire will no longer have the right to retaliate if someone eliminates the prince. This is because they will have already granted him independence. At this moment, no one dares to publicly kill Armad because everyone knows he is on a mission given by the emperor. Even if someone tries to eliminate him, they will do it secretly, not openly.
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However, as soon as the emperor grants him independence, the protection he currently enjoys will disappear. Therefore, this is the crucial time for the prince to bring out whatever he has to increase his power. Indeed, caution is necessary, but being overly cautious will lead to complacency.
“Consider it done, Your Highness,” the judge responded instantly, standing up. “If there is nothing more to discuss, I will go and without wasting much time, the people you are looking for will arrive.”
Armad paused for a moment, deep in thought, before saying, “Select 10 devas and order them to suppress their cultivation. Send them to the region of Montaj to investigate what happened to those caravans. They are probably having more than 1,000 bottles of our remedy. I need to know what became of those caravans and our remedies. Furthermore, I want them to investigate the preparations the town of Montaj and its surrounding towns are making against us. Instruct them to remain there disguised as caravans until further notice. Any discoveries they make should be reported back to us immediately. They are not to engage in any fights or reveal themselves. They should split into pairs and take different routes to avoid being captured together. This is crucial for maintaining their cover and ensuring the success of their mission. The reports we receive from them will determine our next steps.”
The judge nodded, his expression serious. “Consider it done, Your Highness.” Even if Armad hadn’t given this order, it was precisely what the judge had intended to do. They had enough devas to send without facing any internal chaos, and this move was essential to gathering the intelligence they needed.
As the judge was about to leave, Armad stopped him with a raised hand. “Wait,” he said. “There is more. Gather all the first-stage devas we have, especially those under Commander Silaini. Inform them of the situation. Let them know that we have not received any messages from the commander, and there is a strong possibility that he has been captured.”
Armad’s eyes hardened with resolve. “Tell them that we will continue to wait for a short while longer. However, if no word comes, we will send another battalion to follow up and see what is happening. They must understand the gravity of this situation.”
Armad sighed heavily, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The reason for his order was clear; he had observed the soldiers under Commander Silaini closely. The worry etched on their faces was unmistakable, a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding their commander’s fate. Despite their unease, they had little choice but to remain patient, as they were aware that their supreme leader was Armad. Even if he hadn’t provided detailed explanations about the situation, they understood the necessity of waiting. However, Armad felt that it was crucial to offer them some reassurance. He wanted them to know that he too was deeply concerned about their commander and the current predicament.
The judge, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Once the judge had departed, Nusi turned to Armad, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You mentioned that I will be leading 50 devas on this mission. If I am to take on this responsibility, how will you manage the production of the pills? This is a critical time for us to maintain and increase our pill production. We have devas to train, pills to allocate to the remedy-producing companies, and both of us need to focus on advancing our cultivation. How do you propose we address this issue? If I am away for two weeks, the production will undoubtedly be impacted. During this time, you will be left to manage the production alone, which might significantly reduce our output.”
Armad listened intently, appreciating Nusi’s foresight. The current state of their operations was delicate. Over the past few weeks, they had been able to produce more than 1,000 cultivation-boosting pills each day. Additionally, they had produced approximately 300 skin-whitening pills and 100 horse stamina boosters.
Now, they have developed a comprehensive understanding of the specific foods and types of meat required to produce various pills. For example, certain meats are crucial for producing pills that enhance muscle toughness, while specific plants and foods are needed to create cultivation-boosting pills. This meticulous knowledge allows them to optimize their intake to ensure the maximum efficiency of their production processes. However, since there are a certain number of pills that the system can produce each day, they must carefully select the appropriate nutrients to produce the desired results.
If you combine the 1,000 pills that each of them produces daily to increase cultivation, you will reach a total of 2,000 cultivation-increasing pills each day. On the other hand, skin-whitening pill production shows a disparity between the two. Armad's body produces 700 of these pills daily, while Nusi's body produces between 300 to 400 pills each day, depending on various factors such as her dietWhen you combine the number of these skin-whitening pills, you get a total of around 1,000 per day.
However, the production of pills that increase muscle toughness is a different story. Despite their concerted efforts and rigorous planning, neither Armad nor Nusi can produce 1,000 of these pills in a single day. There was one particular day when they decided to focus exclusively on producing muscle-toughness pills. They optimized their activities, adjusted their diets, and aligned their schedules to maximize the output of these specific pills. Despite their meticulous efforts, they only managed to produce 892 pills. This observation led Armad to realize that the system takes significantly longer to produce muscle-toughness pills compared to the other types of pills. It became apparent that these pills were inherently more challenging for the system to generate.
Armad, having used the system regularly for an extended period, has developed a deep understanding of how it operates. Likewise, Nusi, who frequently assists Armad and to whom he confides many details about the system, has also gained a thorough understanding of its workings.
About one week and four days ago, Nusi achieved 99 percent skin toughness, according to the system's metrics. Currently, the toughness of Nusi's skin has reached parity with Armad's. While their skin does not appear visibly tough, it exhibits remarkable resilience. When attacked, their skin deflects impacts, pushing back as if it were made of a flexible yet incredibly durable material, similar to plastic.
In recent months, Nusi’s cultivation has reached a remarkable level of advancement. Her progress has been so significant that Armad now feels confident in sending her on missions alone, knowing she can handle formidable challenges. He is certain that even if she were to face cultivators who have achieved the third stage of Deva, she would not only survive but also potentially overcome them. This newfound confidence in Nusi’s abilities underscores her exceptional growth and the formidable strength she now possesses.
Over the past week, neither Armad nor Nusi has needed the skin toughness pills. Their skin toughness has reached an impressive 99%, as measured by the system. Despite this, the system continues to insist that they have achieved a full 100%. Armad finds this discrepancy puzzling and somewhat troubling. The system insists that they reach, despite the visible achievement of 99%, suggests there may be an underlying issue. Armad suspects that there is more to this situation than meets the eye but decides to allow time to uncover the truth.
Compounding their challenges, the system continues to produce skin toughness pills, even though they no longer need them. This issue is not isolated to skin toughness pills but extends to other types of pills as well. Whenever Armad consumes substances intended to produce specific pills, the system produces them regardless of current needs. For instance, consuming meat results in the production of pills that enhance both skin toughness and muscle toughness. Consequently, they find themselves with an excess of skin toughness pills, which are no longer necessary, while the production of muscle enhancement pills remains insufficient. This is why Nusi said that if she took on that work, the number of failures they produced would significantly decrease. Hence because of that, one of them had to compromise and contribute their physical.
However, despite this seemingly daunting situation, Armad smiled after hearing what she said. He had already prepared a solution to the problem, knowing that Nusi's suggestion would come up.