The Fortified Islands

In the end, the Small Flotilla hunted 13 Fauna, with their cultivation base ranging from the Neutrality realm to the Dantreulity realm. Heian Ciemnosc ensured they avoided the big ones, not just in size, and cleaned the area quite a bit. This wouldn't be a problem, as these Fauna would have either rebellious spawns or unruly subordinates, and they were helping them clean up a bit. Of the 13, 4 were naturally given to the Cult and Pavilion to feast and create whatever alchemy product or Mortal weapons they could. Besides a banquet, of course.

There were only 2 wounded soldier units from these battles, both cultivators. The battleships received damage and not little. However, compared to lifeless, emotionless objects, the lives of soldier units were more significant and had priority. The ammunition might have been depleted, and the battleships could no longer engage in another Fauna fight again, both because of ammo and damage to their structure.

However, the people operating them were full of spirits. There were so many of them, but so few were in danger, and that was with their asses clenched, people moving nonstop, including citizens and the Imperial Elders in charge of each battleship. They were mentally exhausted, but their bodies could give more. As they were given the order to retreat and call this training a success, although they wanted to give more, they were proud to have performed before their Empress and little royal princess. What’s more, under their ‘master’ trainer, Heian Ciemnosc.

… Now, time passed as the First Small Flotilla returned home. Heian Ciemnosc could have saved those 2 cultivators from danger even before the enemy Fauna threatened them, as it was within the Dantreulity realm, and for him, anyone or anything even at the Hana-Saga realm was already easy prey. His battle prowess stood at the Spirit Magna realm, but he didn’t have a method to fight one… and didn’t feel like asking the Empress. That simple.

Step, step, step, step… step, step… step. Heian Ciemnosc walked through the Palace’s entrance with the Empress and the little royal princess to his right. Little Ish was already advancing in the Spirit Formation realm 10th stage, planning to behave like an audacious genius of an entire generation and beat anyone else to cultivation. He couldn’t feel like shaking his head anymore, though. She was now his little apprentice, and although he didn’t believe this little shit could surpass him, it was cute seeing her try.

“...?” At this moment, Heian Ciemnosc walked a little too slow while Empress Shuna walked to one of the head palace maids and whispered something into the latter’s ears. Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t hear it, even if he enhanced his senses. It made him wonder why the Empress would do that. Even more as the head palace maid looked at him as she was being whispered something, with wide eyes and a twinkle crossing through them.

Empress Shuna walked forwards, leaving him and Little Ish behind. On the other hand, the palace maid’s straight back, which Heian Ciemnosc had forced to turn soft and squirmy dozens of times, walked to him and spoke clearly to his face. “Sir Heian Ciemnosc. The Empress will wait for your presence in her throne room in 50 minutes. Please, do not be late~.”

“Mn.” Although Heian Ciemnosc was weary and hadn’t made dinner for the gluttonous monster for weeks, he still had to attend a meeting with her if it was really that necessary. Although it was too dramatic to have a head palace maid do so, he felt some inkling from the Empress when she performed this… gesture. He nodded at the beauty who winked at him with her left eye before departing and turned his head to the right, below.

“You go to your room and practice. Tomorrow, things go as usual. We’ll go deeper into the jungle, just not that deep, understood?” Heian Ciemnosc spoke to Little Ish, who was like a meek lamb, unlike before. She nodded and exposed her canines before clasping her hands at Heian Ciemnosc and walking away. Before she was too much into the distance, she turned again to face him and waved at him before rushing through the corridors in a flurry.

Heian Ciemnosc shook his head at her little back as his Spirit Sense was set in a calm manner everywhere in the Palace. He decided to take a light walk until the time was over before heading to the throne room. As he strolled, he opened his Universal Conveyance and opened up to 50 tabs. One with the Mini Warlord game open and in screen mode, playing ranked, already in the Gold Master rank #1,000 worldwide, and climbing.

Heian Ciemnosc was checking the current projects, and the ones he was still slightly short of finishing, like the creation of the Carrier for a Fleet and the greatest rocket launcher, whose blueprint was soon getting into his brain thanks to his influential Uncle. And there were the other battleships’ projects already a success, and the training regimen was also complete but could still improve. Heian Ciemnosc was more focused on something else. The Blauw Empire’s fortified islands and their extremely vital use in the future, neither short nor long.

The machine gun and artillery production was even harsher than for the battleships. While a Frigate had some missiles and enough machine guns to level down any non-top-notch Cruiser even, even the smallest fortified island had to be built with over 50 artillery guns, let alone machine guns. It was a crazy number but would also be of utmost necessity. Heian Ciemnosc could only wait to see the teams working in the battleships to gain more experience and increase their effectiveness.

Vrooooooom~... vroooom… Step, step, step, step- tu- tum… step, step, step, step. Finally, after enough time passed, Heian Ciemnosc headed to the throne room, brought by a few palace maids, and opened the majestic doors leading to the majestic throne room. There, he saw Empress Shuna wearing a bubbling dress, covering nearly all of her figure, but her aquamarine, azure hair was picked up, and it seemed strangely exotic.

Heian Ciemnosc was immediately befuddled by the Empress’s appearance. He somehow felt like this was a treat for him, and he wanted to eat it all at once! However, Heian Ciemnosc’s manners gained through time spent at this Palace and knowing people whose lifespans were far beyond what he had treated before, as he was just a student when he was back in the Academy. All this made him change a little bit, more than just his cultivation base.

He wasn’t that young anymore, especially considering his talent allowed him to impossibly cross through realms to battle his enemies, opponents… those to kill. However, although his cultivation pace seemed worthy of a Genius for a peak Second Step organization, only he knew how damn difficult his mere cultivation time had been like. His Craftsmaking was all-rounder, but he still spent most of his gains in cultivating nonstop. If that wasn’t something crazy, what could?

Usually, it had to be said that people with barely any cultivating talent need about 10 times more than an ordinary cultivator to break through a realm. However, Heian Ciemnosc easily needed up to 1,000 times that amount. While one needed some hundred Inferior Neutral Stones in the Dantreulity realm to cross through stages, Heian Ciemnosc needed 10 times that number and in Supreme grade.

“... Heian Ciemnosc, Sir…” Empress Shuna sat on her throne. Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t see it, but he was sure she was crossing her right leg over her left knee. While Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the left and seemed pensive, Empress Shuna looked at him with her strongly determined eyes fully open. Then, she spoke again, but this time, with some playfulness well hidden from him. “I was wondering, do you need some more thousands of Supreme Neutral Stones? Perhaps a few more Races’ prisoners?”

“I do not,” Heian Ciemnosc answered with a simple shake of his head and his fingers waving nos at his stomach level. Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes fluttered, slowly blinking, reflecting in the aquamarine, azure eyes more intensely than in the flesh. Empress Shuna blinked, her expression smoothing, and she looked down as she closed the book on her lap, which Heian Ciemnosc barely noticed. It was a cooking book for cultivators, both for recipes and ordering.

“Sir, you have shown me, time after time, the value of yourself. I thought about thanking you with dinner and some small chat,” Empress Shuna lowered her eyes before speaking those last few words, looking back up at him with a little, polite smile on her lips. They moved again, this time more attractive and attention-stealing than ever, “I wonder if that’s pleasing to you?”

“Very…” Heian Ciemnosc immediately responded. His timely answer turned the throne room silent, but Empress Shuna inadvertently showed a smile to him. It was with her lips closed, but they were putting force into her cheeks from left to right… and she looked damn… adorable.

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“But, Empress Shuna, and this is with my respect. I don’t know if I’m willing to let go of any more food than I’d want to–” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly added before the Empress stood up. She stopped, her expression turning surprised and taken aback, but before Heian Ciemnosc could end his words, she formed a knowing expression on her face. Grinning from the left corners of her lips, putting some extra force into her skin, she spoke. The words spilling out her mouth made her smile grow distance between her lips, showcasing immense beauty.

“Heian Ciemnosc, worry not. Since the Blauw Empire is thriving… I have recently discovered it can cover up the appetite of us both without any qualms. And when Little Ishyy breaks into the Second Step, and her hunger increases, it will be the same for her.” Empress Shuna finished explaining and looked at Heian Ciemnosc in silence. After seeing him nod, she stared at his pale face for another few minutes, still wearing a magnificent smile.

Rustle, step step… When the Empress finally stood up, leaving the book on her throne, her golden, bubbly dress throbbed with each step she took, but Heian Ciemnosc had to admit she didn’t look as ravishing and majestic as she usually did with other attire. And despite knowing she wouldn’t lie, Heian Ciemnosc didn’t feel like cooking anyway, so he added, “Oh. But I am too busy lately, I will have to prepare a few weeks beforehand if we must have this dinner.”

“No need, I have ordered from a renowned chef in the world. Hm, hm~,” Empress Shuna suddenly narrowed her eyes as she arrived 3 meters before Heian Ciemnosc and stopped. She continued after a few light chuckles through her nostrils, speaking in a marveled manner. “I had thought we would be rejected, already planning to seek some Third Step chefs. Who would’ve known he accepted as soon as I told him I was an organization leader from the Blackotia Kingdom? It’s as if he was charmed to finally have his opportunity. Isn’t that strange? What could make him act like that?”

“Oh…” Heian Ciemnosc walked over after seeing the Empress wasn’t taking a large table this time and seemingly wanted to chat with him first. But he was not convinced, and the Empress could tell that. Seeing this, she planned her ultimate move, but she needed more ‘something’ else to do it. Thus, the Empress added, “Mhm, he’s a being, so I assumed that even if he let us order from him, it would be far too costly for our expenses.”

‘Huh… Master?’ Heian Ciemnosc imaginarily tilted his head 90 degrees to the right, breaking his neck and everything. There could only be a few people who can make beings react like this, and to Heian Ciemnosc’s assumption and most simple logic, that could only be her. However, he didn’t delve much into that and looked at the beauty before him… immense beauty. “I see, Empress. And that does seem something worthy, buuut…”

“If that’s not enough,” Empress Shuna didn’t seem discouraged, disappointed, or sad from his multiple rejections. Interrupting him again, she moved her shoulders back and forth. Her hands trembled ever so slightly, not noticed by Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes or senses, and her heart quivered with a thump loud enough for Heian Ciemnosc to discern. Then, the magic happened…

Rustle, rustle– flop.

Heian Ciemnosc: “!!!”

Her bubbly dress fell, and what it revealed was well beyond Heian Ciemnosc’s levels of beauty resistance, already surpassing Alyona and giving a mature aura he had only seen in one woman, Empress Shuna. Her body was hugged by a golden sun dress with a tight bottom, emphasizing her skin but decently exposing the abundant bosom on her upper front. It combined neatly with her picked-up hair. Her brown skin became ever more delicious.

Looking up at the even taller Heian Ciemnosc, her strongly determined aquamarine, azure eyes were like maggots wanting to eat something from him, not physical or any random words. Heian Ciemnosc stopped his feet before he could bump into her and stood half a step before her feet. She seemed so small now but was actually just Heian Ciemnosc being too dizzy and stupid right now to recognize his state of mind.

“Then how about now?” Empress Shuna lightly added, finally completing her speech. Heian Ciemnosc was speechless, again, from her antics. He shook his head lightly, and those strongly determined eyes trembled slightly as her eyebrows knitted. However, his following words and expression eased all that up. “Empress Shuna, you should’ve just started with this. Why did I say so many things? Sigh, now I’m really hungry… can we eat now?”

Empress Shuna smiled, deeply enchanting Heian Ciemnosc as he witnessed this image up close. “Now, we do. Dinner arrived 20 minutes ago. I was just waiting so that it was well prepared before serving you. Come in!”

Her shout towards the waiting palace butlers and maids was domineering, but it didn’t affect Heian Ciemnosc, who was now starting to understand what hunger for power meant. He looked at her as she summoned a small circular table to his left and her right. It was well decorated without a mantle, simple, and… less than a meter in diameter. Heian Ciemnosc barely looked at the 2 chairs and kept his darkest eyes on her brown skin and aquamarine, azure features.

“Hm? Is there something else, Sir Heian Ciemnosc?” Empress Shuna looked back up at him after sensing his gaze not leaving her face, sides, shoulders, and neck. She felt he was taking advantage of her by abusing her with those damnable, darkest eyes. But she only asked him lightly before offering him a seat. “We should accommodate ourselves. I asked for too much since the senior said it would all be free.”

“Oh. To which organization does this senior belong to?” Heian Ciemnosc asked as he moved Empress Shuna’s chair with his dark Neutral Energy, forming a hand with it, and pushing it outwards. He grabbed his chair and pulled it, sitting on it at the same time as she did. Empress Shuna shook her head, poured wine and glasses out, and elaborated. “He doesn’t belong to any organization. But he’s also not a rogue cultivator. He’s from the Clandestine Association.”

“Oh,” Heian Ciemnosc narrowed his eyes in interest as Empress Shuna sipped from her glass a little before continuing, “It’s like an Academy. They accept anyone, but only those with bizarrely peak capabilities, from cultivation, Spirit Sense, and Soul to Craftsmaking. He’s the most renowned chef in the world, but he isn’t the only person to have such a title currently. Wherever they go, anyone knows and wants to follow them.”

“However, not even Chosen are allowed inside just because they are official and thorough Chosen cultivators, only those extremely special. It is like this that they have only a few thousand new recruits every generation. Isn’t that a little something?” Empress Shuna spoke as the palace maids and butlers moved about, bringing them many more tables and dishes that made both their mouths salivate.

The palace folk were well trained and didn’t even flinch their eyes despite the Empress’s and Heian Ciemnosc’s expressions and reactions. They also blocked their senses to not salivate while working under the Empress in the Palace for these moments. Heian Ciemnosc nodded, knowing a little about these fellows as well but never growing interested as of yet. But upon smelling the food, he gave many many positive points to this chef he’ll learn about from now on.

“This is… a good meal,” Heian Ciemnosc looked at the first plate before him and was engrossed in just how little it would last. His Spirit Sense was well kept, so he wasn’t aware there were dozens more like these despite being quite sumptuous already. Knowing this and seeing Heian Ciemnosc’s expression, she smirked from the left corner of her mouth before saying, “Let’s enjoy ourselves. For the Empire, its relationship with the Wrath Nihility Academy reaching a historical record, and us.”

“Mn, oh.” Heian Ciemnosc offered no further words but lifted his glass, filled with wine, and clinked it against hers. Afterwards, they both downed their glass, expelling a satisfied sigh, and started devouring. The first plate before Heian Ciemnosc consisted of different types of meat in rolls and with spices adhered everywhere, even mingling from one type to another. Heian Ciemnosc used a big fork in each hand to bring the delicacies to his mouth, finishing it in under 20 minutes despite the dozens of rolls, each about a foot long and a baby’s fist thick.

Empress Shuna wasn’t getting left behind and even initiated the second round 2 seconds before Heian Ciemnosc finished the first. The pair of ravenous foodies went all-out without caring for the watching palace maids and butlers. The latter remained silent and looked up, trying not to see the food, fearing they might want to take a bite. These two leading figures deserved all these magnificent dishes for doing so much for their home.

… Time passed, several hours passed, and the 2nd day of the week arrived. Heian Ciemnosc and Empress Shuna finished eating, their bellies full but not bulging mere nanometer than prior to the dinner. They had left the small table somewhat dirty, but it couldn’t be helped, with the palace workers getting to it back in the throne room. Now, they were walking through the Palace’s corridors on foot and slowly.

“It’s going to be a heavy future,” Empress Shuna commented as if finally accepting something. Her hands were holding Heian Ciemnosc’s right forearm, hugging it to her left side, under her vivacious left chest. Heian Ciemnosc silently nodded, and she continued with a light, soft voice. “I will need Sir’s help until my Empire can stand on its own. Not only to grow strong but to teach them what others lack the most… what the Wrath Nihility Academy lacks the least.”

“Oh, I will,” Heian Ciemnosc nodded again. Empress Shuna turned her head to the left and immediately looked at a pale chin. Her strongly determined eyes went up, like a little girl finding the jar of cookies’ secret hiding place above the fridge. Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes looked up, wondering, before turning around to face her. “Ah.”

She was mildly surprised as his hands landed on her sides, grazing against her under, side boobs, and her face received a fresh, cold warmth she never felt before. Heian Ciemnosc looked at her with his pale face just inches from hers and said. “Before I take my leave, this Empire will be helplessly soaring even if the whole world wants to bring it down. For starters, Shuna.”

“... mn,” Empress Shuna’s eyes modestly trembled with his last 3 words. After they calmed down and she felt her composure returning, she answered without breaking eye contact and with a light murmur. “I have high expectations, Sir.”

…