The Ocean's Deep Fellows

Above the sea Regions' ocean, in the middle of everything in between, just 50 meters above the water's surface. A week later.

Gurgle, gurgle... "Mn, oh. Thanks, I'll tell the Academy everything you want, rest assured." Heian Ciemnosc floated with Shuna just a few meters beside him. Meanwhile, underwater, 2 long, oval-shaped, glowing eyes the size of half a Little Lake of the Sinvonnia Kingdom each blinked before returning to the deep. Just like the little jungle in the Far East Region, sharing territory with the ownerless lands to the west, the ocean had its own ruling Fauna, and they were at the peak of the Second Step and scarier.

“Hm…” Heian Ciemnosc watched as the gigantic Fauna disappeared into the deepest parts of the ocean. Shuna was looking down with somewhat of a weary expression. Although this Fauna had done nothing to pressure them with its peak Second Step cultivation base, its mere presence and the revelation that it existed here still made her head go a few rounds, thinking about the vulnerability her Empire would suffer against an actual Second Step powerhouse.

Shuna didn’t even know where to begin reading the Fauna’s cultivation base. It was so profound and filled with might to obliterate any moon with its full power. It was suffocating just thinking about it, let alone in the presence of such a being. When she was starting to feel anxious to return to the Empire and begin working harder, she felt Heian Ciemnosc’s pale hand grab her left hand, and she looked at it before staring into his darkest eyes.

“Are you sure… there won’t be any situations?” Shuna asked, calming herself but feeling apprehensive still. Heian Ciemnosc grinned and nodded, then said with a confident tone. “It’s not only the Wrath Nihility Academy that would give hunt to it with the grand array formation’s surveillance. It is that your Azure Dragon’s Bloodline has stirred the ‘little’ ones down there to come out and greet the outside world after, what… millions of years?”

“Ah, I see… My Father said that one of my great, great, great-grandmothers saw one of them, but that was a very long time ago. To think I’d catch a glimpse of one myself… And it came with excellent news!” Shuna said, no longer trembling out of pressure but excitement as she looked back down at the ocean, feeling slightly more at ease. Heian Ciemnosc tightened his grip on her hand before pulling her towards him.

“Mmh,” Shuna let him pull her over and embrace her from behind. She closed her eyes as she felt his hands under her clothes, rubbing her abdomen and tummy overall. Her arms relaxed to her sides, and her chest stuck out as she lay on his arms completely relaxed. Suddenly, he harshly squeezed her breasts, but all she did was grin a little. Before she could invite him to her royal chambers for the umpteenth time this week, Heian Ciemnosc uttered a few words.

“The meeting will soon commence. Have you arranged everything I gave you?” Heian Ciemnosc said, relaxing his hands to intertwine them with hers. Shuna felt her desire sparkling like never before and shook her head to herself so as to pipe her longing down, which Heian Ciemnosc trained until she couldn’t be simply satisfied with just a few rounds of his caressing and passion, and said while sighing out in frustration. “Yes, my homework is done. Now… there’s still a few hours before that… Come give me some pointers? Yes?”

‘Sigh. Both mother and daughter are too dangerous after getting used to me. Have I created abominations? Or is it their Azure Dragon’s Bloodline? I should’ve studied their Bloodline like this earlier. Now I’m traversing through muddy waters…’ Heian Ciemnosc lamented as he thought. Shuna smiled and slowly wrapped her legs around his waist, letting him know she had come prepared. And then… Then, Heian Ciemnosc took his Ornament out and zoomed towards the Palace.

Gurgle, gurgle… A little later, bubbles came from underneath the ocean, and many long, obscure figures moved around as if they had arrived from the deepest to take a look. They spread throughout the undersea after coming out and started mobilizing the wildlife and other Fauna there, commencing to make this ocean a little livelier as its connection to the vast, open sea outside the sea Regions started flooding with more and more living beings…

. . .

A few days later. At the Blauw Empire’s Palace. Morning, inside a meeting hall where everyone sat at a banquet-ish table. But with only pens and some paper sheets to write on.

“...” Heian Ciemnosc sat to Shuna’s left while no seat was accommodated to her right. The table was enough for dozens of people at once and did not take up the other person’s space next to them. However, only 10 people were sitting there, and the span between each was at least a meter. Nobody was on the opposite extreme of the Blauw Empire’s Empress, although the nearest to her on her right was the Matriarch of the Rebirthing Phoenix Clan, Zenevella.

However, everyone, including Head Mo Liao, Pastor Miguel, the Door’s Expiring Breath Sect’s Sect Master, and the Crustaceous Defense Faction’s Chairman, looked at the paper sheets and pens before them as if not knowing what to do with them. Their faces visibly asked why such things would appear in a Second Step ruling generational organization and its vassals' meeting?

“This is how it will go,” Heian Ciemnosc voiced after everyone sat down and had their own opinion on the ‘tools’ before them. He took one sheet from before him and gestured with it towards the rest. “Each of you will write down what you are curious about. Make it important, as these points will be answered in detail after discussing through the small chatter. I will respond to them, and if she wants to, the Empress will add a thing or two.”

“Is that clear?” Everyone looked at Heian Ciemnosc, the man and half the reason of why their Regions all succumbed to the Blauw Empire and felt like they shouldn’t be so acquiescent and understanding. Especially the Eclushisk Contrail and Wheel of Presence Regions’ new Kings as the vassal organizations’ leaders. Nevertheless, everyone nodded, and Heian Ciemnosc repeated the motion before starting by adding, “As for blueprints and resources. The Blauw Empire will send people to inspect your Regions’ properties.”

“The general rule is about 50/50, but it can change with an increase of 60 to 80 in the Blauw Empire’s favor, depending on how much you want the Blauw Empire’s core people to build the necessary arsenal and final product to you. You are also not limited in trading with other Regions, but do take into consideration you’re the Empire now and can’t do as you please without the Empress’s word and affirmation.” Heian Ciemnosc said, but he was just beginning.

“The Blauw Empire’s core won’t take any of your trades as long as you don’t use any amount from the loans we give you. You also might not know this, but you can send any cultivator who has met the criteria to study under the Blauw Empire’s military colleges. We only have those in the Far East Region at the moment, but in a few decades, I reckon there’ll be thousands in the Empire’s territory.”

“The northern Regions already enjoy this benefit, and the forces they sent to fight some of your Regions have assisted the army’s learning system and necessary time before graduating into an Imperial Guard. Now, all of you have that same opportunity. The courses from the military college to the graduation and officially joining the army are the following…” Heian Ciemnosc thus started reciting all the things anyone who studied directly in the Empire’s core would have.

Without a doubt, after Heian Ciemnosc finished dictating those terms, everyone except those already in the known were marvelously silent. Their idea of the Blauw Empire expanded a little more yet again, but they still haven’t been told everything. Yet, now they knew why the Blauw Empire had such stupidly efficient soldier units. Not only Imperial Guards as of cultivators but citizens too!

“One last thing,” Heian Ciemnosc looked at them with ultimately cold, serene eyes. “You must not show any signs of neglecting your duties. Thus, all of you, except the northern Regions, will have a quota of sending 10,000 citizens to the Empire’s core each year at the very least. Bigger numbers won’t guarantee a reward, but you will be seen as part of the Empire a little sooner and more strongly than others. Up to you.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“You don’t have to worry about the space here. Cultivators take from a month to a few years in the military college before learning in the army. Citizens need much more. Those you saw in the wars weren’t fully prepared. Although they were exemplary of the Empire’s citizen soldier units, it was not the best they could become. Additionally, every Region will receive a pack of resources along with the blueprints. You’re expected to build 2 Fleets in at least 10 years.”

Heian Ciemnosc’s ‘introductory’ words ended there. The Kings and Queen looked at him with rapt attention even after he finished, and when he put down his paper sheet, they were left feeling like they had to put their biggest questions and ambitions on their sheets. Thus, the meeting began with Empress Shuna addressing Queen Zenevella, who wanted to know what were the prospects of the navies that could be shared from the core to the rest of their vassals.

The Queen and Kings were marveled to know they wouldn’t have anything limited and that the Blauw Empire would teach everything to their future Generals, Admirals, and aerial commanders with the best of their experienced, veteran soldier units and officers. The meeting continued, with every King and the Queen growing heated to debate the basics and assured implementations the Blauw Empire would bring to each of their Regions.

For starters, every settlement will be able to receive direct news from the cultivating world, allowing them to know of any possible emergency, alert, or threat. This way, their forces wouldn’t have to spread around their Region’s territory, and they wouldn’t have to send their people outside their individual territories or force that of other organizations to do so. Besides, the fabrication of Fighters had to be the third priority in every Region, and they would have to be used for patrolling or evacuation and quick deployment.

The second was the armored vehicles, which were substantial for fast deployment through land and air, but the latter wasn’t nearly as efficient as the Fighters. And on the first place was the navy, as they had to build Fleets with their Battleships belonging to the Supreme class, and not a Low one as the Blauw Empire had to in order to build fleets in the shortest amount of time possible. The Carriers were already taking an insanely long time to create, and a Supreme Battleship was bigger and needed more weaponry, adding even more storage modules.

When arriving at this point, the paper sheets were finally being read, and the Queen, Zenevella, was chosen again by the Empress to commence. Heian Ciemnosc immediately went through the former’s paper sheet and read through it. After doing so, he opened his pale red lips and said with a calm tone, “The Empire won’t be looking to expand their territory over these sea Regions. However, the western Regions from the Far East Region have expressed their interest, and with the Wrath Nihility Academy lifting their unnecessary ‘punishment’ towards the Far East Region, they might or might not be added into the future.”

“However, other than that, there are no reasons for the Blauw Empire to expand anymore… at least in the Blackotia Kingdom.” Heian Ciemnosc said and felt Shuna’s hands grabbing his right one atop his right thigh. Queen Zenevella’s eyes widened a little as she pondered and spoke after a little while, “Are these western Regions all Fauna? If I’m not mistaken, they have always taken a dominant attitude, but not only that. They are also quite racist towards anyone but Fauna and Titans, isn’t that right? I also heard they enslave any Fairy they find.”

“That will change,” Heian Ciemnosc said, facing the Queen. “These western Regions were unbridled before, and during this decade, after the Wrath Nihility Academy made it clear they wanted to step up their position, they started putting down this behavior. It’s not that they’re afraid of the Academy. They’re even allies, at the very least. However… it will be decades before the Blauw Empire manages to take hold of them as it is with you.”

“Why is that so?” The Queen asked, but she already knew the answer. Yet, the other recently conquered or surrendered Regions did not. Heian Ciemnosc didn’t show peculiarities on his face and continued, “Their level is the Second Step— advanced. The Blauw Empire still needs time to nurture their old and young. It is still possible to aid the former, as the influx of resources has been improved that it is only second to the western Regions, who are already only below the Wrath Nihility Academy.”

“We are the third highest economy in the Blackotia Kingdom. Accept that fact,” Heian Ciemnosc said as he gave everyone a round from his darkest eyes. Then, he continued answering the Queen’s inquiry. “The western Regions are interested in… serving someone that is technically… naturally superior to any other Myriad Race.”

“A so-called Bloodline,” the Chairman said. The other Kings from the Eclushisk Contrail Region, Wheel of Presence Region, and the Dragon’s Tail Region felt like their position was too low to speak up. Heian Ciemnosc nodded and added, “They’re still too racist, so we can’t just join with them. There’s also the large distance between our sea Regions and theirs. While they are not united, they are one whenever a situation is presented before them. Be it a Disaster or an incursion, they defend their ancestral home.”

“They will react in the same way if we tell them to directly accept everything his Blauw Empire half-already is. For now, we can wait, progress, and then beat their asses into obedience. For that, Empress Shuna is soon entering the Blossoming realm. She has an exceptional Soul, so I’m sure she can move through that realm faster than others, even Gifted and Geniuses.” Heian Ciemnosc’s last mention made everyone in the meeting hall astounded.

For the black monster to praise anyone with such words… His apprentice was already 1 thing, but her mother was also special in some way? However, thinking about it and the little history lessons they gave to themselves, it was only reasonable that such lineage was the one to survive and found the Blauw Empire. It was a pity they were too closed-hearted and didn’t think of spreading their blood, even with a spouse.

Arriving at such thoughts, the Kings nodded in contemplation, except for the bulky King and the beautiful Queen, who thought nobody would notice, exchanging a glance with each other. Heian Ciemnosc nodded. He didn’t need to make some noise or say something else as the others looked at him and prepared to listen attentively. Heian Ciemnosc looked at the Dragon’s Tail Region’s King and commenced.

“The disputes and internal strife between the Dragon’s Tail Region and the Phoenix’s Cry Region are already discussed by me and the Empress. While you have an extensive story, even back to when you were just First Step organizations and, for a long time, you couldn’t even dictate the outcomes from your zone in your respective Regions, there’s something you always lacked. A natural, good enough leader.”

“Like who?” The Chairman said, completely curious to know the answer. He wasn’t the only one, and Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t planning to do some dramatic pauses as he immediately looked at the Queen and patted his chest. “My apprentice, of course.”

“?” The room became silent in confusion and expectation. The Queen didn’t feel like an opportunity had escaped her grasp as she recognized she couldn’t do what the Empire did on her own, not knowing Shuna wasn’t alone when these changes in the Empire were successfully happening one after another. Heian Ciemnosc shrugged his shoulders and calmly spoke his mind. “Ishikyy is a growing ruler, with royal blood, a developed Bloodline, and one that has unearthed hidden peculiarities.”

“...!” The Queen became completely baffled, enthralled, and enticed when she heard Heian Ciemnosc’s words. Specifically when he mentioned the ‘development’ of a Bloodline as if there was something else that he knew of. The Chairman also caught onto something but didn’t bother too much as he was a through-and-through mix of Races and not a seemingly strange Human like Queen Zenevella. Still, he became lively seeing ‘his’ Queen getting excited and couldn’t help but ask as he rubbed his chin.

“That is true. Does this mean you, the black monster, wish to bring royal princess Ishikyy to manage the Dragon’s Tail and Phoenix’s Cry Region in order to learn beforehand to rule over the entire Empire? Also… her capabilities shown in the war against the Eclushisk Contrail Region reminded me of you, be it from old videos or stories told by your war mates. Is that the Azure Dragon’s Bloodline’s future potential?”

“Something like that,” Heian Ciemnosc responded, shrugging again. “I taught her here and there a little a few things that completed her new transformation. And yes, I will have Ishikyy be the ‘assigned supervisor’ the Blauw Empire will send to the Dragon Tail’s Region and the Phoenix’s Cry Region. She will be attending both, and you don’t have to worry about her not knowing anything about management. Although she will need to learn a lot and go through her own difficulties. She’s the royal princess. How could she not know?”

“I see,” the Dragon’s Tail Region’s King nodded solemnly, understanding the black monster was doing this without caring about their opinion and that he didn’t want his apprentice to receive special treatment unless she deserved it. Queen Zenevella nodded and said with a gratifying tone. “We will act according to your wishes, assigned supervisor. Hmm, in the end, you even created another assigned supervisor. I wonder if the Wrath Nihility Academy has any idea how far you’ve come, sir Heian Ciemnosc.”

“It’s nothing. I’m only doing my best before leaving,” Heian Ciemnosc said without hiding anything and showing modesty. Everyone else nodded. Heian Ciemnosc then looked at the Chairman, who was more than ready to see what Heian Ciemnosc had to say about his paper sheet. Heian Ciemnosc paused momentarily before starting, after crossing his arms and looking at the Chairman somewhat sternly.

“The Blauw Empire strikes the Space before achieving the Second Step’s peak. Although it is a long term for now, in less than a hundred years, we will have an Armada that will help the Wrath Nihility Academy’s conquest of the surrounding Kingdoms. The Change is no small matter, and several friendly Kingdoms have already started contacting the Academy, searching for ways to approach these incoming times…”

…