Just Peaceful Growth

“I propose every territory the availability to build a citizen force that'll be as large as it is useful. This one would be garrisoned units, as you've said. For this, clear arrangements must be made, and they cannot belong to any faction, only for the defense of the territory.” Heian Ciemnosc laid out his words. They were reasonable and proper at a simple glance, but it also let him have more benefits that he already possesses.

“How would you ensure that such a power isn’t useless, and that there is worth in using these resources, not wasting them?” Ogork showed mild interest, mostly intrigued to know how to accomplish such a balance. Xue Yoler offered no words, but she silently stared at Heian Ciemnosc, chief of an army citizen who is still blowing the world’s mind.

“I don’t need to say much, only a couple of things,” Heian Ciemnosc crossed his arms on the table and rested his chin on his wrists. His right hand showed a ‘2’ before elaborating. His darkest eyes looked at them, upturned. “Resources will be spread to every supreme town, city, and Cities.”

“This is to keep the citizens, who will be taught ‘how tos’, with the necessary materials or ingredients to keep array formations active and clean, and the walls, military arsenal, and war instruments maintained.” Heian Ciemnosc lifted his head and looked at them at a face level.

“The civilians’ cities won’t be under cultivators’ protection or in their hands anymore, but citizens. However, they are now sacred, and no wars nor battles can involve the cities.” Heian Ciemnosc began explaining his second point. His tone was calm, but it entrapped the other 2. “The supreme towns and Cities will be militarized, and unlike the cities, the citizens garrison units will cooperate with auxiliary units designated as the territory’s garrisoned units’ support.”

“Meaning?” Xue Yoler narrowed her eyes, and her eyebrows sunk slightly. But instead of Heian Ciemnosc, it was Ogork who answered her with a soft voice, “The citizens will order and command cultivators.”

“Yes, but as I said, it is for auxiliary units only. And there will be a hierarchy for that. One that has already been proved fruitful in my Crimsonbreaking Faction,” Heian Ciemnosc offered a brief explanation with a little smile and let the other representatives process it with numerous ideas helplessly popping out in their heads.

Even with all the positive points the citizen army proved during the south’s occupation, it was still an undesirable idea not only for cultivators to see citizens in cultivators’ fights. But, for now, that didn’t matter. Heian Ciemnosc allowed them to see a new side to the citizens’ use.

“There has to be enough citizens to ensure the settlements’ safety, be it in the daily life, or a foreign or any other force deciding to attack the territories. Thus, the citizens must be trained and ensured of their capacitation by the ruling parties in their territory. In this case, the Est Soul Empire and the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty.”

“What if I don’t want to? If I refuse to let citizens crowd the walls of every settlement? Or if I have not the chance to accomplish it?” Xue Yoler interjected once the subject arrived to this point. Heian Ciemnosc sat straight in his chair and stared semi-sternly at her… before suddenly speaking in a casual tone, “You won’t have to worry. It won’t be obligatory.”

“…” Xue Yoler fell silent. Just as Heian Ciemnosc complained before, it was all costly, especially since the citizens must work with cultivators to keep the supreme towns and Cities in check of their array formations, arsenal, and vehicles’ state. As for cities, they would be built with non-ordinary materials that anyone could move and work with, including those citizens.

“We… still need to discuss the first matter. Even if we accept one of the 2, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll accept both because they go well together. As an alternative, at least.” Ogork spoke at this moment. Xue Yoler recomposed, became slightly tranquil, and leaned on her chair softly.

“That’s right, and we can talk about the last matter we need to discuss. I just so happen to have a proposal for this one, too.” Heian Ciemnosc leaned his jaw’s left side on his left palm, like Xue Yoler had done, and looked kinda cute. Ogork couldn’t handle it anymore and rubbed his face from up to down. Heian Ciemnosc explained his proposal without a hindering thought in his brain.

“Go on,” Ogork spoke with a helpless tone just as Heian Ciemnosc was about to commence. He didn’t take it to heart and started, “Civilians and any other foreigners staying in our territories can be conscripted. This is against the most vital article in your agreement with the previous representative of the Heraxle Clan. But he was also just a crook, and you could have just let him sleep with either of you once, and he’ll become a puppy. Let alone offering him leisure in his time ruling the south.”

“Now, I am introducing these articles because I don’t want to stay, sit, and eat from whatever is thrown at me. No, I will take it.” Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes narrowed before he continued, “The Crimsonbreaking Faction will be busy for the following few years. I hope it doesn’t become so noisy to bother you. Wouldn’t want to waste time coming here instead of improving my territory.”

“This is the Existential Sixth Step organizations’ territories, but you seem to start forgetting that!” Xue Yoler interjected, slightly slamming her hand on the table. Grietta and Elyor behind Heian Ciemnosc didn’t seem to mind, nor the latter, for that matter.

“I’ve already named it my territory once under the needs of the Heraxle Clan…” Heian Ciemnosc looked at the Snow Fox as he spoke. Ogork fell slightly apprehensive, but Xue Yoler didn’t drop her stance. His darkest eyes landed on Ogork first before setting on Xue Yoler’s white, fluffy ears and thick, fluffier tail. A grin formed on his overly pale red lips as his 1 meter dark tail showed behind his chair and wagged at the same rhythm as Xue Yoler’s as if to greet it back.

“!” Xue Yoler’s body stiffened. She looked at Heian Ciemnosc’s dark tail and was slightly stunned, but that was also the moment Heian Ciemnosc finished his words. Looking at the 2 representatives, Heian Ciemnosc’s grin spread from ear to ear, “Then, what could stop me from doing it again?”

“…” - “…” The representatives fell silent. After a few moments, Ogork was about to say something, when Xue Yoler changed her stance and rubbed her forehead while looking directly into Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes. “We must discuss this. It doesn’t concern only us. I reckon this will attract my Dynasty’s attention, should I dare act on my own… Cousin, are you the same, too?”

“Sigh… I suppose,” Ogork sighed and leaned back on his chair. “I believe this is too different from what our Existential organizations pre-arranged. But it is debatable. We must remain here… for a little longer.”

“Great,” Heian Ciemnosc lowered his head and comfortably said, waving his dark tail at Xue Yoler’s white foxy tail. He kept silent for a couple of seconds, looking at them, before impulsing his body up with his hands on the table’s edge. “Then, I’ll see you tomorrow at the same time. I promise I won’t be late again. That only works the first 2-3 times before becoming silly.”

Step, step, step… thud.

“…” Xue Yoler didn’t bother stopping Heian Ciemnosc. They both knew that, whatever the Heraxle Clan’s stance towards Heian Ciemnosc currently was, if the black monster continued showing such results, it will be positive.

“Cousin, do you think there’s a way to revert these changes? We’ll lose our little control over the rest of the Kingdom this way… What if he decided to invade the other Regions?” Xue Yoler said, frowning as she stared ahead. Ogork didn’t become bothered about her not even looking at him and stood up, took a jacket from behind his chair, and put it on.

“I don’t think so. Unless we can do the same, but where can we find such an opportunity?” Ogork smiled and shook his head. He offered a few more words before heading to the door, “As for invading other territories. Heng. Unless he steps over us first, he won’t be able to move to other Regions with such ease. What’s he gonna do? Invade us? I’m his ally, and you’ve always remained neutral after the 10 year war. Although the Dynasty and the Toreon Clan-…”

“Cousin, please stop there.” Xue Yoler’s face became cold. Her eyes followed the notion, and her eyelids dropped while her eyebrows relaxed. She looked at Ogork, who acquiesced in silence before heading away. Once again, the Snow Fox was left alone in the meeting room.

‘Haaaah, would he really invade?’ Not feeling lonely at all, Xue Yoler remained before the table with her fingers on her forehead, near her temples. She worriedly thought, but after pondering hard for a few minutes, she shook her head and stood up to leave the meeting room.

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. . .

3 weeks passed by before the decisions were made, and Heian Ciemnosc’s proposals were partially accepted.

The points Heian Ciemnosc proposed remained untouched as Heian Ciemnosc presented them, but there were conditions and extra mini-articles Heian Ciemnosc, and only he, had to agree on. Left with no choice, Heian Ciemnosc acquiesced. Thus, he would not form defensive structures that are beyond the scope of what the previous Heraxle Clan’s representative could build.

He could make a navy, but his forces could only establish 4 ports at most. He could build as many warships as he wanted that’ll fit in those ports. Additionally, he couldn’t conscript too many citizens per year, only 10 million at most. Thus, Heian Ciemnosc was forced to accept.

Today was the last time they were meeting after having decided things after 3 days of clarification and reconfirming their thoughts and points of view. This was the formality to conclude with the meeting. They would meet one last time and depart to return to their territories.

Cwuank~. The door parted with its unique sound, exposing Heian Ciemnosc and his 2 ‘guards’ step into the meeting room. Xue Yoler and Ogork had already become used to this, and she even fangirled over Elyor and Grietta before their meetings began, with Ogork acting politely with both. As soon as they appeared, they stood up and nodded, not as formal as their first meeting.

“!” But then, the representatives’ eyes widened. Shock was more than visible within their pupils. Xue Yoler stuttered slightly as she walked around the table and confronted Heian Ciemnosc, “S-sir black m- mo- monster, you’ve stepped into the 8th stage? Con… congratulations…”

“Mn! Thank you-” - “Thank you!” Heian Ciemnosc conveyed his thanks, but Grietta followed his words with a bright, joyous smile and said ‘thank you’ at the same time, leaving Xue Yoler perplexed. Behind Heian Ciemnosc’s right, Elyor lowered his head and looked leftwards, then smiled and gestured with an ‘it is what it is’ expression before consecutively nodding.

Step, step. Step, step, step, step- thud. Thud.

Xue Yoler nodded back at Heian Ciemnosc and felt dumbfounded still as she walked to her seat, just 1 chair beside Ogork, and in front of Heian Ciemnosc’s seat. She looked at her cousin as if to telepathically see the other’s thoughts, and they both saw the same in each other. That is the black monster. He who cultivates fast with an unprecedented battle prowess!

“Well then, we should begin,” Xue Yoler took a document from her Covert Space bag and another from her Universal Conveyance upon seeing a glint of disgust in Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes when staring at the paper sheets.

Heian Ciemnosc nodded and took the documents first, passing it through with his Spirit Sense before rapidly signing and sliding it to Ogork, who took a bit more of his time to sign. Heian Ciemnosc did what Ogork was doing with the documents with the digital sheets before signing them and passing them to Ogork. Xue Yoler was the last person to sign.

“Good!” Xue Yoler stood up, arranged the documents, and took a Soul image to send it to her Universal Conveyance before exclaiming in a professional mood. Before extending her right hand to Heian Ciemnosc, who was still sitting, she voiced in a neutral tone. “With this, we can finish our business. The Turtle Hiding Region will be more at ease knowing the furious fire from the south has been quelled.”

“It has been a pleasure, sir black monster,” Xue Yoler said as Heian Ciemnosc stood up and shook hands with her. Ogork followed, and they exchanged a legendary 3-way shaking of hands. Heian Ciemnosc looked at Xue Yoler with a peculiar glint that made her feel strange but not ‘badly’ and heard him calmly speak as her eyebrows knitted, “Miss Xue, we might meet in a few years. Don’t miss me. I hope the Dynasty will appreciate me and my changes. I desire no evil for both of us.”

“As long as you follow them, sir.” Xue Yoler eased her frown and appeared pacified as she nodded and ended her shaking of hands with them. Heian Ciemnosc took this moment to look at Ogork. His tone was a little dull, “I can’t say the same for you, mister. Although you’ve been pleasant to speak and debate with, I can’t help but feel… disappointment from people like you.”

“…” Ogork couldn’t tell what was going on, but his body was savagely reacting from within. Although Soul Race members’ bodies were bluish transparent, they didn’t expose their energy, Soul energy, Spirit Sense, or Elements within. That’d be the stupidest weakness in the world. Thus, Xue Yoler couldn’t tell what was happening with Ogork, but Heian Ciemnosc could.

“Well then, let’s see what the future has prepared for us,” Heian Ciemnosc said as he turned around and walked to the exit. The 2 representatives looked at his back until he disappeared from their naked eyesight. This time, the door wasn’t closed.

“…” - “…” Xue Yoler and Ogork looked at each other before readying up to leave the tower. It would be left alone and lonely once they left, but it didn’t matter since it was only for meetings like this. Likewise, it was also built there to show their stance to Heian Ciemnosc’s sudden occupation of the south.

… Back to Heian Ciemnosc, he walked through the hallways with Grietta swooning over her husband. If Heian Ciemnosc could be considered spoiled to no end, breaking into the Silhouette realm 8th stage after more than 20 nights of pleasure, starting with Grietta and ending them with his 3 Fairy lovers. Then Grietta was the world’s goddess, fucked the shit out of her brains every hour of each night by her husband and lover to their hearts and carnal desires’ content.

Watching her beaming smile, and lovely, joyous eyes even in mere moments like this of walking, one could tell how affectionate and attentive Heian Ciemnosc is. Even more so, how great of a teamwork he and Elyor had to spoil the pregnant beauty.

How could they not? With the basis, which Elyor taught him in the beginning, when he barely knew the real, true world outside the Sinvonnia Kingdom. Besides, Elyor acted like a great master and taught Heian Ciemnosc only the fundamentals with great emphasis. As for the skills one learns and musters throughout life, that is left to the learner to discover and master.

“You know,” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly spoke as they were walking to his lodging. Grietta looked at him, but Elyor was too riveted with his wife’s beauty and love for him. Heian Ciemnosc continued, “If you really want me to have your daughter as my wife, she has to be worthy.”

“Hah? Becoming cheeky? You little bastard~…” Grietta joyously bantered. Heian Ciemnosc smiled and held her right hand amicably. Grietta’s eyes became a little serious as she dropped her joy and looked at Heian Ciemnosc like an equal. Heian Ciemnosc went on, “Of course not. I will marry her whether she is capable or not, for you, and senior Elyor. However, I want my women to be capable. Besides, if she just marries me, won’t she feel a little empty?”

“Mn… Okay, I think I understand. Thank you, Cici,” Grietta looked deeply into Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes before responding. She still grappled his neck with her left arm and pulled him to gently and warmly peck and suckle his puckered out, overly pale red lips, twice.

“Well, at least you aren’t calling me blackie.” After the wet, smooth kissing, Heian Ciemnosc grinned and said, with Grietta’s arm still around his neck. But the sweet moment didn’t last long.

“But I have a condition, too. Heh heh, after seeing you enter politics for a few weeks… What? You didn’t think I wouldn’t have it in me?” Grietta smiled from ear to ear with joy in her loving eyes, just a few inches from Heian Ciemnosc’s face, leaving him slightly dizzy with her beauty and enormous charm.

Not saying anything, Heian Ciemnosc waited for Grietta to pronounce her condition. She looked back at her husband, who kept track of their amorous acts. Elyor nodded at her, making Grietta beam with ecstasy.

“But you better stop doing these things with your future son-in-law unless you want your daughter to feel conflicted every day,” said Heian Ciemnosc before Grietta could lay out her terms and conditions to accept him as her son-in-law. However, Grietta just grinned. Heian Ciemnosc knew it. How could she stop seeing him when not only she discovered her joy in bedding him, but her husband even enjoyed seeing her… enjoying?

However, Heian Ciemnosc would have never imagined that Grietta’s condition was so…

. . .

The army returned to the Turtle Hiding Region’s south. They would take the same time to return, 2 months, a week, and a few days. Meanwhile, Heian Ciemnosc had already returned to the center, where he deconstructed his cottage and let the auxiliary units who had been idle for a couple of months to get busy again. This time, they had help.

But this was no civilian help. The projects more to the center, and at the cliffed coasts, were projects only cultivators could aid. At least in the beginning. It was a monumental change, and the Cities hadn't begun being built.

Heian Ciemnosc returned with Halonso’s help, of course, and with the Fairies. They no longer held fear over Heian Ciemnosc’s ‘pet’. Even though it was slickly and expelled viscous gel and liquid, they now knew it was whenever it felt comfortable and content, or any of those. Thus, they rode on Halonso, who elongated to 30 meters to accommodate them, and teleported back to where their lovely, lacking cottage was once located.

However, it was now surrounded by a ginormous perimeter, with only its foundation finished. Streets, establishments, or even the image of a city-like construction were nowhere to be found. However, the auxiliary units worked on the chief of operations residential zone first, and without fault. This time, Heian Ciemnosc wanted a big, royalty-like, dark place to reside, where he could leisurely stay while his troops fought wars.

Similarly, this time, Heian Ciemnosc wouldn’t just cultivate with his Fairies. When he returned, the towering mansion was already built. It only a lacking garden but was several hundred meters tall, and was already inhabited by some people.

His daughter, Anastasia, and her maids, exited the mansion to greet him and Halonso. She didn’t have many thoughts of the Fairies since only her father had been with them all this long while they warred, but she knew her father better than others. Thus, she helped the Fairies inside, who immediately treated Anastasia as the princess of all heavens and earths.

Once inside, Heian Ciemnosc greeted his subordinates, his Eternal Return Team, and Tania, who had missed him but didn’t seem to want to engage as soon as possible whenever she encountered him again. Although this was a slight change, Heian Ciemnosc was still brought to his bed, which he hadn’t even used for the first time, and denied his 3 Fairies’ companionship.

Once inside the bedroom, the others sat cross-legged in a different section of the mansion and began cultivating. There were multiple halls for even a few thousand people to sit and cultivate. Heian Ciemnosc’s group cultivation method range was abundant. It was only his dual cultivation method that had no range…

Once bedding Tania, Heian Ciemnosc treated her like a sweet young woman in her first throes of passion. The changes within her were tantamount to the evolution she would suffer in the not-so-distant future. For now, Heian Ciemnosc gladly shared bed with her in one of their last wanton desires.

…