Smoke From The Distance
Step, step, step, step… No matter how one put it, Heian Ciemnosc dominated the first day of the meeting towards the end. Even if it was a tiny bit, and practically momentarily, he still prevailed over a peak Universal realm cultivator. Moreover, Heian Ciemnosc did enjoy overpowering such a mighty representative. She was no Jenny or Tiffany he could scare around every time, but he had to trek forth, even if carefully.
Xue Yoler was not only a representative, and her position in the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty wasn’t high. It was her connection that drew Heian Ciemnosc. Otherwise, the meeting would have been as short and brief as she suggested. But nah, Heian Ciemnosc wouldn’t give up the opportunity to ‘talk it out’ with a person like her.
Heian Ciemnosc returned to his lodging, where cultivation resumed as the Fairies stopped giggling and chatting with one another. After being bought, their families and memories were as fleeting as a rogue cultivator trying to find new adventures…
… The next day, Heian Ciemnosc stepped out of his lodging in a good mood, swinging his shoulders a little, but his walk still carried a predatory notion to it. When he arrived at the meeting room, on time, with only a few minutes before the starting point and entered it, he was ‘marveled’ at the sight of Ogork in the middle of the meeting room.
Ogork had his arms crossed, wearing a decent, strict uniform, and facing the door. He looked directly at the black monster, whose good mood didn’t dwindle, while Xue Yoler faced them with her back as she stood before a window.
“Oh! Ogork, glad you could join us. Yesterday was an emotive reunion. I’m glad the Est Soul Empire didn’t question you too much about me. We aren’t that close yet, after all. Heh,” Heian Ciemnosc directly went to the table as Xue Yoler moved her head slightly towards them, lowering her eyelashes as a slight frown appeared on her brows.
“I see,” commented Ogork. He turned and sat on a chair with only 1 seat between him and the black monster. Just then, Xue Yoler turned towards them and walked to a chair in front of them. Heian Ciemnosc tapped the table with his palms and said, “Now that we’re all here, why don’t we return to what we talked about yesterday and officially commence this meeting?”
“Indeed. I heard it was a little intense. I came as soon as possible to ensure friendliness between everyone here.” Ogork looked at Heian Ciemnosc and said. Heian Ciemnosc looked at him and shook his head lightly, “What’re politics without some drama?”
Heian Ciemnosc grinned and looked at Xue Yoler before his darkest eyes moved to the spot where the Dark Blood Pill once was. Xue Yoler’s forehead dropped one bead of sweat that thinned out before reaching her left temple. Then, Heian Ciemnosc commented, “I see you’ve accepted my gift. Now I am glad.”
“Of course…” Xue Yoler moved her arms and stood with a straight back. She steeled her eyes before staring at Heian Ciemnosc, seemingly questioning him with her glare and receiving obvious responses from his darkest eyes. “Nothing like a few tensions between politics to bring taste to these boring procedures, right?”
“…” Heian Ciemnosc smiled thinly from ear to ear with his pose low on the table. He looked at her like a father and daughter duo, with the former teaching the latter how to be naughty under mommy’s nose. Heian Ciemnosc turned to Ogork as the day commenced, “I heard you are recruiting more spies? It’s a pity your Existential orgs are a bit too stingy. Just ask me. Anything I’m not purposely hiding, I’ll gladly reveal it.”
With that, and the 2 representatives’ faces becoming baffled, especially at Heian Ciemnosc’s intelligence gathering capabilities, the first round of clarifying and reminding things commenced. The first day had to be calm and tranquil. They could always bombard Heian Ciemnosc with the agreements and consequences of breaking the norms on their part.
When the day was almost over, and the green sunset seeped into the meeting room from the little bits on the west, where the mountains couldn’t block their view, their discussions came to an end.
“May I speak with Miss Xue alone for half a minute?” Before anyone could go on their way, Heian Ciemnosc stood up and remained behind his char, grabbing it from behind as he asked Ogork. Ogork seemed startled for 1 second, before nodding and keeping his head low and walking out of the meeting room, “Of course. If it’s as simple as that.”
Step, step, step- cwuank.
“…” - “…” Heian Ciemnosc then turned his head towards Xue Yoler with a blatant, thin smile. Xue Yoler’s slightly cold eyes followed Ogork who left and closed the door without even turning back. When her gaze returned to Heian Ciemnosc, she saw a winning man about to stand up.
Thrud~. Not willing to be left behind, Xue Yoler stood up in a jiffy and walked around the table before stopping at the corner on Heian Ciemnosc’s side. Heian Ciemnosc looked at her go and waited until she stood in that corner with her hands clasped before her pelvis before joining her.
“Miss Xue, the Est Soul Empire isn’t the Bluenet Nation. If they, sometime, at any time, wish to change their attitude, they will. We can always be allies after speaking politely to each other. But while Ogork is your cousin, from a family that never deserved your father, you are from your mother’s part. If you weren’t, would you still be alive? Even with your parents’ sacrifice?” Heian Ciemnosc’s words were devilish… but correct, and thought-provoking.
“…” Xue Yoler’s eyes intently stared at him, upturned, as he was too tall for her. Heian Ciemnosc’s overly pale right hand was lifted. She looked at it somewhat warily, before letting it touch her left cheek, but she adamantly asked him with a slightly cold tone. “Was that dark thing your doing? Black monster alright. Your body says otherwise, but all your methods…”
“Tsk, there’s no fruitful endeavors in saying those things and talking to me like that if you wish to insult me.” Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the left, while Xue Yoler maintained her head straight and looking up. He added after seeing the intention and stubbornness in her eyes. “For that, you can only refuse me…”
Heian Ciemnosc got really close to her right ear, which tingled and folded instantly at his movements. His dragged-on, hoarse voice surprised her and sent shivers down her spine to the deepest corners of her being. “Don’t put that frown. If I ever lack something, it isn’t bodies to play with. Forced deaths are always my least favorite.”
“…” Xue Yoler was a little perplexed, but she didn’t think much of it. Not with her cultivation base. But then, Heian Ciemnosc faced her again, and his overly pale countenance appeared before her eyes, with his voice returning to ‘normal’. “Yes, I made it. But I hope you’ll stop hesitating and try it. It’s scary, I know it can be… However, it can also be wonderful.”
“…” Xue Yoler’s eyes looked up. Her eyes were intense, but her emotions were different this time, as she felt an unbound excitement from the bottom of her heart, which she tried detaining yet failed to. Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes didn’t leave her and instead surprised her when his hands grabbed her wrists as his long fingers placed something in hers.
“?” Xue Yoler looked down to see a device with locked array formations. She frowned further when she realized she could open them with the methods only she knew and had mastered, as if it was tailor-made for her, like a puzzle made for a child to increase their selective, mental capabilities.
“These are some of the ‘ways’ the Crimsonbreaking Faction uses to train the citizens. There are even detailed methods to lure them into the citizen armies, or forces.” Heian Ciemnosc clasped the back of her fingers, letting her keep it in her hands.
Xue Yoler gradually looked up. Her eyes struggling to maintain their steeliness as she asked him. “These are the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s secrets. Even as a promising, one of a kind Security Elder. Do you think you have the permissions to divulge them? Or that your Soul won’t be read by them, and that you could give them to others, and that I would believe that?”
“…” Heian Ciemnosc looked at Xue Yoler until she finished. Then, he kept silent. 3 seconds later, when her eyes started trembling to her dubious mentality, Heian Ciemnosc lowered his face and gripped her chin, shaking it as he breathed onto her face. “Too many words.”
“Keep it,” Heian Ciemnosc said, letting go of her and stepping backwards. “Whether it is mindless writings or the methods you’ve asked for, that’s for you to discover. Oh, it is also your choice whether to show it to others. I’m only giving it to you.”
“??” Xue Yoler frowned. She stepped forth once and loudly asked, “If these are genuine, then… Didn’t you say you would give us the information after your stay in here extended to a decade?”
“Indeed,” Heian Ciemnosc walked to the exit, turned his head, and casually replied. “But I’m giving it to you now. Hey, at least I didn’t throw you a message telling you to wait for further news, right? I can be more considerate than a glorious Existential Sixth Step organization.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Step, step- cwuaank~.
“…” Watching Heian Ciemnosc leave, closing the door behind him, giving her one last look, similar to how he left yesterday, Xue Yoler was left stunned on the spot. She looked down at the device after a minute before storing it in her Covert Space bags.
After storing it, Xue Yoler thought for a few seconds before deciding something. A dark pill appeared in her right hand. Her palm held it with ease, but her eyebrows frowned slightly before her fingers held it strongly… somewhat dearly. The complicated feelings in her eyes didn’t dwindle even as they were covered by her eyelids. Nor as she brought her right, clenched fist to her chest.
. . .
2 days later. In the meeting room.
Heian Ciemnosc, Ogork, and Xue Yoler stood before the entrance, with Heian Ciemnosc’s Fairies waiting outside. He was shaking hands with them when Ogork decided to bow his head without moving his torso, and said in a polite tone, “Sir black monster, congratulations on achieving the 9th stage. You’re a step closer to a magnificent journey through the world.”
“Mn, I know you’d rather see me leave this Region to peacefulness than anything else. But don’t worry, I may not be gone for long.” Heian Ciemnosc calmly responded before letting go of Ogork’s hands. Xue Yoler frowned at his comment, but Heian Ciemnosc didn’t elaborate further.
“Well, a misunderstanding has been resolved. I’ll let you take a look at it after I’m done with the Region, for free.” Heian Ciemnosc nodded towards them and said. Ogork spoke up again, “The Turtle Hiding Region’s south, you meant. Well, we Soul Race members can’t have spare time, it is against our diligent cultivation nature. But I thank you for the offer, sir.”
Heian Ciemnosc grinned. He looked towards Xue Yoler and ballsy repeated, “I do want to bring miss Xue around after I’m done with it. Even if I must force her to observe why so many people follow me, heh. Well then, you’ve said it yourself. Cultivation time shouldn’t be wasted. It was a good waste of time to come here. Until next time.”
Heian Ciemnosc turned around and walked away, held by his 3 Fairy lovers, while the others walked with them, surrounding the four. Ogork and Xue Yoler exchanged a helpless glance, but they were more at ease now that they had the necessary information. If it was the previous representative, it could have cost them some resources, and Xue Yoler might have had to flirt.
… Heian Ciemnosc exited the Mountain Pass tower and flew away with Evans. He took some extra time to check the south’s progress with his Fairies. Of course, they weren’t shy to not indulge in themselves, but also not stupid enough to not put an anti-Spirit Sense barricade around themselves during the act.
A few weeks later, Heian Ciemnosc returned to the center, where not everyone arrived, but some were already waiting. Heian Ciemnosc initiated their cultivation session with Anastasia, her maids, Tania, and Tulla missing. Clanton arrived a little later after receiving news of Heian Ciemnosc’s sightings after he left the Mountain Pass.
2 weeks later, Anastasia and the others returned. Tulla seemed a little changed, and her Soul gave off vibrations similar to Etherea, who was close to the Goldshine level. They joined the rest in their cultivation session, which would take more time before they exited it.
… The south continued developing under the hands of the Crimsons and the inhabitants auxiliary units. Moreover, the number of brand-new cultivators after occupying the south had increased to more than 20 million, and still going. They were still in the earliest realms of the First Step, but it was a good beginning.
The total auxiliary unit number increased to over 200,000,000 with the addition of the imprisoned soldier units. They were content to help, though. They saw the Crimson soldier units help before and believed this to be a part of their training. Their thinking wasn’t exactly wrong, but neither were they right.
Heian Ciemnosc ordered that the prisoners wouldn’t be trained to rejoin the soldier units ranks until at least the Small Cities were finished, and more auxiliary units took their spot. It was to ensure the development wouldn’t be slowed after the prisoners left the auxiliary units.
When another 3 years passed, the Small Cities were finished, and the auxiliary unit’s number increased to 300,000,000 successfully. Without the Officers’ hard work, this wouldn’t be as fruitful as it resulted to be. But the development had to continue, as it was only halfway done, and this was only for its infrastructure completion.
Before giving the order to start the construction of the next in line, Heian Ciemnosc ordered the stabilization of the military’s growth. So far, 60 million citizens had been recruited, but were still in their training regimen. However, the cultivators that could fight in lower Steps had to be recruited uniformly and without a loss.
The average cultivation progress for a Crimson soldier unit was to reach the Third Step around 30 years after entering the Faction. Naturally, that would downgrade the recruiting speed and efficiency. Besides, Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t going to wait here forever until masses of new soldier units attained the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s standards. He wasn’t crazy patient now.
Thus, the average was lowered to recruit those brand-new cultivators whose potential ensured they’d reach the Second Step in 30 years after joining their military. It was what peak Second Step organizations employed, although theirs was for 40 years after joining them.
The rest would be sent to the garrisoned forces to protect the south during any occasion. These were a lot. However, it served well. The settlements would first defend themselves with a limited but not scarce ammunition, ensuring the civilians’ safety as they were moved away, before responding to the enemy all-out.
On the other hand, who knew what auxiliary units did after being relieved after a few months?
They wouldn’t grow tired even if they worked for a decade building anything, so what were they doing after being replaced by others? Only a smallish portion was needed to move the resources throughout the Region, what did the rest do?
Either way, the cultivators who were set to become garrisoned units understood their limitations. Although they would have opportunities to become soldier units, that would be only when their number was too grotesque, and they could be of use in the wars to come. As for the latter’s specifics, the Crimson instructors only gave them a stern glare.
The auxiliary units were picked professionally by Heian Ciemnosc’s selected few within the Crimson armies. Those were auxiliary units who had the greatest potential, with a mediocre cultivation talent, battle prowess, but magnificent Craftsmaking talent.
After all this was solidified, the operation’s military continued as usual with their new standards. The south was already growing used to it, but nobody knew why their sons and daughters were leaving their homes despite the yearly citizen recruitment quota being accomplished in the first month of every new year. Regardless, life in the south stabilized as the operation’s forces recruited people from everywhere.
This took several months to reorganize. It was half a 3* Region they were dealing with, but they still spent over half a decade to achieve it. It wasn’t just because of its ginormous size, but because the Crimsons weren’t used to moving so many people. After all, 3* Regions were usually divided between 4 Third Step organizations at the very least. Although they were divided by 6 more often than not.
When the 7th year approached, Heian Ciemnosc gave the order to commence the constructions… at the cliffed coasts!
Yet, just in the first 4 months since that order, at the 7th year and 2nd month since the start of their operation. Heian Ciemnosc received yet another communication from the Crimsonbreaking Faction, hidden somewhere in space. Heian Ciemnosc woke up from his cultivation session just as Lu Cro was wantonly jumping on his crotch. It was time to return there and meet the little fox.
***
At the Mountain Pass, yet again.
Heian Ciemnosc landed several tens of meters before the meeting tower. Ogork was standing at the doorstep. When Heian Ciemnosc landed, he turned around and silently stepped into the tower. At the same time, Xue Yoler looked up with furious eyes and even flung her arms up and down with her fists clenched.
“Sir black monster!” Xue Yoler didn’t wait for him to land on his feet before ragingly shouting. She moved towards Evans, who looked at her warily but did nothing to stop her. Heian Ciemnosc grinned as he floated downwards with a light smile plastered on his lips. Xue Yoler continued raging, “14 forts… fourteen forts?!”
Xue Yoler’s expression was magnificent, specially beautiful. Her eyes seemed crazed, looking shaking yet maintained in place as her canines moved about with rage. “Watchtowers, and even ports building near those forts… just what are you planning?!”
“To be fair, that is 15 fort-classified defensive structures. The one in the center is for a fortress,” Heian Ciemnosc stood before Xue Yoler and corrected her nicely. Of course, she didn’t take that nicely and just shrilly screamed instead.
“Gyaaaaah!”
Xue Yoler took several breaths to calm her heaving chest. It wasn’t small, after all. She put her hands on her hips as she stared at the Fairies, but she didn’t point out obscenities and looked at Heian Ciemnosc instead before starting again. “There are only a few instances where I’m not sending my troops to fucking teach you a lesson!”
“You hear me?!” Xue Yoler nearly burst with a shrill roar again when she saw Heian Ciemnosc’s smile not fade away. She craned her neck, nearly folding it backwards as she stared directly at him. Heian Ciemnosc took liberties, transforming his light smile into a cheeky grin from the left corners of his lips before placing his palms on her waist.
“I know it seems threatening, but I mean no harm to the Flora-Sweet White-Heavens Dynasty,” Heian Ciemnosc easily grabbed her waist, which she let happen for whatever reason as she kept her fists against her hips. Her face still raged as Heian Ciemnosc explained a little more, “I’m just a little ambitious. I can’t help myself. Besides, it’s my first 3* Region. I can’t waste such a good opportunity. Oh?”
“…” Seeing Heian Ciemnosc inquisitively nod and exclaim in confirmation, Xue Yoler felt a tremendous rage that suddenly calmed her down. She sobered up and felt his hands on her body. But she didn’t feel violated, and it was like a touch of soft caress as she nearly went off and exploded with fury. Xue Yoler even had the sensation that she kept her cool thanks to his touch.
Fwuuush!
“Enough!” Xue Yoler swept his hands away, flinging them back to his body, and pointed at him with her right index finger between their noses. “You, sir, have a lot to explain. We may have never spoken about defensive structures, but we know what we do and can’t mess with. You’ve taken us for fools for too long. Now, you’ll listen!”
“…” Heian Ciemnosc looked at Xue Yoler’s eyes deeply. Seeing a dot of darkness in her pupils’ white glow, he nodded to himself and bumped his forehead against hers. This left Xue Yoler startled for enough time for Heian Ciemnosc to softly whisper to her face.
“I’m contented to know you’ve taken a step forwards. A little more, and we’ll find ourselves standing in a line, staring at the same empty blackness of the universe.”
Xue Yoler: “…?”
…