At the next city to the Northwest, Kuzimu, I debated if I should keep pushing forward over the wall. It wasn’t built up as the last capital city of Cairo. “Keep going, right over the plaza,” I told Captain Francis. He gave the necessary orders and we went over the city wall.

We finally came to a stop over the plaza, and I leapt out once again. There was a bit of panic, but this city seemed much more used to dealing with situations since the soldiers or guards were moving into a spread-out formation around me and a senior looking man with level 3 stats began approaching me. He said something in a foreign language.

“English,” I replied. The man frowned slightly but then spoke again.

“I am the General in charge of the city of Kuzimu. Please state your intentions,” the man said. A general, well that was most likely near the top of the military hierarchy.

“I am Supreme Emperor Michael of the Empire of Purgatory,” I replied with a grin. I could see him glance up at my airship and then back at me. He was clearly sensing the pressure of my stats I was releasing. Aura was such a useful stat for some small time powerplays.

“And how can we assist you Supreme Emperor Michael,” the General said. I noted he hadn’t given his name. A security measure most likely, or an insult. How interesting, I was slightly intrigued.

“I making an expedition West to speak to the various leaders. I was told this nation is called The One, and is ruled by someone of a similar title,” I replied.

“It is actually a council, our nation name is to reflect our unified purpose. One heart, one mind, one belief,” the General explained. I also hated councils.

“Can you speak for this council and what belief?” I asked.

“I can speak on behalf of the council, but any long-term treaties would have to be brought before them. As for our belief, it is that we must survive under the grace of Allah,” the General said.

“Very well, I want all maps, including the monsters and skill types of all the zones you know. In return I will implement a truce and allow your nation to dispatch an embassy to one of our cities on this half of the Systemic Lands,” I said.

“And if I refuse?” he asked.

“I will take what I want, which would mean war. I warned the Empire of the Nile when I would be arriving, but they didn’t seem to take that seriously and insulted me. Cairo has been purged,” I replied, and I could see the General’s face tighten.

“I see,” he said.

“I doubt it. But let me put things into perspective. I now control half the known cities of the Systemic Lands. I killed the monster to the East. I have killed level 7 monsters. It isn’t a question of if you can fight or not. It is how much effort do you want to make in the face of my demands and annoy me,” I replied. There was a long stretch of silence.

“We will prepare the maps and information you requested. Would you be amenable to staying while word is sent in order to greet you properly?” the General asked.

“That is fine. If you want to fight me outside the city, or to assassinate me, I am also welcome to entertain you,” I replied.

“That should not be necessary from what I can see and once we have word from the Empire of the Nile. We are in conflict with the Kingdom of Graystone to the West. And would be interested in any support, since the Empire of the Nile will no longer be backing us up,” he said.

“That can be discussed. How long will things take on your end?” I asked.

“I would humbly request for two days,” he said, and I frowned.

“I would have expected longer or shorter,” I replied. Longer if the other leaders were off grinding or fighting, or shorter if they were in the city.

“Runners will be dispatched to their camps to recall them post haste. There have been situations in the past where we have needed to defend this city,” the General explained.

“Very well, let’s call it three days, then I will return. That will give you some buffer and time to talk amongst yourselves,” I said and saw a bit of relief. “You can prepare the maps for when I return, since you probably don’t have copies. I will want to compare them to the originals and I do have translators.” I wanted to head off any shenanigans. “In addition, you may send three people with my airship, since I am going to spend the time killing monsters. They can be considered a temporary embassy.”

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“That is most kind of you. I will make sure the maps are prepared. Please allow me to send out the needed messages, and then I will accompany you personally with two of my soldiers,” the General replied. Now that was an interesting twist.

“I have no issue with that, but aren’t you needed here?” I asked.

“Understanding your capabilities and getting to know you is much more important than managing the administration of this city. It can survive three days without me. I just require some time to leave instructions,” he said.

“Very well, take your time. I will have a smaller airship sent down to ferry you all up. Be aware there is only one room with two beds, so your soldiers will have to split their sleep schedules or share,” I replied.

“I understand. That is no problem. I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I am General Ali,” he said. I gave him a slight head nod in acknowledgement. Actual competence, from a nation called The One, that was surprising. At least it wasn’t a Caliphate. After the Avatar’s nation was wrecked, it had a bad association in my mind.

It took about an hour for the General to give orders, and make arrangements before I had the smaller airship ferry him up to the Crystal Vortex. I gave him a tour and allowed him to bump into our prisoner from Cairo. I let them talk and I could see the General’s face pale while he looked over at me.

We had taken off directly South once he was onboard. I invited him onto the bridge to chat. The one bad thing about this super large airship was that there was no private conference room. “This is all quite impressive,” he said while one of my men set down tea and sandwiches between us. “Tea?”

“Indeed. Please enjoy, my treat, help yourself,” I replied as I poured myself some tea. It was a power play to show our elegance in food.

“Thank you, Emperor Michael,” he said with a pinched face. I could tell my power play was working.

“A question for a question, you may go first,” I said.

“What is your plan for our nation?” he asked me. That was surprisingly direct, but I liked it.

“Nothing. There is a population crisis that is building up, specifically in my Empire since I brought peace a while ago by uniting all the cities. We have claimed one city in the West, and plan to unleash anyone who doesn’t want to pay taxes onto the cities freed from the monster,” I explained. I could see him mentally working through everything I had just told him. “Why a war with this Kingdom of Graystone?” I asked.

“What you alluded to, territorial claims. Several zones are in contention to the West. I wouldn’t call it a hot war, but it isn’t a cold war either. Both sides have defensive points and the Kingdom of Graystone is well defended.” I nodded at this. I had a couple of follow up questions.

“How many cities do you control?” General Ali asked.

“Twenty,” I replied. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

“Why not take out the leadership of this Kingdom and knock them out of the war?” I asked.

“Assassination attempts have been made on both sides, but the true power houses are out there killing monsters. We take a city they will swoop back in and kill the people who took it. Neither side thinks they can win conclusively. I would say that the Queen of Graystone is the strongest, she doesn’t want more cities, just more zones and empowers herself the most. But with a two front war, she can’t expand, but we can’t kill her,” General Ali explained.

That made sense. There was too much risk in a high level fight. So it was fought with proxies while the leaders looked for an advantage to beat their opposites.

“You mentioned you have been in charge for a long time, why did it take this long to reach out?” I considered that question.

“There was concern that there would be another powerhouse out West. We had just finished a massive war against the Divine Empress, and I barely managed to kill her. It was deemed prudent to rest and build up our strength first. But the population crisis forced our hand,” I replied.

“Now we are too far behind. I suggested peace, worried such a thing would happen, but we would have lost too much territory. Have you discovered why we are here?” General Ali asked the one question that united all the people of the Systemic Lands.

“No. There is no new information. Not even the towers. They don’t provide anything useful, only a super dungeon,” I replied, and he nodded. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth. I did not want to stir up competition for them.

“We had been talking about them, and that would have been my next question,” he replied, and we both sipped our tea as the airship sped across the landscape.

“What of the nation to the far West, the Holy Kingdom of God?” I asked.

“Very isolationist and at war with Graystone. They will entertain no ambassadors or negotiations. If you go there, then expect a fight,” he said.

“That is fine. I plan to stop by Graystone and then this Holy Kingdom. Get a full understanding of the Systemic Lands and the zones. Perhaps in the future we would be willing to trade for skill slots or research knowledge if you have any,” I replied.

“That is something I would have to discuss with my peers. Making a unilateral decision right now would only complicate things. You aren’t going to take our cities?” he asked.

“I had considered it, but it is too much hassle. Having just my Empire rule everything will create long term problems and no release outlet. And running an Empire by Airship is not cost effective. That means, you are free to fight or claim cities to your East. Just be warned, that the five remaining cities that used to be patrolled by the monster are off limits to any nation claiming them,” I said.

“You want a Wild West. It will be a blood bath,” General Ali said.

“Indeed, it will be. But that is the only way to handle the population crisis long term. You are welcome to send your people that way, but if your nation intervenes, then I will intervene,” I replied.

“It sounds…intriguing,” he finally said.

“It is horrible, but it is the only option. There aren’t enough zones and monsters to go around, especially at the low levels. And getting people to grind on monsters level 4 and higher is a massive headache,” I replied. It was the best of a bad situation. People who wanted to control their own fate and not pay taxes, the Michael’s of this world would have their chance in the Wild West. It was a good name for what I was doing. There could only be one Emperor Michael.