Chapter 24: The Republic of Tanosi Pastures
Early morning.
Deep beneath the hotel where Tang Ping and his companions resided, far removed from the surface, behind a certain reinforced metal door, lay a secret that could never be revealed to outsiders: **The Life Institute**.
As the name suggested, this was a scientific research facility dedicated to the study of life—and simultaneously, a den of sin that profaned it.
At this moment, the silver-haired goddess stood before a cultivation pod, silently gazing at the object within.
"How are the results of the seedling selection?" Tanosi asked.
The woman in the business suit behind her responded immediately: "Very smooth! Out of 2.8 million individuals, 200,000 did not show a rejection reaction to your divine power. Among them, 4,000 exhibited significant atavism."
"While most of their bloodlines are of poor grade, a group of worthy 'sprouts' has stood out—roughly 200 individuals."
"The elite of these 200, the seven with the highest potential, have been separately placed in specialized cultivation pods. They can be thawed once the timing is ripe."
Monica delivered the experimental progress report with perfect mechanical precision.
"Is that so... Good."
The smooth glass surface reflected Tanosi's breathtakingly beautiful face. Her flat, emotionless tone betrayed her inner indifference. She only cared about results; the process was of no concern to her.
Tanosi placed her palm against the glass. The pod instantly illuminated, bringing the contents into sharp focus. It was a massive cylindrical container where a naked human female lay submerged in deep sleep. Pale green liquid pulsed through the overhead tubes, flowing slowly and stirring up clusters of tiny bubbles.
"It's almost time to begin..."
Tanosi pulled her gaze away from the pod. She walked down the stairs toward the exit, leaving the three-story pyramidal structure behind. Around her, countless green crystals rose from the ground like a forest, stretching toward a horizon that seemed to have no end.
***
Noon.
Near the hotel, at the gates of a newly constructed castle, the members of the Magic Wolf Clan began to assemble. This was a private structure Tanosi had released from the Water God's Seal—a temple exclusive to her. It was to serve as the first official facility of the **Republic of Tanosi Pastures**, now open to all citizens.
Today, the temple would host a grand festival to celebrate the founding of this nascent nation and the successful hunt of a powerful magic beast by the Goddess's fiancé, Tang Ping. Every subordinate currently under Tanosi's banner on Earth gathered here to witness this solemn event.
As the Magic Wolves stepped through the gates, they were startled by a gargantuan statue in the courtyard.
"It's huge...!" Black looked up at the statue and couldn't help but gasp.
It was a giant "Nendoroid-style" figure, approximately three stories tall, modeled after Tanosi. She was depicted with a beaming smile, standing on one leg with the other hooked slightly behind her, her right hand raised high in a cheerful wave.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, utilizing clay, plastic, and silicone. The surface had a clean, matte texture. Special silicone had been used for the face, limbs, and tentacles to mimic the warmth of skin; one could practically sense its unique softness through the air. Overall, it was an incredibly approachable statue that children would likely adore.
"The Lord Consort mentioned that this is a style of statue called a 'Nendoroid.' Apparently, it is very popular with humans in this world," Brode explained.
"Is it? I think the original version looks better. This isn't scary at all," Bre克斯 remarked, hands on his hips, looking perplexed.
On the first day of construction, he had happened to pass by and seen the initial blueprints. In Monica's original design, this spot was meant for a Cthulhu-esque stone idol—Tanosi's true form—rather than a giant chibi toy. However, Tang Ping had vetoed it, fearing it would terrify children and cause the new citizens to harbor prejudice against the nation.
"That seems to be the point the Lord Consort wanted to make. He wants her to be 'approachable,'" Brode said with a wry smile. Honestly, he found the Lord Consort's ideas difficult to grasp as well.
Tanosi herself, however, hadn't minded. When she saw the preview image, she had even laughed and said, "It looks like a bloated whale~"
Seeing the crowd lingering to gawk, the Patriarch, Brenno, hurried them along. "Alright, let's go! Don't keep the Goddess waiting!"
With that, the Magic Wolves filed into the temple.
***
Tang Ping opened the door to a surreal sight.
He saw a silver-haired loli raising both hands toward a microwave, shouting in a high-pitched, childish voice: "**E~lec~tro~mag~ne~tic~ Waves!**"
Simultaneously, her body pulsed up and down rhythmically, her fluffy lace hemline fluttering like a swimming white jellyfish. Then, without being plugged in, the microwave eerily lit up, and the plate inside began to spin.
Ten seconds later, a crisp *ding!* rang out, and the door popped open automatically. A massive, bright-red lobster flew out on a porcelain plate, landing gently on the table in front of Tang Ping.
"Loyal servant, you're here!"
Upon seeing Tang Ping, Tanosi immediately flashed a radiant smile capable of melting the Antarctic ice. Ignoring the ongoing filming, she raised her right hand and hooked one leg behind her, striking the exact pose of the Nendoroid in the courtyard.
Tang Ping let out a snort of laughter. This "genki girl" persona, combined with her outfit, created a strangely jarring contrast.
For the upcoming festival, Tanosi had traded her usual dark robes for a minimalist white gown. The dress was crafted from pure white matte satin, with a court-style lace hem. Its cut was sharp and clean, devoid of excess decoration, relying solely on the delicate, soft luster of the fabric to exude a sense of extraordinary nobility.
Despite her small stature, her innate divine pressure combined with absolute confidence allowed her to wear the sophisticated gown with the aura of a reigning monarch—provided she didn't open her mouth. The mix of divine intimidation and a perky schoolgirl act was so absurd that Tang Ping couldn't be blamed for laughing.
"Good morning, Lord Tang Ping," Monica said from the side, lowering her phone and ending a recording.
Tang Ping wasn't surprised by what they were doing; it was part of his proposal. They were leveraging his valuable experience as an influencer manager to brand Tanosi as a "Gap-Moe Tentacle Beauty" and debut her as an internet celebrity. The short video they just filmed was for that purpose, aiming to recruit *otaku* citizens to join the country.
"Why are you small again?"
The Tanosi before him was not in her adult form, but in the shrunken loli state she had taken after remodeling the island. This left Tang Ping quite puzzled.
"I was drenched in your burning love, so I went through thermal expansion and contraction!" Tanosi cupped her cheeks, striking a bashful pose.
Tang Ping's mouth twitched.
He pulled her hands away and began kneading the Goddess's soft cheeks.
"Then shouldn't you be getting bigger? Why did you shrink instead?"
"All... All-in...!" Tanosi mumbled, her words slurring.
"All-in?"
"It's a side effect of 'Immortal Jellyfish' mode," Monica explained. "Lady Tanosi's divine power has been entirely consumed by the island's remodeling and the summoning rituals. You should have received the update—a massive wave of subordinates will be arriving soon. We must be prepared. If the ritual is interrupted or the spatial structure becomes unstable during summoning, they could all be lost in the void of the spatial tunnels."
"Is it that serious...? Are you okay? Does being in this state put a burden on you?" Tang Ping's eyes swept over Tanosi, though he didn't see any visible injuries.
"I'll just earn it all back later anyway, what's there to fear!" Tanosi put her hands on her hips, looking utterly confident.
"Lady Tanosi, it is almost time." Monica glanced at the clock, reminding them of the entrance.
"Mm! Loyal Servant, carry me!"
"As you command." Tang Ping bowed with his hand over his heart and scooped Tanosi up by the waist. He would deliver her to the throne in a bridal carry.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't the official protocol. According to the original plan, to showcase the sheer magnitude of Tanosi's divine power, she was supposed to manipulate a massive pillar of water to crash down upon the Golden Throne. Then, as the water dispersed, she would make a grand, awe-inspiring appearance. But the Goddess found that boring and scrapped it.
The heavy wooden doors creaked open, and the scent of candles and sandalwood wafted toward them. Tang Ping carried Tanosi into the hall where all the subordinates were gathered. He straightened his back and marched forward, step by step, toward the Golden Throne at the end of the red carpet.
Under the collective gaze of the assembly, Tang Ping reached the end of the carpet. For some reason, a woman was standing to the right of the stairs leading to the throne. She wore a black cloak, but through the gaps in the fabric, one could glimpse snow-white palace attire and deep-green high heels. Her face was hidden behind a pure white mask, devoid of any pattern. Her long hair was swept back into an elegant bun, giving her a sophisticated, mature aura.
Tang Ping was puzzled; he hadn't seen her before. Judging by her attire, she wasn't a member of the Magic Wolf Clan, and Monica hadn't mentioned creating any new robots. Who was she?
The woman was conversing with a female Magic Wolf behind her. Even though those around her had noticed Tanosi's approach and fallen silent, she continued talking as if she hadn't seen them at all.
"Speaking of which, Britney! Lately, I've found myself craving sour foods—plums and the like. Do you know why?"
"Uh..." Britney's expression was incredibly awkward. She didn't know if she should respond, let alone offer advice. If what the woman implied was true, any answer Britney gave could lead to severe consequences—perhaps even a death sentence. The evidence was right there: Tanosi was already shooting a piercing, razor-sharp gaze in their direction.
"But then I realized I was mistaken! I've always liked plums—especially when they're gifts from others. The sourer they are, the more I enjoy them."
"In fact, I wanted to tell that person: if you're so capable, why don't you send plums to my room every single day? One of these days, I might actually show you how I eat them!"
"....."
Tanosi's ears perked up. Having overheard the woman's monologue, she rolled her eyes on the spot. She understood the message perfectly. The woman was complaining about the fact that Tanosi, as a show of dominance, would toss a set of bedsheets—saturated with her and Tang Ping's scent—onto the woman's bed every two days. If Tanosi dared to continue such childish provocations, the woman would simply go all the way and "produce a child" herself.
*Hmph, in your dreams!*
Tanosi decided not to hold back. She immediately pressed her cherry-red lips against Tang Ping's mouth.
"!!!"
The hall erupted in a low clamor; no one had expected such a bold move. However, the explosive reaction Tanosi anticipated from the Dragon Princess didn't happen. Instead, Qinglan simply stood there quietly, her burning gaze tracing her lover's silhouette.
Except for the one man who remained oblivious to the underlying context, everyone present could tell that the iceberg had completely melted.
*He... looks like he's doing well.*
*His cheeks haven't hollowed out...*
*The dark circles under his eyes are gone...*
*Good. That's a relief.*
*Now, if only the "filth" he's holding could be thrown away, it would be perfect!*
Qinglan thought to herself as she watched her lover walk toward the throne, step by step.
***
"Today is a big day. Do not speak to any 'random bystanders' and ruin the flow of the ceremony!" Tanosi whispered.
"...Fine." Tang Ping rolled his eyes, choosing not to argue. He just wanted the event to end quickly; carrying Tanosi for this long was exhausting.
Sensing the fatigue in his eyes, Tanosi threatened, "If you dare say the words 'you're heavy,' I'll kill you!"
"How could I..." Tang Ping shifted his gaze guiltily. They were now very close to the Golden Throne.
"A lot has happened, hasn't it?"
"Mm." *Indeed, a lot of people died...*
"I'm so glad we made it this far!"
"Yeah." *As long as no one else has to die...*
"You'll stay by my side forever, right?"
"Of course." *Depending on the situation...*
"Do you like me?"
"I don't dislike you." That, at least, was the truth.
"Do you like me as much as you like pudding?"
"About the same."
"Then that means you love me the most!"
"Haha..." Tang Ping gave a bitter smile.
"Loyal Servant, I specially permit you to call me 'Pudding-chan' or 'Calp○s Jelly'!"
"Right. Pudding-chan is the best."
Though his words carried a hint of perfunctoriness, Tang Ping knew that the slight flutter in his heart had been detected by her. The way her pupils dilated slightly, the faint blush spreading across her cheeks, and the corners of her mouth curling upward were the best proof. She was happy, as if she had just eaten the most delicious cake.
As their bodies remained in contact, their heartbeats gradually synchronized, and then...
*Mwah!*
Tanosi kissed Tang Ping's lips again. This time, it wasn't a show of dominance, but a blessing.
Tang Ping did not feel particularly honored. On the contrary, he looked askance at the girl in his arms. "...What did you just eat? Did you even brush your teeth?"
*Mwah!*
Tang Ping was rewarded with another kiss. Fine! Some people just can't be reasoned with...
Finally, Tang Ping reached the end of the journey. He gently placed the lovely girl in his arms onto the throne of solid gold. He placed his right hand over his heart and took a deep breath. He glanced at the beautiful woman in the business suit standing to the left of the throne—Monica—then turned to the assembly below and shouted:
"Offer your loyalty to the great and supreme Goddess! Kneel!"
As one, the crowd below dropped to a single knee. Tang Ping began to recite the speech he had memorized, one he had personally written for Tanosi.
"On this sacred and solemn day, we gather here to witness a historic moment."
"More than two thousand years have passed since the end of the Age of Gods and the dawn of the Common Era. Humans became the overlords of Earth; they have hollowed out the surface, polluted the environment, and slaughtered their own kind. The entire world faces an unprecedented crisis."
"But we need not fear! For the morning sun grants us warmth, the moonlight teaches us tenderness, the stars witness our brilliance, and the power of the Evil God forges the confidence within our hearts."
"We are a noble race; within our pure blood lies conviction and truth. We are born victors!"
"We go where we wish to go. We do what we wish to do."
"No one can restrict our movements, and no one is qualified to tell us what to do—not even the Will of the World itself."
"Under the radiance of the emerald light, wherever the tides sweep, the banner of Cthulhu shall fly free."
"We are the children of the Great Evil God, Tanosi. Born from the void, fashioned from clay, molded by water, we opened our eyes under the kiss of the Great Goddess."
"We, insignificant as we are, shall offer our loyalty, our lives, and our very all for our noble and great Creator."
"Indeed! For Lady Tanosi, we shall surrender everything we own!"
"Lady Tanosi's smile is the goal of us servants!"
"Lady Tanosi's dream is the long-cherished wish of us servants!"
"Lady Tanosi's presence is the homeland of us servants!"
"Today, on this sacred occasion, I—Tang Ping, Acting Pope of the Church of Tanosi and Supreme Executive of the Divine Kingdom of Tanosi—solemnly announce to all apostles and to the entire world... the founding of the **Sacred Republic of Tanosi Pastures**!"
As he finished, Tang Ping produced a flag emblazoned with the crest of Cthulhu and raised it high. Caught in a powerful gust of wind, the smooth fabric billowed, breathing life into the inanimate banner.
This was a new beginning, the dawn of a magnificent era. The age of the gods had returned.
"Long live the Republic of Tanosi Pastures!"
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!"
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!"
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!"
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!"
"LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!"
Amidst the fanatical roars of the believers, a wicked nation dedicated to the faith of an Evil God was officially born. This was the first divine kingdom since the end of the Age of Gods and the rise of humanity—and the first established by outsiders without the recognition of the World's Will.
No one yet knew what great deeds (or terrible atrocities) this nation would accomplish in the near future, or how it would reshape the global political landscape. The only certainty was that the course of the world had veered off its original track, charging toward a brand-new destination.