Chapter 154: The Storm Emperor? Players from Laughing Coffin Stirring Up Trouble?
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Leaving the royal palace, Seito quickly made his way to the military parade grounds. Inside the Snezhnaya training camp, the soldiers stood as straight as spears. Their hearts swelled with excitement as they watched Seito approach.
Seito didn't waste breath. He walked directly onto the commanding platform. The officials who had followed him out quickly lined up before the troops, looking up at him with reverence.
"Soldiers!"
"I won't bore you with idle talk!"
"For this campaign, I have but one demand!"
"Topple the Empire! Snezhnaya is eternal!"
Seito unsheathed his Dragon Blade and pointed it toward the heavens.
"Topple the Empire! Snezhnaya is eternal!"
"Topple the Empire! Snezhnaya is eternal!"
The soldiers' roars shook the very air. Seito swept his gaze over them. "Aside from the internal civil staff, all units—march!"
Tramp, tramp, tramp!
Seito led the way, mounting a pure white Pegasus. This winged steed had been captured by Baifeng earlier that day and was now Seito's exclusive mount. Of the ten Harbingers, six followed him: Sora, Shiro, Maple, Sally, Kirukiru Amou, and Kanade Tachibana.
While Amou rode a horse like Seito, the other Harbingers took to the skies, flying above the army. The soldiers moved in perfect unison behind their monarch.
As the grand army marched through the city streets, countless civilians broke into wild cheers.
"Return in victory, O King!"
"The Snezhnaya Empire hangs high in the starry night, never to fall!"
"The Empire is invincible!"
The solo players watching the departure began flooding the World Channel with messages. Seeing so many players eager to join the Snezhnaya faction, Seito casually issued a world-scale quest.
[Quest: The Storm Subjugation]
[Description]: The Snezhnaya Emperor "Sei" intends to conquer the Endless Continent! The Storm Empire is his first target! Tonight, war breaks out! This is a war between nations; only one can survive!
[Requirement]: Overthrow the Storm Empire! (Note: Teaming up with NPCs is permitted).
[Participants]: Unlimited.
[Reward]: Massive Experience Points!
"Hahaha! Finally, it's here!"
"An Empire-grade quest! Our War Merit points are going to hit the roof!"
"Exactly! The exchange shop has so much good stuff."
"Too bad there aren't many materials, mostly just gear and items."
"Give me a break. Aside from the Fatui guild, how many players actually have Orange gear yet? Don't be greedy!"
The player base was ecstatic. Large-scale quests provided incredible War Merit, not to mention the experience. If things went smoothly tonight, the entire active player base could potentially push past Level 45!
On the other side: The Storm Empire, Royal Palace.
The palace was magnificent and grand—a place usually reserved for the highest echelons of power. But now, the Storm Emperor and his noble ministers sat in a heavy, suffocating silence.
The Storm Empire was in chaos. Rebel armies were rising everywhere, and even certain high-ranking nobles had turned traitor—including two powerful Dukes.
Fortunately, the Empire had centuries of foundation. Under the combined efforts of the Emperor and his ministers, they had mobilized five million troops, barely managing to hold back the rebels. However, the skyrocketing inflation was a crisis they couldn't solve; no matter what measures they took, prices continued to climb. They had been forced to set that issue aside for now.
Just moments ago, a player had entered the palace with news that felt like the sky was falling: the newly established Snezhnaya Empire was marching on them!
"Gentlemen... does the Crown still have any reserves?" The Storm Emperor massaged his brow, exhausted after two days of crisis management. Before one fire was out, Snezhnaya was coming to burn the whole house down. This was a death sentence.
"Your Majesty, we have no spare troops," a general reported grimly.
The answer was expected, but hearing it confirmed felt like a physical blow.
"How much gold is left in the treasury? Can we raise another levy?"
"Your Majesty, the treasury is empty. The front-line soldiers need supplies we can barely provide!" a minister reported.
The Emperor's head throbbed. How was he supposed to deal with Snezhnaya? He had heard today that powerful races like the Merfolk and Elves had already migrated there. If this continued, even he felt like surrendering!
"Is there truly no way...?" he asked bitterly.
"Great Storm Emperor, I have a proposal."
A player suddenly spoke up. If Seito were here, he would have recognized this person as a member of the Western branch of the Laughing Coffin guild.
"Oh? Speak," the Emperor said, desperate for any lifeline.
"Your Majesty, we can immediately evacuate the capital and recall the front-line soldiers. Once the rebels and rogue nobles realize the Emperor has 'fled,' they will rush to occupy this palace. Snezhnaya will do the same. When they clash over the throne, we can strike from the shadows and annihilate both factions in one fell swoop!"
The Laughing Coffin member laid out the cold-blooded plan. The Emperor stroked his chin, silent. The ministers began to whisper. It was a humiliating strategy—fleeing one's own capital—but if it worked, it would be an unprecedented victory.
History wouldn't remember him as a coward who ran; it would record him as a brilliant strategist who lured his enemies to their doom.
The Emperor's face finally brightened.
"Excellent! We shall do exactly as you say!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the Laughing Coffin member smiled—a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Meanwhile, with Seito.
Realizing that marching would take too much time, Seito summoned his Dimensional Rubik's Cube. He deconstructed it into its twenty-seven blocks, using his spatial powers to manifest a massive Mass Transportation Array, accelerating his army toward the Storm Empire at a terrifying speed.
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Thank you for reading.