Chapter 573 - 544: Star Expedition Army
Chapter 573: Chapter 544: Star Expedition Army
The new round of discussions lasted for over half a month. After repeated negotiations, the first draft of the framework was finally drawn up.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether they chose the new model for the nobility or agreed to allow multiple children to share inheritance rights under the old system. They were all just seeking the greatest possible benefit for themselves within the rules Ronin had established.
In early October, less than a month after the founding of the Star Kingdom, plans were already being made for the establishment of the Empire.
It was finally agreed that once the very last of the Tricia Kingdom’s territory was conquered by Ronin, all nobles and officials would gather at Mist Castle to hold the imperial founding ceremony.
As the future Imperial Capital, plans were already underway to build a new palace in Mist City, following discussions between the Ministry of Works and other departments.
Everything was proceeding just as Ronin had envisioned.
After becoming King, Ronin grew much busier. This was his own country now, and there were many things that he needed to redesign personally.
While the pace of reform could not be too drastic, it still needed to be planned.
Over the past two-plus years, new initiatives had been taking shape: various books drafted by the Ministry of Rites would be made available for sale, a system of using examinations to select talent would be gradually implemented, and there were new developments in military job planning, promotion rules, and more.
Sometimes, he got so busy that he would go entire nights without rest. Fortunately, at his current level of Power, sleep was merely a habit. Going without it didn’t seem to matter much.
On a personal level, after becoming King, he had first completed the "Famous Throughout the World" achievement, gaining fifty thousand Attribute Points. Second, the multiplier for his check-in rewards had increased to six times the original amount. To be specific, the monthly Attribute Points and Energy Essence he obtained from checking in had risen to 834 and 690, respectively.
On October 1st, Ronin spent all his accumulated Attribute Points and Energy Essence.
He didn’t have a breakthrough himself; after all, the one hundred twenty thousand Attribute Points needed to advance his Mage progression was far too many.
However, the more than one hundred thirty thousand Energy Essence not only raised Macken’s and Elron’s power to the Ninth Level Peak and allowed Ridder to break through and become a Sage, but he also had 8,699 points left over in the end.
Once Ronin became the Great Emperor and Wubei Territory became a metropolis—granting him two hundred thousand Energy Essence—he would be able to help Macken and Elron achieve their breakthroughs.
At that point, he would command a Sage, two Legendary experts, and a Legendary Giant Dragon.
As for himself, he would merge his Fire of the Soul with his physical body, forging an immortal form and stepping into the Realm of the Great Sage.
It wouldn’t be long now.
From Ronin’s perspective, he would not fear Phoenix even if the demon leader appeared in person.
It was a pity, however, that Phoenix would not risk upsetting the balance of power between the Human and Demon Races on the Crescent Continent by crossing the Sea of Storms to come here.
After learning of the Sage’s existence on the Star Continent through his avatar, Phoenix contacted the other two lords, Salonas and Theress. Then, after seeking instructions from the soon-to-be-revived King of Nightmares, he began his assault on the Human Race.
The era of minor skirmishes that had defined past years could no longer be maintained.
They prepared to launch a massive, violent campaign against the Human Race Alliance entrenched in the Dawn Forest and the Desolate Land before the new Sage’s forces could arrive on the Crescent Continent.
Meanwhile, Ronin continued to transform his nation while actively pushing for industrialization. Ironclad warships, agricultural fertilizers, potions, mechanized looms, internal combustion engines, new building materials, and more were all on the blueprint for his five- and ten-year plans.
「In November, Imperial Calendar 975.」 The Tricia Kingdom officially fell. Every inch of its territory was occupied by Ronin’s army. Every noble who had been loyal to Tricia was either reduced to the status of a commoner or assigned by Ronin to groups of Civil Servants or Legion soldiers to atone for their past allegiances through meritorious service.
「In May, Imperial Calendar 976.」 Ronin, King of the Star Kingdom, stood before Duke Ibn, Duke Valgis, Duke Lurans, Duke Ridder, and countless other nobles, Civil Servants, and Knights. In their presence, he became the common lord of all, the Protector of the entire Star Continent, and the first Great Emperor of the Star Empire!
Ronin sat upon the high throne, looking down at the crowd of figures filling the vast hall below. For a moment, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.
’When I first transmigrated here, I was merely the eldest son of a family, stripped of my inheritance rights, just the Little Baron of Mountain Forest Town in the far north of the Wushan Territory.’
’Back then, I was worrying about Gold Coins and hostile neighbors, constantly on guard, as if treading on thin ice.’
’Following the strategy of stockpiling resources and biding my time to claim the throne, I grew stronger step by step. I never imagined that in just nine years, I would be sitting on this throne as the lord of the continent.’
Now, as the first Great Emperor of the Star Empire, Ronin had little desire for more power in itself. What he wanted more was to change this world into one of his own making.
For some people, the true pleasure lies in design and implementation.
Of course, he also knew that while no one on the Star Continent could threaten his rule, the powerful enemies on the Crescent Continent would remain a persistent threat as long as they existed.
Therefore, in the years to come, in addition to developing the Empire, he tasked Simon with actively deploying the construction of warships.
He had Ridder, Macken, and the others maintain high-intensity training to cultivate more Transcendents.
He had Elron, Sophia, and others accelerate the production and diversify the types of Magic Potions.
Beyond that, he also needed to impart his ideas and ways of thinking to his growing son, Roland, as well as his grandfather Lurans, his wife Blanche, and others.
This was to ensure the Empire’s operations would not be hindered after his departure.
「April, Imperial Calendar 990 — Wubei Port.」
Although Mist Castle was the Imperial Capital, Wubei City had always held a position at the forefront of all the Empire’s cities.
As Wubei City’s vital connection to the outside world, Wubei Port had undergone several rounds of expansion over the past decade and a half. It had long since become the Star Empire’s unparalleled mega-port.
On any given day, Wubei Port’s docks would be lined with enormous steamships. The smoke billowing from their smokestacks mingled with the bustling scenes of loading and unloading—a testament to the smooth progress of Ronin’s industrialization.
Today, however, all the cargo ships were anchored on the sea far from the harbor. Moored at the docks was an imperial fleet composed of dozens of ironclad warships.
This was the force Ronin had spent years assembling for his journey to the Crescent Continent, and he had named it the "Star Expedition Army."
Below the hundred-meter-long flagship, throngs of people had gathered to see them off.
"It’s all right, Blanche. With my current power, crossing the ocean is a simple matter. And at my speed, I can return at any time, as long as conditions allow."
Ronin embraced Blanche, gently patting her shoulder.
Though now forty years old, Ronin’s appearance had hardly changed. Facing his loving family, he showed none of his usual imperial aura and instead looked quite gentle.
Blanche nodded slightly, her eyes rimmed with red as she tried her best not to let her tears fall.
By now, with her own talent and the help of the Necromancy Book, she had already entered the realm of a Magic Master.
Beside the two of them stood Ronin’s eldest son, Roland, his eldest daughter, Rosa, and his second son, Roger, who was only ten years old.
Ronin patted the shoulder of Roland, who was now nearly as tall as he was. "After I’m gone, you must help your mother guide your younger sister and brother. And also, learn as much as you can about statecraft from your great-grandfather."
Roland was a humble young man, and under the tutelage of Ronin and his various teachers, he had grown into a suitable heir.
However, Ronin had not abdicated. By leaving, he was simply giving Roland time to gain practical experience.
"Don’t worry, Father. I will do my best!"
Ronin said his goodbyes to Rosa, Roger, Lurans, and the others, then led his contingent aboard the warship.
Soon, waving his hand, he departed from the harbor under a sea of watchful eyes.
The force Ronin assembled for this expedition was formidable.
In terms of top-tier power, besides himself as a Great Sage, both Ridder and Elron were Sages, Macken had reached the Middle Stage of Legend, and there was also the miniature Legendary Dragon, Carlos.
Below the Sages and Legendary experts were Proud Sun Knights such as Duke Ibn, Count Nissen from the Gistana Duchy, and Gushan Marquis, as well as Silver Moon Knight Patridge and others.
On the Mage front, in addition to Elron, there were the Great Mages Bellora and Sophia, the Great Mage Erin, and a Mage Squad composed of over thirty Mages of the Advanced Level and above.
Not counting regular troops and logistics personnel, there were a full eight hundred Transcendents, all of whom were well-trained elites.
Of course, despite drawing away so many elites, Ronin had still ensured the Empire’s security.
First, both Lurans and Simon, who remained behind, had reached the Proud Sun Level.
Second, four of his trusted subordinates—Karada, Melonika, Broel, and Harmon—had all become Silver Moon Knights.
Furthermore, the Empire Legion was left in the hands of Joffrey and others who had followed Ronin from the very beginning, so there were no issues of trust.
Moreover, Blanche herself was a Magic Master who wielded the Necromancy Book. Her personal combat power was comparable to that of a Proud Sun expert.
"Ronin, thank you for your aid!"
Sophia said gratefully from the bow of the ship. Her heart, along with those of Anilu and Petro, was stirred with powerful emotions.
Their five-person team had been on the Star Continent for nearly twenty years, and the time to return had finally come.
Most importantly, they were bringing back such powerful reinforcements—their greatest possible contribution to the Human Race on the Crescent Continent.
Ronin set aside the faint melancholy of leaving home and smiled. "Resisting the evil Demon Race is our shared responsibility. You don’t need to thank me."
He turned to face the direction of the Crescent Continent and said in a low voice, "I hope that in this war between the Human and Demon Races, humanity can achieve a decisive victory!"