[A special thank you to reader Zeko323 gifting this novel with a Golden Gachapon worth 15000 Coins.]
"Nathan, can you please call Spencer for me? I think my prime minister needs to hear this. His opinion will help us out." Spencer is a very talented young man. As the Prime Minister of the Istarin Empire, he deserves to know this and give his opinion on this whole matter.
Nathan nodded his head. The next second he disappeared like the wind.
Aditya remained sitting in his private study room. He was deeply thinking about the entire situation. 'The more the Istarin empire expands, the more enemies that Istarin Empire will have in the future. It has become a very common thing for the Istarin Empire to be at war every few months.' These last few people, Aditya has been increasing the number of Dragonians.
Now every city, every town, and every village, in the Istarin Empire was protected by the Dragonians. The Dragonians were spread throughout every single settlement within Empire. The cities were protected by Peak 3rd-order or Mid-3rd-order Dragonians. The towns were protected by Peak 2nd-order or beginner 3rd-order Dragonians. While the villages were guarded by new Dragonians who have just reached second order.
The number of Dragonians currently in the Istarin empire is over 11,000. Among the 11,000, less than one thousand of them had managed to reach Peak 3rd-order. The majority of the Dragonians were second-order cultivators. One thing to note, Leo was the strongest and most talented Dragonians. While Watson was Aditya's very first Dragonian.
In the eyes of the outside world, the Istarin Empire has been recruiting a large number of soldiers. Even the soldiers that once worked for the Southern Fire Dragon Empire now proudly worked for the Istarin Empire. The previous generals of the Southern Fire Dragon Empire who had helped the Istarin empire now had become nobles. Aditya has given them a small piece of land, and the right to govern their territory.
The current structure of the empire was very stable. The chances of a civil war breaking out even if tomorrow Aditya suddenly disappears is next to zero. The Istarin Empire has become the home of the Dragons. Any being possessing even a single drop of a dragon bloodline is welcomed at the Istarin empire. It is very normal for the citizens to see Dragons now and then.
'Previously the Storm Empire and the Ageless Islands empire had allied with the Southern Fire Dragon empire. While the Mist Ocean and the Cloud earth Empire allied with the Northern Frost Dragon empire. I didn't expect these four Empires to join hands along with the other three Oceanic empires. What could possibly make these 7 Empires put their differences behind them and join hands?' The answer was very simple. It was not land that they wanted. It was Mana stones. The Southern region is filled with mana stone mines.
'Previously all seven Ocean Empires relied on both dragon Empires for their supply of Mana stones. But now they want to take advantage of the chaotic situation in Northern Frost Empire to invade the Southern region.' Aditya can understand their motive and their interest.
'The problem is, the combined power of the seven Empires is too great even for the Istarin empire.' Aditya wasn't even sure if he can take on all the fifth-order cultivators from all seven Empires.
'No matter how powerful I become after using my stats-boosting skills, at the end of the day, I am still a Mid-3rd-order cultivator. When surrounded by 10 or 15 fifth-order cultivators, even I will fall short. Not to mention the powerful siege weapons that they have.'
'In this war, the southern region land will be heavily damaged. In the end, regardless of which side wins, the land will be heavily damaged and millions of people will be left to starve or will become homeless.' Although Aditya took over the Southern Fire Dragon Empire, he has done everything in his power to keep the civilians out of their conflict. He had strictly ordered no one to harm any civilians. Those who break this order will be heavily punished.
'Now I am left with two options.'
Knock!
"No, need to knock. Come inside. We will need to talk." Opening the door, Spencer and Nathan walked in. Aditya signaled both of them to sit on the couch opposite him.
"Nathan, did you explain the situation to Spencer?" Nathan nodded his head.
"Spencer, what do you think of this entire situation?" Aditya asked.
"Your Majesty, I would say that in this situation, we prevent the seven Empires from even coming to the Southern region. The combined power of the seven Empires is something that I cannot even begin to imagine. If such a big military force starts a war on the Southern region, the entire region will be in chaos. Millions will flee to the Istarin Empire's territory. Millions will die, millions will become homeless, and millions will become suffer. In the end, the southern region will become a barren land of chaos."
"I agree with you. I would suggest that before the seven Empires could come to the Southern region, we create a blockage for them."
"Blockage?" Nathan and Spencer exchanged a look of surprise.
"Let me explain. The Seekers of Impurity guild is spread throughout the seven Empires. We can easily infiltrate the Western region and start a fight among themselves." Aditya wanted to divert the seven Empire's attention and create a crack in their alliance. This will buy the Southern region more time and also will hopefully keep the seven Empires busy for the next few years or maybe for the next few decades. If everything went right, then maybe the alliance between them will also break.
For the next few hours, Aditya, Spencer, and Nathan were inside Aditya's private study room. The three of them talked about various things. 4 hours later, Spencer and Nathan left Aditya's private study room.
Aditya went to have dinner with others. At the dining table, Aditya and others were surprised by the change in Leo. For the first time, everyone had seen him smile openly. The cold look on his face had disappeared. He now looked like a different man. The dark Aura that surrounded him was replaced with a bright cheerful Aura.
The happiest one about this change was Leo's little sister Clara. Julia also looked very happy as for months she has been trying to bring changes within Leo. There are a few reasons why Julia cares so much about Leo. One of those reasons is that, when she and Aditya met Leo and his little sister, she has been wanting to help them out in her own way.
The second reason, staying in the same castle or palace for so many months, has bought Julia closer to Clara and Leo. Leo was just like her little brother. Julia had started to see Clara and Leo as her siblings. Imagining her little brother becoming this kind of man hurt her. And the third reason is something to do with Aditya. She knew that Aditya has recognized Leo as his little brother though it hasn't been made official yet. As Aditya's future wife, she must do everything in her power to treat her husband's brother with kindness.
"From next week onwards, Leo is going to start attending school. Leo you're not allowed to object to my decision." Clara looked very happy with the news. But on the other hand, Leo looked grumbled in a low sound.
"Fine." Aditya can understand that Leo did not enjoy being around kids around his age. Pressure has forced him to become a mature man at a very early age. While this maturity had its advantages, in some cases, especially when interacting with kids around his age, Leo found it very boring.
Almost all the noble's kids of his age would be focused on enjoying their lives. Those kids didn't have to carry the burden that he carried on his shoulders.
"This is for your own good. Socializing is a form of very important training. If you don't socialize, you won't develop communication skills. Without communication skills, you can't become a great person. Who knows, by attending school, you might even find the love of your life?" Aditya added the last part in a joking manner.
He never expected Leo to actually blush. Seeing this everyone except for Clara looked very surprised.
"Oh, my, my. It seems our Leo has already found someone. Leo, if you ever need any help, don't hesitate to come to big sister. Big sister will always help you out." Riya, Alicia, Julia, Watson, Nathan, Spencer, Amber, Scott, Josh, Eleanor, Tyler, Henry, and Aditya, all smiled looking at Leo.
"I haven't found anyone." Leo raised his voice and denied it. But he didn't dare to look at anyone's faces. Instead, his face turned even red. Even his ears had turned red.
"Brother, don't lie. A few weeks ago, I saw you slightly smiling while looking at the daughter of Sir Marvin Sarlus." Aditya raised an eyebrow upon hearing Clara's words. He then looked at Leo. Only to see steams coming out of his head. His head was red as a tomato. He looked like he would die in embarrassment.
"Daughter of Duke Sarlus?" Aditya closed his eyes. He had not met the daughter or anyone from Duke Sarlus's family. Duke Sarlus is always so serious that is hard to socialize with him.
Nowadays, all the children of the nobles attend the school that Aditya has built-in Azure city. Plenty of foreign royals, dynasties, and empires sent their children to study here. It wasn't a surprise that Leo has seen Duke Sarlus's daughter who was one class above Leo's sister.
"If I remember correctly, Sir Sarlus's daughter is very beautiful. She is nothing like her father who is always serious. She is said to be gentle as spring yet she can become merciless when she is angered." Aditya even remembered someone telling him that, unlike Duke Sarlus who had a face of a lion, his daughter's face looked completely like a human's.
'Duke Sarlus is a very close ally to the Istarin Empire. Even back when the Istarin Empire had nothing, that man stayed loyal to the Kingdom and the throne. If there was a position above the rank of Duke, I would have offered that position to that man. I think marrying Leo to his daughter would be an excellent choice. But first I will have to talk to him about this and get his opinion before I make any decision.' Duke Sarlus would rather die than disobey Aditya's order. His loyalty was something that can never be questioned.
Duke Sarlus and Duke Zayne, are the only two nobles whom Aditya trusted to the point that he didn't bind them with a soul-binding contract. Aditya knew that both Dukes would rather die than leak information to the enemy.
"If I remember correctly, Sir Sarlus once told me that many nobles had begun asking for his daughter's hand in marriage. But he refused." Aditya looked at Leo who was also looking at him. "Sir Sarlus wants his son-in-law to be someone who is brave, courageous, strong, and rightful. If someone manages to fulfill all these conditions then there is a chance that person will get the opportunity of marrying the daughter of Duke Sarlus."
Just as Aditya said those words, he and others saw Leo's dark blue pupil burning in flames of determination. 'At least, he has found things that can help him move forward in life.' Aditya smiled looking at Leo's determined face.
Really Thank you very much to all those who sends support with valuable golden tickets. I hope we can keep it up!!!
[A special thank you to reader Zeko323 gifting this novel with a Golden Gachapon worth 15000 Coins.]
