Chapter 107: Control Rights! [Seeking Recommendation Votes]
2016-08-28
Author: Floating Tower
Soren was very angry.
But he also had his own concerns. After glancing over at Alice beside him, he coldly nodded and said to Nightingale in front of him, “I understand.”
“Let the Eastern Empress come personally to discuss with me.”
Upon hearing Soren’s words, there was much that Nightingale wanted to say, but it got stuck in her stomach. She hadn’t even had the chance to mention the favorable conditions, which she thought were quite generous in her view. At that moment, Alice gently tugged at her sleeve and shook her head, and it was only then that Nightingale realized that the whole matter wasn’t just about whether the conditions were generous or not, but involved some more serious issues. Some things that were unclear to her, but Alice already understood. When Soren spoke, Alice could hear the unquestionable tone in his voice.
“Alright then.”
Nightingale respectfully bowed to Soren and said, “I will relay the message to Your Majesty immediately.”
After saying that, Alice took Nightingale away. Before exiting the room, Alice turned to look at Soren and slightly bowed her head in gratitude. As a smart person, she understood that Soren’s attitude today was entirely due to her presence. She couldn’t refuse Nightingale, as the Eastern Empress had raised her. Many dance maidens were orphans trained by the Eastern Empress from a young age, and Alice was one of them. Soren’s actions this time were equivalent to helping her repay a favor, and next, she had to make a decision: whether to truly belong to Modo or to still have her heart directed towards the Eastern Empress.
Arcane Tower, Astrological Observatory.
Gloria looked at the intelligence report before her and then raised her head to gaze at Soren, softly saying, “Your decision is very correct.”
“Modo currently lacks the resources to control the Eastern Kingdom. The Spearwind Hills and Southern Coast have already tied down half of our military forces. Even if we seize the Eastern Coast, we would have no energy left to control it.”
Gloria spoke of control, not occupation of the Eastern Coast.
With Modo’s strength, deploying troops to the Eastern Coast posed no difficulty at all; however, occupying it did not equate to ruling it. The energy and manpower required to control the Eastern Coast were unimaginable, not to mention the differences in civilization and the influence of local nobles. To completely control the Eastern Coast, Modo would need to send a presence at the level of a Fallen Witch to oversee the Eastern Kingdom personally, which was currently impossible. This was also Soren’s biggest concern; Modo’s energy shouldn’t be restrained by the Eastern Kingdom, and he had no extra resources to control territory a thousand miles away.
Hearing Gloria’s words, Soren fell silent.
What he was considering was the Eastern Empress because she was a very powerful and ambitious mortal.
The Eastern Empress resembled another princess, but was even more dangerous. This danger wasn’t due to her strength, but her vast ambition. If Soren remembered correctly, she wanted to become the queen of the Eastern Kingdom, much like Queen Isabella. (Note: Queen Isabella claimed to be a descendant of the Silver Empire and once ruled two-thirds of the southern lands.)
This matter could be significant or trivial, depending on how Soren classified it.
If the situation was defined as a provocation against Soren, then it would be a serious matter, threatening Modo’s status and rule, and causing many enemies to stir restlessly. However, if it was regarded as another person wanting to replace someone to become Modo’s partner, then the implications of the matter would be much smaller and wouldn’t lead to a shift in Soren’s faction. This was why Soren required the Eastern Empress to come personally to discuss with him; it was a crucial matter of attitude. Otherwise, he would have to reconsider his stance on the Eastern Coast. Although the eliminated group was not under Soren’s command, they had indeed signed a covenant with him.
Gloria gently swept her long hair back and walked to Soren’s side, grasping his hand and slowly saying, “For us, an Alice is more important than an Eastern Sea Route.”
“The Golem Puppet’s [Cooperative Combat] ability is under research.”
“The value of Alice far exceeds that of the Eastern Sea Route; this could be an opportunity to have her fully join us.”
As the lady of Modo, Gloria had many matters to consider, and now she had grasped the most important point: Alice’s position in this matter.
Soren was momentarily taken aback; although he had the face of Alice in handling this issue, he hadn’t regarded her as that significant.
“She is important.”
Gloria met Soren’s gaze and explained, “She has mastered much important knowledge of Modo. If this knowledge were to be given to others, it would certainly create a threat to Modo. Although you brought her back, she does not yet truly belong to Modo.”
“We must use this opportunity to make her declare her position and keep her in Modo.”
Golem Factory.
This had always been Alice’s responsibility; her research also included aspects concerning the creation of Golem Puppets. Soren was unclear about the value, but Gloria understood one thing well: Alice already had the capability to independently establish a Golem Factory.
Just this alone meant she could not leave Modo.
“Alright.”
Soren nodded and said, “I will handle this matter well.”
Gloria smiled and shook her head, softly saying, “What you need to handle is the Eastern Empress. Leave Alice’s side to me.”
“I will personally talk to her.”
As a True God and the ruler of Modo, Soren was actually not suited to personally discuss matters with Alice, as this would pressure her to declare and leave no room for maneuvering. However, if Gloria were to talk to her, the situation would ease considerably. As the lady of Modo, Gloria understood this, so it was evidently a more reasonable choice for her, as a woman, to talk to Alice.
Soren quickly realized this.
After contemplating for a moment, he said, “Alright. You can talk to Alice. I will handle other matters concerning the Eastern Kingdom.”
Due to the outbreak of the Saint’s Cataclysm, trade in the Eastern Kingdom had shrunk by about a third. Although this money was not a lot, Soren was more concerned about the influence over the Eastern Kingdom and Modo’s ability to control the seas. If the Eastern Coast broke away from Modo’s control, then the nature of the situation would become significantly more severe.
Soren didn’t care about the money.
Soren didn’t care who did business with him.
What he cared about was Modo’s absolute control over the marine domain and Modo’s absolute hegemony over the seas.
Modo was an isolated island overseas.
If the control of the ocean were challenged, the consequences would become quite serious!
………………
(PS: First update. Grandmother was discharged from the hospital these past couple of days. Floating Tower has also come down with a cold recently.) (To be continued ~^~)
