Badge in Azure

“Daniel was feeling very smug, but Saleen felt that something was amiss. There are more than three-hundred castles here. Excluding the thirty plus castles that I have to control, at least two-hundred nobles have come forth to seek shelter. Each of these nobles own their private armies and their titles are high, some of them might even be mages. Will I be able to suppress them? This isn’t a problem which could be resolved using force. The power of these nobles aren’t fearful enough, I can execute them anytime I want. But the moment such things happen, no one will flock to this city anymore. Metatrin City will surely become an isolated city. If this issue develops in this manner, then I can only tap on Lex’s status to resolve matters already! Lex has ten-thousand men here while I have more than twenty-thousand troops, I am afraid this number isn’t even sufficient to make up an emblem group of her vanguards.”

Saleen became inert out the blue. Daniel did not know whether he had said anything wrong, so he also shut his mouth.

Nailisi’s thoughts were almost telepathic with Saleen’s one. She nudged Saleen from behind, then whispered, “Your teacher will arrive in at most two years, you don’t have to be worried about this.”

Suddenly, Saleen gained epiphany, “I only have to hold out for two years, Lex will not really try to vie anything with me, and she is chasing after the Six Elements’ Space in the hell of the God’s Punishment. Without support from the Sregl Island mages, she won’t even dare open the planar teleportation portal. In two years’ time, even if these nobles tried to conspire, all of their efforts will also be fluff once I build all thirty-six magical towers.”

When Daniel heard Nailisi’s words, he realized Saleen’s concern. Smiling oddly, he said, “Sir, the castles of those nobles were designed by us. You can enter anyone’s castle anytime, no one can stop you.”

Saleen swept his glance to the mages surrounding him, then he noticed that the mages from Sregl Island were holding back their laughter. At this moment, Saleen realized that his worries were unfounded. “If the nobles want to fight, let them be, but they will never be able to oppose me in the area of military affairs. With so many people seeking refuge here, the population of my city has increased swiftly, the commercial activities are thriving and there are many slaves around. In two years, no one will be sure of the number of lands I will own. I still have to make a trip to the Holy Rock City. Since I have made a promise to Joey, I have to fulfill it. No one can control that kind of person. The moment he becomes furious, even Teacher will not be able to protect me, unless I flee to the Sregl Island and never appear again.”

After Saleen asked Daniel about all the happenings which took place in his absence, Saleen calmed down gradually. The situation was better than what Saleen had thought. The population of the city would be increased several times very soon, while a number of farms had been developed on the northern and western sides of Metatrin City. The defensive power of these farms might not be as high as a castle, but it was adequate for housing the farmers.

Daniel had built a charcoal field north of the city, as there was a coalmine three-hundred miles north. That way, the farmers could live through winter without any problems. There were people moving over from Phoenix, and they were the true assets to Saleen.

“I have no problems advancing to a sorcerer. Once I enter the Six Elements’ Space, I can become a grade-9 sorcerer in no time. By then, my life will be around twelve-hundred years long. I will be able to accomplish many things in twelve-hundred years.”

“Viscountess Lex is here,” Daniel reminded Saleen.

Saleen noticed that there was a tiny magic device in Daniel’s ear, it was a piece of silver magnetic stone. This object could be used to make the smallest sound transmission magic array. Other than being a little expensive, it had no other flaws. It was easy to be crafted yet difficult to be damaged, and it consumed the fragments of a magic nucleus. A level-1 magic nucleus would suffice.

Very soon, Lex had arrived at this small meeting room, she didn’t bring along anyone else. Saleen’s men also rushed over, taking their seats around the table.

Clearly, Lex had already understood the changes that took place when she wasn’t around as she was in a pretty good mood. Metatrin City had been developed so quickly. Only the magical towers were yet to be constructed, but the rest of the projects were on the right track.

“Saleen, I have to discuss something with you. Since everyone is here, you will make a decision.” Lex looked at Saleen with a gentle smile on her face.

“Judging by your look, it shouldn’t be a bad thing.” Saleen was jubilant that the atmosphere was harmonious, and when he said that, everyone else also felt relieved.

“No, I believe you have heard from Daniel about the events which took place in Metatrin City, and you have a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Identity. If you are just a city owner, you have to be my subordinate, and you will have to interact with those nobles.”

The moment Lex said that, the mages from the Sregl Island could not help but appear enraged. “Who do you think Saleen is? A student favored by Jason is one of the people who has a chance of inheriting Sregl Island. Even if Lex is an emperor, Saleen will never ever be her subordinate, not to mention that she is just a viscountess.”

When Lex noticed the expressions of the mages, she cackled. She was afraid that these people would not care. If they didn’t care, it meant that Saleen did not hold a high status in the eyes of Sregl Island. Saleen had not discussed with Lex in detail about the Sregl Island, so Lex did not know what Saleen’s position was. When she saw the faces of those mages, she felt more assured already.

“That is why I have thought of a solution for you, but I don’t know whether you are willing to be a noble or not.”

“Say it.” Saleen wasn’t actually very agitated, he knew that Lex did things secretively and carefully, she wouldn’t say something for the sake of provoking his subordinates.

“Your identity in the Sregl Island cannot be exposed at the moment. The past few years, I have been asking people to investigate your background. The ‘Metatrin’ surname was once glorious back in the fourth dynasty. Since many of the files regarding the fourth dynasty were destroyed, the ones I can find aren’t that reliable.”

“Are you asking me to disguise as a noble from the fourth dynasty?” Saleen understood Lex’s plan at once, and he was a little reluctant to do so.

“I am not asking you to disguise. I have found a swath of information. In the past two-hundred years, on the route where your family migrated along, there was no person with the surname ‘Metatrin’. Not even the peasants. Which means that in the last two-hundred years, in Sikeqinya, your family was the only one with this surname. Even though the more recent information is murky…”

Saleen laughed, then said, “If you really want to do this, I can provide some clues.”

This was the first time Lex wanted to commit fraud, and she was going to do it to the ranks of nobles on the mainland. At first, she was a little perturbed, but when Saleen said that, she immediately nodded her head.

Saleen took out a stack of loan receipts from the Demonic Ring, placing it on the table, then said, “My family was indeed very wealthy in the past, all these receipts are proof that other people owe me money. However, too much time had elapsed, I cannot demand them to return the money anymore. Take a look, if you can find out any of their descendants, you might be able to find out more information about my family’s history.”

Lex was jubilant, Saleen actually had real evidence. There was sure to be something useful in all those receipts.

“But Saleen, this matter takes time, it will require at least three to five months. I don’t have to deploy anyone from the Bitter Water Prefecture as I have information about many empires. I will face some difficulty with regards to the Holy Rock City.”

“I was just planning to go to the Holy Rock City, I should return in three to five months. Lex, what identity are you going to create for me?” Saleen asked curiously.

“The surname ‘Metatrin’ belonged to a king in the fourth dynasty. Kings with unusual surnames were very rare in the fourth dynasty, and it remained like that for thousands of years. The remaining files about the fourth dynasty are in Cloudflow, we have no access to them at all.”

“If the surname is confirmed, what benefits will I have?”

“It will prove that your bloodline is noble and you can consider re-establishing a state.”

“Won’t that…”

“Your status will be equal to mine. After all, I still have the Holy Rock City above me, but the dynasty above you has already disappeared.”

At this point in time, the faces of the Sregl Island mages lit up. They were the trusted subordinates Jason had given to Saleen, so Saleen’s future prospects was also where their future laid in.

“If the Cloudflow people…”

“Then topple them,” Lex interrupted Saleen. In actual fact, the Cloudflow Empire was the residual power from the fourth dynasty. In the Cloudflow palace, there were some files which could indeed disprove Saleen’s bloodline. But the problem was that Lex and Saleen had already signed a contract with the goddess, so the Cloudflow Empire was also one of their targets.

“That’s true, but it will be onerous to prove this matter. I better establish a duchy first. Anyway, so many nobles have already defected to me. As long as you give the all-clear, this issue should be more or less confirmed. The Holy Rock City can’t possibly deploy troops to attack us, they can’t even settle their own troubles.”

Lex thought to herself, “That is the way to go. Since you are willing to take risks, I will accompany you. But if you aren’t willing to take any initiative, then there won’t be much hope of completing the goddess’ task. It is really an unknown as to whether the Holy Rock City will deploy troops or not. If Qin can salvage the situation in Loulan, it will not be difficult for them to conquer Metatrin City out of convenience. Before the magical towers are built, Metatrin City’s defense will surely be weaker than that of the Bitter Water Prefecture.”

At this point in her thoughts, Lex took out a thick book from the God’s Ring and handed it to Saleen, then said, “This is the ancestral record I have forged for you, you only have to the imprint the clan badge on it. If you are willing, I will support you to become the Grand Duke of Metatrin. Once you affirm your identity, even if you have just a wee bit of relation, you can also establish a state and be labeled a king.”

Saleen received the ancestral record forged by Lex. There was no image of any clan badge on the dark golden cover of this book, the pages inside were tattered and torn. Using his perception to investigate, Saleen discovered that this forged book actually contained thousands of years of history. This ancestral record had surely been created in the last two years, it could give a mage a false impression, and it might even have been created by the God’s Ring. “I am not the only one who possess equipment which can speed up the flow of time.”

“Okay, this matter is set. However, I have to travel to the Holy Rock City in a week, I am deathly afraid of Master Joey,” Saleen said helplessly.

“I don’t care who you bring along, but I will let Narnia follow you so that she can impart the customs of the fourth dynasty to you along the way. You must learn these things. You just have to promise me one thing though.”

“What is it?”

“Guarantee Narnia’s safety.”

Saleen moaned, then Lex said, “I will not return to the Bitter Water Prefecture for the time being, I will wait here for you. The cashflow here is already sufficient. By the time you return, there will be five swordsman’s camps here, and including mine, that will make sixty-thousand regular soldiers. As for the nobles, I will help you manage them first, don’t come into contact with them for the time being.”

“Thanks.” Saleen heaved a sigh of relief. The people around him had given him sufficient details about the current situation of Metatrin City, he really did not have to do anything. As for the issue of pretending to be a noble, Saleen felt that it was no big deal. Being around Lex for several years, he had learnt many things. Even without Narnia around to provide guidance, Saleen would not give away any loopholes either.