Chapter 1002: Wedding

Hundreds of thousands of undead army retreated toward the Karnod Icefield in the northwest, and Lei En did not let the Duke's Guard rashly pursue; instead he first dispatched a squad of Thundercast Celestial Soldiers to scout covertly.

The result was that there was no tactic and no trap.

The undead army really withdrew.

Even the undead tombs along the route to Lobost were empty; the massive undead army marched out of the region, retreating back to the Karnod Icefield.

Lei En's first reaction was regret.

This war of attrition was like a meat grinder, harvesting the souls of over a million undead and storing a great number of Soul Diamonds in the Pixel World. At the same time it forged the Duke's Guard, giving them abundant combat experience; although more than five hundred were killed or wounded, the three divisions that were formed all completed their metamorphosis and already showed a hint of an iron‑blooded army's spirit.

Then, he realized the situation was not simple.

"Could we have been detected?" Lei En frowned, feeling a bit uneasy.

The disappearance of over a million undead souls is a trivial number in the bottomless Abyss, but it cannot be ignored in the Prime Material Plane.

Moreover, the Death Lord is watching from behind the scenes; he possesses the Book of the Dead and may have noticed the anomaly.

The Death Lord could not have guessed that he could absorb souls, but through various signs he might sense that this war of attrition is off. An undead army of over a million is nothing to him; even fighting for another year would be fine. Otherwise, why would he have so decisively abandoned Lobost?

Lei En pondered for a long time, still unable to determine exactly what was happening.

He covertly contacted General Sa Na Wei Ya.

A moment later, the Apocalypse Knight who was lurking beside the Death Lord reported that the Death Lord had returned to Ice Crown Fortress, though she did not know the details.

"What a pity…"

Lei En let out a sigh, but also heightened his vigilance, thinking, "We still need to be cautious and try to harvest demons from now on."

He immediately ordered the troops to advance further.

Because the undead army had withdrawn, there was almost no resistance along the way; in just two days, the Duke's Guard destroyed all the undead tombs en route and entered the ruins of Lobost.

Within the city ruins there were tens of thousands of undead remnants, which were eliminated within a few hours.

After a brief rest, the Duke's Guard began carpet‑style clearing, using Lobost as the central starting point and spreading step by step toward the west and north; after more than half a month they cleared all undead tombs within a three‑hundred‑mile radius of the city.

From then on, this famous magical research city of the Third Epoch was restored and formally incorporated under Lei En's rule.

Along the entire east coast of the New Continent, only the southernmost Sunlight Province remained in the Abyss's hands; east of the Baleqiya Mountains more than eighty percent of the territory became Lei En's domain, an area equivalent to ten provinces, and excluding the Saen Plateau it already approached one‑third of the Empire!

This nearly two‑month‑long war, from start to finish, involved only the Duke's Guard and the Holy Spear Knight Corps, with the Duke's Guard being the absolute main force.

The Extreme Warrior never deployed, and the Star Destroyer was never revealed.

The Duke's Guard became famous after that battle!

After an on‑site inspection, Lei En decided not to build the Magic Torchlight tower in Lobost, but to erect it in a slightly smaller city about 270 miles west of Lobost, named Obanni.

Lobost is a coastal city; if the tower were built there, half of the Magic Torchlight's illumination would be over the sea, a complete waste.

Building the tower in Obanni can still protect the whole of Lobost.

The Magic Torchlight's illuminated area shifts inland, allowing it to cover a larger territory. Moreover, Obanni has a canal excavated by the Elf Empire; the western end of the canal leads to the five largest inland lakes deep within the New Continent, and at Obanni it meets the great river flowing toward Gotham City, running southward and finally emptying into Shield Island Bay.

Thus, Obanni is the most important river‑transport hub in the northeastern New Continent; rebuilding the city would allow control of the canal, its reopening, and the revitalization of the water‑transport system.

It can be said to be a win‑win.

Lei En had the Duke's Guard clear the undead from Obanni, then pushed west for another hundred miles before halting to build a defensive line.

Thundercast Celestial Soldiers garrisoned Obanni and began constructing the tower at the chosen site.

Because the Iola Core has not yet been manufactured and will take at least six months, the Duke's Guard must remain stationed at Obanni to guard against an undead counter‑attack. Nevertheless, city construction proceeds unhindered; Lobost and Obanni are being rebuilt simultaneously.

Lei En spent half a month allocating the benefits of rebuilding the two cities to the various factions of the Empire, and everything fell into place.

Early summer.

On the great lawn of Marlinge Manor.

Hundreds of elegantly dressed guests gathered around, watching a young man and woman stand before the Archbishop of the Earth Church, witnessing their vows and legal marriage.

"Congratulations to you both!"

The highly respected Archbishop, a legendary Legendary High‑rank priest, held a thick Earth Scripture in his hands and bestowed blessings upon the newlyweds.

Clap—clap—clap—clap…

Amid the enthusiastic applause, the guests' gazes occasionally lingered on the joyous couple, then fell on a tall, handsome young man standing beside them; his eyes were full of awe, yet he dared not stare longer, moving his gaze away as soon as it lingered.

Consul!

Although the newlyweds were today's protagonists, the Consul was present, and no one could ignore his presence.

Lei En was naturally aware of all this, but had long been accustomed to it.

He looked at the bride, dressed in an elegant long gown with a flower crown and a face full of happiness, then glanced at her father Lao Bad and mother Ma Lin Da; the parents seemed very pleased, but he let out a cold snort in his mind, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

The bride is his own sister, Cathy Augustus.

Cathy is not a biological sister but her father's adopted daughter; she is six years younger, twenty‑five this year, and previously failed at Soul Transformation, never becoming a transcendent.

Among Ai Lun E Si's humans, the average lifespan is just over fifty years, and ordinary people should be thinking about marriage in their twenties.

Lao Bad had been worrying about this, searching for a suitable husband for Cathy.

But last month, Cathy suddenly announced she would marry.

The groom comes from a noble family, and not an ordinary noble: he is the grandson of Count Ha Pu Bi. Count Ha Pu Bi is a hereditary noble, one of the great aristocratic families that have persisted since the Empire's founding; the current count is a legendary sorcerer and also an Imperial Senator, holding an extremely prestigious status.

For many years, Count Ha Pu Bi has been a member of the Mo Du faction.

When Lei En became Consul and formed his cabinet, he rewarded merit by appointing Count Ha Pu Bi as the permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, serving as Viola's chief aide.

Count Ha Pu Bi possesses many years of administrative experience, works diligently, and is utterly loyal—a true insider.

Cathy marrying his grandson is also a match of equal standing.

Lao Bad and his mother were both very satisfied with the marriage, but Lei En saw through it at a glance; Cathy's husband, Jialisen Ha Pu Bi, is far from the pure‑hearted image he claims, saying he would sacrifice everything for love.

Jialisen is a transcendent, a Mid-stage Ranger.

He is one of Count Ha Pu Bi's most favored grandchildren, but that is all; within the Ha Pu Bi family there are peers with greater talent and strength, making it almost impossible for Jialisen to inherit the countship.

Moreover, Jialisen is a full ten years older than Cathy.

He was only a level‑5 ranger at thirty‑five, and his potential on the path of transcendence had already peaked, leaving no hope of ever advancing to a higher tier in his lifetime.

This fellow's reputation on his family's fief was also terrible; a notorious playboy who only tempered his ways after following his grandfather to the Imperial Capital.

But Cathy didn't know.

Lei En had never noticed the aristocratic young master before; only after investigating did he learn that Cathy and Jialisen had met during a spring outing a few months earlier, when the participants were all noble ladies and gentlemen—children of officials and the wealthy—though no one knew what had transpired.

After the spring outing, Jialisen launched a fierce pursuit of Cathy.

Cathy, only a country girl a few years ago, had never encountered such a onslaught and quickly fell under Jialisen's romantic assault.

In less than a month, the two had a private liaison.

The damned part was that Cathy was now pregnant.

Obviously Jialisen did it deliberately; his aim was clear—he coveted not Cathy herself but her family name.

Lao Bad didn't want the family's disgrace aired publicly, and Jialisen behaved impeccably before him, expressing deep remorse and willingness to take full responsibility, claiming he truly loved Cathy and wished to marry her; Lao Bad quickly forgave him and approved the marriage.

Ma Linda had no strong opinions and was pleased that her daughter was marrying into an earl's family.

Both parents consented, and Lei En had nothing to say.

After the newlyweds' vows, melodious music rose on the lawn; guests dispersed, gathering in small groups for idle chat, while young men and women danced in the center, and servers brought out delicious dishes, creating an atmosphere both relaxed and dignified.

This was Lei En's first wedding attendance after his transmigration; the ceremony resembled the Western weddings of his previous life, yet many aspects differed.

The wedding incorporated numerous rites related to the worship of various deities.

All three Imperial Gods were represented, but the most important deities at the ceremony were the Earth Mother Goddess and the Longhaired Lady; the Earth Mother Goddess holds the "Fertility" divine office, and her priest officiated the wedding, symbolizing progeny and health, while the Longhaired Lady, as the emblem of love, could not be absent.

As the bride's elder brother, Lei En had to take part in several parts of the ceremony and deliver a speech.

He complied with each duty and offered blessings in his address.

Then came the banquet.

Lei En sat with his family, Viola beside him, and Buli Saite and Kalodi had rushed back from the New Continent to attend their sister's wedding.

The two hadn't seen each other for a long time and chatted animatedly.

Lao Bad, elated, had drunk quite a bit and was already tipsy, with his mother Ma Linda attending to him. At the same table were the Hapubi Earl's family, the countess, Jialisen's parents, and Tai Le*Hapubi's other accomplished children.

Lei En's mood was low, so he spoke little today.

Although he revealed nothing, his mere presence exerted immense pressure on everyone; the atmosphere at the table seemed lively but was merely a deliberately maintained façade.

"Consul sir, Minister sir, I toast to you," Tai Le*Hapubi stood and raised his goblet.

Lei En glanced at the dignified Earl of Yibiao and did not respond at once.

Instantly, the Hapubi family members felt trembling fear.

The Hapubi Earl froze, cursing the trouble‑making grandson inside; he knew exactly what scheme Jialisen was pulling, having harshly reprimanded him several times, yet could not undo the fact that the Consul's sister was now pregnant, making the broken engagement even more disastrous.

He sternly warned Jialisen that after marriage he must curb his thoughts and properly attend to his wife.

All the frivolous acquaintances outside must be cut off.

At the same time, the Hapubi Earl repeatedly petitioned to see the Consul, seeking the Consul's forgiveness and offering guarantees that he would never mistreat Cathy, but the Consul continually denied a private audience, leaving him walking on thin ice.

That already demonstrated his stance.

It wasn't until today's wedding that the Hapubi Earl finally faced the Consul in person, mustering his courage.

The air grew stagnant.

The newlyweds, just seated, sensed something off. Dressed in a fitted tuxedo that highlighted his handsome features, Jialisen watched his grandfather awkwardly raise his cup, then turned his gaze to Lei En's eyes, instantly feeling as if struck by lightning, cold sweat beading on his forehead, unable to even breathe.

Cathy, still in the dark, asked puzzled, "Brother, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Lei En's face broke into a smile, the pressure vanished instantly, letting the Hapubi family breathe a sigh of relief as if they had just escaped suffocation.

"Earl," he stood, "from now on we're family, no need for such formality."

He finished and downed his goblet in one gulp.

"Thank you, Consul," Tai Le*Hapubi exclaimed, drinking the wine in his hand with excitement, his chest heaving, waving to his wife and children, "You all raise a cup to the Consul as well."

Hapubi's family hurried to their feet, in unison saying, "To the Consul."

Lei En drank another cup in response.

The banquet's atmosphere finally heated up; guests at other tables, as if prearranged, came forward in order of rank and power—cabinet ministers, Empire legislators, governors, departmental secretaries, titled nobles, secondary continent trade‑company shareholders, and so on—to toast Lei En, with flawless sequencing.

Of course they didn't forget to congratulate the newlyweds; Jialisen beamed with pride, his cheeks flushed, while Cathy linked arms with him, jointly receiving blessings from the Empire's high‑ranking figures.

The wedding lasted into the evening, with additional ceremonies and activities later that night.

But Lei En had no desire to take part.

Back in the manor's third‑floor bedroom, Lei En looked at the perpetually low‑spirited Half‑elf and asked, "Viola, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Viola shook her head, her gaze drifting out the window.

She watched the newlyweds dancing on the lawn, her eyes landing on Cathy; though she said "nothing," envy shone unmistakably in her stare.

Lei En's heart stirred, and he instantly understood, smiling as he asked, "You also want children?"

Viola turned back, nestling in Lei En's arms.

"Hmm…"

She whispered, "I lack nothing now; my only regret is that I can't bear a child for you, being a Half‑elf, sigh…"

Lei En laughed, "Had you said earlier, I could have made you pregnant right away."

(End of Chapter)