Chapter 1064: Preemptive Layout

Tim*Kenan pondered for a long while, said nothing, and the legendary wizards beside him fell silent.

Tan Sen, who had just scolded Lei En, realized what he had done; although the Emperor did not get angry nor react at all, the gazes of the surrounding Extreme Warriors made his breathing difficult, so he drew his neck back and slipped behind the crowd.

"Master Tim*Kenan, what do you think?" Lei En asked.

"If His Majesty merely sends Flaniss alone to the Dark Continent, placing it in a perilous realm, forgive me, I cannot agree," Tim*Kenan replied hesitantly.

Lei En smiled.

Clearly, Tim*Kenan was already interested, so he set a condition for himself.

"I will, in my personal capacity, provide a certain amount of support," Lei En said calmly.

The Dark Continent is vast and treacherous; it is what the New Continent looks like after being utterly polluted and fused by the Abyss, with monsters and demons rampant and evil gods entrenched. Flaniss Floating City is merely an isolated stronghold; rashly entering the Dark Continent can only barely ensure survival, and expansion is extremely difficult, with risks soaring.

For this, Lei En prepared a legion.

The legion comprises two thousand Thundercast Celestial Soldiers and one hundred Thundercast Divine Soldiers, as well as two Grand Mage duplicates, with Landeslin and Ishamel following.

Upon hearing that Lei En would provide support, the legendary Eight-Leaf wizards exchanged glances; the Emperor was indeed inviting cooperation, and they saw hope of returning to the Empire.

Tim*Kenan remained calm and asked, "What does His Majesty wish to achieve on the Dark Continent?"

In other words, to what extent must Flaniss accomplish in order to satisfy Lei En.

"My demands are modest," Lei En said with a tolerant expression. "Within thirty years, Flaniss must establish a foothold on Marghash Island, build a medium-sized city, and govern the human subrace the Molina people on the island."

Tim*Kenan furrowed his brows.

Not everyone was familiar with the Dark Continent; Mayoufu and Otiluk whispered a few words, and only then did the other Eight-Leaf wizards learn where Marghash Island lay.

It is a large island opposite the Dark Continent across the sea, hanging alone off the continent's east, situated in the "Storm Sea"; between them lies a strait over four hundred li wide. Its area is huge, ranking fourth among all islands of the Prime Material Plane, roughly equivalent to three or four Empire provinces.

When Tiyasis sacrificed the Dark Continent back then, Marghash Island was not included.

Yet it did not escape the catastrophe; it retained more vitality than the Dark Continent's mainland, with slightly less devastation, and its current state is much like the New Continent.

A human branch developed on the island, called the Molina people, whose civilization is relatively backward; long‑term battles with demons and monsters have tainted them with evil energy, making them naturally fierce and combative, somewhat similar to the Netifu Demon of the New Continent.

However, the Molina people have not wholly turned to the Abyss.

They have split into dozens of tribes, worshipping different deities—mostly evil gods, though some follow benevolent gods—and still consider themselves human.

Marghash Island also hosts elves and dwarves, all remnants of the Third Epoch.

Orcs, trolls, barbarians, goblins, giants and other sentient races are also numerous, forming many tribes and city‑states—a true mix of creatures.

The island is like a miniature Prime Material Plane.

If Marghash Island is seized, it can serve as a springboard and base to cross the strait onto the Dark Continent's east coast and attack Abyss forces from behind. Even if the battle turns sour, one can retreat calmly to the island, truly achieving "advance to attack, retreat to defend."

Thus the Lamon Empire has long plotted Marghash Island, establishing a Sun Temple there and cultivating followers, but the island's situation is too complex, and they have never succeeded.

Now, Lei En has also set his sights on the island!

Moreover, he intends to conquer the island and rule the Molina people within thirty years.

Tim*Kenan's first reaction was that it was impossible, even with a Fu Kong Cheng as backing; Flaniss has only two hundred thousand people, while the Molina on the island are said to exceed twenty million—a population gap of over a hundredfold!

Marghash Island constantly faces threats from Abyss demons emanating from the Dark Continent.

The Lamon Empire and the Sun Church will not sit idle while it is conquered.

Conflict is inevitable!

The Molina people, demons, evil gods, benevolent gods, the Lamon Empire, the Sun Church—facing so many foes, can Flaniss endure?

Not even thirty years, let alone three hundred, would be feasible!

Tim*Kenan couldn't help but look deeply at Lei En, realizing his words were not offhand nor meant to doom Flaniss; clearly he came prepared.

Behind the Emperor's proposal lies an even greater ambition!

Tim*Kenan recalled Lei En's past deeds, from reclaiming the New Continent to topping the Empire; none was harder than conquering Marghash Island, yet Lei En accomplished them all. Ryan Augustus's ambitions never fail.

This time, could there be an exception?

The Emperor did not dispatch a Star Destroyer and an Empire legion to land on Marghash Island, evidently out of fear of the Lamon Empire and the Sun Church.

Flaniss was expelled from the Empire; Fu Kong Cheng's actions are unrelated to the Empire.

It's simply perfect!

Thus, I became the Emperor's most suitable vanguard, laying plans early, driving a stubborn nail into the Dark Continent.

"Thirty years..."

Tim*Kenan contemplated the term, his thoughts rather tangled.

Ten years ago, before Lei En became Consul, he made a deal with me, promising an unconditional vote for him at the Supreme Council, also within thirty years.

In the end, that promise was not fulfilled.

Previously at the Supreme Council, neither Lei En nor I mentioned the promise, because both understood that in the clash determining the Empire's and our own fate, one could not sacrifice self‑interest for so‑called integrity.

Now Lei En mentions thirty years again, clearly hinting at something.

"Good!"

Tim*Kenan finally resolved, solemnly saying, "Flaniss will go to Marghash Island; I hope His Majesty keeps his promise, and thirty years later permits Flaniss to re‑enter the Empire."

"I never break my word," Lei En said with a smile.

He immediately added, "Master Tim*Kenan, please give me an Eight-Leaf badge."

Tim*Kenan guessed Lei En's intention, produced his own Eight-Leaf badge and handed it over; Lei En caught the badge, opened a towering teleportation gate that stood in the plaza.

Immediately, figures stepped out from behind the gate.

They were all supernaturals, all male, with varied looks, ages, heights, and auras; some wore armor, others leather or magical robes, wielding longswords, warhammers, soul‑guns, staves, or shields. Over two thousand in total, they resembled a mixed‑class ragtag army.

"What are these?"

The Eight-Leaf wizards wore puzzled expressions.

Tim*Kenan's gaze, however, was solemn; he sensed a familiar aura on these supernaturals, examined them closely, and suddenly understood.

They were Thundercast Celestial Soldiers stripped of their golden armor.

Two thousand high-stage transcendent beings!

What startled him even more was that the squad contained over a hundred legends, their auras extremely obscure, seeming to be above Mid-stage, and perhaps even reaching Legendary High-rank!

Tim*Kenan's gaze fell on the two casters, and his eyes involuntarily narrowed.

Grand Mage!

These two are actually Grand Mages!

His astonishment was beyond measure; there are almost no unknown Saint Rank casters in the world, they could not just appear out of nowhere, yet he was completely unfamiliar with these two, having never heard of them before.

Moreover, they are humans; they should be Holy Soul Wizards, so how did they become Grand Mages?

Where did the two Grand Mages come from?

Why do they obey Lei En?

At that moment, Tim*Kenan's mind was filled with countless doubts, about to ask, when his gaze met Lei En's eyes and he saw a hint of amusement, feeling unfathomable.

"Randerlin has met Master Kenan."

"Ishamel has met Master Kenan."

The two Grand Mages bowed to Tim*Kenan with neither humility nor arrogance, then their gazes swept over the Eight-Leaf Wizards, making them feel an inexplicable pressure; they realized that the two before them were far stronger than themselves, likely Holy Soul Wizards.

"Randerlin and Ishamel are both my loyal subordinates."

"They will follow Flaniss to Marghash Island, and this legion will also join Flaniss, fully obeying Master Kenan's orders."

Lei En said with a smile.

But Tim*Kenan and the Eight-Leaf Wizards could not smile.

These two Grand Mages and the transcendent legion greatly aided Flaniss, markedly raising the success rate of conquering Marghash Island, yet they are stationed in Flaniss, constantly monitoring every move of the Fu Kong Cheng like a sword hanging over one's head, making the Wizards uneasy day and night.

The Emperor can also use them to keep track of Flaniss's movements at any time.

Tim*Kenan's expression was complicated.

He felt a bit regretful.

But Lei En's army had already entered Flaniss, unable to withdraw, so he could only obey and say, "Thank you, Your Majesty; Flaniss will certainly live up to expectations."

Lei En nodded with satisfaction.

Then he added, "Each year I will export supplies and alchemical materials worth ten million Gold Shields to Flaniss, maintaining this for thirty years. If Master Kenan has any needs, he may request them."

Tim*Kenan's complexion softened.

Providing supplies for thirty consecutive years will cost Lei En three hundred million Gold Shields, showing his emphasis on Marghash Island, determined to obtain it, not to harm Flaniss.

Giving people money and supplies shows full sincerity.

The Eight-Leaf Wizards also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Flaniss has been expelled from the Empire; whatever you did on Marghash Island is unrelated to the Empire, and I am completely unaware."

"If anyone asks about this in the future, the Empire will never acknowledge your identities."

Lei En finished speaking and turned to leave.

"See Your Majesty off respectfully."

Tim*Kenan and the Wizards watched the Emperor step onto the neck of a golden three-headed dragon and mount its back; the surrounding Rainbow Dragon Knights rose together, their broad wings stirring strong gusts over the plaza, forcing distant residents to retreat a bit farther.

Lei En, from his lofty position on the dragon's back, said, "May Master Kenan's journey be smooth, and may the goddess protect you."

Bo Erqi rose into the air and turned to fly toward the outside of Flaniss.

Suddenly, Lei En glanced back.

Tim*Kenan heard the Emperor's magical transmission in his ear: "Master Kenan, the teacher has finished modifying the Hes Magic Array; it will soon be announced to the upper echelons of the Empire. Please focus on conquering Marghash Island and waste no more effort."

"If Flaniss's legendary Wizards wish to ascend Holy Soul, they may apply, and I will arrange for them to return to Nuosiruier for the ascension."

"Farewell."

Tim*Kenan shivered all over, his expression frozen.

Since acquiring the Hes Magic Array, adapting it for Wizards had become his greatest goal, but the past ten years of his thoughts were spent battling Lei En for power; progress was minimal, with no clear direction, and he did not expect Anxiwodasi to snatch it and finish it.

He could not help but feel deep regret, realizing he should not have wasted time and effort on conflict, losing a once-in-a-millennium chance for everlasting fame.

He then guessed that Anxiwodasi must have received Lei En's assistance.

Otherwise the modification could not have been completed so quickly.

Tim*Kenan watched Lei En depart, surrounded by Rainbow Dragon Knights, feeling both loss and admiration, completely convinced of Lei En.

Soon, Lei En's figure vanished.

Marius, accompanied by Extreme Warriors, surged upward and entered the Augustus Star Destroyer.

"Enough..."

Tim*Kenan let out a sigh, withdrew his gaze; the Eight-Leaf Wizards were all waiting for his orders, and the two Grand Mages sent by the Emperor were also waiting patiently.

His complexion regained its resolve, and he waved his hand, "Let's go!"

Flaniss Floating City activated the Astral Leap, emitting vast magical fluctuations.

The residents of Longpisi looked up at the Floating City; many eyes were filled with reluctance, some already weeping, because Flaniss is leaving today and will never be seen again.

Five minutes later.

The entire Floating City shuddered violently and vanished.

Only the Augustus Star Destroyer remained in the sky; Longpisi's residents noticed the Star Destroyer lingered for a long time, seemingly not intending to depart immediately.

A portal opened within the city.

Rainbow Dragon Knights flew out of it, and the Emperor, seated on the dragon's back, descended upon Longpisi, instantly causing the whole city to boil.

The Emperor inspected Longpisi for two days and toured the surrounding cities, which once belonged to Duke GreyEagle's domain, now once again under the Empire's rule.

During this period, the Emperor met the leading figures and representatives of each city.

The Emperor decided to establish Longpisi Province.

Before returning to the imperial capital, Lei En appointed a provincial governor; this governor was a member of the imperial parliament, previously a member of the Balanced Faction, but in the two votes of the imperial parliament he firmly stood on his side, thus he received appreciation; the governorship was a reward for him.

In addition, the three other cities of Longpis Province each appointed their own mayors.

The governor and several mayors are very loyal!

This is confirmed by the Soul's Eye, but loyalty and ability are not the same; if they perform poorly, they cannot reverse the influence left by Duke GreyEagle in Longpis, erase the traces of the duchy's domain, Lei En will without hesitation replace them.

That night upon returning to Nuosiruier, Lei En, in the name of the emperor, issued a Holy Edict.

Former members of the Supreme Council, Holy Soul Wizards, and dozens of important imperial parliamentarians and cabinet ministers will tomorrow morning go to Rike Palace to audience the emperor.

(End of Chapter)