Chapter 887: Returning Home After the War

The Empire legion's massive plunder of Banbei City continued until noon the next day.

At Eight-Leaf Plaza, from the two female Holy Soul Wizards down to the most ordinary legion Transcendent soldiers, everyone's face was filled with excitement, as if still wanting more. If it weren't for GreyEagle Duke's order to stand down, this plunder would have lasted three days.

"We should go back."

"Sigh, why only give us one day and one night? Who knows when such a good chance will come again."

"Everyone should be content; if we keep looting, the army will get out of control and start targeting ordinary people."

The crowd whispered, some with regret, some satisfied.

Some kept a rare sense of reason, murmuring, "I heard that Lei En, the Speaker, suggested another way to plunder the whole subcontinent's wealth; Banbei City is a crucial stronghold. If we don't restrain ourselves, it will affect Lei En's plan."

Many caught wind of it, looked at Lei En on the platform, and thought aloud, "Lei En, the Speaker, will soon be the new Consul, right?"

"Nonsense!"

The onlookers wore an obvious air of certainty, "Lei En, the Speaker, has achieved such great deeds; if he doesn't become Consul, who is qualified?"

"That's definitely a good thing; with Lei En's strength and methods, he will surely lead the Empire to an even higher pinnacle."

"I don't care about the Empire's pinnacle; I just want to get rich."

"Foolish!"

"This time everyone got rich, wasn't it led by Lei En? Without Lei En's intervention—breaking the Fear Domain, slaying Vickramatia II, and the Extreme Warrior Corps wiping out most of the Super Sun legion—you wouldn't be getting rich; you might already be dead!"

Speaking of the Extreme Warrior Corps, people looked at the tall figures in blue armor at the front of the plaza, their eyes flashing with awe and envy.

The world's strongest legion!

After this revenge operation, the Extreme Warrior Corps will become world-famous, known to all.

Various discussions rose among the Empire legion; they thought their voices were low, but Lei En on the platform heard them clearly through the Voice of All Things.

However, the overwhelming majority support Lei En; becoming the new Consul is the people's wish.

This is public opinion!

Lei En thought, once the results of the revenge operation spread throughout the Empire, both the Empire legion and ordinary citizens will overwhelmingly support my becoming Consul. Even if the Supreme Council faces turmoil, opposing me will be hard.

At that moment, GreyEagle Duke Tim*Kenan began casting.

In Flaniss Floating City, the massive flowing magical energy converged over the center of Eight-Leaf Plaza; soon, a long-range teleportation array was triggered, opening a portal ten meters high.

The portal led directly to the Empire's capital Nuosiruier.

One by one, Empire legion members loaded the plundered treasure, entered the portal in order, and returned to the Empire. After arriving in Nuosiruier, they would disperse to their legion garrisons or territories.

A near 80,000-strong legion expedition cannot linger on the subcontinent for long, lest the Empire's military becomes hollow and gives enemies an opening.

Flaniss Floating City will stay behind to garrison Banbei City.

Also staying are about ten thousand members of the Transcendent Army, drawn from several Empire legions, tasked with maintaining order in Banbei City until the new Consul takes office, establishes the Empire's subcontinent trade company, appoints a subcontinent governor, and formally assumes control of Banbei City.

Lei En led the Extreme Warrior Corps through the portal.

This is a camp on the outskirts of Nuosiruier; emerging from the hastily built teleport array, the Extreme Warriors and Thundercast Celestial Soldiers immediately took off.

Boom—

The Titan engine's roar echoed across the sky, like rolling thunder.

The Empire legion in the camp looked up, watching Lei En and the Extreme Warriors fly toward Nuosiruier's western outskirts, soon vanishing on the horizon.

A gust raced like lightning.

Lei En swooped from the sky over Nuosiruier, reached the western West Mountain, descended onto Marlinge Manor, and at a glance saw Viola waiting in the courtyard.

Viola stepped forward, her exquisitely beautiful face showing delight, like a wife greeting her husband returning from campaign.

"You're back."

"Hmm." Lei En nodded heavily, smiling, "Everything went smoothly; this revenge operation was a total victory. Both the Empire and I gained a lot."

"I've already heard," Viola sincerely expressed joy for her beloved, "Congratulations, Consul."

"Hahaha…" Lei En laughed heartily.

He pulled the Half-elf into his arms, bowed his head to kiss her red lips, freely releasing his joy; only before Viola does he show his true nature. Uh, Oxyriya counts too, as does Asina, hmm, Liflin as well, and…

"Someone's still here."

Viola shyly wriggled free; the butler Abigale and the manor's servants stood nearby, and there were also people behind Lei En.

Her gaze swept over the Extreme Warriors, surprise barely hidden in her eyes.

Before departure, the Extreme Warriors were teleported to Marlinge Manor, then sent to Flaniss Floating City. At the brief meeting, she was already shocked, but only after the Banbei City battle reports reached the Empire did she realize how terrifying the Extreme Warriors' strength truly was!

A hundred-member Extreme Warrior Corps annihilated a thirty-thousand-strong Super Sun legion!

Even Saint Rank elites could be easily slain.

This far exceeded people's imagination; Viola watched Lei En build the Extreme Warrior Corps step by step, never expecting it to be so exaggerated.

The Extreme Warrior Corps' fame even eclipsed the revenge operation's victory.

"Xicarius, you take your brothers back first," Lei En said, turning.

"Alright, boss."

The Extreme Warriors entered the manor's teleport array; the engine's roar vanished, and the terrifying aura they emitted disappeared as well, allowing Marlinge Manor's guards and servants to breathe a sigh of relief. Ordinary people, merely approaching an Extreme Warrior, would find the psychological pressure unbearable.

The Thundercast Celestial Soldiers also left, and after returning to Gotham City, immediately entered the demi-plane to join the construction of Star Destroyers.

Viola had a feast brought in, dining together with Lei En.

Lei En ate heartily while recounting to her the battle at Banbei City: breaking the Fear Domain, the great clash with Vickramatia II, a direct confrontation with the Saint incarnation of Loxhi, the artifact Holy Blood Amber, and acquiring the royal treasure of Guptha, among other things.

Aside from Reslin's promotion to Grand Mage, nothing else was concealed.

Viola listened, her heart pounding.

The artifact shocked her the most; her beautiful eyes widened, and she exclaimed in disbelief, "Lei En, you actually possess an artifact?"

Seeing the Half-elf in such a disheveled state, Lei En couldn't help but smile.

"It was an accidental find in my Dark Realm, just luck," he said, presenting the Holy Blood Amber for Viola to admire, "Leave a few strands of hair with me; if anything happens, I can revive you at any time."

It's not just Viola; Lei En plans to collect the hair of everyone close to him.

And also every Extreme Warrior, the most important figures in his legion, such as Yizite and Kestajin, must have their hair kept here.

The Half‑elf stared tightly at the beautiful oval amber, and upon hearing Lei En's words, didn't know what to say.

She was completely shocked!

Everything Lei En has done, the heights he has now reached, she never even dared to dream of in her lifetime; even though she, as the Longhaired Lady, a Chosen One and the Pope of the Beauty and Goodness Church, is already an imperial figure beyond ordinary people's reach, she still seems so insignificant compared to Lei En.

The gap between her and Lei En is even larger than the gap between an ordinary person and herself!

Lei En's power can even contend with the incarnation of a deity's saint, yet she hasn't even reached the Legendary Peak. Moreover, any Extreme Warrior under Lei En is comparable to her, which gave her a strong sense of frustration, making her feel that all her years of effort were worthless.

"I'm preparing to establish an Empire subcontinent trading company; you've heard about it, right?" Lei En asked.

"Hmm."

Viola nodded, but said nothing.

Lei En stopped eating and immediately sensed Viola's mood was off. She, who is keen on business and never misses a chance to profit, seemed oddly uninterested in such a huge trading company.

The Soul Eye observed briefly and understood at once.

"I'll go to Weizelan and return tonight," Lei En said, then left Marlinge Manor.

This emotional slump stems from Viola being too proud; my guidance is not only useless but counterproductive, so she must adjust her own mindset.

A moment later, Lei En met the teacher atop the Weizelan tower.

Anxiwodasi was evidently waiting for him.

"Teacher."

Just after Lei En greeted, Anxiwodasi asked, "Lei En, how many matters are you still hiding from me?"

"Uh…" Lei En didn't know how to answer.

This revenge operation exposed too much of me; after returning to the Empire, I found that the people around me had changed toward me.

Viola is like that, and the teacher as well.

Lei En felt helpless and said honestly, "The teacher already knows everything except one thing: Reslin was promoted to Grand Mage last month."

My most important secret is the MutatedPhone, which I cannot tell anyone.

Then there's the plan to overthrow the Supreme Council and ascend the imperial throne; the teacher already knows that. I've been researching the Power Armor for years and just unveiled it now; the Star Destroyer project, the teacher also participated in its research and design, so he knew from the start; and finally the existence of the Artifact, which the teacher previously didn't know.

"I knew it!"

Anxiwodasi's snow‑white beard was blown up, seeming a bit displeased, "For such an important matter, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

In his view, the Power Armor and the Artifact are secondary, having little to do with Weizelan.

Lei En's promotion to Holy Soul Wizard is the most important matter.

Reslin is Lei En's duplicate, essentially the same person; Reslin's promotion to Grand Mage means Lei En has also been promoted.

Mo Du's faction gave birth to a new Saint Rank caster; although a Grand Mage rather than a Holy Soul Wizard, being from Weizelan's Fu Kong Cheng is enough to prove Mo Du's philosophy's superiority. I have taught a Grand Mage, securing an absolute advantage in the ideological battle!

"It's just a duplicate; I am still at the Legendary Peak," Lei En defended.

"If you don't say it, who would know Reslin is a duplicate?" Anxiwodasi replied dismissively, "When do you plan to announce letting Reslin enter the Supreme Council?"

Reslin is an official member of Weizelan and is qualified to join the Supreme Council.

Whether one can enter the Supreme Council, the primary criterion is naturally becoming a Holy Soul Wizard; secondly, walking the magical path in the Empire—not necessarily being an Imperial citizen—but one must apprentice under an Imperial wizard and hail from a major Fu Kong Cheng or magical academy.

Reslin meets the second condition but is not a Holy Soul Wizard; however, there is no rule barring a Grand Mage from entering the Supreme Council.

A Grand Mage and a Holy Soul Wizard are casters of the same rank, with no hierarchy.

Moreover, the history and status of Grand Mages even surpass those of Holy Soul Wizards; after all, the wizard profession originated by imitating Grand Mages, forging a different path, but ultimately converging.

Just as Anxiwodasi said, as long as Reslin doesn't disclose it, no one can know he is a Grand Mage.

Lei En had already considered this issue.

"Teacher, I don't want Reslin to enter the Supreme Council for now," Lei En said.

"Why?"

Anxiwodasi couldn't understand; the Supreme Council now has twelve members, Mo Du's faction holds half, with six votes. Adding Reslin makes it seven votes, giving Mo Du an absolute advantage, so any issue can pass without considering the Naiser faction or the Balance faction.

Mo Du's faction completely controls the Supreme Council and the Empire.

Lei En wants to become emperor; isn't this situation even more advantageous for him?

"Reslin is one of my trump cards; I don't want to expose him too early," Lei En replied honestly. "Moreover, I've already spoken with Master Kainan; he will support my election as Consul. With an alliance of the two factions, we don't lack that vote."

"How could you make such a low‑level mistake?" Anxiwodasi shook his head. "The alliance is only temporary; GreyEagle, this front‑line weed, is unreliable."

Lei En glanced at the teacher, his expression a bit odd.

Listening to the teacher, why does his stance seem off? He used to oppose my becoming emperor, now he's so enthusiastic?

"I'm not supporting you to become emperor; don't overthink it," Anxiwodasi hummed. "What I care about is the victory of Mo Du's philosophy, a ideal I've pursued for over a thousand years, needing a sufficiently strong proof to defeat the Naiser faction!"

Lei En suddenly realized it was the teacher's obsession at work.

He thought for a moment and said, "Teacher, without Reslin, let me prove the superiority of Mo Du's philosophy to the world."

"You're also going to be promoted to Holy Soul Wizard?" Anxiwodasi exclaimed joyfully.

"As expected, it should be soon," Lei En nodded.

Last night in Franis, the Silver Star Duke suddenly sent me a magical transmission; after the revenge operation ended, he immediately began acquiring the ancient dragon demon's soul, promising to deliver the soul into my hands within half a month.

Anxiwodasi pressed, "Specifically when?"

"When I am elected Consul, I will immediately strike the Holy Soul Wizard," Lei En replied, having waited for this day for a long time.

(End of chapter)