Chapter 891: Elected Consul

Lei En finished speaking and stepped down.

A low murmur rose in the hall, and the expressions of the more than three hundred legislators were all vivid.

Many of them had taken part in Consul elections many times, some even dozens of times, but a brief speech like Lei En's was the first they had seen.

Previously, most candidates would make full use of the fifteen minutes to expound their governing philosophy, state policies, pledge what goals they would achieve during their term, make certain promises to legislators and the Empire's people, and also launch attacks and smear rivals.

Lei En did not mention any of those at all.

His words were not at all a campaign speech; they resembled a proclamation of victory, full of an undeniable dictatorial tone and a swagger that made a few people uneasy.

Yet more legislators were won over by that domineering aura.

In a world ruled by extraordinary power, people cannot avoid worshipping the strong, and the strong likewise revere those stronger than themselves.

No matter how brilliant a speech, it appeared pale and feeble before Lei En's strength and achievements.

So the other candidates gave up speaking.

Hence Lei En dared to be so arrogant.

On the podium, three Holy Soul Wizards regarded Lei En's words and deeds with new respect; even his mortal foe Kaisitong could not help but be moved, scrutinizing Lei En and showing a hint of admiration in his eyes, though he remained chiefly wary of Lei En as an enemy.

Anxiwodasi remained the calmest; he knew his student well, and after understanding Lei En's ambition, he would no longer be surprised by whatever Lei En did.

"Quiet."

Tim*Kenan shouted loudly, and the legislators promptly fell silent, listening to his announcement: "Voting begins now; proceed to the podium in the order of your seats."

With a wave of his hand, a cube about three meters in length, width and height appeared on the stage; this room‑like object was the voting station.

It was forged entirely of metal, its surface etched with countless runes and layered rune arrays that could block all magical surveillance and mind‑reading, immune to psychic control; the side facing the audience was transparent, allowing observers to see the voters' actions and ensuring the voting process was open, fair and just.

Each side of the voting station had a door, serving as entrance and exit respectively.

The Empire's legislators entered, completed their vote, and exited through the other door.

The first Empire legislator stepped onto the podium.

Lei En recognized him; he was an alchemical sage from Ai En Fu Kong Cheng named Abunian, over a thousand years old, yet not a Holy Soul Ascension Wizard. Since the Empire's council was founded, Abunian had been a legislator and is now the most senior member.

At each voting round, Abunian was always the first to step up.

Though his face was aged, Abunian's steps were steady, and he briskly walked onto the stage and entered the voting station.

Through the front glass, the legislators saw a crystal‑shaped gem appear before Abunian as he entered the voting station.

The gem was specially made; holding it and silently reciting the corresponding number completed the input.

Each number corresponded to a candidate and could not be changed after entry.

It also retained the holder's aura.

Consul voting was by name, one vote per person; later the Supreme Council could open the ballots for inspection, eliminating uncertainty and preventing any Empire legislator from cheating.

Abunian seized the hovering gem, paused, and the gem in his hand flashed, indicating the vote was cast; he then released it, and it automatically transferred into a transparent yet sealed box, displayed before everyone.

He exited the voting station, and the second Empire legislator immediately entered.

Then the third, the fourth…

Lei En sat in the audience close to the voting station, his gaze calm and steady, watching each Empire legislator vote, each finishing in under ten seconds on average.

His eyes swept over the sealed box holding the gems; the All-Seeing Eye had long been activated.

The rune arrays of the voting station and the magical wards of the ballot box had no effect on his sight; he saw straight through the gems to the numbers inside.

13, 13, 13…

All the legislators who had voted cast their votes for number 13, which was their own number.

"It should be stable now."

Lei En felt completely at ease.

The seating order of legislators was arranged by the time they entered the Empire's council, with no hierarchy; however, earlier positions indicated longer tenure. Most were from the Naiser and Balance factions, while Mo Du faction members tended to be younger, seated later, belonging to the Youthful faction.

The legislators who voted earlier were mostly from the Naiser and Balance factions, not shareholders of trade companies; having all voted for themselves, there was no suspense.

Soon after, Otiluk stepped onto the podium.

Consul candidates still retained voting rights; Otiluk was the first candidate to vote, he cast his ballot without hesitation, and as he stepped down he glanced at Lei En, his gaze somewhat complicated.

Lei En gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment.

The All-Seeing Eye saw clearly; Otiluk's voting gem displayed number 13.

Empire legislators one after another stepped up, and under the supervision of the three Holy Soul Wizards, cast their solemn votes.

The atmosphere was solemn and reverent, and the gems in the ballot box multiplied.

After nearly an hour, the voting neared its end.

Viola rose and took the podium; the Half-elf's stunning beauty drew the Empire's legislators' attention, but that focus lasted only a few seconds before being completely absorbed by the Lei En who followed onto the stage. Lei En and Viola entered the Empire's council together, their seats adjacent, and were among the most junior legislators.

Lei En entered the voting station and swiftly completed his vote.

After him came three legislators who had only recently joined the Empire's council; in less than half a minute the entire voting process concluded.

"Now tally the votes."

Tim*Kenan walked to the side of the voting station, raised his hand and released a burst of soul energy; instantly the glass wall in front of the station turned into a magical projection, listing the candidates' names from left to right, each name topped by a column‑shaped container.

The gems in the ballot box flew out through the air, radiating light and projecting a numeral.

The first gem was number 13.

It flashed into the magical image and dropped into the container above "Ryan Augustus", charging like a battery; the bottom of the column lit up a segment, displaying the number "1" at the top.

This meant Lei En received one vote.

Gems streamed out one after another at great speed; within moments a dozen or so had been tallied, all directed toward Lei En's name, the column already lit a short segment, and the vote count surged, quickly surpassing twenty votes.

Tim*Kenan did not stop, continuing the tally.

Very quickly, Lei En's vote count reached 30, 40, 70… when it passed a hundred, all other candidates still had no votes.

The Empire's legislators looked at each other, and a stir inevitably broke out.

They had never seen this situation.

In previous elections some candidates also held an absolute advantage, such as the incumbent Consul seeking re‑election, gaining the support of a faction while other factions negotiated benefits, ultimately achieving a vote share exceeding seventy percent, possibly even reaching eighty percent.

Even so, the other candidates would still receive at least some votes, more or less; a situation where a single person wins alone never occurred.

The vote counting is still underway.

More and more gems were placed into Lei En's name; the columnar containers lit up one slot at a time from bottom to top, and the vote count rapidly approached 160 votes.

According to Empire law, a candidate who receives more than half the votes wins the election.

There were 319 Empire delegates present; the winning threshold is 160 votes. If no candidate secures a majority, the names of the top three vote‑getters will be submitted to the Supreme Council, where the Holy Soul Wizards will vote by raising their hands to select a Consul.

Of course, even a majority‑winning victor must still obtain the Supreme Council's approval before taking office.

Absent special circumstances, the sole winner becomes the new Consul, and the Supreme Council usually does not veto. However, it is not absolute; in Empire history there was once a case where a candidate won the election but failed to pass the Supreme Council's vote.

Under the astonished gazes of the Empire delegates, Lei En's vote count surpassed 160!

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The Empire delegates simultaneously broke into applause; Lei En rose to gesture to the crowd but said nothing, because the counting was not yet finished.

Amid the continued enthusiastic applause, Lei En's vote tally kept soaring.

Soon it broke past 200 votes.

Two‑thirds of the counting were complete, yet the other candidates still had not received a single vote; their names were dim and dull, making Lei En's name shine even brighter.

The Empire delegates stared intently at the magical display, their eyes full of disbelief.

220 votes, 250 votes, 280 votes…

Lei En's count crossed the 300 mark, still at a hundred percent rate. The Empire delegates involuntarily held their breath; only the final 19 votes remained—could a miracle occur?

After a few breaths, the last gem flashed out of the ballot box, radiating light, and, under everyone's gaze, was dropped into the container bearing Lei En's name.

"Wow…"

The Empire delegates erupted in amazement; the miracle truly happened.

Unanimously elected!

This is the first time in over a thousand years since the Empire Council was founded that a Consul has been unanimously elected. Everyone knows how difficult that is; a unanimous election not only signifies the delegates' approval, but also subdues all rivals.

Even a Consul with the highest prestige could hardly get rivals to vote for them.

And Lei En did it!

This election featured fifteen candidates; aside from Lei En, the other fourteen competitors cast all their votes for Lei En—truly unprecedented.

Clap clap clap…

Over three hundred Empire delegates stood together, offering Lei En the highest tribute, while the three Holy Soul Wizards on the podium also applauded.

At that moment, everyone focused on Lei En.

Although Lei En's All-Seeing Eye had already foreseen the result, he was still surprised to be unanimously elected. In his view, winning over the other candidates was no surprise; they had joined the revenge operation together, witnessed his achievements, and voting for him was natural.

What truly surprised him was that the Naiser faction's delegates also all voted for him.

The Naiser faction controlled one‑third of the Empire delegates.

But they were not united.

Lei En once compiled a list, which included some delegates from the Naiser Fu Kong Cheng, who obeyed Fu Kong Cheng's orders rather than Kai'ersitong.

Another portion had joined a trading company; after his own assessment, he deemed them swayable, exchanged shareholder quotas for votes, and there was a high chance they would eventually fully align with him, joining Mo Du's camp.

A segment came from Aien Fu Kong Cheng, following KangJieladeGreatSage, because they had resurrected Sage Chanien; the relationship had greatly improved, and they were willing to vote for him.

The rest were the stubborn elements.

These delegates, about forty in number, were completely obedient to Duke Hong Shi Kai'ersitong; Lei En strategically abandoned this group, doing nothing for them.

Nevertheless, they voted for him.

Lei En looked at Kai'ersitong on the stage; the mortal foe also stared back, noticing Lei En's gaze, showing no trace of former hostility, giving a slight nod, and even a faint smile appeared on his face.

Kai'ersitong proactively extended goodwill.

This greatly surprised Lei En; his Soul Eye observed Kai'ersitong and found that his hostility remained, his soul hue a vivid red, but not the blackened red of before, indicating the animosity had considerably waned.

"What's going on?"

Lei En felt completely confused.

He and Kai'ersitong had long been locked in a dead‑locked feud; in recent years they had no overt contact, but privately each employed every tactic—Kai'ersitong repeatedly tried to kill him, and he constantly set traps for Kai'ersitong, sabotaging the opponent's Fu Kong Cheng and territories.

Why had Kai'ersitong's stance suddenly softened?

Was he cowardly?

Lei En immediately dismissed the speculation; given Kai'ersitong's arrogant, vindictive nature, he would never bow to anyone, let alone concede.

He even dares to scheme against Augulevi Master; how could he possibly soften toward him?

The only possibility is that Kai'ersitong is plotting a larger scheme that requires time; now that he sees Lei En's power surging and possessing the divine artifact Holy Blood Amber, he can only lay low, use this vote to curry favor, lull Lei En, and buy himself breathing room.

Lei En immediately thought of something.

Kai'ersitong had been conducting a certain magical experiment for many years; aside from himself, no one knew its details.

His conciliatory retreat must be linked to that magical experiment!

"Congratulations, Speaker Lei En."

"Congratulations, Speaker Lei En, on becoming the first unanimously elected Consul."

Lei En was still pondering Kai'ersitong's plot when the surrounding Empire delegates burst into congratulations; he had to set aside his thoughts, smile, and reply, "Thank you all for your support. Thank you for every vote you cast for me; I will do my utmost so you will not regret your choice today."

He did not appear overly excited; the process still lacked the final step.

That final step is the Supreme Council's vote.

The three Holy Soul Wizards on the stage had already vanished; the delegates knew the Holy Soul Wizards were conducting a hand‑raise vote, and the result would be revealed soon.

Sure enough, a few minutes later.

GreyEagle Title: Duke Tim*Kenan's figure returned to the podium and loudly announced: "Supreme Council unanimously passed, Ryan Augustus elected the Empire's 120th, 45th Consul!"

(End of chapter)