Chapter 269
Arcadia, virtual reality in a chaotic era.
Everything in Arcadia’s world was made up of elaborate and delicate structures so that the public’s evaluation of it as another perfect world is no joke.
economy. politics. culture. society. custom. history. law. art.
A world where everything is as complex as cogwheels meshing together, and all members of society live according to their respective roles, no different from real civilization. The natives living in this virtual world, so-called ‘NPCs’, were feeling immense confusion about the recent colossal upheaval.
“So… you mean a huge, unknown continent was created?”
“That’s right. The investigators have directly confirmed that a huge continent has appeared right in front of Dupeln Manor, which was originally famous as a port city.”
A huge earthquake that completely shook the entire continent a few months ago.
After the earthquake, the emperor of the Shōen Empire was able to grasp the consequences of the earthquake through correspondence delivered by nobles and feudal lords throughout the territory.
emergence of new continents.
And that information became more specific and sophisticated through the mouths of adventurers wandering around the world.
“It is said that this happened while the giant tree called the World Tree regained its strength and was resurrected. As far as I know, there are 8 continents in this world, and each continent has numerous countries. Also, there are many adventurers in it…”
Eight continents.
existence of a world tree.
Holy War.
Unbelievable information passed on through the mouths of adventurers. However, after the Shoen Empire’s intelligence department and various competent administrative officials scoured the Imperial library and secret archives of the Shōen Empire to find relevant information, the Shōen Empire and its nobles had no choice but to believe.
That this world they were living in was just a small part.
The fact that there are many kingdoms and empires similar to them on that unknown continent.
“It’s ridiculous. I thought I was the mightiest and greatest in Arcadia, but there were so many people who used the title of emperor…”
Emperor.
Emperor.
A title that can only be used by the absolute ruler of the ‘Empire’, who has subjugated numerous small kingdoms and led them as vassals, and has great authority and power that no one dares to confront.
However, based on the adventurers’ information, dozens of emperors already existed in Arcadia. And that fact made the Emperor of the Shōen Empire very uncomfortable.
“What do you think the Lords should do in the future?”
Whatever happened, it has already happened.
What used to be the coastline of the Shoen Empire is now lined with a new, unknown continent. It was changed to a state bordering an unknown country, so the security of the empire was too precarious to just watch leisurely.
Then, at the question of the Emperor of the Shouen Empire, someone stood up and spoke.
“Your Majesty, first of all, how about we propose formal exchanges with the countries of the two continents that border us?”
Countries on different continents suddenly become neighbors.
Therefore, they scrambled to send an investigation team and a delegation, and through rough information, they confirmed each other’s estimates. Because of this, the Marquis of Aegis first proposed peace.
“I heard that the place called the Gael Federation that I looked around is an important commercial hub in the continent. The so-called representative there was also very friendly to the envoys of our empire, and the size of their territory and military power were so low that they dare not compare with the Shoen Empire.”
The Gael Federation is located in the southern part of the Korean continent. Marquis Aegis was convinced after touring this place, which was centered on commerce and the only republic on the continent without a king. The fact that they can’t be a threat to the Shoen Empire.
“Propose peace with them, and let them experience the high majesty and splendid glory of the Shoen Empire for themselves as much as possible. If so, they will be naturally influenced and embraced in the arms of our Shouen Empire.”
The enormous economic and productive power of the Shoen Empire.
And noble, sophisticated and elegant culture and art.
The remarks of Marquis Aigis, who felt that every little thing was uncivilized and humble compared to the Shouen Empire. Hearing this, the emperor asked with a strangely satisfied smile.
“Was it not worth dealing with that much?”
“That’s right. The ruler there was not a king, but a mere representative, a vulgar, ignorant, and mercantile merchant with no dignity. He was also greedy and eager to collect goods, and he seemed like he would do anything to satisfy his desires.”
Aegis belittled, claiming that he had no dignity or qualifications as a monarch. At his words, the emperor of the Shōen Empire laughed heartily and slammed his throne.
“Ha ha ha ha. Right. After all, unlike our empire, it was an insignificant place.”
The words of Aegis who had visited that unknown continent in person.
Since no one had set foot there yet, no one particularly refuted or complained about his words, but some nobles gave suspicious glances and showed signs of discomfort.
“Your Majesty, but if so, shouldn’t we rather ask you to swear an oath of submission and obedience under the glory of the Empire rather than suggesting peace?”
A descendant of a powerful knight family, and a member of the Shōen Imperial Army, the Kaiser Marquis.
He came out in a head-on refutation of the words of the Marquis of Aegis, who was a prominent competitor and had produced administrative officials for generations.
“No matter what, the continent Marquis Aegis visited is the main continent that the cruel pirates who attacked the Shouen Empire crossed over to. Even if you have nothing to do with them, I don’t think it makes sense to be lenient in front of them.”
The unstoppable remarks of the Marquis Kaiser. And the moment he mentioned the Black Pirates, only chilly silence and silence lingered in the meeting hall where hundreds of nobles gathered.
Black Pirates. and the Caribbean.
Words that are taboo even within the Shōen Empire, and words that should never be uttered in front of the Emperor.
The emperor looked at the Marquis Kaiser who had spit it out, and his eyes showed cold blood, but at his words, Duke Daven quietly stood up and opened his mouth with utmost courtesy.
“May I add a little more to the words of His Majesty the Marquis Kaiser?”
Just by looking at it, the emperor with the lid open.
It is a situation that does not seem strange even if someone twists the planting and flies away with a sore throat. However, even the emperor could not easily ignore his influence as a duke, so he spoke in a calm but very cold voice.
“Speak.”
Duke Daven calmly opened his mouth while all eyes were on him when the Emperor’s permission fell. He refined the words of the Marquis Kaiser as much as possible and gave the argument justification.
“As Marquis Aegis said, the place called Gael Federation is lowly and uncivilized, so even a little coaxing might lead it to our side. But after that, things can get more complicated.”
“Things get more complicated…? What do you mean, Your Excellency Duke?”
“The Gael Federation is not a single country on the new continent, Marquis Aegis. If we take control of the Gael Federation in such a peaceful way, will the neighboring countries just watch it?”
Even if they took control of the Gael Federation, other countries would not be pleased with the invasion of other continental empires. That’s why Duke Daven was skeptical about his method.
“Your Majesty, if the Empire decides to take over a country on another continent, it must move quickly and stealthily so that no one dares to oppose it, and it must make known to all the world the fearsomeness and strength of the Empire so that no one dares to oppose it. It is not only us that the continents have merged, and other continents are probably having similar discussions with us.”
The words of Duke Daven, who insists that we take control of them quickly rather than attracting them in a peaceful way. The nobles who heard it muttered with plausible eyes as they pondered something.
“Well… other continents won’t stand still either.”
“Even so, do we really need to do that? It would be better to take control little by little, even if it takes time, rather than to start an unnecessary war…” The
atmosphere seems to be divided between the pros and cons.
In such an ambiguous situation, Duke Daiven took a deep breath and made a shocking remark.
“That’s why I think we should formally propose peace with the Faros Empire.”
“The Peperos Empire?”
“What the hell is that?”
Peros Empire.
One of the two empires that exist on the Japanese continent, the Shouen Empire and the Shouen Empire have always been fierce territorial and power wars, and have been in conflict and antagonism for hundreds of years. Proposing peace with them was an argument that was tantamount to espionage and treachery in the Shoen Empire, so when one of the high-ranking nobles, Duke Daiven, talked about it, everyone screamed in fright.
“Everyone be quiet.”
At those words, the conference room became as noisy as the market floor. And at the Emperor’s low but angry words, everyone shut up as if they had promised.
“Duke Daven.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Do you know the meaning of what you just said?”
“That’s right.”
Two empires that historically have done all kinds of ugly things that can never be forgiven. Since he wasn’t stupid and stupid enough to blindly propose peace, the emperor spoke a little rationally.
“Explain. Why should I and the Empire do this show? Punishment will be decided after that.”
The emperor of the Shōen Empire who gave me a chance to hear the explanation one last time. To him, Duke Daven threw the gambler of a lifetime.
“What was the reason the Faros Empire and the Shōen Empire have been fighting so far?”
A question posed to all nobles, including the emperor. Everyone put on strange faces and twitched their mouths at the question, but Duke Daiven gave the answer instead.
“Of course, the reasons and justifications for this were diverse, and as a result, countless large and small wars were fought. But above all, if you dig into the root cause, the most basic reason was one.”
Although the two empires have been fighting for various reasons and conflicts over interests, in a nutshell, all interests and conflicts have resulted in a single cause.
“territory. How many territories within this limited continent will be occupied by which empire. Wasn’t this a key source of conflict?”
“…..”
A continent of a size that is wide but still lacks something.
The two empires that divided the continent in half and ruled it were always repeating unnecessary conflicts for the dream of unifying the continent in order to satisfy each other’s endless greed. And Duke Daven realized through the incredible upheaval that occurred this time.
“Now the conflict is meaningless. In this world, our Empire and the Faros Empire are still… No, to be precise, it is full of foolish people and savage kingdoms that rule them.”
Excluding the Japanese continent, there are seven continents of enormous scale.
Daven’s claim that all of them should be conquered.
At the same time, he took it out to the emperor of the Shōen Empire for the first time.
The concept of the area called ‘continent’ and.
The Shoen Empire and the Ferros Empire, which belonged to the concept of the ‘continent’, are not enemies competing against each other, but colleagues who must fight against external enemies by joining forces.
“In the future, if the two empires join forces and plant our flags on all continents step by step, wouldn’t that alone make the territory of our Shoen Empire vast enough?”
That’s how the huge wheel of fate that no one can stop begins to turn.
It was expected and prepared to happen approximately 10 years after the launch of the service.
Opposing the sudden continental integration, branch managers and high-ranking executives tried to prevent it somehow.
A prelude to a chaotic world that will turn the entire unified continent into a huge fire.
It was starting to play at this moment.
[Continent integration main scenario has been created.]
[Act. 1 Era of Anarchy.]