A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 973

Chapter 973: Chapter 670 The Secret of Lost Ground Chapter 973: Chapter 670 The Secret of Lost Ground The encounter in the Supreme Forest was a perfect lesson for the other cities, it was quite clear that after the massacre of the Tree People and the setting fire to the Supreme Forest, the other lords should understand that the Tribunal was not an adversary to be trifiled with. However, for Duanmu Huai, he didn't need to care about what those lords thought for the moment, the real issue was…
“Mr. Knight, do you know how to manage a territory?”

“Yo ho?”

Hearing Ann's question, Duanmu Huai just couldn't help but laugh.

“What, you think I can't do it?”

“………”
Facing Duanmu Huai's question, Ann and Greiya exchanged glances, then nodded their heads.

“Yes, we're quite worried.”

“What's so hard about managing a territory?”

Hearing this, Duanmu Huai curled his lips and chuckled.

“Of course it's hard, first of all, having the right talent is a problem.”

As he spoke, Ann stretched out her fingers.

“Public order, construction, maintenance, tax collection, safety, public facilities, finances… To be honest, Mr. Knight, even if you included everyone from the Tribunal, I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough. This isn't like maintaining a warship; you have to govern a territory, listen to the citizens, make decisions, and even set tax and legal policies… From what I know about you, I'm afraid you might not be able to do it.”

As a princess of Manaria, Ann wasn't new to reviewing documents, and there was no one who knew better how to build up a territory or even a country. In her opinion, the Tribunal's combat capability was top-notch, but when it came to domestic affairs, it was almost a complete disaster. It was a good thing that most of Duanmu Huai's subordinates were either Night Guards or Puppets; otherwise, with his lousy domestic department, it would have completely collapsed by now.

But now, to manage a territory in this world, it couldn't all be left to Puppets; that would be a tale too bizarre to tell, right?

“So, you're going to do it?”

“Me alone? You want to work me to death? No way!”

Hearing this, Ann was immediately shocked and quickly scurried behind Greiya. It was a joke, even as a princess she couldn't handle so much work. Was Duanmu Huai really trying to play her to death?

“Heh……”
Staring at Ann, Duanmu Huai let out a cold laugh.

“In the end, it's all about talent, isn't it? And talent is not hard to find, right?”

“Finding talent is the hardest part, okay? Or do you want Audrey to do it? But Audrey is currently serving as Miss Acotte's deputy, she can't possibly do everything.”

Strictly speaking, Ann was right, finding the right people to govern a territory was the hardest part. Duanmu Huai's Tribunal was essentially a robber organization, and which robber group would set up departments like finance or domestic affairs. However, a proper and qualified territory certainly couldn't be run that way.

“Indeed, you're right that talent is hard to find elsewhere, but this place is different.”

Duanmu Huai said while pointing at the ground beneath him.

“Guess why it's called the Lost Ground?”

Watching Anhe Guleiya's puzzled expression, Duanmu Huai chuckled. If it were somewhere else, it would be as difficult to find talent as Ann had suggested. However, the Lost Ground is different, and the reason is simple–there is a fragment of the soul world here.

This world is well-known among Soul Walker players, and the story itself isn't too complex. Simply put, it narrates the war between a kingdom named Luminas and the Devil's Army. Both sides fought fiercely, but later the devils schemed and turned Luminas against their ally, Revion, resulting in a major battle. While they fought, the Devil's Army took advantage of the situation, defeated both, and Olaya also went missing after her defeat.

However, when Olaya returned to the battlefield, she had fallen and turned into the dark knight, Melissa.

In the end, everyone died, and it was GAME OVER–the total annihilation ending, with the kingdom's destruction, hence the name Lost Ground. But after so many years, I guess no one remembers how it all happened.

Well… but the downfall and dark transformation of a female knight–this is like the favorite theme for players, isn't it?

Of course, besides that, the world is known to players because of the famous Soul Card “Legendary Sword”. If a player acquires “Legendary Sword” in this world along with the title of “Legendary Sword Commander”, then during battle, as long as they summon the “Legendary Sword”, they will trigger a special effect: “As long as 'Legendary Sword' is on the player's field, initiate a charge and turn any damage taken to zero.”

This basically amounts to near invincibility, doesn't it!

Unfortunately, there is only one “Legendary Sword”, and there is only one “Legendary Sword Commander”. Duanmu Huai had fought that person too–frankly speaking, it was a tough grind.

Of course, players later discovered that person wasn't truly invincible. Although unaffected by other abilities, the card reads “except for those that change Attack/Life Value”.

So, if you avoid direct attacks but instead change its Life Value and Attack through certain special effects, it can also be defeated.

But no matter what, this thing is seriously powerful! At least until the rules are clear, direct attacks, be they magic or physical, are ineffective and it's a killing machine!

Just think about summoning this thing in battle and slinging it over your shoulder–that's basically like having an invincibility cheat activated, right!

By the way, in the game, most players choose to side with Luminas, and the reason is simple–Luminas has a lot of girls! Knights, healers, mages, riflemen are all female, and the princess–well, the last one is obvious.

On the contrary, the Knights of Revion are all men, including several handsome ones, which draw the fangirls among female players, or those with… peculiar tastes. Otherwise, who would go to Revion!

Plus, this world has plenty of capable officials and the like. Just deal with the troubles in this world, then harvest the Soul Cards, and why should my territory lack people to use?

“So, I'll be right back. Until then, you guys are in charge.”

“Eh? Wait, are you really leaving this to us? Like, construction and all…”

“Don't worry about those tedious things. Those guys won't bother us any time soon. If anyone contacts you, just tell them the Tribunal is currently undergoing internal construction and not open to the public.”

With that, Duanmu Huai stood up, snapped his fingers, and Ogis and Gavi gathered beside him, one on each side. They climbed onto Duanmu Huai's shoulders with practiced ease, almost like an auto-navigation system.

“So, please take care of it.”

As Duanmu Huai said this, he waved his hand and, under the dumbfounded gazes of everyone present, left the hall just like that.

“Uh… what do we do now?”

While petting the little white rabbit in her arms, Mary looked at An and Greiya, the latter of whom sighed with resignation.

“What can we do? Since Mr. Knight has entrusted this to me, it seems that now it's only me…”

As An said this, her eyes suddenly shifted, and then she set her sights on Mary.

“Miss Mary, will you help me too?”

“Eh? Me? I'm not suited for this!”

Hearing An's words, Mary was visibly shocked and quickly shook her hands emphatically.

“I don't have the talent for this kind of thing, nor the knowledge…”

Although Mary was a student at the Royal Academy, she studied literature, language, and archaeology; she knew next to nothing about politics. An and Greiya were princesses, who, even if forced, would certainly understand, but Mary was completely a novice!

“It's okay, you can learn slowly…”

Seeing Mary's frantic demeanor, An chuckled and grabbed her hand.

“You'll help, right? Miss Mary?”

“This… okay, fine.”

After all, Mary was still a middle-class citizen at heart, without the courage to refuse a princess's request, so she could only nod her head in resignation.

All she could do now was hope that Mr. Duanmu would come back soon.

Although that was Mary's prayer, unfortunately… her wish did not come true.

“Doesn't seem to be here either…”

Looking at the wilderness before him, Duanmu Huai scratched his head with resignation. It had been two days since he left the warship. He had run all over the Lost Ground looking for an entrance to the Soul World, but so far, he hadn't found anything.

Could it be that he had turned the Lost Ground upside down with explosions and destroyed the doorway as well?

That would be just his luck!

“I say, how much longer do we have to search?”

Gavi, following beside him, complained discontentedly. Ogis, on the other hand, quietly flipped through her book–she was already used to killing time.

“We've been searching for two days, how come you haven't found that 'portal' yet, Master?”

“It's close, it's close, should be around here…”

As Duanmu Huai spoke, he rubbed his ring and, before long, a half-translucent ghost girl emerged from it.

“Any movements nearby?”

“Over there.”

When asked by Duanmu Huai, the ghost girl closed her eyes to sense for a moment, then pointed toward a pile of huge rocks not far away. Following the direction indicated by the ghost girl, Duanmu Huai walked towards the pile of rocks, then he scrambled over them, up and down, left and right.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then.”

Duanmu Huai took a deep breath and then opened his eyes.

“Soul Resonance!”

The next moment, accompanied by Duanmu Huai's roar, the initially empty air in front of him commenced to swirl, and then appeared a… no, wait.

Half of a teleportation portal.

The other half was underground.

Looking at the portal before him, Duanmu Huai was rendered speechless.

“Pfft!”

Upon seeing this, Gavi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

“Master, how do you plan to get in?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

Facing Gavi's question, Duanmu Huai glared at her fiercely.

“Of course, I'm going to crawl in!”

Chapter end

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