Chapter 223: Arrangements on All Sides
Within the Iron Dragon Wing Palace, Kai Xiusu lay sprawled across his throne, exhaling a hot, sulfur-scented breath.
"Timing-wise, the Player should be leaving soon."
"By the time the true Server Launch arrives… it'll be four years from now."
All the facilities originally housed in the Council Chamber had been relocated here intact.
Especially the Red Dragon Vault—overflowing with an unimaginable Treasure Collection—was being steadily transported deep into the cavern’s innermost reaches by immensely strong Frost Giant Slaves, under tight surveillance. Even with their brute strength, the process took days.
The poor slaves were blindfolded, forced to rely solely on the Overseer’s commands as they hauled the loot.
Tens of thousands of gold coins piled into mountains, scattered with glittering gemstones and crystals, hundreds of enchanted artifacts glowing with radiant power, and vast quantities of elemental ore scattered throughout. Hidden among them were priceless relics—among them, a rare Nine-Ring Spell Scroll. This was the Red Dragon’s private treasure vault.
Every passage had been sealed with spell-crafted rock. The sole entrance was secured by a high-tier secret spell lock, and dozens of Guardian Glyphs were hidden around the door. At the outer gate, over a hundred fully armored Earth Gnome guards stood ready—more than enough to slaughter any unwelcome intruder on sight.
The Red Dragon even harbored a quiet hope for adventurers’ arrival—perhaps they’d add more to his collection.
Lanpu had originally wanted to call this construction "The Dragon King’s Treasure Mountain," but Kai Xiusu had changed the name.
As the greediest of dragons, the Red Dragon took great pride in it.
Occasionally, he’d take a few gold coins from the vault and swallow them whole—absorbing their gold elemental energy to strengthen his gilded scales. Tinia, another dragon, never understood this habit. How could a dragon possibly be so extravagant as to eat such precious currency?
At the palace’s entrance, Tiefling guards patrolled back and forth. Wyverns rested on the watchtower outside, and any unauthorized intrusion would be torn to shreds.
At that moment, Kai Xiusu flipped through the report Lanpu had presented.
Now, the Kingdom of Ashen encompassed territory from the former Lakanman and Norton Duchies, added to the original Storm Ridge and the newly conquered Glacial Region—spanning nearly two hundred thousand square kilometers. Yet, most of it remained sparsely populated. Even with the addition of Dragonline followers, the total population barely reached four hundred thousand.
Given the current near-medieval level of productivity, managing such a vast expanse was already a monumental task. Population growth, taxation, infrastructure—all were progressing steadily, but it would take years before the system stabilized.
Lanpu had learned much from the Player about advanced governance, but applying those methods effectively in this harsh, frontier environment remained a challenge.
The Duchy of Lakanman had once been built on a system of hereditary nobility, with great lords exploiting poor peasants through forced labor, creating a form of serfdom. Economies and legal systems were based on manorial estates run on labor dues. This was far from unique—most of the Northern Kingdoms still operated under similar outdated systems, though they ensured their noble personal armies remained strong enough to seize advantage in war.
But for the current Kingdom of Ashen, such a system was utterly incompatible. Most of the original nobles had been massacred by furious Tieflings, and even the thousands of peasant laborers in the Lakanman family estates had been declared free. The Red Dragon envisioned a centralized empire.
"Hah…."
Glancing at the dense reports, Kai Xiusu yawned.
Thankfully, he didn’t need to worry about the details. He only needed to set broad direction—leaving the heavy burden to the Council Ministers. And with the Players gone, their days would become even more grueling.
Just then, a Tiefling guard announced at the door.
"Your Majesty, Master Meizhuolashi has arrived."
"Let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The heavy palace doors creaked open slowly. Meizhuolashi entered with steady, deliberate steps, then knelt halfway before Kai Xiusu.
"How did the task go?"
"I’ve completed the交接 with the Player as instructed. Following your orders, I’ve selected a group of humans—of clean lineage, and who suffered under the oppression of the Duchy of Lakanman—to serve as candidates for the 'Nocturne' unit. They will become the sharpest blade in the kingdom’s night."
"Excellent."
Kai Xiusu decided to entrust the leadership of 'Nocturne' to Meizhuolashi—both because the Tiefling’s people were now firmly bound to the kingdom’s cause, with no chance of betrayal, and because Meizhuolashi was ruthless in execution and possessed the ability to control the undead—perfect for operations in the shadows.
After all, the Players were too unpredictable—especially someone like Langli BaiTiao, infamous for chaos and recklessness. Let him be a mascot. Let him handle flashy, spine-chilling raids or surprise strikes. But no secrets—no true covert operations—would ever be entrusted to them.
What Kai Xiusu didn’t know, however, was the full story behind this so-called "smooth" handover. Langli BaiTiao had screamed and raged like a madman, even challenging Meizhuolashi to a duel. In the end, he was beaten senseless—only then did he concede. The other Players watching cheered and clapped, delighted by the spectacle.
"Begin gathering intelligence from the various duchies. Once training is complete, dispatch these vampires into the Northern Kingdoms. With our administrative reach expanding, we can no longer rely solely on the Serpent Folk’s intelligence."
Kai Xiusu paused, then added:
"Four years. In four years, I want detailed intelligence reports from every nation."
"As for additional funding, I’ll write you a Directive Note. You’ll need to present it to the Council Ministers yourself."
"Yes, Master."
Meizhuolashi bowed respectfully. His expression remained calm—neither elated nor distressed. He simply accepted the order.
For a Tiefling, this was a massive expansion of power. After all, Kai Xiusu’s plan for Nocturne extended far beyond foreign targets. It was meant to keep tabs on every internal faction—giving Meizhuolashi leverage over rivals, but also inviting suspicion and hostility.
Yet, he didn’t care. The kingdom’s power structure was brutally simple—built entirely on individual might. As long as he clung tightly to the Red Dragon’s mighty, unshakable leg, any threat would dissolve on its own.
Meizhuolashi knew this well—and practiced it daily.
The kingdom was flourishing, and new responsibilities kept piling up. Barely had Meizhuolashi left when the Tiefling guard at the door spoke again.
"Your Majesty, Master Fried from the Chamber of Dragon Oath requests an audience."
"Good heavens… so many matters, even a moment’s rest is impossible."
Kai Xiusu opened his eyes, which had just begun to close, and slowly lifted his head. A gray, thick plume of smoke curled from his nostrils.
Still, the Red Dragon spoke:
"Let him enter."
(End of Chapter)
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