"No, not exactly."
Ian was very clear that the ’Dark Key’ of the Thousand-Star Beast was likely so kind of last resort similar to Terra’s Dead Hand System. Without the Empire’s presence, Terra would have no reason to exist. They were truly crazy enough to press that button.
Therefore, when Marquis Barton suspected that Ian had ’prophesied’ the existence of the Thousand-Star Beast, he couldn’t help but be shocked by such a future—could it be that the Empire had lost to such an extent that it would drag the entire world down with it?
It’s just like Earthlings knowing their future involves pressing the global nuclear button: shocking, yet not entirely impossible.
Even if the Dark Key couldn’t destroy Terra due to the intervention of the Four Great Orthodox Churches and other factions, dragging hostile forces like the Fiery Fla Land, Azure Sky Royal Court, and Steep Ridge Fortress down would certainly not be an issue.
"That’s good."
Marquis Barton also breathed a sigh of relief. Ian even knew about the Thousand-Star Beast; even though bound by an oath he couldn’t disclose the secret, his heart felt much lighter: "Although the progress of the Fiery Fla Land’s Demon Legion exceeded our expectations, resulting in us not evacuating those ard civilians, we do indeed have counterasures at our disposal."
"Although it’s unclear why the Artificial Demons of the Fiery Fla Land can evade the automatic purge system of the Voidrealm Machine God, our research on the Domain of Void is sufficient to manipulate the Machine God, holding key fortresses to suppress them—as for how to turn defeat into victory from a disadvantage... the answer lies in the sky."
"The sky..." Ian thoughtfully raised his head, looking at the sky above Xiahui City.
Though it was dayti, with the support of Foresight View and the Rites of the Star Gods, Ian could vaguely see the shadows above the Firmant.
The Dragon Island, orbiting Earth’s equator, always passes by South Ridge.
"I think I understand," he said. "No matter the skies, I can roughly understand... so how long do we need to hold out?"
"Two months."
Marquis Barton solemnly stated, "Two months, Ian."
"The Empire has been victorious for too long; it no longer has any sense of crisis."
"Just like those citizens in your city, when faced with another attack similar to a skyship crash, they will no longer feel fear... The Empire has overco too many crises and formidable enemies, and the people have forgotten the taste of defeat."
"Even when the forr Emperor Inega II passed away during the An Moon unrest, the Empire remained unshaken. Our Majesty even maintained all his territories, with no enemy daring to invade."
"People have grown accustod to victory, so victory has beco aningless."
At this, Marquis Barton sighed, "His Majesty... His Majesty Akseir, has always regretted it."
"When he talks to in private, occasionally he shows vulnerability just like decades ago... He murmurs, saying he always regretted that he successfully guarded all the territories back then."
"He should have let go of a few, or more. As long as the core areas remained intact, those little insignificant places on the borders should’ve been allowed to be occupied by other powers."
"That way, though his own reputation might suffer slightly, everyone would be stifled, hating those enemies who brought them sha and defeat, becoming united in heart and spirit."
"These two months is a necessary humiliation. Without humiliation, the slumbering Imperial People won’t awaken."
Is that really the case... Winning so much that there’s no sense of crisis? But those who died... it all boils down to arrogance.
Ian pondered Marquise Barton’s words, feeling that the other was exaggerating sowhat. The Empire surely had deeper considerations.
However, the two-month duration was enough for him to roughly restructure the managent system of South Ridge, to forcibly spread the terminals and the Heart of Terra to other noble territories.
By that ti, two months later, regardless of whether the Empire succeeded in counterattacking, the Fiery Fla Land would be unable to infiltrate South Ridge as it had before.
Yes, from this angle, the Empire’s theory was correct. This group of foolish minor nobility in South Ridge, if not eradicated in the previous attacks, Ian and capable people like himself couldn’t grasp the power firmly held in their hands.
"What else do you need, Ian?"
Marquis Barton said, "The Empire can give you all the support except material assistance."
"This is enough."
Though ’all support except material assistance’ sounded amusing, what Ian needed wasn’t resources but a ’nominal’: "Marquis, I need you to announce in the na of the South Ridge Governor, that South Ridge will completely transition into warti military control mode."
"And, under the slogan of ’preventing infiltration’, declare that South Ridge must go online—via the ’Nanling Province Mutual Assistance Network’ sponsored and developed by Silver Peak’s Lord."
"That’s all I need."
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