Chapter 573 Reformation! (3k)
The cheers from the crowd completely drowned out the protagonist, who had disappeared in the hazy moonlight. After the Third Elder announced the investiture ceremony for the National Master the next day, everyone dispersed amidst the chaotic noise.
In a spacious and bright room within a palace, a large round table stood in the center. Dozens of figures sat around the table. The leader, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and not being very tall, propped his chin and said softly:
“Evelyn voted for the Grand Prince, the Third Elder still chose to abstain, Alin chose to vote for the Grand Prince…”
Near the main table, the Second Elder tapped his withered finger, listened, then narrowed his eyes and stopped tapping. He asked in a low voice: “And you? The Oracle Tribe, which is always neutral, must also take a side now?”
Following the Second Elder’s voice, all eyes turned to the leader, Shuangkong. The situation was now four to four, and Shuangkong’s vote would determine who would be the nominal Snow Emperor.
Looking at the faces present, many elders had convened an impromptu meeting. Those present were all distinguished individuals—Hannah, Bai Ming, and even Naz were among them. At the bottom, there was also a virtual projection of the Grand Prince Levitt.
The latter, leaning back on his throne, looked at this nominal patriarch and watched what choice she would make.
“The bloodline Miss, who will be our future National Master, her views are known to you all, right? What we are discussing is the version that merges the Second Elder’s suggestion with her views.”
The Great Elder Shuangkong did not immediately give the answer everyone expected, but instead asked everyone with a smile.
Upon hearing the Great Elder’s reply, everyone nodded. The views had been discussed at the start of the meeting, and everyone felt there were no major directional issues.
“I understand your meaning, I just hope you’ll handle it with care.”
The Second Elder fell into thought for a moment. Then, he looked up slightly at the Great Elder again, placed his hands on the table, waved his sleeve gently, and walked towards the door under everyone’s gaze.
“Does the Great Elder mean… we should proceed with reforms according to this new strategy?”
A smile appeared on the Grand Prince’s face. As an intelligent person, he, like the Second Elder, had guessed the Great Elder’s intention.
But as long as there were reforms, it was good. Regardless of the pace, as long as the country opened its doors, learned technology, and studied human culture, the Snow Demon Clan would never be exterminated.
This is the power of civilization’s progress!
“I also vote for the Grand Prince, and the policies must be carried out according to this new policy, and the National Master and the Royalists must act as supervisors to ensure that policy reforms do not advance too quickly.”
Smiling, Shuangkong glanced at Levitt’s projection and continued slowly.
Upon hearing this, Levitt nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Shuangkong’s eyes, as if looking directly at an authoritative elder, and said softly: “It’s not bad to have a simplified separation of powers. At least, if I make a mistake, someone can pull me back.”
“It’s decided. Tomorrow, the spatial formations of the Imperial Capital and the Ancient Imperial Capital will be reactivated. Levitt, as we agreed, you will come and crown the new National Master.”
Shuangkong surveyed the surroundings and stood up again. After giving a few instructions, she cast a parting word and walked towards the door.
“We now need to notify the various subordinate agencies of the implementation of the new policy, and the war zones of both sides should cease hostilities.”
After the Great Elder Shuangkong also left, everyone began to discuss the details of various plans, and everyone, regardless of which of the three factions they belonged to, expressed their opinions.
A new policy that suited the Snow Demon Kingdom’s national conditions was slowly born through these discussions.
…
In the imperial capital’s garden, the moonlight was still beautiful. An unknown tune was playing from a Bluetooth speaker, and several figures stood there, all visibly joyful.
If Su Jiu were here, she would realize that these people were all people she knew—Snow Emperor Levitt, Anna, Fourth Princess Aisha, negotiator Old Herber, and that simple bear uncle.
“Father… Sister Su Jiu succeeded?”
Holding a nearly dead phone, Anna’s face showed excited surprise. She could not believe that her sister had actually become the National Master.
From then on, she could play with her phone infinitely, and there would even be something called a liquid crystal display. Moreover, with this bloodline sister as the National Master, it avoided other embarrassing issues.
“It’s done, hehe…”
With an aged voice, the brother of Count Herber suddenly stood up. A heartfelt smile appeared on his quite gentlemanly face.
“Miss Su, as expected, anyone connected to Ye Feng is not a simple person.”
Peace between both sides meant the success of his negotiations, successfully avoiding the extreme winter crisis of the Bear Country, and he could report back to the government.
“Finally, I don’t have to live in hiding anymore.”
Muttering to herself, Aisha’s nose felt a little sore. She continued to weave a headdress made of special olive branches. The headdress was not inlaid with any magic crystals, but it gave off a sense of tranquility.
This was made at the behest of her brother after the news of Su Jiu’s victory arrived, stating that he would personally put it on Su Jiu later.
“Whoosh—”
At the boundary between the western and eastern parts of the Snow Country, the cold wind howled like a ghost. Beneath the ravaged landscape were the pitted marks of alchemical shells, and the smell of gunpowder permeated both sides.
In the prisoner-of-war camp to the east, several Snow Demon soldiers with their faces covered suddenly had their hood removed. They were met with equally tired faces, and judging by their attire, they should be enemy officers of no low rank.
Some of these prisoners wanted to say something.
“It’s over…”
The Snow Demon officer opposite them, somewhere, had found a cigarette. He lit it with a strike, sat down beside them, and through the smoke, showed an unprecedented smile.
“I hope my wife hasn’t remarried.”
After saying that, he then ordered other soldiers to untie these prisoners. The middle-aged man’s face also showed a look of relief.
The captured soldiers did not understand his meaning. One rather bold soldier, with some unknown courage, asked: “I don’t understand what you mean. His Majesty Levitt would never admit defeat so easily…”
“Yes… Levitt has become the Snow Emperor in the true sense, and Your Highness Hannah also acknowledges it, so…”
The officer exhaled a smoke ring, and his eyes, no longer so blue, followed the smoke ring towards the starless night sky outside. He grinned.
“The war is over.”
…
In another place, in a noble’s small house, Su Jiu was not idle. She replenished a fire- attribute “Fusheng”, which would allow her to deal with sufficient crisis situations and serve as an additional trump card.
As for leveling up, Su Jiu knew that she couldn’t level up quickly in a short period. What she needed to do now was to get the dual domains that only Battle Kings could use in order. Then, after being crowned National Master tomorrow, she would see if the reward for “Lost Souls” would increase.
Meanwhile, Bairnis sat at a table next to her, holding a specially made pen and writing down the various experiences of this trip in a small notebook. She had a scholarly aura, seemingly returning to her former image as a little secretary.
“Knock knock—”
The wooden door was knocked. Su Jiu was slightly startled. She put on her fluffy slippers and went to open the door. Who could it be this late at night? Nami should have already gone to arrest the Ancient God Sect.
“I originally planned to come tomorrow, but I have to report back to Aunt Maria as soon as possible, so I came early.”
As Su Jiu pushed the door open, a familiar mascot costume was revealed outside. It was Naz, who had already finished his meeting. He had a kind smile on his face, like a senior looking at an excellent junior, with a small broken cloth bag slung over his right shoulder.
“What? Are you going to give me the reward?”
Hearing his words, Su Jiu’s heart began to beat faster. A large part of the reason she did so much was to wait for this opportunity to upgrade her lagging Ice Dragon Transformation.
“Almost. You have also completed the final assessment. This is the additional reward that was promised before.”
With a sly smile, Naz acted like a magician. With a “bang!” sound from his hand, the Dragon Rhyme Bead of the Frost Dragon that had just appeared floated in his palm, and then he tossed it to Su Jiu.
Taking the Frost Dragon Rhyme, Su Jiu could feel her body’s craving, but she unhesitatingly put it into her ring and continued to blink at Naz, saying with a light smile: “What exactly is the reward for the final assessment?”
“Dragon Lord’s Sacrifice’s Dragon Rhyme.”
Unslinging the cloth bag, Naz took out the box inside the cloth bag inch by inch. The cold air emanating from it was almost freezing Naz’s hands.
“Dragon Lord’s… Sacrifice?”
It was not the first time Su Jiu had heard this name. From the name alone, she could tell that the other party’s identity was extraordinary. She slowly took the box from Naz’s hand, almost feeling every cell in her body craving the item inside the box.
Seeing that Su Jiu did not understand, Naz briefly explained: “The Dragon Lord is an Emperor-level Dragon, equivalent to a King-level in human terms, that is, a level above a Walker. His Sacrifice is also a Walker-level existence, rumored to have died in a joint battle between the Others and the Black Dragon King.”
“That strategic battle caused the Dragon Lord’s whereabouts to be unknown. His subordinates died or went into hiding, and the blood-related dragons associated with the Dragon Lord were sent to various parts of the world by that Sacrifice before their death through a secret technique.”
“I see. No wonder Miss [Dragon Thief] dared to steal. It turns out that truly powerful dragons have already hidden themselves.”
Listening to his explanation, Su Jiu connected it to E Huo’s unusual nature. She had some guesses. E Huo was also chased by the Black Dragon to the outside of the city, then rescued by the general Yun Jing, who went on a rampage, and finally placed on the small mountain.
If she hadn’t met him, E Huo might have died inside, or been transferred by other monsters. No one knew the whereabouts of this Dragon Lord’s blood relative.
She had a 50% chance that E Huo might be greatly related to this peak expert—the Dragon Lord, but it was not something she could or needed to contact at this level.
After returning to Dragon Country, she should still let Bai Zhi explain how to cure E Huo, which was the key.
“Heh heh, Aunt Maria was also close to being a Walker back then, otherwise, if she were cracking down on corrupt officials and robbing the rich to help the poor, she would have been arrested long ago…”
Naz glared at Su Jiu. After confirming that he had informed her of everything, he muttered and shook his head, walking towards the door, leaving behind only a faint voice.
“Let’s not talk about so many irrelevant things. Tomorrow is the [Spring Equinox] in your Dragon Country, which brings a refreshing atmosphere. Perhaps this is reform.”
