Chapter 181 Melochi
Chapter 182 Melochi
Yonglan and Enesyin leaned in to watch. On Jiali’s tablet, a video recording was displayed.
It was a record of a Qianhong Family elder from the Rose Garden leading his army to defeat a competitor.
Since it was merely an internal war for the Throne, the Scarlet descendants were cautious, refraining from deploying their world-ending war machines. Instead, they opted for a gentleman’s battle, agreeing on a location and fielding comparable forces for a clash that aimed to be decisive but not overly destructive.
The family that held an overwhelming advantage displayed an army that was formidable and impeccably organized, with commands executed flawlessly. They were a rare example of a disciplined unit within the Rose Garden.
Beyond their impressive appearance, the combat prowess of these Scarlet warriors matched their imposing facade. Wave after wave they advanced, crushing the enemy into a disorganized rout.
The entire recording was quite brief, quickly showcasing a situation where the defeated army crumbled like an avalanche, leading to an easy victory.
Presiding over it all was an Elder of the Bloodline, seated on a golden throne on a high dais.
Her striking scarlet double-breasted military uniform, despite fully covering her upper body, couldn’t conceal her impressive figure. In fact, its tight fit only accentuated her commanding presence.
Her dark golden hair was abundant and lush, not only braided into a high ponytail at the back but also cascading over her shoulders. Her crossed legs were shapely and long, encased in perfectly sheer black stockings.
Her delicately upturned face exuded sternness and pride, adorned with a smile full of confidence.
“Melochi of the Golden Branch Family in the Rose Garden, possessing an ancient lineage like the Qianhong Family, seized power within the Golden Branch Family through a coup d’état.”
“Even if one doesn’t pay close attention, recent television programs in the Rose Garden have been broadcasting this news extensively. She’s rumored to be the most powerful contender and is highly favored by many.”
Enesyin mentioned that she didn’t particularly enjoy watching television. It was only during her time in the Rose Garden that she started watching with everyone else, and through osmosis, she had gained some understanding of the current situation.
It was understandable; in the Rose Garden, the struggle for the Throne was akin to a general election, an absolute hot topic that every media outlet closely monitored, eager to publish reports every minute.
In a rare display, the Rose Garden, usually detached from the outside world, was captivated by this spectacle, indulging in fervent public gossip.
Yonglan nodded, “It does seem quite similar.”
He was referring to that incredibly arrogant expression, as if they were the second coming of… well, everything. The Scarlet descendants seemed to be like that, especially those with the favored Bloodline; their S attribute was bursting forth, the one who stepped on people with high heels, they said.
Jiali propped her chin with one hand, saying, “However, she has had two more years of development than me. Whether it’s the quantity and quality of her subordinate legions, her control over the family, or her reputation in the Rose Garden, she is far superior.”
The girl with silver-purple hair was not one to boast stubbornly. She could quite calmly acknowledge the objective disparity and stated,
“Moreover, she’s an Artificer of the Heroic Tier who broke records. Although this record won’t last much longer… Heh, if we were to challenge her directly, facing the guards she’s trained, the long-dormant good-for-nothings of the Qianhong Family would be utterly useless and would lose spectacularly.”
Enesyin: “But being able to defeat and subjugate them would essentially mean winning half the battle.”
“Yes, the reputation and achievements they’ve accumulated will instantly become spoils of war. This is the charm of a zero-sum game; there is only one ultimate victor, and the winner takes all.”
Jiali put down the tablet and rested in Yonglan’s embrace, gently caressing his face and neck with her fingers, and chuckled,
“I like it. Besides, subduing this compatriot from the Golden Branch Family is very necessary. I have no interest in training the Rose Garden’s troops. With help in this regard, the Rose Garden can quickly integrate afterward.”
Yonglan: “Indeed. That’s precisely why we need an environment for a one-on-one duel. This is where I come in.”
“But before that, we need to make our own names known. Otherwise, swooping in to claim the prize would just make us a laughingstock.”
Jiali stood up, brushed down her dress, and turned back to say,
“Also, let her get impatient first. Otherwise, how can we make her hopelessly infatuated with dear Yonglan? We can’t exactly send them recordings of our nights, can we?”
Actually, it wasn’t impossible… Yonglan thought of saying this, but then he realized he now had a certain status and couldn’t be as unrestrained as he was when he was an optimizer in Chang.
Hmph, he had responsibilities now.
Jiali soon announced her formal entry into the competition and led her troops away from the Qianhong Family’s territory, heading for the central royal court of the Rose Garden.
Hram, a Demonkin of the Zhenxian faction, and the elite guard of the Qianhong Family formed the contender army led by Jiali.
This force was not weak within the Rose Garden, but it was by no means exceptionally strong. Even Elders who acted conservatively and aimed to preserve their family’s strength would at least cultivate their own direct lineage. Jiali, however, did not consider this at all.
Everyone had almost forgotten about the Lord of Qianhong, who had first initiated the prelude to the war for the Throne. They thought she would lie low for a long time and then reappear at her peak, but unexpectedly, she entered the fray so soon.
Thus, eyes of curiosity and scrutiny were cast upon her.
Regardless, there were only about a dozen people who could participate in the war for the Throne, and only a handful were qualified to reach the final rounds. Most other candidates were already close to the royal court, with only Jiali still seemingly idling at home.
Initially, everyone assumed the Lord of Qianhong was planning to remain hidden. Her sudden move, however, added an element of variability to the war for the Throne.
Jiali’s first battle upon advancing to the royal court was to crush a rival contestant who stood in her way with overwhelming force.
The coordination between Jiali, Enesyin, and Yonglan was capable of slaying Fiends in “Sams.” Even without the in-game buffs in reality, their opponents were far from Celestial Gods, making complete domination quite normal.
Moreover, such a marginal force, if truly powerful, would have already marched to the royal court.
Jiali’s rapidly emerging forces quickly drew the attention of all parties, and relevant information was delivered to all contenders.
“Oh, interesting.”
Inside the Golden Branch Family’s encampment, as they neared the central royal court, Melochi studied the newly introduced opponent, her beautiful eyes, accentuated by red eyeshadow, fixed on the screen.
However, she only briefly scanned the introduction and analysis of Jiali before shifting all her attention to Yonglan in the data, involuntarily swallowing.
Melochi placed a hand on her slightly peculiar abdomen, gnawed on her thumb, and let out a cold laugh.
“That woman from the Qianhong Family, how dare she have someone so good?!”
“It seems that after I ascend the Rose Throne and become the Scarlet King, I too will need a worthy companion. I shall acquire one through conquest!”
