Chapter 1178 - 186: Lady Bayonetta’s Predicament and Su Li’s Powerful Entrance_3

Chapter 1178: Chapter 186: Lady Bayonetta’s Predicament and Su Li’s Powerful Entrance_3

Lady Bayonetta’s graceful rising motion also paused for a beat. Su Li’s imposing manner exceeded her expectations; this naked overstep of power hierarchy was more alarming than the previous Council’s difficulties. It wasn’t just a provocation against the Council but also an indifference to the authority represented by the City Lord’s Mansion. However, beneath that alarm, a subtle thought quietly sprouted—a tiger known as the Council seemed genuinely to have led in a fiercer dragon? The situation might become more complex, but perhaps... bring her an unexpected opportunity? She took a deep breath to suppress her turbulent thoughts and maintained perfect composure, reseating herself, though her position seemed more subtle and awkward.

But to Su Li, he didn’t care at all. Marle Castle was something he was determined to capture, and taking Marle Castle would greatly assist him in unifying the entire Border Prince’s Territory.

After all, this is the most crucial passage and city for the Empire’s goods entering the Border Prince’s Territory, where trade can be said to grip countless Pioneer Lords by the throat.

Using an apt metaphor, Marle Castle is like the Heirloom Seal of the Realm for the entire Border Prince’s Territory; capturing it allows proclamations to bind large territories without having to conquer each one individually, which would otherwise take countless years.

Moreover, compared to the East, the Empire has one advantage: the nobles do not have the same resistance as in the East, preferring to be a head of a rooster rather than a tail of a phoenix. They don’t all think of completing a great unification and fighting to the end. They aren’t as resistant to becoming vassals and paying tribute; on the contrary, they are quite adept at kneeling, and it fits the legal system well. Becoming vassals and paying tribute is already a familiar path.

If Su Li indeed obtains the legal title of Grand Prince of the Border Prince’s Territory, the Counts, Barons, and Kingdom Knights below would dutifully pay him vassal taxes without requiring Su Li to subjugate them one by one. After all, within the Empire, even nobles must pay taxes to the Electors.

However, all this is premised on Su Li having the "Heirloom Seal of the Realm" in hand, along with the ability to summon the supreme royal army to swiftly suppress insurgents. To stir righteous warfare, unruly provocateurs would be struck down with the strongest might.

And this, for Su Li, is precisely the easiest to achieve as long as his finances improve, allowing him to effortlessly raise an elite infantry and cavalry force.

Unless a few counts or even a dozen counts form an alliance army to oppose him, other counts have almost no chance of winning. After all, Su Li genuinely possesses Legendary level combat power, along with a numerical superiority of Divine Chosen Knights. More crucially, his Divine Chosen Knights can double at any time. When the decisive moment arrives concerning the entire Border Prince’s Territory’s ownership, Philis will spare no expense to support him, sending Divine Chosen Knights from the Sulande Province for reinforcement.

Of course, such a situation easily provokes intervention from other Electors, as truly letting Su Li control the entire Border Prince’s Territory would harm all Electors’ interests.

Therefore, Su Li currently doesn’t desire a rapid unification of the entire Border Prince’s Territory. As the saying goes, governing a vast nation is akin to cooking a small delicacy; he plans to proceed steadily, relying on farming and management to achieve overwhelming odds before making his move. For instance, cultivating 2-3 Legendary Knights before unifying the Border Prince’s Territory. By then, even if the Electorate Council wants to intervene, they must carefully weigh because confronting 3 Legendary Knights, especially if they fight to the death, the Electorate Council would need to deploy at least 6-8 Legendary level forces to achieve it.

This level of decisive battle and civil war is something the Empire absolutely doesn’t want to face. The last time such a level of civil war occurred was during the Empire’s Three Emperors period, which was indeed the darkest Chapter in the Empire’s history.

Given the Empire’s current political climate, such things are utterly impermissible. Firstly, if the Hesse Territory truly produced 3 Legendary Knights, the electoral vote within the Electorate Council for intervention would not pass, as several southern provinces and southern churches would desperately vote against it. It might even spark a religious war between the North and South, where the losses and costs would far exceed what the Imperial Elector Council could gain from the Border Prince’s Territory.

Su Li’s main goal now is to capture Marle Castle, the southern gem!

This city is truly too prosperous, especially among the barren lands of the Border Prince’s Territory; many Pioneer Territories are newly cultivated desolate lands, while this city is incredibly bustling, standing out prominently. While other cities are small towns of level one or two, here stands an exceptional level five metropolis. Whoever can capture this city gains an unparalleled advantage.

Su Li is oblivious to the angry, fearful, or probing gazes from around. He calmly sits in the chair symbolizing the highest authority in Marle Castle, his gaze calmly sweeping across faces below, some plump, some shrewd, finally resting on the long table.

The long table itself is just a reflection of Marle Castle’s wealth. Its top is draped with luminous, moonlight-soft silk cloth from the distant East, even the silverware upon it isn’t merely simple dining utensils but works of art from a master’s hand, engraved with intricate emblems, flowing with warm and icy luster under the light. The pure gold candlestick is inlaid with perfectly cut gemstones, flickering flames reflect on the dishes:

Large lobsters from the warm southern seas carefully dismantled, their snow-white meat immersed in a sauce that exudes aromas of herbs and white wine;