Chapter 1241: Tourists galore
Chapter 1241: Tourists galore
An entire paradeful of automobiles crowded the Rebornian National Highway. This was all caused, of course, due to the high number of new visitors coming to the Parched Lands and seeing their expectations completely destroyed.
Instead of the desolate desert that they thought the Parched Lands were supposed to be, they saw a paradise with glistening metal and glass.
With the desert as flat as any landmark could be, even in the distance, they could see the peaks of the skyscrapers and buildings on the Nation.
Even then, they thought they were enormous. But as they got closer and closer, they started to realize just how enormous this ’city’ was. It was unlike anything they’ve ever seen.
As they rode through the highway, the Nation of Reborn before them looked larger than life. It bore down on them, making them completely shocked and speechless. Some of them, despite how dangerous it was, could only stop their car in the middle of the road and take in the incredible sight.
Now, the Nation of Reborn wasn’t exactly a secret. There were reports about the Paradise in the Desert, with multiple reports confirming those sightings.
However, these people were elites. They were a part of the Upper Echelon society who had never stepped a foot away from their grand estates. They never had a reason to. So, they were completely awestruck to see that the Nation of Reborn looked like a futuristic civilization thousands of years in advance.
It wasn’t until the Highway Patrol of Reborn started ushering people inside the nation did the traffic finally started to flow.
The Centaurs were quite imposing figures. They rode as fast as the automobiles, so anyone that dared to run away from them were quickly apprehended.
Among the visitors were none other than Gourdon and Wadeby, both Patriarchs of an Upper Echelon company. Since they were both now allied with Reborn, they thought it a good idea to visit their supposed nation.
With them were their personal entourage. Their guards, their diplomats, their family... All in all, they had an entire armada of automobiles with them as they entered Reborn.
"This.... This is magnificent..."
"Was this really built by a Lower Echelon company?"
"How are they able to build in the Parched Lands? I do not understand. This is supposed to be as inhospitable as can be!"
They didn’t notice the large, imposing cumulonimbus clouds in the sky, raining down elemental mana down into the ’desolate’ desert, giving it life where it should have been inhospitable.
And Reborn’s allies weren’t the only ones who were flabbergasted to realize their nation’s enormity.
The Lionheart family rode with their infamous pride of magical lions. Their entourage looked completely out of place amongst the metal automobiles in the highway. But they didn’t seem to care. They were only surprised at the complexity of every territory here in the Kings region.
"Its seems that the Reborn company has taken full control of the Lower part of the Royal Continent," said the Lionheart Patriarch.
He saw it first. He saw how Angora City and the other territories near it were completely integrated with the Reborn company, using their resources, their technology, and even their culture.
And because of this, he started to realize the extent of Reborn’s power.
Perhaps, Reborn truly was a powerhouse worthy of fighting against the Upper Echelon. In fact, they were better. And in his estimation, it seemed like the Reborn company was the only one who could hold a candle against the Conglomerates.
"Patriarch, are you saying... that the Reborn company has the best chance of completing the Golden Road?" one of his personal attendants asked.
"It seems so," the Patriarch laughed. "You see this road. It’s poised to become the centerpiece of the continent. I can already see all kinds of business and trade being conducted in this ’National Highway’ of theirs."
The Lionheart attendants were all silent, thinking about the implications.
"Then isn’t it a bad idea that we’re visiting this place?" someone asked the Patriarch.
"Why so?"
"Because the Conglomerate Branches won’t like this. We know that the succession of the Conglomerates are fierce, and that they are basing all of their accomplishments in creating their Golden Road.
If they figure out that Reborn already has the Lower part of the Royal Continent in their hands..."
The attendant stayed silent, letting the implication be unspoken.
Yet, this didn’t sit well with the Patriarch of the Lionheart family. "They’ll what?"
The attendant swallowed his nervousness. "They’ll want to attack Reborn. And if we’re seen here, they’ll think that we’re allied with them. That may give them reason to attack us."
At this point, the Lionheart Patriarch laughed heartily. "HAHAHA! If they want to attack us, then let them. I’d like to see them try."
The Patriarch’s lion-like beard started to grow embers, coloring their carriage a deep blood red hue.
"I’ll do whatever I want," the Patriarch said. "And right now, I want to see why Eldea is so adamant in choosing that demi-human."
"...And what if he’s not?"
The Lionheart simply smiled, letting the silence be the implication.
Meanwhile, Arthur Lionheart, the proud grandson of the Patriarch, the one supposed to be Eldea’s student, kept silent in the back of the carriage, a pensive look on his face.
...
...
...
Michael welcomed all of the new tourists in their nation. And he would have wanted to talk to them and welcome them to his home, but suddenly, the Orc Chieftains came to him with a report.
It was about Earl Oscorpe.
He teleported straight to the underground section of their Nation, finding himself in the heart of the Shadow headquarters.
"BU TO TO! Boss, we’ve just received word about Earl Oscorpe’s escapades."
Michael turned to the screen on the wall. It showed a first-person perspective of a Shadow Orc as he trailed a soldier in Earl’s army.
It showed them fighting against an army, metal clashing against metal. Blood sputtering from both sides. Divas fought against Divas.
And in the end, Earl came out victorious, imprisoning one of his older brothers.
"However, that’s not the end of it, boss. Earl got overconfident."
Michael only directed his Shadow Orcs to observe and report everything there was to know about Earl Oscorpe’s movements.
Now, he didn’t like the fact that there was so much blood spilling in the war. Especially since Earl was supposed to be fighting against one of his older brothers.
And if he was more powerful, he definitely would have stopped them immediately. He didn’t want more casualties.
However, these Conglomerates were so much more powerful than him and the Reborn company at their current state. They had more resources, especially in the manpower aspect.
They had multiple Nascent Spirit cultivators in their army. Earl Oscorpe himself had three in his employ. And according to the rumors, he was the weakest out of all the Oscorpe branches in their conglomerate.
So, he had no other choice but to sit still and watch everything unfold. By gathering information about the Oscorpe Conglomerate, he’d be able to prepare himself and the Reborn company when they inevitably clashed against them.
And in the future, Michael planned to disarm Earl from his own army. After all, they were all working under the false promises that Earl gave them.
He promised them gold, riches, and comfort while they worked for him. He said that he was depositing money and salary back to their families somewhere far away.
However, the Shadow Orcs figured out that there was absolutely no money coming into those families. If there was, then it was the most trifling amount. Just barely enough for them to survive everyday through eating stale bread.
It was a far cry to the comfort and luxury that Earl promised his soldiers.
The worst part was that his soldiers weren’t allowed to go anywhere he didn’t want them to. He either imprisoned them in his estate, never being able to step foot outside, or he sent them off to fight a bloody war.
Michael wanted to slowly destroy Earl’s power from the inside out, using his Shadow Orcs. He’d awaken them from their stupor. Let them know the injustice that Earl was giving them.
However, before he could do that, Earl made a crucial mistake.
"RAH TA TA! After his victory against his brother, Earl got overconfident and attacked another one of his brothers.
However, he underestimated his opponents and overestimated his own force. They were almost decimated. And so, Earl is once again forced back to his territory, injured and in hiding. His brothers are pressuring him to surrender."
Michael smiled, finally seeing the path to defeat Earl.
"Orcs, start the Phone Project," he said to them.
And immediately, the Orcs shouted in excitement. Immediately, both Orc Chieftains shouted their commands to their army, summoning their Elite Penumbras and High Penumbras they needed for the task.
"You all know what to do," Narito said. "Make sure that you work fast."
BU TO TO!
RAH TA TA!