Feicui Long hands each of them the modifications to the original plan, then says: "This is the first part of the plan, the first thing is to reach 1500 inhabitants or 2500 inhabitants, build the defensive perimeter and the walls, then formally take the Leechwald forest. I've already instructed Kagetsume and Miss Irina Ogneva, the scout slave with the 'Eyes of Truth' ability, to start releasing the beacon stones. I put a mini formation on them to hide them and activate them when I deem it necessary, after all, the union says that the first to deploy 21 stones in a significant territory gets to keep it."
Elise then slams her hands on the table and says loudly: "My young lord, we agreed on no more excessive expenses. To maintain such a large territory with such a small population, if you continue with such a high percentage of troops, the economy and production won't be sustainable. The 70 troops you have are 22.44% of 312 people, not counting the 85 children, unless you plan to burn more energy stones to create fields like the ones behind the house or mansion. It's not sustainable in the long term."
Soon, one of the unit leaders, the Kijin woman named Ayame, says: "My lord, aside from that, we would still be too few for such a large piece of land. It's true that the Leechwald forest has natural protection because it's close to a mountainous region which cuts the path, but even so it would be difficult to keep the bandit roads in check. Besides, I don't know how the Skylion barony will take it."
Feicui Long nods calmly and responds to calm them: "It's fine, it's fine, don't worry. First, I plan to dedicate only 10% of the population to troops and even though I plan to build more energy cultivation fields, they will only be a few zones. Besides, there are ways to save stones. That's one part... as for the other..."
Feicui Long then smiles and says: "First, the Skylion family, that is, my mother-in-law and I, have already negotiated. Although I had to convince her to accept the resources I offered, since she didn't want to receive them and wanted me to keep everything, I will keep almost everything, but I plan to grant her one or two mines or part of the resources of some of them. This will help reduce the burden of defense, but that isn't really the solution to the number of troops, I have another one."
Isabella also speaks, complementing the words of her beloved: "Yes, my mother and father have already approved, the agreement is closed. In fact, they will possess the territory of 'name' at least until the next phase with the reconquest of the territory lost by the barony to the county of Krötenheim. For that, we need to strengthen our troops as soon as possible."
Feicui Long hugs her more tightly and then continues his explanation: "That's right, as for the solution to the number of troops, it's very simple. We would have between 150 to 250 troops. If I grant them contracts for golems, puppets, undead, beasts and others, we could triple or even quintuple those numbers."
This time Gloria opens her eyes and says: "But wouldn't that weaken the troops? I mean, there's a reason why common golems or common undead created directly through the ability aren't sold, unlike the custom-core golems and personalized undead, unless they are made with rare materials in the case of golems or rare undead species."
Gloria pauses for a moment and explains her point: "And that's because although they would sell cheaply and be useful to many nobles or rich merchants, almost no one offers them and almost no one buys them except in excessively weak zones. It's because contracts with someone who doesn't possess a related ability, taming, summoning, creation of golems and puppets or necromancy in the case of undead, the pressure on the soul generated by the contracts can be up to 10 times or more."
Arianne, a scholar, takes Gloria's word before she can continue: "That's the reason Gloria mentions that even in rich families or powerful forces, at most they will have one pet, usually the companion creature using the companion pact, and one or two mounts, or three if a family wants to have one for air, another for land and another for water, or four if they are more extreme and like to travel through space. So even rich families that buy golems, undead and such do it in a limited manner."
Arianne then adds: "Because the weight on the soul being excessive can either damage the soul, which unlike the special soul that if damaged or destroyed not much happens except for losing a bit of power, can severely wound or kill a person permanently without the possibility of rebirth or reincarnation except by intervention of the Absolute Heaven, the Supreme Sovereign or with a large number of fragments of the law of the Absolute Heaven. And even if it doesn't damage it, the pressure can slow down reflexes, movements, memories and other things."
Feicui Long this time smiles mischievously and says: "I thought the same, because although there are several ways to reduce the weight of these contracts or eliminate them, like with the slavery contract scrolls that serve to store contracts or other artifacts, that's not the solution I have in mind because of the cost and the risk of the contracts being stolen. To understand it... how much do you know about the Empire of the Mortal Abyss?"
Arianne frowns and says: "Isn't that the empire specialized in necromancy, which curiously belongs to righteous-path cultivators? I've heard that their regular troops, who neither possess the innate ability nor have learned it, are accompanied by between 3 to 5 undead or even more, which gives them large numbers."
Feicui Long then says: "Exactly, but do you want to know the most incredible thing? They don't use artifacts to store the contracts, no, the troops have contracts with them. This is known because, although a necromancer can command them to obey someone else as I did when I left the golems under Annie's care, these ones are not only fully obedient but can also follow complex orders, something normally reserved for the masters."
Gloria asks very doubtfully: "How are you so sure about that?"
Feicui Long keeps smiling confidently and says: "That's because I read it. And yes, I know you'll think it might be false, but this information doesn't come from the Empire of the Mortal Abyss, it comes from the Sect of the Hundred Thousand Corpses, a force also specialized in necromancy, at the same power level as the empire, but from the demonic path. This sect attacked some soldiers patrolling the border and killed them to study them and understand what was going on…"
Feicui Long raises a finger and says: "And the thing is, the empire had a very glorious era, but they were nearly wiped out by the abyssal demons of the Mortal Abyss. They were saved by the poison hunters of the union of mortal races, but the empire was left with very few people and troops, so to compensate they designed that type of troops Arianne described. The sect wanted to know how they managed that, but what they found was incredible…"
Arianne, even more incredulous than usual with Feicui Long, interrupts him to ask: "But wasn't the Sect of the Hundred Thousand Corpses exterminated?"
Feicui Long then nods and says: "But the ones who exterminated them were actually the Empire of the Mortal Abyss. Although in the past they had equal strength, that was a long time ago, because thanks to that model they recovered quickly and even surpassed them in troop numbers, since they now had an army five times larger, and that's not even counting their necromancers and the undead they can control. I myself could handle 250 undead alone, Mariane 350 undead, obviously depending on power and rarity."
Feicui Long quickly adds so he won't be interrupted: "The thing is, during the extermination someone who had been spying on the sect to steal information managed to sneak in and steal several things, including the research results. What they reported was shocking. They didn't find a single storage artifact nor any rare or special technique or treasure, nothing out of the ordinary. And they even searched their souls using the soul-searching technique, and no, those soldiers had no secret formation or anything, since they were low-level recruits, they wouldn't even have any important information."
Arianne and Gloria then open their eyes and say in unison: "So… they were using normal direct contracts!"
Feicui Long sighs and says: "Yes, although I don't know how, but they managed to find a way to avoid that much pressure. Or rather, they found the limit they can endure before the pressure on the soul starts causing any discomfort. I don't know it myself, but I think we can test until we reach the ideal amount, especially because after all, contracts with golems through the corresponding skill, undead, taming, summoning, etc., occupy different slots and don't contribute to soul pressure among them, so we could even have them carry more things, like I said, even 5 or 10 energetic beings with them."
Then another unit leader, the lesser giant named Ada, says: "My lord, if you don't mind, I could offer myself so you can run the tests on me. After all, I use an energy rifle, and the creatures you mention could serve me as cover and support."
Feicui Long nods and then immediately moves on to another part of the plan: "I also plan to set up an altar… no, better, a temple. With my current power, I can't use or grant blessings unless I'm connected to my believers to some degree. Although I've already reestablished the connection with my divine will, I can't wield it either unless I'm at a temple for the same reason."
Caroline, curious, asks him: "And who do you plan to appoint as priestess?"
Feicui Long sighs and explains to her: "It can't be just anyone. Faith can't be faked, it must be real. Faith is the fusion of the life, spiritual, mental, and soul energy of each being. It's an insignificant fragment but one with immense power. Of course, a tiny bit isn't much, but if you gather a certain amount, as I explained some time ago, even a mortal can become a god of faith. For now, I need at least 10 believers in the village to establish the connection and be able to use some divine abilities. For example, I can't use my will because I purposely dispersed it across the universe to help my believers, so I need a connection to use it with such a weak power."
Feicui Long then touches his chin and says: "As for the priestess, I already have one in mind. She's also in the elemental kingdom and is a paladin apprentice. Besides, I can contact her from here thanks to the fact that I reestablished the connection with my will at that temple."
Feicui Long smiles inwardly thinking of that girl... Emma Stein, a clumsy, lively, extroverted girl, but with a will of stone, at least that is what he could feel from this believer of his.
Feicui Long then says: "The only problem is finding someone to create the statues with the requirements I need, since they must look exactly like my Western and Eastern dragon forms and use certain materials so that the slaves can feel it is natural to worship me, helping them to start seeing me as their god."
Arianne then raises her voice and says: "I think I can help with that..."
Arianne begins to explain: "I believe my older sister can make the statue for you, or even more if I ask her. She is a very good sculptor, one could say the best in the region. She's even the one who makes the statues for the Skylion family, although she's not tied to them. She's also done work for other nobles, but she lives very isolated."
Feicui Long looks at her and asks: "Hmmm, can you get her to move to the village? If necessary, I will have a house built for her and even pay her very well and provide rare medicines if needed."
Arianne says doubtfully: "I'm not so sure she can... you see, my sister doesn't like contact with people... except me. She doesn't like to see anyone, not after the fight with our parents. They come from a family of blacksmiths and masons and never liked that she went into the arts. They had a very serious argument, and she ended up exiling herself to the mountains of the baronies, where she became so famous and successful. In fact, thanks to her, I was able to go to the Royal Academy of Mystic Energies and join the mages' section. Everything I have is thanks to her. She and I are very close."
Feicui Long says: "No problem, you can try. If she doesn't accept to come, then so be it, but if she does, the village and I gain someone very capable. So on the 15th of next month, you can accompany Elise to sell our things and buy the 3 bulls and 20 sheep with 3 rams, along with the construction materials I have in mind for her to bring."
Arianne nods, but a few moments after that, before Feicui Long can speak to continue with the agenda, Freja asks very hesitantly: "Feicui Long, in your empire... will you allow other religions or cults?"
Feicui Long looks at her. He is already prepared for this question from Freja. After all, she is a warrior priestess of his sister, the Supreme Goddess of Order, and of the Order Clan. So he answers: "I know what you mean. I will allow the worship of gods without divine authorities, faith gods, and gods with divine authority of high level and below as long as they acknowledge me as the main and official god of the empire's future territories. Though I want to make it clear that I will not force conversion. I'm not a barbarian to impose myself as someone's main god."
Freja frowns, noticing that he deliberately omits the supreme level, and says: "But what about the Supreme Authority Gods..."
Feicui Long smiles at her and says to calm her: "Not only will I allow the worship of my brother Fernando, but I will also promote his worship. I will also allow the worship of my other fallen siblings."
Freja frowns even more, because once again he avoids mentioning the living Supreme Gods like her goddess. She insists again: "But what about the living ones?"
Feicui Long sighs at her persistence and says: "What about them? Do you need me to pity them? Don't worry, I won't force you to abandon your religion. You can continue it, but as for their temples, they will never touch my empire."
Freja asks in a slightly agitated and worried tone: "B-but you can't do that, it's not fair for you to do that..."
Feicui Long looks at her and says, a little annoyed for the first time in a long time: "What do you mean not fair? It's not fair to believe they deserve anything, especially in my empire. What's unfair is their betrayal of me, of the siblings who died by their hands in the Rebellion War. Unfair is what they did to my master's universe. That's what's unfair, Freja. Besides, sooner or later I will have to confront them and their temples and followers or the forces they created, and the Supreme Goddess of Order is no exception."
Freja tries to defend herself and says: "But they might have repented, they might submit to you, they could be your allies!"
Feicui Long laughs angrily and says: "Repented? What a joke. If they had repented, they would be helping my temple when it is being besieged and attacked by Adolf's faction. But they don't, even though they know Adolf is infiltrating their territories to continue attacking it. They completely ignore it. And as for being allies? Are you serious?"
Feicui Long, a bit more enraged, adds: "Being allies is now impossible, from the moment they killed me and killed my brothers and sisters. But more importantly, they harmed my master's universe by destroying its balance. There is no longer any possibility of reconciliation. My master and I did too much for them. Thanks to my master, they exist. Thanks to her and me, they know what they know..."
Feicui Long can no longer contain his rage and anger, he slams the table without realizing he is surrounded by three auras: one emerald, one amethyst, and one topaz, and he shouts: "WITHOUT ME THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WOULD HAVE FALLEN, WITHOUT ME THEY ALL WOULD HAVE DIED BOTH IN THE WAR AGAINST THE FEILOU CLAN AND BEFORE IT, I GAVE THEM ALL MY LOVE, MY PROTECTION AND HOW DID THEY REPAY ME, BY KILLING MY BROTHERS, BY KILLING ME, BUT THE WORST IS THAT THEY DESTROYED MY MASTER'S DREAM, BROKE THE BALANCE OF THE UNIVERSE AND ON TOP OF THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE IT FOR THEMSELVES! DO YOU THINK THEY DESERVE MY FORGIVENESS, THAT EVERYTHING CAN GO BACK TO NORMAL WITH A SIMPLE I'M SORRY!? I AM NOT THE HOLY LORD OR A BUDDHA!"
Freja stays quiet, she has never seen Feicui Long angry or furious, she knows he is right and even if it hurts, she must remain silent to avoid making things worse. As for the others, they are very surprised, only Isabella, Marianne, and the twins understand what he feels because they know the full story. Most of the others only know he was betrayed.
Feicui Long calms down a little thanks to Isabella hugging him tighter to help soothe him and he says: "I understand that you worship my sister the Supreme Goddess of Order, and as a sign of respect for our friendship, Freja, I will not force you to abandon your faith... in fact, as a sign of respect for you, when I eventually fight her I will give her the chance to surrender and submit, then it will be her decision whether she lives or dies."
After that, Elise asks confused on behalf of herself, Evelyn, and the maids of both, the only ones who do not know he is a Supreme God: "Can we know what all this is? What do you mean by temple and how come your sister is the Supreme Goddess of Order?"
Feicui Long then returning to his usual self says: "Oh, it's true I forgot to explain to you, let me explain, it will be a bit long, so I ask for your patience."
Feicui Long, after an hour of explanation and leaving the new ones astonished, says: "Alright, then the temple will be built after building the essentials or as soon as we have the statues, now let's move on to the third item on the agenda, the short-term goals. Please look at the modified document of the plan I gave you before we begin."
They all take a few minutes to read each detail and it is then that Feicui Long explains: "Starting off, Marianne will switch to crafting artifacts with the hides of energy beasts and other types half of the time, while she must cultivate the rest of the time until she reaches the mystical realm. The twins will make medicine half of the time and the rest they will cultivate until they reach grade 9 of the elemental realm. Isabella on the other hand must improve in inscriptions and other things, but she must also reach grade 9 of the elemental realm with the body technique and the internal one."
Feicui Long states the goals one by one, each one must reach their goal, obviously it is difficult in some cases, so Feicui Long to motivate them says: "The contribution point system will also apply to you and the troops can exchange points for things like combat techniques and cultivation techniques, I have quite a few, so I hope you make an effort. Who knows, maybe you'll even gather enough to get a technique designed by me or to take a lesson from me or a medicine or artifact or inscription."
Then Feicui Long looks at Isabella, giving her the turn to speak and she says: "Alright, the fourth part of the agenda is suggestions or improvements, you say them and I'll write them down, this time I'll be the one serving as scribe. My darling also asked me to evaluate the viability of the proposals so please, say things that are realistic."
Shortly after, someone raises their hand, surprising everyone, especially Caroline, because it is her aunt, Evelyn. Evelyn says: "Young lord, I know you are a god, so forgive me for the insolence, but could you modify and improve the stable's design? I was looking at it and while it is good, three floors, one underground for livestock, the surface one for horses, and one on top with a second floor that works as storage for their food is a good design, but I feel there are points for improvement like the ramp to the underground zone, lighting and so on."
Feicui Long smiling says: "Of course, that's your job, you can decide without consulting me unless it's something very important."
After this, everyone starts presenting their ideas, some offer genuinely good ideas, others not so much, and a few crazy ideas fly back and forth.
…
Meanwhile, a tired girl, the scribe Clarissa, enters the guest house where she and her sisters are staying, but instead of going to her room, she goes to the house of her new young lord, since they are interconnected, but when she tries to go she sees her lord's troops with the new emerald-gold dragon symbol.
The new symbol is modified with the same two dragons, one western and one eastern chasing each other, although it is modified since it has a man in the center with a clock in his left hand and a cube in the right, also on his chest a heart stands out, while on his forehead a crown with three precious gems shines. The cube is quite peculiar, the details are good, the dragons are emerald-gold colored, while the heart is emerald, the clock topaz, and the cube amethyst. The gems on the crown are of those same three colors.
She, when she sees it for the first time, thinks it is stunningly beautiful, but at the same time, she worries that this might be seen as a blasphemy against the temple of the dragon god, the only official religion recognized and protected by the mortal races union. But soon she shakes her head and says to the troop acting as guard: "Miss, may I come in? I need to see the lord to give him today's data."
The guard shakes her head and answers politely, even knowing that she is a slave: "I'm sorry, Miss Clarissa, but I can't let you in. In fact, no one can. The lord is in a meeting and has asked us to guard the doors and hallways so they won't be interrupted."
Clarissa remains thoughtful. This is very mysterious. While it is normal to have some secrecy in meetings, this is just a village. Denying entry to the scribe is not common. After all, it is an important role, even if she is currently a slave. This only makes her young lord even more mysterious. With that, she can only go rest…
…
The meeting finally ends around 10 p.m. It is something significant, and Feicui Long feels happy. The incorporation of Elise and Evelyn is a very good decision. They may not yet be at the level of the advisors from his first empire, who are now very far from where they are, but they are definitely talents worth developing. Perhaps, at some point, they might catch up to those advisors…