‘Not just an ordinary undead, I transformed into a one of the highest, a ‘Lich’. Then I hunted for all those millions of EXP which were then piled into this new undead stat.’
‘Well, I did choose the Lich because it was that strong but the side effects are also strong.’
‘298, perhaps I should be worried about this stat.’
Even with faith being high, it was still barely suppressing the strength of the Undead.
“I’ve never even heard about this strength of the dead stat before.”
He had checked multiple forums regarding Royal Road, but there was no information about this stat. This was due to the fact that Weed is better at being bad than anyone else. This was the price he had to pay for being fascinated by the fighting powers of a Lich.
“When I return to Morata, I’ll just have to ask Alveron to bless me.”
This would not be a problem for someone from the Freya Church, especially since Alveron’s the Pope Candidate.
‘I’ve finished the impossible Quest,’ with a long deep sigh Weed then turned toward Golden Bird.
“Then… what should I do first in order to found an Empire? If I construct a Empire of my own, I’d image I will be able to collect taxes from the realm, even sell noble titles?”
The whole spirit of conversation was overshadowed with Weed’s nature of greedily wanting to eat the whole pie instead of a slice! Weed was only interested in profiting from the construction of an empire.
Although hesitant Golden Bird tried to explain.
“To ensure the creation of an Empire several steps are necessary to satisfy the conditions.”
Weed thought that was would be the case, after all the price of doing an “S’ level Quest had called for great sacrifices. Just solving this quest hadn’t been enough, it had only created a foundation for this empire building quest. He knew it would be a very heavy load but even so it won’t get done by saying it’s impossible.
“So what requirements must I fulfill in order to found another Niflheim Empire?”
“In order to build an empire, you must get the approval of the Versailles Gods. To gather this approval you will need to be blessed by three of the founding Gods churches.”
He already knew the Freya Church very well. He’d returned their relic and had completed all their Quest, so he thought it wasn’t going to be much of a problem to at least get one from them. On top of that he already had a good friendship with the Next Pope, Alveron, to rely on.
It was good to have some connections to those with power!
His relationship with the Matallost Church wasn’t bad, so he thought in return for allowing them to build a shrine in Morata, he’d get support from them.
If you added in that he had high fame, especially since fighting off the Embinyu Church, he should be able to gain the approval of other religions as well.
‘If that’s not enough I’ll solve a few high level quest for them, or maybe use the faster method of bribing them with donations and gifts.’
He knew the best way to create high intimacy was to use a bit of both tactics. A few gifts and quest’s should be pretty easy to achieve.
“I guess I shouldn’t have a too much of a problem with getting approval from the gods, I’ll make sure to be blessed by them when before I begin creating an Empire.”
‘Yeah, with the Freya Church’s blessing it’ll be easier to make it a rich Empire. Surely though Golden Bird’s terms won’t end with just that.’
“Furthermore, another condition is for you to gain the approval from several tribes of the northern continent. You must have citizens of more than Five different ethnic groups before the founding of an Empire.”
Dwarf, Elf, Humans, Barbarians, Orcs.
He knew that these five basic species were the most abundant, if he got more detailed about separating them by race, there were sub-races of elves, dwarves, spirits and monsters as well.
Currently, there are races that the players can choose, as well as races players aren’t able to choose.
“Does that mean in order for me to found an empire, all five races must be made available so players can have access to play as those races?”
There was also a chance of a living sculpture civilization needing to be included in those races. Perhaps like some forgotten legacy left behind by Emperor Geihar Von Arpen. Like the avian race of Lavias, city in the sky.
Well he just needed to be resolved to find a way to sweet talk a solution. He felt that he was about to get sent on yet one more high risk adventure quest, still that wasn’t a big deal in exchange for gaining an Empire.
“There is still more…. in order to construct an Empire you yourself must be free of all human sin. If your notoriety is too high, no Knights or Nobles will be able to follow you.”
He already knew how to decrease notoriety through capturing wanted criminals, quests and hunting monsters. He felt that decreasing or even eliminating the unwanted notoriety wasn’t too big of a deal.
“Wait…there can’t be any more conditions…are there?”
“Of course…establishing an Empire takes not only vast territories but a huge population too. ”
“Around 20 thousand people?”
Morata’s population was around that much.
“You’ll need at least 10 million subjects…”
“…furthermore…in order for the population to quickly raise their skill and hobby levels, which allow the public order stat to rise, several guilds needs to be established within your Empire. In addition… you must eradicate the surrounding lands of thieves and monsters periodically in order to increase the security of your subjects”
Weed frowned at the absurdity.
“So in order to defend from monster attacks, I need to build several fortresses as well?”
“But of course you will…”
“…Also another requirement you must fulfill ; you must gather at least 500 elite knights and 30,000 heavily armed soldiers.”
“I’ll ask once more… what else? You’re surely not going to end with just that.”
“Of course there’s more….Religious facilities are needed, along with high artistic and cultural satisfaction. It will be needed to develop the higher craftsmen skills.”
Weed’s expression was looking like that of a man who has just been swindled of all his money. Or like a child that had won money and promptly had it taken away by their parents! They then always say the same thing, “When you grow older I’ll give it back to you ten fold.”
Of course that money just disappeared, leaving behind only bitter disappointment. Even a child knows it’s never coming back!
“You can’t be done yet, you have more conditions, right?”
“Yes…you must have high-quality iron resources. There must be open roads in order to travel easily between villages so that the traders will have the maximum travel efficiency and therefore be able to establish solid commercial trade routes.”
There were many, many mountains to overcome in order to found an empire. Weed reached this simply conclusion.
‘I’ll need to take better care of Morata, check those results and then use that testing ground to begin building this Empire.’
It was technically very possible to re-establish the Niflheim Empire. This would mean that the small corner market would turn into a giant mall, inns would turn into large hotels.
Weed thought about this and then came back to reality.
He had been swimming in the fantasy that he would be able to build this Empire but he needed to face the harsh cold reality of the situation.
‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch.’
Even with the all the desire in the world, you still can’t force people’s hearts and minds., they have to choose it.
Nonetheless, these frustrations couldn’t be allowed to go unexpressed. Weed beckoned Golden Bird to come closer.
“Well now, I think I get it, so come over here.”
“Why?….what’s going on over there?”
“These virtues you have expressed have inspired me to want to have a closer and more intimate talk with you.”
Yellowy and Tori sensing the way the wind was blowing, flinched and backed away.
Those two have suffered from Weed for a long time and knew better than to ever get too close, they were especially careful not to ever approach him when he was in that kind of a mood. Golden Bird however, just nodded and walked towards Weed.
Weed ordered his two underlings.
“Van Hawk, Tori. Prepare for combat.”
“…The battle is over, so why?” Golden Bird slanted his head in confusion. At this moment he still didn’t have any sense of the ordeal he was about to experience!
“Sorry, although it’s painful for me and a real nuisance, I have no choice but to beat you, Hey guys… Get’em.”
Weed started beating Golden Bird soundly!
Dust flew as Weed began to truly give Golden Bird a double dose of punches!
Though reluctant, Van Hawk and Tori worked like a team combating an enemy. Under Weed’s guidance Golden Bird is granted a new perspective about life.
One way of creating a seamless command hierarchy is to train the subject by fear… perhaps not the best way yet the effects of a beating are very fast!
“This is so unfair… I was only stating the facts.”
“It seems you haven’t been hit enough!”
Weed realized something. Empires aren’t just created because you have some land and a castle. While doing these quests he had found out the history of the living sculptures and gained the trust of the northern races as well.
‘Both the Von Arpen Empire and the Niflheim Empire! I am their orthodox successor!’