Sovereign of the Ashes

After the meeting concluded, Sein approached the Snowball Flower King and said, “Within our Magus Alliance, there’s a large dendro-attribute plane known as Floral Psychic World. It shares many similarities with your Hundred Flowers World.”

“Once you become acquainted with the other members of the alliance, you may try reaching out to Floral Psychic World. Elven World is another vast plane devoted to nature and plant life, and it should also benefit your Hundred Flowers World,” he suggested.

Although Sein had never personally visited Floral Psychic World or Elven World, he possessed extensive knowledge of these large-sized allied planes.

The Hundred Flowers Worlds, home to the Snowball Flower King, lay in a remote corner of the Astral Realm and had almost no contact with other civilizations, let alone major dendro-attribute planes like those two.

“Floral Psychic World and Elven World, you say? Very well, I have learned something new,” the Snowball Flower King replied politely.

Having participated in negotiations with the Hundred Flowers Worlds twice, and being the Magus Civilization powerhouse who interacted most with the Snowball Flower King, Sein had earned the goodwill of the Flower King and the other high-ranking plant creatures.

Moreover, knowing that Grandmaster Feylis was the one overseeing the expeditionary force stationed outside the Hundred Flowers Worlds, the Snowball Flower King suddenly proposed, “The Magus Civilization’s forces have journeyed far. Our Hundred Flowers Worlds hold an abundance of rare materials, including the Hundred Flowers Essence. Why not allow us the chance to contribute to your expeditionary legion?”

“The goodwill from the Hundred Flowers Worlds will certainly satisfy both the Magus Civilization and my grandmaster, and it clearly shows your sincerity. But I have to admit, I’m a bit puzzled. Why did you not bring this up earlier when you met with my grandmaster, Your Majesty?” Sein asked.

The Snowball Flower King’s human face remained perfectly calm as he replied, “It was an oversight on my part.”

The truth, however, was far less dignified. The Rank Six flower had been overwhelmed during his earlier meeting with Feylis.

Her oppressive aura and the scorching pyro element that seemed to radiate from her had left him far too intimidated to think straight.

A Rank Six being, intimidated by a human during peaceful negotiations?

It seemed the Snowball Flower King truly was not made for combat.

After finalizing the contract that officially brought the Hundred Flowers Worlds into the Magus Alliance, Sein and his group lingered only briefly in the medium-sized star domain before setting off again at Feylis’ request.

Numerous cross-star domain teleportation arrays appeared one after another across various planes within the Hundred Flowers Worlds during this period.

Frankly, if it were not for the potential of substantial inert crystal ore deposits around Blue Star, the appeal of recruiting the more powerful medium-sized Shadowbat Civilization might not even compare to the value of the Hundred Flowers Worlds.

For the Magus Alliance, a medium-sized star domain like the Hundred Flowers Worlds held far greater significance and developmental potential.

It was about far more than simply gaining a few extra Rank Four allies.

***

Beyond the Hundred Flowers Worlds stretched a long expanse of empty space. The next destination on Sein and his companions’ route was the Houllier Star Domain.

It was a small star domain of average strength and held little special value for recruitment.

When Sein and the Klytheran Legion passed through this star domain years ago, the native lifeforms did not approach them at all. To avoid trouble, they simply pretended not to see them.

Now that tens of millions of Magus Civilization troops had descended again, the Houllier Star Domain lifeforms could no longer pretend not to see them...

Beyond the Houllier Star Domain...

When Sein and his companions reached the border of this small star domain, Feylis did not send Sein out again. Instead, she called upon another apprentice—Gregory.

“Go speak with the native lifeforms of this star domain,” Feylis instructed. “Ask whether they are willing to join the Magus Alliance.”

As a small star domain, the strongest creatures in Houllier were unlikely to surpass Rank Five. It most likely had only Rank Four beings at best.

For such a weak world civilization, there was no need for the gentle, diplomatic approach used earlier with the Hundred Flowers Worlds.

Hearing this, Gregory revealed a cold, cruel smile.

“Very well. I shall speak with them,” the Rank Five mage replied.

After leaving the Magus Civilization’s main force, Gregory boarded his own Whispering Flame Fortress.

Accompanying him were multiple allied combat legions, along with several Rank Four knights and mages.

Sein was occupied with an ongoing experiment, and since his grandmaster had not summoned him, he did not bother going with the others.

He later learned from the other mages that once Gregory reached the heart of the Houllier Star Domain, he immediately ordered the main cannons of several space fortresses to start charging.

Under the overwhelming pressure of the charging main cannons, Gregory graciously invited the strongest creature of the Houllier Star Domain to negotiate.

The native beings of the Houllier Star Domain had, of course, noticed the terrifying Magus Civilization Army that had assembled outside their borders.

Never mind the main legions under Feylis’ command; even the small force Gregory brought with him was more than enough to overpower them.

The mightiest being in the Houllier Star Domain was only an early-stage Rank Five.

Faced with the sheer, mountain-like pressure of the Magus Civilization, this supreme being of the Houllier Star Domain chose peace over war and agreed to join the Magus Alliance on the spot.

Houllier Star Domain’s integration into the Magus Alliance went far more smoothly than that of the Hundred Flowers Worlds.

This was not just because the Houllier Star Domain was smaller; The menacing Magus Civilization’s forces left the native creatures with no bargaining power whatsoever.

They could do nothing else but timidly sign their names on the contract.

When Sein heard about Gregory’s decisive, thunderous approach, he could not help but marvel.

“Threats and promises—these are the Magus Civilization’s tools in external negotiations. When we face creatures like the Klytherans, who surrender willingly, we offer generous rewards. When we deal with the Hundred Flowers Worlds that have real value to the alliance, we sit down and speak with them properly. But when it comes to a weaker, unremarkable civilization like the Houllier Star Domain, we simply display our dominance.”

“Perhaps Grandmaster Feylis had Master Gregory step in personally this time to send a message to Darian of the Shadowbat Civilization and to Orric from Aquaria. After all, the worlds they represent have not formally signed contracts with the Magus Civilization yet,” Sein said with a sigh.

It had been a while since Sein last spoke at length with Darian, Orric, and the others, even though they were currently guests inside the Ashen Fortress.

Sometimes, being too close was not necessarily a good thing.

Perhaps when the Magus Civilization eventually negotiated with the worlds they represented, Sein would be appointed as the lead negotiator because of his good relationship with them.

That was why he had best keep his distance for now to avoid any appearance of favoritism in the face of potential conflicts of interest.