The seasons turned, and the years passed. Gai Kingdom, having annexed three nations, gradually digested the fruits of its conquests. Meanwhile, the already chaotic Ymir Plain, seeing that Gai Kingdom had ceased further action, sank back into its usual turmoil.
Today, one nation would attack another; tomorrow, the roles would reverse. Battles were waged endlessly—cities were sacked, lands were seized. For those living at the bottom rungs of society, the continuous warfare was a living nightmare. Cries of suffering echoed across the land, yet no one paid attention to the pleas of the common people.
In the midst of this chaos, Gai Kingdom stood out as a beacon of peace, a stark contrast to the endless turmoil surrounding it. Like a campfire in the darkness, the kingdom's stability and order attracted a steady stream of people longing for refuge.
Of course, the majority of those fleeing to Gai Kingdom were refugees displaced by war, people with no home to return to. Only a small fraction were skilled individuals or powerful warriors.
But even so, it was enough. And for the ordinary refugees, their sheer numbers alone could bolster the kingdom's population and strengthen its national power. Muria issued an open decree: all verified refugees were welcome. No matter how many came, Gai Kingdom would take them in.
As a result, Gai Kingdom, under Muria's leadership, became a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the Ymir Plain. Through the absorption of refugees and skilled individuals seeking peace, the kingdom steadily grew stronger.
But the peace was only temporary. For Gai Kingdom, peace was nothing but a facade—a period of digestion for the beast. When the beast was ready, it would bare its fangs once more and resume its conquest.
...
Fifteen years later, the black tide of Gai Kingdom swept across the entire Ymir Plain. No force could stand against it. Every nation, every power that attempted resistance was crushed, as futile as a mantis trying to block a chariot.
The Ymir Plain was unified at last. All habitable lands fell under the dominion of Gai Kingdom, whose borders now encompassed the entirety of the plain. After this monumental expansion, the kingdom entered yet another period of recuperation.
"White bones lay exposed in the fields; for a thousand miles, no rooster crowed." These words aptly described the devastation of the times. After unifying the Ymir Plain, Gai Kingdom found much of the land desolate and barren, turned into wilderness dominated by wild beasts after years of relentless war.
Under these circumstances, the nation had no choice but to focus on recovery. Rebuilding the population and restoring order became its top priorities.
Meanwhile, the war-hardened military nobility, who had grown in power and ambition through the wars, still yearned for conquest. They were unsatisfied even after uniting the Ymir Plain because they knew there was an even larger world beyond its borders.
Yet they were forced to curb their desires for expansion. The prolonged wars had drained Gai Kingdom's resources, and the kingdom now needed its armies and strongmen to stabilize and govern the newly acquired lands.
From the moment Gai Kingdom claimed its first piece of foreign territory, rebellions had flared up continuously. Despite relentless suppression, uprisings persisted like weeds sprouting after rain. Some people simply refused to accept Gai Kingdom's rule.
There were also those who benefited from chaos and sought to destabilize the plain once again for their own gain.
However, with every rebellion brutally crushed, and as Gai Kingdom's policies grew increasingly moderate, the number of insurgents dwindled. Rebellions became less frequent over time.
"When the people of the Ymir Plain see themselves as part of Gai Kingdom, and no longer view us as invaders who stole their land, then true unification will be complete."
"But that will take generations of effort to achieve," Fernand said with a frown as he and Muria discussed the ongoing challenges of assimilation.
"I have plenty of time," Muria replied with a carefree smile. By now, his reincarnated form had matured into a tall, commanding young man. The once-youthful naivety in his features had been replaced by the resolute demeanor of a ruler.
"Having time doesn't excuse you from not choosing a queen or starting a family," Fernand suddenly pivoted, steering the conversation into territory Muria disliked.
"I can live for at least another five thousand years. Finding a spouse and raising children is not urgent for me right now," Muria said flatly. He had grown used to Fernand's constant nagging over the years. It seemed his father had made it a personal mission to harp on this subject.
"Besides, at my current level of existence, there's no one in the Ymir Plain who is worthy of being my partner."
"Hmm, true. Ordinary women, even strong ones, aren't capable of handling your... life essence," Fernand mused, surprisingly agreeing for once. "Your partner needs to be strong—maybe not as strong as you, but close enough. Even so, someone like that will be hard to find in the Ymir Plain."
"But beyond the Ymir Plain, who knows?" Muria said with a small smile. He was certain that Mikaela, wherever she was, would be his equal—or perhaps even surpass him.
"Strength aside, you also have that ridiculous requirement about love at first sight. How childish," Fernand said, shaking his head.
"I know what I'm looking for. When the time comes, and I meet the right person, I'll know instantly," Muria replied calmly.
"That sounds like a load of nonsense," Fernand muttered, glaring at Muria with his crimson eyes.
"You don't have to believe me, but I won't lie to you," Muria said with a shrug.
Fernand stared at him in silence. Over the years, he had come to terms with his son's unorthodox ways. Despite Muria's flaws—his laziness, his aversion to state affairs, and his reluctance to take a queen—his results were undeniable. Under Muria's leadership, Gai Kingdom had achieved heights Fernand had never dreamed of.
"Fine. I'll stop pressuring you for now. But don't make me wait forever," Fernand grumbled, relenting.
...
While Gai Kingdom focused on rebuilding, a group of uninvited guests arrived at a gorge that served as the border between the Ymir Plain and the outside world.
This was a well-equipped group of knights clad in white armor, bearing banners adorned with intricate symbols. As soon as they entered Gai Kingdom's territory, the soldiers stationed in the gorge detected their presence.
"Halt! You've entered Gai Kingdom territory. State your identities and purpose immediately!"
The sentries aimed their bows at the knights and fired a warning shot. A fiery arrow exploded into the ground ahead of the group, sending up a plume of dust and smoke.
"Interesting. It's been a while since anyone dared raise a bow against our banner. Truly a barbaric land," the lead knight said, smirking as he surveyed the scorched patch of earth.
"Sir, this is probably some checkpoint set up by one of these primitive kingdoms. It's no surprise they don't recognize us," another knight commented.
"Perhaps. Send someone to negotiate with them. Inform them that we seek an audience with their ruler," the leader commanded.
"We are an emissary delegation from the Kingdom of Xishan, here to visit your king. Deliver our message at once!" one of the knights shouted toward the sentries.
"Kingdom of Xishan? Never heard of it," one of the Gai Kingdom soldiers muttered, unimpressed by the delegation's self-importance. As for their request to meet the king, the soldier barely concealed his disdain. "Our king doesn't meet just anyone."
"Wait here while I inform my superiors," the soldier added.
Soon, the commander of the garrison arrived to inspect the situation personally. He wanted to assess this foreign delegation and its military strength. Observing their weapons, armor, and organization would provide valuable insight into their nation's capabilities and resources.
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