"Alas..."
Luminous looked at Rin with a resentful expression. "To be so generous, Rin-sama, makes it very difficult for me."
She truly hadn't expected it.
She was a newcomer, had done nothing, and yet received such great benefits.
Rin had been so dominant before, yet he completely changed after she agreed to submit.
As a dependent, Luminous could sense Rin's emotions. He did not view her as a tool or a servant.
On the contrary, Rin's sincerity was completely genuine.
He truly regarded her as a companion.
"From now on, the Vampire Clan will obey your arrangements!"
"And the Holy Empire of Lubelius..."
Luminous even wanted to add herself to it.
If a lord treats me with sincerity, I will repay him with my life.
She didn't want to disgrace the Vampire Clan.
"Ah, there's no hurry for that."
Rin interrupted Luminous's next words. "Actually, I'm not interested in the Holy Empire of Lubelius."
"Not interested?"
"Mhm."
Rin said, "From now on, you will continue to govern a region, just like Frey and Carrion."
"Here, I plan to establish a new title, called Grand Duke."
The Grand Duke and the Marquis King hold equal status.
But unlike the Marquis King, the Grand Duke needs to govern a region and, as a duke, protect the Monster Nation.
This was also to allow dependents like Carrion and Frey, who already had their own territories, to better settle their people.
"Grand Duke, huh..."
Luminous nodded, very satisfied with the status Rin had given her.
The Holy Empire of Lubelius certainly could not remain independent.
But at most, it would just be a name change.
For example, changing from Holy Empire of Lubelius to Holy See. It was just a title anyway.
Luminous was truly astonished by the fact that she could join the Monster Nation and still retain her territory.
According to her original thoughts, if she submitted, the Vampire Clan should naturally be under Rin's direct jurisdiction.
However, it seems now...
Her new lord didn't seem to like trouble.
Luminous could roughly guess some of Rin's thoughts. Does he prefer a free life over controlling power?
If it were an ambitious dependent, they would definitely like such a monarch.
However, Luminous was not such a woman.
If possible, she would rather stay by Rin's side, diligently manage his affairs, and hold the entire Monster Nation together.
Unfortunately, Luminous knew Rin didn't like such a life.
Because of that, she could only resolve to help Rin maintain his prestige and not allow anyone to offend him.
In this Monster Nation, Luminous only obeyed Rin.
If others wanted to rise in power, Luminous would not allow it.
"As for the Duchy..."
On the other side, Frey secretly frowned and said, "It should be subject to the laws and arrangements of the Monster Nation, right?"
"Definitely."
Carrion scratched his head. "One set of laws for one place, wouldn't that be complete chaos?"
"The specific laws are still to be discussed."
Rin said, "For now, let's maintain the status quo."
Of course, eternal autonomy was impossible.
The Beastmen, Winged-men, and Vampires.
The three races would sooner or later comply with the macro-control of the Monster Nation, rather than acting independently as they do now.
This was actually a good thing, as it would allow the three races to better integrate into the Monster Nation.
"As for you..."
Rin said, "You can stay with your own people, or you can live in the Monster Nation. As long as you attend meetings on time, that's fine."
The Monster Nation was just a makeshift organization.
Rin's demands for the Eight Marquis Kings and Seven Grand Dukes were not high at all.
So apart from summoning the Demon Lords for meetings,
The rest of the time was entirely up to them.
In addition, Frey and Carrion's request for a place at the imperial court was also granted by Rin.
"Only us?"
"You can bring whoever you want."
Rin said, "Carrion, I don't think your Three Beastketeers need to return to the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania anymore."
"Especially Albis, she must have helped Rimuru a lot during this time, right?"
"Albis is super capable!"
When Albis was mentioned, Rimuru immediately praised her profusely, describing her as if she were his savior.
Although that was indeed the truth.
With Albis, Rimuru finally experienced Rin's joy.
Slacking off at work and dumping tasks on subordinates.
This kind of happiness made Rimuru almost unable to stop.
"This is their honor."
Having seen the Monster Nation, Carrion would not let his three most promising individuals waste their time in a peripheral area like the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania.
Not just the Three Beastketeers, but even more Beastmen, Carrion intended to bring them over.
In the future, the center of the Beastmen race would gradually shift from the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania toward the Demon Lords Castle, until it was completely rooted there.
"Also Frey, Luminous."
"If you have recommended talents, you can also have them come to work here at the Demon Lords Castle."
"The Monster Nation is just starting, and many positions are still vacant."
"Your countries have been established for so long, you should have many talents in internal affairs, right?"
According to Rin's plan, the three races could immigrate and reside in the Monster Nation's capital whenever they wished.
The Holy Empire of Lubelius, Harpy Queendom, and Beast Kingdom of Eurazania.
Rather than being the territories of the three races, they were more like their homelands.
Anyone with a bit of ambition would not stay far from the political center in the Demon Lords Castle. They would definitely strive to develop there.
Rin had already prepared for this.
He would continue to expand the Demon Lords Castle and make it the most prosperous city in the Monster Nation.
"Please rest assured, we will select trustworthy subordinates to participate in the construction of the Monster Nation."
The three of them each controlled a country. Luminous was a hands-off ruler, but Carrion and Frey were diligent leaders.
The capable officials under them would definitely meet the Monster Nation's needs.
And this also meant that a large number of positions would fall into the hands of Frey and Carrion, thereby greatly increasing their influence and say within the Monster Nation.
Huh?
Seeing this, Luminous quickly winked at Hinata.
However, Hinata didn't intend to speak.
This made Luminous very helpless.
She also wanted to secure benefits for the Vampire Clan.
Unfortunately, Luminous's management of the Holy Empire of Lubelius was an absentee monarchy.
Luminous, the goddess or whatever she was, was just a spiritual figurehead. She didn't even have a real position.
Furthermore, Hinata wasn't very knowledgeable about internal affairs.
She took the military route and didn't understand the intricacies of governance.
---
Luminous: Hinata, it's up to you.
Hinata: Leonard! Huh? Leonard, where are you?!
---
This was probably the current state of the Holy Empire of Lubelius.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)