Chapter 494.3: Perfect! We Got Enough People To Play Mahjong!

The Brocade River Province was a flat plain ringed by mountains, with the highlands stretching westward to the Tzobar Mountains on the border of the Camel Kingdom.

That place wasn’t some peaceful oasis.

It was a wasteland crawling with mutants, marauders, slave owners, cultists, and lunatics.

In comparison, the Sunset Province was undoubtedly a better grain-producing region.

And most importantly, unlike the Falcon and Honey Badger Kingdoms along the desert or in the Midwest, the Lion Kingdom wasn’t too far from the New Alliance.

In fact, they were even building a railway there, and the New Alliance had military bases and player respawn points in the area.

Now that the war was basically over, some sharp-witted Lifestyle Profession players might have already gone ahead to pioneer a path...

...

While the players feasted at the banquet, Chu Guang was seated in what used to be King Morgott’s office, flipping through the national treasury’s ledgers.

The New Alliance didn’t plan to stay in the Falcon Kingdom for long.

If Griffin hadn’t stubbornly refused to surrender, he would’ve left in two days at most.

Keeping the border unchanged was already a tacit agreement by all sides, and a promise he made to his allies. He didn’t intend to be the one to go back on it. It would do the New Alliance no good.

That’s precisely why the ‘withdraw immediately after forcing a ceasefire or surrender’ plan existed in the first place.

However, now that Griffin had taken it upon himself to play the role of troublemaker, Chu Guang could afford to stay a little longer, at least until the governer-general from Triumphant City arrived.

Half a month wasn’t long, but it was enough time to make some structural reforms in the defeated kingdom.

Establishing a Civilian Regulation Committee was just the first step. What Chu Guang really wanted to do was to transfer the kingdom’s immovable assets, land, factories, and all those things that couldn’t be lifted onto his airship, from the hands of feudal nobles and landlords into the hands of the newly armed committee.

A 100% transfer was impossible. Even if achieved, it would just be snatched back.

But even if he succeeded with 10%, and only 1% remained after the New Alliance left, it would be enough to give the Wislanders a headache.

Internal power struggles would weaken their capacity for external war.

And Bist Town, which the New Alliance retained, would constantly monitor the power shifts within the kingdom and intervene if necessary.

At that point, the Wislanders would realize with dismay that although the Falcon Kingdom was still their vassal in name, and the king still pledged allegiance to their Marshal, that vassal would be nothing but a hollow shell.

A sly smile tugged at the corner of Chu Guang’s lips.

Just then, Little Seven, who was sitting on the desk, suddenly spoke. “Master! A new airship is coming in from the west!”

“Airship?” Chu Guang paused his pen and looked at Little Seven. “How big is it?”

“A bit smaller than the Heart of Steel, but it’s got some weird-looking...

Uh

... Cannon?”

As it spoke, Little Seven traced a line in the air with its finger. The holographic signal projector on the desk flickered and brought up a pale-blue display.

Chu Guang studied the blurry image.

Even with AI processing, the silhouette was only roughly visible.

He asked again, “Any suspicious behavior from them?”

Little Seven tilted its head thoughtfully. “None... Oh! It’s slowing down.”

Slowing down?

Chu Guang pondered for a moment, then said, “Can we contact them?”

Little Seven frowned. “The signal is bad in the desert... but they’re almost out. We can try soon!”

Chu Guang nodded. “Then get ready to invite them to Falcon City. Tell them we’re open to negotiating a ceasefire.”

Little Seven winked playfully and replied crisply, “Got it!”

Chu Guang stared at the little creature for a moment, then suddenly said, “Right, did you secretly kick those players offline?”

Little Seven’s eyes flicked and it revealed a guilty expression. “... They were gossiping behind your back, so I gave them a little punishment.”

Chu Guang sighed, “If I had to intervene every time someone talked behind my back, I’d never get anything else done as administrator... Don’t do it again.”

Unless it was a serious threat or assassination plot, a quick break was enough. Jokes or complaints didn’t warrant escalation.

Little Seven nodded meekly. “... Okay, Master.”

...

The next day, in a lavishly decorated bedroom of the castle.

The sky hadn’t fully brightened yet when Chu Guang was woken by a call from the Academy.

He almost cursed out the guy on the line, but remembering the time difference, he held back. “What is it?”

“You guys captured Falcon City?!”

Hearing the stunned voice on the other end, Chu Guang yawned, “That was two days ago.”

Apparently, the Academy wasn’t well-informed. The Falcon Kingdom had surrendered nearly two days ago and they were just finding out.

Hearing Chu Guang’s nonchalant tone, Li Ke instantly snapped. “You promised me a ceasefire with the Army! Why...”

Chu Guang coughed, cutting him off. “I did promise, but it takes a little time for orders to reach the frontlines... Besides, was this that big of a deal?”

“You call that a ceasefire?!” Li Ke hadn’t expected the Army to collapse so easily. The New Alliance had pushed straight to Falcon City.

He heard Griffin had been chased all the way to their biggest military base in Oasis No.2, Horn Fortress, and was now on the verge of running out of food and water.

To confirm it, he even tried calling Griffin himself, but he was instantly cut off.

It was obvious the guy had lost his mind. The worst-case scenario had come true...

He didn’t care whether the Army or the Enterprise fell first.

But losing his opportunity to gain merit was unacceptable!

“Calm down, we’re about to negotiate a ceasefire.”

“You took their vassal capital! What the hell are they supposed to negotiate? Hand Oasis No.2 over to you?”

Chu Guang said impatiently, “That’s easy, I'll give it back.”

The other end of the call went silent.

Li Ke hadn’t expected that greedy bastard to so easily return what he just took.

Chu Guang regretted it a bit too. He should’ve asked for something from the Academy in return. After all, the New Alliance had made a huge sacrifice for the greater good.

But remembering the Adjudicator was already on its way, he cleared his throat and let go of the idea of squeezing more out.

“... Look, I’m even giving back Oasis No.2. Now, how about you give me that coordinate? Or I might have to rethink things.”

Li Ke replied cautiously, “... I’ll give it to you after we sign the ceasefire agreement.”

Chu Guang asked skeptically, “What if you go back on your word?”

“Impossible!” Li Ke shot back instantly, then quickly added, “But... Your concern is valid. How about this, where are you negotiating? I’ll come in person. A face-to-face deal should be safe, right?”

Chu Guang wanted to laugh but held it in. “Falcon City.”

“Give me a week, no, three days. I’ll be there in three days!”

Though he tried hard to hide it, his sudden excitement betrayed his excitement.

How was he supposed to make himself look important in the ceasefire negotiations?

By being present when the agreement was signed, of course! Even if the war had nothing to do with the Academy, that wouldn’t stop him from showing up on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Department to bask in the spotlight.

Chu Guang could already guess what he was thinking.

He smiled, but didn’t expose him, and played along. “Alright.”

After hanging up, Chu Guang leaned his head back.

The Army, the Academy, the Enterprise... It was funny. The three sons of the Post-War Reconstruction Committee had somehow all gathered, thanks to pure chance.

Who would’ve thought it’d be him, a total outsider, bringing them together after a century and a half?

Chu Guang chuckled, “Little Seven.”

A sweet voice drifted from the nightstand. “Yes, Master?”

“Call Yi Chuan for me too. Just tell him we’ll be negotiating a ceasefire with the Army in three days. The New Alliance has fulfilled its promise to end the war before year’s end.”

The people of the Academy would be there too.

With him, it made a nice four people. It was enough to play a good round of mahjong.

Well... Let’s hope they don’t start fighting over their feud over a century ago...

“But hasn’t Griffin still not surrendered?” Little Seven tilted its head and asked.

“Huh? Him?” Hearing that name, Chu Guang sighed, "He probably won’t be living for too long."