1377 Oath!
Often, patrol would be seen doing their duties around the palace. However, today was an exception. Halls, rooms, corridors, all empty with no one in sight.
Although such a scene would usually be indicative of misfortune befalling, today was a celebratory day, as everyone in the palace was relieved from their duties for the night. Family members who usually worked during graveyard s.h.i.+fts were able to spend some quality time with their families and create everlasting memories together. For those with no family, it was still a glorious day as sleep would be their number one priority for the night. These times of happiness were ordered by one person, Lord Gen, who was in a great mood for the whole day.
Although no one understood why Lord Gen made such a decision, no one would be mad about not working, and thus after being notified of their leave, the servants and guards all happily packed their bags and went home. The only exceptions were the leaders of the patrol and guardians who were taken by Ji Ming and Yu Shangfei to defend Jialan s.h.i.+p.
Ling Lan sat on the ice throne in the main hall with her right hand holding her forehead as she closed her eyes slightly. This whole scene created a picturesque image of a lonely king racking his brain to think of ways to improve the environment his subjects were living in.
On her crossed leg, Little White was there flopping on its belly while sleeping with its tentacles pointed in different directions. A drop of morning dew was hanging on for dear life near the corner of its lips. When the liquid was about to drop, Little White instinctively sucked in forcefully to get it back into its mouth.
Right at that moment, at the certain area of the main hall, a green plant suddenly emerged from the marble flooring. In the blink of an eye, it grew to the height of a man and then slowly changed into the figure of silhouette.
There stood a man with a pristine green cape with vines interwoven between each thread. His pitch black hair naturally flowed down from his head to the back of his neck. The man stood there quietly before lifting his head, parting the hair that was covering his face to reveal a strong chiseled jaw with sharp eyebrows complementing his already cat-like eyes. He didn’t look any older than someone in his early 30s. He had a slight smirk on the corner of his lips. He exuded a warm and fresh aura to anything and everything around him. With just his presence alone, the cold hall got a few degrees warmer.
Sensing a gaze on her, Ling Lan slowly parted her closed eyelids. After seeing the relatively middle-aged man in front of her, Ling Lan wasn’t surprised as she spoke out calmly, “I’ve been waiting for you. What should I be calling you? Lord Qian? Or Lord Kun?”
“You knew I was coming?” The middle-aged man said with a surprise in their voice. “You may address me as Lord Kun.”
“With such a ma.s.sive undertaking by the Lawless Land, it is obvious that one of you will come and meet me.” Ling Lan pushed against the handles of her throne as she slowly sat up straight.
“I see why you gave your people a day off.” Lord Kun showed a contemplative look on his face.
“Isn’t that what you want too? I’m only just fully cooperating with you.” Ling Lan laughed lightly.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Lord Kun also laughed with her and slowly clapped his hands. “To think Soul Society actually developed someone like you. They are really making me look at them in a different light.”
“To be one of the lords of the Lawless Lands while being so young is quite impressive as well. In terms of influencing the Lawless Lands, the 13 Lords are doing a much better job than the Soul Society.” Ling Lan seemed to be suggesting something.
“It’s nothing really. I was just lucky enough to be nurtured and developed in the Lawless Lands,” said Lord Kun plainly.
Suddenly, Lord Kun’s tone turned cold. “With us here, no other faction or organization can have a piece of the Lawless Lands. If the Soul Society has that kind of thought, I would suggest you turn around and leave”
“Lord Kun, you don’t need to worry about that. The Soul Society’s goal was never the Lawless Land. We only want to keep a lifeline on the Lawless Lands, that’s all,” Ling Lan said without any fear in her tone.
“Is that Soul Society’s promise?” Elder Kun’s eyes s.h.i.+ned with a bright green light for a moment. A sliver of his domain concept silently activated.
This was the domain technique from the branch of the language concept called ‘Oath’. Under that concept, a conversation could be made into an oath bound by heaven and earth. Once the oath was broken, heaven and earth would dictate the punishment.
How could Ling Lan not have detected it? However, she still gave Lord Kun the oath without hesitation, “That’s right. This is the Soul Society’s promise. The Soul Society doesn’t want to become the ruler of the Lawless Lands. The Soul Society only wants territory that it could hold in the Lawless Lands.”
“Is Lord Gen’s territory enough?” Lord Kun kept pressing for the oath to be more binding.
“Yes, the Soul Society only wants Lord Gen’s territory. It is enough.” Ling Lan looked straight at him and didn’t hesitate one bit.
“Alright! The oath has been created.” Lord Kun’s eyes s.h.i.+ned green for a moment once again. Then, on both his and Ling Lan’s foreheads, the letters spelling out ‘oath’ appeared. Then, it slowly sank into their heads, symbolizing that their promise was acknowledged by heaven and earth.
Lord Kun was very satisfied with how the oath ended up. It was because this oath wasn’t not restrictive to them, but only Ling Lan.
Ling Lan was nonchalant about it because her oath was made to the 13 Lords with the Soul Society’s name, not her own.
“Tomorrow, the 13 Lords will officially announce to the Lawless Lands for you to take up the position of Lord Gen,” Lord Kun finally said the words Ling Lan wanted to hear.
“However, on the subject of supplies, you must satisfy our needs,” Lord Kun immediately brought up his demands.
“We will be responsible for the supplies, but only when money comes to me,” replied Ling Lan.
In terms of supplies, Ling Lan wasn’t actually worried. Firstly, she had the Chaotic Lands, along with Soul Society’s 18th district’s governor, Xia Qingyi, helping her to prepare and gather supplies. If Xia Qingyi was smart enough, he would grasp this opportunity to acquire the Soul Emperor’s full support. That way, she would actually then be a real representative of the Soul Society on paper. It would also make her deals with the Soul Society become proper.
Secondly, on the matter of acquiring high-end weapons and equipment, the Lingtian Independent Army would be able to resolve that if the Chaotic Lands and the Soul Society were not able to.
Thirdly, Ling Lan believed that Little Four would definitely wake up. It was only a matter of time. Once Little Four woke up, she would be able to continue working to build up their corporate empire. When that happened, what wouldn’t she be able to do?
These three points were enough for Ling Lan to have the confidence to accept Lord Kun’s conditions. Of course, Ling Lan wasn’t some idiot in business. Money that she could make still needed to be made.
“That’s not a problem. Even if we don’t have money, we can use items to exchange for them,” said Lord Kun as he smiled slightly. It was clear that he didn’t want to give money.
“That’s fine, but that price must be lower than the market by half.” Ling Lan mercilessly haggled down the price.
“No way. You’re crazy.” Lord Kun, of course, wouldn’t agree. That condition was like squeezing him dry.
“We can’t do business without money,” Ling Lan said calmly. “One trip to and fro, no matter if it is manpower or supplies, everything is doubled. The losses I suffered there can only be managed with the money you give me.”
“Hadn’t you already made money by bringing in the supplies?” Lord Kun said calmly. “Don’t you have such a large appet.i.te. Otherwise, if you make everyone unhappy, it wouldn’t be good for you.”