The Emperor

The situation eventually devolved into a standoff between the two.

In two worlds.

Kang De refused to cross the Phase Gate of the prime minister's palace, just as the emperor refused to venture into the unknown world.

A rational assessment... neither of them wanted to relinquish the choice to the other.

Having realized this, the two men formed a basic judgment and impression of each other's personalities.

--You bastard.

--Old cunning bastard.

Their eyes met, and they both snorted in unison.

The emperor brushed the clods of dirt and mud off the table, looked at the messy ground covered with all sorts of rotten grass and trash, and turned to shout, "Give me back my chair!"

Just moments ago, he and Kang De had enthusiastically exchanged local specialties from their two worlds, and in his rage, he even threw the chair he was sitting on away.

Kang De was intently examining the chair the emperor had tossed to him, looking it over from all angles, and muttered, "You threw it here, so it's mine now... Be quiet, I'm checking it..."

"... Could there be any mechanisms or traps in the chair I use myself?"

"That's hard to say."

After a while, the emperor sat on the chair he had used for many years under Kang De's bottom.

From an ergonomic standpoint, it's somewhat inferior to Earth, but in terms of materials and functionality, it far surpasses it... Through magical means, it achieves functions such as temperature control, body massage, mental nourishment, and vitality restoration, making it feel like you could sit on it all day and still feel incredibly comfortable.

"I feel like I could sell it to couch potatoes, so they could sit in front of their computers and party for dozens of hours without getting tired—a true couch potato's paradise chair... Wait, wait, that's too narrow-minded!"

Kang De clapped his hands and exclaimed, "It should be sold to a commercial company! This is clearly a corporate slave's indolent chair!"

What a load of nonsense.

The emperor, instead of finding Kang De's ramblings annoying, felt that although everything today was a mess, it was also unprecedentedly novel. This young man before him swung between being annoying and interesting, yet his demeanor was so unrestrained, carefree, and spontaneous. He appeared before him today without any desires or wants.

Therefore, they are neither obsequious, nor fearful, nor greedy, nor calculating.

With no chairs left in the emperor's room, the empire's supreme ruler simply plopped down on the table.

"Do you like it?" he asked, "My throne."

Kang De crossed his legs, smiled broadly, and said, "Pretty comfortable, not bad, not bad."

"There are even more comfortable options," the emperor said with a slight smile. "Would you like to come to my place?"

Upon hearing this, the Earthling glanced sideways and said, "I'm not completely clueless."

"You doubt me?"

The emperor, of course, didn't understand his meaning and naturally misunderstood, but he wasn't offended. He nodded and said, "It's understandable to be suspicious. If you had readily agreed, I would have become suspicious. But I want you to know that everything I said in the letter, everything I proposed before, came from the bottom of my heart. I hope you can come to me."

Kang De raised an eyebrow. "From the heart? What, you think you can control me?"

"If it were just Kang De possessed Forbidden Spell, phase abilities, and alchemy, I might consider keeping him in check, but..." the Emperor said calmly, "If you were to summon your family, I wouldn't be able to control him."

Kang De's smile faded slightly.

"After Valentan, the money I spent on intelligence about you could rebuild a thousand Glittering Sand Town, and all the information I have about you could fill a library. So I have some insights into your affairs. I suspect that your homeland is very different from the Mortal World —the strange things you present to the Mortal World, whether weapons, crafts, food, or daily necessities, all have an astonishing quality..."

"The quantity is enormous, the scale is terrifying, the standards are uniform, and the details are precise and meticulous."

"My subjects are countless, and the empire's manpower is as vast as the sea. I can levy a great deal of resources just around the capital and the imperial court. I have seen the tents you have temporarily placed for refugees, and I even sent someone to steal two and bring them to the imperial court for close inspection. With that quantity and scale, I could levy even more within three days with a single order—simply by having the women of nearby villages and towns work through the night to sew them, providing them with raw materials and wages, and with supervision and a sharp blade, they can do it quickly and well."

"But women's needlework skills vary, and even if thousands of tents could be quickly gathered, their quality would be inconsistent... because people are different."

The emperor paused here, then said calmly, "But what you've brought out is different... Whether it's food or clothing, bedding or daily necessities, whether it's precious and rare or abundant, they are almost identical—even ten garments sewn by a skilled woman wouldn't be exactly alike."

"It's mechanical."

The emperor looked at Kang De and said with certainty, "Your homeland must have reached the pinnacle of mechanical skill, be adept at using the power of fire, be extremely rich in resources, produce abundantly, possess high moral standards, and even have a source of power different from elemental energy."

"Your academic development must be meticulous and intricate, just as the path of physics continues to refine disciplines. You have probably surpassed us. You can make iron wings soar through the sky, steel ships float on the sea, and chariots without horses gallop at breakneck speed—that is the power of your knowledge."

"It can be manufactured into both deadly weapons and everyday objects that facilitate daily life."

He casually pulled out a few pictures from the books on the table—information books about Kang De, which even the furious emperor had subconsciously overlooked during the throwing battle.

The Supreme One displayed the hand-drawn sketch in his hand.

What you did in Distant Harbor.

"Road construction, transportation development, price stabilization, urban planning... lighting, communications, public opinion, entertainment, greening, municipal services, management—the ever-changing Distant Harbor is what you imagine a city should be like, and this reflects the face, character, and strength of a Civilization."

The Emperor's tone was calm. "Just like the pioneering knights I dispatched, upon arriving at the frontier, they immediately set about building barracks, town halls, courts, clinics, prisons, and other regional structures."

Kang De shifted his posture and stretched his neck.

"After confirming my suspicions, I spent several days trembling with fear, growling with anger, feeling bewildered and uneasy, gritting my teeth, and even wanting to roar out loud."

"Where the hell did you come from? What's your purpose here? After you, will more people come? What will they do to the Mortal World? How will they view me...?"

The emperor paused here, then chuckled, a self-deprecating look on his face. "The indigenous nations of the southern islands, the chiefdoms and tribes of the eastern wilderness and mountains, the knights and armies of various countries conquering territories, defeating, imprisoning, and even executing rebels—I took it all for granted, and the entire Civilization world saw nothing wrong with it... Until recently, I suddenly understood their feelings."

Kang De whistled. "Don't worry, we're more Civilization."

The emperor chuckled and said, "If I were worried, I wouldn't be talking to you here today."

The Earthling asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"After a long period of frustration and unease, I have gradually calmed down and am able to think about more things... For example, you have been here for at least a year."

The emperor slowly said, "We have established deterrence, conquered territory, developed cities, and trained the army. We have undoubtedly laid a solid foundation, but we have also attracted what appears to be a very powerful enemy."

"But only you... still only you."

The Supreme Ruler said in a deep voice, "No more unfamiliar faces have appeared. Almost everyone under your command has a traceable background; they didn't just fall from the sky. You've been training and recruiting locals, gradually teaching them more advanced production methods. Nothing else. Your administrative officials are also operating according to the old system. All the details that could reflect the inherent character of the regime are absent. There are many strange things..."

"Therefore, I have a bold conclusion."

He leaned forward, staring at Kang De: "Your coming into this world wasn't a premeditated act by your homeland, but a personal accident, and you're still keeping that a secret... right?"

Kang De spread his hands and chuckled a few times, "Go on."

"Is it because you want to monopolize this world, so you choose to keep the secret? That's the most likely explanation, but it doesn't seem like you. You don't have much of a desire for power, and you always think too much about the common people, appearing very kind. So, the most likely reason for keeping the secret from your homeland is probably that you don't want your hometown to be affected or implicated by some kind of impending disaster in the Mortal World —is that right?"

Kang De shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.

"Now let's talk about your speculations, Kang De, about the role you played in your homeland."

"The combat prowess you displayed in Glittering Sand Town was vastly different from what you have now. Your willpower, strength, and weaponry were all far inferior. To have grown to this level in just one year is truly astonishing. This is the biggest mystery and source of panic for the intelligence agencies of various countries... I myself was once greatly puzzled by this. Until I completed this conjecture, everything made sense."

"You can travel freely between the Mortal World and your hometown, so your weapons are getting stronger and stronger, and your supplies are increasing. I even suspect that at the beginning, you were probably just an unknown nobody in your hometown."

"Judging from your performance in Distant Harbor, you probably have no administrative experience as a local official, or even any systematic governance training. Your personality is also too kind, clearly lacking the tempering and lessons of the cruel world. You must be a well-protected little guy who has no worries about food and clothing. Judging from your carefree and unrestrained manner, you must still be a child in school..."

Upon hearing this, Kang De exclaimed, "Wait a minute, your logic is flawed. Why do you assume I haven't been tempered by the world just because I'm kind? Why must the world where I'm from be cruel? Let me tell you, where I'm from, resources are abundant, everyone is equal, and it's a prosperous age without disputes, conflicts, or harm!"

"Do you even believe such nonsense yourself?"

The emperor sneered, "What's the point of making those highly efficient and powerful killing weapons? There are so many flavors of cola alone; if there were no competition, would it be so idle? Commercial prosperity and military advancement—if these two coexist, it means two behemoths are openly and covertly vying for power, neither daring to relax their guard even slightly. In such a confrontational situation, how can you say there are no disputes and conflicts..."

"--Alright, alright, alright!" Kang De shouted, "That's enough, you think you know everything."

"There are things I don't know."

"What?"

The emperor's gaze was brooding. "Since you didn't share this secret with your homeland... no, with your country, how did you manage to steal such a top-tier, powerful weapon here?"

Kang De retorted angrily, "What kind of nonsense is this? What do you mean by stealing? Can't I just buy it?"

"I've already told you you're a kid with absolutely no administrative experience; you don't understand anything."

The emperor shook his head and said, "Even if the Mortal World develops for another thousand years, not every commoner will have a strategic magic device. And the fact that warfare has evolved to the level of your hometown means that top-tier military power will inevitably be controlled only by the great powers. It's such a simple truth, yet you're still lying about it."

Kang De snorted and gave the emperor the middle finger, "Ning Ke is quite the little rascal."

"Calm down, remain composed. It seems you've reached some tacit understandings with your country and forged deep bonds of interest, thus giving you great confidence in them—wait a moment."

The emperor frowned. "I cannot see even the slightest bit of wariness or suspicion towards your country in you... What is the source of this trust? What have they promised you?"

"This is something you can't see through or understand; it's beyond your comprehension."

Kang De shook his head and chuckled, "Let's get down to business... Since you've already guessed so much, I won't hide anything from you. After thoroughly confirming this information, what are your plans?"

"To be honest, after realizing that even in the face of the most devastating defeat, you still have one last option: to exact complete revenge and turn the tables..."

The emperor revealed a rare hint of weakness. "My desire to oppose you is fading more and more."

Kang De smiled. "No wonder you're so generous."

"It's not entirely because of that," the emperor sighed, "You are far superior to my children."

"Not necessarily," Kang De said, spreading his hands. "After all, you seem to have realized that there's no such thing as invincible alchemical skill; it's just a matter of transplanting the achievements of a Civilization here."

The emperor smiled at him, "Spatial abilities too?"

Kang De shrugged.

"If I wish to send something to a place thousands of miles away, I can dispatch caravans to carry it, or I can send fleets on long voyages, or even hire dragons to transport it. And the Distant Harbor have huge steel ships, vehicles that can move without the help of beasts, and even huge flying machines that soar through the sky... Those wings, wheels, and hulls mean that even you must follow the most basic principles of the world."

The Emperor shrugged, mimicking Kang De: "But compared to your unreasonable Phase Teleportation ability, those designs are so superfluous... This should be your personal ability, shouldn't it?"

Kang De said, "Then..."

"You have done very well, and that is why I was willing to make that proposal."

The emperor interrupted him, saying, "In the past year or so, I have seen cruelty, kindness, decisiveness, and compassion in what you have done. Look at the common people outside my palace; they do not do evil because they lack the power to do so, they appeal for good because good can protect them, and they talk about forgiveness because it does not harm their own interests... But you are different from them."

The more I understand you, the more remarkable you seem.

"I could turn an honest, hardworking poor man into a scoundrel in a few months by giving him a thousand gold coins, yet you wield the most powerful force in the world, and without any supervision, you remain unchanged, even actively protecting people unrelated to you and provoking seemingly troublesome enemies... The more I look at you, the more I wonder what kind of people my children are."

"So..." he took a deep breath and said seriously, "Become my son-in-law."

He hesitated for a moment, a conflicted look on his face, but finally relented, saying, "... If you feel awkward, I allow you to call me by my name. I won't put on airs with you. Even if you marry my daughter, we can still chat like we are today."

After thinking for a moment, the emperor added, "It's quite interesting. I have thousands of sycophants who bow down to me, but not a single one like you."

He stared intently at Kang De, his eyes unblinking, hoping to get the answer he wanted.

Kang De was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "I never imagined you could do this."

"... Our enmity and ill-fated relationship is a cruel twist of fate, and I truly wish to rewrite it all."

"Do you want me to become the next emperor?"

"I will die someday, so whoever inherits my mantle will inherit it."

"Won't you guard against me seizing power before you die?"

"I'm wary of everyone, but it seems I don't need to be wary of you, you lazybones."

"Are you willing to hand over the throne to an outsider like me?"

"Marrying my daughter and having her son as the heir to the empire makes no difference."

You're not good at biology.

"Um?"

"I mean, why bother with this?"

"From a pragmatic perspective..." the emperor's gaze was intense, "Your homeland is so powerful that it makes me uneasy. They may eventually come, and at that time, there may not even be an empire. In order to avoid this situation in my lifetime, the best choice is to make you one of us."

Kang De remained silent for a long time, then slowly shook his head.

The emperor cried out in disappointment, "... Ah."

"The enemy is called the Star Palace. They reside high in the heavens. When the Mortal World develops to a certain point, they will carry out extermination, destroying all traces of Civilization and forcing the Mortal World to start from scratch."

Kang De stepped forward and said to the emperor, "This is the greatest crisis and the most important matter at present, requiring the united efforts of all Mortal World forces. Your Majesty, I appreciate your frankness and favor, but..."

The emperor coldly replied, "Marry my daughter, and I will treat you as my successor, and cooperate with you without any reservations, making the power of the empire at your disposal to fight against that so-called Star Palace."

Before Kang De could speak, the Supreme One continued, "This is a necessary step; otherwise, the Imperials cannot trust and accept you. You surely understand this."

The Fire Thief remained silent, his eyes shifting as he pondered.

"This doesn't seem like an easy decision for you," the Emperor said calmly. "I won't force you; you can go back and think it over carefully."

Kang De looked up at him and slowly nodded.

The Phase Gate closed, and the Emperor stood in his study, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

He glanced at the cell phone and radio on the table and gave a cold smile.

I've already said that.

The things you did in Distant Harbor were what you thought a city should be like.

This can showcase the appearance, character, and strength of a Civilization.

To pave roads, develop transportation, stabilize prices, and plan cities.

Lighting, communications, public opinion, entertainment, landscaping, municipal administration.

As well as...

Slaughter all the nobles.

I know all of this.

I know even what you're hesitating about.

So...

Please grant my request quickly.

I am very, very... looking forward to it.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Damn... It's so late at night, my wisdom tooth is hurting, I'm so sleepy and in so much pain, and I've been struggling to type this up until now... Looks like I'll have to get it pulled... (sad)