Enemy Arrives

In a small booth at the Rose Tavern.

Rein invited the alluring and sexy Sid Blood Ancestor to drink.

After the fight, Lilith understood her situation, and the negotiations went smoothly.

Rein got straight to the point, explaining his meaning in just a few simple words.

Upon hearing the "truths" spoken by Rein, Lilith's expression changed from casual to increasingly serious.

Finally, she understood why Black Dragon City had chosen to cooperate with the Xid Empire.

Before long, Lilith's face regained its Transcendent calm and collected demeanor.

She understood what Rein meant and said, "So, you mean that we humans of the Ice Ridge Wasteland were called the 'Black Demon Tribe' in ancient times? And there are definitely other races Beyond the Mist, they have discovered us, and they may attack at any time?"

Rein nodded, feeling he had said what needed to be said. "Yes. If there are no problems with the contract, I think Miss Lilith can sign the cooperation agreement first. Then, I can show you some physical evidence we've discovered to prove my words are true. For example, the Outer Realm Mechanical Airship."

At this moment, he also placed the contract documents that he had prepared beforehand on the table.

Lilith didn't even glance at the contract. She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and smiled, "Of course I trust Lord Rein. But... aren't you really considering a marriage alliance? My vampires are handsome; you can have any beauty you desire. I can definitely satisfy you."

"."

Rein didn't know why Lilith kept bringing up the topic of "arranged marriage".

He didn't want to become a tool in some arranged marriage, so naturally he couldn't agree.

Moreover, to outsiders, Black Dragon City was founded on three marriage alliances. But what they didn't know was that the three women in Rein's life— Ymir, Canossa, and Wudo —had shared hardships and had a deep emotional bond with each other.

Rein frowned. Compared to any unreliable marriage, he still felt that a "Magic Contract" was more reliable.

To dissuade the Blood Ancestor from this idea, he casually remarked, "I think Miss Lilith is quite nice."

Upon hearing this, Lilith's alluring eyes narrowed slightly. Far from feeling embarrassed, she smiled teasingly and said, "Oh? So that's what Lord Rein thinks?"

She stared at Rein for a moment, then her eyes flashed with a hint of mockery as she said, "If that's really what you're thinking, it's not impossible to consider it."

"."

Rein rolled his eyes. He immediately realized that he shouldn't play mind games with a vampire who had lived for over a thousand years; he should just do business as usual.

This time, he didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he dipped the quill in the magic potion and handed it to the Blood Ancestor, saying, "If Miss Lilith feels there are no problems with the terms of cooperation, let's sign it first and then talk."

"Lord Rein really has no sense of romance."

Lilith pouted, feigning disappointment.

She took the quill and signed her name, "Lilith Dracula," without hesitation.

The next second, the golden light of the magic runes on the advanced contract scroll flashed and disappeared, and the contract took effect.

When Rein saw this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In this small tavern, the two leaders representing the greatest power in the Ice Ridge Wasteland casually signed a cooperation agreement of great historical significance.

From this day forward, the Xid Empire will no longer be a threat to Black Dragon City, but an ally.

Lilith keenly noticed the relaxation in Rein's brow. At this moment, however, she didn't talk about cooperation. Instead, she asked a meaningful question, "Lord Rein, do you know why I would gamble the fate of the Xid Empire on this contract?"

"???"

Rein raised an eyebrow as he listened, thinking to himself: Isn't it because of Black Dragon City's strength that you had no choice but to agree?

Obviously not.

Lilith glanced at him, seemingly guessing what Rein was thinking.

She shook her head slightly, but the curve of her lips was not a smile, but rather an expression of appreciation. "Ever since I learned that you have comprehended the power of three laws, I have already decided to cooperate with you. Otherwise, if I really wanted to leave, you wouldn't be able to stop me."

A fifth-tier Transcendent who has comprehended three laws—this is a monstrous talent that even Lilith has lived for over a thousand years, has never heard of.

Its potential is immeasurable.

Coupled with the topic of "outside the region," this is the biggest "treasure" in Black Dragon City in her eyes.

"Because of me?"

Upon hearing this, Rein paused for a moment before realizing what was happening.

Top-tier Transcendent beings all have a few hidden methods of registration, whether it's a secret technique or some Transcendent item.

The Xid Empire, which has existed for thousands of years, possesses unimaginable strength. And Lilith, the Blood Ancestor who has lived for over a thousand years, is naturally not lacking in treasures.

He smiled, extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner, and said, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Lilith didn't say anything more, after all, the contract had already been signed.

She didn't shake hands with Rein, but instead stood up naturally, took his arm, and said intimately, "Now that the contract is signed, I'm yours. Let's go, Lord Rein, take me to see just how big a secret your Black Dragon City is hiding."

This Blood Ancestor made no attempt to conceal her alluring charm, clearly intending to seduce him.

Rein felt somewhat helpless in the face of the Blood Ancestor's enthusiasm.

Refusing is not an option, but breaking free would be impolite.

Moreover, the gesture of linking arms seems to be a very normal social interaction among acquaintances.

But they don't seem that close?

On this day, news of the battle Lord of Black Dragon City Rein and Sid [Blood Ancestor] Lilith, ending in a draw, spread throughout the entire Ice Ridge Wasteland.

Everyone then realized that the mysterious Lord of Black Dragon City had already possessed combat power comparable to the pinnacle of the "Ten Great Legends".

What no one expected was that after that day, the Xid Empire, which had previously regarded Black Dragon City as a "monster," actually opened its borders and signed a series of cooperation agreements with Black Dragon City, including trade, academic exchanges, and permission for cross-border hunting.

Everyone guessed it; it must be that Lilith, the Blood Ancestor who controls Sid, and Rein, the Lord of Black Dragon City, reached some secret agreement.

Even outsiders couldn't understand why such a vast and ancient empire would suddenly "submit" to a new city.

From an outsider's perspective, if Sid opens the borders and cooperates, it will inevitably suffer a huge loss on its own.

The new system in Black Dragon City, devoid of nobles, will inevitably cause the noble system that Sid has inherited for thousands of years to collapse.

However, everyone knows that things are definitely not that simple.

Without any exchange of benefits, that [Blood Ancestor] probably wasn't foolish enough to hand over such a vast empire with his bare hands.

What exactly Rein and Lilith discussed is naturally unknown to outsiders.

But that's the advantage of bloodline ruling.

Rein also witnessed the Blood Ancestor's skill and control.

Sid and Omar's situations were very different.

If it were the old Omar, anyone who dared to damage the interests of the Established Nobles group, even if they were royalty, would be killed in a heartbeat, making it impossible for policies to be implemented.

Just like Ymir and her "New Deal" in the past.

In the Xid Empire, the emperor may not have the right to command all nobles, but the [Blood Ancestor] Lilith does.

Because almost all of Sid's princely Blood Ancestor were her descendants.

Lilith has absolute control over the Sid regime.

Even though she was worried that the nobles might not understand Black Dragon City's business system for the time being, if she said she would implement it, she would implement it immediately.

Moreover, in the short term, trading with Black Dragon City would indeed harm the interests of the nobles of the Xid Empire and cause population loss.

But if you look at it from a longer-term perspective, things are different.

If Sid and Black Dragon City are considered as a single entity, then it wouldn't be considered a population outflow.

The system in Black Dragon City will inevitably affect Sid, and the old aristocratic system will indeed gradually disintegrate and change.

However, their wealth and power may not necessarily decrease.

As long as the Established Nobles can seize opportunities, even with policy changes, the resources they possess will ensure that they remain among the wealthiest group in the world, with their power and wealth only increasing.

Although Lilith listened to a long explanation of Rein's theories, she still didn't quite understand what the "capitalist society" that Sid would eventually become would be like.

But she chose to completely believe what Rein said.

Because

Only after signing the contract did she see the terrifying combat power of Black Dragon City that could make the entire Ice Ridge Wasteland tremble!

She also learned that Black Dragon City's target was never Sid or Omar.

Because these two massive and bloated empires posed no threat whatsoever in the eyes of this already soaring "black dragon".

Their ultimate goal has always been to reach beyond the Ice Ridge Wasteland!

Lilith was also very interested in that "other world".

Compared to the Extraordinary Rank beyond the fifth tier, the ancient aristocratic system seems utterly ridiculous. In this Transcendent world, all power and wealth are predicated on absolute combat strength.

If they continue to uphold their existing system, and when enemies from beyond the borders arrive, the only outcome Sid them will be enslavement.

Lilith once thought she had reached the pinnacle of Transcendent, and that this boring world was no better than hibernation.

Now, however, she has seen the path to godhood.

A new chapter in my life has begun.

With the threat from the Xid Empire resolved, Black Dragon City truly entered a period of rapid development.

Adhering to the principle of "building roads first, then getting rich", Rein directly used a large amount of machinery and manpower to open up the mountains and build bridges, opening up the "Black Dragon Pass" connecting Sid and Black Dragon City.

Now, Sid's large Mechanical City can also travel along this highway to the more resource-rich lands west of the Alkolon Mountain Range.

With the removal of restrictions on population movement, the population of Black Dragon City surged again.

The nobles of Sid initially obeyed him out of necessity, but later discovered that it was actually quite appealing.

Although the nobles lost some of their monopolized industries, they discovered that once the economy in their territories revitalized, commercial tax revenue alone reached a level they had never dared to imagine before.

At that moment, the merchants of Sid realized just how "wealthy" Black Dragon City truly was!

Within a short period of one or two years, commercial taxes had already surpassed the "agricultural tax" and "hunting tax" that lords once regarded as their lifeblood.

They discovered that their people had become wealthy, and that their own treasury held more gold coins than they had decreased.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

Of course, there was also a little incident.

That is, there is a scandalous rumor circulating in the market that Lilith, the "Blood Ancestor" of Sid, is the secret lover of the mysterious city lord, Rein.

People have witnessed the alluring Miss Lilith entering and leaving the city lord's apartment late at night and early in the morning on more than one occasion.

No one offered an explanation, and no one clarified the situation.

On the contrary, the rumors made the cooperation between Black Dragon City and Sid even more seamless.

Of course, everyone felt it was only natural. The people of Sid believed that only the Black Dragon City was worthy of their Blood Ancestor; and the people of Black Dragon City also felt that only the Sid Blood Ancestor was worthy of their city lord.

On the other hand, Omar's situation is not so optimistic.

Now, Omar has split into more than a dozen "kingdoms," fighting each other to the death.

The cooperative methods that Black Dragon City used with the Xid Empire are unlikely to work with those dozen or so small, scattered kingdoms.

The Established Nobles of Omar were still unwilling to relinquish their aristocratic rights and maintained a sufficient distance and vigilance towards Black Dragon City. Their main connection with Black Dragon City was through arms dealers or the black market, where they purchased various war steam equipment.

If they fight for a few more years, perhaps Omar will reunify.

However, reality didn't give them that time.

Because the enemy from beyond the realm has finally arrived!

On this day, in the desolate borderlands of the far east of Omar.

A convoy of more than ten Steam Airship slowly descended from the cliff face.

Before long, more than a hundred Steam Airship of various shapes descended from the clouds like a black tide.

The exterior of these more than one hundred mechanical airships is painted with a special white emblem: a holy angel holding a sword. This is the symbol of the "Holy Light Alliance".

Because of their ancient origins and the fact that they needed to float in the air, Steam Airship were generally small in size, about one-fifth the size of a regular "Ghoul-class" Mechanical City.

Most of these hundred-plus ships are only about the size of one or two football fields.

Among these Steam Airship, one enormous vessel stood out from the crowd.

It was a huge airship shaped like a shark. Compared to it, the other airships looked like prey caught in the shark's mouth.

On the deck of this enormous airship, a group of men in white robes surrounded a handsome young man with three eyes.

A subordinate reported, "Credo, we have arrived at the ancestral land of the 'Black Demon Tribe.' According to previous intelligence, the most troublesome places on this Ice Ridge Wasteland are the two great empires of Sid and Omar, and a place called 'Black Dragon City.'"

The arrogant young man named Credo listened to his subordinate's report without changing his expression.

He looked at the drifting black mist in the air, a look of great interest on his face. "Tsk tsk. The Transcendent laws are restricted to the fifth rank, interesting. The Fourth Tier can comprehend 'intent,' and the fifth rank can comprehend laws. That Black Emperor back then must have left a good backup plan."

The subordinate continued, "My lord, according to intelligence, these 'Black Demon Tribe' have absorbed black mist year-round, making their bodies far stronger than ours. However, we brought a mechanical airship this time, which can completely overwhelm them with technology; there's no need for direct combat. Even if intelligence says that Black Dragon City has a group of flying dragons, our 'King-class Warship' is more than enough to destroy everything."

"."

Upon hearing this, Credo didn't say anything more, seemingly agreeing with the statement.

Those Mechanical City? Or perhaps the flying dragons?

In the face of absolute technological superiority, it is utterly insignificant.

After pondering for a while, he finally spoke, "Which power are we closest to right now?"

"The Oma Empire".

"Then let's take down this Omar first."

"Yes."

Two weeks later, the top leadership of Black Dragon City held an emergency meeting.

Rein, along with a group of high-ranking officials from Black Dragon City, and the vampire Lilith, gathered together.

"Just received news that the Imperial Capital Wussenbar, has fallen! The enemy has approximately 120 mechanical airships. They captured Wussenbar in just two days and are now advancing in three directions: one towards Sid, one vanguard heading towards our 'Black Dragon City,' and the other following behind."

"The enemy's siege tactics were pretty much as we expected. They didn't engage Wussenbar's army in direct combat, but instead bombarded and destroyed the city."

"According to intelligence from the Perception Extraordinary, the enemy has at least eight thousand fifth-tier Transcendent, including some with very strong auras. Furthermore, they possess a massive airship equipped with giant gunpowder cannons capable of penetrating the armor of a conventional Mechanical City."

"Those people didn't seem to intend to exterminate them. After conquering Wussenbar, those who chose to worship the Three-Eyed Evil God were all pardoned."

"."

Upon hearing a series of brutal reports, everyone present wore expressions of shock, yet also one of expected surprise.

The enemy from beyond the borders has finally arrived.