Deterring the Nations

It had to be admitted that Ziusudra's approach was actually correct.

He couldn't be sure why Rovi didn't want him to 'protect' him, but he didn't insist. This was because the immortal, who had lived for a long time, knew very well that forcing his way would only annoy Rovi.

That would be counterproductive.

It was just that he needed to follow Rovi's wishes while still protecting him, which seemed difficult.

But Ziusudra found the most suitable method for himself.

Which was what he was doing now—

In Rovi's name, he destroyed a nation, causing shock and fear among all the other nations.

They would not dare to act rashly!

They truly wouldn't dare to act, but was it really okay for him to have all opportunities crushed without even lifting a finger?

"Lord Rovi, this is the alliance treaty we've signed. Please take a look—"

A deep, aged voice sounded.

Inside the Royal Palace of a city-state in the northern Mesopotamian Plain.

Rovi stood on the stone-paved ground. Under the sunlight, he took the record clay tablet handed to him by the trembling king of the small nation opposite him. He twitched the corner of his mouth and revealed a smile.

The old man's already weak knees instantly faltered, almost causing him to fall directly.

Rovi: "..."

This was already the fifth and last city-state he had visited.

The matter of Ziusudra destroying the nobles of a nation in his name had already spread throughout the northern nations.

Since it was a rumor, there were bound to be embellishments.

But no matter what, the fact that a city-state was destroyed overnight was undeniable.

Therefore, whenever Rovi arrived in any country, he would inevitably receive the grandest treatment and be served with utmost caution.

They were all small nations.

Everyone was afraid of being destroyed by him.

Then, presenting the alliance treaty that honored Uruk as their 'suzerain state' was only natural.

It should be known that the reason these nations followed the Akkadian City-State was because they thought Uruk was currently too preoccupied to deal with them, and they might be able to gain something by following the Akkadian City-State.

There was even a possibility of seizing the opportunity to leap from a small city-state to becoming a hegemon.

But now, Rovi's destruction of a nation proved that Uruk not only still had the capacity to deal with them.

But a great deal of it.

So much so that they could destroy countless nobles of a nation overnight.

Honoring the strong was always an instinct of living beings.

Thus, Rovi's trip proceeded smoothly and perfectly, without any of the imagined setbacks.

He walked out of the city-state's Royal Palace and onto the street. The low buildings were spread out, like people prostrating themselves on the ground amidst the sunlight and dust. Compared to the city-state of Uruk, these small city-states were far inferior in both scale and prosperity.

However, Rovi's current focus was not on the local customs here.

But on the figure waiting for him outside the palace gates...

The old man who had been following him since the nation's destruction.

"It seems your journey went very smoothly," a hoarse, deep voice sounded from the shadows. Ziusudra, shedding his previous demonic 'assassin' guise and resuming his hunched-over old man appearance, walked out.

"Not just these five city-states; even Akkad has submitted an alliance treaty to Uruk. We can head back now."

A smile appeared on the old man's bearded face, and then he looked confused. "But you don't seem very happy?"

Should I smile?

No, I can't smile. Tears are welling up inside me...

Rovi's expression was blank, his face clearly showing unhappiness. "What is there to be happy about?"

"Hahaha, is it because things were too easy and it doesn't feel real?" Ziusudra clearly misunderstood something. "But it doesn't matter. If you live to my age, what difference does it make whether it feels real or not?"

Having lived too long and seen too much, Ziusudra's view of the world was already different from ordinary people.

"Just to ask, how long have you lived?" Rovi was a little curious.

The Great Flood that had occurred in the distant past was a disaster known to everyone.

But its specific date had never been recorded.

"I was in the Underworld, where there were no sun or moon, so this old man doesn't know the exact time," Ziusudra's aged face under his hood showed a thoughtful expression. "But it's probably been five or six thousand years?"

"..."

"However, don't overthink it," Ziusudra glanced at Rovi. "Immortality is a special product of the Great Calamity. Nowadays, with the gods finding it difficult to manifest, it has almost disappeared."

"As far as I know, there are only one or two such things on this vast plain, and the chance of finding them is minuscule."

"Do not covet what does not belong to you—"

It was clear he had misunderstood Rovi's intentions.

Never mind.

Rovi didn't intend to explain anything, he simply patted his linen robe, shaking off the dust of travel.

He turned back and glanced at the city-state's Royal Palace, at the countless nobles, priests, generals, and the king who still stood there, not daring to move, trembling, before Rovi truly departed.

He froze for a moment, then a smile spread across his face.

"Indeed... just as Gilgamesh said."

Rovi waved his hand, "An alliance? Against Uruk? It's nothing but a joke!"

"...A bunch of insignificant worms, daring to call themselves supreme?"

His figure disappeared, accompanied by a disdainful laugh.

He had arrived to universal awe and fear, and he departed with even greater abandon, yet no one dared to show even the slightest hint of anger.

His name alone was enough to annihilate a nation overnight.

He had already truly made his name feared throughout the northern lands, and indeed, throughout this entire plain.

Even with an army of a thousand men, who would dare to make a move before him?

"Hahaha, worthy of the man this King has taken a liking to!" In the Uruk Royal Palace, atop the towering steps of the grand structure, Gilgamesh, with a hint of weariness on his face, looked at the five alliance treaty clay tablets that had emerged from the opened King's Treasure before him and let out a hearty laugh.

Undoubtedly, these tablets had been placed in the treasury by Rovi, using the King's Treasure as a transit point for Gilgamesh to retrieve them directly.

In addition to these tablets, Gilgamesh had also received news about Rovi's various actions after heading north.

He seemed very pleased.

"Before he left, this King was worried about what methods he would use against those scoundrels... Indeed, only such a swift and decisive approach can showcase this King's glory!"

"A kingdom ruled by a King should not only possess fertile lands, but also the storm to destroy all who are disloyal!"

Siduri also smiled.

To be honest, Rovi had done a very good job this time.

He had only destroyed one nation as a warning, while remaining extremely polite and courteous to the other countries.

With the precedent of destroying a nation, his subsequent politeness would not be mistaken for weakness by others; instead, it became a display of magnanimity.

He showed strength while also displaying benevolence.

If Siduri had been sent on a diplomatic mission, she probably wouldn't have been able to achieve this level of success.

Not only because of insufficient strength, but also due to a lack of 'spirit.'

However, Siduri did not find it strange.

After all, she had long known of Rovi's extraordinary nature; someone who could stand alongside the King should indeed be like this.