Bestowing Oscar

Looking at these ministers, Jin Hao stated directly:

"Xiao Ao will soon become my retainer. With Xiao Ao's talent, he will sooner or later possess formidable Soul Power and may even become the first Food System Title Douluo on the Douluo Continent. What is wrong with making him a Viscount of the empire?"

Though these words appeared to be directed at those ministers, they were actually meant for Xue Ye as well.

Upon hearing this, Xue Ye spoke to the ministers:

"Qinghe is right. With Oscar's talent, where would he not be valued? He came to our Heaven Dou Empire because he believes it is better than elsewhere. What is wrong with granting him a Viscount title?"

"Enough. It is decided."

"Oscar, receive your decree!"

Hearing this, Jin Hao snapped the still-stunned Oscar back to his senses. Once he recovered, Oscar hurriedly knelt and said:

"Oscar is here."

"Oscar, a subject of the Heaven Dou Empire, possesses a kind and upright character. Upon awakening your Martial Soul, your first thought was to return to the empire. I am greatly pleased. I now confer upon Oscar the title of Viscount of the Heaven Dou Empire. You are granted a Viscount's Residence beside Qinghe's Prince's Residence, ten servants, and one hundred thousand Soul Gold Coins!"

"Oscar, I hope you will make even greater contributions to the Heaven Dou Empire in the future. At that time, there will be further rewards. Do you understand?"

Oscar immediately declared:

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your reward. Oscar is willing to brave fire and water for the empire!"

Oscar now felt immensely fortunate that he had instantly refused Flender's invitation to leave for Heaven Dou City. If he had followed Flender, who knew where he would be now? How could he possibly have a title, a residence, servants, and money like he did now?

In an instant, he had gone from a little brat from a remote village to a noble in the imperial city with a home and wealth.

Oscar also knew who had brought him all of this. Thus, he resolved in his heart that he would cultivate diligently and repay Jin Hao for recognizing his talent.

Hearing Oscar's words, Jin Hao and Xue Ye both smiled.

The ministers, however, looked terrible. They could not stop the title from being granted, and giving him a Viscount's Residence was normal enough. But placing it beside Jin Hao's Prince's Residence was not normal. The residences there were all for nobles, and the lowest-ranked among them were Marquises.

Now, a six-year-old child had surpassed them in every way the moment he arrived in Heaven Dou City. As for official rank being higher than Oscar's—

What a joke. Oscar was following Jin Hao. Once Jin Hao became Crown Prince, would not the rank of his retainer rise as well? Not to mention what position Oscar would hold once Jin Hao became emperor.

At this moment, Jin Hao spoke again:

"Father Emperor, Xiao Ao has a Food System Martial Soul, and he wishes to study at an Academy for two years. I was thinking, isn't there a Food System Soul Saint at the Academy? I would like him to teach Xiao Ao."

Hearing this, Xue Ye happily said:

"That is right. Xiao Ao's talent deserves careful instruction. Then it is settled. Have that Food System Soul Saint from the Academy stay with Xiao Ao and teach him diligently."

Jin Hao replied:

"Then your son thanks Father Emperor on Xiao Ao's behalf."

The few ministers who heard this felt even more bitter, all of them deeply envious of everything Oscar had received.

Their envy and jealousy had even turned into resentment. What they had struggled for all their lives had now been obtained by someone else so effortlessly.

The Academy naturally noticed the changes in the ministers' expressions and said:

"You ministers are all pillars of the empire and have made many contributions to it. After returning home, each of you may select one of your descendants to serve at Qinghe's residence."

"The empire has recently suffered a series of blows—the death of a prince and provocations from its vassal states. Therefore, I intend to establish Qinghe as Crown Prince after some time, to stabilize the government."

Upon hearing this, Jin Hao was not the only one excited. Once he occupied that position, his future infiltration would become even smoother. Moreover, after becoming Taiyi, his infiltration would reach a major milestone.

But there was also one downside: aside from Oscar, several more people would be coming to his residence. That was not a good thing.

The more people there were in his residence, the harder it would be for him to do what he wanted, and the greater the chance of being discovered. But Xue Ye had already spoken and said that he would become Crown Prince in the future. These things were necessary, so he could not say anything.

Fortunately, they would only stay with him during the day. At night, everyone would return to their own homes and find their own mothers.

If there was anything to do, he would only do it at night.

After hearing Xue Ye's words, these ministers demonstrated what it meant to change their expressions. A moment ago, their faces had been visibly gloomy, but now they all appeared exceptionally cordial, smiling warmly.

After all, Xue Ye's words had erased the worries and concerns in their hearts. They feared nothing except that, after their deaths, their descendants would lose the family's title and fail to gain the favor of those in power, causing their families and bloodlines to perish and be bullied by other nobles.

But now, Xue Ye had agreed to let each family choose one child to become Jin Hao's retainer. He had also said that Jin Hao would be made Crown Prince after some time.

If their descendants became retainers, then in the future they would count as followers of the dragon. At the very least, they could preserve their family line. If they were lucky, their descendants might even fulfill their dreams and be granted noble titles.

Thus, they said to Xue Ye:

"Your Majesty, when we return, we will send the most talented children in our families to His Highness's residence."

Hearing this, Xue Ye nodded.

With this matter resolved, they had to face another major problem: how to deal with the Balk Kingdom.

Xue Ye then looked at Jin Hao and said:

"Qinghe, you will become Crown Prince before long, so stay and listen as well. In the future, you will have to deal with these Kingdoms too."

Jin Hao did not refuse. He took Oscar to one side, while Xue Ye and the ministers resumed their discussion.

Xue Ye wanted to take action against his rule-breaking cousin and make him pay for what he had done.

The ministers opposed it. They not only feared that, if they attacked the Balk Kingdom, it would unite with the other three Kingdoms and Duchies to counterattack and surround the Heaven Dou Empire.

They also feared that the currently powerful Balk Kingdom would wound the Heaven Dou Empire badly in battle. Even if they dealt with the Balk Kingdom afterward, whether it was the Star Luo Empire or the three internal Kingdoms and Duchies, they would all find a way to take a bite out of them.

Though Xue Ye still did not want to let the Balk Kingdom off after hearing this, there was nothing he could do.