Chapter 265: A Remarkable Talent

With the Champions away at the Legion Contest, the Homeworld Channel had grown much quieter.

Early that morning, someone finally broke the silence.

[The results come out at noon today, right? I wonder if the First Legion can make the top ten thousand and earn a reward.]

[I’m not asking for a ranking reward. I just want them to come back safely. Even including Divine Province, our First Legion represents only thirteen Provinces.]

An official from Divine Province replied.

[Everyone’s up early. Don’t be so gloomy. We may be few, but we’re strong. Our Governor’s reputation for taking on an entire Province didn’t come from nowhere.]

[Even if Lord Cassian didn’t lose much in the Individual Contest, building a Wonder depends mainly on drop rates, doesn’t it?]

[Well, if we miss out on Legion Contest rewards, we can try again in the Provincial Ranking.]

They tried to sound cheerful. Everyone knew what the All-Races Champions Contest meant for a civilization, especially its final Legion Contest.

A Black Banner Lord interrupted.

[The Provincial Ranking? You Crown people can turn any defeat into a victory in your own minds. Just like that fictional fool one of your Literary Sage Lords summoned a century ago.]

Lords from Western Beacon, the Black Banner, and even the Jade Court joined in.

[You won’t admit defeat until you’re staring into your own graves, will you?]

[Your thirteen Provinces have been losing Lords badly over the last few days. I hear Hidden Dragon has only half its Lords left.]

[When the Hidden Dragon Group’s young lady comes out, she’ll regret supporting Divine Province.]

A Talcrest Lord of the Jade Court saw an opportunity.

[Plain Gold Province is making its final call for War Lords and Farming Lords. Rank XIII or higher, with at least one squad of Rare troops. No Entertainment Lords.]

[Compatriots of the thirteen Crown Provinces, you need to recognize where your future lies.]

[A century ago, people would have called you rebels and traitors. That meant losing your heads. The Jade Court is willing to overlook the past and give you another chance.]

[Once the Legion Contest results are announced, winning our favor won’t be so easy.]

The appeal worked. After weighing their choices, many Lords from the thirteen Provinces reluctantly moved to Plain Gold and other Jade Court Provinces.

Others cursed them in the Channel.

[A pack of turncoats. If an enemy invaded, they’d be the first to show it the way!]

[Let them go. People want a better life. Ideals matter, but they have to make a living too.]

[Exactly. Don’t try to shame everyone into staying. Otherwise, how are we any different from those bastards in the Homeworld Council?]

While the Jade Court Lords were enjoying their success, a series of golden announcements appeared.

[Announcement: The Homeworld’s first Provincial Ranking has begun.]

[Ranking category: Construction Index. Select to view the rules.]

[First Place: Governor—all attributes +500. Residents—all attributes +50. Provincial National Fortune +10. Fortune Talismans ×1,000.]

[Second Place: Governor—all attributes +300. Residents—all attributes +30. Provincial National Fortune +6. Fortune Talismans ×600.]

[Third Place: Governor—all attributes +200. Residents—all attributes +20. Provincial National Fortune +4. Fortune Talismans ×400.]

[Fourth–Tenth Place: Governor—all attributes +100. Residents—all attributes +10. Provincial National Fortune +2. Fortune Talismans ×200.]

[Eleventh–Hundredth Place: Governor—all attributes +50. Residents—all attributes +5. Provincial National Fortune +1. Fortune Talismans ×100.]

[Settlement: In three months.]

[Fortune Talisman — Province-bound. Use to increase the Fortune of a designated Region by 1.]

For a moment, the Channel was silent.

Then messages began appearing ten times faster.

[Construction Index! Isn’t that practically a contest of which Province has the most Lords?]

[Not just numbers. Resource quality will affect it too.]

[After the Legion Contest, our resource sites will produce far more, at higher Quality. Those thirteen Crown Provinces will fall farther and farther behind.]

[One victory sets up the next!]

[Plain Gold is still recruiting. The requirements have changed, though...]

The Crown Lords had little to say.

If the first Provincial Ranking had tested combat strength, they would have been willing to fight for it despite their smaller numbers.

Construction depended heavily on population and the wealth of their resources. They were already outnumbered. If the Provinces behind the Second Legion received the Realm’s rewards, the Crown Lords feared they would fall behind in resources as well.

Bad news on top of bad news.

——

Inside Fivefold Heaven, the Homeworld Champions knew none of this.

While participating in the Legion Contest, they could neither receive messages from the Homeworld Channel nor communicate with the outside world. Returning to the world beyond the Worlds Battlefield was impossible too.

The first Provincial Ranking had begun without their knowledge.

Even if they had known, few would have spared it a thought. The Second Legion, which claimed to represent the legitimate Homeworld, faced a much more immediate crisis.

[Damn it! Of all the Legions to end up beside, why Mount Celestia?]

[We’re stronger than the Winged Folk, but we still can’t stop them if they send everything.]

[We aren’t helpless either. If we fight to the end, they’ll pay for it.]

[Where’s Malcolm? Aren’t you on good terms with Mount Celestia? Go negotiate. Tell them not to attack the Homeworld!]

[Good terms? He bought that favor by selling us out.]

Malcolm could hardly sit still.

He had made a casual promise because the encounter seemed so unlikely. How had it actually happened?

However much he wanted to please Mount Celestia, he dared not suggest handing over the Temple now. The furious Lords around him would tear him apart before the Angels arrived.

In the end, he chose an explanation that pleased neither side.

[Malcolm: Honored Lord Gideon, as I mentioned earlier, I cannot yet speak for the entire Homeworld...]

Everyone watching shook their heads in contempt.

He had no character and no courage to take responsibility. How had the Concord Society, the self-proclaimed Eye of God, chosen such a creature as its Council representative?

Gideon narrowed his eyes.

[Gideon: So you made me an empty promise?]

[Malcolm: No, no! I merely promised something I couldn’t deliver.]

What was the difference? He had only restated it.

Gideon drew a deep breath and forced down his anger.

[Gideon: Then tell me how many Homeworld Lords you can speak for.]

This was no time to lose his temper. If Malcolm could split the Second Legion again, taking its Temple would become much easier.

Surrounded by hostile stares, Malcolm looked close to tears.

[Malcolm: I’m afraid I can only speak for myself.]

The Champions burst out laughing.

[Did the Homeworld send this commander to help us relax? It’s working.]

[Thank you, Homeworld!]

[Lord Gideon, you’ve spent all this time having a serious conversation with an idiot. That must have been difficult.]

Even Verena, commander of Florentia, shook her head. Her civilization had already established diplomatic relations with the Homeworld.

[Verena: The Homeworld once produced countless powerful Lords whose names were known across the Worlds. To think that this year’s commander is someone like him...]

Gideon was seething.

[Gideon: So you’re nothing but a fart?]

Malcolm brightened.

[Malcolm: Exactly! Just let me pass. Please don’t take offense.]

Taken out of context, the answer almost sounded rehearsed.

Gideon wanted to kill him. All thoughts of restraint vanished.

[Gideon: Homeworld Legion! You send an idiot like this to humiliate me? Even if it costs me first place, I will erase your Legion from this contest!]

The Second Legion’s Lords were horrified.

Wasn’t the Concord Society supposed to be close to Mount Celestia? How had Malcolm managed to turn that into a declaration of war?

"What a talent," Cassian said. "Malcolm has managed to ruin his entire Legion single-handedly."

"Perhaps that’s his specialty," Darian agreed. "How else could an empty head like that win a seat on the Homeworld Council?"