System's POV

On the eastern edge of the Cygni Continent was Cressmont City.

It was the largest city in the east and had been one of the busiest hubs on the continent, connecting the Cygni Continent to the Sirius and Aldebaran Continents.

After the Wanderers evacuated the place, the Jinns made it their base and didn’t damage the city.

They had used it as a temporary shelter before moving to the west, where the Wanderers sought safety and made defensive lines.

And now, the Artemian Army took over the place and made it their new headquarters. Its location was perfect for their plan—to take over not only the Cygni Continent but also the rest of the world.

Since it already had the necessary structures like a harbor and an airport, it was the most strategic base of operations for the Artemian Army.

On the topmost floor of the highest building in the city, the decision makers of the Artemian Army gathered.

Although Lucan’s decision was final, he didn’t mind hearing the opinion of the ministers, whom the Artemian King, Astrion, had sent to aid him in conquering the world of the Wanderers.

“To think the Jinns would reach out to us first,” one of the ministers said with a smile. “This is the perfect opportunity to find out the scale of their forces.”

“It’s very obvious that both sides are only going to use each other to further our respective goals,” another minister commented. “But we have more to gain in this exchange.”

Prince Aurelion had no idea what the Artemians were thinking.

While the Dragonkin Prince did plan to backstab the Artemians once they had dealt with the Wanderers, he was messing with the wrong race.

The Artemians had not only united all the kingdoms, countries, and ethnic groups in their own home world, but they had also successfully conquered the world of Chandrea.

They were proficient in long-term planning, which included eliminating or subjugating any forces or races that they deemed as a blockage to their path to world conquest.

Unlike the Jinns, who relied on brute strength, magic, and skills, the Artemians were proficient in one thing.

Technology.

They could adapt in any situation and use their superior intellect to craft their own weapons of war, including vehicles and other modes of transportation.

In fact, their engineers were already researching the most common weapons and means of transport in the world of Pangea, planning to reverse engineer them.

It might take them months or even years, as well as massive resources, to make something similar, but their current lineup was still by far the most dangerous invaders that the world of Pangea had ever met.

“Who among you wants to accompany me to the banquet the Dragonkins will be holding in two days?” Lucan inquired. “I need people who are good in information gathering, politics, and forming good relationships with the other Jinn Factions.

“I believe the Jinns are not a monolith. The Dragonkin might be their leader right now, but there’s a possibility that they don’t get along with each other,” one of the senior ministers replied. “As long as there are cracks in their factions, we can take advantage of that and bring them under our banner.”

Lucan nodded. “I feel the same, so this trip is a very important one. I don’t plan to bring a lot of people with me so they’d lower their guards. At most, there will be six people who’ll accompany me.”

The ministers nodded in agreement.

After a few discussions, they finally decided on the entourage that Lucan would bring with him to Velmusa City.

They didn’t plan to bring any Azothralls with them since there was no need for it.

Lucan was an Archon, and the Ministers had the strength of Rank 7 Sovereigns.

They might not be the most powerful within the Artemian Army, but they still had enough life saving artifacts to escape with their life if something unexpected happened during the banquet.

An hour later, the meeting concluded.

Lucan stood by the glass wall of the topmost floor, overlooking the skyline of Cressmont City.

Its skyscrapers had long lost the bustling glow of civilian life.

Artemian banners fluttered at the top of the tallest buildings, showing ownership of the city which they had taken over.

“Being an Emperor in this world isn’t half bad,” Lucan muttered.

Since the Aretemian King couldn’t cross over to this world, this meant that he would be the highest-ranking officer of the Artemian Army. Thus, he would be more or less the ruler of these lands once they had successfully subjugated all those who resisted their rule.

Lucan was a very ambitious person.

Although he was loyal to their King, it wouldn’t change the fact that he would still be the ruler of the world when everything was said and done.

Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in the room.

One of the walls flickered as a holographic screen activated, displaying a series of updates from various Artemian units spread across the Cygni Continent.

“Sir Lucan, we have lost another scouting party sent to the location of Casimir CIty,” Lucan’s aide reported. “This is the third time it has happened. How should we proceed?”

“Again?” Lucan frowned. “Are you sending experienced scouts, and not amateurs?”

“Sir, after the first scouting party disappeared, we have sent our best scouts to investigate,” the Aide replied. “They were also ordered to retreat and abandon the mission at the first sign of danger. They have done countless similar missions in the past, so their experience is not the problem.”

The frown on Lucan’s face deepened.

Sending elite scouts accompanied by Rank 7 Azothralls was not a force that could easily be defeated.

Since they disappeared without any clues or reports about enemy attacks, this situation unnerved Lucan’s aide very much.

“Send three teams, but this time, only use Rank 4 Azothralls as scouts,” Lucan ordered. “This way, even if they disappear, we will not bleed too many resources on them.”

The Aide nodded in relief, unwilling to send their specialized scouting parties once more.

They had already lost several elite units, and losing more would hurt the foundation of their scouting abilities.

Lucan ended the call and placed his hands behind his back as he continued to gaze at the city that was now under their control.

While he knew that many variables made conquering Pangea slightly harder, he also believed that the ultimate victor would be the Artemians.

‘Wanderers and Jinns?’ Lucan smirked. ‘Soon, all of you will simply become our servants, regardless of what you are.’

The Archon of the Artemian Army smiled faintly because he was getting excited about his first meeting with the Jinn Factions, whom he believed would play a vital role as cannon fodder in his conquest for world domination.