Chapter 100: Mundane Matters

Long ago, yet now truth is long lost in the river of time, veiled from the world forever.

For Qian Ye, confirming that Nan Gong Birdie is the descendant of Nan Gong Yun Qing was sufficient; it marked the completion of the task handed to him by The King of Black Wings.

“Birdie, this is all given to you by me.” As he said that, Qian Ye pulled forth two boxes, placed them upon the table, and slid them forward toward the Nan Gong princess.

“This is? A present for me?” Nan Gong Birdie opened the first box, releasing a startled cry: “A grade seven gun!!”

Gift from Andura to Nan Gong Yun Qing was naturally regarded the epitome of its class at this tier, second only to Zhao Zhongdu’s “Turquoise Heaven”. Yet compared to its destructive potential, for Birdie, a beginner whose mastery barely ranked among War Leaders, wielding it was like handling something meant for a vastly more advanced combatant. It’d be beyond her capacity to defend herself against enemies with such power; firing just once, would drain her inner powers completely, leaving her gravely exhausted.

As one initiated from the Red Scorpion, this notion of capability was something Birdie naturally grasped. Thus, the early thrill of wonder dulled into anxious hesitance. Having weapons of immense power but unable to use them remained the fiercest agony facing any warrior. She opened another box, somewhat impulsively—and out were two grade six short swords, their gleaming edges embedded in radiant arrays showing the mark of rare, premium craftsmanship.

Alas again, Birdie—who stood yet too short for her rank—was ill-equipped to unlock their full might.

“Patience—some more.” Deliberately skirting discussion regarding the weapons’ origin or Birdie’s readiness for them, Qian Ye set down two golden boxes upon the table. From their refined appearance, it was evident these housed top-tier material commodities.

With hands slightly trembling, the young princess opened each cover to unveil new astonishments. Gifted by a mechanical brilliance, she recognized the specially crafted all-mithril power-core gunshots as uniquely calibrated for a Grade 7 rifle, whose study might boost her own craftsmanship with ranged weapons.

A treasure trove within the second one revealed its riches in liquid mithril—prized enough to act currency in exchanges across upper-tier goods. Worth so much that, as Birdie instantly reckoned by its value upon black markets, she conjured a comprehensive list of essential materials for superior weaponry—enough, when fused skillfully, to even forge a Level-Eight-grade marksman’s rifle.

For projectile firearms governed through mana force—within similar grade classes—larger weapons inevitably consumed greater energy per use than shorter ones. Expenditure surpassing even sniper rifles was then the domain of machine pistols; but with regard to ultimate firearm classes, these monstrous variants remained exceedingly rare. No one could harness such energy output save only those warriors whose energies ran profoundly boundless.

She raised questioning eyes to ask him at last. “So… is this what you’ve summoned me for? Forge Level-Eight weaponry?”

“Lvl-Eight arms? No—not entirely.” His affirmation was decisive—”All this remains yours. Yes, even should this Level-Eight weapon see birth, it’d belong within your grasp alone.”

“But mine?” Birdie blurted, her wide mouth agape with indecision.

“Yes… it is entirely yours,” Qian Ye emphasized.

“But…” A final reluctance emerged.

“Forget any ‘butt’s—everything here falls upon you. And anything else, leave it upon me.” Qian Ye himself reflected countless hours prior to meeting with Birdie’s person before making the resolution: revealing their provenance at present could only stir peril unreckoned.

The identity of the King of Black Wings, whether within Evernight realms or at dawn’s frontier, was dangerous knowledge to possess, drawing in forces far greater beyond even fledgling comprehension. Now, for someone who had only lately awakened power’s threshold like Birdie, no ability existed that might shield herself while simultaneously protecting against outside intrigue. And even Qian Ye himself lacked such assurance.

From prior experiences, Birdie had obeyed Qian Ye like water reflecting mountains. It followed she nodded silently once more now.

Considering deeply, he added: “Conceal every article; if trading resources, have Song Hu divide sources widely across various agents.”

Birdie accepted the advice wholeheartedly; Qian Ye found small reassurance then. Her stay rested currently deep within Heilai city now—an area almost exclusively governed by him—where every decree issued from Imperial High Command must first face diplomatic resolution beforehand. Following Zi Ning’s painstaking labor in establishing stability post-Curtain’s Ferocity, the aftermath left “Fiercer Than Shadow” dominant in River Trisection Territory. Whosoever wished extending beyond such borders needed to consider the potential losses.

As Qian Ye readied himself for departure, he hesitated inwardly despite previous confidence.

“Before we part,”—his thoughts stirred—”was ever mention of lineage or ancestry raised back among Red Scorpion ranks, or Nan Gong House elders back home in past days?”

“Why—whatever could prompt such questions?!” She gazed blank-faced at this query, puzzled.

“Well… if none had been mentioned, I’m at ease.”

Birdie nodded with acceptance as ever, upon which he finally made his farewell. Still uneasiness clung within. Even during night meal, the burdened air remained heavy upon palate.

Not unnoticed by Yatona.

“You seem troubled?” Her voice floated to his attention.

“A troubling notion gnaws within me—a feeling whispering of greater forces hidden behind what may have initially seemed simple,” Qian Ye murmured in response.

“Back then—why did Nan Gong Wen Bai stoop from such lofty heights? What reasons could drive leaders from Red Scorpion’s covert forces to view Birdie in such an extraordinary light?”

“Beyond that—Birdie’s prodigious knack for machines or magic arrays has been so overwhelming as to defy any logical assumption…” A shadow loomed behind his stare.

Gently smiling then, Yatonna offered solace. “Too much thought troubles still waters, Qian—her lineage’s bloodline had grown so weak with passing generations, indeed it required my precise sensitivity alone even perceiving it. Had not your days mingled with hers unveiled truth already?”

“This is also where her Black Wind heritage diverges from power alone—that legacy adapts, evolves with hidden complexities. Among abilities lay this passive ability to conceal its essence in dormant state, subtly displaying in rare situations. As did I at our first encounter, bloodied from recent strife, and yet even your trained senses did not detect my vampiric blood…”

“I wish your reassurances carried easier comfort,” he sighed, yet lingering doubt persisted deep within.

Brief was Qian Ye destined to enjoy within this fortress city—for according to messages from Zi Ning, the Empire now secretly rallied elite corps, aristocracy families, and top-tier lesser house retainers, poised on verge of mobilizing full armies with middle- and lesser-tier groups to be soon incorporated.

With accumulated battlefield honor from successive campaigns, although still yet beneath true noble station, Qian Ye’s battle record propelled him upwards to near-General rank status—an individual sure of inclusion into next recruitment drives, inevitably.

Therefore, beyond fleeting days together with Yatonna’s company, time was now seized tightening defenses in this newly expanded domain, reforming his “Dark Fire” militia, training recruits, laying tactical foundations.

Terrific extension of Heilai City’s defensive frontiers had tripled its domain’s former scale—fast nearing dimensions matching a province’s. In the complex geography—impassable mountains, untamed deep wildernesses here and there—in secret lurked hidden ensembles of dark race factions like Lord Blythe and his werewolf tribe, whose covert allegiance Qian held without open declaration.

To reveal them outright in this contested region might summon human hunters and bounty mercenaries—swarms as ruthless as blood-seeking sharks toward open prey.

Challenging too—the terrain previously belonged unto Lord Stuka of Spiderkin nobility once dominant in all resource holdings, meaning minimal to non-existent presence of independent humanity, excluding captive slave classes or worse those cultivated strictly for meatstock.

Silver lining appeared in form of valuable untapped natural resources found here. Perhaps secrets buried in deeper strata, such as the possibility—as previously hypothesized by Yuying Zhao—that veins containing crystal iron ore likely extended beneath beneath these lands.

Still—the present situation kept mining efforts relegated; peace newly brokered must consolidate defenses across this new territorial expanse first, fortification and troop placements prioritized at strategic positions unearthed and mapped by Zi Ning during early recon phases—thereby allowing a more permanent assimilation of war-forged gains. For now expansion could suffice.

To reflect this city’s pivotal status, its expansion plans must match. This remained Zi Ning’s specialty, such that prior to returning homeland to his nation, he’d already detailed meticulous city development blueprints within his last letter left behind.

The new design promised to double Heilai’s capacity accommodating up to two hundred thousand permanent civilian citizens, while Birdie, overseeing entire sector’s defense planning, abandoned ancient strategies relying heavily upon towering perimeter walls and instead instituted dynamic mobile defenses centered upon fortress-ordnance, granting formidable firepower from fortified points while offering flexible deployments in emergency response situations through rapid mobilization of well-armed mobile units.

Advantages of such system spoke for themselves—however, the disadvantages loomed too—expense. Deployments and continuous logistical upkeep upon these high mobility offensive platforms required staggering capital beyond any average imperial expeditionary regiment budget’s capacity; indeed, the military dictum stated commonly within military ranks was: “Cannonballs cost more than flesh.”

Only due to Zi Ning’s Nanyuan corporate wealth and the accumulated post-war compensation from their accumulated combat honors did the city’s elite and its “Fiercer Than Shadow” militia afford such an audaciously sophisticated defense architecture.

Nonethless—blessed or cursed—as unexpected side benefit of massive expenditure blooming, private soldier bands and monster hunters alike took notice, seeing within such security investments the potential stability they so sought for business—further fueling Heilai City growth into one prosperously rising metropolis as more and more mercenaries sought bases within its guarded jurisdiction while revenues within its budgetary ledgers grew likewise. The free-spending manner of those risk-hunting mercenaries who viewed daily survival uncertain brought an exuberance with coin that only boosted further economic growth within those early reconstruction years.

So thus it transpired—heavy still beneath scars of previous conflict Heilai stirred and grew with the vitality of new birth. Among old native dwellers within the lands of Eternal Night, a silent reverence for its rising future echoed among whispers likening its growth prospects in comparison to legendary bastion-fortress “Darkblood” metropolis—a transformation destined not far beyond horizon even if when realized, Qian might already be fighting anew elsewhere.

Beyond such external growth and reconstruction, peculiar hidden structures remained which Zi Ning arranged. Within one particularly striking initiative, a core cohort of trusted veteran fighters had been gathered—a cadre of battle-hardened warriors equipped with an outstanding lineup led by veterans—names such as Duan Hao, Qi, Jiuyun included.

Their size modest yet their fighting prowess surpassed most elite imperial legions with weapons far exceeding imperial standard issue—these units furthermore accompanied by two ancient airborne skycraft personally designated towards this purpose by Zi Ning himself—allowing swift traversal over great distances if urgent deployments became necessary.

Their capabilities suggested similarities with legendary elite formations from within the Empire’s military—prompting Qian Ye a certain level of curiosity concerning potential usages, especially so considering present needs leaning toward internal territorial management after their domain’s massive expansion rather than elite assault-type maneuvers requiring precise tactical application.

Moreover—from leadership composition observed—the level of personal loyalty both Qian Ye and Zhi Ning enjoyed within these selected individuals suggested an even more domestic security nature—perhaps a covert internal suppression unit akin to palace guards or military police units operating closely under direct orders.

Admitting candid limitations in military leadership when stacked up against Zi Ning, he trusted there remained logic behind this decision; with just one last thorough scan over the unit’s detailed personnel and supply lists, Qian decided further inquiry unnecessary—trusting the man fully.

Passing within days spent amidst the daily affairs of leadership, he soon recognized an overwhelming complexity beyond all imagining. Previously managing mere mercenary units seemed like child-play compared to ruling now as leader—daily presenting over several dozens, if not an entire century’s number of files stacked atop each others upon his desk, all awaiting decisions requiring meticulous scrutiny before even daring to act.

It had scarcely taken a few weeks in his new role before a deep reverence emerged inside him for Zi Ning’s prodigious ability to govern so capably under parallel complexities.

Perplexed he was—how had a fellow managing a womanizer’s social lifestyle, one often entwined within the elegant arts of calligraphy and painter’s ink alongside the endless dance within a courtesan house, somehow still maintained such astonishingly meticulous attention managing all such exhausting details simultaneously? Only wonder could remain for Qian Ye.