Chapter 183: Chapter 84: Three Empresses
"As the founding officials of the nascent Steam Empire, we are all members of the Lower House. Our proposal will determine which Empress, one possessing the power of the Gray Mist Giant bloodline, will ascend the throne."
Zorn flipped open the meeting minutes before him.
The first name that caught his eye was Isabelle Isaiah.
She was fully endorsed by the Sun Church to take the throne.
Additionally, Isabelle was also recommended by Lady Sun.
In both Autanston and the Saint Grelle Empire, there were factions supporting Isabelle, and they were quite powerful.
A number of factions possessing the Isaiah Gray Mist Giant bloodline also strongly recommended her.
She was a powerful contender for the throne of the Steam Empire.
The second major contender was Winnie Isaiah, a royal of the Saint Grelle Empire and the older sister of the recently deceased Saint Grelle the Seventh.
A royal of the Saint Grelle Empire.
The line of succession had reached Saint Grelle the Seventh in less than a hundred years.
The Empire’s emperors were primarily known for their short lives.
And just as the war with Saintisman had begun...
The Saint Grelle Empire’s ’fine tradition’ of protecting its emperor once again proved its worth.
The moment war was declared, Saint Grelle the Seventh was assassinated on the spot.
Dying the moment war broke out... the emperors of Saint Grelle were infamous for it.
Currently, the sister of Saint Grelle the Seventh was at the helm of the Saint Grelle Empire.
A portion of the Saint Grelle Empire’s nobility were staunch supporters of this Winnie Isaiah.
There was one other candidate who also possessed considerable backing.
Udora Isaiah.
She was a cruel old witch, Level 7 or perhaps even 8.
Her methods... were exceptionally vicious.
Aside from these three candidates for Empress, there were a few others, but none were considered serious contenders.
According to various analyses and reports...
Isabelle Isaiah had a seventy percent chance of becoming the Empress.
Winnie Isaiah had about a twenty percent chance.
As for the old witch Udora, she had roughly a ten percent chance of seizing the crown.
All three were potential empresses.
The standoff between these three factions...
...revealed the complexity of the new epic saga that would unfold in the future Ancient Porcelain Holy City.
And in this struggle for the throne...
...the stance of the Autanston Republic was particularly crucial.
Ogrande, in particular, had demonstrated its formidable depth and power in the recent war, thwarting a massive conspiracy by Saintisman.
Ogrande City’s influence was decisive.
And now, in this high-level council meeting in Ogrande City...
...many gazes subtly shifted toward the young Fighting Master, Zorn Corick.
After all!
Zorn Corick was the one holding strategic resources.
Saintisman had suffered such a disastrous defeat...
...and the primary credit for that belonged to Zorn Corick.
More importantly, Zorn was only Level 5.
They also knew that Zorn had already obtained the flesh and blood remains of Duke Mu Huo.
It was said that during the battle in that border town, the Level Six Duke Mu Huo had been utterly dominated by Zorn Corick.
At only Level 5, he already possessed such astonishing strength.
If he were to advance to Level Six and become a Middle Rank Level Transcendent...
...he would likely become a figure no less powerful than Marquis Albert himself.
And Zorn Corick was still very young.
Once his power grew even further, it wasn’t out of the question for him to vie for Authority in the future deliberative council and become the one at the helm of the Steam Empire.
「After a long while.」
Marquis Albert finally cleared his throat with a light cough.
At this, everyone adjusted their posture.
"Zorn."
Marquis Albert’s gaze fell upon Zorn.
"Tell us your thoughts."
The others also turned their eyes to Zorn.
"From what I know, Udora Isaiah is vicious and cruel. Her Secret Witch Sect is large and powerful, and they are fanatically devoted to turning young girls into Witches."
"If she is chosen as Empress, we might just see the birth of a terrifying Witch Realm."
What Zorn said was no exaggeration.
The Witch Realm.
It was one of the very paths that led the World toward pollution, distortion, and aberration.
If Udora Isaiah established a deep communion with the evil, otherworldly Magic Ring Witch Alliance...
...and the Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree blossomed in the Northern Border Region...
...a vast number of native Witches would be corrupted, forced to worship the Demon Tree.
At the same time, countless women would be transformed into Witches.
The contours of the Witch Realm would then begin to take shape.
The Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree would grant the Witches all kinds of powerful Magic Power.
And this ever-expanding power would compel more and more women to give birth to "Witches" possessing Magic Power.
As the Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree continued to grow...
...the World would eventually become utterly twisted, bizarre, and grotesque.
Men would become unable to impregnate women.
Even if a woman did conceive, she could only give birth to a Witch.
Furthermore, the pollen of the Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree would drift across the entire World.
The Demon Tree’s pollen would constantly cause Witches to become pregnant and give birth to more Witches.
This cycle would repeat endlessly.
In time, the only human species left in the entire World would be—Witches.
’In all sorts of bizarre game playthroughs...’
’...there were always some eccentric hardcore players who would actively try to create a world populated only by Witches.’
’Then, in that save file, those players would spend their days fighting bloody battles against all sorts of Witches until dawn.’
’I will never allow that damned Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree to take root in the World.’
’At least, not this early.’
’That damn Magic Ring Witch Demon Tree would only bring disaster to the World.’
’Only the Magic Ring Holy Witch Curse Tree can bring light to the World!’
’If any tree is going to take root in this World, it has to be the Magic Ring Holy Witch Curse Tree first.’
"Aside from the evil old witch..."
"...Winnie Isaiah is the legitimate heir of the Saint Grelle Empire."
"As rising stars of Autanston, if we were to vote for her..."
"...that would be politically unwise."
’In truth, this Miss Winnie who has been propped up doesn’t have a strong personality; she’s basically a figurehead.’
’Her only advantages are her impressive bloodline and Extraordinary Talent, which make her quite powerful.’
’I learned from the Saint Grelle Steam Daily that Winnie Isaiah is already Level Six.’
’She wouldn’t be so easily assassinated.’
’That was one aspect the Saint Grelle royals valued highly when choosing an "Emperor."’
’Their emperors had a habit of dying suddenly.’
’This had long made the Saint Grelle Empire a laughingstock across the continent.’
’After all, the current Saintisman III had already outlived a full six emperors of Saint Grelle.’
’It seems like there are three options, but in reality, there is only one.’
"Miss Winnie Isaiah is not compatible with us, and she certainly couldn’t represent the interests of Ogrande City."
"All things considered, Miss Isabelle is the most suitable candidate."
"Furthermore, based on our past cooperation, the Sun Church is unlikely to interfere in our internal affairs or the development of our Extraordinary Power."
"Of course, no matter what, we can pledge fealty in name, cooperate economically, and align politically, but we must remain independent in matters of Extraordinary Power! That is the prerequisite for our support of Miss Isabelle."
"I agree with Zorn’s assessment. Isabelle Isaiah is indeed Ogrande City’s only choice," Grand Duke Amalante said, nodding in agreement.
The other participants also nodded in succession.
"My thoughts are the same as everyone else’s. Isabelle Isaiah is, indeed, our only choice."
Marquis Albert said, also nodding.
"Next spring, in the distant Ancient Porcelain Holy City on the East Coast, the founding ceremony of the Otan Grelle Steam Empire will be held."
"This concerns both the Empress’s coronation and the founding ceremony of the Steam Empire."
"Ogrande City needs an expert in Extraordinary Studies, one proficient in all the intricacies of such matters, to participate."
"We need them to establish the nation’s framework on the levels of Mysticism and Ritualism, and to inscribe a great Steam Sacred Mark for Ogrande City."
"You must understand that for us old-timers to achieve a breakthrough, it all depends on whether this national-level Steam Sacred Mark is powerful enough."
"This is of the utmost importance. There can be no mistakes!"
As he spoke, all eyes fell upon Zorn Corick.
"It seems we’re all in agreement, then!"
Zorn quipped.
A ripple of staggered laughter spread through the small, private meeting.
