Ch. 691..700
Chapter 691
James yawned. His exhaustion seeped into his very bones. He needed to rest. After sating the curiosity of the relentless reporters, he turned and got on the convoy. He spoke to the driver once again, “Alright, let’s get going. Enter the Black Dragon Palace.” “Understood.”
The driver restarted the engine. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, it slowly made its way into the Black Dragon Palace.
News of James’ interview spread. It was translated into different languages all over the world.
In the Callahans’ residence in Cansington… Thea just woke up. She had not been sleeping well recently. She had been keeping tabs on the situation at the battlefield every moment she could. She prayed that bloodshed could be avoided. After a few days of inactivity on the battlefield, she began to feel relieved. “Thea, quick! Over here! Something big’s happened!” She heard David yelling for her the moment she got out of her room. She had been listless all this while. She could not bring herself to do anything. She walked over to David and sat beside him. She then asked disinterestedly, “What is it? Why do you look so stunned?”
David cried out excitedly, “The allied forces of the twenty-eight nations have withdrawn from Southern Plains City, and the Black Dragon army has reclaimed it. Have a look! This is the latest interview by James. Look at how cool he is in the Black Dragon robe!”
Thea felt as if she had been instantly snapped awake. She swiftly grabbed the phone from David.
“May I have a few minutes of your time?”
“Five minutes. Ask away.”
It was a normal conversation.
However, her jaw hit the floor upon seeing the woman who was doing the interview,
“That’s Quincy. Why is she there?”
She was speechless.
She never expected Quincy to make her way to the Southern Plains and interview James as a reporter
Thea, look at James’ robes. He’s so awesome. The five-star badge on his shoulder is glittering! He really lives up to his name. He was able to infiltrate Southern Plains City, which was held down by an army of three million soldiers, and assassinate the generals of the twenty -eight nations. His heroic deeds are bound to go down in history.”
David chittered like a monkey with a banana.
How cool!
How majestic!
Thea, however, was lost in her thoughts.
She was fixated on a single thought. ‘Have the both of them gotten together?’ She recalled the events that occurred before she divorced James. She saw with her own eyes Quincy and James making out in the office at Majestic Corporation. If she had been there any later, they would have taken it further.
Reminded of this, her eyes brimmed with tears.
“You said you loved me and that you cared for me. You liar! You’ve been fooling around with her all this while. You must have been glad I divorced you.”
She sobbed.
“Thea, what are you muttering about?” “N-Nothing.” Thea wiped away her tears. Then, she stood up and ran back into her room. In her room, she pulled her phone out and rewatched James’interview. Her eyes were fixated on James in his Black Dragon robe. “He’s so handsome…” Thea was infatuated with him. She had never thought of James as a handsome-looking man. Now, things were different. He exuded a masculine aura. His every action seemed to make her fall harder for him.
However, she knew she had lost him forever,
There was no more possibility of her being with him ever again.
At the same time, at the Emperor’s Mansion in the Capital…
The Emperor was enraged.
“Worthless garbage! All of them!”
He was lashing out in the room.
He had warned Floyd to be vigilant.
However, the man paid no heed to his warnings.
“How did he manage to sneak into a city protected by a three-million-strong army and take out all the generals? Are they all trash?!”
Chapter 692
The Emperor was furious. Several women knelt on the floor quivering in fear.
After letting out his frustrations, the Emperor composed himself.
He sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette. . He devised this plot to kill James. Now, not only was he not dead, he had even performed a great service for Sol. With greater fame and prestige, it would be even harder to kill him now.
James had to die.
Smoking his cigarette, he thought of ways to finish James off. “Looks like I need to turn to that old man for help.” After a long while, the Emperor murmured. He stood up hastily. “Prepare the car.” The Emperor left the Capital and headed toward a mountain in the suburbs. The mountain was called the Five Monasteries Mountain, named for the monastery at its peak The Emperor headed to the top of the mountain.
In a room of the monastery…
There was a meadow, on which a seventy-year-old-looking man sat. Wearing a white robe and white hair and a white beard, he exuded a sagely aura.
“I need your help.” The Emperor stood behind the old man. His face was solemn. “The Black Dragon is getting in the way of my plans. He has to die.”
The old man slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were devoid of all emotion as if he was no longer alive.
The old man stood up and said, “The Black Dragon is highly-trained in martial arts. His strength is unparalleled. No one is capable of killing him. However, all men have an Achilles heel. In his case, it would be Thea Callahan. We can begin with her.”
The Emperor nodded. “I’ll leave that to you. I cannot proceed with my plans as long as James is still alive. If the higher-ups pursue matters further and discover our involvement, it’s all over for the both of us.”
Leaving this remark, the Emperor turned to leave, Before leaving, he quickly added. “Finish him off as soon as possible. I can begin devising my plan once he’s dead,”
The old man looked at the Emperor and smirked. “Why did you have to resort to such an elaborate scheme just to kill a man? The allied forces of the twenty-eight nations, huh…? You
have one hell of an imagination.” “Remember, don’t get me involved in this. If anything happens to me, there’ll be no one to execute the plan.” The Emperor left. The old man stretched languidly. “Don’t worry. No one will have a clue that you’re behind this. Five days… Give me five days, and I guarantee he’s dead.”
Hearing this, the Emperor felt more at ease. – He headed toward the grand hall to pay his respects before leaving. Meanwhile, the old man disguised himself as an ordinary man and left the monastery. He then headed toward Cansington. He had only a single objective in mind, and that was to take Thea Callahan captive and use her against James.
Although he was located at the peak of Five Monasteries Mountain, he was aware of the situation in the outside world.
From James’ resignation to return to Cansington, his conflict with The Great Four, and his relationship with Thea, the old man was aware of all of it.
He also knew that Thea was James’ Achilles’ heel. Even though they were divorced, James would have no choice but to comply with his demands if he could take Thea captive. With that out of the way, killing James would be a piece of cake. Yet, the Emperor turned such a simple thing into an elaborate scheme. From the 28-nation martial art gurus to the current war. How utterly incompetent of him.
Soon, the old man arrived in Cansington.
“Sir.”
At a harbor in Cansington…
A worker knelt before the old man.
The old man gestured toward him. “Go take Thea Callahan prisoner.” “Understood.”
“Don’t attract unnecessary attention. Bring her to the Southern Plains in secret.”
“Understood.”
Chapter 693
In the Black Dragon Palace in the Southern Plains… James was severely lacking in sleep. The moment he reached the Black Dragon Palace, he immediately made a beeline toward his bed and fell fast asleep. He slept throughout the day. Growl –
His stomach rumbled.
James got up and rubbed his tummy.
He looked outside. The sky was already dark. Then, he grabbed his phone and looked at the time. It was eight in the evening. He noticed there were quite a few missed calls and messages. They were all from Quincy. He frowned and murmured, “What’s this woman up to?”
He ignored the messages. He simply got dressed and left. Many ordinary citizens and reporters gathered outside the Black Dragon Palace. Some were holding bouquets, while others held banners up high. Many fully-armed soldiers guarded the entrance of the Black Dragon Palace. With their backs straightened, they were there to keep the crowd in check. James’ biggest worry was people causing a fuss about him. After getting a glimpse of the crowd, he immediately turned back. “Black Dragon…” “Dragon General, don’t leave!” Upon seeing James, the crowd bubbled with excitement. “Over here, James!”
A woman in a red dress was waving at James. She wanted to barge into the palace but was stopped by the guards. “James, it’s me, Quincy! Over here…” Quincy waved while shouting, However, her shouting was drowned out by the cacophony of noises from the crowd. “I love you, Dragon General.”
“I want to have your babies!”
They were screaming fervently.
James ignored them. He entered the Black Dragon Palace and sat in the living room. Then, he pulled his phone out,“ Get me something to eat.”
As he had just retaken Southern Plains City without a fight, he was now a national hero. The citizens were currently whipped up in an excited frenzy. He just needed to wait until it all blows over.
Outside the palace…
Quincy was dismayed. She was keenly aware that James needed to sleep so she did not bother contacting him in the morning. It was only in the afternoon that she give James a call.
However, no one picked up.
Now, despite her screaming at the top of her lungs, James paid no heed to her. She pulled her phone out and sent another message to James. “James, I’m outside.” James’ phone vibrated. He pulled his phone out and saw the message Quincy sent. He sat on the sofa and murmured silently, “What’s this woman’s deal? Why can’t she just stay put in Cansington? Why did she have to come all the way to the Southern Plains?”
James did not know why Quincy came to the Southern Plains, and he was not bothered to find out.
He took a nap on the sofa. Soon, his food had been served.
Levi personally brought the food to him.
“Sir, we’ve scanned the perimeter of the Southern Plains. We found no traces of the allied forces of the twenty-eight nations.”
He stood beside James and reported. As he ate, James pointed at the sofa and said, “No need to be so formal. Have a seat.”
Levi took his seat.
James asked, “By the way, how’s the situation with Henry?”
Leví reported everything in detail. “He brought the convoys to the twenty-eight nations and is currently in the negotiation process. The international community is paying close attention to this, and the whole process was broadcasted live. At the negotiating table, the representatives of the twenty-eight nations were at a loss of words when faced against Black Shadow General’s eloquent argument.”
James grinned satisfactorily. “I knew he was the right guy for this. Instruct him to pressure the twenty-eight nations. If they don’t comply in giving up their territory, the Black Dragon army will raze them to the ground,”
“Understood.” Levi nodded.
“By the way, write an application and send it to the Capital.”
Levi tilted his head quizically. “What application?”
James said, “The assassins played a crucial role in the assassination of the generals of the twenty-eight nations and the retaking of Southern Plains City. I’m planning to write an application to formally request the higher-ups to give them all a position.”
“Understood.” Levi nodded.
Chapter 694
Soon, James had finished eating. He wiped his lips. “Alright now, you’re free to go. Call the assassins here.” “Alright.”
Levi quickly cleared up the dishes. After that, he left.
Soon, May and the others were here. Looking at the assassins before him, James said, “We can drop the formalities, guys. Have a seat.”
Hearing this, they took their seats.
When they faced James back in Cansington, they did not feel that intimidated by him.
Now, facing him as the Black Dragon in his Black Dragon robe, they could feel an inexplicable pressure. It was suffocating.
James looked at them. “You were instrumental to the assassination of the enemy generals. I’ve written an application to the higher-ups requesting that you be given a position. Once they agree to it, you’ll be deputy commanders of the Black Dragon army- the elite of the elite.”
This was a high-ranking position.
This was proof that James recognized their abilities.
The assassins were over the moon at the news.
“Thank you, James.”
“Thank you very much.” James waved them away. “Don’t call me that. From now on, you’re my subordinates. Address me as the Dragon General.”
“Affirmative!”
Their voices rang in unison.
James looked at them. They were highly-trained assassins with great physical attributes.
After brief contemplation, he said, “You’ll officially be the Elite Eight, the elite secret agents of the Black Dragon army that only answers to me.”
“That’s great.”
Their faces lit up. The Elite Eight. What a majestic title!
James smiled.
“Little Sis, there will be no Little Sis from today onwards.” Upon hearing James mention her, she instantly stood up.
She was dressed rather ordinarily today. She was wearing a black dress instead of a student uniform. Her long black hair and her pure and innocent look belied the fact that she was a cold -blooded assassin.
James continued “I’ll give you a title. How does the Phoenix Dragon sound?”
Little Sis nodded profusely, “T-Thank you, sir.” James looked at Wanderer and said, “How does the Wave Dragon sound?” Wanderer smiled awkwardly, “What an old-sounding name, but since the Dragon General personally gave me this title, I’ll keep it.”
“Midnight Wind, you’ll be the Midnight Dragon from now on.”
“Savage, you’ll be the Barbarian Dragon.” “Grim Reaper, you’ll be the Immortal Dragon.”
“May, since you were called May Argentum, you’ll be the Argentum Dragon.” “Scorpion, you’ll be the Scorpion Dragon.” “Death Dance, you’ll be the Dance Dragon.”
James gazed at them and gave them their respective title.
“Feel free to voice your opinion if you don’t find your title satisfactory.”
“We have no objections.”
They said in unison.
“Thank you for giving us a title.” James stood up and said with a grim expression. “From today onwards, you’ll be the Elite Eight of the Black Dragon army, the most elite of our forces. The Southern Plains require your protection. This is a huge responsibility for you to shoulder. Do you understand?”
James said solemnly.
Their blood was boiling.
They never expected they would become the Elite Eight of the Black Dragon army, which was tasked with protecting the borders of Sol.
They also knew that the world would be shocked once news of the formation of the Elite Eight spread throughout the world.
That was because they were instrumental in the assassination of the enemy generals.
“We’ll keep your reminder at heart.”
The eight of them said in unison.
James looked at them and said with finality, “You’re now comrades-in-arm. I hope you’ll open up to one another. I do not wish to see any form of infighting and back-stabbing here. You’re now brothers and sisters. You can leave your back to the other and trust them wholeheartedly.” “Divided, and you’ll be conquered. United, and you’ll be invincible.”
Chapter 695
After giving them brief instructions, James dismissed them.
The Black Dragon Palace once again fell into silence.
James headed to the rooftop on the third floor. Leaning against a chair, he smoked his cigarette while gazing at the starry sky.
He thought of the people in Cansington.
Although he was in the Southern Plains, his heart was in Cansington.
He wondered if he would ever have the opportunity to return to Cansington.
At that moment, he wanted to drink.
However, Henry was not around. He headed downstairs and went to the wine cellar. He grabbed a few bottles of wines given to him by merchants in the past and returned to the rooftop.
He drank by himself in the quiet of the night.
At that moment, a person came to mind.
He pulled his phone out and called Quincy. Quincy has been outside the Black Dragon Palace for a whole day. Despite that, James gave her no attention whatsoever.
As a result, she returned to her hotel room.
She was just done showering.
In her pajamas, she was looking at her laptop on the bed arranging the stuff she had written over the past few days.
Suddenly, her phone rang. Noticing it was James, her heart leaped. She swiftly answered the call, “Goodness James, you’ve finally called back.” “I’m a busy man, Quincy. By the way, why are you here in the Southern Plains.”
“My country needs me,” Quincy said grinning like a child. She was overjoyed that James had finally returned her call.
“If you’re free, would you like to have a drink with me? I’m bored out of my mind.”
“Sure thing, I’d love to.”
“Where are you at the moment? I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“No need for that. I’m just staying in a hotel nearby. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” “Great.”
James hung up the phone.
Then, he leaned against the chair and lifted his head to look at the starry sky.
Chapter 696
Quincy walked over to James.
She wore a red slip dress that exposed her shoulders. Her red curly hair flowed in the wind. Her facial features were fine and exquisite, and the lipstick she wore complimented her beauty.
She smirked at James who was sitting in a chair with wine bottles on the floor. “You look like you’re having a great life.”
James got up and gestured to the seat beside him, “Have a seat. No need to be formal.” Quincy sat opposite James. She adjusted her dress slightly and covered her legs to prevent herself from flashing him with her underwear.
James did not notice her minute actions. He grabbed a bottle of wine and tossed it to her. Then, he smiled at her. “I’m bored of drinking this by myself. I need someone to talk to.”
Quincy noticed that the alcohol content in the bottle James handed her was quite high. “I can’t drink this. Do you have red wine?”
“Yes, hold on. I’ll go get some.”
James got up and went to the wine cellar to grab a few bottles of red wine. He gave Quincy a bottle. Meanwhile, he opened a bottle of white wine and swallowed a big gulp. Then, he asked her, “Weren’t you living happily in Cansington? Why did you come all the way here to the Southern Plains? This is a chaotic place. Aren’t you afraid of danger?”
“Well, I have you here.” Quincy grinned back at him.
James paused as she said that.
He tried to laugh it off. “Never mind, let’s not talk about this. Cheers!”
Quincy opened her bottle of red wine.
The two drank a lot on the rooftop.
In the end, they sat on the floor with their backs against each other.
“James, I know you know why I came here. You’re just feigning ignorance. I had to come, even when I was fully aware of how you felt about me. I didn’t want to have any regrets”
Quincy’s cheeks were red from the alcohol.
Although James drank a lot too, he remained sober.
James said nothing in response to her slurred words. “I don’t blame you.”
Quincy continued “Even though you and Thea are divorced, I know she still has a place in your heart. I really am envious of her. If possible, I wish I was the one who saved you from the fire ten years ago. I wish I was the one who got disfigured instead of her.” “You’re drunk,” James pointed out gently.
He stood up
The moment he stood up, Quincy now having nothing to lean upon, collapsed to the floor,
James quickly grabbed her to prevent her from falling
James helped her up. However, she was unsteady on her feet.
“Did you know? I waited ten years for you. I firmly believed that you’re still alive…”
Quincy hiccupped.
“I never thought that you’d be married to Thea ten years later. Did you know how terrible I felt after I heard this?
“Seeing you being together with her broke my heart.
“You don’t know. You don’t care.
“You only have your eyes on Thea. “All because she saved you from the fire ten years ago. “You have already divorced her. Why can’t you forget about the past and move on?” All this while, Quincy had kept her thoughts to hersell. This time, she laid everything bare. She came to the Southern Plains from Cansington to pursue her happiness. She wanted to tell James all that she felt. “I love you, James. Forget Thea. Can’t you give us another chance?” Although she was drunk, she meant every word that came out of her mouth. She wore a pleading look.
“You’re drunk. Let me bring you downstairs.”
James did not give her a response. He simply helped her downstairs.
He put her on a sofa on the first floor.
Almost immediately, she fell asleep. James sat by her side and smoked a cigarette. After smoking, he pulled his phone out and called Levi. Soon, Levi arrived “What happened, sir?”
James stood up and looked at the sleeping Quincy, Then, he sighed and ordered, “Send her back to Cansington safely”
Levi glanced at Quincy and gently nodded, “Understood. I’ll see to it immediately.”
Chapter 697
Quincy was drunk and fell unconscious. She did not know how long she had slept. She slowly woke up and rubbed her temples.
After a while, she got up and realized she was in a hotel. Her bag and her laptop were on the table beside the bed.
She pulled her phone out of the bag and looked at the time. It was four in the morning.
“How did I get so drunk?”.
Her mind was a blur.
She remembered James inviting her for a drink.
She remembered telling him her thoughts. After that, her memory was blank.
Quincy glimpsed at her phone and noticed the location it displayed. “Cansington? I’m back in Cansington!?” She was stunned.
After a few seconds, realization dawned on her. Her eyes filled with tears.
“James, you jerk…”
She violently threw her phone onto the floor.
It instantly smashed into pieces. She collapsed onto her bed and cried her eyes out.
She remembered confessing her love to James. However, he sent her back here to Cansington. James had rejected her. At the Black Dragon Palace in the Southern Plains…
James lost sleep.
He never expected relationships to be this complicated. He believed himself to be a faithful man. He was the Black Dragon. Women all across Sol had a crush on him. However, he paid no heed to their feelings for him.
However, Quincy was different.
Earlier when she uttered those words, he had wavered in his resolve.
However, he could not forget the woman who was the sole occupant of his heart for the past ten years.
Although they had divorced, he could not forget about her. That was why he ordered his men to send Quincy back
As they say, time heals all wounds.
With the passage of time, he hoped he could forget all about Thea, the woman who had left her mark on his heart.
“Sir, we’ve sent her back safely to a hotel.”
Levi reported to him.
James dismissed him. “Got it. Go have a rest.”
“Understood.”
Levi nodded and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, James lay on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. He was lost in contemplation.
The night passed silently.
The next day…
Sol and the rest of the world were taken by storm by the news that very morning.
The Black Shadow General of the Southern Plains had led a team of envoys to Ishkabar to negotiate with the heads-of-state of the twenty-eight nations. Through a series of relentless pressure and blackmail, the twenty-eight nations decided to cede five cities to Sol. Upon hearing this news, the world was shocked.
Everyone in Sol cheered.
“Long live the Dragon General!” “Hmph! Who do the twenty-eight nations think they are? Invading Sol? They must be tired of living!” “Black Shadow General is so cool! I love him!” The Soleans erupted into cheers.
The netizens were celebrating the news too.
Meanwhile, Henry had returned.
A helicopter slowly landed in a military region, Many were gathered there. In its lead was James in his Black Dragon robe. Behind him were the Elite Eight and many generals and lieutenants of the Black Dragon army. The helicopter landed.
Chapter 698
Henry in his military uniform got off the helicopter. Behind him were the envoys of Sol.
“Sir, the negotiations were a resounding success.”
Henry walked over to James with a bright smile.
They embraced and laughed out loud.
“You’ve done well. From now on, the borders of the Southern Plains will be at peace, and you’ve become a national hero. Your name will go down in history and be remembered by Soleans generations to come.” Henry smiled bashfully. “It’s all thanks to you, sir. I’m just an errand boy.”
“Reporting~” At that moment, Levi ran over to them and saluted James. James acknowledged him. “What’s wrong?”
Levi exclaimed ecstatically, “I heard from the Capital that the Supreme Commander and King of Sol are heading here to the Southern Plains to confer you a title.”
James scratched his nose.”I’m already one of the five commanders-in-chief. What title is there left?”
Henry beamed proudly. “Congratulations, sir.” “Alright now, stop kissing my *ss. Let’s have a few drinks.” Shoulder to shoulder, James left with Henry under the watchful gaze of the generals. At a food stall in the Southern Plains…
An entire table was drinking to their heart’s content.
Meanwhile, fully-armed men guarded the entrance. James, Henry, and the Elite Eight were drinking.
The Elite Eight stopped themselves from indulging too much, while James and Henry drank till noon.
In the military region… Many powerful people had come from the Capital. In the lead were the Supreme Commander and King of Sol, the man standing at the top of the food chain
Close behind were the Chief Executive and the Emperor, the commander-in-chief of the Red Flame army
Many high-ranking officials were there too.
The Red Flame army escorted them.
James fixed his stare on the Emperor and smirked.
“Nice one, James.”
The Supreme Commander and King of Sol walked over to James and patted his shoulder. He praised him enthusiastically. “You resolved the conflict without unnecessary bloodshed, and even managed to make each of the twenty-eight nations cede five cities to Sol. You truly are the God of War and the national hero of Sol!”
James smiled. “It is my duty, after all.” The Supreme Commander turned and addressed his men. “Confer him the title!”
Then, he immediately pulled out a red document and read it aloud. “The Black Dragon has performed with exceptional bravery during the conflict centered in Southern Plains City. Not only did he assassinate the generals of the twenty-eight nations and forced them to retreat, he even sent envoys to negotiate with the twenty-eight nations and pressured them into giving up their territory.”
“His meritorious service to Sol will forever go down in history.”
“He shall now be conferred the title of the Dragon King, a ten-star rank general.”
Hearing this, James’ jaw hung open. “Ten-star rank general? I thought the highest we can go is a five-star. Are you sure we aren’t breaking the international norm? Besides, what the hell is a Dragon King?” The Supreme Commander flashed him a knowing smile. “This is an exception. I’m afraid you’ll be the one and only ten-star general of Sol for the rest of its history. There won’t be another ten-star commander-in-chief ever again. As for the Dragon King… There are many benefits attached to the title.” “Oh? Is that so? What do I get?”
The Supreme Commander explained, “We conferred you the title after a long discussion. We unanimously agree that the territories relinquished by the twenty-eight nations will fall under your jurisdiction. Do you understand me?”.
James could not find the words he needed to respond coherently. Was this not akin to being a king of a nation of his own? The secretary continued.
“In addition to that, we recognize the service of the people who played a crucial role in the assassination of the twenty-eight nation generals. We’ll now confer the Elite Eight a one-star military rank. You will answer directly to the Dragon King.” Hearing this, the Elite Eight were delighted. After reciting the document, the secretary walked over to James and handed him the document happily, “Congratulations, James. You’re the first to be conferred the title of king in the history of Sol.”
James took the document and returned his smile. “Thank you.”
Many extended their congratulations.
James thanked them all.
“Congratulations, James.” The Emperor walked over to him smiling all the while. James glanced at him and said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Haha…”
They laughed in unison.
After conferring the title, the Supreme Commander left. So did the others accompanying him.
Only when the powerful people from the Capital left did the military region erupt into loud, roisterous cheering. “Dragon King! Dragon King!” They all chanted passionately.
Chapter 699
The conferring of title was not disclosed to the public. Only a few were aware of the event.
The Southern Plains’ military region was in a festive mood. “Congratulations, Dragon General…” Henry approached James with a bright smile. “No, wait. It should be the Dragon King now.” “Okay, I get it. Stop buttering me up.” James gestured for him to stop.
He cared little about these titles.
Levi walked over to him and asked, “What should we do about the 140 cities handed over by the twenty-eight nations?”.
James rubbed his temples.
This was a difficult question.
“Call for a conference.”
James got up and headed to the conference room.
In the conference room at the military region headquarters…
The Elite Eight and the generals of the Black Dragon army gathered. James sat at the very front.
Levi pulled out a document and read out loud, “Each of the twenty-eight nations has ceded five cities to Sol. Although they are small in size, the combined area of the territories is massive. According to our information, there are a total of 300 ethnicities and a combined population of 100 million distributed among the cities.”
James paid close attention.
The 140 cities had been annexed by Sol.
The populace was now Soleans.
Levi finished reading the document.
Henry said smiling, “You’re now the Dragon King. Not only that, the higher-ups have said that you’ll be in charge of the newly acquired territories. What do you plan to do now?”
James was at a loss. “I don’t know anything about state-building or public administration.”
After brief contemplation, he ordered, “Henry, you’ll be in charge of handling the public administration of the cities. Remember to assuage the populace. Let them know that being a Solean is a great honor.”
“Understood.”
Henry gave his assurance, “I promise I’ll see to it.”
He let out a hearty chucke.
“Sir, the combined territory of the 140 cities is quite expansive. Besides, the countries bordering the Southern Plains produce iron ores and minerals. All of this belongs to you now.
You’re the richest man in the whole wide world.”
James smiled sardonically. “What’s the use of all this money? They’re just a bunch of numbers. However, hearing your words, I just thought of something.”
“What might that be?”
James smiled confidently. “As you say, natural resources are abundant in the newly acquired territories. However, due to constant warfare, the resources couldn’t be properly mined. I think we can begin by kickstarting the mining operations to make the citizens wealthy.”
“How wise!”
“Ah, quit the bootlickign. By the way, the public security in the newly acquired cities is bad. There are all kinds of armed forces, private militia, and mercenaries roaming about. I want you to straighten things out. I don’t wish to see any cases of vigilanteism anymore.”
“Understood. I will accomplish the mission.” Henry said.
James ordered, “Bring the Elite Eight with you. They are highly trained and will be helpful to your mission.”
“Got it.”
Henry nodded. Then, he asked, “We have to rename the cities, don’t we? We also have to reorganize the structure of governance by drawing up new provinces and establishing new townships and districts to properly manage it. I think we should strive to make it a megalopolis. Although it’s impossible to surpass Cansington, it shouldn’t be too far behind either.”
Henry went on and on.
“We need to have a ten-year plan. In ten years, we’ll construct a world-class city!” James did not expect Henry to be so politically astute. James then looked at the generals and asked, “What do you guys think?” “The Black Shadow General is right.”
“I also believe we must properly plan this. However, to grow our prestige, we need to have militarized schools.”
“We should garrison each city with an army and strive to create the safest cities in the world.”
Everyone shared their opinions.
Chapter 700
The King of Sol had conferred James the title of Dragon King and gave him authority to manage the newly acquired cities. Everyone gave their own suggestions on how to best manage the cities.
“In that case, we need to have a proper plan. However, since we’re all military men, we know little about this. We should seek assistance from some brilliant and capable politicians from inland here to help us administer the cities.”
Henry asked, “What should we name our cities then? You’re the Dragon King, the one who rules over these cities. You should be the one naming them.”
“Just come up with random names.”
James tried to dismiss him. He could not care less about naming the cities.
Henry persisted. “That won’t do. This has historical significance. This event will go down in the history books and be read by Soleans for generations to come. We must give this the consideration it deserves.” “What about Theaville?”
James suggested.
Henry rolled his eyes. “Seriously, James? Will you just stop thinking about her already?”
James smiled awkwardly, “I just think it sounds nice.”
“What do you mean by Theaville? Since you’re the Dragon King, why don’t we name it Dragonville?” Henry suggested.
“Sure.”
James could not be bothered.
He stood up and said, “That should be it then. Henry, write the application letter for the transfer of expertise from the inland. I’ll leave everything in your hands. Dismissed.” Everyone stood up and wore their military caps. Then, they saluted James, “We’ll take our leave.”
James left.
Henry followed close behind.
“James, now that the conflict in the Southern Plains is resolved, I think you can go on a vacation. Return to Cansington and meet Thea. I believe she must be waiting for you.”
James froze
Meet Thea?
Would they ever get together again? Besides, he had promised another woman that he would marry her if he made it out alive before coming to the Southern Plains.
“Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Leaving this remark, James turned to leave.
Henry shouted jokingly, “When do we get to meet the Dragon Queen then?”
James ignored him. He left the military region and headed to the Black Dragon Palace.
He returned to the vast and spacious villa.
He sat on the sofa and rubbed his temples.
He did not know what to do either. Should he return to Cansington to honor his commitment? Just as he was in a dilemma, his phone vibrated. He grabbed his phone and saw it was an unknown number. Just as he was about to decline the call, he remembered that not many people knew his number. Perhaps it was someone he was acquainted with
He answered the phone.
A hoarse voice spoke, “James the Black Dragon. Congratulations on becoming the Dragon King.” “Who are you?” “It doesn’t matter who I am. Come to Mt. Thunder Pass if you value Thea Callahan’s life.” Hearing this, James shot up immediately. Deep creases lined his forehead as he growled, “If you dare lay a finger on her, I’ll exterminate you and your family.” “Why would I? Don’t you worry. She’s perfectly fine, for now. I can’t guarantee what will happen next if you aren’t at Mt. Thunder Pass by sunset.” Then, he hung up the call.