Chương 178: Post-War Reconstruction

The newly anointed King of Gluttony was dragged before Li Qinwu by a squad of goblins. Li Qinwu sized the towering brute up from top to bottom. Standing roughly 3. 2 meters tall, he was obscenely obese, with thick limbs and centipede-like black tattoos carved across his flesh. Gulush's eyes were completely hollow. The memory of his lifelong friend leaving this world after making a desperate, single move—dying a death so agonizing that he was picked completely clean of flesh—still haunted his broken psyche.

Now, selected by that unnatural entity as the new King of Gluttony, he felt not a single shred of excitement—only a suffocating, paralyzing terror. That horrifying god—the God of Gluttony—didn't view him as a ruler. It merely wanted to fatten him up, raising him like livestock until his flesh was tender enough to be devoured. THUD! Without warning, Gulush's knees gave out. He collapsed heavily into the dirt and burst into uncontrollable, racking sobs—giving Li Qinwu quite a start.

Watching a gigantic, towering mountain of lard wail so heart-wrenchingly right in front of him left Li Qinwu momentarily speechless. Gulush wept as if his soul was being torn apart. He stared down at his bloated hands, at the hideous runes squirming beneath his skin, at the thick layers of lard folded over his stomach, and at his oversized, feminized chest. A profound, overwhelming misery washed over him. Once, he had been strong, lean, and proud—the most envied warrior in the entire tribe.

How on earth had he degraded into this grotesque monstrosity?

"I DON'T WANT THIS!!" He let out a sudden, frantic howl and bit down viciously on his own fat forearm. With a brutal, desperate jerk, he ripped a massive strip of tattooed skin right off his arm, sending dark red blood spattering across the dirt. Frenzied, he dug his thick fingernails deep into his belly, trying to tear away the rolling layers of fat on his stomach with his bare hands. Li Qinwu and the surrounding officers watched the horrifying display in utter shock.

What kind of psychotic episode is this guy having?!

"Restrain him! Quickly!" At Li Qinwu's sharp order, the surrounding guards surged forward. Gob-Mad took the lead, slamming his immense weight down to pin Gulush firmly against the ground. With his arms already loosely bound by thick hemp rope, the guards easily overwhelmed the weeping giant, tying him up until he couldn't twitch a single muscle.

Gulush sobbed hysterically, thrashing his head against the soil, howling at the top of his lungs that he gave up the power, that he rejected the God of Gluttony, that he wanted nothing to do with any of it. Listening to his broken ramblings, Li Qinwu's eyes narrowed in deep thought. This God of Gluttony poses an extreme threat... A dark cult like this must NEVER be allowed to spread within the Alliance!

Li Qinwu turned to the assembled officers, his voice sharp and commanding: "Effective immediately, the God of Gluttony is officially classified as an Evil God. It is strictly forbidden for any citizen to worship the God of Gluttony or to mark their bodies with related ritual tattoos. Relay this order to all military units immediately! Any soldier caught harbouring this faith will be executed on the spot!" The officers straightened up with a cold shiver, shouting their compliance in unison.

Gob-Literate whipped out his little notebook, scribbling down every single word like mad. Li Qinwu turned to Gob-Spear.

"Inspect all the troll captives. Anyone with those ritual tattoos is to be isolated and placed under tight guard. As for this guy..." Li Qinwu glanced down at Gulush, who was still weeping as if his world had utterly collapsed.

"Lock him up in solitary confinement. Make sure he doesn't commit suicide. Once he regains his sanity, bring him back to see me." Having dealt with the troll leadership, Li Qinwu summoned the Elder and Chief Meng Li.

"You two," Li Qinwu began, eyeing them closely.

"I'm going to ask you one final time. Are you absolutely certain you want the Water Drake tribe to join the Alliance?" THUD! Without a second's hesitation, both the Elder and Meng Li dropped to their knees, calling out in unison:"Your Majesty! The Alliance is grand and invincible! Joining the Alliance is the ultimate desire of our entire tribe—even the air under your reign tastes sweet!" Li Qinwu gave a satisfied nod.

"Very well. But understand this: joining the Alliance does not mean endless luxury without effort. You must bear your share of duties and responsibilities." The Elder and Meng Li exchanged a brief glance before the Elder spoke up respectfully: "Your Majesty, what responsibilities are expected of us?" Li Qinwu paused briefly to organize his thoughts.

"First, you must strictly abide by the laws of the Alliance. In short: murderers face execution, thieves face hard labor. In the coming days, I will send personnel into the wetlands to construct administrative buildings and station official magistrates.

"Second, you must provide eligible youths to serve in the military. The first batch will consist of 1, 000 recruits. I will send military officers to handle the selection process; those who pass will be transferred to the South Bank for formal training and service. Soldiers will enjoy full veteran privileges and benefits.

"Lastly, you will pay taxes—specifically, thirty percent of your total production yield. In return, I will dispatch engineers and resources to develop the wetlands. Your tax revenue will be returned directly to your tribe in the form of infrastructure and public works." Hearing this, a flicker of anxiety crossed the faces of both leaders. The inner wetlands had been their sacred, untouched sanctuary for centuries; the idea of the King's officials moving directly into their territory made them deeply uneasy.

Yet, remembering the terrifying assault from earlier—how the goblins had crushed the formidable troll settlement like stepping on an ant—they asked themselves: Do we even have the right to refuse? Suppressing their lingering doubts, the two bowed low and agreed. Satisfied, Li Qinwu continued, "Meng Li, your people are natural swimmers. Can you cross the Great River effortlessly?" Meng Li wagged his massive tail eagerly.

"Your Majesty! Entering the water is as natural to a Water Drake as returning to the egg. Our tails allow us to cut through currents at immense speed, and we can easily transport heavy loads back and forth across the water."

"Excellent," Li Qinwu smiled.

"Meng Li, I want you to organize a dedicated river transport force. Your mission will be to ferry personnel and supplies between the North and South banks. Rest assured, you will be compensated—the Alliance pays fairly for all official services." Meng Li pressed his forehead against the dirt.

"Your Majesty, it shall be done as you command!" Li Qinwu gestured for them to stand.

"Now that the primary troll stronghold has been dismantled, I will leave a garrison here to secure the region. The remaining trolls will no longer dare disturb you. The Water Drake tribe is free to live without fear." Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. A heavy weight seemed to lift off the shoulders of both leaders simultaneously. The oppressive mountain that had crushed the Water Drake tribe for generations was finally gone.

Their nesting grounds, their eggs, their future—all were finally safe. Their children could grow up without the constant shadow of death hanging over them. The old Elder broke down, tears streaming down his scales as his tongue repeatedly flicked out to moisten his eyes. Having lived through decades of humiliation, he had never imagined he would live to see his people truly liberated in his twilight years.

Meng Li wrapped a heavy arm around the weeping Elder, feeling a strange mixture of overwhelming relief and quiet apprehension. Now that we've joined the Alliance... what kind of future lies ahead for our people? Once the two had regained their composure, Li Qinwu spoke up again, his tone turning grave: "There is one more thing you must understand. Besides your people, the Alliance will also accept the trolls as full citizens." Both lizardmen stiffened, their eyes widening in absolute disbelief.

"H-How can that be?! I—" Meng Li gasped, bursting out instinctively! Li Qinwu's razor-sharp glare swept over him instantly. The sheer intensity of that cold, dangerous gaze choked the words right back down Meng Li's throat. Li Qinwu stared at the trembling chief until Meng Li bowed his head in defeat, letting out a soft grunt.

Drawing a small combat knife, Li Qinwu casually began cleaning his fingernails as he spoke in a measured, icy tone: "Did you think joining the Alliance meant you could keep acting as you pleased—killing who you want, pursuing grudges whenever you feel like it, following your every impulse?" His sharp eyes locked onto the two lizardmen, making every scale on their backs stand on end.

"Listen closely. Order is the greatest gift the Alliance brings to the Demonic Beast Forest, and every level of my government exists to enforce it!

"The only reason the trolls could raid your nesting grounds and devour your eggs in the past was because there was no order!

"Now that the Alliance is here, order protects your people so you can live in peace. But that same order extends to the trolls, and it will protect them just as fiercely!

"The trolls will be assigned to productive labor under Alliance supervision to earn that protection. Their integration into the Alliance is non-negotiable!" A long, heavy silence hung over the room. Finally, the old Elder let out a quiet sigh and spoke: "Your Majesty, your will shall be done. Meng Li and I will support your decisions completely.

"However... I fear my tribesmen lack our restraint. Many carry deep, blood-soaked hatred against the trolls. They have watched with their own eyes as trolls tore open our nests and devoured our unborn young.

"If they learn the trolls are being granted citizenship alongside us, I fear resentment will boil over."

"Then tell them to swallow their resentment!" Li Qinwu snapped harshly.

"If anyone dares step out of line or take matters into their own hands, the law will deal with them accordingly!

"In a few days, I will return to the South Bank. Select a few clear-headed representatives to accompany me; they will study Alliance law on the South Bank so your own people can educate your tribe on staying lawful.

"As for the hatred between your races... it is like a stone sitting in a roaring river. Over time, the current will wear it away. Let time wash it clean." Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Li Qinwu prepared to board the airship to return to the South Bank. According to his previous calculations, the merchant guild led by Master Jin Lanbo should have arrived with their shipment of goods. It was time to launch the Magic Blast Furnace project, and he needed to oversee the installation personally.

Before leaving, Li Qinwu had wrapped up all major administrative tasks in the north. First, the captured troll settlement was officially recognized by the system as a Large Town, which Li Qinwu promptly named Troll City. Troll City possessed a Level 5 Barracks capable of housing up to 500 system-generated soldiers. Li Qinwu recruited 500 War-Marked Trolls and assigned them directly to the town garrison, organizing them into five security companies to maintain local order.

These 500 War-Marked Trolls accounted for nearly every remaining fanatic who had embraced the God of Gluttony. By binding them through the system, Li Qinwu effectively neutralized the chaotic threat posed by their cult, giving him time to figure out a way to purge the god's dark influence from their minds permanently. Second, Li Qinwu released all non-fanatical troll captives, allowing them to settle down and resume their lives within Troll City.

This merciful act won over the hearts of the troll populace almost instantly. Many trolls who had fled into the surrounding woods during the assault began trickling back to their homes, while farmers returned to the fields to resume cultivation—a fact clearly reflected by the steady influx of grain into the system inventory. However, mercy alone was not enough.

To maintain firm control over Troll City, Li Qinwu needed a permanent military presence to prevent any resurgence of dark cults or hostile interference from outlying troll tribes. He ordered Gob-Spear to remain stationed in Troll City alongside the 1st Battalion of the 1st Guard Regiment, establishing a permanent garrison base. As for the Water Drake tribe, the deep-seated animosity between the two races remained a volatile issue.

Forgetting decades of bloodshed would take generations of effort; in the short term, keeping the two populations completely separated was the best way to prevent violent clashes. Li Qinwu issued a strict decree establishing the Necropolis—currently under construction by Gob-Die—as the official demarcation line. Neither Water Drakes nor Trolls were permitted to cross without authorization.

To consolidate his rule over the Water Drakes, Li Qinwu ordered the construction of two major facilities near their territory: an administrative government building constructed on the shore near the wetlands to streamline the mobilization of Drake labor, and a major river dock. Transportation across the 5-kilometer-wide river remained a massive logistical bottleneck.

Although Chief Meng Li had organized over 1, 000 strong Water Drakes to ferry goblins and supplies back and forth across the river at Li Qinwu's request, the efficiency was painfully low. Even the strongest Drake could only carry a single adult goblin across the river once a day. Without developing a far more efficient transportation network, the North and South banks would remain isolated territories rather than a unified nation. Therefore, shipbuilding had to be prioritized.

With the Magic Blast Furnace set to arrive, giving the Alliance the capability to mass-produce high-grade steel, Li Qinwu aimed to skip right past wooden sailing ships and go straight to building steam-powered ironclads! A few hours later, the airship crossed the vast span of the Great River and touched down smoothly at Citizen Square in Steel City. The heavy cargo doors hissed open, and a delegation of 300 Water Drakes and 100 Trolls stepped off the vessel, looking around Citizen Square in utter bewilderment.

Paved entirely with polished marble slabs, the square stretched across an area equivalent to five basketball courts, designed both for public recreation and mass military parades. Surrounding the square stood an array of massive concrete structures.

To the north stood the main Administrative Complex and the Supreme Commander's Residence; to the west lay the sprawling Industrial Zone; to the east were the Underworld Tree and the primary military barracks, flanked by sprawling concrete villages and endless fields of farmland. The sheer scale of these monolithic concrete structures left the visiting representatives completely speechless. Miss Hana stepped forward with a welcoming party to receive the group.

Li Qinwu turned to her and instructed, "These Water Drakes and Trolls are representatives sent to learn. I need you to host them and teach them Alliance law. Later, I'll assign instructors to train them in advanced farming, metallurgy, and weaving. Make sure translation arrangements are handled smoothly." Miss Hana bowed respectfully before reporting, "Your Majesty, the delegation from the Merchant Guild has arrived! Every single item on your request list has been delivered.

Master West Hayden is currently organizing personnel to process the mana cores, awaiting your final selection of the site to begin construction.

"Additionally, representatives from both the Magic Society and the Church of the Goddess of Life have arrived. The Society wishes to negotiate the ransom for the airship and its crew, while the Church has sent a High Priest to discuss buying back the Purity Pendant." Li Qinwu burst into a sharp laugh. They moved fast! Looks like they were really sweating bullets to rush here like this!

"Tell them to wait at the Supreme Commander's Residence. I will grant them an audience shortly." Turning back toward the airship, Li Qinwu found Sharp in the cabin and asked directly, "Sharp, the Magic Society sent a party to ransom you." Sharp flinched, looking visibly flustered. Though bound by the system's absolute loyalty, his conscious mind still functioned normally. He longed to return home, yet didn't dare voice the thought. Noticing his reaction, Li Qinwu gave a subtle, playful grin.

"Want to go back?" Sharp's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head frantically.

"N-No... I don't!" Li Qinwu slapped him heavily on the shoulder, laughing out loud.

"No! You DO want to go back—and you HAVE to go back!" Sharp blinked in total confusion. What on earth does that mean? Li Qinwu slowly laid out his plan. He intended to release Sharp and the other airship mages in exchange for a massive load of mana cores. Once Sharp returned to Vanguard City, his prestigious status as a veteran airship captain would guarantee him command of another vessel in no time. When the opportunity arose, all he had to do was pilot his new airship straight back to the Alliance!

Just like that, the Alliance would have two airships! Listening to Li Qinwu's wild scheme, Sharp stood frozen in sheer disbelief. You can actually pull off a scheme like this?! Yet, as he thought it through carefully, he realized it was entirely feasible! The Magic Society was riddled with internal factions, academic cliques, and deep family connections. Piloting a massive airship was a highly specialized discipline, and Sharp's family was one of the few lineages that specialized in it.

The moment Sharp set foot back in Vanguard City, factions within the Society would inevitably scramble to assign him to another airship command. Li Qinwu hashed out the finer details with Sharp, explicitly telling him to aim for the largest airship available—and to stuff the cargo bay with as many free "local specialties" as he could carry before defecting back. Finally, Li Qinwu patted Sharp on the shoulder with an encouraging grin: "Work hard!

If you manage to fly a giant airship back here for me, I'll reward you with an entire nest of Wood Rats!"