C5 Accept the Lord's Mission

Upon receiving word from Malmstr, the Chief Minister and the Empire's most influential Cabinet member, that his future domain would be the Bloomfield Region, Third Prince Ostar had no desire to linger in the Sun Palace any longer. He was ready to depart with Chris and Yulia. Initially, Ostar had not prepared himself for the responsibilities of lordship. He thought he would simply visit the village when necessary, fulfilling the bare minimum of his duties. That was until an unexpected event prompted a change of heart.

"Royal Brother, don't rush off just yet! Where exactly is your fiefdom? If it's nearby, we could support each other," one prince implored.

"Royal Brother, there won't be any brothels to enjoy in the Middle Continent this time. I'm curious about the beauty of Middle Continent women. Perhaps we should indulge ourselves one last time before setting out," suggested another.

Ostar was eager to leave, but he was quickly intercepted by two of his brothers, with whom he shared a close bond: Oser, the seventh prince and a true gentleman, and the ninth prince, a notorious foodie. These two had a history of camaraderie with Ostar, having dined together and frequented brothels, sharing a camaraderie akin to that of mischievous friends.

Oser was well aware of his place. Despite his admiration for the stunning beauty of Chris and Yulia, he knew they were part of Ostar's inner circle and refrained from overstepping any boundaries. His gaze upon them was one of pure appreciation.

"Ninth Brother, let's discuss this later! I'm not even sure of the exact location of my fiefdom yet. We'll coordinate once we arrive in the Middle Continent. As for you, Seventh Brother, enjoy the Flower House on your own. I have matters to attend to," Ostar replied firmly.

"Royal Brother, I understand," Oser acknowledged.

"Royal Brother, if you have a change of heart, you can find me at our usual spot on Empire Flower Street," the ninth prince offered.

Prince Ostar firmly declined his brothers' invitations. He was intent on returning to prepare for his departure. Besides, his visits to the brothel were never about soliciting; he preferred to simply watch the dance and geisha performances. It was Prince Oser who truly sought the brothel's services. With Chris always by his side, Ostar wouldn't dare to engage in a private room, and even if he did, Chris would be there with him. Under the watchful eyes of others, he had no intention of engaging in any acts of pretense.

When Ostar departed, he failed to notice the flicker of disappointment in Emperor Augustus VIII's eyes as he glanced over from the throne. It seemed the emperor was disheartened, likely suspecting that the Third Prince's close ties with the seventh and ninth brothers meant he was cast from the same mold—a waste of the considerable political resources and privileged background at his disposal, not utilized to their full potential.

Emperor Augustus VIII's resolve remained unchanged; his primary goal was to see his eldest son, Prince Osd, ascend to the throne. Yet, the equally talented Second and Fourth Princes were clearly not on board. While the emperor could keep them in check for now, the future was uncertain. Privately, he wished the Third Prince would take a stand and back the eldest, but the Third Prince's lackadaisical attitude, lack of overt ambition, and reluctance to engage in the succession battle suggested he failed to grasp the peril of possessing something valuable.

"Lord Ostar, should we bring additional soldiers this time to ensure your safety?"

"There's no need. We can recruit soldiers locally. The wages for those from the Imperial City are too steep, and besides, having you two is sufficient."

"Lord Ostar, I may not have Chris's protective instincts, but if you need someone out of the way, just give me the word. Regardless of their status, I'll ensure the job is done."

En route to the Jade Palace, Ostar engaged in lively conversation with Chris and Yulia. The roles of these two stunning young women were well-defined: Chris served as the protector, while Yulia was the assassin—a shield and sword, respectively. Their loyalty was beyond question. Chris had been by his side since childhood, and if not for the unresolved questions surrounding her foreign heritage, Prince Ostar would have long since claimed her as his own. Yulia's allegiance lay with Empress Marguerite III and Ostar himself; she would carry out any task, even if it meant assassinating Emperor Augustus VIII on Ostar's covert command. Of course, Ostar harbored no such dark intentions as patricide.

Becoming a respected lord in the Strange World Continent is no small feat. Ostar, drawing on a decade of life experience, has learned of nine distinct continents, eight of which orbit the ninth—a landmass more than triple their size and the very one Ostar aims to rule. The Human Clan claims the cardinal direction continents: east, west, south, and north, while the Mutated Tribe occupies the southeast, northwest, southwest, and northeast. The Middle Continent is a treasure trove of resources and holds a pivotal strategic position. Control it, and you have a launchpad to conquer the others, potentially unifying all under one banner.

The Middle Continent, therefore, is a hotly contested prize. Any power that grows too influential there becomes a target for a coalition of rivals, leading to an inevitable siege. The chaos in the Middle Continent surpasses that of its neighbors, with potential conflicts erupting not just between the Human Clan and the Mutated Tribe, but also within each group. Despite its wealth of resources, the Middle Continent is akin to a powder keg, and assuming lordship there is a trial by fire.

The social structures of the Human Clan's four continents vary. Take the West Continent, where Ostar resides; it operates under a traditional feudal land system, with a highly advanced agrarian society. The rise of the Oberiske Empire, which managed to outmaneuver other feudal states, can be attributed to their distinct feudal system. The Oberiske Empire stands alone on the West Continent as a feudal autocracy, akin to the centralized feudal dynasties of Earth's ancient East, where power is concentrated in the hands of the Emperor and a select few, enabling them to mobilize the nation's full might for grand endeavors.

Other nations on the West Continent pale in comparison. Their feudal systems resemble the castle-based feudalism of medieval Western Europe, with monarchs overseeing numerous powerful nobles, each with significant military clout and land granted according to noble rank. This structure breeds distrust and caution between kings and nobles, especially in times of war, as each fears being undermined by the other post-conflict. The predictable outcome is a fragmented command, with military effectiveness severely compromised. Even when these countries form alliances, they stand no chance against the centralized might of the Oberiske Empire, ultimately being forced to acknowledge its supremacy over the West Continent. Despite these hard-learned lessons, these nations persist with their outdated feudal systems, showing no signs of reform or even the desire for change.

The South Continent, birthplace of Emperor Augustus VIII of the Empire, remains entrenched in a society built on slavery. Serfs are the backbone of its agricultural production, which pales in comparison to the advanced agrarian civilization of the West Continent. The feudal era's agricultural systems on the West Continent, with their significant societal bonuses, have led to the most developed agriculture among the four Human Clan Continents. They not only meet their own agricultural needs but also export to the other three Human Clan Continents and even to the Alien Clan Continent. The South Continent boasts the largest population, with many being slaves acquired through conquest.

The East Continent, the maternal home of Empress Marguerite III, is the epitome of devout and harmonious faith. Here, the divine right of kings prevails, and the Pope's authority eclipses that of the Emperor. The continent's productivity ranks second, surpassing that of the West Continent, despite similar technological levels. However, the West Continent's frequent internal conflicts impede its productivity, and the South Continent's reliance on sheer population numbers to compensate for the inefficiencies of slavery is even more pronounced.

In the East Continent, wars between nations are rare, thanks to the covert control of the Church. Yet, this control comes with a significant downside: oppressive indoctrination. The East Continent suffers from severe religious brainwashing, with the Bright Church's rule forbidding any dissenting thoughts that could harm the Church's interests. Institutions like the Inquisition are established to relentlessly pursue and eliminate heretics, with the concept of "light" being merely superficial.

The North Continent stands as the pinnacle of Human Clan development, leading in productivity and commercial advancement. It has embraced a capitalist society within a commodity-based economy, prompting Ostar to wonder if this progress is due to some unfair advantage or the influence of a Transmigrator from the Agriculture System. In the Strange World Continent, it's remarkable to witness the evolution of capitalism.

However, the rapid pace of societal progress in the North Continent has led to the development of somewhat distorted systems. The growing rift between the traditional powers of the Emperor and the nobility, and the emerging wealth and influence of the business-funded plutocrats and New Nobility, is intensifying. The situation has escalated to the point where any facade of civility has been cast aside.

Despite the North Continent boasting the strongest military might among the four Human Clan continents, internal strife between the old and new nobility had left it unable to attend to overseas markets. Otherwise, with its formidable military power, the North could have easily countered the influence of the other three continents and secured the greatest advantages in the Middle Continent. The social advancements in the North, if indeed spurred by an Agriculture System Transmigrator, have likely surpassed even what the Transmigrator could have foreseen.

Prince Ostar found himself with a splitting headache at the thought of his three fiancées hailing from these very continents. In due time, he'd have to visit their homelands with them, and one misstep could plunge him into their political quagmires. Ostar had no taste for such complications. Yet, as a royal in the Strange World Continent, political marriages were almost inescapable; even if he managed to wriggle out of one, it would simply be replaced by another.

"Lord Ostar, stay put, we have a situation!"

"Lord Ostar, there's a dangerous individual ahead!"

While Prince Ostar was mulling over his future, Chris and Yulia abruptly came to a halt, their gazes fixed ahead, brimming with vigilance as if bracing for a formidable foe. Such a stance was reserved for encounters with adversaries of equal combat prowess.

Ostar's eyes swept over the Emerald Palace before him. Aside from a golden silhouette nearby, no clear danger was present. The silhouette's graceful figure was unmistakably that of a girl, leaving him puzzled about what had put Chris and Yulia on high alert. The tension was finally cut by the voice of Queen Marguerite III emanating from within.

"Have you returned? Come in quickly! My dear, your grandparents were anxious about you traveling to the Middle Continent alone, so they've sent someone to accompany you. Relax, she's one of our own."