socalfunplaces Chapter 433 Kneeling
Chapter 433 Kneeling
Chapter 433 Kneeling
Inside the meeting hall, the gradually subsiding earthquake left the representatives of the Japanese and Western Alliance with contrasting expressions.
With the strength of the Sword Saint of the Homeland and the Western Alliance Lieutenant General Ronald, they were naturally able to sense the continuous battles outside and also to detect the appearance and departure of Qu Jingxuan.
A nine-star martial artist died just like that. Although there were other factors involved, it was enough to make them wary.
Ronald also sensed that the general's aura was dissipating and that the zero-point vacuum energy was disappearing back into the void.
"Glion, Brolyn."
Ronald immediately used his mental powers to transmit a message, "Speak!"
He tried to find out what was going on through Glion and Brolin.
But Glion and the others didn't know either.
Indeed, they witnessed Bai Ze suddenly displaying great power, even slaying a nine-star being, but neither of them knew why he could display such power or why the Steel Continent had suddenly stabilized.
"Perhaps..." Gryphon said, recovering from his injuries while looking at the distant skyscrapers, "...related to Bai Ze of Dongxia."
Before he could finish speaking, Gryphon suddenly realized that Bai Ze had disappeared.
At the same time, three streaks of fire shot into the sky from the direction of Ping An's eastern border, heading straight for the horizon.
boom!
In the distant sky, amidst the surging, dark energy, three enormous sparks exploded, their deafening roars audible even in Heian-kyo.
In that instant, Ronald could no longer restrain himself. He disregarded the need to continue his confrontation with Tsukahara Sword Saint and broke through the dome of the venue, flying into the sky.
"missile!"
Ronald's expression was grim. "Who ordered the missile to be launched?"
According to the general's plan, the Western Union garrison will not have much friction with the Eastern Xia Federation.
The Eastern Xia Federation needs to be more concerned about the Rift Sea Black Whale and the spatial rifts opened up after the Steel Continent moved.
At that critical juncture, avoiding war would be ideal, but even if war was unavoidable, at least some time should be delayed. Every minute of delay would give the Western Alliance's reinforcements another minute to travel.
Although the general was confident in his military prowess, he would not actually want to fight a war against the Eastern Xia Federation on his own.
If he had that ability, he wouldn't have stayed in Japan for decades.
Therefore, Western Union is trying its best not to make the first move.
But now, launching missiles to directly bombard the powerful figures of the Eastern Xia Federation is undoubtedly a violation of the general's orders.
Before Ronald could even manage to contact the base outside Heian-kyo, he suddenly sensed something was amiss.
His personal AI system also issued an alarm at the same time.
[WARNING! The device has been locked by the fire control system.]
[WARNING! Launch silos detected at the Heian-kyo garrison base. Beware of fusion strike!]
Ronald's expression finally changed drastically.
The Heian-kyo base has actually opened the nuclear weapon silos; this is absolutely insane.
He also noticed that the disguised artillery emplacements and launch pads throughout Heian-kyo had been removed, and all the weapons placed in Heian-kyo had fallen into the control of others.
"Walk!"
Ronald made a decisive decision and ordered, "Withdraw from Heian-kyo."
The sudden fire control lock, the gradually fading aura of a general, and the calming earthquake gave Ronald a rather ominous feeling.
The most urgent task now is to ascertain the general's condition.
Therefore, the Western Alliance lieutenant general did not hesitate to withdraw from Heian-kyo, and did not even dare to deploy his own troops in various parts of Heian-kyo, but only led his best soldiers to withdraw first.
Meanwhile, in the meeting hall, the Japanese side also became aware of the anomaly.
Saiō observed the outside world through the Yata no Kagami (a mirror), and his expression changed as he realized the situation was spiraling out of control.
The deaths of Qu Jingxuan and the members of the Great Joy Demonic Cult, in particular, horrified her.
She had made contact with Qu Jingxuan beforehand, so she naturally knew who had killed him.
Now that Qu Jingxuan is dead and Bai Ze has mysteriously disappeared, who will he target next?
"Go back to the imperial palace first."
Prince Zhai forced down his shock and said, "The Emperor Emeritus is still in the Imperial Residence."
The retired emperor of Japan and the rest of the nobles were all at the Imperial Palace, where the remaining eight-star warriors of Japan were also present.
The most urgent task now is to gather all available resources.
Upon hearing this, Tsukahara Kensei nodded in agreement.
So the group hurriedly left through the underground passage that had been set up beforehand, heading straight for the Imperial Palace in the center of Heian-kyo.
Imperial residence.
As the imperial palace of Ying Kingdom, this place is equipped with the latest protective technology from the Western Alliance. A semi-circular energy shield covers the central Great Hall, and an eight-star powerhouse guards the outside, allowing the palace to escape unscathed in the aftermath of the great battle.
..
Inside the Great Hall, the grand hall where court officials of ancient Japan held court, nobles and officials of the Han Chinese were gathered in groups of all sizes, waiting to see what was happening outside.
Every time a loud roar was heard, the people in the hall couldn't help but show expressions of fear, and some even trembled.
At the far end of the main hall, on the high throne that resembled a high platform, within a magnificent canopy resembling a royal tent, the 68-year-old retired emperor of Japan was also filled with anxiety. Only the canopy concealed his true imperial dignity.
As an emperor retired from the general's rule, he was certainly not a capable ruler.
The general wouldn't be so bored as to let an ambitious fellow become emperor and compete with him.
After all, he was going to bring the Steel Continent back with him someday.
Nowadays, the Emperor Emeritus of Japan's main role is to act as a mascot, and he practices martial arts that promote longevity, allowing him to maintain the appearance and physique of a middle-aged man.
When news of Prince Zhai's return arrived, the Emperor Emeritus breathed a sigh of relief.
"Send it quickly!" he hurriedly ordered.
Soon, figures appeared outside the hall. As the protective shield fluctuated, the nobles who had returned alive entered the hall, along with the Prince of Zhai and the true pillars of Ying Kingdom.
When the burly old man entered the hall, everyone's hearts were temporarily calmed down.
"Your Majesty."
Prince Sai and Tsukahara the Sword Saint strode to the throne, about to pay their respects, when the Retired Emperor stepped out from behind the curtain and asked, "Sword Saint, what is the situation outside?"
Upon hearing this, Tsukahara Sword Saint simply shook his head, about to say that he didn't know the specifics either, when a voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"The situation is that the general has fallen into the Mountain and Sea Realm, and the Steel Continent is now in my hands."
The protective shield rippled, and a figure slowly walked into the hall.
"This also means that I have the lifeline of Ying Kingdom in my hands."
As soon as he finished speaking, the protective shield outside the hall suddenly disappeared, and beams of laser light sliced through the wall next to the hall door, allowing the sunlight outside to shine directly into the hall.
"you--"
All eyes were focused on the speaker; some were shocked, some were surprised, and some were furious.
"Bai Ze!" the Prince of Zhai whispered the other's name.
Indeed, the uninvited guest who suddenly arrived at the Imperial Palace in Heian-kyo was none other than Bai Ze.
He entered the main hall in a long robe, his blood-red pupils gleaming with an eerie light. He looked directly at the head of the hall, the Prince of Zhai and the Sword Saint of Jiayuan, before glancing at the figure in the jade throne tent.
"Dongxia Bai Ze?"
Tsukahara Shin'emon looked at Shirotaku, his gaze not as sharp as Kamiizumi Muneshige's, yet it made people subconsciously avoid his eyes.
Seeing that Bai Ze could meet his gaze, he inwardly praised the man's reputation, and then asked, "Young man, are you here representing the Eastern Xia Federation to make a declaration?"
"If we are representing the Eastern Xia Federation, we would be happy to discuss with your country the establishment of friendly diplomacy," King Zhai stepped forward and said with the most appropriate smile. "The Ying Kingdom has suffered under your general for too long. If we can get your country's help to drive out the Western Alliance troops, that would be the best outcome."
Although he had previously plotted against Bai Ze and colluded with Qu Jingxuan, Zhai Wang still made the most appropriate response at this moment.
However, in her words, Yingguo had quietly become a country on par with the Dongxia Federation, attempting to pave the way for future sovereignty claims.
"I do not represent the federal government, but only myself."
Bai Ze said calmly, "Before, when the General controlled the Steel Continent, you obeyed him. Now that the Steel Continent has a new master, it's time for you to change your allegiance."
Simple and direct, without any pretense.
This made Tsukahara Shin'emon's voice slightly lower, "Young man, you are not the same as the general."
"Your Excellency Bai Ze would be best advised to contact your country's parliament."
King Zhai, with a polite smile, said in a neither too soft nor too hard tone, "If your country seizes control of the Steel Continent, our country is willing to pay a price that satisfies your country in exchange for independent sovereignty."
As he spoke, the king's mind was already racing.
If the Eastern Xia Federation truly takes over, then there will be many points that can be manipulated.
Although Dongxia is powerful, it is divided into many factions, and Yingguo can play both sides or lean towards one side to gain benefits.
Just like the Naslug Autonomous Oblast.
As for Bai Ze in front of him, he wanted to emulate the general, but he was not qualified.
The others in the hall were also whispering amongst themselves, secretly laughing, or pondering new ways out.
If it were a powerful figure like a general, no one would dare to resist in the slightest, and would simply obey orders. But if the person were different, perhaps the Kingdom of Japan would have a different future to choose from.
Even if Bai Ze closed his protective shield and took the initiative, he still couldn't compare to the general.
His words even reassured everyone that the great battle might be over.
As for the turmoil that Ying Kingdom might suffer as a result... does that matter?
When King Jai heard the hushed conversations among the crowd, he knew that he had stirred up their thoughts.
She immediately prepared to try again and was about to speak once more.
But Bai Ze interrupted her.
"I don't have that much time to waste."
Bai Ze looked indifferently at the people in the hall, "Now, kneel down."
The sounds in the hall vanished in an instant, followed by the sound of everyone kneeling in unison.
Apart from the Prince of Zhai and warriors of the eighth star or above, all the noble nobles and even the retired emperor in the Jade Throne tent knelt down at the same time.
"Greetings, Lord Bai Ze."
They bowed respectfully, their orderly voices echoing throughout the hall.
There's no need to waste words with these insects, because once words are spoken, the law applies, and they are powerless to resist.