84 Arc 5.25 Empress of Four Kingdoms

Zhao Kingdom was sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of the Sea because of its developed sea routes and its location at the sole coast of the continent. While the four kingdoms made up the entirety of the mainland and Zhao had access to the sea, the other three kingdoms were separated from the other continents by mountains.

There was another factor that highly distinguished it from its three neighbors. This was the fact that Zhao was not a monarchy, but closer to that of an oligarchy where the government of the kingdom was run by a group of the most successful merchants and a few other wealthy nobles. Zhao's system had become the way it was due to the influences from the incorporation of people from other kingdoms and continents into their kingdom, as well as the extensive trade-based economy.

In short, there was no single Emperor in the Zhao kingdom, but only a small group of ministers in charge of certain aspects of the kingdom. Not all of them were natives of Zhao, though the vast majority were.

Zhao was also famous for its diversity because of this melting pot quality as a center of trade. Wealthy merchants from all kingdoms and other continents could be spotted at every turn, so the wares that were sold and exchanged were naturally just as wide in variety. As for a common currency, the Bureau of Finance was in charge of regulating the exchange rate of foreign currency into the continent's shared currency. Thus, only people from other continents had to exchange their currency, but this exchange would allow the sea merchants to use the foreign currency in their own endeavors overseas much more efficiently.

The reason Hua Shen and Li Feifei had chosen to go to Zhao was because the kingdom had more potential to become a threat than Shi what with its trade routes to the other continents by sea. In other words, they could even use the sea routes to ask for assistance from their trade partners. Their naval power was not really much cause for concern due to the lack of seas for the other three kingdoms, but the transportation of soldiers by sea was much more efficient than traipsing through the cold and desolate mountains.

It wasn't as if Li, Hua, and Shi did not extend their trade routes beyond the mountain ranges. Li and Hua were predominantly militaristic kingdoms, but they had their own merchant groups in charge of doing so—for example, Hua Shen's older brother, Hua Tishen.

On the other hand, Li had very few talented youngsters in comparison to Hua, but their long-standing trade relationships with those beyond the range still continued. Additionally, the soldiers of both kingdoms would be trained to be able to cross and acclimate to the difference in elevation at the very minimum.

Shi kingdom was known for its arts, so it was natural that merchants from across the mountains would flock over in addition to Shi's own flaunting of their valuable works.

Ultimately, the main reason Zhao had so much potential was because of its conservative outlook on trade and citizenship. This outlook was appreciated by their trade partners across the sea, so it would not be strange if those partners responded positively to any call for assistance. Of course, there would be exorbitant conditions and foreign assistance would always be reserved as a last resort, but Li Feifei and Hua Shen were confident that they could push the Kingdom of the Sea to that extent in a very short amount of time.

They didn't hesitate to do so in order to spice up the game, either. They had plenty of time to mess around until they could bring their child into the world, and the best way was to conquer not just the four kingdoms but the entire world.

In fact, on the ride to Zhao, just as the two were discussing that idea, a system prompt had simultaneously popped up in Li Feifei's mind corresponding with their ambitions.

[Side Mission 2: Dominate the entire world. Reward: 10000 points, 1 Skill Point, 1 Attribute Point]

'Oh, so you do still exist, huh?' Li Feifei mocked the ever-silent 001.

[Host, clearly these low-level worlds are too easy for you. This is all because of your hubby ah! If he keeps following you and even aids you on top of that, I might even have to request a class advancement for you.] 001 monotonously understated the reason for his recent absence.

Hearing this, Li Feifei's brow rose slightly in interest, 'Please. These worlds are easy even without him. But, that proposal does sound appealing, especially since it's not guaranteed that we'd have such complimentary missions all the time. Even if I'm no match for that devil, I still remember the sense of satisfaction I got from beating him for the first time.'

[...] The system decided not to comment since it was true that she did indeed get one over that monster and although it was completely contradictory to her stat, it was truly lucky ah. Also, it was true that his host had no real problem completing peak Level 3 worlds, even if she had only completed one and was currently working on the next one. She was competent enough in her worlds so far aside from the werewolf world that 001 believed that the admins had evaluated her incorrectly. Perhaps they were too skeptical to rank her anything above C-class, those dumb bastards.

The only worry was the fact that she'd already run into three different hosts in only three worlds, in addition to the ones that her man had taken care of behind her back in the fourth one. It was enough to make even 001, a mechanical system—pure AI—shed a bucket of cold sweat. Since when was it so easy to have a run in with one of the less than 80 remaining competitors in one world out of over a trillion worlds?!

Moreover, this was all in the beginning stages of the competition...

There was no lack in lower-level worlds, don't misunderstand! In fact, there were plenty more low-level worlds and only a few Level 7 worlds in comparison! Level 7 worlds were considered the most difficult not only because of the content and world itself but also because the chance of encountering similar-classed hosts was highest due to their small numbers!

He knew that Li Feifei and Hua Shen were prepared for possible hosts even in this world, but 001 wanted to say that the possibility was unlikely. He wanted to say it so badly! But, since the systems only got information on their host's surrounding environment in such a large world with three continents and multiple civilizations within, there was no telling other hosts apart from residents of other kingdoms and continents...Unless the host was foolish enough to reveal themselves, it was virtually impossible to distinguish them from the host body's original persona.

Unfortunately for 001, Li Feifei did not seem to care about his inner turmoil at all. Instead, she encouraged him to push for a class advancement on her behalf, 'Although the price of failure is irreparable, the high rewards are very enticing. Also, it's not as if I'd be guaranteed to enter a higher-level world even if my own class went up.'

Li Feifei was not scared of having her soul obliterated. She just didn't want to lose the competition, and anything that wasn't first place was losing. If she could grab more points by ranking up early on, then she would not miss out on that chance—even if the risk was substantially high!

After a moment of silence as 001 deliberated on whether or not to actually bring up the matter to the competition admins, he finally made a concession, [Okay, if Gu Yuan ends up following you continuously and going so far as to aid you in these lower-level worlds, then there would be more than enough reason to promote you directly since that would be no fun for you, him, or us if he is stuck to you in low-level worlds until you reach his class level—which would take hundreds of void years, mind you.

However, you cannot bring this matter up to him, and it would have to happen naturally for six worlds, equivalent to one void day, as a trial period. This trial period also provides enough time to let the other competitors—new and old—accumulate enough points so as to not directly get themselves obliterated after failing a higher-level world than they'd been doing as of late, corresponding to their class. The admins would also have to re-evaluate all of the lower-level hosts just like you. After all, this competition is fair.

However, if Gu Yuan does not end up in even one of those six worlds during the trial period or if you fail one of them even with him around—whether or not he pushed you to fail—the class advancement will not happen. After all, in order to advance classes, hosts have to prove themselves worthy through consistent merit.]

Li Feifei's face darkened, but she contained her negative emotions as she questioned 001 with slight annoyance, 'Why does he have to be in my worlds to prove that I'm worthy of advancing classes? Wouldn't it make more sense that I prove my qualifications on my own?'

[Host, in the first place, this class advancement event is unprecedented and only happening because two hosts are collaborating for the first time since the Void Competition came into existence! Otherwise, you completing worlds alone would be no different from other generations.] Even 001 had always felt that Gu Yuan was really eccentric. Every host was chosen due to their greedy ambition and peerless capability. Which one of these hosts would give up first place and a wish that could grant them anything they desired?

In fact, Gu Yuan entering the competition for the second time in itself was an abnormality. After all, despite what the Info Sheet declared about repeated winners being a possibility, the Void Competition generally prohibited previous winners—both the host and the system—from competing again due to the unfairness. The reason he had reappeared probably had something to do with his wish. However, like Gu Yuan had told Li Feifei in the last world, he wouldn't be granted another wish even if he won first place again. Similarly, the godly system Zero would also gain nothing. This was also the main reason that, even if given the chance to compete again, past winners chose not to.

Alas, 001 was only an AI and it was impossible to truly understand the thought process of humans, even if Gu Yuan was no longer within the realms of humanity. All he knew was that that man was following his host into each of her mission worlds, being issued opposing and complementary missions. It didn't even matter if Gu Yuan was helping his host, just the fact that she was being trailed by an SS classer—a legendary winner at that—was enough grounds to request for a class advancement so that she could compete with him equally.

Of course, the admins would not provide her with extra skill points or rewards. She would have to complete missions for those. However, just completing one high-leveled world would make his host jump up by at least five in each of her stats, with an additional minimum of five skill points per world. That was if she was lucky enough to land in a Level 7 world as soon as she ranked up.

Nevertheless, Li Feifei seemed to have accepted 001's explanation. All she needed to know was that she had to wait for six more worlds until she'd be reevaluated. Speaking of the reevaluation, she inquired for the last time how the admins were going to do so.

[Since you are obviously a special case, the admins have to consider Gu Yuan's participation. There is a high possibility they will automatically raise you from C to SS just because of his presence in your worlds. This is because if he continues stalking you, then you will inevitably have to contend against him even if only once or twice. However, if you are even one class below him, then you won't be able to receive the resources needed to do to so, and it will be an unfair loss.

Moreover, this situation has been confirmed to have been the fault of the admins, so it can also be considered as compensation if the problem persists. The problem being, of course, your man.]

Even though Li Feifei wanted to argue that she wouldn't necessarily lose against her devil, she decided to just stay quiet since the admins were mainly proceeding with the advancement because they believed that she'd undoubtedly lose against him.

001 didn't think his host would always lose to Gu Yuan, but the probability certainly lingered at around...99.9999% chance of her losing. But this percentage was better than what the admins believed, which was a 100% loss rate. Even though she'd previously made Gu Yuan fail his first world, they felt that it was a fluke and since Gu Yuan was now aware of her status as a host it was impossible for him to let his guard down again. The werewolf world...the admins—which consisted of AI—did not understand what happened exactly, but they did not think Li Feifei was wholly responsible for his failure.

Back to the current world, Hua Shen could tell that his baby was speaking to her system inside her mind for a while now. Seeing as she was finally finished, he didn't bother asking her what they spoke about since that was the basics of being a host.

More importantly, a measly AI would not be able to threaten him. While he couldn't be sure if his baby would leave her for another man or woman, but it was impossible for her to leave him for an AI.

Regarding their seemingly spontaneous decision to conquer the world, although the two still couldn't rule out the possibility of other hosts in the world, they didn't think too much. After the werewolf world where they all failed the mission, Hua Shen and Li Feifei had increased their awareness to the point that they would make sure to get rid of all and any other hosts aside from themselves. Especially Hua Shen, who had been aware of the other man's existence from the beginning but was still ignorant that he, too, had things he feared losing.

If it were the him of the past, he would not have even failed the mission from the start. After all, the other two hosts were the ones who died while he remained perfectly unscathed with his own capabilities.

However, Hua Shen had discovered that Li Feifei, his baby, meant more to him than just an interesting yet discardable plaything. She had somehow become his reason for existing. Maybe it was temporary like she'd told him, but Hua Shen strongly believed otherwise. He may not have been the most faithful man in the past, but he certainly was not the type to throw his life away for a temporary fling even if he knew he'd still live afterward.

Anyway, the timing of the end of Li Feifei's and 001's conversation was truly convenient. After all, they had just reached the gates of Zhao's capital. There were customary checkpoints in order to regulate the tourists, residents, and merchants in and out of the capital city.

As they neared the slightly crowded line into the capital, Hua Shen brushed his lips against Li Feifei's ear, "Done?"

"En," Li Feifei blinked. Since when did we arrive?

Spotting the adorable inquiry in her eyes, Hua Shen chuckled lowly before sticking out his naughty tongue to softly lick the back Li Feifei's ear. He figured that the topic they discussed must have been important since she was completely unaware of her surroundings, unlike her usual self when simply bickering with her system.

Li Feifei, who was not prepared to suddenly have her ear licked, lifted her small hand up to rub off the wetness before mocking her devil, "We haven't bathed in two days."

"I still love your taste, baby," the shameless Emperor's eyes flashed mirthfully.

Rolling her eyes, Li Feifei did not want to bother with her husband anymore. Seeing her amorous gesture, Hua Shen had to restrain his erection, but the corners of his lips tilted upwards nonetheless.