Chapter 16 : Decision

Twenty minutes later, Nexus arrived at the courtyard. It was the only one in good condition in the slums, which made him wonder how Kassius managed to buy it in such a rundown area.

The slums were in ruins, and hardly anyone ever came here except for the commoners who lived nearby. Pushing the creaking door open, Nexus entered the courtyard and saw Nyx sitting on a bench, swinging her legs with a bored expression.

When Nyx heard the door open, she looked up and saw Nexus. Her face lit up with a bright smile as she quickly stood up and trotted over to him. Nexus chuckled as she approached.

As Nyx stood in front of Nexus, she pouted and asked, "Your Highness, where have you been all morning?"

Nexus smiled and replied, "I went out to explore the city."

Nyx turned her head and snorted, saying, "You went out without me? Hmph."

Nexus explained, "You were still asleep when I left, and the city can be dangerous. I had to conceal my appearance, and you're too beautiful. I was afraid someone might try to abduct you." He smiled and rubbed her head.

Nyx blushed as she shyly turned her head. Her heart was fluttering and she felt butterflies in her stomach. "His Highness said I'm beautiful," Nyx thought, her face turning red.

"Where is Grandpa Kassius and Grandma Sora?" Nexus asked, looking around the yard.

Nyx woke up from her sweet dreams and replied, "Both of them are in their rooms."

"Your Highness, have you eaten? Grandma Sora left some food for you," Nyx quickly added.

"Okay, let's go. Bring me the food," Nexus nodded and made his way to the dining table. Even though his Cultivation had reached the Body Integration Realm and he could go for a long time without food, he still wanted to eat to satisfy his taste buds.

A few moments later, Nexus was sitting at the dining table, eating a simple meal with relish. Nyx was sitting across from him, supporting her chin and looking at Nexus with infatuated eyes.

Feeling that someone was looking at him, Nexus raised his head and met Nyx's beautiful purple eyes. Nyx quickly averted her eyes the moment Nexus locked eyes with her, her face turning red.

Shaking his head, Nexus continued his meal.

"Your Highness, you're back," Kassius' gentle voice sounded at the door.

Nexus and Nyx looked at the door to see Kassius and Sora just coming in.

"Grandpa Kassius, I was just about to tell Nyx to go and call for you," Nexus said, waving his hand. "Come and sit down, I have something to tell you and I want to hear your suggestions."

Kassius and Sora made their way to the table and took their seats. Kassius looked at Nexus with a serious expression, wondering what Nexus had to discuss. Nexus took a sip of water, wiped his mouth, and maintained his serious demeanor.

"Grandpa Kassius, after venturing out and observing the city, I finally understand why you advised me to conceal my appearance," Nexus stated, his eyes reflecting a sense of pity.

"Your Highness, you are aware of the situation in this Kingdom, correct?" Kassius asked, his expression also filled with pity.

"Yes, I did not anticipate the Kingdom's situation to have deteriorated to this extent. I was truly shocked by what I witnessed," Nexus added.

Sora and Nyx wore puzzled expressions as they listened to the conversation between Nexus and Kassius.

"Your Highness, what are you talking about?" Nyx asked with a curious expression.

Sora nodded in agreement, eager to learn more. Since arriving in this continent and kingdom in haste to find shelter, they had not explored the city.

They were curious about the city, especially after Kassius warned them of its dangers. They had remained confined to the courtyard, with Kassius being the only one venturing out occasionally.

Upon hearing Nexus and Kassius' discussion, Sora and Nyx became intrigued about the city.

Nexus shook his head, explaining the situation of the Kingdom and what he had witnessed in the Capital city when he went out this morning. Sora and Nyx were shocked and terrified by what Nexus told them.

Sora and Nyx were not present when Kassius previously informed Nexus about the situation in the Purple Thorn Kingdom, leaving them unaware of the events unfolding within the kingdom.

Although both Nyx and Sora had experienced harrowing events, with Nyx being captured and sold into slavery, and Sora witnessing the brutal slaughter of many people during the invasion of Nexus's mother Kingdom by the Blue Moon Kingdom.

But treating mortals in such a manner that leads to mental breakdowns, where they no longer have a sense of purpose in life and appear as walking corpses rather than human beings, is a form of torture that exceeds the limits of what a mere mortal can endure.

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Nexus shook his head and turned to Kassius, saying, "Grandpa Kassius, after seeing the state of the Capital city and understanding the situation of the Purple Thorn Kingdom, I have made a decision. I am going to overthrow the Nobles and take control of the Purple Thorn Kingdom for myself."Nexus spoke with determination.

Kassius was shocked, and he wasn't the only one. Sora and Nyx were also taken aback by Nexus's bold declaration.

Kassius was shocked and asked in confusion, "But Your Highness, you have seen the state of the Purple Thorn Kingdom. It's no longer suitable to be a Kingdom. And besides the Nobles are stronger than us, and we're only four people. How can we possibly fight against them?"

"Yes, Your Highness, the Nobles have transformed this once thriving Kingdom into a haven for criminals. There's nothing of value left here that can help you, even if you manage to overthrow them," Sora said with a grave expression.

" Your Highness, it will be increasingly challenging to rid the Kingdom of these criminals and bandits. They have already established their bases and hiding spots within the Purple Thorn Kingdom ". Nyx also added her thoughts with a pensive expression.

Nexus carefully listened to everyone's suggestions and then smiled.

He turned to Kassius and asked, "Grandpa Kassius, may I pose a question to you?"

Kassius nodded," Please Your Highness ".

"What do you believe is the most crucial factor in building a successful Kingdom?" Nexus inquired with a slight smirk.

Kassius paused, deep in thought, before lifting his head to meet Nexus' gaze. "Your Highness, I believe there are numerous factors to consider when establishing a successful and powerful Kingdom. However, the most crucial factor is undoubtedly the population. Without citizens to govern, a Kingdom cannot truly exist. The strength of a Kingdom lies in its people; a larger population leads to a stronger Kingdom, while a smaller population results in weakness," Kassius explained, his eyes fixed on Nexus.

Nexus returned Kassius' gaze, his eyes betraying a hint of approval. He nodded and applauded. "Well done, Grandpa Kassius. You have answered the question correctly."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Kassius replied, rising to bow before resuming his seat.

Nexus turned his attention to the others in the room. "Grandpa Kassius is correct. Population is indeed the most crucial factor in the rise of a Kingdom. A larger population allows for the discovery and cultivation of various talents, as well as the recruitment of skilled soldiers to protect the Kingdom," Nexus concluded, his gaze shifting between Kassius, Sora, and Nyx.

Sora and Nyx nodded with a sense of comprehension. "But Your Highness, what does that have to do with your targeting of the Purple Thorn Kingdom?" Nyx asked, clearly confused. Sora mirrored the same expression.

Nexus chuckled and glanced at both of them before turning to Kassius. "Grandpa Kassius, what was the total population of the Purple Thorn Kingdom at its peak?"

Kassius reported, "The total population of the Purple Thorn Kingdom at its peak was about ten million."

Nexus inquired further, "And what about now?"

After some thought, Kassius replied, "From my investigations, the current population of the Purple Thorn Kingdom is around two million, with many people still dying every day for various reasons."

Nyx and Sora were momentarily shocked by the drastic decrease in population from ten million to two million in just a few years.

They quickly regained their composure and realized that it may have been the cruelty of the Nobles that caused such a significant decline in population.

"Allow me to ask you another question," Nexus said with a smirk, capturing the attention of his companions.

"Your Highness, please proceed," Nyx replied eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Nexus smiled at Nyx's impatience before asking, "How long do you think it would take for me to establish a Kingdom from scratch with just the three of us?"

Kassius and the others were momentarily stunned, their minds racing with possibilities.

Nyx met Nexus's gaze and replied, "It would be an incredibly difficult task, Your Highness."

Sora chimed in, "Indeed, with only the three of us and no resources or funds, the road ahead will be long and arduous. It may take years just to lay the foundation."

Kassius added, "Starting a Kingdom from nothing requires a significant amount of resources."

Nexus nodded in agreement, acknowledging the challenges ahead. "Establishing a Kingdom demands vast resources, and with our limited strength, even gaining a foothold will be as challenging as reaching the heavens," Nexus glanced at th with a smirk " However, we already have a solid foundation to build upon."