Qhosnir Has Fallen

Will returned to the Allied Army to find the fort almost completely build on the Kingdom of Icer and Dukedom of Kro border.

"You we're certainly gone a long time?" King Roland said as Will walked into the noble quarter.

Will briefly explained for a third time his meeting with Lord Mammon.

"Master, are you sure my homeland shall be fine," the crown prince asked.

"The only things that are for certain are in the past," Elder Thaddeus instructed.

"Thank you for helping my family business," Earl von Mueller said. "And the other imperial banks?"

"Most small banks are already closed, only one or two are still open. Would you like me to sell you, their debt?" Will asked.

"For a good price, I'll accept!" Earl von Mueller grinned maliciously.

"Is anyone else uncomfortable watching these two doing business," a noble asked.

The others in the room shook their heads in agreement.

"Supreme Allied Commander, Crown Prince Crown Prince Xiaozong of Song, and his sister Princes Ling of the Qhosnir Empire are here to see you!" a soldier saluted.

"It's about damn time! I thought the emperor of his descendants might never show their face again!" shouted the King of Sabsta loud enough for the children to hear him outside.

The three small kingdoms had long ago aligned with the Great Eastern Empire. The arrival of the Qhosnir Crown Prince allowed the three kingdoms to voice their support to the Eastern Empire crown prince.

"Let them enter," Crown Prince Lukas said grinning.

He'd never his counterpart Crown Prince Xiaozong and was looking forward to the opportunity to gloat.

When the Qhosnir imperial crown prince and princess walked in, they looked more like beggars than nobles.

Their expensive clothes were ripped and had blood stains splattered in different locations. Their long black hair was wet and unkempt.

The only thing dignified was their posture and etiquette.

"We greet the supreme allied commander, kings, prince, duke, allied commanders, and nobility," said a bowing Crown Prince Xiaozong and Princess Ling in unison.

"You'd bow to another imperial crown prince?" asked the King of Zhekid in amazement.

"I regret to inform you, the Qhosnir Empire has fallen. Our vassals are at war with each other…and with us. We lost several men escaping Qhosnir and, by the gods, made it here," Xiaozong.

"Qhosnir has fallen?" Crown Prince Lukas recreated in befuddlement.

How many wars had his family fought in the Qhosnir Army?

"I know you feel sad and angry. Know there is support here," Emperor Jacques-Louis said kindly.

"Emperor Jacques-Louis, please let me apologize for the way we treated you," Imperial Crown Prince Xiaozong bowed.

"Tis, the past," the young emperor said cordially.

"And congratulations on your marriage to Princess Melody," Imperial Princess Ling said with a courtesy.

"How do we address you?" asked the Duke of Kro. As the lowest-ranking sovereign, he hoped to supplant the Qhosnir prince and princes.

"…"

Everyone was silent because the answer was not easy.

The most organic way to become a nation, state, kingdom, or empire you first to gain a self-identity within your borders and then gained international recognition.

Of course, there was a second way which involved hegemonies colonizing territories and forcing their colonies to accept new self-identities that other hegemonies would recognize internationally.

Now there existed only one empire on Terra: the Great Eastern Empire. The demons had successfully destroyed the Qhosnir and Rhaziesian Empires.

Everyone turned to Crown Prince Lukas for a decision. No one would lack decorum enough to speak before the imperial prince, except of course Sage Ming. But he was currently checked out playing a game of Go with Sage Einstein.

"Sages tell me your opinion?" Crown Prince Lukas asked.

"I think it wise to address them as royalty until Empire Kaiser rules," Sage Abulafia.

"Sages Einstein and Ming?" Prince Lukas asked.

"I concur with Sage Abulafia," Sage Einstein agreed.

"Add my vote to whatever Will thinks," Sage Ming said uncaringly.

"Master, what do you advise?" Prince Lukas asked.

"I agree. Address them as royalty until Emperor Kaiser sends his ruling," Will consented.

"Then I decree until further notice, Imperial Crown Prince Xiaozong is Crown Prince Xiaozong. All who agree, please raise your hand in approval?" Crown Prince Lukas said.

The sovereigns raced to raise their hands first, showing their support to the one true imperial royal present.

"Prince Xiaozong, why don't you check in with your troops first, before joining us? I know they longed to see a member of your royal family present," the imperial prince said.

"Yes, your imperial highness. But before I go. I wish to gift my sister to Marquis vont Ballard in hopes you'll support our kingdom.

My sister was once known as the great fairy of our empire. I hope you find her satisfactory," Prince Xiaozong bowed to everyone before leaving.

"Greetings, Marquis vont Ballard. I am Ling, please call me Lingling," said the black-haired, pale-skinned, long-legged, beauty.

"Greetings!" Will said taken by surprise. He never got over the number of fathers or brothers that wanted to gift him a woman like it was a board game.

"We also have beauties in our kingdom. Let us send over some to comfort you. It shall soon be fall," said the King of Icer signaling his chamberlain.

Before Will could decline, at once the other sovereigns did the same except King Roland and Crown Prince Lukas who knew Will's illogical commitment to monogamy.

"Imperial Crown Prince Lukas, may I make an announcement?" Will stood from his chair.

"Of course, master," the prince smiled.

"I am ready to invest in the Kingdom of Icer," Will announced.

"The gods smile upon us! I decree Francroft Bay shall be renamed Ballard Bay and Francroft City, shall be renamed Ballard City!" said the King of Icer exclaimed, shooting up from his seat and shaking Will's hand excitedly.

"Yes, this marvelous news indeed," Earl von Mueller said raising and shaking hands with the King of Icer.

The Duke of Kro, Kings of Zhekid and Suyuet looked with envy at their neighbors.

Looking at the men's faces in different states of emotions Lingling finally understood why her loving father wished to gift her to his man.

Any man that could make sovereigns happy or envious was important.

While she had never attended to a man's nightly duties, she understood the importance of tonight's activity.

By the time evening arrived Will and Earl von Mueller had signed a contract with the King of Icer which included the restoration of Ballard Bay, including the construction of a new canal.

With the civil war in Qhosnir, connecting the Yangtze and Francroft Rivers would be more difficult, but at the same time, it would also be more inexpensive.

Wars were expensive, and Will knew the Qhosnir vassals would gladly accept his coin to fund their depleting war cheat. The nobility would gain coins and he gain inexpensive labor to join the two rivers for their much needed war chests.

That was the reason why he worked with the Qhosnir Finance Minister Duke Zhao of Ding to destabilize the Qhosnir Empire. Will wanted to purchase the Francroft and Yangtze River rights and labor cheaply.

Now he had unfettered access to both. Soon his canal would control the two dominant port cities and river canal in the Southern Continent.

By the time people realized what happened, he'd own more than a 50% all sea trade. His Fermion ports in the north, His Ballard Bay in the south, and his Rhaziesian ports in the west would dominate global trade. His economic empire would soon span the globe.

By tomorrow, people could purchase bonds and join investment pools for the Icer sovereignty.

With the fall of the Qhosnir Empire, the majority of Qhosnir vassals, Kingdom of Seyuet, and Theocracy all fall along either Yangtze and Francroft Rivers.

And by owning the canal, Will would effectively control the southern region's river and sea ports. Avoiding the contract he'd own the canal for 500 years, with an option for 500 more.

Finally, Will could feel his grasp on his economic empire expanding. Soon, like the Brits back home, the sun would never set on his empire.

Will excitedly walked back to his tent, when he stepped inside Lingling stood naked over his bed.

Before he could say or do anything, King Roland walked in.

"Oh, sorry. I apologize for interrupting you. Don't worry, I didn't see a thing. I certainly won't tell Elizabeth," he said sheepishly.

"Oh, just get to it?" Will said hastily.

"Can you take me to Tirana? I want to check on Rosalind. My son should be born within the month, and I want to be there!" he said excitedly.

"Of course," Will said with a bow returning King Roland to his palace.

Then Will quickly put a blanket over Lingling.

"Was this your plan to seduce me? How old are you?" Will said chastising her.

"I'm 18! And I need to do this to protect my family and our empire. Please I beg you to please let me attend to your nighttime services," she begged with tears in her eyes.

"You're not going to attend my evening services, there's no need for that!" Will said kicking the girl out of his tent.

"Perhaps you like men? I'm fine inviting someone else to our bed?" she said having heard stories.

"No. I'm just not interested and I'm tired. And it's my bed, not our bed," Will explained.

"Then shall you agree to loan my family money to rebuild our empire?" she asked curiously.

"I'm afraid, I cannot do that," Will said earnestly.

"Then I must attend to your duties!" she said indignantly.

"Fine, if you're going to be obstinate, I'll give you to someone else," Will said.

"You don't find me attractive? Am I considered ugly in your culture? Or do prefer old women?" she asked.

"You're too young!" Will accidentally let slip.

He had adjusted to this world enough to not let most of the things here bother him.

Sure, he was a demigod on his second reincarnation, but he still had the mentality of someone much older.

It was like deciding to marry Elizabeth when they're his were younger, at least they were close in age.

This woman was half his physical age, but technically 80 years his junior.

"Then I'm sorry I lied earlier. I'm 28 years old. But, is it not normal in your kingdom to marry a younger woman? I thought all men like much younger women," Lingling asked contextually.

Will asked his disciple and master to take the woman, but neither was interested in the former imperial princess.

"Fine! You sleep over there, and I'll sleep over here," Will said pointing to opposite sides of his room.

"Servants," Lingling called and two more beautiful walked into his room and undressed.

The three naked women immediately began kissing and caressing each other. Their fingers delicately explore each other's crevices and mounds.

Living in two worlds, Will had been bribed, exhorted, kidnapped, almost assassinated, beaten, imprisoned, and left for dead, but this was a new kind of incentive.

Will did his best to ignore them, but he figured a man could only take so much before his hormones and emotions overrode rationality.