"Master." The voice of the Grand Toad Lord Mazdamundi was filled with excitement, a rarity for the cold-blooded ones, but it was happening nonetheless.
The venerable Lord Kroak had been Mazdamundi's mentor during his time as a second-generation Toad. Before his death, Kroak had personally instructed him.
Moreover, Lord Kroak was also the magical tutor for the elves, and much of the dwarves' technology came from his guidance. Even the former High Loremaster Caledor the Dragon Tamer, who created the Great Vortex, would bow respectfully and call him elder.
Kroak's power was beyond question. A single gesture or word from him could utterly destroy an entire enemy army. This formidable strength had been perfectly demonstrated in the recent battle.
He might be the only Toad left who still knew what the Great Plan was.
Kroak slowly nodded. "The war is over, but victory is fleeting. Mazdamundi, six thousand years have passed, you have done well, but it is not enough."
"I only hope my rash decision has not troubled you. Everything is for the Great Plan." Mazdamundi's golden throne approached Kroak.
After exchanging only a few words, the two ancient and powerful Toads abandoned verbal communication, finding it too cumbersome. Instead, they engaged in psychic communication, exchanging information rapidly. Soon, the two ancient Toads reached an agreement.
Under the bright sunlight, all plagues and corruption were dispelled. Warlord Kroq-Gar received Mazdamundi's order to come to the top of the pyramid. Tehenhauin, the chosen of Sotek, led the elite Red Crested Skink battalion up the pyramid steps.
Tehenhauin quickly noticed the resting Ash Legion. He hissed aggressively, then abandoned any intention of confronting the humans.
The will of Sotek could not be defied. If the Serpent God considered these warm-blooded ones allies, then they were allies, at least until Sotek changed his mind. Until then, Tehenhauin would treat them as allies.
At the top of the pyramid, Kroak, Mazdamundi, Kroq-Gar, and Tehenhauin, the mightiest of the lizardmen, gathered. They conferred together, with Kroak, as the first-generation Toad, holding unparalleled authority.
The Toads were once servants, or even pets, of the Old Ones.
After the Old Ones descended, five generations of Toads were created to aid them.
The first-generation Toads, like Kroak, were the great architects of the temple cities, the most powerful generation.
The second-generation Toads, led by Mazdamundi, were also immensely powerful, capable of altering planetary orbits and continental plates. However, most of the second-generation Toads had fallen into long slumbers to maintain the geomantic web and the Great Ward, with only Mazdamundi remaining active due to his immense magical power.
Only about twenty third-generation Toads remained, having overseen the construction of lower cities and the geomantic web.
The fourth-generation Toads were created by the Old Ones to maintain the polar gateways and participated in moving continental plates.
Then there were the youngest fifth-generation Toads, created in large numbers a few centuries before the Old Ones left this world. Though relatively weaker, they still possessed several millennia of lifespan.
After a brief discussion, Kroak sent a psychic message, summoning Fuggen: "Child of the Old Ones, come to me."
The Emperor's Children primarch, leaning on the war spear, felt tired. He was curious about what the Great Plan was.
However, Fuggen was destined not to get an answer. Kroak seemed uninterested in explaining the Great Plan. Instead, he spoke directly: "According to the agreement with that young Old One, child of the Old Ones, we shall be allies, united against future threats."
"I know all this." Fuggen nodded, regaining his proud demeanor as he grasped the Sotek War Spear. He could feel the cold-blooded ones' gazes. Both Mazdamundi and Kroak looked at him with gratitude, Kroq-Gar still somewhat skeptical, while Tehenhauin clearly had a favorable view of him, recognizing him as Sotek's chosen.
So, what exactly is the Great Plan? Fuggen pondered.
But the next moment, thoughts of the Great Plan were pushed far from his mind.
"According to our pact, we will rebuild the purified spawning pools, restore the temple cities. Our war against our enemies will continue until the Great Plan is fully realized!" Kroak whispered. He recited an incantation, and a large iron box, five meters long, three meters wide, and two meters high, appeared before Fuggen. "This is something entrusted to me by the young Old One."
"This is? Gene seeds!" Fuggen's eyes widened.
Inside the iron box were fifteen neatly arranged gene seeds of the Emperor's Children!
"Purified spawning pools can be used to hatch these gene seeds," Kroak continued. "Choose your people, bring them here. The technology of the Old Ones will allow us to implant these gene seeds into warm-blooded ones, making them your offspring. In two years, the gene seeds will grow with them, until they are perfectly integrated."
"But... as far as I know, my offspring are not produced this way!" Fuggen was confused. "Did my father really say this?"
"This is the original way to produce offspring," Kroak whispered. Each word from the venerable first-generation Toad caused the winds of magic to tremble. "The young Old One borrowed the master's technology. Child of the Old Ones, this is the true primordial technology for creating offspring. The spawning pool, your father merely modified it to better suit the warm-blooded ones."
"???!!!" Fuggen's eyes widened. He thought for a long time, then nodded. "I understand."
So that's how Ryan was "made"?
"We will rebuild all the great temple cities! We will repair all damaged geomantic web nodes! We will restore our traditions and fight to protect the master's world!" Kroak's will echoed throughout Itza. "When the world rotates to fifty percent, when the evil moon and celestial sphere converge, our enemies and the malevolent plague will launch a war to destroy everything. But we will not fail, for we are their servants. Only through us can the Great Plan be reignited. The young race that dares to challenge the Old Ones' glory will utterly fail!"
"For the Great Plan!"
What is the Great Plan!!! Fuggen's forehead veins throbbed.
The entire city was in an uproar. The skinks, filled with excitement, cackled and nodded repeatedly, spreading the news of Kroak's return. Many skinks were so thrilled they ran around, spreading the word, while the saurus warriors cheered endlessly.
In the center of Itza, a large pyramid opened, and a massive albino saurus, leading an elite temple guard unit, emerged.
Holding the Everlasting Shield and the Yulemarco Mace, created by the Old Ones, the albino saurus led the entire temple guard unit to kneel before Kroak. "Leader."
"Gor-Rok." The venerable first-generation Toad Lord Kroak exhaled a powerful gust of magical wind. "You are still alive."
"I came at your call." The albino saurus knelt. "No one but you can command me."
"Good... very good." Kroak nodded repeatedly. "Let us begin!"
...I am the line that continues the Great Plan...
Old World, May, Bretonnia, County of Glamorgan.
Ryan's party, having completed their expedition, returned to their territory.
But this time, the group included a young Knight of the Sun.
Juan Carlos Sunseer rode his beloved horse, looking around excitedly and commenting on everything he saw. The young man, not yet twenty, was filled with joy. Coming to a new environment and following Ryan, a lifelong dream for Juan, left him ecstatic.
It was early summer, and the entire territory exuded a sense of prosperity. After spring planting, some serfs who didn't need to work the fields sought employment elsewhere. More windmills and waterworks were under construction, along with knightly castles and new roads.
The serfs were eager to earn money, and there were plenty of jobs. Due to rapid economic development, the introduction of new dwarf technologies, and booming productivity, the surplus labor force had been fully absorbed by the nobles in Ryan's domain. Wages had risen accordingly, with many serfs earning more from part-time jobs in town than from farming.
Prosperity in goods and livestock also benefited the serfs. In Ryan's domain, meat was no longer a rarity. Pork, chicken, and duck had become staples on the serfs' tables. Even higher-quality beef and mutton were available to serfs who made significant contributions, like military service or earning a noble's favor. Only venison remained beyond their reach.
Entertainment also began to flourish in the territory. The most popular activities among the serfs were watching bear dances and circus performances brought by the Ogres, and having a drink at the tavern after finishing their part-time work while listening to minstrel performances before heading home.
The emergence of more taverns in towns and villages said it all.
Sturdy brick houses were replacing the serfs' old thatched cottages. Serfs took pride in owning beautiful and solid brick houses, thanks to dwarf brick-making technology and a loophole in Bretonnian law. The knightly kingdom's law stated that only nobles could live in stone buildings.
But bricks were not stones, so wealthy serfs naturally had the right to live in brick houses.
At least, this was how Lady Lake's champion, Ryan-Macado, interpreted the
law. If he said so, then it was correct.
However, the changes in the serfs' lives didn't stop there. Some serfs even received special permission from the Lady of the Lake, Morgiana, to live in stone houses, like the famous Lord Bertrand "Green Arrow" of Winford and Captain Raymond of the Halberdiers, whose reputations had spread throughout the knightly kingdom and even across the Grey Mountains to the Empire.
Juan's excitement was evident, amusing Alfred. The Templar smiled at Ryan. "Look at him, still so young. Do you know what I mean?"
"You've been through many battles and seen a lot," Ryan retorted. "I remember you were just like this when we first went to Winter City together, over a decade ago."
"Hahaha~ You're teasing me now, old friend." Alfred shook his head, though there was still some sadness in his eyes.
Before leaving Magritte, he had tried once more, but returning alone meant the outcome was inevitable.
"By the way, old friend, I rarely see you get so excited." Watching the three carriages and the dozen servants behind Juan, Alfred continued teasing, "You seem unimpressed by most things."
"It takes a lot to surprise me," Ryan paused, curious. "What did Miss Claudia say?"
"She refused to come with me. She said if I really wanted her to come, I'd need at least two thousand gold crowns saved up, because she felt it would be a huge loss to leave with me without at least that much." Alfred was quite open about it, smiling wryly. "Apparently, that's the standard at the Magritte National Guesthouse. She said women have to have children, which is very hard work, so it's only fair to ask for more money."
"Hahahaha~ Two thousand gold crowns?" Veronica laughed so hard she could barely stand. "If you had two thousand gold crowns, Alfred, why would you need a maid? That money could help you court a baron's daughter and even pay for a wedding!"
"I have to say a word in defense of Miss Claudia." Ryan shook his head. "As an independent person, it's her right to set whatever standards she wants. We have no right to demand she lower them. Since she refused, you can't force her."
"I understand." Alfred nodded, indicating he accepted the situation, though he was still a bit regretful. Ryan's words eased his mind.
"Hey?" At that moment, Juan spoke up, addressing Ryan. "Lord Ryan, is this really the Knightly Kingdom? It doesn't seem like I imagined."
"Not as you imagined?" Ryan had a good impression of the young Knight of the Sun who had come along for free. He smiled and asked, "What did you imagine?"
"I heard that Bretonnia's serfs have no rights or freedom. They live in absolute poverty, with ninety percent of their harvest going to their lords. Most serfs have deformed hands and feet, faces full of pox and scars, malnourished complexions, and lifeless eyes..." Juan scratched his head. "But being here, it doesn't seem like that."
"Hahahaha!" The group burst into laughter.
"Times have changed, young man."
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