Chapter 704, Incorporation into Dragon Country

Translator: Silavin

 

Extremistis Country momentarily ceased all movement.

 

Not only Extremistis Country. In truth, countless nations harboured designs upon Cherry Blossom Country all stopped.

 

After all, Elder Jin had made personal visits to the leaders of these nations, explaining the delicate balance of interests at stake.

 

‘The elimination of Cherry Blossom Country’s super experts was Dragon Country’s doing. If you wish to use this opportunity to intervene, by all means try. Provided you’re not afraid of Giant Dragons letting out their Dragon Breaths above your heads.’

 

Following this series of ‘cordial discussions’, all those with designs on Cherry Blossom Country abandoned their schemes entirely.

 

After all, Elder Jin was one of Dragon Country’s Three Elders. He was hardly one to fabricate tales or claim the Giant Dragon’s achievements as his own.

 

If this truly was Dragon Country’s handiwork, who would dare challenge Dragon Country’s authority?

 

Cherry Blossom Country was indeed a rich prize to all, but confronting Dragon Country required these leaders to carefully weigh their own capabilities.

 

Thus, the vast Cherry Blossom Country found itself momentarily untouched by foreign invaders.

 

Meanwhile, Dragon Country openly dispatched personnel into Cherry Blossom Country.

 

Dragon Country’s actions technically violated established international laws.

 

Yet at this juncture, who dared voice objections?

 

Moreover, Dragon Country entered Cherry Blossom Country under the banner of disaster relief.

 

Dragon Country allocated disaster relief resources to cities devastated by the Giant Dragon, helping rebuild homes for the affected citizens.

 

Such actions moved a portion of Cherry Blossom Country’s populace, who felt no particular resentment towards Dragon Country’s entry into their homeland.

 

Simultaneously, another contingent of Dragon Country representatives visited Cherry Blossom Country’s Royal Palace, engaging in thorough ‘discussions’ with the Royal Family, regarding the nation’s current circumstances.

 

Ultimately, Cherry Blossom Country’s King understood that Kage Tenshi and his people would never return. After all, Lu Fan had loaned out one of Kage Tenshi’s equipment to Elder Jin, who arranged for someone to present it to Cherry Blossom Country’s King. The latter naturally recognised the equipment’s origins and understood that Kage Tenshi’s fate had been decided upon. He would most likely never return.

 

Following an entire night of negotiations, the King agreed to Dragon Country’s demands and signed a formal treaty.

 

The following day, the contents of the treaty was made public.

 

The agreement stated that due to Cherry Blossom Country’s depleted national strength and successive attacks from the Giant Dragon, the nation’s very survival hung in the balance. Additionally, surrounding smaller nations watched Cherry Blossom Country with predatory intent, ready to annex it at any moment.

 

Under these circumstances, the King decided to incorporate Cherry Blossom Country into Dragon Country’s territory, essentially seeking Dragon Country’s protection.

 

Henceforth, Cherry Blossom Country would become part of Dragon Country, possessing greater autonomy compared to other cities but fundamentally remaining part of Dragon Country.

 

Taxation and resource management would fall under Dragon Country’s administration. The King would become Cherry Blossom Province’s Provincial Governor, retaining certain powers while being counterbalanced by Dragon Country officials.

 

The King would remain supreme within Cherry Blossom Province while enjoying substantial resource subsidies.

 

With Kage Tenshi’s downfall and Dragon Country sparing the Royal Family while offering such generous terms, he naturally accepted with pleasure.

 

His ascension to the throne had not relied solely on Kage Tenshi’s support. He was inherently an intelligent man.

 

Dragon Country’s offered conditions were generous. Had other nations conquered Cherry Blossom Country, he would likely have been hanged in the Royal Palace.

 

Now, he could still govern Cherry Blossom Country, merely making it part of Dragon Country. What reason could he have to refuse?

 

The King signing the treaty to make Cherry Blossom Country part of Dragon Country immediately sparked widespread discontent amongst his citizens.

 

Nobody wished to become conquered people. Even if joining Dragon Country might not be entirely negative, they had no desire to become displaced refugees of a fallen nation.

 

Throughout Cherry Blossom Country, voices of opposition rang out incessantly. Numerous Players even formed rebel armies, seeking to overthrow the King’s rule and maintain national independence.

 

However, these Players barely included anyone in the Fourth Profession. Even united, what waves could they possibly create?

 

With Dragon Country’s covert support, the King had partially recovered his strength. Subsequently, he deployed forces to suppress these rebel armies, eliminating them one by one.

 

The rebel armies ultimately lacked anyone formidable and could not mount any effective resistance.

 

Essentially, wherever the country’s army arrived, they swept all opposition aside.

 

Though the rebel armies could not achieve significant impact, waves of Players unwilling to become conquered people continued causing disturbances throughout Cherry Blossom Country. Complete pacification proved challenging.

 

Dragon Country had anticipated this scenario.

 

The simplest method of truly conquering a nation was to bulldoze through, claiming only resources and territory while eliminating all subjects.

 

Yet Dragon Country’s maintained humanitarian principles in their approach. Conquering both territory and hearts inevitably required a lengthy process.

 

However, Dragon Country had planned for this and was gradually implementing them.

 

For instance, the ‘villains’ suppressing rebel armies were all of the King’s men.

 

Whenever conflicts erupted, Dragon Country invariably provided resources to aid disaster victims.

 

Through this contrast, the King bore responsibility for all negative developments while Dragon Country’s image gradually grew more positive in the citizens’ eyes.

 

Gradually, the people would feel that Dragon Country treated them quite fairly.

 

The truly detestable parties were actually the rebel armies and the King.

 

One continuously incited warfare, creating tragedies; the other betrayed his country for personal gain, consigning Cherry Blossom Country to history.

 

Gradually, rebel army appearances became less frequent, and people gradually accepted that Cherry Blossom Country would become part of Dragon Country.

 

Within merely a month, Cherry Blossom Country’s domestic situation had largely stabilised. Dragon Country began establishing Transport Arrays between itself and Cherry Blossom Country, implementing policies allowing Dragon Country citizens to benefit from Cherry Blossom Country’s resources.

 

Everything gradually fell into proper order.

 

From that point forward, Cherry Blossom Country became history while Dragon Country expanded its territory, growing even more powerful and earning neighbouring nations’ envy.

 

Throughout this month, Lu Fan closely monitored Cherry Blossom Country’s situation.

 

Witnessing Cherry Blossom Country’s complete subjugation brought him profound satisfaction.

 

Dragon Country’s Three Elders’ capabilities had truly not disappointed him. With the cooperation of the Giant Dragons, Cherry Blossom Country had finally vanished into the annals of history.

 

Going forward, if Extremistis Country, South Country, and other neighbouring countries could be similarly annexed, Dragon Country would become even more formidable.

 

However, such endeavours required gradual progression. They could not bulldoze through with Giant Dragons.