The Systemic Lands

Chapter 334: Day 767 – Journey To Wuhan, Change In The Plan

Chapter 334: Day 767 – Journey To Wuhan, Change In The Plan

We had left the following day. It was impressive how they got everything moving out of their base. I also noted they had three astrolabes spinning about in the back of carts.

“Can the Diviners really sense that far?” I asked Ren while we traveled. Danian was busy clearing a path to the road which we would then take. I would step up if I was needed, otherwise I was letting these people handle the small monsters.

“Yes. It isn’t precise by any means. But it does make a difference. They are often deployed in an arc or line and the person or group would move ahead of them, while getting any reports on energy spikes. That is one reason why we rarely use skills,” Ren explained.

“But this distances?” I asked, since that didn’t make any sense.

“What distance? When soldiers are sweeping through the mistlands, they are looking for anything to locate us. The astrolabes give us enough cover. Also, well the Divine Empress reportedly has cut the arms, feet, eyes, ears of the Diviners off. That way can devote everything to sensing.”

The Chief Diviner wasn’t like that, which was odd. I had a hard time reconciling that contradiction from what I knew to what Ren was telling me. “You sure about the Diviners?” I asked.

“Pretty sure. But we never managed to capture or kill one. Just rumors we sometimes torture out of soldiers. Regular soldiers, not the Black Talons,” he said. I was surprised he would admit to torture so readily. But that was probably related to him wanting not to piss me off or lie to me to prevent misunderstandings.

“So any ideas about what weakness the Divine Empress might have or the flesh wall in the Forbidden City?” I asked.

“Weakness, I wish. She has survived bombs, targeted assassinations, you name it, it was tried and failed. The flesh wall, well we got some interesting news there. It burst into golden flames a while ago when the Divine Empress supposedly went missing.” Now that was important to know.

It was connected to her in some way. Probably some power boost by the Master Fleshcrafter she used to try and survive. Perhaps a way to attack her indirectly, but I doubted she would allow for a weakness like that. Also any kind of attack like that would require the Astrologer. Perhaps something he could use to get her once I freed him.

Something to consider and a target of opportunity, but not something I was too concerned about. As long as the Divine Empress didn’t return in the middle of the heist that was the important thing. Anything else I felt I could run away from or handle, except for the Divine Empress.

“That is good to know. Anything else come up recently?” I asked.

“No. It isn’t like we are tapped into the communication hub of the empire. Most we get are tales by the soldiers moving tribute to the Forbidden City. The East, will they be able to support us after this?” Ren asked me.

“No. They have their own things to worry about. And you aren’t useful or strong enough to speak to my forces as an equal. You have neither the power nor knowledge,” I shut him down hard.

“Coordination might help.” I shook my head at this. “Better for the forces fighting the empire to be decentralized. You might have some local knowledge, but your combat power is lacking. Still, you make an interesting point. But I am not heading back East for a long time. And it doesn’t look like you have the resources to spare.”

“With the points we have managed to gather. Fuyuka would be strong enough to make the trip on her own. If she had a letter of introduction and knew where to go?” Ren asked me.

“Very well. I will write a letter of introduction for her.” I considered it a gift for Clarissa. She would get an inroad to the West. If the Divine Empress was ever killed, then the political landscape would shift dramatically.

There was no point in preparing seriously for that possibility. The Divine Empress was at ludicrous level, and I had mentally given up on that. But it was a possibility, so making sure these rebels were subordinate would set the stage for future interactions.

I would be blunt in explaining the situation in my letter how pathetic they were and that they were only useful as an in roads to the West. Clarissa had speculated that a containment plan against the Divine Empress would be the best long-term strategy.

Get strong people like myself to go around and keep wrecking her Empire. Then have low level people move in and hold the territory. A constant and ongoing insurgency.

“I wish we could offer information, but that is all locked away in her library.” My brain paused at that. Library?

“Library?” I asked.

“Well, it is an old rumor. But they say she stole books from the United City States and the Son of the Sun who ruled before her had a library. But no one has actually seen it, seen it. And all books and writing beyond official documents are banned in the Dragon Empire.”

“Maybe you will find it?” Ren asked and probed my intentions.

“Perhaps, but I doubt it.” That was a lie. I wanted that library. I wanted it so bad by soul ached. Books from the lost UCS. The knowledge the Astrologer gleefully led me around with. The plan was changing. Get the ten billion points, get the airship, and then get the library.

After the loss of the Astrologer and Chief Diviner, I was not going to let knowledge slip through my fingers again. But if there was a library it was probably buried deep in the Divine Empress’s palace. The inner sanctum of the inner sanctum.

If I had a library, it would be a fortress to survive almost anything and keep everyone else out. Knowledge was power and where stats weren’t enough, the knowledge accumulated over the years just might be.

“So, this Son of the Sun?” I asked. We reached the road and everyone relaxed a bit as we made our way North.

“I just know his title. He was before my time. The Divine Empress killed him and took the Mandate of Heaven. At least what little propaganda is released about her says this. A few people knew of him, but people don’t survive long out here in the empire.”

“The Systemic Lands. That is what this place is called,” I said. Got to get in those naming rights every chance I could. It had started with Purgatory, then the Systemic Lands, then the Almighty System. I needed to figure out a way to get that last one into the conversation to tell Ren about the glories of our supreme being and overlord, the Almighty System.

“I will make sure to remember that,” he said and I nodded at that.

“Hey, you sure you don’t want a break?” I heard Danian asked the cloaked pet rock. “Just riding up there and making your friend pull you. Really?”

I looked at Ren whose eyes had gone a bit wide. “Danian, leave them alone. They can do things how they do them,” Ren replied. Danian turned while walking to look back at Ren.

“It just seems a bit-“ he then tripped. He reached out to grab something. He grabbed onto the pet rocks dark cloak. It ripped apart.

I was already moving. My foot slammed into his chest, sending him skidding across the road. Everyone came to a halt. The cloak was ripped. “Don’t worry, I will deal with this,” I told my pet rock to give the illusion it was a person. I turned towards Ren. Fuyuka was standing in front of him. “Care to explain?”

“It was an accident,” Ren said and bowed his head deeply. “Please forgive Danian.”

“I had one request. To leave my companions alone. That cloak was worth fifty million points and the lives of fifteen people.” That was the amount I estimated they had the number of rebels.

“Sorry man-“

“Don’t speak to me or my companions again. If you say one more word even as an apology, I will kill everyone and make you watch.”

“Danian, shut up,” Ren said. I heard the click of the man’s mouth as it closed. “I am very sorry Champion Michael. He was hasty. We will gladly give up ten million points as an apology.”

“Did I threaten you? Did I make unfair demands? Was I rude since I arrived?” I asked each question one after another. “Answer truthfully.”

“We can’t argue against you, but you have been nothing but polite,” Ren replied.

“And what was the one thing I asked that wasn’t open hostilities?” I asked.

“Not to bother your companions,” Ren said. Everyone around was nervous.

“Not to bother my companions. That was it. I didn’t demand food or supplies. I was willing to work with your group. But that appears to have been a mistake if such a simple thing was forgotten.”

“Danian I am sorry,” Ren said. I saw the man sag out of the corner of my eye. “Danian has brain damage and possibly other mental issues before arriving here. He was in excellent shape, which was why our last fighter recruited him. But then we lost our fighter and leader before Danian. That is why I am in charge and not him.”

“In that fight in the city. He managed to kill the Lord, but lost a portion of his skull and brain. It is considered rude to talk about and he struggles, but we can’t just move stats or invest in someone else. There are issues and he is loyal, but some social situations are difficult for him.”

I turned to look at Danian, who looked defeated in a way I hadn’t seen him before. “You can speak, is this true?” I asked him.

“Yes. I…well, sometimes I just do things or get an idea in my head. And it seems like a good idea, but it isn’t. Sorry about bothering your companions,” he said the last part quietly. Mental issues were no excuse, but it was an explanation. Also, nothing critical had been discovered.

I knew Bao Wang wanted to move on from these rebels. I suspected it was one of his fears. The only people to kill Lords of the evil empire were these rebels. Everyone was silent as I considered how to handle this situation.

Ren spoke up again, “I am sorry for not bringing this up before or watching Danian more closely.” I held up a hand and Ren closed his mouth. What a mess.

They picked the strongest person they could find, stuffed him with points. He might have been slow before, but then he lost a chunk of his brain and got a restoration, but he was messed up. I couldn’t even begin to imagine something like that or the effects.

That was the problem with mental illness. It just made people do things that were completely unexpected. Or push them into questionable behaviors. “I understand.” I quickly had to think of name and picked the first thing that came to mind.

“Abs here is a mute.” Bao Wang had the pet wave slightly. “And deformed. So, I understand being embarrassed. Bao Wang is my prisoner and my guide.” Everyone recoiled at that name and got on guard.

“You have the Butcher of Beijing with you?” Ren asked hesitantly. Dammit Bao Wang! You need to tell me these things.