บท 35: Future Plans

"Lestia..." Alex, who lay on Celeste's back, pondered about his meeting with the crown prince Reinhard.

"Project the world map," Alex commanded his smartphone, which then projected a holographic representation of the world.

The previous kingdom of Sandora was now displayed as the kingdom of Arcadia, bordered by the Sea of Trees in the North, which shared its border with Mismede, Ryle, and the Ramish Theocracy.

In the past, Alex had harbored an ambition to unite the entire world. However, upon deeper reflection, he couldn't help but sigh, realizing the impossibility of such a feat.

Though Alex had the strength to potentially achieve world domination on his own, he wasn't the only one in possession of such powers. Touya, too, carried similar abilities and would prevent Alex from waging a war in this world. While Alex was confident in his ability to defeat Touya easily, it wasn't just about Touya. Numerous gods were watching their every move, and engaging in a life-or-death battle could lead to dire consequences.

If they were to fight on the mortal plane, the gods would likely overlook it. However, if Alex desired to kill Touya, the God of the World would surely intervene.

Touya, with the support of the God of Worlds, could request Alex to halt his warmongering. Although the God of World would simply ask Alex, it wouldn't be wise for him to refuse or argue, considering the trouble he had caused previously in the divine realm.

Alex had no intention of testing the patience of the immensely powerful God Almighty. This being had already shown him enough mercy by allowing him and Touya to reincarnate with their previous advantages.

If Alex were to proceed with his plans of conquering the world, he would inevitably clash with Touya, potentially angering the God of Worlds. While Alex didn't believe the god was overly concerned with mortal affairs, he would undoubtedly care about Touya's fate.

Therefore, Alex decided to revise his goals. Rather than seeking to unite the world, he now aspired to establish a prosperous nation, one that could be regarded as the greatest ever founded.

Although he aimed to create a prosperous nation, he didn't abandon the idea of conquering other kingdoms, particularly those that were easily conquerable and rich in resources.

As Alex surveyed the map, he identified the kingdoms that could be conquered.

Firstly, Elfrau, Ryle, and Xenoahs were not options as they were the only countries where non-humans could live peacefully. Conquering them would trigger significant public outrage.

The Rammish Theocracy was also out of the question due to the presence of religious fanatics who would prove difficult to handle.

Egret, a neighboring nation situated near Arcadia, was currently dealing with a monster infestation, making it a viable target for an attack.

The Refrees Imperium, Kingdom of Palouf, and Kingdom of Lihnea were pleasant kingdoms, but their limited resources made conquering them impractical.

Mismede and Belfast were off-limits due to Touya's close ties with the royal families of both kingdoms.

Regarding Regulus, although the emperor was favorable, opposition to his rule remained significant. Furthermore, Touya's future engagement with one of the princesses would make engaging in direct conflict with the kingdom challenging. However, partial conquest could be considered.

Yulong and Hannock represented the world's richest regions, housing a substantial portion of its resources. Ignoring them was out of the question.

The Roadmare Union was also unsuitable for conquest, as its citizens harbored a strong disdain for monarchy. If Alex were to conquer the nation, he would face significant resistance.

Felsen could potentially be conquered, but considering its friendly relationship with Lestia and Regulus, it wouldn't be wise to attempt conquering the entire country.

Regarding Lestia, it is difficult to determine whether it should be conquered or not. However, it would be preferable to avoid waging war against them since the country holds a deep admiration for their royal family.

The Kingdom of Nokia and the Kingdom of Horn are both closed to outsiders, but they could be relatively easy to conquer if Alex so desired.

There is also the hidden kingdom of Palerius which is yet to be discovered and surrounded by different kinds of barriers which Alex don't have any particular wish to conquer as the whole Island is just filled with behemoths and not safe for human survival.

Lastly, the Divine Kingdom of Eashen should be left untouched for now. The servile god is expected to embark on his journey from there, and Alex lacks confidence in defeating even a subservient deity. Therefore, it would be best to refrain from interfering with that territory at this time.

'Egret, Yulong, Hannock, Regulus, Felsen, Nokia, and Horn... I need to come up with a plan.' Alex thought, marking these countries as his targets.

As a monarch, Alex has the power to initiate a war against these countries and potentially rule over them. However, it would be unwise to conquer them directly, as both the local populations and his own people would oppose his rule solely for expansionary purposes.

Now that Alex is a king, he must maintain his image and reputation. Recklessly starting a war would not bode well for him. Instead, he needs to strategize on how to conquer these countries without tarnishing his reputation.

While pondering his future plans, Alex was interrupted by Celeste's voice echoing throughout the area.

"My liege, we have arrived at the ruins."

In the distance, Alex gazed upon the ruins that lay before him. The sight was that of abandoned buildings, once grand and majestic, now reduced to crumbling stone walls and scattered rocky pillars. Dilapidated castles and fortresses stood scattered throughout, their walls in a severe state of disrepair.

Alex had finally arrived at the ruin of the Rampart of Babylon.