Chương 7: Chapter 7: Kneel Before The Emperor
The Kraton Empire's army three days after the battle in the Highland Continent had returned to their kingdom. Finally, the territory of the Kraton Empire had been revealed and there were no words to describe the massiveness of the steampunk kingdom. The kingdom had a vast territory reaching to the horizon and not a single blade of grass or trees around. The kingdom was divided into three main regions. The third citizen's area, the lowest level at the bottom of society, was the largest and most populated area. There were more than five hundred thousand people living here, they were mostly workers, farmers and miners. They were warriors, commoners and slaves of the villages and kingdoms that were defeated by the empire and brought here to serve them. People lived in dirty and dilapidated slums, with ruined brick houses and crowded together. The living conditions here were terrible for what Rhohan called the punishment of those who surrendered. There were also factories that made war machines and weapons for the empire's soldiers. In addition to the weapon factories, there were also factories producing cast iron, lead, condensing and processing dry materials. Workers in factories with more than one hundred thousand people, they were all very thin and sleepless when they had to work continuously for ten hours and only had thirty minutes to rest and then resume work. The working conditions of the workers were very bad with very little food rations, no labor protection tools and difficult working conditions. And they were forced to do it until they could pay the price of something called "The Humiliation of Surrender" or rather, Death. They often suffered a lot of beatings from brutal managers, they were willing to beat a person to death because they just wanted to rest. The majority of worker deaths were usually explosions due to mechanical failure or accidental gunpowder. Or simply die from being beaten to death. The daily smoke rising from the factories made for this area often had gray skies and rain. The air in this area was also very smoky and toxic due to factory smoke, so people often covered their mouths with towels when going out.
The farmers worked on huge farms encased in a giant greenhouse more than ten kilometers wide. This place mainly grows wheat, food crops and fruits. Next to the farm was a green meadow that was equally wide. It was used to raise livestock and poultry to provide most of the meat for second-class citizens and only a small amount for third-class citizens. Animals such as chickens, cows, pigs, horses, etc. were raised a lot because of the people's food problem. The fact that the farm was far away from the factory because the empire didn't want the food supply to run down and be dirty by the factory smoke. This place had more developed machinery when it was installed with an automation system, with an automatic watering machine, an automatic harvesting machine and a food hygiene inspection machine. But in order for the machines to work, human slaves were required, who had to turn the gears with their hands and feet continuously to start the machines. But at least the farmers had a better life when they were provided with enough food, had little money but enough to live and simple jobs. They were also the least labor force as only fifty thousand people were farmers. The farmers looked thin, but they weren't really too thin. But the slaves to operate the machines were very thin to the bone. That also understood how what kept the Kraton Empire alive was food.
And finally the largest force serving the Kraton Empire with more than two hundred thousand miners. They had to work in a huge mountain range far away from the kingdom. This was a mountain range with more than a dozen large mountains, so underground there would be a lot of raw metal that needed to be mined. More than two hundred thousand miners would be divided into four groups of fifty thousand people each. According to the schedule, one group would work for three months, after three months the second group would work and so on. They would travel by train and travel a long distance to reach the giant mine. There was a very poor and cramped living condition here as miners had to work in large and deep mines. They were only provided with a pickaxe and a bag of water and food to keep working for seven hours. They had to dig for metal while being whipped by soldiers to work. Most of them lived a long time without sunlight, so their skin was very white and cold. The raw metals would be loaded into mine trucks and towed to be loaded onto metal carriers. They were then taken to the factory for processing. Miners were also noticed by the empire and given a living condition just enough that they had to constantly work to provide materials for making weapons. This was also the workforce that lost the most lives in the event of a tunnel explosion, so the empire was always prepared to add ten thousand people to replace it. Regarding the infrastructure in this area, the most basic things were not available, not even schools, playgrounds for children were not available. But there were bars, strip clubs for the workers and miners to entertain every day. The intelligence of the people here was usually very low and just enough to know how to work every day. Children were also not fully educated and from the age of eight they had to do many small jobs in factories. Third class citizens were imposed by many harsh laws, they did not need to pay taxes but were required to strictly abide by the laws. Those who oppose would immediately be publicly executed to set an example for the rest. The sudden rebellions that broke out were also often defeated by the army, so very few people dared to rebel against the empire. But if there were strong people in the slums, they would be drafted into the army and become second-class citizens. Third-class citizens had the largest number but had the most difficult and poor lives.
Next was area two, next to the slum was a giant stone wall, inside was a thriving city. They were second-class citizens, the first citizens of the empire. There were more than ten thousand people who were actual citizens of the empire, they were commoners working in markets or factory owners. There were a few people who were also retired soldiers or commanders. They had full lives, didn't need to do much work and were a bit rich but only as much as the empire allowed. There were adequate infrastructure such as parks, schools, zoo... But they also had to obey the strict rules of the empire in addition to their own rights. If someone has committed a crime, it is easy to just pay a little money, a little heavier was to go to prison. But if you were guilty of betraying the empire, you would immediately become a third-class citizen. If a third-class citizen wanted to become a second-class citizen, they had to pay an amount greater than fifty thousand gold coins or one hundred thousand silver coins. The second-class citizens were very loyal to the empire and they could be considered the nobility of the kingdom.
And finally the first area of first class citizens, they were all members, civil servants and officials and worked for the empire. The first area was a huge castle, larger than the city of second class citizens. It was the marvelous and magnificent castle in the world with its name "The Castle of The New World". This place was the headquarters of the Kraton empire, where everything such as law, military, politics and society worked. The castle was very high, as if it could reach the clouds and behind was the training area for soldiers. There were thousands rooms, thousands of balconies, towers and side castles. The castle had a giant stone wall around it and those who wanted to enter would need to be a official. In addition, there were ports for battleships, hangers and airfields for zeppelins and garages for combat vehicles. The state management apparatus in turn started from the soldiers as the lowest. They were simply over a hundred thousand soldiers to go to war. The army had some basic jobs such as infantry, gunners, cannons, tanks and pilots. Above them were super soldiers, as mentioned before they were the strongest force that was sent into the battlefield when the enemy was weak. The companions were dragon warriors, those who rode dragons to attack the battlefield in the air. That was about the army and inside the castle we start with the officials. The officials at the castle had to pass many tests to prove they could handle the paperwork and manage the kingdom. Next in the same rank were engineers, they were tasked with repairing and making machines in the royal workshops. Above them were commanders, they were tasked with leading and directing an army into the battlefield. They were also able to be naval admirals for naval battles. Above the commanders were alchemists and scientists, they were tasked with creating many super soldiers for the empire army and their main task was deciphering the pieces of God Horux. They were the creators of super warriors, dragons and chemical weapons. The alchemists also developed technology and upgraded machines. Above that were the generals, the strongest warriors chosen by the strongest. They always went to battle but there were few that stayed for tactical combat. Above the generals and just below the Emperor were the Grand Generals, His most powerful and invincible warriors in the world. And Rhohan was the strongest, named "Son of the Emperor" by the Emperor. Rhohan, because of his commanding skills and cunning mind, was trusted by the emperor and became his right hand man. And the same rank as Rhohan was the vizier Korad Rulun, who controlled the currency, economy and politics of the kingdom while Rhohan was the army. He had a smart mind about controlling the kingdom to help the Emperor and Rhohan, so he also trusted and respected his skills. And standing at the top was none other than Emperor Everest Ixan, the most enigmatic emperor and sunlight of the Kraton Empire. The government machine of the empire was a form of feudalism, dictatorship and was in the pre-capitalist period. And by their power, all kingdoms were destroyed and only the Kraton Empire remained forever.
Finally the Kraton army returned to the kingdom, the battleships entered an artificial river more than ten kilometers wide to enter the port. Then there were zeppelins flying over the city across the sky, people below also thought that it was going to rain heavily. The people below waved to the zeppelins as if to congratulate them on their return from another great war. The Grand Generals except Bahamat on the main zeppelins waved to their people, then they walked over to a table with five glasses of wine and a cup of sake. Each raised their glasses and Rhohan said with congratulations:
"For another victory, for the fallen and for the Emperor."
The others said in unison:
"For the Emperor!"
Everyone drank then Xanuguis said:
"So we've collected enough pieces, what do we do next Rhohan?"
Rhohan replied:
"First we will present the gift to the Emperor. Then we will begin to decipher the pieces of God Horux to find our way to Paradise. And then the Rebirth of the World, we will become the New God of the New World in the service of the Great Emperor."
Jeanne said:
"Huh, I don't know how but I'm getting a little nostalgic for this world."
Zilan replied:
"I'm going to miss this world, but having a new world for a new game would be more fun."
Xanuguis said:
"Owl, what are you thinking?"
Owl was holding a cup of sake and thinking deeply about Grim, he was still remembering his strange personality. Owl suddenly woke up and replied:
"It's okay, don't mind it."
Xanuguis said:
"You're the weirdest here, after the battle the other day you looked quieter."
Zilan laughed loudly and replied:
"Are you kidding? Owl has been quiet since he joined."
Rhohan said:
"Stop it now. We're entering the castle now, prepare to meet the Emperor, I don't want us to joke around when we see him. And how's Bahamat?"
Xanuguis replied:
"He's about to wake up too, who would have thought he'd be the first of us to lose."
Onias thought happily to himself:
"Everyone is having a good time, today is a beautiful day."
As for Bahamat, there was a half-mechanical alchemist of Xanuguis checking Bahamat's healing chamber stats. Suddenly the stats increased unexpectedly, Bahamat who was unconscious suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils turned red from being too angry. Bahamat broke the glass and grabbed the alchemist's head. Bahamat crushed his head and broke open the treatment room to get out. Bahamat thought in anger and hatred towards Elastor:
"That Elf! I'll kill you when we meet again to wash away this disgrace!"
The zeppelins went inside the large hangars for repairs, and the healthy zeppelins landed on the airfield. The dragons were dragged back to the cave to rest. The Grand Generals came out of the zeppelins and into the castle, behind many soldiers dragging the "Eyes of Horux" to the Throne Room. And Onias even dragged Alata like a slave. Alata thought to himself:
"Damn it! Am I already at the enemy base?"
The Grand Generals stood in front of the golden gate of the Throne Room, soldiers lined up and majestically on either side. They blew their horns to announce that the Grand Generals had returned. The slaves inside the gate pulled out the two giant gates and the Grand Generals entered menacingly with the seven strongest and the "Eyes of Horux" behind. They entered a huge Throne Room with statues of eight giant Grand Generals on either side. In it Urizen's statue was there and was not destroyed even though he betrayed. And on the high steps, a throne lit up the room with a warm golden light. That light from a mini sun above the throne. And the one sitting on it, he was wearing a normal white cloak and a hood. He didn't need a golden crown or precious rings because the whole world was in his hands. No one knows which face was behind that hood. No one knew about His past even those closest to him. He sat dignified and put his feet gently on a pillow below. He looked more like a magnificent god than a tyrant. He was the most powerful emperor of the Kraton Empire, Emperor Everest Ixan. Vizier Korad came out from the corner of the room, he wore a long red cloak and gilded, on his hands were precious rings symbolizing his wealth. Korad bowed to the Grand Generals and greeted them:
"Welcome home, Grand Generals, sons of the great Emperor. You have returned with another victory."
The Grand Generals bowed before Emperor Everest. Alata was also pulled to bow, but he peeked up. The emperor bowed slightly in return. Rhohan said with respect to the emperor:
"O great emperor, the time has come. We have found the "Eyes of Horux", the final piece to bring about the Rebirth of the World."
Everest raised his head and looked closely at "Eyes of Horux", he nodded as a thank to his Grand Generals. Rhohan continued:
"I promise, Your Majesty. Just give us time to decipher the pieces of God Horux to show us the way to Paradise. Then the whole universe will soon be yours."
Everest nodded slightly and whispered:
"Then start doing it now, the Old World is about to be destroyed and we will create a New World."
Everyone chanted together:
"Glory To The Emperor!
Glory To The Emperor!"
The Grand Generals then left the Throne Room for the emperor to rest and returned to their towers. Xanuguis brought the "Eyes of Horux" down to her lab and put it in a research chamber. There were also three other chambers including: "Heart of Horux" a giant blood red ruby, "Spine of Horux" a giant white diamond and "Brain of Horux", a giant emerald . All of them were finally gathered again after thousands of years of disappearance. Xanuguis showed a sinister smile and said:
"Give me your explanation."
Xanuguis activated tomography machine around the pieces to find clues about Paradise's location. Zilan back to her tower, it was a room with a long hallway hung with the guns of the people she had killed. Zilan wiped her gun and checked it again and thought excitedly:
"Let's see what it feels like to hunt an angel?"
Bahamat called out more than a thousand super warriors and frantically killed them all. Bahamat thought in anger at each of his punches:
"Elastor Magnum!!! I Must Kill You!!!"
Owl returned to his room, where he changed into a light kimono. Then he knelt before the three samurai armor of his generals in memory of them. Owl then washed their weapons and displayed them on the sword rack. Finally he made some tea, he suddenly thought for a moment about Grim and said calmly:
"He used to be like me."
Jeanne returned to her room, she took off her heavy armor and showed off a plump and muscular body. She then pulled out a large diary to write about the Grand Generals' new journey. As she wrote, she mumbled about praying to forgive her for killing so many people. Rhohan brought flowers to the fallen soldiers, there were more than tens of thousands of graves there. Then he went back to his room to rest. On Rhohan's desk was a drawing of his genetic offspring. Melik was also a special super soldier carrying Rhohan's genes. Of which there were once ten sons were created but only two were alive, they were Melik and a mysterious unnamed had disappeared. Onias brought Alata to the tower of my tower, they went to the top of the tower, on the walls hung pictures of disaster and many destroyed kingdoms. In it hung paintings of the dead and many diagrams of various kingdoms and their names. Alata thought to himself:
"He was always drawing everything in every place he went. He was a scout, announcing all the locations, hiding places, secret tunnels for them to attack."
Onias opened the door to the room and excitedly said:
"Welcome to your new home!!!"
Alata was surprised by Onias's colorful room. Unlike the paintings that were hung on the wall of the tower, the paintings here were amazing and the scenes of mountains and forests and depicting human life. There were a few unfinished drawings because the face lacked a perfect model. Onias said cheerfully:
"Okay, let's move on, we need to finish a lot of drawings."
Onias summoned The Imaginations, he summoned fireflies in all colors to paint. The fireflies immediately took off all of Alata's clothes to his embarrassment, leaving only a loincloth. Then they put Alata on a heavenly background and brought out many of the captives of Onias to pose for him to paint. They were all young and beautiful. Alata was forced to pose with his sword pointed at a person kneeling below. Alata said to him:
"Hello over there."
He replied:
"Kill me, I've been posing like this for a year."
Alata said dry:
"Well, that's funny."
Onias took the normal painting stand and took out the palette to paint. Onias said cheerfully:
"What a beautiful picture corner, just stay there for me."
Then Onias adjusted the positions and started drawing. Alata thought in confusion:
"This brat is just like me. He looks so innocent compared to the terrible things he did when many of our secrets were revealed."
Onias was very absorbed in painting, suddenly he became angry and threw away the painting he was drawing and grumbled:
"No, no. It's too much of a mistake to have that cheekbone."
Onias took another sheet of paper to draw on. Alata thought tiredly:
"And being a perfectionist as well."
Alata looked around the corner of the room and saw a pile of badly painted pictures piled up. Alata was so depressed that he casually said:
"So, what do you need me to pose for? Just to draw pictures?"
The other prisoners were startled by Alata's sudden question, they thought that Onias would definitely kill him. But Onias simply replied:
"Yes, I am interested in your figure, you are the youngest and most perfect person I have ever seen. So I need you to be the perfect face for my masterpieces."
Alata said:
"Oh wow, 'cause I thought you just wanted to draw horror scenes?"
Onias replied:
"Oh no, I'm just hanging up my spoils. The first is a picture I drew when the kingdom was still at peace. The second picture is all the secret geographies of that place.
and the third picture is when it's destroyed."
Alata said:
"Hmm, that's impressive. So what do you always want most when you ask me to pose?"
Onias replied:
"Oh you know, I've always dreamed of being a good painter even though I couldn't see anything. Lord Rhohan discovered my true talent for drawing and asked the Emperor to give me The Imaginations so I could draw more. I became a Grand General and assisted scout in drawing the structure of enemy kingdoms. So as a tribute to the Emperor and Lord Rhohan, I want to paint a great masterpiece, it must be an unprecedented masterpiece but I'm still having a hard time with it."
Alata said:
"Hah, good reason. So when can I go?"
Onias threw away another piece of paper and replied:
"When I'm done with the drawing, you'll be able to go."
Alata said with curiosity:
"But when exactly?"
Onias replied:
"Then if I fully concentrate and finish that painting early. Probably a few years but because of the Rebirth of the World, it will be finished in five days if nothing else happens. "
Alata just smiled softly and said:
"Yeah, then I'll help you until you fulfill your dream."
Onias also smiled and replied happily:
"Thanks very much."
Alata said:
"So when can I get moving and eat?"
Onias became grumpy:
"Just stay there for me!!!"
Alata said wryly:
"Ok, ok. Geez."
Onias continued to draw intently and Alata thought with curiosity:
"Even though he's an enemy, at least what he likes is good and not cruel. I can help him for a while."
But Alata noticed that Onias didn't make a mistake and threw the paper away, he thought tiredly:
"I have to find a way out of here tonight. He'll never finish drawing."
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