Extraordinary Pedigree.

Chapter 1199 The Gifter of Shalis

Carax Heavy City Factory.

An old steam transport car slowly came to a stop at the end of the steel rails outside the factory. White-gray hot steam was still being emitted from both sides of the car, and the heavy metal axles emitted a low and long friction sound in the last stretch of inertia.

Click~
As the car door opened, a gust of wind carrying the smells of coal ash, rust, and hot oil rushed in, and the perpetual gray smoke from the Chongqing factory pressed into view, making the whole landscape seem dull and low.

Forgrim got out of the car.

In such a rough, decaying world covered in smoke and iron filings, his presence stood out conspicuously, even to the point of seeming unreal.

He has long, white hair that seems to glow on its own, bright and friendly eyes, and lips that always wear a warm smile.

Everyone who sees Forgrim will exclaim: "That kid is really handsome!"

His armor was not bulky, but exquisitely crafted like a work of art that had been repeatedly sculpted. The edges and plates were covered with complex and elaborate patterns. These patterns were not just decorations, but the result of the craftsmen’s almost obsessive aesthetic and technical skill.

Inside the armor, the edge of a high-collared robe could still be seen hanging down, a style that Forgrim consistently favored, and of all his favorite colors, purple was the one he was most satisfied with.

Because that color is both noble and restrained, it will not be mistaken for ostentation, nor for yielding.

Of course, what supported Forgrim was not only his excellent appearance, but also an almost unshakable self-confidence.

He had just stepped onto the receiving platform outside the factory, which was covered with iron filings and coal dust, when his deputy, Edoron, followed from the side and behind.

Aidoron walked quickly, but kept his voice extremely low, clearly not wanting the guards of the Heavy Capital Factory, who were waiting to receive him further away, to hear too much.

"Lord Forgrim, the fact that the Heavy Capital Factory is willing to agree to talks this time is highly unusual. They previously rejected the Alliance, the ceasefire, and all conditions for technology sharing, but now they suddenly seem willing to sit down and negotiate..."

"It doesn't seem to me like they genuinely want to end the conflict. It's more like they're using the meeting as an excuse to lure you away from the guards that Carax brought, and then take care of you all at once in a pre-arranged location."

As he said this, he couldn't help but look up at the Chongqing factory, covered by huge chimneys and blast furnace structures, and his tone became a little more somber:
“They are not unaware of what you mean to Carax now, nor are they unaware that as long as you live, their so-called tradition of plunder and the old order are doomed to perish.”

"But they still sent out the invitation, which means they must have some trump card that they think is reliable enough, and that kind of thing is definitely not just a few heavy cannons, a few squads of suicide soldiers, or some crude traps."

As Forgrim listened to these words, he simply raised his hand and brushed away a speck of dust that had fallen onto the edge of his shoulder armor. His expression remained unchanged, and even the gentle smile on his face did not diminish in the slightest.

"I know."

“From the moment they sent out the invitation, I knew this wasn’t a table prepared for peace, but an iron table for placing corpses… except they wanted me on it, not themselves. It’s really a pity. I considered them friends, but they wanted me to be on their table.”

"That's just how the world is now, full of deceit and treachery."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his head and looked at the main tower of the Chongdu Factory, which was faintly visible in the smoke and steam. There was no sign of retreat in his eyes, but rather a resolute determination.

Aidoron remained silent and did not interrupt.

Forgrim walked slowly forward, continuing as he went:
"In the entire Carax, I am now the only one who has truly mastered the power of the Avatar, a power that was recorded in the old days as the might of heroes, or perhaps—the Avatar of the Sovereign."

“The people at the Chongdu Factory couldn’t possibly be unaware of this. Since they know who I am and what I can do, yet they still dared to invite me here, it means that what they hold in their hands is powerful enough to make them think they can fight against a hero.”

At this point, Forgrim's gaze narrowed slightly, and a faint sharpness appeared on his originally gentle smile.

"And that's the only thing I can think of."

"That corrupting force that is eroding the entire Carax."

“I have been searching for it all these years, and I know very well that the real reason why the Carax was destroyed was never just famine, internal strife and resource depletion; those were just symptoms.”

"What truly causes this plane to sink deeper and deeper into death is something deeper, more hidden, and more sordid. And now, if the Chongdu Factory really uses it as its reliance, then it's actually a good thing for me."

Aidoron frowned slightly: "You mean, you intend to take this opportunity..."

"Yes."

Forgrim answered without hesitation, even with an almost self-evident decisiveness.

"Whether from the perspective of unifying the Carax or from the perspective of completely eradicating that corrupting force from this planet, I must attend this meeting."

"Of course, there are risks, and they may be more dangerous than they imagine. But there is never a truly risk-free road in this world. If a person never dares to step into the darkness because there may be poisonous snakes ahead, then he can only live in ruins for the rest of his life and eventually rot away with the ruins."

He stopped and turned to look at Aidoron. His gentle eyes now held an almost dazzling sharpness.

"They want to use this meeting to kill me, so let them try; if they really put that corrupt force in front of me, then today's meeting, whether it ends with us sitting down to talk or standing up to kill, will not have been in vain for me."

……

……

The meeting place of the Chongdu Factory was in an old council chamber on the middle floor of the main tower, which was probably originally used to make decisions on the allocation of mineral veins and wartime rations.

When Forgrim led Edron in, everyone on the other side of the round table was already present.

Seated at the head of the table was the true decision-maker of the Heavy Capital Factory, an old dwarf named Hedrick Black Furnace. He wasn't tall, but his body was as heavy as an over-forged piece of black steel. His shoulders were so broad that they almost cracked the specially reinforced armchair. The skin on his face was hardened and darkened by the high temperature, metal dust, and the long years. There was also an old scar on the left side of his nose that ran from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth.

Sitting to Hedrick's left was a human woman who was unusually tall and thin, named Sevier.

Sitting to Hedrick's right was a middle-aged man wearing a dark red cloak named Muro.

These three individuals constitute the current decision-making body in Chongqing.

When Forgrim sat down, he didn't look at the heavily armed guards around the hall, nor at the not-so-clean security mechanisms hidden along the edge of the round table. He simply straightened the hem of his robe and armor, then placed his hands steadily on the table. His young and handsome face still looked excessively clean in the dim light.

Just by looking at the current situation, he knew that the three people in front of him had no intention of negotiating with him. They had come to hold a meeting on their own, and they certainly didn't have any good intentions.

However, Forgrim was a respectable man, and he was willing to go through the proper procedures and listen to the opinions of the capital.

The old dwarf's next words greatly disappointed Forgrim.

Old Dwarf:
“We are willing to sit down today because the Heavy Capital Factory does not want the blood of Carax to continue to flow on the ground, but the Alliance Council you have created over the years has ultimately turned all the city-states into vassals of the Carax Fortress Factory.”

"You talk about building together and reshaping the world, but when it comes to allocating mineral veins, working hours, weapons, and routes, the final decision still rests with the Grand Consul in your hands."

Sevier chimed in from the side:
"You have indeed saved many factories and temporarily restored order to the rationing lines, but that does not mean your system is without problems. At least in our view, it is dangerous for one person to hold technology, military power, resources, and parliamentary decision-making power."

"Carax has already paid the price for too many people who are only right, and we are not going to stake the fate of the entire world on another new name."

Muro, too lazy to beat around the bush, stopped pretending and went straight to Forgrim's point: "To put it bluntly, we only have one thing to discuss today. You can retain your prestige, your technology, and even your alliance that sounds like a myth, but you must relinquish real power, abolish the Grand Consul position in the ruling council of the Karax Fortress Factory, and allow the major city-states to take turns ruling the general council. Each core city-state will have a fixed term, a fixed number of votes, and a fixed share of military power. No one will be allowed to sit at the top and make decisions for everyone forever."

The old dwarf Hedrick nodded, then took the opportunity to make his words sound even more high-sounding:
“We are not against unification, we are against unification being defined by you alone. We are not against the alliance, we are against the Carax Fortress Factory always standing at the very center of the alliance.”

"Today you can use surplus and hope to persuade others to vote for you, and tomorrow you can use the same reasons to turn the whole world into your private property. So the safest way is to let all city-states take turns governing and let the system be above the individual."

When his deputy, Edoron, heard this, his face darkened. He clearly understood that no matter how nicely the other party spoke, the essence was nothing more than to dismantle the newly established unified framework and restore the old order that had been suppressed. However, he did not speak immediately because he knew that Forgrim would answer on his own.

As expected, Forgrim simply listened quietly to what the three had to say, even patiently observing each person's expression as they spoke. Of course, he couldn't help but laugh in the end.

He was so angry at such a fool that he laughed.

“I understand your concerns, and I understand why you make it sound like you are planning for the future of the whole world. After all, people are more willing to package their selfishness as a matter of public interest than to admit that they are afraid of losing power.”

"The reason Karax can still sit here and talk about systems is not because the plane has stabilized, but because we have just been pulled back from the brink of collapse, and you are demanding the abolition of the Grand Consul's seat and its rotation among the city-states..."

"This sounds fair, but in reality it is breaking down the newly unified resource allocation, factory cooperation and armed response into several parts, causing them to fall back into the old situation where they are bickering and hindering each other."

"Now that the transportation chain has just been reopened and the trust between city-states is still as fragile as a thin layer of ice, what can guarantee the continuity of policies when the ruling parties take turns in power?"

"Will you rely on verbal promises, or on mutual oversight among the city-states? If the next leader changes quotas, intercepts mines, or delays transportation due to personal motives, what will you use to stop them? Will you hold another meeting, or fight another war?"

"On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you voted for environmental protection and the preservation of green resources; on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you voted to expand factory production lines."

“Since I was eight years old, your left and right brains have been fighting each other every day, and you're still this stupid now…”

The old dwarf, Hedrick, said slowly with a stern face, "So you mean you have to keep holding onto all of this?"

Forgrim replied coldly:

"You can continue to guard your high walls, granaries, and private armies, and you can continue to spout the nice words of alternating rule. But once I step out of this room and tell the workers and miners outside about today's negotiations, I believe they will make a judgment faster than you. They will know who to overthrow and who to embrace, because survival never requires any profound knowledge."

Forgrim's words thoroughly enraged the veteran Muro, who pointed at Forgrim's nose and cursed:
"You really think you're some kind of savior? When I was hacking people down in the mine with a serrated knife, you were probably still nursing in some scrap heap somewhere."

"Hedrick, why are you still pretending to be polite with him? This is the plan. If he dares to come, we won't let him leave alive. Since this self-righteous fool has put his own neck on the chopping block, we don't need to play along anymore. Get him!"

The moment the words fell, the soldiers and ambushers around the round table, who had been maintaining their guard posture for the meeting, immediately sprang into action. The sounds of guns being cocked, metal safety bolts snapping open, and mechanical nodes hidden behind the walls and elevated structures lit up simultaneously.

In an instant, the entire council chamber transformed from a negotiation venue into a pre-arranged killing field.

The old dwarf's face turned completely black at that moment.

Damn it, how could I have such a scumbag teammate?

He had originally wanted to maintain some room for maneuver, at least to make it look like a failed meeting rather than a blatant murder.

But Muro's shout pierced through all the pretense, leaving him no time to salvage his dignity. He could only watch helplessly as the people around him began to implement the plan that he was supposed to personally order to be launched.

Forgrim's second-in-command, Adoron, almost reflexively stepped forward, his hand already on his weapon, instinctively trying to shield Forgrim.

But Fergrim didn't even lift his eyelids. He just turned his head slightly and looked at the three people who had completely torn off their masks. A hint of disappointment rose in his eyes. It wasn't because he had been ambushed, but because he had ultimately overestimated the limits of these people.

"As expected, they still had to take action in the end."

He shook his head slightly, a hint of elegant sarcasm playing at the corners of his mouth:

"As Shakespeare said, fools quarrel and make a ruckus, their mouths full of noise and rage, but in the end they get nothing out of it; I thought you would at least be able to disguise your rudeness more properly, but it seems I was wrong."

Muro roared, "Stop pretending! Everyone, attack!"

dong dong dong-

A burst of bullets rang out, and as the bullets hurtled toward Forgrim, something invisible in the air began to swirl.

A long, winding, golden-green phantom slowly rose from behind Forgrim. Her form was outlined inch by inch by the light. She was a being full of exotic divinity and dangerous beauty. Her overall posture resembled that of a slender woman wearing scale armor, yet she also retained the characteristics of a snake.

Below the waist are not legs, but a coiled and floating tail, the edges of the scales shimmering with a cold, metallic light, and behind it unfolds a crown-like structure that resembles a combination of feathers and a sun disc.

【Wadjet, the Avatar of the Overlord】

The next instant, those bullets that would have riddled a person with holes all stopped in their tracks in front of her.

The bullets seemed to have struck an invisible, solidified layer of water, all hovering in mid-air. The bullet heads were still trembling slightly, and the residual gunpowder in the cartridge cases had not completely dissipated, yet they could no longer advance even half an inch. The densely packed metal bullets remained motionless in front of Forgrim, forming a chilling curtain of death.

Wajite merely raised his eyes slightly.

The instant her gaze swept across the entire room, everyone in the council chamber seemed to be simultaneously pierced into the depths of their consciousness by something. Their pupils contracted sharply, and their breathing and movements became chaotic in an instant.

Some people, despite holding guns, began to retreat frantically as if they were witnessing their most terrifying scene; some instinctively tried to shout, but only broken gasps escaped their throats; and others looked down at their hands as if they were crawling with non-existent poisonous insects and scales.

[Shalis - Illusion Gift: Senses Confusion]

Yes, Forgrim is Shaven... that is, the benefactor of Shallish.

The ultimate illusion began to reflect back into reality.

Then, the guards closest to the round table suddenly had their chests cave in without warning, as if some unseen force had crushed them, bones and flesh.

The gunman behind the overpass suddenly clutched his neck, as if an invisible blade had slit his throat, and blood gushed out from between his fingers.

Those soldiers who had no time to react fell one after another; some had their eyeballs burst, some bled from their seven orifices, and some had their entire bodies rapidly stiffening in spasms.

Muro, who was cursing loudly just a moment ago, died especially quickly. He didn't even have time to utter a second curse before his whole body suddenly froze on the spot. His fierce eyes seemed to have seen something that could hollow out one's soul, and the color drained from his face in an instant.

The next moment, a thin line of blood slowly split open in the center of his forehead, and then the crack extended downwards, down to his nose, lips, throat, and chest.

It looked as if an invisible blade had pierced through his body, cleaving him in two.

pat.

The body split open to the left and right, crashing heavily to the ground. Blood slowly flowed out from the drainpipe under the round table. As he watched the meeting turn into a river of blood, a bewitching smile appeared on Forgrim's unusually handsome face.

The red flowers are so beautiful.