Alien world

Chapter 1892, Section 525: Turning Everyone to Surrender
“Pora… is right.” Kandin made his decision.

Annan nodded, not intending to kill Lulu, but pointing to Kandin and Black Pearl, he said, "Eat it."

Black Pearl had never eaten gray rats; they shouldn't taste like disgusting excrement like brown rats... but childhood trauma made her resistant to all rat-like creatures.

In the brief moment between the black dragon's attacks, Kandin screamed, "Lulu's right! They didn't lie to you!"

“Make it clear, I’m not some ratman you can easily fool.”

To save his life, Kandin recounted the whole story: the burrows had already reached the Empire's borders, the first swarm of rats had already crossed over and begun their operation, and the second swarm wouldn't move until winter.

What were the first swarms of rats doing?

"Infiltration and corruption..."

"With you?"

"With Stunn and those demonic things, plus other allies..."

"Hmm...it seems you've all told the truth, but only half of it." Annan's gaze shifted from Kandin. "Should I also do half of it, kill your upper bodies and release your lower bodies?"

Paula reacted the fastest, pleading repeatedly, "Lord Annan, I am willing to pledge allegiance to Free City and become your subordinate!"

"what about you?"

Kandin and Lulu chimed in, the ratmen's cowardly and selfish instincts taking over.

Annan nodded, picked up the magic stone from the dragon's claw, and replayed the scene for the three gray rats.

The three gray-haired mice, their faces ashen, watched as they read their betrayal of the clan and their obsequious declarations of loyalty to Annam, and then fell silent.

“I know your names now, Pola, Kandin, and… Lulu?” Annan thought to himself, why do all these gray rats have such names? They’re not even as good as brown rats. Is it just the gray rats’ style?

"Don't worry, I will keep my promise and release you, and I won't even put a curse that makes you suffer unbearable pain." Annan put away the magic stone, a slight smile on his lips. "But if you betray me, I will release the video, and then you, your wealth, your spouses and children will still be divided up."

Annan looked at Paula first: "Your wealth will be stolen by those drooling gray rats."

Paula's eyes reddened.

Then he looked at Kandin: "Your offspring will cling to the legs of other gray rats and call them dad, or worse, end up on the dinner table."

Kandin's eyes turned bloodshot.

Finally, looking at Lulu: "Your mate will be pleasing to other gray-furred mice, maybe several—"

Annan suddenly felt that the black pearl on his head was breathing more heavily, and promptly stopped the conversation.

“But I’m not a bad person, Pora. You know about my cooperation with the Stunn clan. I’m always good to my own people, no, my own rats.”

Paula obsequiously arched her back.

Annan gave a harmless smile and continued, "Go back to your clan and help me deliver messages. Not only will you not die, but you'll also receive my 'aid'..."

He waved his hand, and several chests filled with gold coins, their lids so heavy they couldn't even be closed, appeared before them.

Four heavy breaths suddenly came from beside Annan.

As the black pearl unconsciously reached out its claws to grab the gold coins, Annan put away the treasure chest, pressing its claws into a pile of afterimages, as if what it had just seen was just an illusion.

Ignoring Black Pearl's subtle actions, Annan said nonchalantly, "Everything you possess is insignificant in my eyes. Once you become my people, you will find that wealth and power are within your grasp; becoming a priest or elder is not impossible." Annan's deadly seduction took root in the hearts of the three ratmen.

It was Bora again, and she first transformed into Annam's servant, prostrating herself on the ground and treating him as the high priest.

The other two gray mice also expressed their loyalty, and the three gray mice were easily manipulated.

Annan sighed. If the ratman elder had been so easy to deal with back then, his control over the Stunn clan could have been further strengthened, and it wouldn't have died...

However, the Ratman Elders already held high positions, and it would be difficult for Annan to bind them solely with interests. After all, the next step for them would be the Ratman Elders' Council, which Annan could not possibly help them with.

Leaving offspring for Annam to care for was already the greatest act of kindness and paternal love Annam could offer.

Black Pearl released the three gray-furred rats, who scrambled to their feet, their scarlet eyes sweeping over the rat-men suppressed by the dragon's might in the underground beehive.
“You don’t need to worry about them; I have other plans,” Annan said.

Staying here would only lead to them being killed by the three gray rats, so it's better to bring them back to Free City to help the black mole build up his team.

The three gray mice dared not disobey Annam and stood timidly to the side.

"Don't look so sad, I'm a generous host."

Annan then poured out a box of gold coins, which Paula and the other two divided among themselves, ostensibly as "pocket money."

A good beating followed by a sweet treat works everywhere. Annan's generous and wealthy demeanor made not only the three gray rats, but even Black Pearl's legs go weak and she turned back into a pale-skinned princess, nestled delicately beside Annan.

Annan opened the portal and sent the slave rats, elite rats, rat-man craftsmen, and a small number of savage rats from the underground hive back to Free City. He then said to the three gray rats, "You know how to explain this."

“I know, it’s normal that the cave collapsed and killed them.” Pora nodded and bowed, looking more like a sycophantic and unscrupulous businessman than a human.

Meanwhile, in his office, Olmedo learned that Annan had opened another portal and sent a bunch of ratmen. He sent someone to deliver the information, but he was a step too late. The news of the Saint's participation in the war failed to reach Annan, but the news that the Kingdom's army had already taken action reached Annan's ears.

Annan, who was originally eager to return to fight, suddenly stopped rushing back.

With Grand Marshal Galkin and his legions stationed in Old Val, it was unlikely that anything would happen there. However, he was increasingly concerned about the Rathole.

Who exactly is involved in the "infiltration and corruption" mentioned by the gray-haired rat? Is the Chaos Cult involved?
Annan took out a hair he had obtained during his recent contact with the Minister of the Imperial Military Affairs and cast the spell again.

Magical elements outlined a magic circle in front of him, rather than a portal.

In the center of the magic circle, a figure slowly emerged, accompanied by unsettling, urgent bell tolls, as if something had happened.

"Annan Reeves?"

The figure on the magic circle recognized the being that had summoned it, called out Anan's name in confusion, turned its head, and said "alarm over" to someone.

As the bell tolled, he fully materialized within the magic circle.

The Minister of Military Affairs stared at the instigator before him: "I hope you're prepared to explain."

He, a minister of the Empire, whose status was second only to a few members of the Golden Family and high-ranking officials, was unjustly summoned here.

"Take a look around first."

"A rat's nest... no, a rat's burrow?"

The Minister of Military Affairs, who had dealt with the rat people quite often, quickly recognized his surroundings and temporarily set aside Annam's abruptness and offense: "Where is this?"

(End of this chapter)