I am the one running the game

Chapter 921: There is no war among the nations in the era of peace, so you are using me as a target?
The peace talks came to a stalemate until the end, and the alliance of countries finally gave in.

After all, the top leaders of the Orei Empire are basically tough, and they have to consider public opinion, influence, etc. Either you pay compensation, make concessions, and get out of here, or you continue to fight.

Otherwise, if the Empire really gives up the conquered Dragon Mountains and the surrounding areas, the Steam Faction will forget about continuing to gain a foothold in the Orei Empire.

On the contrary, the Alliance of Nations had many factions within it, and the loss was not all, only a part of the empire's territory was occupied by the Orei Empire.

Although it would indeed be a problem if the Orei Empire acquired the Dragon Mountains, this problem would be in the future, and everyone wanted to recuperate now.

So after some contact, the alliance of countries completely evacuated the territory of the former Aore Empire and recognized that the Dragon Mountains and surrounding areas were the territory of the Aore Empire.

In addition, there are many compensation policies, which are details that need to be further negotiated.

But the general outline has been determined and there won't be many changes overall.

Lu Xingshi's side also settled down. At least there were no assassins continuing to bother him.

This group of assassins are just like flies. They are not very strong. They just jump out to disgust you and make you upset. They also think they are righteous and condemn you on a moral high ground.

Just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

After the harassment was gone, Lu Xingshi finally felt relieved.

The days passed peacefully one by one. Cato did not come back but stayed in the imperial capital. It was Bree who came.

"Grand Duke, aren't you tired of running outside every day?" This was the first thing Buri said when he saw Lu Xingshi coming back, and then he handed Lu Xingshi a list.

"The first batch of construction support from the empire has arrived. In addition to the development of the Dragon Mountain Range, they will also cooperate in the research of the Dragon Mountain Range."

"However, the soldiers who will help capture the Immortal Dragon may arrive later. They will have to wait until the peace talks are officially over before they can be sent."

"In addition, the second batch of construction support personnel will arrive next month."

"It's just that the Empire needs your cooperation in handing over the military power. With a Grand Duke like you in charge, there are many things they dare not do."

"Especially since you go out so often, it's a hassle to look for you." Bri said with a little embarrassment.

Since the Empire was so forthcoming, Lu Xingshi agreed: "I have never been in charge of any military power. Can't the Empire just send someone to take over?"

The steam soldiers and moonlight werewolves obeyed him, but this was only temporary. In fact, it would be very easy for the Empire to send people to take over.

"What the Empire means is that it includes the magic mirror puppet." Bri said helplessly.

"Oh, this." Lu Xingshi finally understood that the extraordinary soldiers who stabilized the Dragon Mountains were actually huge magic mirror puppets created by the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror, so there was no problem for the empire to take control of the military in this area.

"You agree?" Bri was very surprised. Logically speaking, Lu Xingshi should not agree.

"I remember that we had a deal with the Empire before. They took all the earth-attributed treasures and magical tools in exchange, and I gave the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror to the Empire."

"He must have given the magic mirror puppet together." Lu Xingshi said confidently.

If you want it, of course there is no problem. After all, he is already prepared for it. But the prerequisite is that our transaction is legal, and what matters is that the money is exchanged and the goods are delivered.

You can't just open your mouth and expect to take the goods away from him without paying.

That doesn't make sense.

Brie looked strange for a moment: "The Empire...never said anything about this."

"I'll give you a way out. Just pretend that the high-ranking officials of the empire have forgotten about it. Go and urge them." Lu Xingshi said calmly, "When I get what I want, I will transfer the ownership of the magic mirror to the person who takes over the military power."

"As for these magic mirror puppets, they were built with funding from the empire."

"I'm not a shameless person. Let them find Cato about this matter. After all, the magic mirror was in Cato's hands at the time. It was he who asked the empire for the resources, and it was he who personally gave the order to build the magic mirror."

"It has absolutely nothing to do with me."

"If the Empire buys them back, then these troops will still belong to the Empire. I haven't taken any of the Magic Mirror Puppet away with me."

"If someone tries to cheat me, I will let him know what a meteorite falling from the sky is." Lu Xingshi said in a sonorous and powerful voice.

Ever since he acquired the Meteorite Technique, everyone has to be quiet and take seriously what he says.

This is the importance of mastering core technology.

"Grand Duke, it's useless for you to tell me these things. I can only tell you the truth." Bri was very open-minded. He was just a mouthpiece anyway. "Whether the Empire agrees or not, don't take it out on me."

The top brass of the empire did not bring up this matter on their own initiative. It is very likely that it has been kept secret, so they are pretending not to know.

"It's okay, just write to Gato and he will solve it." Lu Xingshi smiled.

As someone who has personally experienced the benefits of the Seven Deadly Sins Magic Mirror and the Magic Mirror Puppet, Cato will ask the Empire for funding.

After all, he knew how useful the magic mirror was in the overall battlefield and how powerful the magic mirror puppet was.

Those senior executives who are only in the rear have no intuitive feeling at all.

So the problem of weighing the pros and cons arises. The simplest point is that the magic mirror of the seven deadly sins can be transformed into an extraordinary soldier, the magic mirror puppet, in Lu Xingshi's hands. If all the earth-attributed treasures and magical weapons fall into his hands, wouldn't it be even more terrifying?

They could no longer control Lu Xingshi, and he had become a beast that would eat anyone it could. If he continued to grow stronger, the entire empire would fall into Lu Xingshi's hands. In their view, this was a case of losing the greater for the less.

This is indeed the case, after all, Lu Xingshi really has this ability.

However, the problem is that even if he doesn't do this, Lu Xingshi, who has the magic mirror of the seven deadly sins, can gradually control the entire empire even without these things by relying solely on the magic mirror of the seven deadly sins.

Not to mention anything else, the fact that the Dragon Mountain Range is in his hands is fatal.

As for using the Principality of Lanton as a threat? Lu Xingshi said he would give it to you. If he could conquer it once, he could conquer it a second time.

How can the resources of the Principality of Lanton compare to those of the Dragon Mountains?

No matter how you look at it, it's the empire's unilateral loss.

"You always let General Cato bear the pressure. I'm afraid he will die in bed one day."

"After the Steam Faction dealt with the Noble Faction and the Royal Family, it became the Imperial Faction, and there were many cases of internal strife."

"General Cato is close to you, which makes him a target. If he didn't have prestige in the army, he would have had a hard time," said Brie.

Brie also had a hard time because, like Cato, he was close to the Archecumenical faction.

Without an opponent, there was no way to divert the conflict, so they could only temporarily find a common enemy, which was the Grand Duke faction where Lu Xingshi belonged.

The problem is that Lu Xingshi is too far away and too powerful, and there are not many conflicts of substantive interests. The goal of diverting conflicts is too weak.

Therefore, its effect in alleviating internal conflicts is very limited.

"Ah, this... In my impression, Steam... Oh, the Imperial Faction seems to put the empire first?" Lu Xingshi was a little confused. Logically speaking, they should be loyal, so why did they start fighting among themselves?

"The empire is the most important thing, but everyone has different ideas, so the plans and policies that come out are all different."

“There won’t necessarily be anything wrong, but there will be conflict.”

"What's more, now that we are in power and at peace, everyone wants to show their abilities. Where would the empire get so much money to supply them?" Bri said that it was all about money.

One wants to maintain water conservancy, another wants to promote industry, and another wants to improve national defense.

There is nothing wrong with these, and they are all good for the empire, but the empire has limited money, and it needs money to do anything.

Every project and policy is not only a bottomless pit, but also a money-eating beast, and the amount of money required to complete it is not a small amount.

Then the contradiction arises.

Just like the Black Soil Leader back then, nothing can be done without money.

As for why Yan State did not have this problem...it's actually very simple, because Lu Xingshi was a world, and Yan State was not a proper dynasty, but a collection of Lu Xingshi's relatives.

All of this was not for the purpose of strengthening the State of Yan, but to provide services for Lu Xingshi.

The economy is already on the verge of collapse, so how can there be a shortage of money?

“No wonder there are conflicts.”

"No wonder the conflict failed when it was transferred to me. Even if you bring me down, you have no money." Lu Xingshi couldn't help but smile.

He is neither Yan Song nor Heshen, so he has no money for them to take.

What? He occupied the Dragon Mountain Range? Don't be ridiculous. The Empire has sent people to develop and build it, which means that all the benefits will belong to the Empire. Lu Xingshi didn't send anyone to do it.

Moreover, without Lu Xingshi guarding the Dragon Mountains, the empire would not feel at ease.

With Lu Xingshi around, even if the Dragon Mountains span several empires, these empires would not dare to make any small moves.

If Lu Xingshi was not in charge, these empires might not necessarily give face to the Orei Empire. If they don't dare to do so openly, how could they not dare to do so in secret?
The empire whose area of ​​the Dragon Mountain Range was occupied was certainly not convinced, and it only ceded it due to pressure from Lu Xingshi and the alliance of various countries before it was disbanded.

Otherwise, I would never bow my head.

The empire also knew about this problem, so it never mentioned letting Lu Xingshi return to the Principality of Lanton.

In any case, we have to wait until the empire has completely taken control and eliminated the hidden dangers.

"Grand Duke, look, the people have arrived. Do you have any instructions?" Bri changed the subject at the right time. He didn't want to continue discussing these things with Lu Xingshi.

Lu Xingshi is not afraid at all because he is in a high position. He is not in a position where he can speak casually.

"That's perfect. There are indeed a lot of things that need you to deal with." Lu Xingshi was waiting for Bri to say this.

"Call over the people in charge this time and have a meeting. I'll assign you tasks."

"As for the Empire's development of the Dragon Mountains, you can coordinate it among yourselves."

"I'm only responsible for my own affairs." Lu Xingshi didn't care about the empire's development of the Dragon Mountain Range. What he should consider was studying the Dragon Mountain Range to make himself stronger.

(End of this chapter)