Chapter 596: Promise to Guandu

Lein opened the first page of Aleron’s notes. Several names and places were listed in order. Some had been crossed out, while others had comments written beside them.

The slaves who had come ashore waited a few steps from the table with their heads lowered. They spoke quietly and only when needed. Laras checked that they stayed in place before returning her attention to the notes.

"Are these the people you managed to meet?" Lein asked.

"Some of them," Aleron replied. "Others could only be reached through a middleman. Not all of them were willing to receive visitors."

Lein pointed to a name that had been crossed out. A large sum of energy crystals was written beside it.

"This one?"

"He wanted payment before discussing any help."

"And?"

"I looked for someone else."

Aleron sounded casual, but his fingers kept straightening the edge of the page. Tauriel watched without saying anything.

"At least I found some more information," he continued. "I also managed to prepare some of what we need for our defenses. This trip was still better than just waiting in Guandu."

"But no one has confirmed that they’ll come," Lein said.

Aleron nodded. "Some are willing to consider it. They want to see how things develop first."

Efan frowned. "If everyone keeps waiting, when will the preparations start?"

"That’s the problem." Aleron sighed. "I can’t force them."

Lein turned to the next page and moved his chair closer to the table. His black robe shifted, revealing part of the swords at his waist. These notes listed weapons and warships. Several sections had been crossed out and rewritten.

"Explain this part," he said, pointing at the notes. "What exactly will Guandu’s ships be facing?"

Aleron leaned closer as well. "The Cosmic Disaster looks like a giant rocky planet. It’s large enough to destroy an entire realm. But we can’t just point all our weapons at it and blow it apart."

"Because of its barrier?"

"That’s one reason. Even after we can enter it, we still have to face the creatures living there."

"Creatures?" Lein looked up.

"A great many. They live on the planet’s surface. The deeper we go, the stronger the creatures we’ll encounter."

Efan put down his utensils. Laras read the notes in front of Lein, while Dragnar remained seated quietly at the side of the table.

"And they supply energy to the disaster," Aleron continued. "As long as those creatures are still there, stopping it will be even harder."

Lein read the notes again.

"So the ships and weapons are meant to deal with the creatures on the surface?"

"That’s part of the preparations. But we still need powerful rulers to handle the stronger creatures. Attacks from the ships alone won’t be enough."

"How many?"

Aleron paused before answering. "Ten mid-stage Kings."

Laras stopped moving her hand. Efan looked at Aleron, then turned to Lein.

Level Four to Level Six Kings. Lein tapped the edge of the page with his finger. Gathering ten rulers at that stage would already be difficult. Asking them to risk their lives for another realm would be even harder.

"Is there another option?" he asked.

"Yes. One late-stage King, at least Level Seven. If I can get their help, I won’t need to gather ten mid-stage Kings."

"And neither option has worked out?"

Aleron shook his head. "I’ve tried both during my time in the Dominion. Just meeting a Level Seven King is difficult. Even finding someone who can introduce me to one isn’t easy. And getting a meeting doesn’t mean they’ll agree to help."

Tauriel pointed to a name in the notes. "I also asked a few people I know. It hasn’t helped much."

"You’ve already helped," Aleron replied. "At least this time, I knew who to ask."

Lein waited for them to finish.

"What about the disaster’s barrier? What records did you bring?"

"I have some observations from before I left," Aleron replied. "But I can’t confirm its current condition. We can’t contact Guandu from here. It’s too far away."

"You said before that we couldn’t get through while the barrier was still intact."

"That’s right," Tauriel said. "That’s why we need to prepare before the chance to attack comes."

Lein gathered the pages and placed them back on the table.

He still needed to confirm the disaster’s condition. His current strength was not enough to simply face every threat there. But with Infinity Duplicate, there were many things he could prepare. He had even considered bombarding the rocky planet with copies of high-grade destruction talismans.

For now, he kept that idea to himself. He would study the notes Aleron had brought and use the journey to prepare his help. The disaster’s current condition would have to be checked once they reached Guandu.

Aleron tried to read Lein’s expression. The young man seemed to think for a moment before looking up.

"I’ll help. Lord Aleron, don’t worry."

Aleron did not answer right away. A server passed with an order for another table and lowered his head as he went by. Vehicles could be heard heading toward the port, but Aleron’s attention stayed on Lein.

"Lord Lein, you heard how much strength we need."

"I did."

"We still have to prepare the ships, weapons, and people to operate them."

"Yes."

Aleron glanced at Dragnar. The old man briefly returned his look, then fell silent again. His food had remained untouched since the discussion began.

"I’ve considered that, Lord Aleron," Lein said.

"I didn’t mean..." Aleron stopped and let out a breath. "Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you understood everything."

"I understand. You’ve been searching for a long time. Let me take care of my part now."

Lein’s smile was the same as when they had been talking about food. From across the table, Aleron could still feel the pressure of his aura.

He remembered Lein’s answer when Tauriel had asked about the laws. Just a little, he had said. Aleron still did not know the true extent of his abilities. Tauriel waited too, but Lein did not explain what strength or people he would prepare.

"Then, about the payment—"

"I have one condition."

Aleron sat straighter. "Tell me."

"Would the Guandu Realm be willing to become part of the Divine Sky Realm?"

Tauriel’s hand stopped near her cup. Aleron looked at Lein, then at the notes on the table, as though making sure he had heard correctly.

"Become part of your realm?"

Lein set down his cup. "Yes. I want Guandu to become part of the Divine Sky Realm."

Efan opened his mouth but changed his mind. Laras sat straighter beside Lein.

Aleron rubbed his chin. He had been prepared for a request for wealth or rights to resources after the disaster was over. He had not expected an offer like Lein’s.

"I need you to explain what you mean," he said.

"I want to build a lasting relationship. If Guandu joins us, its safety will also become the Divine Sky Realm’s responsibility. There will be more things we can do together after this disaster is over."

Lein then looked at Tauriel. "I’d also like to form an alliance with the Silent Forest Realm."

Tauriel put down her cup. What had started as a discussion about Guandu now involved her own realm.

"What kind of alliance?"

"Cooperation between realms. If there’s something we can work on together, we’ll discuss it. We can also help each other when needed."

"And you want to start with us?"

Lein nodded.

Aleron and Tauriel were the first two Guardians he had met. Much of what he knew about the void, other realms, and the Dominion had come from them. Without their explanations, his first journey beyond the Divine Sky Realm would have been much harder.

They had also helped him quite a lot. Lein would still be careful, but he felt he could trust them enough to begin working more closely together.

He had a bigger plan. After advancing beyond Level Nine King and reaching the Emperor stage, he wanted to form his own Dominion. Guandu and the Silent Forest could become central parts of that plan. He needed realms he could trust, and he could start building those relationships now.

But there was no need to tell them everything yet.

"We’ve known each other for quite a while," Lein said. "I’d like us to keep working together after we return."

Tauriel watched him. "It seems you’ve given this a lot of thought."

Lein smiled. "Let’s start with what we can agree on now."

Aleron had not answered yet. He remembered their early meetings, when so much about the world beyond Lein’s realm still had to be explained to him.

Now the young man sat before him with an aura that had already changed. Beside him was Dragnar, a King who had waited for his nod just to sit down. Even so, Aleron still did not know the limits of Lein’s abilities. He had to judge this offer by Lein’s promise of help and their experiences together.

Laras was ready to take notes. Her expression remained flat as she waited for any decisions she needed to record.

"I really should meet with you more often," Aleron said.

"So you won’t be surprised every time?" Tauriel asked.

Aleron gave a short laugh. "At least I could prepare myself."

Lein let them talk. He was in no hurry to demand an answer.

Aleron pulled his notes back. "I can’t settle matters for all of Guandu in a single conversation. There are other rulers I need to speak with."

"I know."

"But as for your offer..." Aleron looked at him. "I agree. I’m willing to bring Guandu into the Divine Sky Realm and discuss it with them."

"That’s enough for now."

"Once I return to Guandu, I’ll tell them about your help and the condition for joining."

"Good."

Tauriel waited until the discussion about Guandu was finished.

"You’ve made this meeting much longer than I expected."

"What about my offer?" Lein asked.

"I agree to an alliance between the Silent Forest and the Divine Sky Realm. We’ll discuss the details later. Don’t add more conditions after I’ve agreed."

Efan chuckled. Lein smiled too.

"My offer stays the same."

"All right. I’ll remember that."

The mood at the table eased again. Aleron took a drink and straightened his notes. His movements were no longer as restless as before.

"For now, give me all the notes you brought about the disaster," Lein said. "Observations, defensive preparations, and anything you still need."

"I’ll get them ready."

"Include your records of the barrier. We’ll study them during the journey. We can only confirm its current condition once we reach Guandu."

Laras recorded their agreement and checked on the slaves who were still waiting. Then she asked about the supplies Aleron had already prepared. Efan leaned closer when the conversation turned to weapons and materials.

Lein listened as he leaned back in his chair. In the distance, a large ship left the port platform. Once it passed, part of the Obsidian’s dark purple body came back into view at its berth.

Their discussion was finished. Lein set down his cup and looked at the others.

"We can discuss the rest on the ship. Let’s head back."