Chapter 254: The Second Legion

The Homeworld Channel was still in uproar over the Mythic reward when several announcements appeared.

[Concord Province has established the Second Homeworld Legion to compete in the Legion Contest. Legion Commander: Malcolm.]

[The original Homeworld Legion has been renamed the First Homeworld Legion.]

[Notice: The Homeworld Realm now has two Legions. Before the Legion Contest begins, each Province may choose its Legion through a vote among its Champions.]

[The two Legions will be ranked separately. Ranking rewards will be distributed separately to the Provinces belonging to each Legion.]

Ordinary Lords knew nothing of the plans made by the Jade Court and the western nations. They stared at the announcements in disbelief.

Sector 666 had a strong generation of newcomers. Together, the Homeworld’s Lords had a good chance of reaching the top hundred. Every Province could have shared the enormous rewards.

And now, at the worst possible moment, someone had decided to split their strength?

What kind of idiot would do that?

More notices appeared before they could recover.

[Vaust Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Bourbon Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Plantagenet Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Plain Yellow Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Covenant Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

More than a hundred Provinces joined almost simultaneously, as though everything had been arranged in advance.

Malcolm, commander of the Second Legion, immediately made a stirring declaration.

[Malcolm: The Homeworld belongs to all of us. Rights come with duties. No one should reap rewards without contributing.]

[Malcolm: Cassian killed dozens of Homeworld Champions before the Contest. Now he has claimed a Mythic artifact earned through all our efforts as his private property. And he still expects to enjoy the Realm’s bonuses from our Legion ranking.]

[Malcolm: Such conduct destroys our unity and threatens the orderly development of the Homeworld. After consulting the representatives of our nations, I hereby announce, on behalf of the Homeworld Council, sanctions against Crown Lord Cassian Vale and Divine Province.]

[Malcolm: All other Provinces should immediately join the Second Legion, the legitimate representative of the Homeworld. Admission has been opened to you.]

Now everyone understood.

Nearly half the Homeworld’s Provinces had been mobilized for one purpose: forcing Cassian to submit.

That was almost impressive. Had any Lord in the Homeworld’s history ever received such treatment?

Objections followed, including from Lords whose Provinces had already joined the Second Legion.

[God above. Isn’t this excessive?]

[Even if Cassian was wrong, don’t let this ruin tomorrow’s Legion Contest!]

[Lana Whitmere: Shameless collusion! Every one of you!]

Corven Talcrest answered immediately.

[Corven Talcrest: Lady Whitmere, the Second Legion now represents the Homeworld’s legitimate authority. Organize Hidden Dragon Province’s vote at once. Join us and fight at our side.]

Ansel Fenholt and other hot-tempered Crown Lords began cursing. None cared that Corven belonged to the Jade Court’s royal family.

They were a minority.

[Hanover Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Skull Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

[Light Province has joined the Second Homeworld Legion.]

Jealousy made it easy to abandon both decency and reason. The Homeworld Council had issued the decision, and the Crown’s own authorities supported it. Here was a respectable excuse to drag down a man they could never hope to catch.

Why would they refuse?

Soon, another hundred-odd Provinces had joined the Second Legion.

——

Divine Province’s twenty-eight Homeworld Champions had gathered at Cassian’s Domain in high spirits.

Then the news arrived.

"Shameless!" Nessa snapped. "How can they stoop this low?"

Seraphine sighed.

"They have too much influence. I don’t think we can win this argument."

Mira brought them the latest figures.

"Two hundred and sixty-eight Provinces have already joined the Second Legion. At this rate, any Province that still wants a share of the rewards will have to join them."

"Not my family," Nessa said fiercely. "The Fenwicks in Southreach will stand with Divine Province and Cassian. We’ll work to keep Southreach in the First Legion, even if it costs us the rewards."

Elara stroked Nessa’s head, then sighed. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

The others looked grim. Even Darian, usually afraid of nothing, felt a trace of helplessness. With only twenty-odd Champions, an isolated Divine Province could almost forget about the Legion Contest.

Then Elara remembered something Cassian had said the day before.

The Legion Contest may be very difficult.

"Cassian. You knew this might happen, didn’t you?"

He did not deny it. He spread his hands.

"They certainly think highly of us."

He had suspected a split. Seeing the effort they had put into it still amazed him.

What he could not have guessed was that his enemies feared the powers they believed stood behind him even more than they feared him: House Frost, the Caerwyn Dominion, and House Valcrest.

He knew nothing of those powers’ private designs for him. Had he known what his enemies believed, he would have protested at once. He had never agreed to act as anyone’s agent.

His answer gave Elara a little hope.

"Do we still have a chance?"

The others looked up too.

The situation seemed hopeless. But what did Cassian do best?

Make miracles happen.

Before he could answer, Nessa cried out in delight.

"Some Provinces are supporting us!"

Everyone turned back to the Homeworld Channel.

[Huaiwest Province will support Divine Province and compete as part of the First Homeworld Legion.]

[Cloudperch Province will compete as part of the First Legion.]

[Guanlong Province will do the same.]

Nearly ten Crown Provinces declared their support.

"You really did prepare for this!" Elara said happily.

Mira’s eyes shone.

"You saw their plan coming and arranged allies in advance."

Ten Provinces meant only about a thousand Champions. Even so, they had a chance to compete for a place in the top ten thousand.

Everyone looked at Cassian with admiration—especially Darian and the seven Valcrests. Some of those Provinces were secretly controlled by House Frost or House Valcrest.

Darian spoke in a subdued voice.

"When did you arrange this with my family?"

Cassian kept his face still. Stiff might have been a better word.

How was he supposed to know why these Provinces would risk their Legion rewards to support him? Had his influence really grown that much?

He was as puzzled as anyone. This was hardly the moment to let it show.

"I called everyone here to discuss tomorrow’s Legion Contest," he said evenly.

Cassian did have reason for confidence. Even before these declarations, he had counted on the Fenwicks in Southreach and their Chapterhouse agreement. He had not arranged support from these other Provinces.

The Divine Dragon Amber had given him still more confidence.

Now, with nearly ten Crown Provinces supporting him as well, even Cassian could not say how high their ranking would be. Of one thing he was certain: they would finish far ahead of that supposedly legitimate Second Legion.

"Whatever your reasons..."

He looked at the names of the Crown Provinces appearing one after another in the Channel.

"You chose to stand with me. Then I’ll make you richer than you ever imagined."