CH334 External Situation of Pangea
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âA Late-stage Legend the same age as Prince Caesar, who is considered a genius across the empire for reaching Sub-Legend at his age?â A flicker of awe crossed Alexâs eyes.
âIs it because he focuses solely on improving his physical strength and force, and nothing else, that he managed to reach this stage so quickly?â Alex couldnât help but wonder.
He recalled a popular saying from one of his gym instructors back in his previous lifeâapparently, it was quoted from some famous martial arts icon.
âFear not the opponent who has performed a thousand moves once, but the one who has performed a single move a thousand times.â
This All Might seemed like a living example of the success that came from extreme focused specialisationâa stark contrast to Alexâs own all-over-the-place approach.
His only saving grace was the Rune-Tech Platform that tied everything together. By improving his platform as a whole, every little ad-hoc skill he picked up naturally improved alongside it.
But then, an issue came to mind.
"I doubt itâs just because heâs a Late-stage Legend at his age that heâs this respected by all five Empires. Sure, a future Epic deserves recognition, but not like this from the representatives of the Empires. After all, the Empires should each have more than one Class 7 in retainer."
"Youâre right," Eleanor said, nodding. "His Excellency Achilles Maximillian isnât just a genius; he has a powerful background as well. First, heâs a member of the Maximillian Royal Family, which is one of the council members of the Nearmarch Confederacy. But more importantly, heâs a Banner Lord of the Order of Valour. If not for that, he wouldâve been the Crown Prince of the Maximillian Kingdomâand a future Confederate council member.
"His identity as Crown Prince allows him to speak to the Five Empires. But his identity as a Banner Lord ensures they actually listen."
"While thatâs true, itâs not the only reason they agreed so readily," Zora interjected. "The representatives themselves didnât want things to escalateâbut none of them could be the first to suggest standing down."
"National pride or personal ego?" Alex asked.
"Either or both. It differs for each representative," Zora said with a light shrug. "Whatever the case, the result was the same. All Might just had perfect timingâit gave everyone a convenient way out."
"I see." Alex nodded slowly.
"Also, you should know, the pleasant words they spoke to him were nothing more than thanks for giving them that opportunity. Itâs not like he had any real deterrent over them," Eleanor added.
Zora and Alex both nodded in agreement.
It was hard for Alex to imagine the Five Empiresâbehemoths that commanded hosts of Legendsâbowing to a single one. Even if he was a genius with Epic potential, those Empires already also had multiple true Epics under their command.
"Oh yeah, by the way, what exactly is a Banner Lord?" Alex asked suddenly.
Eleanor froze for a moment before remembering. "Right... you didnât even know what the Order of Valour was before today. Of course you wouldnât know what a Banner Lord is."
"Simply put, Banner Lords are the Order of Valourâs equivalent of Lord Marshals. They lead the Orderâs armies stationed at potential incursion fieldsâplaces where our realm can be invaded from outside."
Alex scratched his chin, thoughtful.
âThe Lord Marshal rank isnât something given out lightly here in Pangea. Itâs somewhat similar to the Field Marshal rank in my previous lifeâusually granted during wartime to a single individual with full authority over an army.
âFor an organisation dedicated to defending the realm from external threats, it makes sense that theyâd have more than one army. But if each army has its own Lord Marshal, how big is this organisation? How is it structured?
âIf they use that rank, does that mean each army operates independently, with its Lord Marshal having full authority over their assigned region?â
Before Alex realised it, questions were already firing off in rapid succession through his mind.
"Do you know how many armies and fronts the Order of Valour commands?" he suddenly asked.
"I know of one," Princess Eleanor replied. "The Realm of Anarchy."
"The Realm of Anarchy? I thought that was just a lawless land where people without a future on the mainland go," Alex said, surprised.
"No. The Realm of Anarchy is an artificial subspace created by several of the Orderâs powerhouses to trap an invading species from another realm. Itâs only a temporary measure, though. The species reproduces rapidly, and the Orderâs Army stationed within the subspace is stretched thin trying to contain them. They use massive rewardsâsome rare, others secretâto lure all kinds of people into the subspace to hunt the hostile race before they corrode the barrier and breach into our world."
"Itâs not just the Realm of Anarchy. I know of at least four other subspace realms where the Order has dragged the battle to keep it from reaching our main plane," Zora added. "And thereâs probably more. The five I know of are only the ones the Enclave contributes to, so Iâve heard about them from Father or the Grand Mages directly under his command."
"So the hostile incursion Pangea has already happened or is happening?" Alex was stunned.
"Of course," Eleanor replied. "I donât know why youâre unaware, but every noble house and major power is required to send troops or resources to the Order to help maintain the frontlines in the subspacesâso the war doesnât spill into our world."
"Iâm honestly surprised Earl Drake never told you," she added. "Youâre his heir, and youâll have to serve in one of those realms as part of your Noblesse Oblige to the Empire before you can inherit his title or claim a higher nobility of your own."
"Well, technically, that only applies once he becomes a Saint," Zora corrected. "Until then, he can send a representative in his stead. Thatâs probably why the Earl hasnât mentioned it. Alex is still just an Intermediate, after all."
"That... actually makes sense." Alex mused aloud. "I have a feeling the upcoming interplanar travel might be Fatherâs way of testing me."
"Is that so?" Eleanor tilted her head, half amused, half uncertain.
"Anyway," Alex continued, "from what you both said, thereâs another reason the Empires would give All Might that level of respect. Iâm guessing that since none of the Empires want their citizens serving under those of another, theyâve agreed to let the Order of Valour control the subspaces entirely.
"That would explain why they have Lord Marshal equivalents manning the subspaces as their Areas of Responsibility. If I had to guess, part of a Banner Lordâs duty would be to lead combined forces from all five Empires. In that case, offending a Banner Lordâno matter how âweakââis practically the same as jeopardising your own countrymen stationed under that Banner Lordâs command.
"Even if the Banner Lord doesnât directly retaliate, there are countless subtle ways to make life difficult for someoneâespecially when theyâre technically your subordinates."
"A person with the status of a Banner Lord wouldnât be that petty, right? I mean, taking out their issues with an Empire on the innocent soldiers who came to help in your duty is a bit too much, isnât it?" Eleanor asked, frowning slightly.
"I can tell you for a fact," Alex replied with a knowing smile, "that anyone in a position of power is capable of pettiness. It just depends on how high their moral standards areâor how badly they were irked. Trust me, annoy even a supposed saint enough, and theyâll respond with a touch of pettiness too."
His smile faded.
"And one more thing, Eleanor," he said suddenly.
"What is it?" she asked, puzzled.
"Thereâs something wrong with what you just said."
Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Itâs not the Order of Valourâs responsibility to protect our realm," Alex said firmly. "Itâs our collective responsibility to protect our home. Just because the Order chose to stand at the vanguard doesnât mean the rest of us get to sit back and call it their duty. That kind of mindsetâtreating their selfless act as an obligationâis dangerous."
His eyes hardened. "If they fall because we decided it was âtheir jobâ, then weâll all pay the price for it."
Eleanorâs eyes widened. "I... I didnât meanâ"
"I know you didnât," Alex interrupted gently, offering a reassuring smile. "But a thought like that, shared by enough people... thatâs all it takes."
Eleanor fell silent, while Alex turned his gaze back to the stage, lost in thought.
âSo, Pangea is already dealing with hostile threats, huh...â he mused. âI wonder if this has anything to do with why I was brought here.â
His expression darkened slightly.
âYouâre not expecting me to become some kind of hero who saves the world, are you, Heart_of_Pangea?â
âI really hope not.â
Alex wasnât exactly thrilled at the idea of becoming a heroâespecially not in a world like this.
Those who rise up first as heroes are always the first to die.
Either by the hands of the enemies from the front or from the actions of those being protected from the back.
"Oh-ho!"
Fortunately, before his thoughts spiralled any deeper, a sudden commotion in the hall pulled him back to reality.
To everyoneâs surprise, the elven auctioneerâwho had handled the entire event so farâsuddenly bowed and stepped back. It was a clear sign that she wouldnât be hosting the final two auction lots.
Her replacement stepped forwardâa smaller, sharp-eyed figure that immediately drew murmurs through the crowd.
The Palace Head of the Golden Palace himself, Cromwell Haggleworth.
Alexâs eyes narrowed as the gnomish diplomat-turned-business executive took the stage.
âSo, you decided to use that method after all,â he thought.
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