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【You want powerful warriors? Sure, train them yourselves, cultivate them. ——You expect soldiers to pop out just by building barracks? The Star Wars next door is beckoning you.】

Alright, it isn’t that easy to obtain powerful troops, but for this System, which is neither scientific nor magical, to retort that I am being unscientific, it seems that it is as darned as usual.

This is the third day since the ‘homecoming’ march of victory. However, not only did Diffindor’s celebration not stop, the celebration activities even expanded to be national level.

“Since that’s the case, we might as well allow the entire country to celebrate for an entire week and pardon all criminals. Un, the food will be provided by the nation’s treasury so as to allow the citizens who have suffered for far too long to enjoy themselves.”

This was the decision that I had made. It was clearly an attempt to win the goodwill of the people. But at the same time, it had the effect of calming the hearts of the people before the arrival of the storm.

A celebration mainly consists of delicacies, alcohol, music and cultural performances, as well as all kinds of unique activities. The cheers of delight, dancing and singing outside the windows of the squares never stopped and the sound of the drums shook even the heavens. However, in the palace, everything had reverted back to the hectic daily routine.

“Going by your plan, we still have sustain the homecoming celebrations for another five days, not to mention supplying the celebration of the other towns with food. This will exhaust at least two months of our rations. If things go bad, it might even cause a shortage in the rations that was finally sufficient to last through the winter. Although a kind man had sponsored us this time, and we earned quite a bit from him, the expected shortage in rations in the long term still remains a menace. If you weren’t the one who brought up the idea, I would have gone all out to block the proposal, before finding an excuse to exile the perpetrator to the borders and have them serve as a laborer.”

The sentiments of the top court lady Kelly was shared by most of the officials. Used to thriftiness due to the difficult and harsh life here, they would even tear a copper coin into two to spend it over a course of two days, so how could they tolerate such an ‘extravagant waste’? If it wasn’t for me backing it adamantly, this celebration probably couldn’t even be held.

“Everyone here has suffered. However, this will all be worth it. On one hand, this is a way to reward the citizens. Even though the harvests were pitiful this year as well, it isn’t their fault. After toiling for an entire year, they should be granted a few days of rest. On the other hand, I want to leave a new impression on the citizens. ‘From today onward, everything will be different.’ With this at the core, life will become less difficult for them.”

Morale? Popularity? The will of the people? All these may seem fleeting, but they can become a positive driving force from another perspective. At the very least, filling the stomachs of the citizens and painting a beautiful future for them to look forward to was all we could do at present.

Of course, changing this country from the ground up was still something to be done step by step.

I proposed an unrealistic request to the System, and as I expected, I received an even more unrealistic response. Every single warrior required several years, sometimes even decades, of cultivation. Hoping that troops would magically appear just by throwing resources into a newly-created barrack? If only this held true in reality as well.

“Then, the two foremost matters we have to attend to is to reconstruct the individual main divisions and to settle the problem with rations…”

A sparrow may be small, but its internal organs were still present. This emergency internal meeting had more than thirty officials attending it, and based on the primary interaction with them, it seemed that there were quite a few talents among them. It seemed that these experienced and hardworking politicians played a big role into why Reyne and the Mist royalty were able to persist to date.

TL: The Mist Country may be small, but its internal workings are still complete.

A filial son can only be identified when the family is in poverty. Similarly, the truly loyal subjects are the ones who stick with the country through times of difficulty. Should I be thankful for the years of difficulty they have experienced? They were able to calculate out the burden that a month of celebration would have on the supply of rations next year, and settle on the locations of the new barracks within a short ten hours. This was something that that bunch in Liu Huang Mountain City, who goes ‘What Lord Saint says is correct’ for all matters, could never hope to accomplish.

However, no matter how efficient the governance was, and how well-utilized the resources are, it was still impossible to alleviate the situation when the country was that severely lacking in resources.

At this moment, the conference made one feel very uncomfortable. As a newcomer without any official position, I was sitting in the chairman’s seat to officiate the internal affairs meeting. And yet, they were all treating it as though it was something reasonable, as though this was the way it was supposed to be… Un, the one who felt the most uncomfortable in the meeting was, no doubt, me.

After all, I was already used to governing that bunch of unreliable subordinates of mine. A large portion of the time, I would be arguing with them during the meeting, trying my best to direct the discussion, which had begun to digress from its boundaries, back to the topic at hand. In contrast, seeing the officials seriously discussing the problems now made me feel uncomfortable.

Seeing the serious faces of the middle-aged and elderly officials as they jotted down notes on the meeting and pondered deeply before raising questions, I was tempted to bring Xueti, who was still enjoying himself in the square, over and show him how others dealt with matters seriously.

“As for the problem concerning rations, there should be a stock of meat coming in half a month. If stored properly, it should be able to slow down the depletion of our rations.”

Kelly came to a realization.

“You mean that whale?”

I nodded my head. It was too much of a waste to leave that corpse of the mountain-like Horned Whale in the ocean. Considering the problem of food East Mist was facing, I decided to send the Borealis to drag it back here.

Considering that it was way too big, if it was impossible to drag it back as a whole, it was also possible to cut it into several pieces to ship it here.

Even when top-tier Sea Monsters were dead, their might will linger in the surroundings for a period of time, thus there was no need to fear fishes and prawns from consuming it within a short period of time. The meat of the whale could be used as rations while there were top-class spices within its body. It would be a waste to leave such a great fortune to rot in the ocean.

“As for the means to resolve the problem of rations from its core, I have a proposal. By selling our acquisitions, we should be able to purchase rations sufficient to last us for two to three years. Thus, we should start planning for the long-term.”

After all, East Mist was a small country. Given that the resources given to us were sufficient to make the emperor of the massive and powerful Auland Empire feel an ache in his heart, it was even more so an astronomical sum to East Mist. It was possible to live off it for several years.

At this point, the head treasurer flipped through his records and nodded his head affirmatively.

“If we were to sell away those jewels and minerals, it could sustain us for five years, let alone two years.”

I nodded my head in satisfaction. At the same moment, I recalled the bitter face Darsos had when he was extorted by us. Recently, I had heard from Rosemary that she had successfully invaded the inner circle of the Auland Empire. Perhaps, this may allow me the chance to interfere in their affairs in the future.

“I am really curious as to how she was able to infiltrate their inner circle of authority despite being a servant of obscure origin, and to say that it is possible to climb even higher on the totem pole…”

Even though she refused to explain how she was able to do it, I do not think that she was lying to me. Other than the fact that her phylactery was in my hands, the top classified secrets of the entire continent that she was supplying me with also proved that she had gained sufficient trust to access them.

“To survive by preying on the wealthy isn’t a feasible long-term plan, even though it is sufficient for us to survive for a few years. I will think of a solution for our rations. So, let’s talk about the other proposal —— Expanding our military.”

If it was in the other countries, pushing forward an expansion in the military was an incredibly vexing process. It would cause an outbreak of war between the Dove Faction and the Hawk Faction. Unless the emperor forcefully suppressed the opposing faction, it would take at least three to five years, sometimes even reaching a decade or two, to expand. Furthermore, one had to take into account the reactions of the various fief lords when strengthening the army of the central. Even if the motion were to pass by some sheer coincidence, by the time new divisions were being formed, people would be vying for military positions and authority.

TL: The Dove Faction supports peacefulness, whereas the Hawk Faction refers to the nationalists.

However, to the East Mist that had been struggling in the Northern Lands for a long time, it was something the population fervently longed for. The main reason why the military wasn’t expanded in the past was due to the lack of funds and rations to sustain it.

“Regardless of whether it is to deal with future wars or to protect the people from the waves of beasts in winter, we require a powerful army. In the Northern Lands, one will never find military prowess excessive. Thus, the first thing that has to be done is to restore the previous establishment of the Mist Country. With my knights at the very core, the various battalions will be reformed. Their names and flags will remain the same, and the equipment and gears will be as it is in the past. With the old veterans leading them, the battalions should be able to take shape within ten years.”

Looking around at the surroundings, the crowds nodded their head slightly in approval. Their eyes were filled with enthusiasm. After all, the Mist citizens had already suffered the bitterness of a lacking military strength. As long as there were sufficient resources, rebuilding a powerful military had been something they were dreaming of.

“In reality, the will of the younger generation to protect their country is strong. The numbers who actively applied to join the military has always exceeded our logistic capabilities. As long as the supplies are able to keep up, along with the attraction of the legendary troops, there should be no problem with the number of manpower.”

“Un, then let’s begin the recruitment of the army as soon as the celebration ends. If we do not have sufficient equipment, use wooden swords and wooden spears for training first. Let’s first get the situation kicking before we proceed on to the specifics. We must quickly make use of the time to allow them to undergo training before war starts.”

There was someone who heard the other meaning behind my words and raised his doubts.

“War? Does Your Highness believe that war is imminent?”

“Un, you all should have heard of it. The eternal Sacred War is about to occur again, and the battle between Auland and the Water Elementals and Seafolk is just the prelude to it. The unrest doesn’t just stop there.”

Speaking of the eternal Sacred War, the faces of those in the room darkened. Expanding one’s army was one thing, but fighting another war was something else. They barely had a few days of peace; why was trouble knocking once again?

“A few days ago, I received a confidential intelligence report that the Blackwings in the South have allied themselves with the Wind Elemental God. Their Cloud Fleet is currently heading west and, along its way, has plundered quite a few towns. Even the capitals of two middle-tier kingdoms have been a victim of theirs. As for the north…”

The moment I spoke of the north, everyone’s attention focused on me. After all, this was the utmost north of the human society, and anything that happened here concerned their safety. No matter what, they had to be wary of whatever happened here.

I sighed helplessly. Were the Mist citizens really condemned to a life filled with catastrophe? They had chased away the Beastman tribes a year ago and barely had a few days of peace when new problems arrived.

“…In the north, there seems to be quite a few tribes that have received the support of the Earth Elemental God and become powerful in an instant. That fellow proclaimed himself as the Khan of the Beastmen. Right now, they should be in the midst of an internal war, annexing one another. Going by their past history, it should be a matter of time before their great army starts venturing south.”

TL: Khan -> The supreme leader of nomadic tribes.

“That is impossible! Ah, Your Highness, I am not saying that you’re lying, but…”

“This is a destructive catastrophe! Your Highness, is your source of information reliable?”

“Your Highness, are the Beastman tribes from the highlands or the plains? Have the other countries of the Northern Lands received the news yet?”

As expected, the moment the figurative bomb was thrown, the conference room burst into commotion.

The Northern Beastman tribes could be divided into two groups. The Highland Beastmen resided in the Oregon Mountains, the geographical terrains of which were complex. Over 70% of the Beastmen of the Northern Lands resided there. On the other hand, while the Beastmen of the Holen Plains may be fewer in number, their population was more densely concentrated and the actual danger they posed is significantly greater.

If it was the Beastman tribes from the highlands, there were at least a few countries who stood between us and them. On the other hand, the Plains Beastmen share a part of the border with them. And due to historical reasons, the several dozen kilometers of the boundary shared with them had never been peaceful.

Of course, this is still a positive situation. If it was the previous borders of the Mist Country, with the long border between both sides, the pressure would be even greater. In these two hundred years, the rise of a highland country, the Suya Kingdom, and the neighboring Rhodes Kingdom, which were both ruled by those who share the bloodline of the barbarians, had split the great plains of the Beastmen into two, thus alleviating the pressure.

By the way, these two countries were also the only two of the seven countries in the Northern Lands that have amiable relations with the East Mist Communal Country. Other than the fact that they were viewed as a ‘Nation of Barbarians’, their countries were also built on the lands of foreign races, and they did not annex the land of the original Mist Country. The lack of a historical feud among them formed the basis for their amiable relationship.

As for the other five of the Seven Countries of the Northern Lands, most of them were founded by the fief lords from the south. Some of them were even relatives of the seventeen destroyed countries, so how could the relationship between them and the Mist be cordial… At the very least, unless it was absolutely required, merchants were unwilling to head to this ‘Nation of Barbarians’.

The current chaotic situation of the Northern Lands was as such; ‘The three countries of the Northern Lands where most of the indigenous population of the north lives (There was also an ancient Fengqi Country on top of Rhodes Kingdom and Suya Kingdom. It borders the Rhodes Kingdom and its political stance leaned towards the north even though its royalty stemmed from the south)’; ‘The other four countries founded by Southerners (of which Sleuweir Kingdom is a product from the splitting of the Mist Country. They emphasize that they are the legitimate Mist Country)’; a bunch of autonomous regions that weren’t small in size.

The entire Northern Lands had been regarded by the other massive human countries as barbarians; furthermore, the continuous conflict between the various countries of the north had caused this land of bitter frost to become the frontier and a place of exile for human society. As for those supposed autonomous regions, quite a few are ‘lands of freedom’ governed by bandits and criminal organizations.

“…Unexpectedly, this intelligence was supplied by the Elf Kingdom, so it should be credible. According to them, they have informed most of the human kingdoms. It is the Highland Beastmen; it seems to be a tribe called Blood Axe Tribe.”

“Pui, that bunch of long-ears can’t wait for us to grind ourselves thin with those Beastmen. However, just as usual, we were excluded from it all.”

“Hah, Sleuweir is in for misfortune. Those bastard traitors deserve it.”

“Karsomi Communal Country as well. It seems that the Blood Axe Tribe isn’t too far away from them. However, the Rhodes Kingdom might be hit as well.”

A commotion burst out below. At this point, the conference had finally gotten to its final point of discussion.

“Don’t get too excited yet. Although we won’t be at the forefront of the impact, it is very likely for us to be roped in. Furthermore, if they manage to break through the borders, we will still have to face the Beastman tribes, so we have to make preparations for actual war. Thus, I have a suggestion. Starting from this year, we will start one of the symbols of our past glory —— The Winter Hunt!”

—————

The conference room was still in an engrossed state, whereas I was resting by the corridor.

Even though it was already late at night, a ruckus could be heard from the square not too far away. The bonfire had lit up and the unrefined but lively music made me smile from the depths of my heart. I also saw the Bone Dragon, which was shaking its hips, dancing queerly. It seemed like they intended to party the entire night.

After delegating all tasks that could be delegated, the remaining matters didn’t require my attention. The arrangements for the homecoming celebration and the recruitment of soldiers for war were going well. The only debatable aspect was the Winter Hunt that I proposed at the end of the discussion.

Only the Northerners were aware that the wild beasts in summer and the beast packs in winter were two totally different concepts. The beast packs that had been driven mad and bloodthirsty by starvation did not fear any enemy at all.

When berserk from starvation, they could use their heaps of flesh and blood to fill the trenches dug along the city walls. Also, there were numerous mutated and powerful magic beasts in the snow mountains. If they were to go on a rampage, they would definitely be scary opponents.

Spring and autumn in the Northern Lands were extremely short. When put together, spring, summer, and autumn only added up to five months. Thirty days from the end of autumn, snow and ice would fill the Northern Lands as the season of frost started to set in. In previous years, to deal with the beast packs, creating a solid wall and clearing away wild beasts were the optimal solutions.

If the wild beasts were to gather into packs, then moving the citizens from the villages and towns to the large cities would be the only plausible course of action. Even so, not everything could be brought along, which meant that when they return once spring arrives, the sight of their ravaged homeland would be all that lay in store.

Furthermore, a large migration was extremely dangerous. If they were to meet with beast packs that had set off in advance in the midst of their journey, it would be equal to delivering food right to the belly of the beasts.

However, to make the citizens totally give up their home, livestock, and farmlands from the very start was even more unrealistic. They were barely able to survive with the harvest they had each year. Furthermore, there was limited living space around the cities, not to mention the problem of rations.

It was clear to see that the methods of dealing with the problem of the beast packs were filled with loopholes. On the other hand, the Winter Hunt that I had proposed could bring large amounts of meat, as well as unique products from the beasts, reduce the stress that would be exerted upon the cities when those beast packs were cleared, and boost the morale of the citizens and army. There were benefits in doing so.

Of course, everyone knew of the advantages in doing so, but the reason why carrying it out had been postponed was due to the lack of military prowess.

Using defensive tools to deal with the beast packs, which were only capable of charging blindly into the cities, was totally different from heading into the wilderness to battle with the bloodthirsty and cunning beast packs. The reason why my suggestions were rejected by the masses was due to their understanding of the military might of the country, as well as their lack of confidence in it.

“However, without battle experience, how can one’s army grow stronger? No matter what, those brainless beast packs should be easier to deal with than those frenzied Beastmen. If you are worried for those young fellows, there are old veterans to guide them, and only through facing true battles will they grow rapidly. An army that has never seen bloodshed before, no matter how outstanding their equipment is, they can only be considered as security guards.”

I didn’t argue with them. After all, it was all just cheap talk without evidence to support it. To convince them, I need to prove to them that we had the power to do so. Besides, the army was under my control, so I could make preparations for it in advance.

Right, my current identity was also awkward. After all, I am a prince of the Mist Country. The royalties of this country claimed themselves to be my descendants and had been acknowledged by the world as such as well. Thus, I should be a member of royalty as well. However, logically speaking, this would mean that I should have been an emperor who had stepped down. Yet, I had never assumed the responsibilities of an emperor before, and I am also still alive. So, do I elevate straight to the position of a retired emperor?

This relationship was so complicated that probably even the world’s most incredible genealogist would be unable to make sense of this mess.

Furthermore, the troops under me were held in the name of Princess Reyne’s Guardian Knight.

Yes, Guardian Knight and not a titled knight. After all, in order to use the Roland Sacred Sword to verify my identity, I could only have Reyne confer on me the title of a knight on the surface. Yet, she conferred on me the title of the Guardian Knight at the gates of Diffindor.

“We’re about to enter the city now, so it is impossible to find the Council of Elders to confirm your nobility and your territory. Since there have been many examples of one’s father and elder brothers holding the role as a princess’s Guardian Knight, and Big Brother Roland is like my elder brother, so just make do with the title of a Guardian Knight.”

While saying these words, Reyne’s tiny face flushed red, seemingly embarrassed.

However, the identity as a Guardian Knight is indeed convenient. I am able to handle matters in Reyne’s name, as well as avoid many awkward situations. Back then, I thought that this idea was excellent, and I even praised her for it.

“Your ability to adapt to situations is excellent; seems like you are able to think on the spot. Un, you are indeed my descendant.”

Despite it being a sincere praise from the depths of my heart, for some reason, after I said these words, Kelly and Reyne’s face darkened. There were even some from the Undead army behind who laughed.

Alright, back to the topic, at the very least, the identity as Reyne’s proxy gave me some confidence during the conference when I did not hold any official positions.

Also, there were many things that I had started working on that were inconvenient to mention at the conference.

“Since the symbol of royal authority, the Roland Sacred Sword, has appeared once again, the East Mist and the various other Mist Country spin-offs can start discussing a coalition. Also, the Frigid Nightmare altar in the snow mountains should have accumulated quite a few newborn Frigid Nightmares, so it is about time for us to produce true Aurora Knights. Seems like I must handle these two matters personally to get them done.”

Troubles popped out one after another. At such a moment, I feel illimitable yearning for Elisa. If she were here, I could confidently throw everything onto her… or I could make time to chat with her.

【System Notice: Your suicidal abilities are about to break through the heavens… Cough, this time, I didn’t appear just to lecture you on how you are courting your own death. There’s another daily quest for you to complete.】

【Ding! Daily quest: Today’s Unfortunate Fellow. Please punish at least three villains who have committed evil deeds. Based on the identities of those who were punished, you will be rewarded with 1-100 Fate Points, and there is no upper limit for the reward of this quest. However, if you fail to accomplish it, 1000 Fate Points will be deducted. ——Just because you have earned a lot of Fate Points recently, you think that you don’t have to do daily quests? If you fail this daily quest as well, the next deduction will be 10000 Fate Points.】

Looking at the daily quest, I was taken aback.

Committing evil deeds did not necessarily mean that the deeds had to be illegal, but what was illegal often translated to evil. In previous days, it would have been easy to find villains; there would be plenty of them in the jail cells. However, as it is the homecoming celebration today, and a universal pardon has been issued, where the heck would I find a villain?

Even if I were to start looking for one right now, the declaration of the Gods on the land devoid of sins was still seemingly echoing in the ears of everyone. Even the most insane villains would fear the might of a God and keep a low profile for some time.

“Looks like I can only give in to my misfortune. The darned System must have been unhappy with me and is trying to pull a prank on me. So be it, a thousand points then. But if it is going to be ten thousand points tomorrow, then I must really take caution… Pu!”

The sight before me caused me to spit my tea out. I rubbed my eyes to double check if I was hallucinating.

A bunch of men was running about, and there were quite a few familiar figures in the group. The one leading at the very front was the tall and mighty Tauren.

“Returning back to nature, treading along with the wind, this is the true nature of us Taurens. My true name matters not, please call me the Son of Wind! Come, my friends, join us in this wonderful run alongside the wind.”

Not out of expectations, there were quite a few guards chasing behind this group of bastards. Their clothes and pants were messed up as they waved the wooden sticks in their hands around.

“Lord, at least put on your underwear. Your underwear. Your underwear!” The town security shouted as his words echoed through the streets. In that instant, my face turned green.

“Son… Son of Wind your head! Do you think that this is the Underground World? How many Taurens do you think that Diffindor has? I bet you were exposed from the very start! For the Pope to be bringing others to run around nude, how do you expect the judges of the Church of Law to do their work tomorrow? I thought that you would at least hold it in for a few days! Alas, our heritage is unfortunate!”

Thus, I unsheathed the Silver Avenger without hesitation.

“I got it. It seems that the System isn’t unhappy with me. It’s the Tauren! Fine, today, I will be cleaning up my household.”

【Ding! Bingo, but there isn’t any additional reward. Further System Notice: Think about it, why did the quest only request for a minimum of three but did not set a limit on the rewards? Yes, as this is the miraculous Sinless City, even those local criminals would have to keep themselves in check for a period of time. However, have you forgotten that there is still another group of eccentrics who are skilled in dancing about the boundaries of law?】

“You want to become a fireworks expert admired by the crowds? You want to comprehend the profoundness of a festival from the Underground World? Safe and reliable, flashy and radiant, Safe brand fireworks, a product worthy of your possession!”

Alright, a villain who sold dangerous objects and counterfeits had appeared.

“Hmph, it is about time for us to settle our grudge. I want to avenge my lover number 38!” Leaning against the wall was a Dracon Hunter who exuded the aura of an expert.

“Hmph, don’t think that I would fear you just because you’ve ascended to the ranks of a Legend. A true hunter will never fear the strength of his prey; it will only make us feel more blissful. Hmph, your weaknesses have already been exposed to me. The next instant will be the moment of your death.” This was an old Dwarven Hunter. Despite his ordinary outer appearances, his shining silver hunting rifle didn’t seem ordinary.

By the side, a Goblin was trying his best to shout.

“The grudge from thirty years ago is about to be settled, and an epic battle is about to play out. Kabala Gambling Den is currently accepting all kinds of bets. Those who bet on the victory of the Legend Dracon, the payout is 1:2, whereas those who bet on the victory of the Ace Hunter, the payout is 1:3. As for the both of them perishing together, 1:10, and for the two of them settling their grudge amiably, 1:100…”

Alright, to think that there would be private brawling and a gambling fraud. At this point, I already knew what to do. Before the reputation of the Underground World and the Church of Law fell into the gutters at the hands of these fellows, I had to quickly deal with them.

“That, can I bet that the duel will be terminated due to special reasons?”

“Of course you can, but the payout is 1:7. However, the settling their grudge amiably ending isn’t included in the mix.” The gleeful Kabala raised his head, but his smile turned into a cry upon seeing me.

“You… Aren’t you supposed to be in a conference?”

Ignoring him, I threw a sack of gold coins on top of his head.

“Keep it well, I will be claiming my prize money from you after I’m done dealing with these bastards!”

Alright, what happened afterward was a night of suppression that everyone was glad to see. After running myself to exhaustion, I decided to place rebuilding of the Town Security Army as the topmost priority.

In the end, not only did I complete the daily quest, I even earned more than 700 Fate Points.

Of course, the nude-running Pope would also become the dark stain on the Church of Law. In the future, this was how the annals of history would record this dark history.

“AD1897, during the homecoming celebration, due to overwhelming joy from the return of the knights, the incumbent Pope then, Xueti, drank too much during the celebration and acted out of decorum. Even though he didn’t violate any law, in order to punish himself, he hung himself on the highest flagpole in the royal palace for three days and three nights.”

“The world was impressed by the strictness he treated himself with and his noble character, and, thus, they titled him as the ‘The Impartial Upside Down Man’. Hanging upside down on the flagpole had also become a method to find one’s path when one was confused. Furthermore, in order to commemorate this event, sprinting along with the wind during the day of homecoming had also become a tradition. Naturally, most of the participants would still put on a pair of underwear.”

Since Reyne, who is a descendant of Roland (as they claim), was the royal family, it meant that Roland must have been an emperor.

For example, if an emperor had 3 daughters and 2 sons, these 3 daughters and 2 sons were part of the royal family.

If the elder son (son 1) inherits the throne, then the sons and daughters of (son 1) will become the main line of the royal family.

In contrast, the children of the 3 daughters and the younger son (son 2) will NOT be considered as part of the royal family.

So, if you work this way upwards, and if Reyne is the empress, it means that Roland MUST have been the emperor.

Also, the retired emperor held significant standing in China. In a country like the East Mist where the ancestors were truly respected, it was natural that they valued seniority as well. So, going by this logic, Roland should be one of the most respected figures in the entire country (as well as highest standing in terms of social position).