Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Sir Leader, I’ll give you three days. Consider my offer well!” Yang Ling ordered Argus to take the pale Steve back after giving him the cold warning.

Returning to the small yard, Steve still felt that something was off.

When Yang Ling had stepped in to save him, the timing had been too coincidental. Yang Ling hadn’t appeared with his army until after both Steve and the Rossi forces had suffered heavy casualties. That, coupled with his request for control of Wissen Town, made it clear that Yang Ling was hiding many things from him. There was even the possibility that Yang Ling was behind the near extermination of his troops.

After careful deduction, Steve noticed more and more strange things about the current situation. He started to doubt that a Rossi army had actually sealed the Aila Mountain Pass. Perhaps Yang Ling was claiming this in the hope that Steve would give up on the plan of occupying Wissen Town and influence the Banto Empire into supporting Yang Ling as an independent ruler.

After his many considerations, Steve found the courage to tell Yang Ling that he had to deliberate the matter for some time longer, hoping that he could get two more days for his reinforcements to charge into Wissen Town.

Just as Steve was deep in his suspicions, a perfect counterattack happened at the Aila Mountain Pass.

Under the leadership of the Evil Eye Tyrant and the cooperation of the Horned Bee Beasts, Gargoyles, and many warriors, the Evil Eye army successfully defended the pass against the powerful attacks of the Banto army.

At the critical moment when the Banto soldiers went all out and sent their forces to attack, the Tarantula King led the spider army to emerge from under the ground. They not only severely damaged the Banto soldiers who were caught off guard, they even managed to kill the Banto leader in the chaos, completely scattering the enemy forces.

The next day, Argus rode up to the castle holding a blood-covered flag and the severed head of the leader of the reinforcements. Steve and his tactician finally gave up. At this moment, whether or not Yang Ling had meddled in the incident was no longer of importance. They had to work with him if they wanted to live.

In order to return to the Banto Empire alive and hide his mistakes, Steve had no choice but to agree to Yang Ling’s plan. After a series of secret negotiations, they created an explanation of events that contained only half the truth.

In this fake report, Steve exaggerated the abilities of the Rossi army and stated how he managed to fight back the attacks of the Rossi soldiers despite the dire circumstances. He also said how he managed to triumph over the stronger Rossi army with Yang Ling’s help, and how Yang Ling had helped them obtain a large amount of Magical Beast Essence Crystals.

At the end of the report, Steve made clear that he was no longer able to deal with the attacks of the Rossi soldiers after his close victory, and he was no longer able to control the situation in Wissen Town. He recommended that the king might as well support Yang Ling as the Leader of Wissen instead of sending in more reinforcements. They could use Yang Ling’s abilities to deal with the Rossi threat. That way, they could indirectly obtain a large amount of resources from the Terras Forest and fight to obtain the biggest benefit for the lowest price.

With this misleading report, a large shipment of Magical Beast Essence Crystals, and the help of his family, Steve believed that he could quell the fury of the king even if he had to forgo the original reward. Of course, the price he had paid was huge! According to his agreement with Yang Ling, he had to pay a huge amount of crystal coins for every shipment of Magical Beast Essence Crystals, timber, and minerals they received.

Carrying the forged document and a sample of Magical Beast Essence Crystals, one of Steve’s aides left for the faraway Banto Empire through the night. Yang Ling sent a team of barbarians to escort him. As for the once arrogant Steve, he had no choice but to stay in Wissen Castle, disconnected from the world, until the situation calmed down.

In order to ease the fury of the townspeople and secure his control of Wissen Town, Yang Ling gave an order to execute someone pretending to Steve. With the aid of one of Harribell’s subordinates, the poor scapegoat managed to fool the spectators. Those who witnessed the execution from far away did not suspect a thing.

Then, following Goode’s plan, Andrew and other important townsmen all invited Yang Ling to stay, willingly accepting his rule. Just like that, Yang Ling had naturally become the first real leader of Wissen Town.

After a few days of preparations, the coronation ceremony for the leader began. There was no opulent parade or diplomats who came from far away. The simple townspeople gave Yang Ling their greatest blessings.

Standing on the tallest point of Wissen Castle, looking at the hordes of people groveling on the ground, Yang Ling was overcome with emotion.

A few months ago, he was still a downtrodden student who had just graduated. A few months ago, he was still walking along in the talent market. A few months ago, he was still addicted to games like Warcraft and Might and Magic. A few months ago…

But today, he had land that he lorded over. A piece of resource-rich land that was larger than even China’s biggest city.

Looking at the simple and pure townspeople, looking at the excited Alice, Argus, and the rest behind him, Yang Ling suddenly recalled a book on American society that he had read many years ago. After a moment’s deliberation, he decided to steal a few classic lines from the book.

“In my hometown, there was once a great leader that said a few words like this.” After a pause, looking at the townspeople listening intently to him, Yang Ling continued, “In my land, it is my fault if there is a person who cannot feed his family despite toiling all day. In my land, it is my fault if a person is poor and destitute despite making an honest living. Under my command, it is my fault if a brave warrior suffers a heavy defeat even if they fought valiantly!”

Silence, a field of silence, as if even the air had stopped moving!

Looking at Yang Ling on the tower walls, the people remained motionless, allowing the snow to fall on them. All of their eyes were red, from the white-haired old men to the fierce hunters.

Noble, this was a true noble!

The people bowed sincerely on the ground. At this moment, they understood that they had not made the wrong choice. Only a great noble like Yang Ling was worth following with their lives!

The townspeople were moved to tears, Alice, Goode, and the rest were no exception. No one noticed Harribell at the side, motionlessly observing Yang Ling as if deep in thought.

“Wissen Town faces the continent’s largest Magical Beast forest. In the near future, we will assemble the most massive Magical Beast army in the continent to defend our sacred homeland. From today on, the land beneath our feet will be called Magical Beast Territory!” Yang Ling said as he summoned and mounted his Unicorn.

Magical Beast Territory?

Looking at the awe-inspiring Unicorn, thinking to Yang Ling’s massive Magical Beast army, the crowd broke into a commotion, cheering loudly. With a brilliant leader and a massive Magical Beast army, the days of being oppressed by various factions would never return.

That night, the entire Wissen Town was bustling, and no one slept. The intoxicating fragrance of wine spread to every corner of the town, and the heartfelt laughter of the people spread into every wooden hut in Wissen Town.

Under the intense flames, the young ladies broke into dances, all of them handing Yang Ling cups of warm alcohol. The brave warriors brawled with each other in the cold, the victors placing their right hands over their chests, bowing sincerely before Yang Ling.

The Magical Beast Territory, the one and only Magical Beast Territory in the Tailun Continent, the Magical Beast Territory that would bring about shocking changes in the future was born just like that!