The Herb King

"How's the recruitment going?" Aethelwolf asked Ramiel.

Ramiel smiled lightly as he replied. "King Aethelwolf, when His Majesty announced your status, many people are lining up to join us. If this speed is maintained, I believe that we will recruit fifty thousand soldiers in just two days!"

Aethelwolf smiled after hearing this. "Good. Once you gather fifty thousand soldiers, start with the training immediately and make sure to give them the best benefits. Our fortress is about to be completed. You can take them there for their training." He muttered.

Ramiel nodded his head. He was also excited at the thought of training the new recruits. He was no longer worried about anything because his boss now has a status that was equal to the emperor! "Yes, King Aethelwolf! My men are already prepared for the next part of our plan."

"Don't be lenient in training them. I want you to train elites! Just give them the Recovery Pellet if they are seriously injured. At the same time, you should give huge benefits to those who show exemplary results. This way, they will be motivated to work hard." Aethelwolf suggested.

Aethelwolf gave him more suggestions and Ramiel told his assistant to note them down.

***

In a faraway land, there was a huge empire called Zion Empire. It was one of the largest empires in the Regalis Continent and it has a lot of subordinate empires under its command. The Zion Empire also has two Level 5 Espers holding down the fort and because of this, it became a hegemon of the surrounding areas.

The capital of the Zion Empire was called Parshan City. Its four sides were enclosed with tall stone walls mounted with advanced magical cannons and ballistas.

At this moment, the imperial palace of the Zion Empire was receiving an unexpected guest.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" A man dressed in formal clothes kneeled at the man seated on the throne.

"I didn't expect that the Ford Empire would actually take the initiative to visit me." The emperor of the Zion Empire, Emperor Reagan Zion, muttered in a sarcastic voice. He once sent an envoy to the Ford Empire in hopes that they would join under his banner. However, the Ford Empire rejected his offer.

Lexter Ford who was kneeling before Emperor Reagan smiled in embarrassment.

"What did you come here for?" Emperor Reagan muttered in an unfriendly tone.

Lexter cleared his throat as he said. "Your Majesty, I came here to deliver a piece of important information to you. Recently, our Ford Empire joined hands with the Dustin Empire to attack the Leone Empire. We were about to win the war, but who would have thought that the Leone Empire is actually in possession of a Divine-Rated weapon that has developed a soul? They used this destructive weapon to force the Dustin Empire to retreat. Our Ford Empire also retreated to prevent more casualties on our side."

The eyes of Emperor Reagan flashed imperceptibly when he heard his words. 'A Divine-Rated weapon with a soul?'

Lexter slowly lifted his head to observe Emperor Reagan's expression. When he noticed that the emperor was silent, he added a few more words.

"Your Majesty, our Ford Empire is to give-"

Emperor Reagan cut him off and muttered domineeringly. "I want your Ford Empire to submit to my Zion Empire! In exchange, I'll send an army of four hundred thousand soldiers to help you in taking that Divine-Rated weapon! Furthermore, I will send a Level 5 Esper to lead this army!"

With the strength of a Level 5 Esper, he was confident that he could take the Divine-Rated weapon from the hands of the Leone Empire.

Although the Zion Empire had a few Divine-Rated weapons, none of them had developed a soul.

Lexter Ford furrowed his eyebrows when he heard the emperor's words. He initially wanted to get some benefits for this information, but who knew that Emperor Reagan was actually so domineering?

"What? Are you unsatisfied?" Emperor Reagan smiled lightly at Lexter.

"No! N-Not at all, Your Majesty!" Lexter forced out an ugly smile.

"In that case, you'll have to stay here and wait for my army." Emperor Reagan didn't even bother to conceal the mocking look on his face. He was an early stage Level 5 Esper and he treated those who are weaker than him with contempt. He despised the people of the Ford Empire the most since they had rejected his offer before.

"This... A-Alright. I'll follow your arrangements, Your Majesty." Lexter Ford sighed in his heart. It looks like they had miscalculated this time. If he knew that Emperor Reagan was so greedy, he wouldn't have told him this information. However, it was already too late.

'At least this way, I can avenge my dead comrades with their help...' He consoled himself.

Emperor Reagan dismissed Lexter and after the latter left, the emperor stared at an old man wearing a set of golden armor. "What do you think about this, Sir Gilbert?"

This old man was the captain of the imperial guards and also the strongest expert of the Zion Empire, General Gilbert Holt. He is a mid stage Level 5 Esper!

"Your Majesty, the Divine-Rated weapon in the hands of the Leone Empire is very important to us. If we gain control of it, our Zion Empire might be able to enter the Holy Ranking made by the Mystic Island. If that happens, we will receive an opportunity to visit the Frigid Snow Dimension." Gilbert muttered in a calm voice.

Hearing this, Emperor Reagan's eyes lit up.

The Holy Ranking is a list of the strongest empires in the Regalis Continent. To enter the rankings, an empire must have a strong army and a high economic standard. There were also other factors to consider, but the makers of this list, the mysterious Mystic Island, didn't tell the specifics.

Only the best of the best empires were able to enter the rankings and they are also given the opportunity to visit a secret land owned by the Mystic Island, the Frigid Snow Dimension.

It was a pocket world filled with countless riches!