Chapter 64: Entering Diablo Again

Sun Fei was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood the meaning behind Brook’s words.

This situation was like the feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in his previous life’s history. Although the Son of Heaven bestowed great rights upon the feudal lords, the land size, military numbers, and rituals each vassal state could enjoy were strictly limited by the Zhou Emperor. Moreover, the vassal states had obligations to obey the Zhou King’s orders for battle and pay tribute. On the Azeroth Continent, the relationship between the so-called vassal states and the suzerain state appeared quite similar. To maintain the ruling authority of the suzerain state, there were very strict limitations on the vassal states’ power and size.

Sun Fei nodded to show he understood and asked again, “Go on, what is the specific form of the Martial Arts Tournament?”

“Your Majesty, according to the tradition of the Zenit Empire, the Martial Arts Tournament is mainly divided into two forms. The first is duels between the strongest individuals from each country. Each participating country must select its six most powerful Mages or Warriors to compete in the Strongmen Contest to determine the winner. The second form is completed by armies of fixed numbers. Each country selects one hundred elite soldiers to form a combat team, participating in four army matches. There are ten matches in total across both forms. The country that wins more matches in the preliminary rounds can maintain its current vassal state rank and seat. Furthermore, it will also gain the opportunity to challenge a higher-ranked vassal state. Only by defeating a higher-ranked vassal state can it replace it and achieve promotion.” Brook, the new Military Giant of Shampoo City, explained very thoroughly, afraid that King Alexander might not understand.

“I see. So how did our Shampoo City perform in previous Martial Arts Tournaments?”

Upon hearing this, Brook’s expression immediately darkened. Everyone else in the council hall also lowered their heads, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent and somber. After a moment, Brook forced himself to continue, “Your Majesty, our Shampoo City was originally a Fourth-Class Vassal State, holding a place among the 250 vassal states under the Zenit Empire. But in the Martial Arts Tournament three years ago, we were successively defeated by Hell City and Blackrock City, which caused us to fall to the Sixth-Class. Therefore, in the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament half a year from now, if we cannot win, our national status will be revoked. Shampoo City will then be given as a reward by the Zenit Empire to other, better-performing winning countries.”

“Falling two ranks in one tournament?” Sun Fei couldn’t help but express his surprise. “Since it was once a Fourth-Class Vassal State, its strength shouldn’t be weak. Why was the performance so poor?”

As soon as Sun Fei said this, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more peculiar.

Brook coughed and replied haltingly, “Your Majesty… two months before the last… last Martial Arts Tournament, the Old King unfortunately passed away. It was you… who personally commanded… um, at that time, your mental faculties… you weren’t like you are now… so… um… except for Lord Lampard winning one match, we lost 19 consecutive matches in the combat tournament… so… um, so we fell to the Sixth-Class Vassal State.”

Sun Fei was immediately embarrassed.

Very embarrassed.

He finally understood why everyone in the council hall had been looking at him strangely earlier. It turned out that this terrible situation was his own doing. The reason for Shampoo City’s dismal performance in the last Martial Arts Tournament was actually because his predecessor was utterly useless. But it was no wonder; sending someone with the intelligence of a three or four-year-old child to lead troops into battle was bound to end in defeat.

“Ahem, so that’s how it was… Well, you’re right, that Hell City and Blackrock City are truly despicable. This time we must wash away the shame… Brook, I leave this matter to you. Start preparing immediately… Ahem, that’s all for today. Meeting adjourned, adjourned! Hehe!”

Sun Fei felt he couldn’t save face and changed the subject, hurriedly ending the meeting.

The people in the hall also noticed the king’s embarrassment. The nobles exchanged glances, saluted, and left the hall. Drogba and Pierce, those heartless fellows, laughed and winked at Sun Fei before turning and leaving as well. Sun Fei felt like giving them the middle finger.

Everyone left, except for Brook, who remained in the hall.

“My Military Strategist, is there something else?” Sun Fei asked curiously.

Brook suddenly knelt on the ground with a whoosh, his expression full of entreaty. “Your Majesty, Brook boldly requests that you reorganize the Iron Prison Water Dungeon of Shampoo City. Especially someone like Lord Peter Cech; he was completely loyal to the entire kingdom. He was only framed for treason and persecuted because he refused to collude with the former Herald, Bazel. There are many innocent people like Lord Cech who were falsely accused and imprisoned in the Iron Prison Water Dungeon. Brook begs Your Majesty to clear their names and pardon the innocent.”

“Peter Cech?”

The name sounded somewhat familiar. Sun Fei thought for a moment and quickly remembered. Two nights ago, under the city gate Watchtower, he had heard this name from Brook. Peter Cech was the former Captain of the Royal Guard, a rank even higher than Brook’s. He had been imprisoned because he offended Bazel, which was why Sun Fei had never met him.

Judging by Brook’s deep concern, this Captain named Peter Cech must be an upright Warrior. Moreover, since he could hold the position of Captain of the Royal Guard, surpassing the One-Star Level Brook, Cech’s strength must far exceed the One-Star Level. Such an expert was precisely the kind of talent Shampoo City needed most right now.

“Go to the Iron Prison Water Dungeon immediately and convey my order. Have Prison Warden Oleg organize the prison and stop all interrogations. This afternoon, I will personally lead the guard to the prison to review the case of every person imprisoned there.”

Brook was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed gratefully and quickly left the hall.

Sun Fei sat quietly on the stone throne, several meters high, staring at the spacious, empty council hall. His mind was filled with countless thoughts. This was the first time he, as a king, had issued orders from a high position. The feeling of controlling everything was intoxicating. From now on, he was the supreme ruler of this country. Although Shampoo City was currently as weak as a newborn baby struggling to walk, for Sun Fei, who controlled the magical Diablo World, it was the perfect pivot point. One day, he would use this pivot point to stir up storms and shake the entire Azeroth Continent.

“I hope that bootlicker Prison Warden Oleg isn’t stupid to the extreme. If he can understand my meaning, these few hours should be enough for him to make some changes in the Iron Prison Water Dungeon and redeem some of his past mistakes.”

A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Sun Fei’s face.

The reason he hadn’t gone with Brook immediately to rectify the prison was partly because he wanted to first find time to enter the ‘Diablo World’ to enhance his strength, but he also somewhat intended to give Prison Warden Oleg some preparation time. Oleg, that former lackey of Bazel, although he had committed many mistakes and was inherently greedy and cowardly—not a good guy—at least had One-Star Level strength. He had also contributed somewhat during the intense charge battle on the Stone Bridge yesterday. Sun Fei decided to give him one chance. A few hours should be enough for him to somewhat make up for his past mistakes, allowing Sun Fei to spare his wretched life.

“Fernando, go find Uncle Best. Ask him to compile information about the Iron Prison Water Dungeon for me by this afternoon. If there can be detailed records of every prisoner, that would be even better.” Sun Fei instructed his young guard, Fernando Torres, behind him.

“As you command, Your Majesty! However, Lord Best previously did not oversee the Iron Prison Water Dungeon. I’m afraid he might not have very detailed records…”

Sun Fei shook his head with a smile. “Fernando, don’t ask too much. Just go and inform him.”

Watching the blonde young man’s departing figure, Sun Fei stroked his chin.

How could Best not know the situation inside the Iron Prison Water Dungeon? Sun Fei would bet his lower body that there was nothing that old fox didn’t know about Shampoo City, inside and out. His future father-in-law was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface. Perhaps, waiting for this day, he and Shampoo City’s top expert, Frank Lampard, had been preparing for a very, very long time!

…

Diablo World.

At the edge of the Cold Plains, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and a light rain was drizzling down.

With a soft buzzing sound, Sun Fei the Necromancer descended from the sky, appearing out of thin air on the black earth littered with dried demon blood. The ground was covered with the dismembered corpses of monsters. Swarms of large green-headed flies with black backs flew up due to Sun Fei’s sudden appearance. Because a long time had passed since he last exited the Diablo World, the demon monsters that had gathered there before had dispersed.

Sun Fei picked up some decent equipment that had dropped on the ground and put it in his backpack. Then he activated a Town Portal Scroll, crossed through the portal, and returned to the Rogue Encampment. He found the female NPC blacksmith Charsi and sold all the equipment he didn’t need to this melancholic blacksmith.

After doing all this, Sun Fei did not go back to the wilderness to kill monsters for leveling up.

He directly exited the Necromancer Mode and returned to the 3D holographic simulation selection interface before entering the game. Without hesitation, he chose Barbarian Mode again, entered the game, and began killing monsters to level up.

This time, Barbarian Sun Fei appeared in the Rogue Encampment.

Since he had already activated the third quest, The Forgotten Tower, during the previous mission to save the lecherous old man Kane, Sun Fei didn’t need to go find an NPC to receive a quest. He went near the tent of the camp’s armed leader, Kashya, and found the beautiful mercenary, Ileena.

“Lord Sun Fei, you’ve finally come!”

Seeing Sun Fei’s arrival, the beautiful mercenary was very happy. An unprecedented smile appeared on her pretty, delicate face. She quickly ran out of the tent and stood gracefully in front of Sun Fei.

Behind Ileena followed more than ten young, beautiful female Rogues, lively and full of youth, their eyes carrying curiosity and admiration as they looked at Sun Fei, giggling.