"What do you an you couldn't bear your mother's actions?" Ryan asked, not liking the pity he saw in the Empress's eyes.
"I an," the Empress began, "after I learned of Mother ordering Dr. Rubenstein to torture and brainwash you, I felt sha."
"Sha that I didn't know about my mother's dealings."
"Sha that I didn't stop her."
"Sha that I couldn't stop her."
As the Empress fell silent, Ryan asked, "Do you know why they brainwashed ?"
"So you're not surprised that she brainwashed you to control you?" the Empress gasped.
"But, wait, they still believe you're under their control. Are you?"
Ryan shook his head. "No. They kidnapped for testing, but I was aware during the testing and could manipulate the answers. So I can confidently say no. Their brainwashing did not work, and I am not under their control."
Ester, having cald down, turned to Ryan and asked, "Then do you rember?"
Shaking his head, Ryan replied, "I only rember bits and pieces, but I don't rember who I am."
"You an you don't know?" the Empress asked.
"Know what?"
"The reason why they wanted you. The reason why they brainwashed you, tortured you, and took away your mories."
Ryan felt his heart rate increase as he slowly shook his head, eyes locked on the Empress.
"That's unfortunate because neither do I," she said.
Ryan nearly lost his balance as he heard the Empress bait him.
"Why'd you have to say it like that?" Ryan muttered.
"Anyway," Ryan said, trying to refocus the conversation. "Are you interested in setting up an alliance?"
"What do you an?" the Empress asked.
"Are you just going to let the Grand Empress get away with everything?" Ryan asked.
"What else can I do?"
"Believe in ," Ryan said and then asked, "You're an Overlord, but what's your specialty rank?"
Seeing no reason to lie, the Empress said, "D-Rank."
Grinning, Ryan asked, "You already know I'm a cultivator, correct?"
The Empress nodded, so Ryan continued, "But you didn't find out one crucial detail."
"I'm an Overlord too."
Widening her eyes, the Empress looked to Ester for confirmation, and when she saw Ester's nod, she gulped and said, "You just asked my rank. That ans you must be confident in yours."
"Is your specialty a C-Rank?"
Seeing Ryan shake his head, she asked, "B-Rank?" Ryan shook his head.
"You have an A-Rank specialty?!" Ester and the Empress shrieked.
"Read it and weep, ladies."
[Harem Overlord (SSS-Rank)]
Ester's mouth dropped open, and the Empress started laughing hysterically.
"This is fabulous!" the Empress exclaid.
"This is... wait, what is your specialties na?" She abruptly paused and turned back to Ryan's still-active prompt.
"H-H-Harem Overlord?" the Empress sputtered, blushing.
"Wait, then that ans..." the Empress fell silent, looking between Ryan and the Kheaweth's famous Frost General, known for her icy deanor and not caring about anyone's attitude.
As if on cue, Ester leaned over to Ryan and gave him a peck on the cheek, Ryan responding by squeezing her firm ass.
Blushing, the Empress squeaked, "Who else of importance have you seduced?"
"Not anyone important." Ryan shrugged.
"Just Duchess Vanroth, her daughter, Mara, and Grace, the rebel leader's daughter.
Sighing, the Empress reached into her spatial bag and pulled out a velvet chair, sitting down.
"To think I'd see the day when a male had a harem full of powerful won," the Empress shook her head.
"Well, Ryan Erald," the Empress said, standing.
"I'll choose to believe in you. Tell your plan, and you might as well call Becca."
===
[Are you sure you wish to create the heavenly force 'Erald Family'?]
[Yes / No]
[You have selected 'Yes']
[Invite 'Becca Kheaweth' to join 'Erald Family'?]
[Yes / No]
"To a prosperous future," Ryan said, selecting yes.
"To a future rid of my mother," Becca replied, accepting Ryan's invitation.
[Note: Your faction is owned by a Heaven's Chosen. Buff: 10% increase in speed in cultivation for all mbers]
[Note: You have promoted a Heaven's Chosen to a leadership position in your heavenly force, 'Erald Family.' The following buff is applied. Buff: 5% increase speed in cultivation for all leadership]
A series of notifications ca into Ryan's view after he promoted Becca to the rank of [Duke], the default na for the second-highest position, the first position being his.
Inviting Ester and promoting her to the sa rank, Ryan nodded. 'I'd say we're off to a pretty good start.'
Assuming Sienna joined his new organization, Ryan now had Empress Becca, Duchess Sienna, and Ester, the highest-ranked General of the empire, fighting on his side.
"Alright, now that we've got a heavenly force and we're all officers, we can send each other ssages through the staff group chat in the [Allegiances] tab," Becca said.
"Although it will take a while, we can eventually build up a force and pass the challenge to beco a Heavenly Kingdom and sohow acquire an invasion pass."
Ryan nodded, although he was thinking, 'Hopefully, Aurora will be able to provide us the invasion pass and help us with the manpower.'
Although Ryan had to trust the Empress with so information, he didn't want to give away all of his cards.
"Oh, right," Ryan said. "You're okay with working with the Zol'Gan Empire, correct?"
The Empress was about to say sothing, but a glare from Ester made her close her mouth.
"I'll manage," Becca said with a forced smile.
===
After the three split up and went their separate ways, Ryan went to his dorm room and used the flight ti to talk with Yoko.
'So tell , why couldn't you fly away from the Duchess?' Ryan asked Yoko telepathically, knowing she had been able to move and sneak away from the Old Man from Shade.
Yoko sighed. 'When you and I ford a bond, my shell hardened, preparing to hatch, making it nearly impossible to send any energy in or out.'
'So you're hatching soon?' Ryan asked enthusiastically.
'Yes. I'll be hatching in about two months.'
'Two months?' Ryan thought. 'That's about the sa as the wedding.'
Shaking off the thought, Ryan returned to his conversation with Yoko.
'So, can you tell about bloodlines?' Ryan asked.
He had been eager to get Yoko because he wanted to know about his bloodline and how to use it properly.
Flying on his sword, Ryan shook from the anticipation so much that his flight path wobbled.
Breathing deeply, Ryan cald down his nervous expectation as he awaited the all-knowing dragon's reply.
'No,' Yoko abruptly stated.
'No?' Ryan asked, puzzled. 'What do you an no?'
'I can't tell you about bloodlines,' Yoko said. 'At least not about how to use yours or get stronger.'
'If you think just because you're in a shell that I can't get to you...,' Ryan started, but Yoko cut him off.
'Master, don't jump to any conclusions,' Yoko said, chuckling.
'It's not that I don't want to tell you; it's simply because I can't.'
'What do you an?' Ryan asked, arching his brow.
'I can't tell you because every bloodline is different and unique.'
'Everything about them is unique, from how they level up, regenerate, increase over ti, and many other factors add to their uniqueness.'
Ryan frowned. 'Well, it is what it is.'
'What are your future plans?' Yoko asked, noticing Ryan was falling silent.
'Well, to conquer the human empire, obviously,' Ryan replied.
'I know that, but how?'
Tapping his chin, Ryan thought of his strategy so far. 'I guess by gaining powerful allies and raising my strength.'
'I agree. And I know the perfect place to start next,' Yoko said.
'Where?'
'The Red Dragon Empire.'
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