Immortal Kingdoms

Juvia wore a smug expression as she laid her head on Leonardo's shoulder, curling up her body on his lap as though marking her territory.

After a long silent moment of shock, everyone began to digest the influx of information. Those who have delved into the ancient texts, and those who have collected the ancient tales of a higher realm, and mostly those of the three ruling powers, began to ponder deeply.

There are many stories of sovereigns exploring the starry sky in order to uncover the secrets of this world. Of course, it wouldn't be surprising that some of them came into contact with planets under the jurisdiction of factions from the higher realms. By then, even if they couldn't unearth some ground-shaking secrets, it wouldn't be problematic for them to learn a thing or two about these mythical secrets and pass them down as legends.

The existence of these legends is what served as a foundation leading most of the influential people present to half believe and half doubt Leonardo's claims. Of course, this was enough of a display to deter most of those present from finding trouble with Leonardo.

After all, not everyone was past the point of no return with their grudges against him, not even House Regalia was of that opinion. The heads of these influential families are quite pragmatic, and if saving face was their number two priority, then racking up profits is their number one priority.

Everyone had their own thoughts, the three high crowns included.

"Are you saying that the realm above sainthood is divinity?"

King Ivar who was silent up until now finally broke his silence, but his concern was related to cultivation and not the state of Arcadia.

Leonardo sighed, "Well, yes… but, it's impossible for anyone to achieve divinity in the middle realms; the world barrier won't allow it, you're better off focusing on what remains of your life after achieving high sainthood than chasing after something illusive and unreal."

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King Ivar frowned, "Why can't I achieve divinity? Why are you so certain?"

Leonardo looked at him as though he was an idiot, his expression odd, "Sometimes, knowing less is profiting, knowing more is unwise, and not knowing at all is a blessing. I shouldn't have told you about most of what I have already revealed, but it would have been a matter of when you'll find out and not whether or not you will."

"As I said, since there's a first tiger, there will be a second one and a third. What you need to do now is contemplate your next course of action, not lock yourself up in futile cultivation. As I said, your first best option is to sit and watch, your next best option is to support me."

"Wait a moment!" Lexus finally escaped his reverie from witnessing the might of his Goddess, only to hear Leonardo's words. He cleared his throat, clasped his hands behind his back with renewed vigor, and looked up at Leonardo.

Knowing that his Goddess Arcadia was omnipresent, his back straightened.

So what if Leonardo was all mighty and all? Goddess Arcadia blew up his domain apart with one bolt of lightning. Hence, in Lexus' devout mind, Goddess Arcadia was all mighty and supreme.

"First, it's not that Goddess Arcadia is scared of you; Goddess Arcadia knows your true heart that seeks disaster and destruction with your savage and tyrannical methods."

"Second, you claim that this planet is under the jurisdiction of your faction, what proof do you have? Don't give me some excuse about first impressions, that doesn't prove anything,"

"What if all of you came from the same faction? What if you're playing the benevolent and malevolent lords on us? One side playing good and the other playing bad, just to bait us into blind submission?"

"Also, what if you're the one intruding on their territory? Wouldn't that explain why your party comprised three people while they, on the other hand, outfit and outnumber you?"

Lexus and his argument drew everyone's attention back to these plot holes. True, now that they thought about it, a lot of twists and turns don't make much sense in Leonardo's story.

Actually, they couldn't see through the fog known as the higher realms and their factions, it could be said that any decision they make might be a wrong turn downhill.

The three high crowns had ugly expressions because out of everyone present, they believed Leonardo's words the most. Not out of his temperament and pride, not because they knew he would disdain to lie, but because of those crimson eyes that locked their souls in place.

The presence of his spirit guardian is what gave them that confidence.

Leonardo nodded inwardly to Lexus' clear argument. This young man is quite the talent, Leonardo thought to himself.

"You're right, I can't and I won't try to prove myself. Which is why I said, your best option is to keep neutral and support neither party; let the tigers duke it out amongst themselves."

"I'm in no position to remain neutral anymore," Queen Adeline's gentle voice interrupted the flow of their intense conversation, her emerald eyes practically glowing.

"My House Sylvia remained passive because my husband is too focused on getting as close as possible to the peak of sainthood, leaving little me to manage the affairs of the state," Queen Adeline patted her bountiful chest with an exasperated expression.

"However, with what you just said, I have a feeling that his secluded cultivation will last for quite a while… in the meantime, I think it's about time for House Sylvia to start taking the initiative, starting with supporting our youngest Foreign Prince."

Leonardo was a bit surprised at how straightforward Queen Adeline is, not knowing that most of her motivation was driven by fear and reverence more than trust in his capabilities. After all, no matter how strong he is, it would be useless if he couldn't utilize that cultivation base.

"Alright," Leonardo nodded at Queen Adeline.

"It just happens that I need some help migrating the populations of Crouching Dragon Province, Samsara Fields Province, Witchheart Province, and Sunset Valley Province to my Grace Imperial City after the recent campaign. I'm positive that the families of feudal lords of these provinces will require some guidance on how to behave until they get accustomed to their new accommodations."

Queen Adeline almost choked.

Was he requesting her help to supervise hostages? One must know that the laws of succession in the feudal system are strictly monitored. Forget about that for now, Leonardo even planned on taking Regalian Citizens and, well, hosting them within the borders of his territory.

"Ah, alright… I'll dispatch a squadron of imperial wyverns to monitor the traffic and migration efforts." Queen Adeline nodded with a stiff face. Since she decided to bite the bullet, she should at least show this much sincerity.

"Great!" Leonardo tapped Juvia's creamy thighs, prompting her to get off his lap as he descended from the throne with light steps. The incoming influx of resources would be enough to marginally compensate for the exhausted resources on the defensive formation.

"I'm sure that you people have plenty to discuss, and it would inconvenience your meeting if I were to stick around, so I'll go ahead and excuse myself first."

"Wait, it's already so late so how about you spend the night in the same imperial suite from your last visit?" Queen Adeline spoke up, gesturing for Princess Veronica with her eyes.

Princess Veronica snapped out of her daze with that reminder.

"Y-yes, come with me, Your Highness!"

Princess Veronica stiffly bowed her head with a courtesy before walking in front of Leonardo, her expression unnatural. Although she was expecting a massive organization behind Leonardo, the revelation was something out of this world, it outright blew away her mind.

Honestly, Nier was supposed to disseminate the information about House Hestia, the higher realms, and spread the immortality propaganda in the same manner that the Interstellar Supreme Court did back on planet Earth.

That way, although the natives of Arcadia wouldn't be sufficiently informed about how grand this world truly is, they'd have the tiniest bit of immunity to such a level of shock.

The mental shock one receives by going from a high-born nobility to an ant in someone's backyard is too much for some people to comprehend and accept, much less adapt to. Hence, Leonardo played it down to earth as much as possible, declaring Arcadia as a discovered training ground for the younger generation, which is as far as possible from the whole truth, but remains an acceptable truth nonetheless.