The dolls jumped onto the table.
These little guys poured black tea into the teacups and lifted them toward Via with great effort.
Via smiled at the dolls and took the teacup.
“Thank you.”
She took a sip.
The taste was really quite good.
“Please eat, please eat!”
The dolls brought the waffles over again.
Via took one once more and put it into her mouth.
She immediately felt the warm sweet taste spread across the tip of her tongue.
Combined with the black tea, it was like a massage for the spirit, making her show an expression of enjoyment.
Looking at Via like this, Sashaya could not help but speak up.
“Via, I say, you cannot possibly have come here just to mooch food and drink off me, right?”
“Of course not,” Via looked at Sashaya.
“Our omnipotent Chief Archmage of the Royal Court, I have encountered some difficulties and need you to solve them for me.”
“Only omnipotent?”
“And a proud figure, unparalleled intelligence, and unparalleled beauty!”
Via used the words the dolls had used to praise Sashaya at the critical moment.
“Mm, that is more like it,” Sashaya nodded in agreement.
“Speak. What difficulty is it that can make the Demon King who unified the Desolate Fallen Continent feel perplexed?”
“It is the problem of the Desolate Fallen Continent,” Via’s expression became serious.
“I said before, I hope to change the Desolate Fallen Continent, so that this land is no longer chaotic and the demonkin can settle down a bit.”
“So serious all of a sudden?”
“Yes. There are many bandit problems in the Desolate Fallen Continent. I also tried to use force to suppress them. Although it was effective in the short term, after a period of time the bandit problems would come back. I want to solve this problem.”
“Then where do you think the problem lies?”
“It should be poverty. The land of the Desolate Fallen Continent is barren, and many people have difficulty even eating,” Via paused.
“Lady Sashaya, you have lived for so long. Do you have any insights?”
“Hmm—” Sashaya thought, lowering her head and looking at the reflection in the teacup.
“There is a way. The demonkin are a race full of martial virtue. Compared to other foreign races, they are good at fighting and can sell their fighting power to foreign races in exchange for resources.”
“Sell fighting power?”
“Yes. There are quite a few mercenary groups among the demonkin. They can completely go to foreign races’ wars as mercenaries.”
“Is that feasible?”
“Then they will definitely need a large amount of fighting power to achieve victory in the war. It is a plan. As long as wars still exist in this world, mercenaries are a very good choice and the demand will always exist.”
“What, you do not want to?”
“War brings too much chaos. Even if participating in wars in the name of mercenaries, they cannot completely clear their relationship with the war. At that time, the flames of war might still spread to the Desolate Fallen Continent.”
“Hmph, you think quite clearly. But as long as the demonkin are strong enough, they will not fear others daring to attack the Desolate Fallen Continent.” Sashaya waved her hand.
“…Is there any other plan? I want to hear it first.” Via did not think war was the best plan.
“There is an even more radical one, which is to directly launch a full-scale war on the outside world. Our Desolate Fallen Continent’s land is barren, but that does not mean other races’ territories have no food. We can attack other races and seize it,” Sashaya smiled.
“Do you not think there are many bandits in the Desolate Fallen Continent? Directly recruit these outlaws, form an army, and invade other races. Not only can you save the effort of suppressing them, but you can also let these guys help you realize your ambitions.”
“Conquer… other races?”
“Yes. As long as you can dominate the Theia Continent, why worry about the survival of the demonkin? Just let other foreign races supply the demonkin with a steady stream of resources.”
She had considered this in her previous life, dominating other foreign races and making everyone submit to her. Via fell silent.
“The idea is good, but in actual operation it is not that ideal. I do not think it will work.”
“Why?” Sashaya was very puzzled.
“Your current strength is very strong. On this continent, there are not many people who can defeat you. For those races that do not submit, you can use Abyssal Force to erode them and dominate them through terror.”
“Even if I do as you say, let the demonkin form an army and conquer all foreign races through war, if I use violence and terror to rule everyone, perhaps for a long time the demonkin will be glorious—”
Via’s fingers tapped on the table.
“But what about after I die?”
“…You even have to consider the situation after your death?”
“Yes. I cannot guarantee that the next Demon King after my death will also be nearly invincible in strength. If I cannot achieve that, then because of those actions it will make all foreign races hate the demonkin extremely, and even abandon other contradictions and unite to counterattack the demonkin. At that time, can the demonkin really bear the consequences?” Via asked in return.
Via was silent for a while, then said, “Then it is that there are many magic stone veins in the Desolate Fallen Continent.”
Sashaya picked up the black tea.
“When I was young, I walked through every part of the Desolate Fallen Continent. At that time, I discovered something… I thought you only cared about your own ambitions.”
“There are. There are many magic stone veins in the Desolate Fallen Continent. Lady Sashaya, you should have a third plan, right?”
“Heh, Via, I still underestimated you. You think quite far ahead!”
“Yes. Magic stones are an extremely important resource. If we can mine them and trade with foreign races, even if the land of the Desolate Fallen Continent is poor, we can use this method to exchange for survival resources.”
“Then why did the previous Demon Kings not do it?” Via was very puzzled.
“No conditions. Lack of money and lack of technology. The demonkin cannot even build factories. Besides, demonkin magic is good at fighting, not mining resources. There is no accumulation in this area.”
Sashaya was telling the truth.
The demonkin of the Desolate Fallen Continent have always been fighting among themselves. Even if they have some resources, they think about enhancing their own faction’s strength, not building. Having a mountain of gold and silver but no tools to mine it—do you not think it is a pity?”
“Lady Sashaya, what do you mean by that…”
“We in the Desolate Fallen Continent have no conditions, but the neighbor should have them, right?”
Sashaya’s meaning was very clear.
To the north of the Desolate Fallen Continent is the human world’s Saint Luo Empire.
In contrast, the Saint Luo Empire has quite fertile land, as well as many mining areas and factories for processing magic stones. They are rich in experience in this area and have a complete industry. Of course, the demonkin and the human race are in an opposing relationship, and not long ago there was a war.
If the demonkin want to build this industry to support themselves, the human race, as their opponent, will absolutely not provide help.
Then, there is only one choice left.
“Northward, Demon King.”
Supplying technology and investment was even more impossible. The human race itself was hostile to the demonkin and would never provide help to the Desolate Fallen Continent. Sashaya’s meaning was already very clear.
Since conventional means would not work, then she would obtain everything through war.
“So, we still need to go to war?” Via said.
“Crush the human race and make them bow to us. Yes, northward to conquer the human race, using war to defeat them,” Sashaya replied.
“Since you do not want to rule other races, then we will greatly shorten the cycle of war. When the human race comes to us to sue for peace, we will propose the condition that they assist the demonkin in building factories in the Desolate Fallen Continent.”
This method looked indeed more reliable than the previous ones.
If the human race made unconditional investments in the demonkin, with technology in place, opened up the mining fields, built magic stone processing factories, and established a complete industrial chain, then the demonkin could trade with foreign races and live by trade. Would that not be much better than war?
Sashaya’s plan fit Via’s wishes very well.
Trading for food and technology, Via closed her eyes.
Mm, as long as there was money, anything could be discussed. Besides trading with foreign races, they could also spend money to hire the elf race and let the elf race use natural magic to improve the barren land of the Desolate Fallen Continent. They could also buy more magic from other races and begin to envision the future of the Desolate Fallen Continent.
Ruling the world could indeed satisfy personal ambition, but it required paying a considerable price and could very easily cause massive backlash against the demonkin. The consequences might be unbearable.
But if it was the trade method, then it would be different.
The demonkin of the Desolate Fallen Continent were inherently brave and good at fighting. They were not afraid of foreign races invading at all.
The use of magic stones permeated every aspect of this world. Whether it was war or people’s livelihood, both needed to rely on magic stones.
Strong strength combined with many magic stone veins and a complete industry was equivalent to grasping powerful discourse power in international society.
This was much more stable and longer-lasting than the discourse power obtained through war.
“Lady Sashaya, I approve of your suggestion. We really do need to establish a magic stone industry in the Desolate Fallen Continent,” Via opened her eyes.
“I have to admit one point, and that is that the Desolate Fallen Continent is indeed poor and has no technology. It needs support from foreign races.”
“You agree to the northern expedition?”
“No,” Via shook her head.
“I do not plan to go to war so hastily. I will not hold any fantasies about communicating with humans either. I realized long ago that the upper echelons of the human race are absolutely untrustworthy.”
Via had already been betrayed by the upper echelons of the human race once in her previous life. Therefore, when she heard Sashaya propose this idea, she thought of a possibility.
“I will support a new human emperor to ascend the throne.”
“What?” Sashaya was a little surprised.
“As the condition in exchange, that is to have the new emperor make unconditional investments in our Desolate Fallen Continent and provide technology and resources,” Via smiled.
“Lady Sashaya, this should be a better method, right? The temporary coercion of war is far inferior to a healthy cooperative relationship.”
“That is what you say, but… is this really feasible?”
Sashaya was a little doubtful. Was Via not fully awake?
“In the human world, I knew an heir who was not very successful. She also happened to have the ambition to rise to the top, but she lacked sufficient strength and connections. Before I left the human world, she could never find many opportunities,” Via explained.
“Now that I am already the Demon King of the Desolate Fallen Continent and hold real power, I can make an angel investment in this heir. I think when she ascends, the returns will definitely be rich enough.”
“What if your angel investment fails?”
“Then we will only be able to use the final means,” Via gave her reply.
“Mm, within two years, this matter will have a result. Once you have confidence, then do it. If it really goes as you said and we can support a new human emperor to ascend the throne and establish diplomatic relations with our Desolate Fallen Continent, then that will also open up a new situation for the demonkin and give the future new possibilities.”
Sashaya felt that this was a path she had never imagined.
After all, the demonkin and the human race had generational enmity. There was almost no possibility of reconciliation.
But Via’s identity and experiences were quite special. She had actually created this sliver of possibility.
“Lady Sashaya.” Via smiled happily at Sashaya.
“You… what are you smiling about?” Sashaya felt that Via’s smile was a little off.
“I probably need to make a trip to the Saint Luo Empire.”
“Go then.”
“But I just ascended not long ago and the domestic situation has only just stabilized. Leaving like this would not be good.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want to stay in the Desolate Fallen Continent, but I also want to go to the Saint Luo Empire. Lady Sashaya, you must have a way, right!” Via clapped her hands.
“After all, you are the omnipotent Lady Sashaya!”
“There is a way…”
“I knew it! You will agree. Lady Sashaya, you are the most powerful Chief Archmage in our Royal Court. This small favor is nothing to you, right? Just a lift of the hand.”
“It is indeed easy,” Sashaya hesitated for a moment.
“Alright. I will use magic to create a doll exactly like you and leave it in the Desolate Fallen Continent to pretend. There should not be much of a problem.”
“Good, thank you! It is a small matter.”
“Oh right, Lady Sashaya, usually you still need to act together with the doll.”
“What?”
“If you do not follow the doll in the name of Chief Archmage of the Royal Court, some blind people might come and cause trouble. The doll alone would not be able to handle it well and it would be easy to expose,” Via reminded her.
“That… is indeed the case.”
“If it really comes to that time, with Lady Sashaya by its side to deal with all those who do not know good from bad, would that not be good?” Via showed a sincere look in her eyes.
“Lady Sashaya will definitely guarantee after-sales service, right?”
“You are not afraid I… will take the chance to usurp the throne?”
“If you really usurp the throne, then the position of Demon King is yours. Lady Sashaya is so smart that she can completely replace me. I will just retire conveniently.”
“…Alright, alright. I will guarantee the after-sales service.” Sashaya sighed helplessly.
“Perhaps I should not have agreed so readily back then.”
“Too good! As expected, Lady Sashaya is peerless in the world!”