A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1621: I Wish You All The Best

Archer noticed Anatoly listening intently as the older man nodded. ʼʼYes. Iʼve heard of the religion. I believe there are a few hidden temples on Verdantia. Iʼll fix that and permit it to operate in the Novgorod Empire; my people need some of their teachings.ʼʼ

Aisha and Yevdokiya were shocked, but the emperorʼs words caused Pope Jeremiah to storm out of the tavern, followed by the church knights who gave them dirty looks before stepping outside. He watched the old man leave and thanked him. ʼʼThank you, it will make things better with the pilgrims, they were complaining that the Alliance was cracking down on them.ʼʼ

ʼʼYouʼre welcome,ʼʼ Anatoly replied, waving away the thanks. ʼʼWe started this war when it should never have happened. Iʼve grown to learn the Terravians are the true enemy of this world and do more damage than you ever have.ʼʼ

ʼʼThat would happen when the church is infected by them,ʼʼ Aisha revealed. ʼʼOur spies speak of the Light God of theirs being a darker one instead, an ally of the Terravian deities.ʼʼ

When Anatoly heard the news, his dark eyes widened in shock, his face paling as a wave of shame washed over him. ʼʼMaybe I was foolish to trust Jeremiah,ʼʼ he muttered, voice low. ʼʼThose beings have brought nothing but trouble to Verdantia since they arrived.ʼʼ

ʼʼIʼll get them off your land, but I want the Nightshade Empire to open up first,ʼʼ Archer revealed. ʼʼHaving half the continent to trade with is good; having all of it will be better for all three of us.ʼʼ

ʼʼYes, the High Elves will need your food once theyʼve ran out,ʼʼ the older man muttered, rubbing his chin. ʼʼTheir emperor is already asking to buy more from me.ʼʼ

ʼʼIʼll sell you two ship full of crops,ʼʼ Archer suddenly asked. ʼʼBut all I ask in return is access to your seas.ʼʼ

ʼʼFor fishing?ʼʼ Anatoly responded, a shocked expression crossed his face.

ʼʼYes partly and underwater exploration,ʼʼ he revealed but didnʼt say anything else. ʼʼOh and the food will last you six months if you feed all the people.ʼʼ

When the two women heard this they were surprised as Aisha leaned in and whispered. ʼʼAre you sure thatʼs wise exposing the platforms to them?ʼʼ

ʼʼThey wonʼt be,ʼʼ he answered, chuckling. ʼʼTheyʼll be hidden and look like research stations, hiding their true purpose.ʼʼ

ʼʼAnd transport?ʼʼ

ʼʼStorage rings supplied by me,ʼʼ Archer revealed. ʼʼI have thousands of the things, I take them of the enemy whenever I kill them or lot their vaults.ʼʼ

The Dragonkin woman giggled just as Anatoly answered. ʼʼThatʼs fine with me, Iʼll also keep the Church of Light causing you trouble but I must go and investigate what you said about it being taken over by the fiends.ʼʼ

ʼʼGo, weʼll stay in the city until morning if you donʼt mind,ʼʼ he said. ʼʼHavenʼt had a peaceful trip to Verdantia yet.ʼʼ

The older man laughed, a hearty one shocking his guards. ʼʼNo wonder, you had your grubby hands in our vaults, but I donʼt hold it against you. We were the ones who attacked you first when it was uncalled for.ʼʼ

Archer was shocked at this but Anatoly looked at Yevdokiya. ʼʼIf I may, could I speak to you alone for a few minutes, daughter?ʼʼ

The grey-haired womanʼs eyes narrowed as she questioned. ʼʼDid you have anything to do with my kidnapping and poisoning?ʼʼ

ʼʼNo, I swear on all of my mana,ʼʼ her father reassured. ʼʼI only noticed when you and your mother left me, I was too focused on the war and lost you both.ʼʼ

Anatoly looked at Archer with a conflicted expression. ʼʼLook after Anastasia, sheʼs a brilliant woman, a great one even. I took her for granted but finally realized it was all down to my hubris. I wish you all the best, White Dragon. The young man who is nothing like the rumors Iʼve heard for over a decade.ʼʼ

ʼʼAlright, Papa Iʼll speak to you,ʼʼ Yevdokiya said, she nodded at him before stepping outside with her father,

Aisha leaned in and spoke. ʼʼWhy was the emperor different? I was expecting a cocky man, not a humble one?ʼʼ

ʼʼRealized that he was fooled into war, lost his family and now nearly his empire,ʼʼ Archer answered. ʼʼNow he regrets starting it and is trying to recover anything to build back whatʼs gone.ʼʼ

ʼʼAnd what does that mean?ʼʼ

ʼʼThat the Novgorod Empire will become a kingdom in the near future,ʼʼ he chuckled. ʼʼThe church will be isolated, that is if Yevdokiyaʼs older brother doesnʼt assainate him for making peace with me.ʼʼ

Aishaʼs eyes widened in shock. ʼʼCan that really happen?ʼʼ

ʼʼYes, itʼs the reason I put a Dragon Warrior in his shadow. To protect him when the time comes,ʼʼ Archer revealed, a smirk crossing his face. ʼʼAfter that happens, heʼll retire to a farm in southern Draconia with Larka and another wife we find for him.ʼʼ

ʼʼHuh?! Youʼre planning to give your mother to him?ʼʼ she asked, gobsmacked by his words.

ʼʼYes itʼs either that or being thrown onto a deserted island with enough supplies to last the rest of her life,ʼʼ he replied, shrugging.

ʼʼSo youʼre done with her?ʼʼ

ʼʼYes, sheʼs pushed her luck as far as Iʼm comfortable with.ʼʼ

Following that, the two of them continued speaking about their upcoming plans for the stupid amount of resources theyʼll get in the future. The idea of being able to mine anywhere on Thrylos excited the couple. Aisha looked at him with a serious expression. ʼʼWhat about the lost continents and islands? Do we invade them?ʼʼ

ʼʼWe have a fortress on that one place that I need to check,ʼʼ he said, thinking about going there before visiting Anastasia.

Aisha stiffened at those words, she shook her head and informed him. ʼʼI ordered for it to be abandoned, we were losing too many soldiers to the horrors there. Some have gone crazy because of what they witnessed in the nightmarish land.ʼʼ

Archerʼs eyes narrowed at this as he asked. ʼʼAnd why wasnʼt I told?ʼʼ

ʼʼYou was relaxing on Earth,ʼʼ she answered, feeling bad from hiding it from him.

ʼʼWhat was the creatures they saw?ʼʼ

ʼʼIʼm not sure, but the reports are back in my office. Iʼll show you once we get back if thatʼs okay?ʼʼ

Archer nodded then smiled at the older woman. ʼʼNext time tell me, Aisha. I wouldnʼt have been angry with you. I wouldnʼve teleported them back, saving them the journey home.ʼʼ

When the Dragonkin heard this, her eyes widened before she started laughing. ʼʼSorry for keeping it from you. I thought you wanted to explore that place, everything is creepy on there.ʼʼ

ʼʼIʼll do it myself,ʼʼ he responded. ʼʼIʼll bring some of the girls and use my monster army to clear the continent.ʼʼ

Aisha agreed with a nod. ʼʼGood, once itʼs safe the colonists will want to flood the place. Weʼll have cities built up and down the coast,ʼʼ she excitedly said.

ʼʼHow about we do it during the ceasefire?ʼʼ Archer offered.

ʼʼMaybe, weʼll do some plans when getting back to Draconia.ʼʼ

Following that, Yevdokiya returned and walked up to them with a worried expression. She stopped in front of Archer and spoke in a low voice. ʼʼCan I go back with my father? Chaos is engulfing Verdantia and he needs my help to quell it.ʼʼ

ʼʼOf course,ʼʼ he replied, smiling.

Archer grabbed her hand, sending a stream of mana into the young womanʼs body and a white dot appeared on the back of her hand as he revealed. ʼʼThis will take you and only you back to the Domain if anything goes wrong.ʼʼ

Yevdokiya beamed at this news, causing her to ask. ʼʼCan you come visit me? Father said all the palaces are opened to us?ʼʼ

His eyes narrowed, prompting the grey-haired beauty quickly reassured him. ʼʼHis took a mana oath not to hunt or trap you if you was to come, I made sure of it.ʼʼ

ʼʼGood,ʼʼ Aisha said. ʼʼI also have a feeling the ceasefire will grow into something else.ʼʼ

ʼʼI agree,ʼʼ Yevdokiya nodded. ʼʼHe seems fed up with everything and is barely holding on.ʼʼ

Archer smiled at the Russian beauty and stood up, hugging her. She melted into his embrace with an happy expression. ʼʼThank you, Archer. Iʼll come to Draconia, I just want to make sure my homeland is safe from those vile fiends.ʼʼ

Just then, Anatoly stepped forward and took a mana oath not to harm Yevdokiya when she returns to Novogorod and swore that he would die to save her. When Archer heard this he smile. ʼʼGood. I didnʼt want to have to burn down your beautiful capital,ʼʼ he warned.

The older man laughed at this as he spoke. ʼʼI wondered where Yev went but knew she was still alive thanks to a pandent I had made when she was a little girl.ʼʼ

He held up a necklace with a blue gem tied to it that resembled Yevdokiyaʼs big eyes, causing Archer to comment. ʼʼThatʼs nice, I need to do that for my children, considering theirs thirteen of them now.ʼʼ