Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1051: Three Months later, Changes [3]

Truly, plunder was the quickest path to wealth.

Only after indulging, cough, having no choice but to do it did Michael fully understand that saying.

As for where this profit came from, it naturally came from the thirty-three kingdoms under the empireʼs control, each contributing twenty percent of their resources to their new ruler, an arrangement that would continue for years to come.

At first, Michael had not wanted to become that sort of ruler. Twenty percent of the resources produced by thirty-three kingdoms was not a small amount by any standard.

Even after taking control of the Black Serpent Empire, he had felt uncomfortable with the idea. In his mind, the kingdoms had already suffered enough through the war and the sudden change in leadership.

However, Jesterʼs reasoning had been extremely simple.

The empire had only been conquered three months ago. That was not enough time for genuine loyalty to form. At present, the kingdoms obeyed because they had no choice.

Given the opportunity, many would immediately begin rebuilding their strength. That was simply how conquered territories behaved.

According to Jester, the most dangerous period for any new ruler was not during the invasion itself. It was the years immediately afterward. History had proven this countless times.

New conquering powers almost always followed the same pattern.

First came conquest, the violent seizure of land and the breaking of existing power structures.

Then came consolidation, the elimination of remaining resistance and the installation of loyal figures in key positions.

Then came control, the gradual tightening of administrative, economic, and military authority over the occupied territory.

Only after enough years passed, and enough generations grew up knowing nothing different, did true stability finally emerge.

The kingdoms currently possessed their own armies, noble families, influence networks, wealth, and administrative structures.

If allowed to retain all of that strength, they would inevitably begin viewing themselves as separate powers. The result would be future rebellions, future wars, or future instability.

Therefore, before stability could be achieved, control needed to be established first.

The twenty percent resource contribution was not primarily about wealth. The imperial treasury certainly benefited from it, but that was not its main purpose. Its true purpose was control.

By drawing resources toward the imperial center, the growth of the kingdoms slowed while the growth of the empire accelerated. The difference might seem small in a single year.

Over several years, however, it became enormous. The kingdoms would gradually become weaker relative to the imperial capital. Meanwhile, the imperial capital would become stronger relative to the kingdoms.

Eventually, a point would be reached where resisting the empire would no longer be realistic. Once that happened, separation became increasingly difficult.

A kingdom could not simply rebel without damaging its own economy, security, and political stability.

According to Jester, this was how nearly every successful conquering power throughout history had operated.

The difference was that most people only remembered the final result. They remembered the prosperous empire decades later. They forgot the years of harsh control that came before it.

Ironically, becoming a tyrant was easiest at the beginning.

Immediately after conquest, fear still existed. Military superiority still existed.

As time passed, however, that window disappeared. New generations were born. Memories faded. Local powers recovered. Influence shifted. By then, attempting to impose the same level of control would become far more difficult.

That was why Jester had insisted the current period was unique. The empire possessed a window of opportunity. A temporary period where it could reshape the foundation of all thirty-three kingdoms.

If that opportunity was missed, the cost of achieving the same result later would multiply many times over.

Three months later, Michael could already see signs of the process working. The kingdoms were becoming increasingly tied to the empire. And while some might call the policy harsh, the results were undeniable.

For the first time in decades, the Black Serpent Empire was beginning to function as a single entity rather than thirty-three kingdoms loosely gathered beneath a crown.

Like before, Michael had no intention of ruling the empire personally as some grand emperor. That had never been his goal.

Even now, after completely taking over the Black Serpent Empire, his interest in governance remained limited at best.

However, not wanting to rule and not wanting to control were two completely different things.

Michael had no intention whatsoever of relinquishing his control over the empire. After all, this was currently his greatest source of Evolution Points.

The one hundred and five dimensional cracks in Aurora were valuable, but their access rights only lasted three years. Three years later, they would return to their original owners.

The empire was different. As long as he wished, it would remain under his control indefinitely.

One was temporary. The other was long-term. One generated profits for a few years. The other could continue generating profits for decades. The difference was obvious.

Because of this, Michael was willing to tolerate certain things he normally disliked.

The empire was an investment.

An investment capable of continuously generating resources, wealth, influence, manpower, intelligence, and Evolution Points.

The returns were simply too great to ignore.

Naturally, Jester understood this as well. In fact, the undead had gone a step further.

According to Jester, if the empire was truly going to become Michaelʼs long-term foundation, then it needed to stop being associated with the previous ruling family.

The Black Serpent Empire represented the old regime. Its history. Its loyalties. Its symbols. Its identity. Leaving those things untouched would only encourage people to continue viewing the empire through the lens of the past.

That was undesirable.

Therefore, one of Jesterʼs earliest recommendations had been a complete rebranding of the empire itself.

The proposal was simple. Erase the old symbol. Create a new one. Replace the identity people served. Over time, memories of the Black Serpent Empire would fade.

In its place, a new state would emerge. One built around Michaelʼs authority rather than the authority of the previous dynasty.

The proposal had eventually been approved.

Three months later, the Black Serpent Empire had ceased to exist.

In its place stood a new power.

The Eternal Crown Empire.