Chapter 38: Declarations and Decisions
The days after Jin's return were filled with activity.
The 191 former slaves were immediately integrated into
The days following Jin's return from Kavan's Gate City were filled with relentless motion. Valeria, his iron-willed sanctuary amidst a crumbling kingdom, thrummed with new life.
Yet that life had not come without cost. The former slave caravan, which had left Kavan 200 strong, had arrived in Valeria with only 191.
Nine had perished.
Cut down during the ambush in the forest, their blood spilled before they could taste true freedom.
Jin had made sure each was honored, buried with rites, their names etched into a new stone monument just outside the south training yard.
"They died free," he told the crowd gathered at the memorial. "And that matters. We don't forget our own."
The rest, the surviving 191, were swiftly integrated into Valeria's growing war machine.
Each underwent evaluation. Some were muscle-bound miners with potential to become frontliners.
Others possessed raw magical sensitivity, identified by the system's spectral readings.
A few had medical knowledge, a precious commodity. All carried the will to survive—and now, to fight.
Jin stood tall before them one morning, dressed in light leather armor, the wind tugging his dark cloak behind him.
"This city gave you a second chance," he began, voice sharp as steel.
"Now you'll become its sword and shield. Train like soldiers. Fight like warriors. Live like people who will never be chained again."
They erupted in cheers.
Training commenced in shifts. Riven drilled archery units at the north ridge.
Gorvan crushed the infantry under punishing formations.
Sarah and Arielle began teaching basic spirit channeling to those with affinity, while Alisa—the runaway princess Jin had rescued—now helped organize educational programs for the youth.
Valeria was rising. And others were watching.
Less than a week later, a thunder of hooves and gleaming banners announced the arrival of a delegation from Kavan's Gate City.
Jin stood calmly at the gates as carriages lined the main square.
Out stepped Lord Maelis of the Ironblade Syndicate, Lady Velessa of the Northern Frost School, High Monk Fen of the Silent Temple, and, to Jin's mild amusement, the same noble brat from the Red Lantern Inn—the Mayor's son.
They came dressed not for diplomacy, but for dominance.
In the central square, Maelis stepped forward. "Lord Jin," he said coldly, his voice stiff with formality.
"We come on behalf of the regional alliance to demand you relinquish control over the eastern trade routes.
Your expansion, your unauthorized recruitment, your seizure of resources—it destabilizes the region."
Jin arched a brow. "And if I don't?"
"Then you invite war."
He turned slowly, letting his cloak trail with authority as he raised a single hand.
Valeria's army marched into view.
The delegation's eyes widened. Armor shone like dragonhide under the sun. Archers in precise formations.
Mages chanting in unison. Cavalry units mounted on tamed beasts.
Former slaves now stood beside elite soldiers, indistinguishable in their discipline.
The noble brat sputtered, "Th-this is intimidation!"
Jin walked toward them slowly. "You came to threaten my home. And now you flinch?"
He stepped between them and his army, his voice rising.
"You come with veiled threats and demand obedience. Let this be your answer: from this day forth, we are enemies. You have no claim here. You never will. Now get out."
The delegation retreated, shaken.
Far away in Kavan's Gate City, chaos brewed.
The Mayor slammed a porcelain cup down, shards flying. "You did WHAT?!"
His son flinched. "F-Father, I thought he'd fold."
"You provoked the man who slaughtered a beast horde and builds weapons from monsters?! You threatened a warlord with a standing army?!"
He paced furiously before sighing, defeated. "Send a peace offer. We can't afford a war with Valeria."
And so, a new procession was prepared. A peace offering.
Two days later, a grand silk-draped sedan arrived at Valeria's gates. Jin stood ready to receive them, flanked by Arielle, Lila, Lana, Sarah, and Riven.
"If she looks like her father, I say we send her back with two carrots and a thank-you note," Riven whispered.
Jin chuckled.
But as the sedan opened, the jest died.
She stepped out like a vision of light.
Golden eyes, calm poise, silver moonlit hair, and a dress that shimmered faintly with embedded qi threads. She walked like mist over glass, every movement composed.
Even Lila and Arielle stared.
"...She's gorgeous," Sarah muttered.
Jin stepped forward. "We'll talk inside."
In a quiet chamber, the girl sat across from him, hands folded politely. Her voice was soft but confident.
"You know why I'm here," she said.
"A political pawn," Jin replied. "A peace token. A trap, maybe."
She surprised him by leaning forward and pressing her lips softly to his.
"Then let me choose my cage."
Jin blinked.
"You're bold."
"This world trades women like livestock. If I must marry, I choose someone who won't break me."
He studied her face, sharp and sincere.
"If I attacked your city tomorrow, what would you do?"
She hesitated. Then said softly, "Rescue my mother. The rest can burn."
Jin exhaled slowly.
\[System Notification: Scanning Subject...]
\[Constitution Detected: Divine Dual Spirit Body - Extremely Rare]
\[Compatibility with Host: 97%]
His eyes widened.
'No way... even the ancient manuals never listed this physique.'
He said nothing.
Far in the capital, the Emperor lay in his bed, frail and fading. Outside, the throne room echoed with footsteps of vipers.
In a private chamber, Queen Molana sat beside her father.
"Tonight," she whispered. "The Emperor will not see sunrise."
He nodded. "No mistakes."
But at that same hour, a scroll arrived.
An old spy had fulfilled his duty.
The Emperor read in silence, trembling fingers tracing every word.
He wept.
Then called for a box, placing the imperial seal and a letter inside. A letter filled with regret.
"For Jin. The forgotten son. The last hope."
He closed his eyes.
And passed into sleep.
In Valeria, Jin stood on the balcony with the girl—Selene, daughter of the Mayor.
She looked at the stars. "You're not like them."
Jin grinned. "I'm worse."
She smiled. "Then maybe worse is what this world needs."
Below, Valeria breathed. Training drills thundered. Construction echoed. Light and purpose glowed in every corner.
The world moved toward war.
But Valeria would not kneel.
Not now.
Not ever.
Valeria's growing army. Training routines were established, and each new recruit was assessed and given a role.
Some were physically gifted, others had a knack for magic. They all carried the fire of survival.
Jin stood before them on the training grounds, his voice sharp.
"This city gave you a second chance. You will become the sword and shield of Valeria. From today onward, you train like soldiers. You fight like warriors."
Cheers erupted.
Their military strength expanded, and so did their reputation. That made enemies uneasy.
Within a week, a large delegation of carriages and horsemen arrived from Kavan's Gate City.
Among them were familiar faces: Lord Maelis, Lady Velessa, High Monk Fen... and the arrogant noble son Jin had encountered at the inn.
They stood in the central square of Valeria, armored and proud.
"Lord Jin," Maelis began coldly, "we come to request—nay, demand—you relinquish control over the eastern trade routes. It is only fair compensation for your aggressive recruitment and seizure of regional assets."
Jin stood before them, expression unreadable.
"And if I don't?"
"You risk war."
Jin turned, his cloak billowing. "Then you already lost."
He raised a hand.
From the sides, Valeria's army marched in, organized, armored, and glistening in the sun. Formations snapped into place.
Archers, mages, infantry, and beast-riding scouts surrounded the courtyard.
The alliance leaders paled. The arrogant noble boy sputtered, "Th-this is intimidation!"
Jin walked forward slowly. "You brought war to my door, and now you flinch?"
His voice rang clear across the square.
"This... is a declaration. From this day forth, we are enemies. Leave my city. Now."
They fled.
Back in Kavan's Gate City, the City Lord slammed his cup down, the porcelain shattering.
"You what?!" he roared at his son.
The youth trembled. "I-I didn't think he'd go that far..."
"You provoked the one man who defeated a beast horde with a fraction of your resources?! He has a standing army now! You want war with a man who builds weapons from monsters?!"
The City Lord paced furiously before finally calming. "Send him a peace offer. I won't have this city burn because of your arrogance."
He scribbled a letter with his own hand and attached it to an ornate gift box filled with wedding offerings.
"A proposal of marriage. Let's see if peace can still be bought."
Two days later, a grand sedan arrived at Valeria's gates, guarded by elite knights and bearing silken banners. Jin was waiting, flanked by Lila, Arielle, Lana, and Sarah.
Riven nudged Jin. "If she looks like her father, I say we politely decline and send her back with two carrots and a note."
Jin smirked.
But when the sedan door opened, silence fell.
She stepped out.
Golden eyes, a serene face, silky hair that cascaded like moonlight. Her dress glowed faintly, and even the wind seemed to pause.
Lila and Arielle blinked.
"...She's gorgeous," Sarah whispered.
Even Jin had to admit—this wasn't what he expected.
He put on his calmest face. "I'll take her inside to talk."
In a quiet room lit by a low lantern, Jin sat across from the girl.
She was composed, polite. But her hands trembled slightly in her lap.
"You know why you're here?" Jin asked.
She nodded. "A pawn. A gift. A trap. Depends on how you see it."
Jin leaned in, testing. "Would you rather be with me, or married off to a fifty-year-old man with five wives?"
She leaned forward too, surprising him, and kissed him on the lips.
"I'd rather choose my own cage."
Jin blinked.
"You're bold," he said.
"This world trades women like tokens. Marriage is currency," she said. "I can't stop that. But I can choose where I end up."
He studied her. "If I attack your city, what will you do?"
She hesitated. Then, softly, "Rescue my mother. The rest can burn."
Jin's eyes narrowed in thought. That answer was... real.
[System Notification: Scanning Subject...]
[Constitution Detected: Divine Dual Spirit Body - Extremely Rare]
[Compatibility with Host: 97%]
Jin almost choked.
'This... this girl's body constitution is unheard of. Even I've never seen this in the manuals.'
It made sense. In this backward world, no one had knowledge of ancient physiques or cultivation bloodlines unless passed down through rare sects.
She had no idea how valuable she truly was.
And Jin wasn't about to tell her.
Not yet.
Far away in the capital, the emperor lay in bed, frail and cold.
The throne room outside his chamber was calm, but tension lingered like smoke.
Queen Molana sat beside her father in a hidden chamber.
"The time has come. The emperor is a breath away from death. If we push now, the crown prince will be crowned immediately."
Her father nodded. "Assassination tonight. No mistakes."
But even as they whispered, the emperor received a scroll.
It came from a spy.
He read it silently.
Tears fell.
He whispered, "I can die in peace now."
He called for his closest aide. "Fetch me the box."
Inside was the golden imperial seal.
He wrapped it carefully with a letter, filled with all the feelings he had never voiced. Of regret. Of love. Of hope.
"For Jin. The boy who was forgotten... and who now stands above princes."
He closed his eyes.
And rested.
In Valeria, Jin stood on a balcony, the new girl beside him. Her name was Selene.
She stared at the sky, her voice low. "You're not like them."
Jin chuckled. "No. I'm worse."
She looked at him with a smile. "Then maybe worse is what this world needs."
He smiled.
Below, the city bustled. Warriors trained. Walls were reinforced. New banners were raised.
War was on the horizon.
But Valeria would not kneel.
Not now.
Not ever.