The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 75
***
Crackle—
Late at night, soft popping sounds were heard, and suddenly, flames erupted all around.
“Kyaaah!”
“Fire!”
“Run, it’s a fire!!”
Screams echoed from all directions.
The fire was too vast to be extinguished by the hands of the villagers, who had just passed the dry season. People screamed and ran haphazardly.
However, suddenly, mounds of earth rose and enveloped the entire village, blocking any escape.
People cried out in despair and screamed.
Some tried to dig through the earth with their nails to escape but to no avail.
Those who screamed to escape could not flee.
Children screamed, and parents lamented.
The giant mounds of earth quickly covered the sky, forming a massive dome.
Whether it was because the earth covered everything or because there were no survivors, a quiet night returned to the world.
Shortly after, the earth mounds crumbled instantly as if their elevation had never happened.
White powder rose from the exposed piles of ash, carried high into the sky by the wind.
The white powders dispersed and settled here and there on the wind.
Among this white powder storm, someone stood tall in the sky.
Ragged clothes fluttered, and a ponytail dangled.
“Was there no singularity here either?”
Tsk, the person clicked their tongue, scratching their head as if annoyed, then quickly vanished into the night’s darkness.
Soon after, nothing existed in the sky.
***
“I didn’t expect to be the only one invited.”
Roxelyn said with furrowed brows.
She hadn’t imagined being invited alone to a massive gathering of Kaluta tribespeople in a huge meeting hall.
“Seeing you look around, I thought you might want to bring someone. If you wish, you may bring them along.”
The Khan was not dressed in dancer’s attire.
In fact, to her, due to Kaluta’s clothing customs, it still looked almost as if she was scantily clad.
However, she was wrapped in a silver tapestry.
It was a symbol of kingship in Kaluta.
“How are you feeling?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve gotten better. Kaluta’s medicine seemed to have helped a lot.”
Roxelyn expressed her gratitude smoothly.
“I’ve convened a tribal meeting to consider your proposal, and we’ve decided to listen to your proposal before making a final decision.”
Roxelyn frowned slightly at the Khan’s words.
‘So, they haven’t been taking me seriously until now.’
The Emperor would be dismayed to hear this.
During the days she lay resting, she had time to organize her thoughts.
A plague would soon spread through Kaluta. Not only in Kaluta but throughout the entire empire would suffer from the epidemic.
And during this epidemic, the Marquis Wilfred dies.
Gerun Wilfred’s presence in the empire during this time must be because of this reason.
Since he came back here because of the Marchioness, there would be no reason for him to move during this period.
“We desire to form a peace treaty and alliance with Kaluta, including opening up trade routes with ‘Moonstone’ and ‘Rishu’s Sprout’ from Kaluta, gradually expanding our trade items and continuing as allied nations.”
Roxelyn spoke slowly.
Kaluta was rich in resources, living in harmony with nature, and was also a powerful military nation.
Many countries call them barbarians and disregard them, yet they dare not touch them due to their formidable military power and numerous tribes.
The Khan listened attentively to Roxelyn’s words.
“In return, the empire will not spare financial, technical, and human support until Kaluta forms a nation-state structure, and will provide the desired goods,” she said.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean by forming a nation-state structure?”
“Exactly as it sounds. His Majesty wishes for Kaluta to at least have the structure of a country.”
Roxelyn added that this was advice for Kaluta’s benefit.
A lengthy debate ensued.
Roxelyn argued why they should form a nation-state structure, and the elders of Kaluta and the Khan argued why they shouldn’t.
Both had valid points.
The Kaluta had lived like nomads for a long time, choosing this way of life to avoid major damage in case of invasion. So, for them, settling in one place and establishing a capital was a monumental decision.
However, without a capital, they cannot be called a country and will continue to be disregarded as barbarians.
Even if they have multiple capitals and move around, they still need to form a nation-state structure.