Chapter 38: Mo Empire
"Do you know what is the purpose of this Empire, of my Empire?"
An unexpected question. Before Xin could think about possible answers Maha has already opened her mouth.
"No." She said bluntly.
"Really? Then I am glad, that means you can see what is wrong with it." Mo Pu gently touched the table with his claws.
"Spirit Beasts, our kind, it isn't a kind. It's a group, an alliance, a cooperation, very far from a real, united race. We don't trust each other, we more different from each other than from humans, we have thousands of years of development until our mindset reach theirs, and even more before we achieve something that you, Demons did. Oh, I admire you; you managed to unite many races, many different kinds under one rule."
Maha slightly tilted her head. Judging by her eyes, Xin would say the emotion she was portraying now was "mocking bitterness". Somehow, only when the talk was about her homeland feelings would surface on her face. And even so slight, almost unnoticeable.
"But I have to add, we do not have equal conditions. After long studies of your race's records, I can state several reasons why we won't be able to do the same."
"The obvious is the First Demon Emperor. I don't know his name, may you forgive me, for some reason, it was never mentioned. How strange, for he united your people, and he ruled for millenniums. Benefits of strong cultivation, sad that our kind has none. And these many years were enough for him to forge, to tie, to create you, Demon People, not just demons. He made your nation and established an absolute monarchy. Humans, for example, are doing the same now, however, who knows how long will they last after the death of their Emperor."
"However, without several other factors, that still would have been impossible. Perfect and Lost, two distinct castes. They were also important. Perfect clung to perfect, and became the ruling class, lost clung to lost, and became the ruled class."
"Some may see it as a dividing line, but I am an Emperor, better than some, I see what it truly is: a uniting factor. When there are high and low, you stop thinking about left and right. The Perfect of different nations prior to the empire found more similarities in other Perfect and the lost in other lost. Therefore, instead of dividing by what kind of demons they are, they divided by social classes, but in one country."
"Same goes for beasts. I have already mentioned humans. During the times of the demon's occupation, they had no chances, and once you left, they became isolated and divided between themselves. It took some time for them to establish an Empire they have now. You, on the other hand, had contact with our kind. We are cattle for you, am I right?"
Very uncomfortable question. Xin didn't even think before leaving it to Maha, though he expected her answer.
"Yes, but I am against it."
He already knew her position on slavery, the question is, whether this wolf will believe it.
"I'm glad to hear it." His eyes glowed with blue and his claws made several knocks on the table.
"We are intelligent, and we are different, one more factor that helped the formation of your Empire. Maybe I should be proud of that. Ha-ha."
His laugh was met with silence.
"So, those are the reasons you Empire managed to exist and persist through the ages. Though, there was quite a turmoil as I have read, can you tell what it has led to?"
"Civil war." Said Maha.
"Yes, civil war, and is it still ongoing?"
"No."
"Chi!" The wolf's claw pierced into the table.
"Good, I should congratulate you."
He nodded but seemed lost in thoughts.
"These were the reasons you Empire was forged, and in contrast, why my Empire cannot exist. However, a problem doesn't mean I won't try to solve it." The wolf suddenly opened the chest that has been bothering Xin for so long. The boy stretched slightly to see what inside, but before that, Mo Pu pushed it to them.
Inside were many white sheets of papers covered with dense and crude writings.
"My life's work." Said the wolf in strangely bitter voice.
"My main ideas are that, if I can't make a united Empire, I shall make a confederation, a clear division. What is the essence of every nation? Cooperation, of course, toward gladness. And it can be done without coexistence, at least on the same territory. My vision is that of many city-states divided by borders but one in their goal. In this book, I researched many kinds, their habits, and their treatment of others and described what territory would suit them beast, what neighbors, what production."
"Only representatives and best will be admitted into the main City, and even it will be strictly divided. Immagine, large beasts, like Titan Rhinoceroses are working in mines while horses and mules are plowing fields; the division of labor is the essence of every civilization. "
Maha briefly looked over the papers, and then slowly lifted her head. Her eyes seemed more serious than before.
"I see, but either I do not understand, or you are mistaken."
Harsh words, again. If Ying Zheng was here, he would've said something like "The girl's addicted to the edge."
"Whatever order you want to bring it won't suit everyone, only the majority, and that is in the best case. What is more, how are you going to establish it, to rule?"
"That is a good question. I am going to lead it not as an Emperor, or a King, but as a Divine, with pure power."
"My rule will be that of a god, of worship, of submission. My throne will be divine and irreplaceable. And in five hundred years, I will make it work, force it to work. By that time we will also have removed the threat of humans."
The wolf's words were big, but his tone still as calm, his voice still as gentle.
"Where are you going to get this power?"
Asked Maha, looking straight into his blue eyes.
"There, I need your help. It is a long story. However, can you help me to... Ha… It will be hard to ask."
Mo Pu sighed.
"I was postponing the moment for too long, I showed you my dream, my goal, so, can you help me…"
He also focused on her yellow eyes.
"To kill one of your kind?"
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