The Dawn Fortress.
At this hour, there were few players around. Most of them were either offline or AFK.
The majority of players were focused on the World League.
William stood on the ramparts, braving the cold wind and snow as he gazed towards the Orc soldiers stationed atop the Black Great Wall.
"Epic, those two syllables signify power. They mean that even if I were to leave Dawn City, I could still hold a high position within the Legendary Continent, and perhaps even the God's Continent, regardless of which faction I join."
He placed his hands on the frigid railing and tapped his fingers thoughtfully.
Bang, bang, bang.
Small craters appeared on the railing.
William examined his hands and made a conscious effort to control them, lest his nimble fingers be compromised. Losing his dexterity would not only affect his archery accuracy but also impair his overall abilities.
"Well, how far I can advance in the next five years will essentially determine my future destiny.
1. Become the leader of a major power.
2. Fail to secure a firm footing in the super tumultuous scene, leading to the potential loss of Dawn City. In other words, Dawn City's power would be confined. Even if I were to survive the chaotic conflicts, the upper limit would only be that of a kingdom's power."
"So, what sets me apart if I want Dawn City to grow into a Human Empire and even surpass it?" William tilted his head, exhaling a plume of breath into the cold air. He then spoke in a deep voice, "Territory!"
"Territory represents resources, civilian population, and the number of Professionals."
"That's where I'm lacking. What do I need most now to elevate Dawn City to the level of a Human Empire?" William mused, blowing air through his lips. Suddenly, he exclaimed firmly, "Territory!"
"Territory equates to resources, a growing population, and the developmental potential of Dawn City!"
Alone atop the city's walls, William muttered to himself, and no one dared to approach him.
"Dawn City belongs to the neutral camp. With my unique guidance, many factions view me as a mercenary dealer who profits from warfare. The same is true."
"But…" William narrowed his eyes, "each future version will inevitably involve warfare, which can be seen as supporting war with war. But I don't want to fully align with the Human Empire. With the Elves' background, Dawn City's development is still restricted."
"I can't attack other Human territories, so I can only covertly instigate conflicts to reap the benefits. Luckily, I'm not the only neutral force in the Legendary Continent. In the future, my objectives will largely revolve around them!"
"Of course, if they aspire to develop, then their target must be me…"
Would the neutral camp be constrained and held back by the Human Empire?
[Yes or NO].
Many neutral camps bordered the Human Empire, maintaining numerous connections with Human nobles and factions.
At first glance, they appeared to be minor players, but digging deeper would reveal the potential for powerful allies lurking beneath the surface.
If Dawn City wished to challenge certain neutral camps, it would inevitably draw the attention and ire of the Human Empire.
Yet, it was time for Py and Dawn City to assert their dominance.
Any neutral camp that maintained a strong relationship with the Human Empire would think twice before taking any hostile actions.
Otherwise, the Human Empire would permit the conflict.
But for Dawn City to become a significant player and establish a lasting presence, that would be a challenge.
William couldn't help but smile as he considered the audacious plan he had concocted.
This operation would require intricate execution, so cunningly devised that it would appear to be nothing more than a series of coincidences.
To outsiders, it would seem as if Dawn City had been wronged while Beast City had deceived them.
But this was the safest way to go about it.
After all, Beast City had a history of secret "sales" of young dragons and dragon eggs. In his previous life, if players had not exposed them, they would have continued these illicit activities in secret.
Particularly, the dragon eggs sold by Beast City had a notorious reputation for being fraudulent.
Many factions had suffered losses, and the disparity between Dragon Beasts and True Dragons was massive.
However, Beast City's power and influence were formidable, and it had close ties to the War-Ending Empire.
Deceived factions and families could only swallow their grievances.
William had
no qualms about his relationship with the War-Ending Empire.
He couldn't resist plotting against Beast City to obtain the Beast Masters and various creatures it controlled.
But it had to be done discreetly.
What if there were a Legendary Golden Dragon in William's entourage who happened to know the Legendary dragons in Beast City?
The operation would be complex, so complex that everything would appear to be mere happenstance.
And that was the safest way.
William could buy a dragon, spread the news subtly, and ensure it didn't become public knowledge.
Afterward, he wouldn't dare to conduct large-scale business with Dawn City.
But what if it did happen?
What if William executed the operation flawlessly?
He could even gain substantial benefits during the Dragon Rebellion event.
With a satisfied grin, William clapped his hands together, eliciting a burst of lightning and thunder.
"What a delightful plan! As Dawn City continues to expand, participating in the Orc Empire's war and exploring some islands, seizing control of Beast City, these five years won't go to waste."
William took a deep breath.
Since becoming an epic Professional…
The Red Fire Kingdom, Lion Kingdom, and several human Grand Duchies had increased their cooperation with Dawn City. This collaboration had led to a gradual increase in Dawn City's monthly income. However, the limitations of these business and employment transactions were evident. To truly amass wealth, they needed to capture the Royal Beast City, a city with thousands of years of history.
The foremost concern on everyone's mind was the fate of the Royal Beast City's old owner. William pondered, "The only uncertainty is whether the former city owner of the Royal Beast City is still alive." The Legendary strongman had disappeared without a trace, with no confirmation of his death. The fact that the three Legendary dragons hadn't left the Royal Beast City for hundreds of years hinted that the old man might still be alive. Many speculated that he was in hiding, secretly honing his skills in isolation.
William clenched his fist and immediately sent a message to his subordinates. He instructed them to establish business relations with the Royal Beast City's contacts. They were to purchase 300 war horses and Griffins each month, gradually building trust and reducing suspicion. Eventually, they would introduce the idea of acquiring a dragon. Their plan also included reclaiming their equipment and journeying to the Orc Empire.