Read Novel Full Chapter 1395: Foundations of an Empire
Chapter 1395: Foundations of an Empire
"You hold a significant place in her eyes, Orion. She respects you. She’ll be willing to serve under your command."
Alexander leaned in, his voice dropping to a gravelly murmur. "Help me sharpen her. Don’t let her fall behind."
Truth be told, Alexander was anxious about Isabella’s stagnation. He had watched Kraken and Makareth ascend to the rank of Arch Lord, leaving her in their wake. Now, with the arrival of Tangere—a newcomer wielding impressive power—the pressure was mounting. If Isabella was surpassed again, the psychological blow could be devastating.
The chasm between one’s ambition and reality often drove people to extremes. Alexander’s mind drifted to dark memories: Witch and Clown. Those two hadn’t betrayed the team out of malice, but out of a desperate, twisted need to advance. He didn’t want Isabella walking that same path.
Orion didn’t offer a speech. He simply nodded, accepting the request.
"Don’t worry about keeping her wrapped in cotton wool," Alexander added, his expression hardening. "I’ve equipped her with artifacts that should keep her breathing. But if she falls in battle... well, that is her fate. To die fighting is no disgrace to the Champions Alliance."
The mood in the room grew heavy. Alexander’s pessimism was thick enough to choke on.
"Jesus, Alexander," Leonidas interjected, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin. "Lighten up. You’re acting like our bro here doesn’t know what he’s doing."
Orion offered a slight shrug and a faint smile. He didn’t need to boast. In the wars he waged, he had the power to decide who lived and who died.
"Since we’re discussing the state of the team," the Deputy Commander cut in, seizing the silence. He scanned the room, ensuring he had everyone’s attention. "I have a few things to say."
With Alexander’s personal business concluded, the Deputy Commander shifted the tone to logistics.
"Back when none of us had reached the Demigod rank, our sphere of influence was small. The Champions Alliance didn’t need to change. We were a loose band of fighters," he began, pacing slowly. "But things are different now. We are Demigods. Our hunger for territory, resources, and faith is expanding infinitely."
He paused, letting the weight of their new reality settle.
"You’ve all led invasions into foreign worlds. You know that for a faction to truly dominate, unity isn’t enough. We need hard power and a rigid foundation. Fortunately, we possess both."
Edward’s gaze swept over the gathered elites.
"As long as this council stands, the Champions Alliance will only grow stronger. I’ve discussed this with the Commander, and we agree: the old ways are obsolete. We are outgrowing our own rules."
"In the near future, more of us will gain the right to recruit. New faces will flood our ranks," he continued. "Therefore, we are implementing a tiered hierarchy and establishing a central resource department."
The proposal wasn’t a surprise; it was an inevitability. No one interrupted. They waited for the details.
"First and foremost, the Commander stands above all. The Champions Alliance is his creation; the Valkorath Realm is his provision. He is our apex," the Deputy Commander stated with absolute conviction. "He is the bedrock of our confidence and the compass guiding our advance."
There was no debate. Commander Thresh had transcended the role of a mere leader; he was their spiritual anchor. Even Orion, with all his current might, couldn’t see the ceiling of the Commander’s power. He suspected Thresh was pushing the absolute limits of the Demigod’s Sixth Circle. For all they knew, they might wake up tomorrow to find their Commander had ascended to true god.
Heads nodded in silent agreement.
"Beneath the Commander, we are establishing three tiers," the Deputy Commander explained. "The Council of Demigods, holding the position of Speaker. The Executive Council, comprised of Arch Lords. And the Assembly, consisting of Legendary rank members."
He gestured as he listed them. "Speakers will be issued the Eternal Badge, signifying permanent membership in the Champions Alliance. Executive Councilors will hold the Platinum Badge, wielding the Platinum Authority. Assembly members will hold the Azure Badge, granting them the Azure Privilege."
The structure was clean. It created a necessary partition between the Demigods, the Arch Lords, and the feudal lords. There were matters discussed at the Demigod level that were simply too volatile or complex for the lower ranks to overhear.
"Along with this, we are constructing the Public Resource Division—to be known as the Platinum Directorate," the Deputy Commander went on, diving into the mechanics. "This Directorate will have four branches: Combat, Asset Management, Logistics Exchange, and Diplomatic Relations."
"The Platinum Directorate represents the collective power of the Champions Alliance. From now on, accessing this power isn’t free. It requires a transactional exchange or a split of the spoils. If you want the Directorate to back you, you pay a percentage of your profits back into the pot."
It was a pragmatic shift. It prevented burnout and resentment. If members constantly borrowed the Alliance’s strength without giving back, the organization would bleed out and fracture.
"As for the Azure Badge," he continued, "it grants access to the Azure Privilege. Think of it as a benefit package for the newer blood. It opens up channels to exchange raw resources for gear, or merits for upgrades. Furthermore, those with the Azure Badge can apply for missions issued by the Platinum Directorate that match their capabilities."
In short, the rookies could take on contract work to handle the menial tasks the seniors didn’t want, earning their keep in the process.
The Deputy Commander fell silent, letting the framework hang in the air. It was a rough draft, and implementation would undoubtedly reveal cracks, but it was necessary. If the Champions Alliance wanted to compete with rival factions without being swallowed whole, they needed a corporate structure that benefited both the collective and the individual.
"Where does the capital for the Platinum Directorate come from?" Leonidas asked. It was the blunt, million-dollar question.
"From us. The founding members," the Deputy Commander replied smoothly. "We contribute the initial capital and manpower. In return, the Platinum Directorate grants us dividends based on our contribution ratio."
"Provided the Directorate remains healthy and profitable, dividends will be distributed periodically."
It was an investment. They were essentially shareholders in a massive violent enterprise. Unlike a standard corporation, however, they wouldn’t manage the daily grind—they just held the rights to the profit.
"Does this mean our cooperation as Demigods has to go through the Directorate now?" Arthas asked, frowning. If he had to file paperwork to work with his peers, it would be a nightmare.
"No." The Deputy Commander shook his head. "The Platinum Directorate is primarily designed for the members below the Demigod rank. It helps them leverage the organization’s strength to grow without nagging us for every little thing."
The system was built to facilitate external invasions and internal growth for the rank-and-file.
"For us Demigods, the Directorate’s assistance is negligible. It’s chump change," he added frankly. "Besides, if our personal alliances were based solely on profit, the Champions Alliance would have collapsed long ago."
"You can still bypass the system entirely for personal cooperation," the Deputy Commander assured Arthas. "However, the Platinum Directorate is available to act as a notary or guarantor for your deals if you need a neutral third party."
Arthas nodded, satisfied. He had no further objections.