Only then did everyone slowly sit down, but the atmosphere in the hall remained somewhat heavy, and a slight crack appeared in the trust between them.
However, in the face of a common goal, they had no choice but to temporarily put aside their prejudices and begin discussing plans to resist the Central Provinces.
As a direct descendant of the Rebar lineage, Prince Olga was the grandson of Prince Allen Er.
His status and strength largely stemmed from the family's inheritance and Rebar's strong support.
Rebar had accumulated deep connections and resources throughout his life, and these advantages were unreservedly bestowed upon Prince Olga.
Under his command, four Saint-ranked powerhouses had gathered, a force configuration that, among the entire empire's princes, was second only to the four alien border kings who relied on their unique racial talents and heritage; Prince Olga's strength was the most formidable.
It was precisely because of this formidable strength that Prince Olga possessed an undeniable voice in this joint action of the border kings.
His every decision, every word, was like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirring up layers of ripples in the hearts of the other princes.
The other princes looked at Prince Olga with a mixture of apprehension for his great strength and awe for the Rebar forces he represented.
After all, in this chaotic world, strength was the foundation of everything; only with great power could one gain a foothold in the game between various forces and seek more benefits and resources.
This time, the alliance of many border kings was actually a desperate measure.
In recent years, under Soren's control and planning, the development momentum of the Central Provinces had been as rapid as a prairie fire, with all fields showing a vigorous upward trend.
Whether it was the expansion of military power, the accumulation of economic resources, or the research and innovation of magical skills, it made it difficult for other regions to catch up.
Rebar knew that if Soren was allowed to develop unhindered, in a few years, the gap in strength between the border provinces and the central provinces would widen even further, and it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven to resist him.
Therefore, he decisively issued a call for heroes, intending to gather the forces of the various borders, to strike first, and to give Soren a heavy blow before his wings were fully formed, in order to win a chance for the border provinces.
However, the ideal was very full, but the reality was very skinny.
Rebar had calculated everything, but unfortunately overestimated the character of the four alien border kings.
These alien border kings each had unique cultural backgrounds, interests, and styles of doing things; they were not as Rebar had hoped, able to work together for a common goal and abandon personal gain.
Sure enough, just as everyone gathered together, preparing to discuss the plan of attack, a conflict first broke out over a key issue: the identity of the leader of the punitive alliance.
This identity meant that in the following actions, one would have the highest decision-making power, command, and resource allocation power, which could be described as the most important thing.
Relying on the unique advantages and powerful strength of their own races, the four alien border kings jumped out one after another, claiming that they were the most suitable to be the leader.
Icefield King Sonata roared in his rough voice: "My clan's warriors are all good at fighting, and their magical talent is even more extraordinary. This position of leader must belong to me. Only I can lead everyone to victory!"
King Irent of South Mountain was not willing to show weakness either. Although he was slightly thin, he exuded a cunning aura, sneering and retorting: "Humph, what is your skill? My clan is proficient in stealth, able to detect the enemy's information without anyone knowing, and can also deliver a fatal blow at a critical moment. The leader should be me!"
The remaining two alien border kings also spoke one after another, not giving way to each other, and the sound of the quarrel rose and fell.
The whole hall was buzzing.
Those human border kings who had originally responded to Rebar's call also showed embarrassment at this moment. Some watched coldly from the sidelines, while others secretly pondered their own gains and losses. After all, no one wanted to easily give up the position of leader. A chaotic dispute thus intensified in this already tense situation, making the prospects for a joint crusade instantly unpredictable.
At the same time, Soren also received the news that Rebar was gathering border kings to prepare to attack the Central Provinces, but he was not too worried about it.
In his opinion, what war is fought over in the end is resources and equipment, and now the Central Provinces already occupy a considerable advantage in these two aspects.
In this world of swords and magic, there is also a cultivation factor affecting the battle, but the Central Provinces are not far behind.
In recent years, with the acceleration of the pace of development, the number of powerhouses has been increasing day by day. They either focus on cultivating magic skills or diligently hone their swordsmanship, and their overall strength cannot be underestimated.
Abundant manpower has injected a steady stream of power into the development of various undertakings. Whether it is reclaiming wasteland, building cities, or expanding the army, there is a solid manpower base.
This is also why the emperor and Soren are so eager to migrate the population to the northwest. They know the importance of population for opening up new lands and consolidating rule. As long as the northwest develops, the foundation of the Central Provinces will be more stable, and the ability to respond to external threats will be further enhanced.
Soren sat upright in his study, with a map of the empire spread out in front of him. His fingers gently tapped the table,
his eyes flashing with confident light.
Although there was a trend of alliance in the border provinces, he believed that with the existing advantages of the Central Provinces, as long as the strategy was appropriate, he would be able to win this potential conflict.
He had already begun to plan countermeasures in his mind, thinking about how to use resources, equipment, and population advantages to give those border kings who attempted to invade a heavy blow and protect the prosperity of the Central Provinces.
At this time, Imperial Concubine Maria gently pushed the door open with a midnight snack, her figure graceful, her lotus steps light,
and on the delicate tray in her hand were a few delicate snacks and a pot of steaming fragrant tea.
"Soren, don't be too tired, you should also take a proper rest." Her voice was soft and gentle, like a clear spring flowing in this slightly dignified study, full of concern.
