I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

Southern border of the Empire.

Snow Crystal City.

As the junction between the Empire and the Capital of Shuoli, this city has always served an important function, often being a necessary stop for merchants.

One of the two most crucial branches of the Silver Dragon Trade Association is located here.

However, recently, a mysteriously tense atmosphere has quietly spread.

This evening.

In the border military district, young soldiers of the armory returned as usual for maintenance after drills.

"It's already the end of March, and the weather is still this cold."

A new recruit counted the number of bullets, exhaling white mist as he complained in a low voice.

"You'll get used to it, newbie."

Several veterans laughed.

"By the way, where are you from? I heard there have been mysterious events in many places recently, with a lot of people dying miserably. Is your hometown okay?"

One of the veterans, using cotton dipped in special gun oil, asked casually while applying it to a flintlock gun.

The new recruit shuddered at the inquiry.

His spirits dropped instantly.

"My grandfather and little sister are dead, died very miserably. The officials from the Security Office say it was the Evil God, 'King in Azure', spreading darkness... He's the one who killed my family."

The new recruit pretended to be calm, picking up a flintlock gun and mimicking the veterans by applying gun oil with cotton.

"I don't understand why. Wasn't he once human? And part of the Righteous God Church clergy? Now he's slaughtering innocent civilians... Why doesn't the Sun God punish him? Why can't Emperor Andre do anything about him?"

The recruit spoke with a choked voice, his hand shaking as he accidentally soaked the gun with too much oil.

The veterans exchanged looks.

"Hey, newbie, that's enough."

One of the older ones stood up, walked over to take over the recruit's work, and spoke half-comforting and half-admonishingly:

"This is the Imperial Army. Even if you're dissatisfied with His Majesty, don't say it. If Captain Aromar hears it, you'll be dragged to the shooting range tomorrow... Here, your gun is soaked in too much oil, it'll slip when you're on the battlefield."

The recruit froze, then took a deep breath.

"Thank you."

At that moment, a sharp whistle sounded outside the armory.

Beep beep—

The recruit and the veterans immediately changed expressions.

The broadcast followed with Captain Aromar's low voice:

"Emergency! Mutation has occurred in Field No. 2, and the third battalion soldiers have turned into insect people, needing support! Repeating..."

"Go, go, go!"

"Quick, to support!"

The soldiers in the armory grabbed their weapons and ammunition and left one after another, heading towards Field No. 2.

The flintlock gun, still covered in oil and uncleaned, was casually leaned against a box by a veteran...

*

*

*

The next day.

Border iron fence area of Snow Crystal City.

An Imperial soldier, bored on duty atop the sentry tower, suddenly changed his expression, hurriedly threw away the cigarette butt, and picked up the radio to notify the rear.

A strange army was approaching from the south through the forested land.

The Empire's troops immediately went on alert, with over a hundred men openly and covertly raising their guns, aiming at them.

A moment later.

A middle-aged officer, draped in a snow-white cloak, arrived slowly at the base of the tower, supported by several guards.

His beret bore the star symbol representing the Capital of Shuoli.

The Empire's military observers breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's the border major general of the Capital of Shuoli, Warwick, here at General Matteo's invitation to discuss important matters... Help connect him with Captain Aromar for reception."

"Received."

In the dark room behind the sentry tower, several observers communicated via radio.

But at that moment.

BANG—

A gunshot shattered the original silence.

"What's going on?"

"Who fired that shot?!"

"Report immediately!"

In the shocked gazes of over a hundred border soldiers of the Empire, Warwick, the major general from the Capital of Shuoli, fell straight down with a massive bloody hole in his chest, his snow-white cloak instantly dyed red with blood.

The Shuoli military was immediately in an uproar.

"This... This?!"

A soldier on the sentry tower looked in horror at the flintlock gun in his hands, the muzzle smoking, with gun oil slowly dripping from the trigger.

"I didn't mean to! The gun misfired!"

"Damn it!"

"Private Flano, do you know what you've done?!"

"Get the general informed!!"

Both armies erupted into chaos.

BANG!

Someone fired another shot unintentionally, seemingly lighting the fuse, igniting emotions on both sides into a terrifying reaction.

Bam bam bam!!

An instant barrage of gunfire, followed by booming explosions, and the Shuoli military was wiped out within minutes.

Before long.

General Matteo of the Empire arrived hurriedly, almost choking on his rage when he saw the carnage and corpses outside the fence.

"Damn it! Damn all of you!!"

Veins protruded as he shouted up at the sky in anger.

Originally, he intended to discuss border pollution with an old friend, hoping to gain some assistance, but unexpectedly, the sides inexplicably exchanged fire, resulting in Warwick's death right there...

This was simply unexplainable.

The Capital of Shuoli would only think this was a premeditated ambush by the Empire.

Just at such a tense moment for the Empire, this incident was highly likely to trigger a larger conflict!

Matteo was both shocked and furious, immediately turning around and rushing to the command center, planning to report the situation to the Sun Royal Family.

But that night.

The ten thousand-strong Shuoli army launched a fierce attack, catching the Empire's border defenses off guard.

In just half a day, Snow Crystal City fell.

What was even more shocking.

The local Shelter was surprisingly attacked from the back by a branch of the Constellation Sect, with all members, including team leader Stefan, perishing, except for a few Investigators.

In this surprise attack, two women were unfortunately killed by stray bullets, their deaths as unnoticed as raindrops falling into the ocean.

Just like the over two thousand innocent civilians who died miserably, no one cared...

*

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*

Flower Nation's Main City, Sunflower City.

The Seven States Council, which oversees all affairs large and small across the Empire, was held here.

In the early morning.

In the massive Assembly Hall at the city center, nearly a hundred senior councilors were in heated discussion.

"The western region, the New State has already been invaded by the Beelzebub Kingdom, and the army of Shuoli has even occupied six cities in the southern region led by Snow Crystal City!"

"Two affiliated countries have openly torn up the agreement and attacked the Empire's territory without authorization, which is unforgivable!"

"We must repay blood with blood!"

"We cannot rush to use force; the Empire is being ravaged by the 'King in Azure,' with hundreds of millions of civilians dying tragically, and the Judiciary, Shelters, Security Offices, and a dozen departments, even at full operation, have been unable to stop the spread of chaos... The order in over two hundred cities in regions such as the Wasteland State, Insect State, and Gem State has collapsed. Initiating war in such circumstances will only drag the Empire down!"

"I second! Primarily placate! Ensure the Empire's operation as best as possible!"

"Emperor Andre founded the Empire through might, unifying the continent. We cannot show cowardice to the enemy, we must retaliate!"

There was incessant arguing in the Assembly Hall.

Some of the more hot-headed senior councilors even rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight.

At that moment, the host on the high stage, Marquis Leitch Tresor, possessing royal bloodline, an elderly man with grey hair but a vigorous spirit, said solemnly:

"Silence! According to the Seven States Council procedure, the agenda should be decided by a vote, the final result reported to the Sun Royal Family for the Sun King to personally review!"

The senior councilors fell into silence one by one.

Each, with unresolved emotions, cast their ballots into the box beside their armrests.

One of them, a senior councilor named Klamm, stared intently at the second box on the ballot, which read "Support to go to war."

"Liliska, Marsha..."

Klamm closed his eyes, recalling his wife and daughter.

They were brutally killed by the Shuoli army, which fueled Klamm's resentment.

Opening his eyes again, his eyes were bloodshot, and with trembling hands, he used a red marker to mark the box at the end of the second column, quickly placing it into the ballot box.

A moment later.

Staff collected the anonymous ballots and brought them to the high stage, where Marquis Leitch personally counted them.

The final result—

65 votes against going to war, 66 votes in support of going to war!

There was an uproar in the Assembly Hall.

The old marquis stopped it several times before bringing the noise down.

He said in a deep voice:

"I will report the result of the meeting to the Royal Family, and His Majesty the Sun King will personally make the decision..."

*

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*

"Your Majesty, the situation within the Empire is urgent, and the suggestion presented by the Seven States Council is a good choice... Perhaps we can use the war with the Beelzebub Kingdom and Shuoli Capital to temporarily divert internal conflicts."

At Bixie Crost in the Royal City, inside the Sun Palace conference room, McCollin the Judgment Chief said gravely.

Seated at the table were leaders of the Seven Gods Church, with the seat for the Constellation Sect vacant, the faces of the remaining high-level members all clouded, especially Archbishop Took of the Sun Church.

Currently, the Sun Church, with its Pope fallen, and only four Archbishops left at the Solar Monastery, had its high-level strength greatly diminished.

It could even be said that while the Sun Church was originally the strongest among the Seven Gods Church, now it had fallen to the bottom.

After the battle in the Spirit World, apart from the Moon Church, Madman School, and Generous Council, the rest of the Seven Gods Church suffered heavy losses.

Each head was deeply worried.

On the main seat, a middle-aged man with golden hair wearing a simple white robe sat upright.

Even with a calm face, he exuded an imposing aura.

"Rejected."

Emperor Andre said blandly.

The leaders dared not offer further advice, only nodding silently.

However, at this moment, the Steward Babayeh hurriedly walked to the Sun King's side, bowed deeply, and handed a document with trembling hands.

He said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, urgent intelligence from Lin State... Byron Kingdom's army forcefully invaded, the Madman School's 'Comet Group' dispatched five Archmages, and Lin State's Main City has been occupied, Your Majesty Farik has fallen."

Swish!

All high-ranking officials present turned their heads, staring intently at the elder in the Madman School's seat.

Scholar Hernandez adjusted his glasses, revealing a meaningful smile.

Boom—

A golden light descended.

Instantly engulfing Hernandez, his Incarnation, and even the chair were burned to ashes.

Emperor Andre expressionlessly lowered his finger back down.

The hearts of all the high-ranking officials on site tightened.

Unanimously, a thought surfaced—

War is coming...

*

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*

The Otherworld, Drunken Winery.

By the ornate window, a man with a ponytail in a tailcoat raised his wine glass and saluted outside the window.

He chuckled lightly.

"A splendid story, to the Azure King..."

Clink!

The crisp sound of clinking glasses rang out.

Chen Lun sat on the white throne, slowly putting down the glass.

He took a sip of hot milk and turned to survey the present world.

With indifferent eyes, his gaze reflected countless armies, players ready to strike, and many high-ranking figures.

"Step three, the King in Azure descends, participating in the hunt..."