“You really are enraged for a woman, Ning Cuo. You’re quite a sight today. How do you feel now?”
Nero slowly stood up from the carriage.
She wore a long burgundy dress, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her foot rested on the back of a white steed.
The crown, a symbol of Roman imperial power, adorned her head.
Golden-threaded boots peeked out from beneath her dress.
As if there were invisible steps in the air, she gracefully descended towards the carriage.
Nero’s voice was light, even cheerful, as if being surrounded by a throng of enemies was simply an amusing play.
But Ning Cuo had a strange feeling.
Her gaze darted back and forth between him and Joan of Arc.
She seemed to be looking for something.
“I didn’t expect you to come in person, my dear Nero,”
Ning Cuo did not respond, only offering a slight smile and a bow.
With a simple gesture.
The Batanian Oathkeeper Thousand-Man Legion, previously brimming with aggression, instantly ceased their advance, their weapons retreating.
They stood frozen, as if transformed into wooden pillars.
The surrounding nobles watched, filled with a silent awe.
What a talent!
Gathering an army’s worth of men was easy for Rome, providing equipment was also a simple task.
But to truly make an army elite was a different story.
To train them under rigorous conditions, while keeping their loyalty intact.
And that was only the first step.
But the Batanian Oathkeeper Thousand-Man Legion, capable of wielding multiple weapons simultaneously, operating in a perfectly coordinated manner even without orders.
This was something that couldn’t be achieved overnight.
How long had it been since Ning Cuo recruited them from Rome?
Only three days.
To train such an army in just three days was terrifying.
Rome certainly had its fair share of such armies.
Even a thin camel is bigger than a horse.
Nero could, with a single command, bring forth hundreds of thousands of elite legions.
But Nero was the Roman Emperor, while Ning Cuo was essentially starting from scratch.
Nero didn’t care about that.
She glanced at Joan of Arc, a slight frown appearing on her face as she compared herself to the other woman, then turned back to Ning Cuo.
It was almost like a declaration of sovereignty, or perhaps a casual order.
“Come here, help me walk.”
This was the first time Nero had ever walked on the rough ground of the countryside.
It was understandable that she was uncomfortable.
Joan of Arc, having been the subject of several of Nero’s stares, felt a chill down her spine.
Perhaps it was a woman’s intuition, telling her that Nero might harbor some hostility towards her.
But what merit did she possess to elicit such animosity from the Roman Empress?
Upon receiving the order, Ning Cuo naturally understood his position.
He quickly walked over.
He stood next to Nero, extending his arm.
Nero proudly placed her delicate hand on his, then slowly began to move.
Her eyes scanned the legionnaires who were forming into battle formations around them.
“Ning Cuo, you are quite a talent. You have already gathered your own army in such a short amount of time. I knew I hadn’t misjudged you. It seems things will start soon, won’t they?”
Half reminder, half threat.
Nero was definitely not simply a pretty face or a cruel tyrant.
To maintain control over such a vast empire in the current state of Rome, crumbling as it was.
She was undeniably capable, and her goals were clear.
“Of course, in fact, I’m ready to start right away, dear Empress, there’s no need to rush.”
“Good.”
The two exchanged words, seemingly discussing something, but nobody else could understand what they were talking about.
Then, suddenly, the young knight who had been standing there with a bewildered expression stepped forward, even as the cavalry captain tried to restrain him.
“Your Majesty, I believe we should investigate the finances of this place. The goods here are far beyond what this region could possibly provide.”
His tone sounded impartial, but there was an undeniable tinge of jealousy.
Ning Cuo felt a chuckle rising in his chest.
This was clearly a fool who had been blinded by Nero’s beauty.
He had seen his heart’s desire sharing a secret with another man, a secret that nobody else knew.
And to see Nero maintaining such a close distance with Ning Cuo.
How could any young man tolerate this?
However, Ning Cuo didn’t need to say anything.
Nero glanced at him, her icy gaze instantly sobering the infatuated knight.
She spoke calmly.
“What you said is not unreasonable. In that case,”
“From this day forward, everything in this land will be reported only to me. No one else has the right to interfere. This order will be followed for all eternity.”
The struck knight’s eyes widened instantly.
Even when Nero was acting capriciously in the past, she had never granted such vast power.
Moreover, interpreted in this way, it was almost like saying that, as long as Rome existed, this order would remain in effect.
Even future Roman Emperors would have no right to interfere.
What immense favor! What unparalleled preference!
Only the cavalry captain had already mentally sentenced the young knight to death.
He planned to find an excuse to get rid of him after things were over.
This guy was so clueless.
How could he compare himself to Ning Cuo?
The other man had managed to build such a powerful establishment from scratch, proving the depth of his abilities.
Add to that his captivating charm, enough to pull together such a formidable legion after a single visit to Rome.
Even if he went to another country, wouldn’t he still thrive?
Moreover, did this fool have any brains?
Ning Cuo’s legion was still surrounding the area. He dared to accuse him, ignoring the situation completely?
If he really angered Ning Cuo, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to execute him right then and there.
But the young knight was clearly unable to accept the blow. Jealousy burned within him like a raging fire.
“Your Majesty, granting such power,”
“I think you’ve been riding too much, you’ve lost your mind! You’re talking nonsense!”
The cavalry captain finally couldn’t hold back, spurring his horse forward and delivering a punch.
“You dare question the Empress’s orders? Who do you think you are? You dare speak on behalf of Rome? You’re an embarrassment!”
Ning Cuo nearly rolled his eyes in his mind.
This was Rome.
Roman imperial customs were quite open, everyone had the right to love and be loved.
This had also contributed to Rome’s reputation in other countries, which was not always positive.
Because if you desired, you could even publicly declare your love for the Roman Emperor, even if you were a commoner.
In other countries, this was unthinkable for a king, but in Rome, it was allowed.
The cavalry captain’s powerful punch quickly jolted the young knight back to his senses.
But it also shattered his spirit.
The Empress he adored looked at him like a bug.
She wasn’t even willing to spare him a second glance.
The cavalry captain, whom he had always respected, had beaten him senseless, then stripped him of his honor.
In the blink of an eye, it was as if the sky had fallen.
He could only sit there in a daze, ignored, uncared for.