149: Chapter 149 The internal arrangements had already been made.

Holding the seeking worthy order, Chen Aoyun stood upon a massive compass, with Fan Ling and the other two in their soul forms beside him.

The Raiders from other countries were in the same situation.

The Raiders from each country formed a circle, and the known rules reappeared within the circle they had formed:

"Act 1, Rule 8: You are an envoy of the empire, and you are currently in this city, known as a paradise, searching for worthy ministers and good generals for the empire.

Worthy ministers can purge the imperial court and boost military strength for the empire behind you.

Good generals can bolster the combat power of the empire's troops.

The empire is currently suffering from the threat of the wandering calamity from the north; your emperor needs both worthy ministers and good generals.

Use the seeking worthy order to send a Heroic Spirit back to your country; the Heroic Spirit's strike against the northern wandering calamity will be your score for this act."

When this rule disappeared, an image of the 'wandering calamity from the north' appeared within the circle.

In the image, there were Calamity Demons, a giant space gate, and lands named after each country.

Accompanying the newly appeared image, the final rule also manifested here:

"Act 1, Rule 9: For the army led by a Heroic Spirit, every Calamity Demon killed earns one point, destroying a small space gate earns 100 points, destroying a medium space gate earns 500 points, and destroying the largest space gate in the center earns 5,000 points.

The countries with the top three scores will have their results recorded for this act."

When [Act 1, Rule 9] appeared, all the rules for Act 1 became completely clear:

Use Heroic Spirits to kill Calamity Demons and destroy space gates.

Of course, the prerequisite is that your country must have a Heroic Spirit.

The 'seeking worthy order' in hand was glowing. Just like placing a piece in a game, placing the seeking worthy order on a Famous Scholar's portrait on the compass meant you intended to forge a true friendship with that Famous Scholar.

Based on the combined favorability of all Famous Scholars, the country with the lowest score gets priority in choosing.

To Chen Aoyun's surprise, because the favorability of the three Famous Scholars—[Craftsman], [Bride-to-be], and [Beast Tamer]—was exceptionally high, the Dragon Country became the last country to place its seeking worthy order.

Meanwhile, because Sakura Country had the lowest favorability with all the Famous Scholars, it was the first to place its order.

Without even looking at the compass beneath his feet, Saku Kenichi placed his piece casually, tossing the seeking worthy order onto the portrait of the Famous Scholar [Ranger], and then looked at Chen Aoyun, his eyes filled with mockery.

Next was Prussia. Among all the Famous Scholars, Prussia had the highest favorability with the [Benevolent Elder], so the Strategist from Prussia placed their seeking worthy order on the [Benevolent Elder]'s portrait.

After placing the seeking worthy order into the Famous Scholar's portrait, the Strategist from Prussia turned to Chen Aoyun and said,

"You'll have to wait a bit longer. Whether I keep the ancient book fragment in my hand for myself or give it to your Dragon Country depends on seeing how other countries place their orders first."

The tone was neither warm nor cold. Chen Aoyun did not speak, only nodding silently.

Next, it was the Strategist from France's turn to choose a Famous Scholar.

The Famous Scholar chosen by the French Strategist was actually the [Clan Head]!

Even though France only ranked fourth in favorability with the [Clan Head], he dared to place his seeking worthy order like this. Chen Aoyun couldn't help but frown.

The placement continued.

Next was Rome.

Among all the Famous Scholars who could recommend Heroic Spirits, Rome clearly had a higher ranking with the [Dean]—it was second—yet they placed their seeking worthy order on the portrait of the [Abbot], who was ranked fifth!

Following that were Germany, the Ottoman, and the Bear Country.

With every seeking worthy order these countries placed, the expressions of the four from the Dragon Country grew uglier.

After they had placed their orders on the [Maritime Merchant], [Officer], and [Abbot] respectively, only Britain and the USA had yet to place theirs.

"Britain and the USA—how do you think they will place their orders?"

Not far away, Saku Kenichi suddenly asked, smiling toward the Dragon Country.

"Aren't you in the Dragon Country going to beg these two countries?

Britain ranks first with the [Officer], [Benevolent Elder], and [Ranger].

If they place their order on the [Officer], they will squeeze out the Ottoman's seeking worthy order; placing it on the [Benevolent Elder] will squeeze out Prussia; and placing it on the [Ranger] will squeeze out your Dragon Country.

Similarly, the USA ranks high with the [Maritime Merchant], [Dean], and [Abbot].

Wherever the USA places its order, that Famous Scholar's friendship will belong to the USA.

Your Dragon Country has a chance with the [Maritime Merchant]. The country that has already placed its order on the [Maritime Merchant] is Germany, but Germany's favorability with the [Maritime Merchant] is fourth, while your Dragon Country is third.

As long as the USA doesn't place its order there, when it's your turn, you can squeeze out Germany!

What are you waiting for? Why don't you hurry and beg these two countries?

Oh, right, isn't your Dragon Country discussing deals with them?

Guess whether the USA and Britain will actually pay attention to the deals you proposed?"

Saku Kenichi's words were clear and grating. Fan Ling and the others had already heard the subtext.

"I knew these people had all planned this! We're finished!

The USA and Britain will definitely target our Dragon Country by placing their orders on the [Ranger] and [Maritime Merchant] portraits!

So much for deals! Except for Germany and the Bear Country, who were also screwed over, all these other countries are in cahoots with Sakura Country! We've been played!"

The countries that had previously discussed deals with Chen Aoyun were the most active, excluding Germany and the Bear Country. Who would have thought that every single one of them was just feigning interest in the deals!

They had long since conspired and decided how to internally distribute the seven Famous Scholars who could recommend Heroic Spirits!