Feicui Long then gathers everyone in his room, since he is going to announce everything he has prepared. Originally, he would like to do it in a meeting room, but that room does not even have a table and also lacks concealment formations or anti-espionage protection, unlike his room, which is also linked to his three supreme divine authorities, making it so that even a god with supreme divine authority, including Supreme Gods of higher rank, could not spy on them.
So the most logical and coherent move is to talk to them here. Even so... Feicui Long feels a bit cramped even though the room is big and still has plenty of space. Feicui Long looks at them and, clearing his throat ahemahem, says: "I have gathered you here for something very important, and when I say it's very important, I am not exaggerating."
Everyone is doubtful, looking at one another, even Isabella, but her heart is restless, confirming what she already knows. What Feicui Long saw in his visions is probably nothing good, so nervously and worriedly she asks: "What's going on, darling? Why are you calling us so suddenly?"
Feicui Long looks at her and at Mariane with a slightly bitter smile and replies: "Darling, my little disciple, I know you have already realized it, but my visions have returned."
Mariane and Isabella look at each other, but just as they are about to ask, Freja interrupts them and says: "You have visions? And on top of that, they came back?"
Feicui Long looks at her and says: "The answer to that is a bit long, but it's necessary so that you understand."
After saying that, Feicui Long tells them everything about the visions, his ability, among other things in impressive detail. The explanation in total takes a whole hour.
It is then that Feicui Long looks at everyone seriously and says: "So the important reason is not just because they have returned, but because of what I saw in the most recent ones. To make it short, I saw how we all died, no matter what I did. It was always the same: either all of you died and I survived, or we all died, including the Skylion barony and its inhabitants, or I died sacrificing myself. Those were the only three outcomes, even though the paths were different each time."
Everyone makes dark faces. Ever since Feicui Long showed them that projection and his divine authorities, it is hard not to believe him about something, especially something he is saying with absolute seriousness and great care in a protected room to prevent spying.
Feicui Long then crosses his arms and, using his psychic power, takes a map and hangs it on a wall of the room. Everyone is confused, and that's when Feicui Long speaks: "That's why I have decided to take an action I never considered. I am going to create a new empire from scratch, starting here."
Several of the women start looking at him as if he is crazy. It is not until Caroline asks: "But you yourself said it didn't matter what you did, so what changes with this?"
Feicui Long looks into her eyes and says: "Your question is very valid. You see, when I first came back after having the first visions, I created several plans and preparations, and even modified many things. But no matter what I changed, it only changed the path of the visions, but they led to the same outcome. But that's the detail: every time I made a plan or change, a new vision arrived. With the empire plan, I haven't had a single vision, they have completely calmed down. Even though I don't have the power to activate them by myself right now, I can deduce from this that I am on the right path."
Gloria, who is deep in thought, asks him something else: "Let's suppose you're right. How do you plan to do it? I won't question whether or not you're capable of leading an empire, since you founded one that still exists, but I do wonder what your plan is to achieve it."
Feicui Long smiles proudly and says: "In fact, I do have a plan. I've been developing it for only 15 days, but it's quite complete, especially because I've basically just been working on it and cultivating myself, besides eating, bathing, and sleeping. I have it right here in these books."
Feicui Long, with his psychic power, places a small notebook on the lap of each woman in the room: Gloria, Freja, Caroline, Arianne, Mariane, Isabella, Andrea, his nieces Callista and Melina, and his personal maid Annie, except for the girls and Esmeralda, Amethyst, and Topaz, because they communicate directly with his soul and mind.
When everyone is about to look at it, several other things fly to their laps, among them some scrolls, three more notebooks, but there is a difference not only in the color of the covers but in what each notebook says. The first one says "Empire Foundation Plan" and is green. The second says "Economic and Development Plan" in purple. The third says "Defense and Diplomacy Plan" in yellow-orange. The last one is a red notebook that says "Laws and Rules of the Empire."
Everyone starts reading a bit of the green notebook. Even though it's a small notebook, everything is quite detailed. Every step is measured and meticulous, almost as if trying to anticipate time, a very common trait of the one who wrote it. Arianne, the most erudite of them all, calmly and quietly asks Feicui Long: "Why are you showing this to us? I understand Mariane, Annie, Isabella, your nieces and Gloria, but we don't have much of a connection with you."
Feicui Long looks at them and says: "First, you signed a slavery contract with me, so technically I can do whatever I want, but in reality it's because even without the contract your fate is tied to mine. After all, your families live in the Skylion barony, don't they? That means that if the barony falls, your families will die."
Arianne then asks another question: "But why would your enemy target us and the barony?"
Feicui Long answers her: "Because this enemy... is an old enemy, one who used to be my brother and the same one who declared the crusade of extermination and annihilation of the 14 mortal races. And he's also a mortal enemy of the Skylion family, so inevitably, we will have to face each other."
After explaining that, Feicui Long sweeps his eyes over all of them and says: "Of course, this is only the first stage of everything. The foundation plan is only in its initial phase, same for the economic and defense ones, and even the laws. This is because I want to develop everything with all of you. When I had my empire and temple, I could sit with the best to discuss improvements and laws. Maybe you don't know much, but even so, you'd still help me until I get subordinates who can take on that same role."
They all look at each other, thinking what to say. Then Feicui Long says something else: "I also want to apologize to you for something..."
Isabella asks hesitantly: "Apologize for what, darling?"
Feicui Long tells her: "For the fact that in the plan I chose as a first option the purchase of mortal slaves, and also that in the laws I allowed their existence."
Isabella then laughs a bit 'hahaha' and says: "What are you saying, darling? Isn't that normal? The mortal races union allows it, the Habsburg Empire allows it, most use it. Why are you apologizing? Don't dragons use it too?"
Feicui Long looks at her with a bitter smile and shakes his head: "Isabella, we dragons have a highly hierarchical society, but we love our freedom above all else, so we don't enslave nor does it even cross our minds to enslave one of our own, not even dragons from the demonic path. In fact, slavery is only used as one of the highest punishments, and only for the greatest criminals who committed serious crimes but are not yet considered sinners against the dragon clan, and therefore the extermination order is not given."
Feicui Long then sighs and says: "In fact, even though it's one of the harshest punishments, most of the time it applies only for a set amount of time. The crime has to be extremely severe within the clan or kingdom or wherever they live to be sentenced to lifelong slavery. That would already be bordering the level of sinner against the clan. Of course, it's not like there are no dragons with slaves of other races, but among dragons, it's extremely rare to see a dragon with another dragon as a slave, and even slaves from other races are also rare."
Isabella asks hesitantly: "Then how do you do everything? Also, aren't dragons a low birthrate race?"
Feicui Long nods and says: "We are a low birthrate race, and we do everything ourselves or with our servants. See, unlike mortals, we have the ability to do everything on our own. But at the same time, many races and species are more than willing to serve dragons of their own will. From almost the entire beast clan, to the magic clan, the elemental clan, the monster clan, some demon species and divine clan species, even mortal races like kobolds, whether from the canine or reptile species, and even humans, elves, beastmen, among others."
While they are talking, Arianne reads the slavery laws and asks Feicui Long with a doubtful voice: "Are you sure this is even slavery? Because it doesn't seem like it. You not only forbid the sale and trade of slaves, but you also state that slavery is only allowed due to debts. And on top of that, you set limits depending on the debt or damage: it can go from 1 year or 6 months up to a maximum of 25 years. Besides that, it says that the now master can't force the person to do things that risk their health or physical integrity, and can't force them into anything sexual. The slavery contract can only be issued by the government and no one else, but that's not all."
Arianne looks at him and says: "It also says that the master must guarantee food, shelter, and proper tools for the job. And besides the regular payment for that job, the slave must be paid between 33% and 10% of the salary for that profession or task, depending on the difficulty or danger of it. On top of that, they're granted a protection called 'enhanced protection due to loss of freedom.'"
Everyone now really looks at Feicui Long like he's crazy, but before he can explain, Gloria, who also read all of this, says: "But that's not even the worst part. Even some punishments that would normally be paid with life were replaced by slavery, though not temporary. Still, almost all the same rights are granted. Only for the most serious crimes is slavery allowed to put them in life-or-death scenarios."
Feicui Long sighs and says: "If it were in my first life, maybe I wouldn't have such a problem with slavery, but I have lived six other lives including this one, all six of those lives living as a mortal, but particularly the ones I lived in a techno-energetic society, in the incomplete path of pure technology, and my life on Earth, taught me many things, different ways of seeing life."
Feicui Long then adds and says: "That's why I set those limits. In fact, in the initial plan, since we need people quickly and this place is too far and isolated, with almost no protection, which would make almost no one come voluntarily, I'm forced to buy slaves from the slave traders' union, also because I need several specific professions. So to gather the total 250 people, that was the only way. In fact, if you look at the plan, the plan is to free them after a while, because I want citizens, not slaves that obey me in everything."
All the women remain silent, thinking about this. Feicui Long understands this and ends the meeting, telling them to read everything and give him their suggestions. Everyone leaves, deep in thought, but only Feicui Long, Isabella, Mariane, and the twins know they have to run to reach this goal...