Huo Yuhao sat down on a chair and said, "It seems like you're doing well since we last saw each other, Elder Ma."
"I don't deserve such respect, my lord," Elder Ma said quickly, lowering his head once more. "I am but a servant of your will. Nothing more."
Huo Yuhao slightly smiled.
'Eh? What's going on here? Isn't this your first time here?' Jianxin's voice echoed from his spiritual sea, taking territory near the center.
As his first spirit soul, they both can share each other's senses and memories. But she didn't look around his memories a lot of time, simply because she wanted to respect his privacy, so she didn't understand how Huo Yuhao could have a contact here.
'This is my first time officially here,' Huo Yuhao replied inwardly. 'I met Elder Ma two years ago to rescue Snow Empress. He and his group were the ones holding her 'cage', so I had to confront them. I managed to win against them because of my Mangekyou Sharingan techniques and the environment we were in.
I spared his life and hypnotized him because I realized that I would be coming to the Sun Moon Empire in the future, thus I needed a foothold of sorts to have rapid progress in my plans in going around the country unhindered.
Elder Ma has a high position in the academy and the Illustrious Virtue Hall, so he's a very useful agent.
It wasn't easy hypnotizing him that would last for so long and without anyone finding out about it; I used almost all of my many energies amped with the Eye of Eternity just to recreate a fraction of the power of a technique called Kotoamatsukami.
It was the right move and my gamble paid off. A dead enemy is only useful once. A loyal pawn can be useful in the long run.'
Jianxin was quiet for a moment before replying, 'You really are scary sometimes, Yuhao. That's not something even most villains think to do.'
Huo Yuhao chuckled. 'Oh, you don't know what a true villain can really do. Besides, why didn't you say something when I tortured the Duchess?'
'She deserved it. Taking revenge on the people who caused you grief and pain isn't what makes you a villain.' Jianxin said.
'....Fair. Though, I never thought of myself as a hero or a saint either. I'm a Shinobi through and through. For my goals, ambitions, and dreams I would do anything in order to achieve them.' A cold glint flickered across Huo Yuhao's eyes for a moment, a dark aura subtly emerged from his body.
Elder Ma trembled. In his point of view, Huo Yuhao had suddenly become serious and cold.
It was as if he was angry. No, furious!
Was it something that he said?
Under the effects of the hypnosis for so long, Elder Ma now perceives Huo Yuhao as not just his lord and master—but his God!
'O-Oh no! I've displeased my lord!' Elder Ma slammed his head further into the ground, bleeding profusely from the forehead.
He didn't care. He only wanted to appease his God!
"M-My lord, please calm your wrath! If I've said anything offensive, let my life be the price for redemption!"
Huo Yuhao blinked, the shadows around him slowly fading. The surge of dark aura he'd unintentionally released had slipped out like a reflex—born from the depths of his soul; filled with the desire for power, vengeance, and hatred!
This showed the mark that his soul carried—
The mark of the reincarnation soul of Indra Ōtsutsuki.
He sighed and raised a hand. "Get up, Elder Ma. You're not in trouble."
Elder Ma hesitated, blood trickling down the bridge of his nose. "I—But the aura you released, my lord..... I thought—"
"I wasn't angry at you," Huo Yuhao interrupted calmly. "I had something on my mind at the time. Forget about it. Now, I want to hear about the current situation of what you've done here."
"Very well, my lord. I have done what your will has told me!" Elder Ma's face brightened.
"I have been gathering people together, albeit it is a bit slow and most of the members are of lower classes of Soul Engineers, I am greatly ashamed of it. To overthrow the imperial family, we need a huge force in order to combat them since their military might is extremely terrifying." He said.
Huo Yuhao nodded. "I expected that the group you gathered wouldn't be many and powerful, all I expected is a network of loyal ears and hands. Spies, warriors are second."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Now, what can you tell me about this empire's military?" Huo Yuhao asked the important question. He was always curious about the military strength of the Sun Moon Empire, unlike Shrek Academy and the other empires, this nation is vastly superior in terms of technology after all.
As far as he understands about Class 9 soul engineers, the soul tools that they create have the destructive power to kill or severely wound Titled Douluos and annihilate cities, or deploy barriers that can withstand bombardment of attacks from Titled Douluos.
That was as far as Huo Yuhao understood about the prowess of class 9 soul tools. After all, the Sun Moon Empire is the only nation that have Class 9 Soul Engineers.
He wanted to believe it was mere exaggeration but he'll find out about it soon enough.
Elder Ma straightened, his voice becoming more formal as he answered. "The military power of the Sun Moon Empire is composed mostly of soul engineers. Furthermore, their military organization can be split up into the eleven legions: the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion, the four Great Beast-ranked soul engineer legions, and six normal soul engineer legions numbered first through sixth.
Together they are collectively known as the Hand that Protects the Nation." Although he showed a grim look, a look of pride flashed through his eyes.
Even though he was mind controlled, Elder Ma was still a Sun Moon Native. He was still proud of the military might of his nation.
He continued, "According to the Sun Moon Empire's soul engineer legions' organizational structure, every soul engineer legion has three legion commanders, one head commander and two vice-commanders — and all of them are class 9 soul engineers.
Every legion consisted of at least 300 soul engineers, and sometimes even more if normal soldiers were counted, but the soul engineers have to least be a Class 5 Soul Engineer or a Soul King to join."
Huo Yuhao hummed, rubbing his chin in deep thought. "That means there's at least 30 Titled Douluo with class 9 soul tools in the military. By the Gods, if they have a genius strategist to command them then it would take at least a decade for the Sun Moon Empire to unify the entire continent!"
'No, it might even take less than a decade if the empire would become allied with the Holy Ghost Church. From what I found out from Feng Ling and the others, their organization has two Limit Douluos: Dragon Emperor Douluo; Long Xiaoyao, and Death God Douluo; Ye Xishui.
It's shocking that they're Teacher Mu's old friends.'
'With their combined might, they could take over an empire within a few months before taking the rest. No, I can't let this happen,' Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed.
'I'm the only one who could do that!'
"Elder Ma, do you know about any activities concerning Evil Soul Masters lately in the empire?" Huo Yuhao asked, after a brief moment of pondering.
Elder Ma nodded. "Yes, my lord. In the past few months, the presence of Evil Soul Masters has skyrocketed and the people of this nation have become terrified. It was also thanks to their presence that I managed to convince many people to join our cause."
"Although, it took a bit more work...."
.....
A few weeks ago.
Knock!* Knock!*
"Yes?"
"Hi! Would you like to hear about our lord and savior, Indra?"
...
"But I managed well, no worries about that. Although I am worried a little bit about the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion and Evil Soul Masters; they've slowly started tracking my trails. I'm afraid..."
"No worries, Elder Ma. I would like to reward you for your hard work, but I shall see to the group you've gathered first and decide then," Huo Yuhao murmured, his expression unreadable behind the cold gleam in his eyes.
He stood and began to pace slowly, hands clasped behind his back, his thoughts weaving a new web of implications.
"Fear has always been the easiest currency to trade in," he said after a pause, "the Holy Ghost Church makes its move from the shadows, stirring chaos and feeding terror....and the Empire allows it.
My conjuncture will soon become a reality, that cannot happen." Huo Yuhao clenched his fist.
"Elder Ma, gather up the people you've recruited somewhere safe and secure in three days. I will have something to announce that concerns you and them,"
Elder Ma immediately bowed, his forehead once again brushing the floor. "Yes, my lord! I shall make the arrangements. I will personally ensure that no outsiders learn of this meeting."
"Good." Huo Yuhao's tone was low, commanding, final.
He paused.
"By the way, have you come up with a name to the group?"
"No, my lord. I haven't given myself and the rest a name, as I had wanted to wait for you." Elder Ma explained.
Huo Yuhao hummed. "Hmm. Let's keep this group separate for a while. Shadow's Order, yes. We hide in the shadows, in order to bring order to the chaos that is the Sun Moon Empire."
Elder Ma's face lit up with awe and reverence, as if he had just received a divine revelation.
"A brilliant name, my lord," he said, voice trembling with conviction. "Shadow's Order....yes! That is who we are. What we will become!"