Before the royal palace, the massive stone staircase lay in ruins, shattered by tremendous force. Blood and mangled corpses littered the steps—a silent testament to the ferocity of battle.
"So, that's the king of the northern tribes?"
Selene clicked her tongue twice, glancing at the mutilated corpse clad in black armor before turning to her adjutant for confirmation.
"Reporting to the Great General: Yes, this man was the old king of the northern tribes—the Empire's greatest enemy in the north. But that's all in the past. The northern tribes are finished."
"Hmm... at least he died with dignity." Selene nodded slightly, acknowledging the fallen king's refusal to surrender.
Then, in the same calm tone, she added, "Cut off his head, preserve it, and send it to the capital as a victory report. Oh, and make sure it's recorded under Hak Foo's name—this victory belongs to him and the vanguard."
Recognition was one thing, sentiment another. Selene had no interest in hypocritical gestures like erecting memorials or granting enemies a hero's burial. She knew her role—she was the Empire's supreme commander in the north, and it was her duty to secure glory for her subordinates.
Some leaders, to appear merciful, would pardon defeated foes, even granting them rank or honor after their deaths. But not Selene. She held a different view entirely.
An enemy was an enemy. Mercy and generosity after a war were not to be wasted on them.
Mercy toward one's foes could only breed resentment among one's own. What would her soldiers think? Those who had fought and bled for her would see their sacrifices trampled by false kindness.
They had risked their lives to secure her triumph—only for their enemies to be rewarded in the aftermath? No. Mercy was for her people, not for her foes.
Of course, Selene's Mental Seal influence ensured absolute loyalty, but she was not content with obedience born of control alone.
She wanted more—admiration, devotion, genuine faith.
Beyond the psychological manipulation, her words and actions needed to show her troops that she was worth following. That she was a ruler they could fight and die for willingly.
That was Selene's pursuit of dual control—both of mind and of heart.
Unlike the cold expansion she had once led in the Honkai Dimension, this world's conquest—where she could see, touch, and feel her growing empire—thrilled her in ways she hadn't thought possible. Every cheer, every look of reverence, every inch of new territory fueled her ambition further.
"Yes, Great General!" her adjutant shouted fervently, pressing his fist to his chest. As Hak Foo's adjutant, he too shared in the vanguard's glory—slaying the northern king meant glory for them both.
Selene continued forward into the grand circular hall of the palace. The lavish decor surprised her—it mirrored Imperial design. "Huh... did they use Imperial craftsmen for this?" she mused aloud.
This fortress city had potential. Its location, size, and abundant mineral resources—according to the Complete Book of the World—made it ideal for industrial reconstruction. She could rebuild it into a major northern base.
Just as she was considering the logistics of its redevelopment, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Milady, during the pursuit of the remaining enemies, I made a new discovery."
Hak Foo emerged from the rear hall, bloodstained but grinning, each heavy step leaving crimson footprints on the marble floor. Dropping to one knee, he reported respectfully, "Beneath the palace lies a vast underground chamber. There, I found a large deposit of unusual ore."
"Unusual ore...?" The word ore immediately caught Selene's attention. Could it be orichalcum?
"Lead the way," she said, her tone calm but her eyes alight with anticipation.
"Yes, Milady."
Following Hak Foo through the rear hall, they descended into a long corridor—and before long, Selene found herself staring at a glowing mineral vein that pulsed faintly with light.
At first glance, it looked like ordinary limestone. But she knew better. There was nothing ordinary about this place.
Upon closer inspection, the rock walls emitted a faint, constant glow—soft white laced with shimmering gold. The natural crystal formations were beautiful, intricate, and clearly untouched by tools.
Stepping deeper into the excavated cavern, Selene reached out and ran her fingers over the surface. The texture was smooth—unnaturally so—completely at odds with its rugged appearance.
"Let's see for myself..." she murmured, snapping off a small fragment with her bare hand. Violet light flickered in her palm as Honkai energy flowed through her fingers.
Moments later, her expression brightened with unmistakable delight. "It really is... orichalcum!"
A genuine find—one of immense value.
"Guards! Inform Liver to bring Dr. Stylish here immediately. And seal off the entire royal palace under heavy guard!"
"Yes, Great General!"
...
"The fortress city's armory contained far more equipment than we anticipated. It seems these damn—uh, these tribesmen—had prepared extensively for war against us."
Kinshasa reported calmly as he reviewed the logistics officer's summary of the captured supplies.
"Only about five thousand suits of iron armor, but over sixty thousand leather armors, and an enormous stockpile of blades, spears, and arrows."
Selene nodded with satisfaction, listening to the inventory report. Her smile was faint but unmistakable—this campaign had been extraordinarily profitable.
A messenger soon rushed in, saluting sharply. "Report! Great General, General Liver and Dr. Stylish have arrived."
"Good. Send them in."
Moments later, a familiar voice rang out even before its owner entered. "Congratulations, Great General—on the complete annihilation of the northern tribes!"
Selene smiled faintly. "The pleasure's mutual, Doctor. You'll be receiving plenty of new experimental material yourself."
"And more importantly," she added, her tone carrying quiet excitement, "beneath this palace, we've discovered something that no longer exists anywhere within the Empire—an active vein of orichalcum."
"What!?" Dr. Stylish's eyes widened behind his lenses. "Orichalcum—the primary material used in crafting Teigu! Then... could we truly revive the art of Teigu creation?!"
As the realization struck, the scientist's composure shattered. Barely able to contain his ecstasy, he blurted out, "Great General! Please—please allow me to study it at once! I beg of you!"
Selene chuckled softly. "Of course—"
But before she could finish, her shadow rippled. A black-clad ninja emerged from the darkness, kneeling with a sealed letter held reverently in his hands.
Selene took it with a knowing look. Even before opening it, she had a feeling what it might say.
"Sebas reports that he's located the Super-class Danger Beast—Tyrant. He's tracking it as we speak."
Her smile deepened. "Dr. Stylish, it seems your research will be resuming sooner than expected."
She turned, her crimson eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Today truly is a day of double blessings."