Family system-Chapter 235: Foundations of Dominion

Weeks had passed since Jack had sent his envoys beyond the borders of Aetheria. In that time, his influence within the city grew stronger, his followers more devoted, and his empire more stable. But the true test of his power lay beyond the city walls, where his reach had yet to be fully established.

The grand hall was alive with anticipation. Jack stood at the head of a long obsidian table, surrounded by his most trusted advisors, warriors, and priestesses. The air buzzed with the low murmurs of expectation, all waiting for the envoys to return with their findings.

Then, the great doors swung open, and the envoys entered.

They came in groups, each representing the direction they had been sent—north to the war-hardened tribes, east to the fertile plains, south to the treacherous mountains, and west to the enigmatic forests. Each bore the signs of their journey—dust-covered cloaks, weary eyes, and, in some cases, fresh scars from unexpected encounters. But despite their hardships, they carried invaluable knowledge, and Jack was eager to hear their reports.

Ela stepped forward first, representing the envoys sent to the east. Her crimson robes barely concealed the excitement gleaming in her eyes.

"The eastern plains are as fertile as we anticipated," she began, rolling out a parchment map marked with trade routes and settlement locations. "The villages are small, but they are numerous. Their economy is driven by agriculture and merchant trade, but they are vulnerable."

She pointed to a map section where several villages were clustered together. "Bandit raids are common. Without centralized leadership, each settlement fends for itself, hiring mercenaries or relying on weak militias to protect their goods." She smiled knowingly. "They need security. And we can provide it."

Jack nodded. "And how do they feel about us?"

Ela smirked. "Cautious, but curious. We presented ourselves as a stabilizing force, offering protection in exchange for cooperation. Three major villages have already agreed to send tributes in exchange for our warriors patrolling their borders. They see the advantages of aligning with us, even if they do not yet worship."

Jack tapped his fingers against the table, thoughtful. "That will change in time. We must make our warriors indispensable to them. The more they rely on us, the more they see our faith as the natural order."

Ela inclined her head. "It is only a matter of time."

Next, Amaterasu stepped forward, her golden presence commanding the room’s attention. She had led the delegation to the north, where the warrior tribes ruled the harsh, mountainous terrain.

"The tribes are wary of outsiders," she reported. "They value strength above all else. Had we approached them as simple diplomats, they would have cast us out without a second thought."

Jack smirked. "So you challenged them."

Amaterasu’s lips curled upward. "Of course. We demonstrated our prowess in combat, and once they saw we were not weak, they listened. They respect power, and now they respect us."

She gestured to one of the warriors who had accompanied her. The woman stepped forward, displaying a deep scar along her arm, a mark of their trials. "We participated in their rites of strength, proving our worth. They do not yet bow to us but recognize us as equals. That is the first step."

Jack folded his arms. "And their stance on faith?"

Amaterasu’s expression darkened slightly. "They do not yet believe. Their gods are ancient, tied to their ancestors’ land and spirits. But there is one advantage—these spirits are not tangible. They offer no blessings, no power. Only tradition."

Jack’s golden eyes gleamed. "Then we will show them something real. Something undeniable."

Amaterasu nodded. "We will continue to demonstrate that our faith brings true strength while their old gods offer nothing but stories."

Selene was next. She had led the team into the treacherous southern mountains, where ancient ruins and hidden dangers lurked.

"The mountains are more than we expected," she began, unfurling a second map. "They are rich with minerals—iron, gold, even traces of mana-infused crystals. But they are not unclaimed."

She pointed to several locations marked in red. "Rogue factions have taken refuge in the mountains. Former Arbiter loyalists, outcasts, and mercenaries who refuse to accept the new order. They are scattered and unorganized but will not surrender their territory easily."

Jack frowned slightly. "Are they a threat?"

"Not yet," Selene admitted. "But if left unchecked, they could become one. However, we have already begun infiltrating their ranks. A few of our most loyal followers have been placed within their factions. In time, they will sow discord and weaken their foundations."

Jack’s smirk returned. "Good. We will either turn them to our cause or eliminate them."

Finally, Kali stepped forward, her usual smirk replaced by something more serious.

"The western forests are… different," she said, her voice carrying a note of intrigue. "They are unlike anything we have encountered before."

Jack’s gaze sharpened. "Explain."

"The land itself is alive," Kali continued. "The trees whisper. Shadows shift even when no one moves them. And there are… entities. Not men, not beasts. Something else."

Jack leaned forward. "Did you see them?"

"No," Kali admitted. "But we felt them. They were watching us, always just beyond our sight. Our scouts who ventured too deep returned shaken. Some refused to speak of what they saw."

Jack’s expression was unreadable. "And yet, you think it is worth pursuing."

Kali met his gaze. "Absolutely. There is power there, Jack. Old power. We must uncover it."

Jack nodded slowly. "Then we proceed with caution. We will send our most skilled mages and scholars to study this place before we take any definitive steps."

With all reports given, Jack stood, looking over the maps and the details of their expansion. The eastern plains were already bending to his will, the northern tribes respected his strength, the mountains held riches waiting to be seized, and the forests held mysteries worth unraveling.

He turned to his advisors, his voice firm. "We continue. The eastern plains will become our trade stronghold, the northern tribes our warriors, the mountains our wealth, and the forests… our key to something greater."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

Jack exhaled, pleased. His empire was not just growing—it was inevitable. And soon, the world would kneel before him, whether they realized it or not.

After analyzing the reports from his envoys and laying the foundation for his expansion, Jack turned his focus toward the most immediate and strategically advantageous territory—the Eastern Plains. With its fertile lands and vulnerable villages, this region was the easiest to influence. The people here were pragmatic, seeking stability above all else, and Jack was more than willing to provide it.

The first step was securing the roads. Trade flowed through these villages like blood through veins, and if Jack controlled the roads, he controlled the entire region. He ordered the deployment of elite warriors from Aetheria, seasoned fighters who had already proven their loyalty to him. Alongside them, merchant caravans and priestesses of the cult traveled, ensuring that protection came hand in hand with prosperity.

Ela, overseeing the economic aspects of the expansion, worked quickly to establish contracts with the largest trading posts in the region. She ensured that every merchant who wished to profit from the booming trade routes had to go through their networks. Resistance was minimal, with low taxes, favorable protection rates, and exclusive access to superior goods. The local merchants soon found that aligning with Jack’s forces was more profitable than resisting them.

"We do not force them," Ela explained during one of the expansion meetings. "We simply make it so that they cannot function without us. In time, they will see our way as the only way."

Jack smirked, satisfied. "Good. Keep them reliant. Keep them wanting more."

While the merchants and traders quickly adapted to Jack’s influence, the village elders and landowners required more persuasion. Unlike merchants, these were men and women who clung to tradition, hesitant to relinquish control over their lands.

For them, Amaterasu and her priestesses played a crucial role. They traveled from village to village, preaching about the cult’s faith—not as a doctrine, but as a source of power and protection. They healed the sick, blessed the crops, and whispered to the women of the villages about the opportunities waiting for those who accepted the faith.

It was a slow, delicate process, but progress was undeniable. Women who once followed the customs of their fathers and husbands began slipping away to join secret gatherings in the temples Jack’s followers had begun erecting. At first, these meetings were small—prayers in the dead of night, whispered conversations behind closed doors—but soon, the attendance grew.

The men of the villages noticed, and some resisted. They threatened their wives, punished their daughters, and forbade them from attending the gatherings.

But Jack had prepared for this.

One particular village, Nareth, was known for its stubborn elders. They had grown wealthy off the land, hoarding their resources while letting smaller villages around them suffer. Their leader, an aging patriarch named Orlen, was the loudest opponent of Jack’s influence.

"This is foolishness!" he had declared at a council gathering. "We do not need outsiders coming here with their foreign gods! We have survived on our own for generations."

Jack did not send an army. He did not threaten them with swords or fire. Instead, he let his followers work. The women of Nareth, already enticed by the promises of the cult, turned against their old traditions. They gathered in the square, refusing to be silenced. They demanded change.

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When Orlen tried to end it, he stood before a village that no longer obeyed him. His daughters, once meek and obedient, stood among the followers of the cult, their eyes filled with something he had never seen before—conviction.

Then, the bandits came.

They struck Nareth at night, believing it to be an easy target. Under normal circumstances, the villagers would have been helpless, left to the mercy of raiders who saw them as prey.

But Jack’s warriors were already there, waiting.

The battle was swift. His warriors efficiently cut down the bandits, proving to the people of Nareth that they were protected not just by words but by steel. Not a single villager was harmed, while the bodies of their would-be attackers were left piled outside the village gates as a warning to others.

The next morning, Orlen fell to his knees before Jack’s envoy. He pledged his loyalty, and with him, the entire village of Nareth bowed to the cult.

The fall of Nareth sent a message to every other village in the Eastern Plains. Those who aligned with Jack were protected. Those who resisted were left vulnerable. And so, the villages submitted one by one—not through conquest, but through necessity.

With each passing week, more villages accepted Jack’s rule. Merchants flourished under his watchful eye. The roads became safer, travel became easier, and trade in the region flourished without fear for the first time in decades.

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The cult’s faith, once whispered in secret, now burned openly. Temples rose in the center of villages, filled with women who had once been bound by tradition but now found themselves devoted to something greater.

Jack watched it all unfold from his throne, his golden eyes filled with satisfaction.

"This is only the beginning," he murmured to Kali one evening as they overlooked the growing lands of the east.

She smirked, resting her head against his shoulder. "And where do we strike next?"

Jack exhaled, his vision already set beyond the horizon. "The north. The tribes respect strength. And soon, they will learn that true power lies with us."