Chapter 185: Sibling Conflict and the Empire’s Demise [Two-in-One]

“If the Kewell Palace is the crown jewel of Willis City, then Morton Garden is the gem of Kewell Palace. However, when you arrive, everything will pale in comparison. You are the most dazzling pearl on the Kewell crown!”

Kesan, the eleventh monarch of the Kewell Empire, walked with a smile into the pavilion of Morton Garden.

At this moment, his sister Clementine was seated in the pavilion, sitting with the elegance of a duchess in the Duchess Slant position.

In front of her was a curved virtual screen that provided her a 188-degree field of view.

Although the content on the virtual screen was not visible from behind, Kesan could tell from the glimmer of data in his sister’s eyes that she was working.

This scene made a complex expression flash in Kesan’s eyes.

There was joy, envy, and even a bit of jealousy.

Since the release of the ‘Six Prime Gods Treaty,’ the Internet God’s status had almost overnight ascended to the ranks of the most powerful deities in the multiverse! Although the spread of the Internet had made many people aware of the Internet God’s extraordinary nature.

However, the limitations of information dissemination and differing perspectives still led to vastly different evaluations of the Internet God’s power.

When the Internet God formed an alliance with the Five Prime Gods, officially becoming known as the Six Prime Gods, everyone finally gained an intuitive understanding of the Internet God’s power.

—The power of the Internet God must be on par with the Five Prime Gods. Otherwise, how could the Five Prime Gods form an alliance with him? It can be said that with the announcement of the ‘Six Prime Gods Treaty,’ the layout of the multiverse would face another reshuffle. What changes lie ahead? No one knows.

The gods were busy preparing for the unprecedented changes that would occur in millennia.

The Internet Bank, which appeared in the treaty, shocked the multiverse!

Kesan could not understand why the Internet God would bind the fundamental source essence of the deities with currency.

But he knew that the Internet Bank would spread throughout the multiverse and become one of the most important institutions under the Internet God’s command.

In the multiverse, no institution or organization could exist by crossing the Preaching Area of the gods.

If any could be found, perhaps it was only the secret information organizations of the gods.

Now, the Internet Bank achieved this, doing so openly and honorably.

Regardless of its functional significance, just the fact that it spread across the Preaching Area of the gods throughout the multiverse was groundbreaking! And as fate would have it, the one holding this massive institution’s power was his own sister—Clementine! How could Kesan not be envious?

In a daze, he even thought about the argument a year ago when he opposed his sister joining the internship.

Had his sister listened to him back then, none of this would exist.

Thinking of this, Kesan felt increasingly complex emotions, even a sense of inferiority.

Because he realized his perspective was not as broad as his sister’s.

“These were words spoken by Father.” Clementine put away the virtual screen and stood up.

“Yes, for you, Father spared no expense to renovate this garden. He has never been so kind to me,” Kesan said with a smile.

“Is that so? But you inherited the Empire upon your birth. Isn’t that the best gift? In comparison, what does a garden matter?”

Clementine’s sharp-angled comfort left Kesan stunned and speechless for a long while.

“People always care about what they haven’t got and overlook what they already have.”

Clementine remarked, sounding a bit like an overly sentimental bard.

“Now, you look like a girl of your age.”

Kesan laughed.

Clementine responded with a gentle smile, but her gaze lingered nostalgically on Morton Garden.

This garden was her favorite place! Not only was it arranged with precise magical formations, bringing eternal spring and blooming flowers, but it was also a repository of her youth and memories.

“It’s probably very busy now. How come you returned so suddenly? You didn’t tell me either.” Noting her disinterest in the topic, Kesan tactfully shifted the subject.

“Busy indeed. I haven’t slept for four days. Every moment is occupied with closing the metal mint, inspecting the banknote factory, maneuvering through politics, establishing institutions, recruiting personnel…”

Clementine couldn’t help but complain.

After the Kewell currency, no, the Internet Coin was linked with Source Essence, the entire multiverse fell into madness.

Overnight, the Internet Coin became highly sought after and its value skyrocketed! Previously, Major e-commerce platforms frequently bartered goods. Now, most clients insisted on settling with Internet Coin.

The problem was that although Kewell Empire merchants were wealthy, compared to the multiverse’s demand, it was like a drop in the bucket.

With high demand, the purchasing power of Internet Coin soared rapidly.

On the black market, some directly exchanged gold for Internet Coin!

In such circumstances, a loophole became the focus of many.

—To maintain the stability of the Kewell currency market, the Internet God still recognized and legitimized Kewell currency, designating it as ‘Old Currency’! The issue was that although the minting right of Kewell currency seemed to lie with the royal family, in reality, all the nobility, and even everyone had the right to mint coins.

After all, Kewell currency was metallic, essentially a general equivalent.

Gold, silver, and copper—no matter if minted into currency, even if wiped after use, it is still valuable.

Now, with the soaring value of Internet Coin, everyone uses all kinds of tricks to amass money.

Innumerable underhanded methods emerged, especially the production of counterfeit coins!

No one could replicate Internet Coin banknotes because they had special anti-counterfeit features.

—Seemingly ordinary banknotes, when checked with the Internet Virtual Screen’s “check note” function, the Internet automatically discerns authenticity.

The uniqueness involving Divine Spark ensures no one can replicate an Internet Coin banknote.

Even if made identical on the surface, thanks to the Internet, it immediately reveals its true form.

Internet Coin banknotes are hard to replicate, but Kewell metallic currency is easy! Overnight, a large amount of Kewell currency flooded the banks.

Caught off guard by this influx, Clementine was stupefied.

After reporting to the Internet God, Clementine swiftly took decisive actions.

1. Banks outside the Kewell Empire refused to accept Kewell metal coins.

2. Within the Empire, adult citizens were allowed only up to one gold coin in exchange, equivalent to ten thousand copper coins, for a three-day period.

3. Internet Bank branches would accept metal currency, but withdrawals would support only banknotes.

4. Reporting private minting of Kewell currency, upon verification, would reward Internet Coin proportionately to the amount confiscated, supporting anonymous reports.

5. …

This series of oppressive measures could not entirely eliminate counterfeit money.

However, it at least managed to stall the situation.

Within the three-day time limit, even if the gods crazily produced counterfeit money, Kewell’s limited population could not support their crazed exchange for Internet Coin.

This was part of the cost the Internet God paid for promoting Internet Coin as the multiverse’s standard currency.

However, this cost was well within Yu Sheng’an’s tolerance! After all, the recovered metal currency was still usable. Since it’s a general equivalent, it could be sent to the factory as an industrial raw material.

It even saved transportation costs.

Back to the main topic.

At this moment, Kesan observed his sister, noticing that the seemingly complaining sister’s eyes were bright, very bright!

He recalled the ambition she showed when she last returned for her assessment—to become the Internet God’s bishop, overseeing Aezia Main Plane! Who could have imagined the Internet God would grant her power beyond her wildest ambition.

—To oversee the multiverse.

Thinking of this, Kesan felt a tinge of sourness and more jealousy!

Though he had always deeply cared for his sister, watching his once-idolizing sibling blossom from the Internet’s influence into someone he must now look up to left him with an emotional imbalance.

“If you’re tired, come back for a break. You can delegate work to your subordinates!” Kesan reassured.

Upon hearing this, Clementine abruptly squinted at her brother.

“What is it?”

“Brother, this mindset is dangerous. There’s a saying on the Internet: ‘An innocent man gets into trouble by holding a treasure.’ Do you know how many people are eyeing my position?”

Kesan was dumbfounded.

“Have you reached the Archmage stage now?”

“Almost!”

Kesan straightened his chest, feeling a sense of pride.

Since [Conquest Sub-Dimension] allowed Source Essence exchange, he had managed to acquire a large amount of Source Essence through various means, enhancing his soul and improving his cultivation aptitude.

Unbeknownst to Kesan whose pride was apparent, Clementine’s eyes showed a glimpse of disappointment.

Her brother wasn’t an ordinary man. He was the ruler of the Kewell Empire!

Though nominally powerless, he still enjoyed certain tax revenue, resources so enormous that they were beyond an ordinary person’s imagination.

Not to mention the wealth accumulated by the family.

Logically, with such vast resources, his opportunity under the Internet’s influence should have long stepped into the Archmage stage!

Why is it still only “almost”? This must mean one thing—her brother is not working hard enough.

His position doesn’t permit him to make excuses!

Tired? Just delegate your work like you’re some deity? To her knowledge, even the great Internet God had never taken a break. He could send messages at any time to adjust the Internet Bank.

Even update bank rules periodically.

It’s important to remember that the Internet Bank is just a small part of the Internet.

Consider the Conquest Sub-Dimension, the Dragon Factory, and the negotiations and schemes among gods. Just thinking about it makes the mind tremble.

“Brother, step down!” Clementine suddenly proposed.

“What did you say?”

Kesan’s slightly proud expression froze suddenly.

He looked at his sister, shocked, horrified, pained, incredulous, unable to comprehend.

“You want to become queen?” Kesan’s lips trembled.

This wasn’t shocking news in the Kewell Empire.

The Kewell royal family, with their millennium-long legacy, occasionally had to resort to female lineage to continue royal bloodlines.

“I’m not interested in the throne.” Clementine shook her head.

“You mean to suggest… I focus solely on magic training?” Kesan exhaled slightly.

“No, I mean the Kewell royal family should permanently abdicate, restructuring the Empire to a republic. The Internet God’s will becomes the supreme will.” Clementine’s voice was somewhat distorted.

“You…” Kesan staggered back a step, his eyes widening, his face filled with shock and disbelief: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know.” Clementine paused, “Brother, step down now, and you’ll still inherit all royal family assets, including this palace. Otherwise, you’ll have nothing left.”

“Don’t call me brother! This is originally our Kewell royal family’s!” Kesan finally realized, jumping up and down, shouting angrily.

Several guards hurried over, but a look from Clementine scared them away.

“Originally? ‘Originally’ only belongs to absolute power! If it weren’t for Emperor Kewell’s bloodline array here, the Kewell Empire would have long changed hands.”

Clementine remained expressionless, a sad undertone flashing in her eyes.

She didn’t want to do this, but she had no choice.

“Clementine! The blood of the Kewell royal family flows in you. The Internet God promised you a dreamlike future. Would you become his lackey for him? Think clearly! Without the royal family, you are nothing. The Internet God can remove you from your high position at any time!”

Clementine remained silent, slightly turning her head, looking at her brother with bulging veins on his forehead and bloodshot eyes.

For the first time, she realized he was just an ordinary person.

No, without his position, perhaps even less than an ordinary person.

“The trend is set, Brother! Dundar, Zimor, Besse, they won’t help you. Even if they do, or if you become an Archmage, it’s meaningless.”

“You’re betraying the family! Betraying the royal family! Betraying the great Emperor Kewell! You don’t deserve the royal blood!”

Kesan roared, glaring hatefully at his sister.

Clementine remained silent.

Her argument with her brother was like speaking different languages.

While she analyzed situations and reasoned, her brother spoke only of honor and betrayal, unable to accept reality.

Clementine took a deep breath, piercing through her brother’s last dignity:

“The achievements I’ve made now far surpass the ancestor Emperor Kewell! If he were alive, he’d be proud of me, not me proud of him!”

Upon these words, Kesan trembled, as if suddenly drained of his soul.

He gasped for breath, eyes red, like a living corpse.

After a long time, he finally seemed to react, trembling, hunched over, imploring: “Clementine, you are the Internet God’s right hand… I… I give up tax offerings. Please ask him not to abolish the royal family title. I can’t bear to let the Kewell royal family end with me.”

Clementine said, “Alright.”

Before Kesan could show any joy, her next words plunged him into the abyss!

“From now on, the Dragon Factory, Felix, Internet Bank… everything in the city will be moved. The Internet God will build a new city nearby. If you think your domain can compete with the Internet God, then I wish you luck!”

Finished speaking, Clementine turned and walked towards Morton Garden.

This would be her last tour of Morton Garden, a farewell to her mortal life, also giving her brother time to consider.

Honestly, she understood the Internet God’s approach.

The Kewell royal family was a parasite to the Kewell Empire.

Bound by a bloodline array, they enjoyed tax offerings.

In the past, with a magic-founded Kewell Empire, every ounce of strength mattered. Under such a power balance, even when stripped of power, the Kewell royal family could continue as long as they produced a new Archmage.

Now, for the Internet God, the bloodline array is more of a shackle than power.

In fact, even if Kesan abdicated, the Internet God planned to build a capital entirely under his control.

Willis wouldn’t fall. Under the Internet God’s leadership, it would embrace significant development like any other Kewell city.

But it would lose its core status.

Though Clementine could understand the Internet God’s actions, the Kewell royal family was still her family.

She felt great reluctance in her heart.

But she ultimately convinced herself.

The tide was turning, and there was no way to reverse it.

Furthermore, becoming a demigod of the Internet God granted her eternal life. Compared to the fleeting thousand-year Kewell legacy, it was merely a passing illusion.

Most importantly, her governance philosophy had evolved beyond territorial control under the Internet God’s influence.

Look at the current multiverse, a small Internet Coin provoked a frenzy across the universe.

Given time, through the Internet Bank, she could wield the power to influence the entire multiverse!

This was a power neither the bishop of the Five Prime Gods nor the Five Prime Gods themselves had.

The blueprint drawn by the Internet God was enough for her to stake an empire’s control as a bet!

After all, the Internet God didn’t want to annihilate her entire family.

Even more, when her power was great enough, she could rebuild an empire, perhaps a plane to gift to her family, ending this resentment.

After walking through Morton Garden, Clementine returned to the pavilion.

Her heart was once again resolute.

She looked at her despondent brother and asked, “Have you made your decision?”