Novel23 Chapter 199: We sold Earth
Chapter 199: We sold Earth
"Can you explain to me exactly what a Golden Lord is?" Ethan finally asked, trying to clear up a doubt that had been weighing on his heart for many months.
Ophelia stopped in her tracks, letting out a heavy sigh.
"We sold Earth to Estria, Ethan. They chose a thousand of the most powerful people on the planet, and those people sold our world. I was one of them."
The beautiful woman paused briefly, gathering her thoughts before continuing.
"Estria is currently an intermediate world, while Earth is an inferior one.
In theory, Estria shouldn’t consume Earth for another ten thousand years, following a natural cycle in which intermediate worlds devour inferior ones to ascend into superior ones.
For some reason, however, the gods of Estria are deeply anxious, and they’ve decided to hasten Earth’s integration.
That is why over five billion immersion devices have been manufactured. That is why every human on Earth is essentially being forced to play Tales of Estria.
For this integration to occur, a strong connection between the two worlds must first be forged. And such a connection can only be made by the souls of the people themselves.
A day will come when every player on Earth will be forcibly teleported to Estria. And Earth, along with anyone who has never once played Tales of Estria, will be shattered and consumed."
Ethan remained silent for several long seconds after that revelation, his eyes fixed on Ophelia’s.
"You guys sold Earth, huh? Hahaha"
Finally, it all made sense.
"Pathetic, isn’t it?" She sighed, a bitter laugh escaping her red-painted lips.
"We had money, power, and control over entire nations. But one thing was missing: Time and Youth. We sold Earth for that.
Billions will die so that a small elite can receive immortality from the gods, while billions more will be forcibly teleported to Estria, condemned to watch their home planet being devoured."
"Ah... I see. That explains a lot." Ethan sighed, shaking his head slowly before sliding one hand around Ophelia’s wide hips.
"Let’s get going. You need to start teaching the girls, right? They’re anxious."
"You... really don’t care about this information?" Ophelia asked, unable to decipher the thoughts behind those calm eyes.
He had heard every word, yet not even a hint of shock crossed his face.
"I do care, but what does that matter now? By summer, your son will be here to kill me, and I’ll have to choose between killing him or sparing him for the sake of your heart, for the sake of my wife’s heart."
He was naturally worried; his family back on Earth might still be alive. But for now, he needed to ensure his own survival first.
Ethan pulled her flush against his body in one swift motion. Her full, heavy breasts crushed softly against his firm chest, the supple flesh spilling obscenely between them.
His hands found her slender waist and gripped them tightly, a waist that seemed almost too delicate to bear such voluptuous tits, the contrast only making her body feel all the more sinful in his grasp.
"That’s what matters. Now, let’s go." An affectionate smile spread across his otherworldly handsome face, making Ophelia blush like a young damsel.
"Ah... you young people, so full of vitality... won’t you even leave an old woman like me in peace?" Ophelia teased, a playful tone slipping into her voice.
She already felt noticeably more at ease beside Ethan, a feeling she couldn’t quite comprehend.
Ethan merely smiled in response, his lips parting again only moments later.
"I want you to order your agents to investigate the current situation of a certain person: Ysara Vorhn," he said, recalling the promise he had made to Mireya.
"She is currently one of the five ancestral protectors of the Vorhn family. A widowed queen, mother of Mireya Vorhn."
Hearing that, Ophelia stroked her delicate chin and gave a thoughtful nod, her footsteps coming to a complete halt.
They had arrived at their destination.
"First, I’ll try using the artifact on them. It’ll take a while, so I’ll send someone to call for you when I’m done," Ophelia said, her eyes falling on the maids huddled timidly in a corner.
They had a lot to learn.
Poison detection, reading facial and body expressions, basic fighting and assassination skills, and, of course, the shadow skills that would be transmitted through the artifact.
All of that was part of Ophelia’s teaching plans.
In the end, entrusting the maids to her, Ethan left, pondering what to do next.
"Ah... I should go check on Tomas..." he muttered to himself, remembering the man he had put in charge of drafting Goldenveil’s legal code and constitution.
Tomas had been working on it for some time and had even brought four other scholars on board to assist him.
It was time for them to have an office of their own, wasn’t it?
Ethan’s lips curved into a smile as he walked down the street.
It was a calm and relatively warm day—for winter, at least.
Children were already gathering in the streets to begin their first class, while from inside the school walls, the lunch the cooks had carefully prepared gave off a sweet, pleasant scent that mingled with the cold morning breeze.
Ethan breathed in deeply, savoring the warm aroma drifting from the school before making his way to an empty lot not far from the mansion, near Tomas’s residence.
Once there, he activated the instant construction ability.
It was time for Goldenveil to have its first administrative building: a city hall.
Obviously, this city hall wouldn’t be functional—not yet—but Ethan planned to change that as soon as possible.
With sparkling eyes, he scanned the long list of city halls until he finally found one that immediately caught his eye: Red Grass City’s Medium-Sized City Hall
NT: Just a heads-up that I’ve tweaked Goldenveil’s school a bit, since I’d forgotten to add the effects it provides to justify its price of three thousand five hundred gold coins. The effects are: +50% learning bonus, +20% student well-being, +20% chance of random talent improvement.