Ivan smiled calmly, looking straight into her eyes, “Qian Renxue, you are highly intelligent, but you underestimate your current situation.
In my territory, your status as the Crown Prince or the Young Lord of Spirit Hall cannot shield you if you choose to act as an enemy.” “You…
what exactly do you want?” Qian Renxue’s voice carried a hint of tension.
For the first time, she felt a genuine chill from a six-year-old child.
“I want compliance and cooperation,” Ivan stepped closer, his aura of Emperor’s Might radiating faintly, creating a heavy psychological pressure in the room.
“You have two choices tonight.
First, you accept your role as my strategic hostage, remain quiet, and cooperate with my demands to secure funding and resources from the Heaven Dou Empire to develop my territory.
Second, if you continue to plot escapes or threaten my city, I will instantly expose your true identity and your assassination of the Third Prince to Emperor Xue Ye tomorrow morning.” Qian Renxue’s face turned pale.
The threat was a direct hit to her five-year undercover mission, her ultimate ambition.
If Emperor Xue Ye found out, everything she had built would vanish instantly.
“You are using my mission to blackmail me?
Despicable!” Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, her fists trembling with rage.
“It is not blackmail, it is a mutual transaction,” Ivan replied coldly.
“You keep your perfect disguise and your path to the imperial throne, and I get the resources to build my duchy.
If you cross me, we both burn.
Now, give me your answer.” Staring at the boy’s calm, calculating expression, Qian Renxue felt completely checkmated.
The overwhelming pressure of Xiahou Dun standing nearby and the absolute tactical advantage Ivan held crushed her resistance.
She took a deep breath, lowering her head in bitter defeat.
“Fine…
I accept your terms for now.
As long as it doesn’t cross my ultimate bottom line, I will cooperate.” “A wise choice.
Today, I will let you off with just this warning,” Ivan turned back to the sofa, his voice cold and commanding.
“Remember, do not let there be a second time, or the consequences will not be this simple.
From now on, until the negotiations with the Empire are finalized, you will stay by my side as a personal attendant under strict supervision.” “Xiahou Dun, release her.” Xiahou Dun hesitated for a moment, observing the tense atmosphere, and asked, “Lord, the Crown Prince is highly skilled in deception.
Should this subordinate secure his room further, or perhaps use spiritual restriction to completely…” Ivan waved his hand, dismissing the idea, “No need.
He understands the price of failure now.
Release him.” “Yes, Lord!” “Alright, you can go back to your room to rest,” Ivan motioned for Qian Renxue to leave.
“Hmph!” Qian Renxue glared coldly at Ivan, turned around, and walked out of the room with an extremely heavy and wronged heart.
‘Now that I’ve fallen into the hands of this terrifying kid, I can’t act rashly anymore,’ she thought grimly as she returned to her quarters.
‘He is entirely vigilant against me.
Right now, I can only wait honestly for the Tiandou Empire to send negotiators or for Grandpa to send a rescue force.’ The next day, early morning.
Ivan got up early, preparing to go to Ai City Plaza for the Monarch investiture ceremony and the establishment of the Aiven Duchy.
Qian Renxue accompanied him in his retinue, muttering inwardly, “Hmph, to actually declare himself Monarch and establish a duchy at such an age.
I’d like to see how long your Aiven Duchy, how long you, this Monarch, can survive on this Continent!” As the grand ceremony concluded.
The Aiven Duchy was finally officially established!
Ivan also became the official Monarch of the duchy, governing the entire region.
He then immediately summoned his ten fierce Three Kingdoms Generals, as well as the city’s officials of all ranks, alongside some of his father Duke Ace’s remaining loyal subordinates, gathering everyone in the main hall of the Dukes Mansion.
At this moment, Ivan sat firmly on the Monarch’s seat.
The people stood below in perfect formation.
They simultaneously knelt on one knee and paid their highest respects, “Greetings, Monarch!” “Rise, all of you.” Ivan motioned for everyone to get up, then prepared to bestow official titles, positions, set up administrative departments, and establish the duchy’s governance system.
He would not manage his state according to the traditional imperial management system of Western nations usually found on the Douluo Continent.
Instead, Ivan would refer to the highly organized systems of the Three Kingdoms period and other ancient eastern dynasties for administrative efficiency.
As for the official ranks and grades of military officers in the Aiven Duchy, Ivan established them as follows: The highest military official position, First Rank, Grand General, Chief of Generals, commanding the world’s military forces, with authority and status second only to the Monarch Ivan.
Second Rank, General of Cavalry, General of Chariots, General of Guards, positions comparable to the Three Dukes, with status second only to the Grand General.
Third Rank, Four Expeditions Generals: General who Expedites the East, General who Expedites the South, General who Expedites the West, General who Expedites the North, senior generals responsible for active campaigns in the four directions.
Fourth Rank, Four Garrison Generals: General who Garrisons the East, General who Garrisons the South, General who Garrisons the West, General who Garrisons the North, responsible for defending the borders in the four directions.
Fifth Rank, Colonel, and so on.
And these crucial military official positions, Ivan would definitely bestow upon the Three Kingdoms Generals who were bound with absolute loyalty to him.
Calculated by summoning one Three Kingdoms General for every level of spirit power gained, Ivan could eventually summon one hundred legendary Generals in his lifetime, forming an unstoppable core of power.