Chapter 440: Historical Projection
The group talks for a long time, covering everything from the development of their own worlds to old stories shared in their chat group.
Recalling those moments, everyone can’t help but sigh, ten years have flown by without them even realizing it.
Though Lucy wishes they could stay and help her longer, each of these extraordinary warriors has their own battles to fight.
At dawn, Lucy bows deeply once more.
“Take care, everyone. I regret that I never properly hosted you all.”
Henwell waves his hand. “Enough! It’s time to go. Over the next month, we’ll take down the nine Families’ Fifth Rank Martial Warriors. Your job is to lead the troops into battle, grind experience, and build your reputation. While training the army, establish your own authority within it.”
The others also share their thoughts before bowing to Lucy together. Then, stepping into the dawn, they disappear from her sight.
Leaning against the doorframe, tears stream down Lucy’s cheeks. She finally understands that only these people are her true family and support.
If only she had realized sooner, she would have given them her full backing the moment they arrived. Things wouldn’t be so passive now.
After these powerful figures leave, the palace maids dare to approach and find Lucy weeping openly.
Outside the city, Henwell asks the others, “Do you think Lucky would blame us if she knew we did something to Nangong Ying?”
Zhang Che looks puzzled. “Did something? Who did? You?”
Nathan glares. “How dare you! Traitor, conspiring against the emperor!”
Fang Yuan sighs, “Sigh… Lucy only has one true friend in this world. Little Henwell, how could you?”
William denies it outright. “Not me!”
Benjamin protests, “Don’t slander me! I had no part in this, I was completely unaware!”
Liu Mang chuckles mischievously. “Heh heh heh… Old Henwell, you’re truly devious! To harm such a simple people, that’s downright evil!”
Henwell rolls his eyes. “When we discussed this, none of you acted like this!”
After some teasing, they bow to each other.
“Take care, everyone!”
“Take care!”
The seven split into four groups. Henwell and William each go alone, while the others form two teams, each heading toward their own targets.
One month later, the entire realm is shaken to its core.
The Fifth Rank Martial Warriors of the nine great Families are assassinated one after another. Although the Families all deny the attacks, claiming the assassins failed, their reactions suggest otherwise, the deaths are real.
Soon after, Henwell, William, Zhang Che, and the other five masters return to the capital, but all bear severe injuries.
Only then does everyone realize these are the Empress’s relatives at work.
Nangong Ying, worried about their condition, personally accompanies Lucy to visit them.
Back in the palace, Lucy remains silent for a long time. She knows the ones who returned are no longer the original Henwell and the others.
These are merely historical projections left behind, artificial intelligences with similar personalities and abilities, still loyal to her.
They appear no different from before, but Lucy understands they are no longer the prodigies they once were.
They are advanced AI constructs, nothing more.
And they will gradually fade away over the next three years, succumbing to illness or other plausible causes.
Suppressing her melancholy, Lucy arrives at the large military camp outside the capital the next day.
The armies are fully prepared. Three days later, with the emperor reluctantly seeing her off, Lucy leads the troops to begin the purge of the nine Families.
Three years later, the historical projections of Henwell and the others begin to dissipate.
Meanwhile, Benjamin and Liu Mang lead forces against the Southern Tribe, returning victorious after killing one of their Fifth Rank Martial Warriors. From then on, the Southern Tribe officially loses all its Fifth Rank warriors.
For over a decade, the South Regions of the empire remain peaceful.
The empire rejoices, but soon mourns deeply.
Liu Mang and Benjamin succumb to their injuries, their deaths reported one after another.
That same year, a thorough investigation into tax revenues across the five eastern provinces uncovers a massive corruption scandal.
When exposed, the official and merchant Families in those provinces attempt rebellion, only to be swiftly crushed by the court.
Seizing the opportunity, Lucy eliminates two more Families.
Unfortunately, Zhang Che falls during the rebellion, but his sacrifice buys the court precious time.
At the end of the year, as numerous officials from the Eastern Territory become implicated in the massive corruption scandal, North King’s Nangong Pingya petitions the emperor for leniency.
After the emperor rejects his plea, Nangong Pingya publicly rebukes General Nangong Ying in court, accusing him of handing over military power to a woman from the harem.
Upon hearing this, Henwell intercepts Nangong Pingya outside the city, and the two engage in a fierce battle.
Both leave the fight wounded, but not long after, Henwell succumbs to his injuries and passes away in the capital.
Early the following year, Nangong Ying issues an imperial decree ordering Lucy to lead troops northward, accompanied by Lie Yu and Fu Sifang.
They pressure Nangong Pingya to hold a memorial service for the late Henwell and seize command of three out of the twelve northern garrison units, relocating them to the southern outskirts of the capital.
From this point on, tensions between Nangong Ying and the North King intensify dramatically.
Over the next three years, Lucy’s loyal family members gradually fall in battle, leading many to believe her influence is waning.
In reality, Lucy already controls the four southwestern provinces, the four provinces of the South Regions, and two provinces in the Eastern Territory.
Including the five provinces near the capital, more than half the empire quietly falls under Lucy’s control.
During this period, Lucy attains the rank of Fourth Rank Martial Warrior and begins pushing toward Fifth Rank.
In the fourth year, Lucy gives birth to a baby boy, much to the emperor’s delight and silencing her critics.
The Yuwen Family is overjoyed as well, the family finally has a male heir!
Back with Henwell, after completing his mission, he still carries many hidden injuries.
Passing through the world-traveling tunnel, all these injuries are fully healed.
His weapons and equipment are restored as if nothing ever happened.
Apart from a bit of stubble on his face, Henwell appears unchanged from before.
And today, he is about to attend his glorious wedding!