Before long, Axel let the Pokémon rest at home or inside their balls, then brought the banquet-loving Gyarados and Gible to the City Lord's manor.
Because of Pokémon's existence, ancient architecture in the Pokémon world was in no way inferior to that of later eras. It was even grander, truly magnificent and glittering.
"This way please, my lord," When the soldiers standing by saw Wang the chief clerk and Axel arrive riding on Gyarados, they hurried to push open the great doors together.
Even though Gyarados could fly, the man on its back had instructed them that proper etiquette must not be lacking.
"No need to make such a fuss. Just open a small gap."
Axel saw how hard the soldiers worked to open the door and didn't have the heart to let his Pokémon do this kind of task. He developed a bit of affection for them.
"Gyarados, follow from above. Lord Wang and I will walk in."
"My lord is compassionate. Truly a man with the bearing of an emperor," After leaving the soldiers, the chief clerk offered a perfectly timed compliment.
He wasn't just flattering with words. Deep down, he genuinely wanted Axel to become emperor.
If Axel were willing to ascend the throne, based on his performance in the last few days, even if becoming one of the Three Excellencies or Nine Ministers was unlikely, he could still easily get a junior official position in the Secretariat.
When the time came, he would soar to success.
And then he could lift up his uncle too, one civil, one military. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
"I don't want to be an emperor. Not interested," Axel waved his hand.
Even if he could stay here for days after tomorrow, he wasn't interested in the chief clerk's suggestion.
He had come to the Pokémon world. Who would waste time being emperor?
If he wanted that kind of thing, he would already be Sinnoh champion.
Axel mainly felt that compared to governing, nurturing Pokémon was far more meaningful.
He wanted to gather resources unique to this era and then return to train his Pokémon properly.
Seeing his Pokémon ascend to godhood one after another, or possess potential even more terrifying than gods, that was satisfying.
"My lord, you've arrived!"
As they neared a courtyard, the two gatekeepers shouted loudly to alert those inside.
The noisy courtyard instantly fell silent, making Axel grin.
Great… he had just experienced a class on autonomous Pokémon battles and now he was experiencing what it felt like to be a homeroom teacher.
"Everyone eat and drink as you should. Pretend I'm not here," Axel waved for everyone to sit again, then swaggered over to the seat of honor.
"Little shark, have some grilled fish."
"Gyarados, take some roast meat first. I'll have them bring more later."
Axel glanced at the food. Compared to later generations, this era was basically a culinary desert. So he didn't bother picking up his chopsticks.
Gyarados and Gible weren't picky though. They were the type to eat whatever they were given, so this trip wasn't wasted.
After eating a bit, Diao Chan finally finished handling the ceremonial matters and sat beside Axel.
The other officials and the volunteers who had been helping in the city all sat upright in unison, knowing the main event had arrived.
After witnessing the destruction of Cao's army and the battle of gods, everyone understood Lu Bu's funeral had become nothing more than a backdrop.
What Xiapi City anticipated most now was whether Axel would reclaim the imperial throne that had rested in the hands of the Han for hundreds of years.
If Axel intended to take the throne, everyone present would share the glory of founding his dynasty.
Even if Axel didn't take the throne, as long as they stayed in Xiapi, they could live peaceful lives.
"Axel, I thought you wouldn't come," Diao Chan was very curious. How would this battle maniac waste time attending such a boring banquet?
Didn't he say he wanted the two Gardevoir to fight more?
If she hadn't said the wrong thing earlier and hid from Axel, she herself might not have come.
Axel blinked. It wasn't that he wanted to come, but the temptation here was too great.
Not to mention the volunteers, even among the city's officials there were over a hundred people.
It wouldn't be too much for each person to give a little nurturing resource, right?
With enough small contributions, it would add up to a big number once in Axel's hands.
Sure enough, seeing Diao Chan sit down, many people began to stir restlessly. They knew it was time for the important part.
Finally, a strategist-like person stood up first.
"Lord Axel, seeing you fight so hard today for the people of this city truly moved me."
"Xiapi City has a dry climate. I fear you may not rest well at night, so I wish to offer a Water Stone passed down in my family for more than ten generations. Please accept it."
"How could I… accept this?", Axel glanced at it. It was an excellent Water Stone, worth at least five million in the modern era.
While he verbally refused, he handed his space backpack to the chief clerk beside him.
"Hold this for me. Don't accidentally let someone's item fall inside."
"Understood, my lord!", The chief clerk took the backpack and ran happily to the strategist.
"Please be careful not to drop the Water Stone inside."
Over the next hour, the people behind followed the strategist's example, "accidentally" passing by the chief clerk and "accidentally" dropping their items into the backpack.
Axel looked through a few of them. The quality of these gifts wasn't particularly high, most were average-grade treasure items. After all, Xiapi had been at war for a long time, and few people had surplus goods.
But the quantity made up for it. Axel estimated Gible's training resources were now secured.
Soon, the gifts were finished. Those who had given gifts lined up to toast Axel in order of the value of their gifts.
"My lord, I'm the one who just offered the Soft Sand. I hope your future enemies scatter like sand at a touch."
Axel raised his cup, "Drink!"
"My lord, I'm the one who offered the Hard Stone. I hope you become unbreakable, harder than stone!"
"Bottoms up!"
———
Dozens of people toasted one after another. Even with Axel's golden Super Rookie entry, he was beginning to feel overwhelmed and lightheaded.
Even the Diao Chan beside him seemed to have turned into two.
Diao Chan worried about Axel's health, "Axel, stop drinking. I'll take you home."
"Take me home for what, you're not Dialga, you don't get to decide," Axel shook his head and pointed at a civil official raising a cup not far away.
"Come, come, drink."
"Yes, my lord!", The official looked delighted and hurried forward with his cup, "Just now I offered a Dragon Berry. This berry…"
The official originally wanted to say the berry was extremely rare, but he didn't expect that in the future it had already begun small-scale cultivation and its value couldn't compare to treasure items.
Axel waved a hand, "Brother, it's fine. I don't hold grudges. The thought matters. Just drink."
Official: "???"
Everyone else was thanked. How did it become 'I don't hold grudges' when it was his turn?
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