Chapter 2906: The New King
The final round was the voting by representatives of each city. Once this round of voting concluded, the winner would become the king.
This was also the time for the twelve main cities to negotiate their terms.
A large number of players flooded into King's City, including those who wanted to leave and those who didn't, because they were all anxious, worried that clearing this instance might cause changes to the instance itself.
"We've done just about everything we can. It's time for you to fulfill your promise," Mei Zheng said.
Inside the main hall of the King's Castle, the Archons of the twelve main cities, the leaders of the seven allied cities, players from the four stranded cities, and official representatives from over a dozen small cities had all gathered. In their hands were the final ballots.
"The location for the teleportation device has been set at Zone 005, adjacent to the wormhole point. This zone is relatively developed, fairly tolerant of outer zone players, and the cost for permanent settlement isn't high. I believe you'll all be able to live quite well once you get there."
At this moment, no barriers were set up inside or outside the castle, so those outside could clearly hear their conversation. Xu Huo continued, "The duration of the device's use depends on energy consumption, but given your numbers, it's more than sufficient."
"Activating the teleportation device is also simple. The remote terminal is right here in my hand."
He raised the micro-terminal in his hand. "Once the device is activated, anyone can enter it without needing identification."
"How can we be sure you'll keep your promise and activate the device after you clear the instance?" the Spiky-Haired Man said. "What if you turn your back on us afterward? Then all our efforts will have been for nothing."
"Besides, no one can guarantee that this instance will remain the same as it was ten years ago. The instance might disappear when you clear it. We need some kind of guarantee too," the Gem Man added immediately.
"How about this: one ballot for one terminal. What do you think?" Mei Zheng also spoke up.
This was also the thought of most players inside and outside the castle. For the majority, being able to leave was a stroke of luck. If they couldn't leave, at the very least, they wanted to ensure the instance remained intact, especially those players who had been excluded from the centers of power during their time stranded here.
Xu Huo gave these people a sardonic look. "Can you guarantee that you'll be able to activate the device smoothly?"
Aside from the Spiky-Haired Man and the Gem Man, who had stated from the beginning that they didn't want to leave, everyone else's attitude was ambiguous. Did they want to leave or stay? Or did they want to use this opportunity to do something else? Even more so, would they try to obstruct others from leaving?
Too many people meant a lack of unity.
Moreover, the teleportation device was an enormous target. What if someone tampered with it during the teleportation process? Who knew what could happen midway?
"What do you mean by that?" Chan Juan said. "You don't want to give it?"
"How could that be?" Xu Huo stood on the steps. "I've always been one to see things through to the end. Since I've brought out the teleportation device, I'm not about to let it all go to waste."
"In other words, I'm the only one here who genuinely wants to—and is capable of—sending the stranded players away."
"It's up to you: either have a massive free-for-all in front of the teleportation device, or wait for me to clear the instance and then send you off."
At this very moment, there were over a thousand players standing outside the castle alone. Inside the castle, aside from the local players of Zone 031, the rest were the cream of the crop among the stranded players, all with top-tier strength.
They had the advantage in numbers, yet facing Xu Huo, who stood alone on the steps, they felt as if they were at a disadvantage. This man seemed to have grown so powerful that he could disregard any of their petty schemes!
"This transaction was always based on your strength," Lou Fei stepped forward at this point. "If you break your promise, we'll have no recourse."
If they simply voted to elect the king directly, the stranded players would have no guarantee whatsoever. Whether they could leave or not would depend entirely on Xu Huo's mood.
"Then take this thing," Xu Huo said, tossing the terminal in his hand forward.
Even though they knew it wasn't something fragile, everyone inside and outside the hall was startled, their eyelids twitching. Many scrambled to catch it. To avoid misunderstandings, no one used any items. However, just as Hen Yu of Sword City was about to touch the terminal, his hand was knocked away by Mr. Hu. Mr. Hu didn't manage to grab it either, as Chan Juan intercepted it.
Chan Juan got the terminal, stepped forward, turned around, and raised her hand at the others who were still rushing over. "Hey! If anyone else moves, I'll destroy this thing!"
"You wouldn't dare!" the Spiky-Haired Man said angrily.
"Want to see if I dare?" Chan Juan giggled. She glanced at Lou Fei, Mei Zheng, and the others, who were pretending to be restrained, then turned back to Xu Huo. "You dared to throw this thing out, which means the device can't be activated right now, right? Otherwise, we'd all have left early, and your votes would be wasted."
"Of course," Xu Huo said with a smile, looking at the people in the hall. "The terminal needs to recognize my identity information before it can be used. Destroying it doesn't matter; the device has a control switch on its end."
Hearing this, the people present didn't know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or not.
Xu Huo gave them no further room for negotiation. "Everyone, let's begin the voting."
The Archons of the twelve main cities changed expression, but they immediately realized that the initiative for this final vote was no longer in their hands.
The representatives of the seven cities, the four cities, over a dozen small cities, plus the resident representatives attached to the twelve main cities, already made up more than half of the voters. If this half voted for Xu Huo, he would be elected without a doubt!
The allied forces were eager for the instance to disappear and for all stranded players to get lost. They voted the fastest, and the dozen or so small cities followed suit.
The representatives of the other four stranded cities were hesitant, but under Xu Huo's "encouraging" gaze, they still cast their votes.
"It's your turn," Xu Huo said, looking at Lou Fei, Mei Zheng, and the others.
He was well aware that at least half of the Archons of the twelve main cities clearly knew that someone clearing the instance would not necessarily cause it to disappear. That was why they had calmly gone along with the election. Even now, when the situation was no longer in their favor, they remained composed.
The first to step forward was the Elder. He voted for Xu Huo.
This was a signal. Lou Fei, Mei Zheng, and Mr. Hu followed suit and cast their votes for him.
In fact, aside from Hen Yu, everyone else voted for Xu Huo—there was no need to stir up trouble at this point and earn his resentment.
Qu Hong tallied the votes and announced the final result. At the same time, the projection screens over all the cities, big and small, across the entire nation displayed the outcome. Pre-prepared fireworks and balloons were released in every city. After ten years, this nation had finally produced a new king!
Xu Huo did not receive a clearance notification. He raised an eyebrow slightly, swept his gaze over the faces of the Archons of the main cities, and said to Qu Hong and the other city representatives, "You may now leave King's City and return to your own cities to await further news."
Qu Hong and the others didn't understand his intention, but they followed his orders and left immediately. The local players from their zone also departed completely.
Xu Huo then ignored the main city people, walked over to the king's throne, turned around, and sat down facing the crowd.