If it were to be described in one word, it would be 'Brutal.'
After witnessing how Lucian executed over a thousand people on the spot in such a bloody and ruthless manner, everyone had the same thought—they should never, under any circumstances, provoke him.
In Lucian, every member of the five great lineages saw the iron will of Hanunue, the leader of the War of Independence, who could kill without blinking, and whose eyes never dried.
"Congratulations, everyone." Lucian spread his hands, his cold and brutal face suddenly softening, becoming kind and harmless. "Becoming my subjects is the greatest fortune of your lives."
At this, the four lineage heads were momentarily stunned by his sudden change of expression.
Just a moment ago, he had been akin to a devil, and now, in the blink of an eye, he had become an angel?
As the lineage heads were still thinking hard about how to respond to Lucian's declaration, a fleet of spaceships appeared over Penacony.
They hovered in the sky for a moment before landing in the plaza.
Seeing the spaceships, everyone fell silent and gazed at them, while Lucian narrowed his eyes, trying to sense the passengers.
Soon enough, as the hatch of the leading and largest spaceship opened, a man clad in black, accompanied by many others, stepped onto the land of Penacony and looked around for a moment, then approached Lucian and the others.
"Ah, they're here to provide support—The Family of the Harmony. I called them earlier." Mikhail explained to Lucian, who remained silent. "And the person at the front is the leader of the halovians, named Gopher Wood. He's very enthusiastic and friendly."
Upon hearing this, Lucian's eyes narrowed.
'Gopher Wood...'
At the name, Lucian's mind quickly pulled up information about Gopher Wood.
He was the future Dreammaster of Penacony, who would later adopt Sunday and Robin. He was also once a devout follower of Harmony, even someone Mikhail regarded as a virtuous man who imparted various exemplary teachings.
However, after facing countless assassinations and unjust treatments in Penacony, this pushed him into the Order, making him stubbornly pursue his own agenda and attempt to annex Penacony.
He had turned many followers of Harmony into followers of Order, even gathering others from different places to resurrect the Order.
Needless to say, this was a typical case of kind people who, after being betrayed and brokenhearted, fell and joined the dark side, becoming antagonists.
Lucian honestly didn't care about what happened to Gopher Wood later, but for now, he and his people were free labor!
Now that they were here, they might as well work for him.
"Mikhail, how's the situation?"
Gopher Wood asked seriously as he stood before Mikhail.
"We encountered the Antimatter Legion on the way. It seems they were attracted by the Stellaron."
He was a middle-aged man with swept-back black hair, holding a black book, wearing glasses, and wearing a black priest-like uniform, with black wings behind his ears.
"But don't worry, The Family had summoned Aelenev the Eternal Centurion to annihilate the Antimatter Legion. They likely won't be back anytime soon."
Hearing Gopher Wood's words, Mikhail smiled in relief.
"Yes, on Penacony's behalf, thank you for The Family's help." Mikhail nodded gratefully, then turned to Lucian. "By the way, the crisis in Penacony has been averted, and all thanks to our new leader."
"Gopher Wood, I know you..." Lucian said while calmly taking a step forward. "In the future, you will become a follower of Order, betraying the Harmony."
He directly exposed Gopher Wood, stunning everyone in The Family and making Gopher Wood's smile instantly disappear, as if he had eaten something foul.
"You! You slander me!"
Gopher Wood exclaimed in anger, his gaze sharpening as he stared at Lucian.
Of course, the members of The Family wouldn't easily believe Lucian's words, but regardless, the seed of doubt had already been planted in their minds, which was exactly the effect he wanted.
In the future, when Gopher Wood tempted the followers of Harmony, they would recall Lucian's words from today.
Naturally, it was best if Gopher Wood didn't betray them.
Having built such a magnificent Penacony, which later would be known as the Planet of Festivities in the original story, his abilities were undeniable.
"Calm down, I said it's in the future."
Lucian smiled and patted Gopher Wood's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"For now, you're still a follower of Harmony, so it's fine."
"I'm happy for the people of Penacony to follow the Harmony, living in mutual love. How wonderful, right?"
"So, does The Family wanna stay and spread the faith of Harmony here?"
In the next moment, Lucian's tone suddenly shifted, his words sharp.
"I mean, rebuilding a civilization is exactly the time when faith is needed, after all."
Not only was The Family free labor, but they also brought their own supplies.
Plus, they could even summon high-level tools, the so-called Harmonic Strings, Emanators of Harmony!
Lucian looked at Gopher Wood and the other strong-looking members of The Family, his eyes shining with greed. He knew that spreading the faith of Harmony and helping the weak was a mission The Family could not resist.
In the end, Gopher Wood took a deep breath, suppressing his turmoil and the uneasy feeling within him, and forced a proper smile.
"If it's to spread the faith of Harmony, The Family... will naturally stay."
"Good decision." Lucian nodded in satisfaction.
Now, the Penacony Reconstruction Committee had just gained a batch of high-quality workers!
"Handle the small matters yourselves, the big ones... just ask Mikhail."
Lucian, embracing the role of the hands-off manager, left the tedious tasks to the five great lineages while he did just one thing.
What thing?
He went down into the depths of the old prison structures with Mikhail following behind him, and then took the now completely docile Stellaron from Mikhail's hands.
He observed the Stellaron for a moment, then flicked it casually, making it fall deep into the ground below.
In the next moment, a flash of red and green light flickered at his fingertips, and in that instant, the seal on the Stellaron quietly began to open, with a tiny crack forming.
*Buzz—*
Suddenly, pure and vast memoria began to seep slowly from deep beneath the ground, spreading throughout Penacony.
However, this energy no longer carried the violent, destructive force as before, but a gentle and nourishing force instead, the perfect 'building material' for repairing Penacony's shattered Dreamscape.
"Stellaron..."
Mikhail, feeling the power of the Stellaron, furrowed his brow, hesitating to speak.
Using a Stellaron as an energy source?
It was too crazy!
However, looking at Lucian's confident and nonchalant expression, and also remembering the bloody massacre from before, Mikhail swallowed his worries.
Yet the regret in his heart only deepened.
Such a powerful person—why hadn't he arrived earlier?
If he had arrived earlier, perhaps Razalina and Tiernan would still be here.
Lucian, not noticing Mikhail's inner turmoil, finally arranged everything and then returned to Robin's side.
He glanced at the beautiful and dignified mother, Serfina, then crouched down to meet Sunday's and Robin's eyes.
"Well, would you two like to live with me?" Lucian asked gently, like a next-door big brother. "I mean, with your Mama, just the four of us."
For the two children, his offer meant little, but for Serfina, an adult, it was something else entirely.
'Is he… asking to start a family with me?'
As this thought flashed across her mind, Serfina stared at Lucian in a daze, wondering what he meant by living together.
"Will you sing and tell me stories like Mama does, to help me fall asleep?" Robin asked innocently, her big, watery eyes blinking cutely.
"Of course, I know many interesting stories." Lucian smiled and nodded.
"Will you always protect Mama and my sister?" Sunday asked with shining eyes.
"I will, kid." Lucian nodded with a confident smile.
===
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
At this point, Penacony had gradually recovered, and new buildings in the Dreamscape had already risen, tall and solid, from the ground.
In the Dreamscape, inside a delicate little building made from pure memoria, Lucian lazily sank into a soft sofa. In his arms, Robin curled up, her small head resting on his arm, her long lashes fluttering gently with every soft word he spoke.
One had to admit that the room was warm and peaceful, especially when one was also looking at the slowly flowing, rainbow-colored dream river outside the window—any anxiety one had would instantly vanish.
"Finally..."
Lucian's voice, with a hint of bedtime tenderness, stood in stark contrast to the decisive and ruthless attitude he had shown a year ago.
"Thanks to Snow White's kindness, she, the seven dwarfs, and the evil stepmother live happily together ever after."
"..."
As Lucian finished telling the story, there was only silence.
He looked down and saw that Robin's little mouth pouted slightly, her breathing even as she drifted into a sweet sleep.
He carefully adjusted his position to make her more comfortable, a gentle smile playing at the corner of his lips—a smile he didn't even realize he was wearing.
Outside the window, the lights from the many tall buildings shimmered like countless stars, illuminating the room with their warm lights.
Inside this warm and peaceful room, the ruthless man known as the 'Uncrowned King of Penacony' was actually diligently playing the role of a gentle father.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
[Support me and read next chapters early at: patreon.com/VALRRR]