SIS B5: Chapter 1: Permanent Shell and World Unification Plans

Daz nodded approvingly as he arrived at El Dorado. He had been meaning to come here for days since the moonlight had been gathered for quite some time now.

Were it not for Crusher's sudden evolution and the need to attack the Truthians swiftly before her eventual discovery, he likely would have visited the wondrous city of gold earlier.

Still, here he was, ready to get another Star of Eternity before he was forced to deal with the old president of the states as well as the leader of the Federation of Hope.

Daz was greeted kindly in broken English by the inhabitants of the city. Clearly, Albert and George had been teaching them the language in their spare time.

Probably George more so than Albert since the old knighted man was so focused on his archaeological research. Well, that or indulging on the native woman.

'I wonder what his family would think if they knew how promiscuous he's become since the system restored his 'youth',' Daz wondered.

The man's wife was dead and he knew nothing of the rest of his family bar his granddaughter who was in the UK. Still, it was an interesting thought to Daz.

Regardless of Sir Albert and his hobbies, Daz was happy to see that the city of gold seemed perfectly unharmed by the cracks plaguing Earth. Lake Parime was free of ravines as well.

Either a stroke of fitting fortune had spared the city or the two mummies had stepped in to help. Daz still had his reservations regarding those beings, Ak and Tek, but it was clear to him that all they cared about was El Dorado which he could both respect and work around.

Before long, Daz was standing atop the only functioning Muisca temple as he waited for Sir Albert to arrive. He'd told a few people on the way here to inform the old man of his arrival.

The last thing he wanted was to walk in on the 70-something-year-old man having sex with a 20-something-year-old woman again.

'I hope he's stopped that. Willing as they may be, there's a clear power imbalance,' Daz thought.

He then felt some emotions climbing up the temple's stairs. 'Trepidation, hesitation, acceptance and some... joy? What a mixed bag. All you're doing in your monthly job.'

Daz remained perfectly still with his arms crossed as he waited for the elderly man to finished his ascent to the top of the pyramid temple.

After a minute or two, Sir Albert smiled upon seeing Daz. "Hello, Your Majesty. Terrible news I hear. Cracks and 5,000,000 dead? A tragedy. Still, at least you beat those Truthian folk."

"Indeed. A tragedy indeed," Daz replied stoically.

He noticed a spike in Sir Albert's more reserved emotions upon hearing his words but Daz hardly cared. He instead followed up by saying, "Soul Shell, thanks. It's a skill."

Daz was no longer in a hurry to increase his strength when power-stripped. Not only was he essentially immortal thanks to his Curse of Loneliness, but the Truthian's were gone with the exception of Project Lockbox's prisoner.

He also had the force of nature known as Crusher on his side. She would more than suffice as far as raw power was concerned for the next month.

Daz could now, instead, slowly make all of his skills and other system changes permanent at his leisure. He had chosen Soul Shell this month for its immense passive worth.

It had helped him greatly when speaking to that Qun'jara, so he figured it'd be a wise thing to give a star to. If there was any part of him that he felt was vulnerable, it was his soul.

Sir Albert nodded. "Of course. Um... you won't be flying up into the air and exploding this time, will you?"

'Is that what he's worried about?' Daz shook his head. "No, I will not. This is a simple skill, not a body refinement one like Ashborne is. I need not reform myself in such a showy manner again."

"I'm happy to hear that. It took quite a while to deal with the aftereffects last time. Several people got heatstroke and fainted and there was a decent amount of building damage too. Ah, but the shrines are fine. Anyway, onto giving you your star, yes?" Sir Albert chuckled before he got to work.

Daz silently waited and before long, he felt the moonlight enter his body after having been channelled through the Altar of Permanence and then through Sir Albert.

Soul Shell was now a part of Daz. Just as he desired it to be.

Cracking his neck, Daz said, "Thanks. I'll be back next month."

Just before he could leave, however, Sir Albert rushed to his side and stopped him. "Um, I hate to make a request, but is there any news of my granddaughter? I know we only spoke of her in passing... but I can't help myself from worrying if she's okay or not."

Daz frowned. "I don't know. My intelligence agencies claim she's alive and well in England. Beyond that, I'm clueless. I do have plans to conquer the British Isles soon though, so I'll likely have some news for you then."

"Ah... I-I see," Sir Albert replied a bit sadly.

"Don't worry. I want her to be safe and well just as much as you do since you believe she can help restore the broken temples here," Daz said. "I want more stars, you want your granddaughter to be safe. Our goals align perfectly."

Sir Albert's emotions seemed to stir in a positive light upon hearing his encouragement. "Y-Yes, you are quite right. How unbecoming of an old man like me to get so upset. Well, I shan't hold you here any longer. I wish you good luck on your kingly endeavours."

"And to you, with your architecture and rebuilding efforts," Daz said in farewell.

***

'This is going to be a pain,' Daz thought as he looked around.

He was currently in the primary round table room of Castle Crowthorne. He was sitting at the head of the table and at the other two ends were Larry Billard and some arrogant fool who represented the former president of the United States of America.

Daz thought of the former as arrogant purely because he acted like he should be respected at all times despite not having earned said respect.

Perhaps in the past it was warranted, but right now when the old administration had done nothing but holed themselves up and barely survived the system's trials up until this point? Suffice to say, Daz thought of the man as nothing more than a clown in a suit.

'I can't let my biases against old-world politics cloud my judgement,' Daz thought as he glanced around.

The rest of the room was filled to the brim with cameramen and reporters, all eager to fully document the meeting of giants taking place.

'Two giants and one rat, by my counting,' Daz thought as he looked at the suited up representative of the former president. 'Why they think they have any say here is beyond me. I know my personal views are not neutral, but come on. At least Larry is powerful and a good amount of land belongs to his federation. The fools this man represents only own a single state I could conquer is an afternoon with little-to-no effort if needed.'

Standing at Daz's side faithfully, as ever, was Lyle. The middle-aged man leaned down and whispered into his ear, "I think we're ready to start now, Your Majesty. Every other media team not currently present will simply have to use system means to record the meeting."

Daz nodded. "Let's begin then, shall we?" he said loudly before turning towards the room's resident rodent. "Speak your case."

"Wise of you to talk to me first, Crowthorne. As the rightful and original owners of the land you two have so callously divvied up between yourselves, we of the Whitehouse believe-"

"First off," Daz interrupted, "It is 'High King Crowthorne', Not 'Crowthorne'. I am not your friend, I am the leading ruler of what was once the U.S.A. You would do well to remember that."

As much as Daz disliked how his title separated him from the common man, it was incredibly important to properly establish his authority in situations like this. Rose had drilled that into his quite a bit, as had both Lyle and Crosius.

The suit and tie-wearing man looked absolutely befuddled at the mere prospect of being cut-off by someone perhaps a third his age.

Daz didn't quite know how old the man was since he hadn't identified him but his wrinkles and salt and pepper hair that was all too lacking on the pepper front spoke volumes.

"Second off, no one is the rightful owner of anything. If you want to play the who got here first game, then why aren't you preaching for the Native Americans or whoever came before them?" Daz asked.

He saw Larry grinning out of the corner of his eye as he pressed on. "Third off, you are not 'of the Whitehouse'. Washington D.C. belongs to me as it lays within my new territories. That is not up for dispute. We are gathered here to discuss your claims against me becoming the sole ruler of what was once known as the United States of America."

A loud silence invaded the round table and its surroundings.

Daz quickly put an end to that by finishing off with, "Also, you are the lesser party here. The old administration only owns a single state. I will give you your say and allow you to pitch your case fairly, of course. However, you are not my equal nor are you President Billard's. Your leader didn't even show himself, he just sent a representative instead."

Larry burst out laughing. "That's certainly one way to tell someone to fuck themselves."

Daz didn't honour that with a response. Instead, he motioned with his hand for the older gentleman to resume speaking his case.

Clearly angered and upset but wise enough to know not to explode in rage, the man spoke, "... We of what is left of the U.S.A. wish to become the leading faction of New Earth in a new party system with your own governments retaining voting powers and senate seats."

Daz shook his head. "No. I will say this plainly and I will say this now. Old politics are useless when demigods walk among us. I and a handful of my citizens could level mountains with but a thought. Democracy is an ideal, and not one that would help keep the peace and stability we need now. Unless I see someone better suited to take up my position as High King, no one will rule New Earth bar me. Join me peacefully, or we go to war. It is as simple as that."

"Don't you wish to unite Earth?" the man challenged.

Daz nodded. "I do. I also want as few people to die in the process as possible."

"Then-"

"But I am no pacifist. I will unite Earth to protect it one way or another. If I need to use force to do, so be it," Daz said. "Our species and culture come first, everything else can be worked on when we are safe from ourselves and outside threats."

Larry wore a serious expression on his face. "If you're willing to sign a system contract stating I retain my leadership just under your umbrella instead, then I'm happy giving you my land and all of that shit."

"You and your people will have to follow my laws," Daz stated plainly. "You're free to take a copy of our lawbook if you are unaware of what we do here in regards to crimes and punishments."

Larry shook his head. "Already read it back to front. Capital punishment for the most heinous shit, imprisonment with fair treatment and reformation-focused community service for everything else. The laws themselves are simple and fair too. Like I said, sign a contract and what is mine is yours."

Daz nodded. "This is what Earth needs from its leaders. People capable of making swift decisions for the better of all. The bureaucracy of old was deeply flawed and mark my words, it will never return under my rule. Is that an issue for you and yours, representative of the former president?"

"... I cannot answer that question," the man hesitated.

Daz sighed. "And this is why it was pointless for you to come here and not your leader. Make a decision in the next 12 hours. Fail to do so, and I'll send Crusher to forcefully annex Washington. I am giving you a peaceful and prosperous way out. Do not spit in the hand which is being offered to you."

***

"Daz, cool," Madison praised as she snuggled up to him in their bed.

He smiled warmly. "Thanks, I was just pissed off though. We seriously need more people like Larry in charge. My grandmother too, despite her flaws, is a decisive ruler. How the politicians of old didn't all up and die by now is a mystery. I wouldn't be half surprised if they just abandon the U.S. and flee to Canada or something."

"Hmm... Plans, now?" Madison asked as she ran a hand through his hair and began playing with it.

"Well, I need to take over basically the whole world before this semester ends and I plan to do so. First I'll finish conquering Northern and Southern America. North should be easy enough since, from initial signs, the confederation that's been hastily put together will likely fold with some well-meaning persuasion. The south shouldn't be too bad either with Crusher's help."

"... Then, Europe?" Madison asked with worry clear in her eyes and in her emotions.

Daz shook his head. "No. I'm leaving Father for last. I suspect he'll be the hardest of the lot. I was thinking of the United Kingdom. Or, well, the fractured kingdoms now, really. I hear your mother is the Empress of England or whatever she's renamed it. Scotland is free, currently, but the rest belongs to her."

"... Come, with," Madison said with determination.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled back at her and kissed her on the nose. "I'll be by your side every step of the way."

She used her Ember of Expression to return his smile in kind. "Love, you."

"I love you too," he chuckled. "As for China and India... I want to go to India personally since I have some connections there, but I want to use Crusher's remaining month on Earth wisely. I'll be sending her with Mu and a crack team of our elites to deal with both of those countries alone. Her power and Mu's logical empathy should work wonders."

"... Then, Europe?" Madison questioned.

Daz nodded. "Then Europe."