Chapter 99 - 2.60

Since Xu Jiaqi had good memories about her time in this world, and she wasn't on a rush to escape, she stayed to help out stabilizing the situation even more. She was a perfectionist, not a single thing could go wrong under her watch or she would be severely affected. With both the Holy Land and the Empire's power indirectly within her hands, she purged the world out of all evil by installing certain laws and traditions that the people would benefit from.

She also didn't give up on all the people who previously lived on using the crimes that they committed. She gave them retribution in terms of punishment, but their lives weren't forfeit. Xu Jiaqi was a realist. She knew that no matter how hard she tried to rehabilitate someone, they would never be able to change from their negative ways. Some people were just like that. In order to get closer to her utopia as much as possible, she built up a new state. It was a state where laws were the strictest, and she made sure that everyone feared this certain place.

The state was called Intemerata. It was a land that belonged to no one but the officers that Xu Jiaqi handpicked. They were all technically her apprentices- people she picked up and taught from time to time when she was free. She wanted to pass on her control to someone who was worthy, and cultivating other beings were needed for this. The place was ran by people she trusted for quite a bit. All of the criminals that Xu Jiaqi purged were sent there. If they passed a certain bar of judgement, then they would be able to reenter society. If not, then they would be stuck there forever. Intemerata provided accommodation according to the citizens' ability and achievements.

Each person's actions were counted and tallied to form points that would be allocated to their citizenship card. This system did not apply to only Intemerata, but the entire continent. This made everybody easier to identify.

Everything was going well. After one year had passed, Xu Jiaqi was satisfied with her work. Even if she was to disappear right now, everything would still be able to be carried out without her. She had left her ideas on pieces of literature as well, pouring her knowledge and thoughts into papers. Those who Xu Jiaqi deemed as worthy would inherit the pieces after she died.

Time continued to pass, and Xu Jiaqi gradually fortified the foundations to such a point that she was sure it would last for generations to come. Of course, the people of the future would propose different ideas, and a change would certainly be made along with advancements in living standards. Xu Jiaqi could only ensure that up to decades after she settled in all of these powerful stratagems, the people would be living freely with many opportunities greeting them as long as they lived upright.

Today marked exactly one decade. One full decade after she had entered this world. At first, Xu Jiaqi did predict that it would take a long time since the quest was of such a wide scale. The System told her that the Hosts typical spent a lot of time within each world anyway. Not to mention one decade, some agents had to spend centuries in fantasy worlds that involved cultivation and such.

Xu Jiaqi called all of the main characters that had helped her make the reformed Varadan Empire possible. The Emperor Zenith, the Cardinal Ezra, the Goddess Eula, and last but not least, herself. The Saintess who was in control behind the scenes.

In truth, she enjoyed holding power from the shadows like this far too much. It allowed her to have a great amount of freedom while simultaneously still being aware of everything going on and making large maneuvers.

She wanted to hold a celebration for it.

"Cheers to us all. It has been a long journey, and all of this wouldn't be possible if you guys didn't play your parts." Xu Jiaqi raised up her wine glass, bringing it up to the air and clinking it with the other guests who did the same thing.

She calmly sipped her alcoholic liquid as she sighed. The night was cold. It was nearing winter, so the weather had been getting extreme lately. As a great Ruler, she had made sure that the people would be able to survive throughout the devastating weathers without having much casualties, only a few inconveniences.

Seeing the city lights shine brightly, illuminating the otherwise pitch black night, she felt a bit proud. This was her first time taking on the challenge of managing an entire world indirectly. Her best record was only the major companies around the world, but she still would've struggled to make massive changes. Billions of people lived in her first planet.

But here she was now. Her words were the rules to her beloved Emperor. She just had to say it and the man would follow without question.

"Let's drink this night away, shall we?" Xu Jiaqi laughed cheerily as she poured more liquid for herself, and for the man who she wrapped her arm around. The Emperor who was looking at her with stern eyes, expressing concern over her drinking habits.

"Truly a good night, hm?" The Goddess grinned sweetly as she spoke. "Truly.. a good night. Good night, my children."

Something was wrong. Xu Jiaqi raised a brow as she watched the Goddess giggle.

The Goddess' gaze changed. An intense danger warning shot up through Xu Jiaqi's body. Her instincts were telling her to get away from this place and to not waste a single second. An immense pressure holding her down, immobilizing her despite the powers that she thought she had accumulated for all these years.

How could she be made so powerless all of a sudden? There could only be one clear answer.

The deity who provided her with said power in the first place.. The Goddess who was floating in front of her, Eula.