Chapter Twenty-Two: The Chaotic Madrid Empire

After reluctantly bidding farewell to Victoria, Sun Li left the luxurious villa where he had lived for several months and followed the expanding ranks of the Embroidered Guards to the Madrid Empire, located on the Iberian Peninsula.

Unlike the filthy, bustling, and prosperous commoners of the English Empire, the citizens of the Madrid Empire were much more in line with Sun Li’s impression of medieval Europe: vacant eyes, malnourished bodies, and in every city, a multitude of beggars, contrasted starkly by the few nobles who moved among them.

In these backward and impoverished cities, countless gangs of thieves and robbers naturally arose; street brawls and fistfights were daily occurrences. If the English Empire’s cities left Sun Li with the impression that human filth might rain down from the sky at any moment, then in Madrid, it was the utter lawlessness that struck him. Outside the noble quarters, venturing out unarmed meant you might not return home at all. The Madrid Empire lacked the wealth of England, the military tradition of Frankonia, the cult of personality found in the Moris Empire, and the fervent faith of the Kingdom of Light. Aggressive militarism had filled the hearts of Madrid’s commoners with resentment toward their government. Oppressive taxes and mandatory, unpaid military service kept the lower classes perpetually on the edge of revolt.

After only a few days in the Madrid Empire, Sun Li decided to cross this former European hegemon off his list of enemies. If war broke out, the country would destroy itself within months. In the city, Sun Li even encountered a powerful gang called Germania, whose rules inspired more faith among the impoverished masses than the laws of the empire itself.

Outside the capital and a handful of large cities, in smaller towns and rural areas, even the local officials deferred to Germania. It was rumored that this gang was protected by high-ranking figures among the Madrid elite, a noble house by the name of Wilhelm.

Sun Li witnessed firsthand the formidable power born of collusion between the authorities and the underworld. With official cover, the Germania gang expanded at a geometric rate. Even Sun Li, with his limited understanding of politics, could see that Germania posed a grave threat to the empire’s rule. The current peace was nothing more than their restraint. If they wished, they could raise several peasant uprisings in no time; tens of millions of commoners went hungry, and there were far more desperate rebels than all the soldiers the Madrid Empire could muster.

One could only wonder what the Madrid Emperor was thinking. Did he truly believe that an army of two hundred thousand would be enough to face all his enemies? Should chaos erupt, the entire Iberian Peninsula would be consumed in war, impossible to contain.

Sun Li keenly observed that not only had the commoners lost patience with the empire, but the nobility too were making their own calculations. Aside from Germania, the local lords everywhere were building up their private armies. It seemed that, apart from the vainglorious emperor himself, all other nobles had lost faith in this decaying empire. The civil wars of recent years had shattered not only the myth of the Madrid military’s invincibility but also the people’s confidence in their nation.

Having seen the chaos of the Madrid Empire, Sun Li found no interest in getting involved with this soon-to-be warlord-ridden, decrepit realm. In his eyes, those nobles recruiting soldiers were nothing but future warlords in the aftermath of the collapse, and perhaps this could serve as a breakthrough point on the continent. Once he secured the gold mines of the New World, landing and intervening in Europe’s disputes from this weakened region seemed a fine plan. He only hoped the crumbling old empire could hold out a bit longer—just until he landed on the continent himself.

Just as he was about to leave the chaotic Madrid Empire, Sun Li unexpectedly learned a piece of moderate importance: the former Governor of Santaren, Armasja von Wilhelm, was also residing in Madrid, and apparently living quite comfortably. Perhaps the current state of the empire was the handiwork of some crafty mastermind. The human factions of Europa truly were amusing—constantly scheming to undermine one another, seemingly unconcerned that the Elven Empire, the great enemy of mankind, might take advantage of their disunity. But what did that matter to him? With a laugh, Sun Li decided to sleep on it and leave tomorrow. If disaster struck, there would always be someone taller to shoulder the sky—and if not, he would gladly become that towering figure for Europa himself.

Of course, Sun Li did not waste his official trip to the Madrid Empire. He took the opportunity to tour its scenic spots and gaze in awe at the palace, stacked high with gold coins. The place was so valuable he nearly fancied himself a pirate, but after weighing the risks and the empire’s corruption, he decided it would be far more convenient to return with an army someday.

No wonder the Madrid Empire was always getting beaten—such a wealthy weakling, who could resist taking a slice if it were within arm’s reach?

Beyond the dizzying array of luxuries, Sun Li’s greatest gain in Madrid was the treasure trove of the imperial library. His status as a knight made entry easy, and the empire’s centuries as a European hegemon had yielded a vast collection of knowledge that left Sun Li wide-eyed in wonder.

He learned that the Elven Empire was not populated solely by centaurs and high elves; it was home to many humans as well, who served as laborers and workers. In the factories, farms, and mines of the empire, humans were everywhere, while the noble elves and centaurs filled the roles of soldiers, officials, and administrators. In the Elven Empire, humans were second-class citizens.

It was not unlike India on Earth—lower castes forever barred from the army or from holding office, relegated to the lowest labor. The elves and centaurs had only to keep their armies well-trained and enjoy their status as lords. No wonder they were considered the enemy of humankind—once conquered, humans would be condemned to inferiority for generations, so it was little surprise that Moris resisted invasion so fiercely.

The Dwarven Empire, for its part, was intriguing. Despite its isolationist policies, new inventions constantly trickled out, while the dwarves kept their borders firmly closed, trading only through a single route for necessities they lacked. Records about them were sparse, save for the impression of remarkable advancement—a level of progress that gave Sun Li a deep sense of unease. He had a premonition that the Dwarven Empire would prove a formidable obstacle on his path to conquest.