The crown above the round table did not fall immediately.

It hovered.

Waiting.

That was worse.

Every faction saw it. Every faction felt it. The crown did not need to speak loudly. Its presence whispered into frustration.

A single ruler would be faster.

A single command would settle disputes.

A single authority could punish betrayal.

A single crown could make the roads move.

Qin Yuheng watched the council carefully.

The crown’s temptation was not crude domination. It used impatience with discussion. It fed on exhaustion before trust formed.

The Soldier Road leader was the first to react.

His name was General Han Mo, a remnant commander in black-gray armor. He had likely once protected several roads from disaster. His aura was stern but not evil.

He stepped forward and reached toward the crown.

The mission panel flashed.

[Crown-Seeking Event Triggered]

[Target:

Soldier Road Leader — General Han Mo]

[Cause:

Belief that order requires central command.]

[Warning:

If he accepts the crown, council autonomy collapses.]

Qin Yuchen moved instinctively, but Qin Yuheng raised a hand.

"Do not attack yet."

General Han Mo looked at Qin Yuheng.

"You refuse command because you can afford ideals. Refugees die while merchants negotiate. Children starve while scholars define consent. Roads burn while farmers demand fairness. A crown may be dangerous, but delay kills."

His words struck many hearts.

Because they were not entirely false.

The Refugee Road murmured uneasily.

The Farmer Road looked uncertain.

The Healer Road lowered their eyes.

Qin Yuheng stepped closer to the table but still did not sit.

"Command is necessary in emergencies. A permanent crown is not the only way to create emergency command."

The general sneered.

"Words."

"Then test structure."

Qin Yuheng placed one blank agreement on the table.

"Proposal: Emergency command authority may be granted temporarily by at least seven roads during active disaster. It expires after crisis. It cannot alter child protection, talent ownership, name rights, or road debt law. It must be reviewed afterward."

The Scholar Road’s eyes brightened.

The Soldier Road hesitated.

The Merchant Road objected. "Seven roads? Too slow."

The Refugee Road said, "Better than one road ordering us forever."

The Beastfolk Road growled. "Temporary war chief is acceptable if claws are not chained afterward."

The Healer Road added, "Emergency medicine allocation must be protected."

The crown dimmed slightly.

Qin Mo quickly wrote the proposal using ordinary ink, not binding law.

"Discussion first. Binding later."

The crown pulsed angrily.

General Han Mo’s hand stopped.

But the crown was not done.

It projected an image: a caravan burned because no one decided quickly. Children crying. Soldiers waiting for approval. A healer lacking authority to seize supplies.

General Han Mo’s face twisted.

"I have seen this."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"So have many commanders."

"Then you know delay kills."

"Yes. That is why emergency command exists. But command given for danger must end when danger ends."

General Han Mo looked at the crown again.

Qin Yuheng continued, "If you take the crown now, you will solve today’s argument and create tomorrow’s oppression. If you help write emergency standards, you protect roads without owning them."

The general’s hand lowered.

The crown shrieked without sound.

[Crown-Seeking Event resisted.]

[Temporary Emergency Command Standard drafted.]

[Council Trust: 11% → 24%]

Qin Mo exhaled.

"Negotiation survived one soldier." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The crown’s golden light suddenly condensed into armor.

It created a false version of General Han Mo wearing the crown.

[Crown-Seeker Projection]

[Level Equivalent: 69]

[Type:

False order authority / crown temptation construct]

General Han Mo stared at his crowned self.

The projection drew a sword.

"If the real refuses, the crown remembers desire."

The battle erupted.

This was the first direct action Qin Yuheng had wanted to add back into his path.

Not all council floors could be words.

The Crown-Seeker Projection attacked the round table first. If it destroyed the table, the council would collapse.

Qin Yuheng planted Chosen Road Banner Field—but only around those who willingly accepted protection.

"We defend the table. No faction commands another without consent."

General Han Mo hesitated for half a breath, then stepped into the field.

The Soldier Road followed.

The Refugee Road entered next.

Then the Healer Road.

The battle began with four roads under partial coordination.

Qin Yuchen held the front line beside Soldier Road remnants. Qin Lian disappeared into the projection’s golden shadow, cutting authority threads. Qin Mo placed anti-crown anchors around the table.

Qin Yuheng faced the Crown-Seeker directly.

The projection fought like General Han Mo but without restraint. Every strike carried an order: obey, kneel, unify, submit.

Qin Yuheng countered with thunder and banner pulses.

He did not use overwhelming force immediately. He wanted the council to witness the difference between command and domination.

General Han Mo saw it.

The false version ordered soldiers like tools.

Qin Yuheng coordinated allies as people.

The difference weakened the projection.

The crown tried to jump from the projection to Qin Yuheng.

The False Throne Authority Breaker activated.

Qin Yuheng struck upward.

"Not mine."

The crown cracked.

Qin Lian cut the final golden thread.

Qin Yuchen shattered the projection’s sword.

Qin Yuheng pierced its chest.

The Crown-Seeker Projection dissolved.

[First Crown-Seeker Projection defeated.]

[Central table preserved.]

[Emergency command principle strengthened.]

[Sub-Mission Progress:

Prevent faction seizure — 1 / ?]

The Soldier Road leader bowed stiffly to Qin Yuheng.

"Temporary emergency command. With expiration."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"And review."

General Han Mo almost smiled.

"And review."

The first standard was accepted by six roads, then seven.

The crown above the table dimmed.

But it did not vanish.

From the Merchant Road, another pair of eyes had already begun calculating.

Order was not the only path to crown.

Wealth could seek one too.