Volume 2 chapter 86
The next day, Clyris gathered Luna, Finn, Byron, Grayson, along with a dozen Sixth-Rank demons and dozens of Fifth-Rank demons in the small city of Goron.
"Everyone, I won't waste words. The situation is critical!" Clyris stood on the platform, looking down at the gathered demons. "The vanguard of the Western Alliance Army has already breached Forgrave City. They will be here soon!"
"We must hold this place! Otherwise, the supply line to Talisk Fortress will become unstable! We will likely lose the fortress and be forced to abandon vast territories to retreat to the Dark City!"
"But honestly..." Clyris looked around the room and sighed. "It will be hard! Very... very hard!"
"We have no Fortress Cannons here. No high-level Defensive Array. A single Seventh-Rank Knight with a squad could break through! Yet the Alliance charges involve multiple Eighth-Rank Knights, thousands of men, and this time—they have War Behemoths!"
"And we... our numbers are pitifully small! Just over 150,000... The Alliance vanguard alone outnumbers us, let alone their main force!"
"However—" Clyris's tone shifted, becoming sharp and commanding.
"We must resist! No matter the cost, we must hold for one month!"
"You may wonder, why one month?" Clyris looked at the confused faces below and spoke expressionless. "Simple! That is the time required for the garrisons of Talisk and Abbys Fortresses to evacuate!"
"Whoa!!!"
The demons erupted in shock, looking at her in disbelief.
Clyris maintained her stoic expression, unwavering. "You should know clearly that we are under attack from both East and West. We cannot hold both sides!"
"In the East, once the Alliance takes Elbaran City, they will take Feld City, cutting off Abbys's supplies. The West is the same! Once Goron City beneath our feet falls, the Western Alliance can cut off Talisk's supplies!"
"Unfortunately, we lack the ability to stop them..." Clyris sighed. "Without Fortress Cannons, without a fortified city... even if we fill the breaches with our lives, we cannot hold these fragile walls forever!"
"So, we can only abandon the fortresses and retreat to defend the Dark City—at least its defenses are stronger than the fortresses. We can hold there..."
Luna and the other three commanders fell into deep thought. The other demons remained silent.
"Your Majesty!" Finally, Luna stepped forward. "Is one month... really enough?"
"It is enough..." Clyris nodded. "But if we want to retrieve more supplies and troops, we would need to hold for another half month! But... I don't know if we can hold that long. Even one month... I am not certain..."
"Then let us hold for a month and a half! Your Majesty!" Luna looked at Clyris with determined eyes. "We will hold! For our kin in the fortresses!"
"That's right! For the millions of brothers in the fortresses, we must hold no matter what!" Finn stepped forward.
"Exactly! We will make the Alliance break their teeth here! Even if we die, we will stop them!" Byron shouted.
"I leave it to you..." Clyris looked at the passionate demons, moved. She bowed deeply. "I'm sorry. I must go to Talisk Fortress to act as a bait for the Alliance's Ninth-Rankers. I cannot fight the Alliance here with you... So... I entrust this to you!"
She couldn't stay here. A battle between Ninth-Rankers would destroy this fragile city instantly. With only a Seventh-Rank Defensive Array, any full-force strike from a Ninth-Ranker would shatter it. If she missed a single block, everyone here would die.
Only at the Fortress, with its double-layer Ninth-Rank arrays, could she fight all out without risking the destruction of her own base. Even a Saint's strike could be tanked two or three times there.
"Subordinate understands. Please rest assured, Your Majesty!" Grayson nodded, placing his hand over his chest. "We will defend this place with all our might! You too... take care! You are our greatest hope!"
"Grayson..." Clyris looked at the stone giant who had always worked silently and tirelessly. She shook her head, moved. "I won't be in danger... It's you all... Please don't throw your lives away easily! If you truly can't hold, retreat! Neither the fortress garrisons nor I will blame you!"
"Yes!"
Clyris took a long, deep look at the demons present. In her heart, she couldn't stop sighing. This time, how many will die? How many... can survive?
She tried to discard the thought, telling herself everything would go smoothly, deceiving herself that it would be alright...
But it was a clumsy play that even a child wouldn't believe. She knew deep down that very likely, none of them would return. The disparity in power was so stark... it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
But she had to do it...
150,000 lives for a million fortress defenders... It's a good trade... isn't it?
She almost fled as she flew away from Goron City.
___________________
Seres Territory.
Charlo began his day early. Mornings were for Seres administration, middays for construction discussions with Speer, afternoons for guiding the General Staff, and evenings for research with Freya and Alice.
This was his routine now. Occasionally, he had meetings with Mars or Griff. He barely had a moment of leisure.
The "at least one day off per week" rule he mandated for others... he couldn't even enjoy himself. He felt helpless but resigned; no one else could take his place.
Charlo finally understood why noble heirs progressed rapidly before inheriting their titles but stagnated afterward. With no time to cultivate, of course you stagnate!
"Mm..." Charlo frowned at the report.
The United Chamber of Commerce's expansion into the Eastern Border was not going smoothly. They were obstructed by a group of nobles led by Marquis Henry.
These nobles refused to let the Chamber open shops in their territories. Instead, they demanded that goods be handed over to them for sale—essentially wholesale import for retail sale, so they could earn the middleman's profit.
They also demanded to import only specific goods and wanted to levy taxes! They even demanded Seres pay for the transport!
"I gave them too much face!" Charlo put down the report, his face darkening.
"How should we respond?" Lawrence asked.
"Tell them I don't lack their money. These conditions are just a power play, and I will never accept them!" Charlo said coldly. "Talk to them again. Threaten them. If they don't let us in, we will provide massive amounts of low-priced grain and half-price mana stones to our ally, Marquis Elliott! Let's see if they panic then!"
He didn't need to force them directly. By selling strategic resources like food and energy to their rivals, they would be forced to agree to his terms!
"I understand!" Lawrence nodded. He knew this was a bluff for Marquis Henry. They wouldn't actually give Marquis Elliott such cheap terms, but they would lower prices enough to pressure Henry.
"One more thing. The Landon Family has noticed our paper currency and is demanding an explanation. What should we do?"
Minting Rights! This was not a right every noble possessed. Imperial law stated only the Emperor, the Four Grand Dukes, and nobles designated by them had the right to mint coin. Private minting was punishable by title revocation or even expulsion!
Although Charlo had minting rights granted by the Emperor, he was in the East!
As the saying goes, The Emperor is far away. By choosing to peg his currency to the Maurice Silver Coin instead of the Folk Silver Coin (of the Eastern Grand Duke), he was destined to draw the ire of the Landon Family.
This wasn't just economics; it was politics. On Landon turf, refusing to use Landon currency weakened their ability to accumulate wealth and, by extension, their rule!
But he couldn't change it. If he did, the Emperor would suspect him of defecting to the Landons.
"Mint more Folk Gold and Silver Coins..." Charlo rubbed his temples and sighed. "For open trade with Landon-aligned nobles, use Landon currency. Externally, say the paper money is a temporary measure due to a shortage of precious metals in Seres. Import more precious metals from them! Even if the price is higher, we'll swallow the loss for now!"
His original plan was to short the Folk Silver Coin once the Chamber's network covered the entire Eastern Border, forcing it out of the market and replacing it with Seres Currency.
He even prepared to mint a "Seres Silver Coin." But he underestimated the Landon family's spy network. They discovered it far too early. He had underestimated the control these ancient families held over their territories.
"Next, the agenda regarding the Seres Code!" Lawrence nodded and turned the page.
Charlo's face collapsed instantly. He sighed weakly. "Again... Alright, what's the problem this time?"
Since he was a Viscount, Charlo had planned a legal code—a detailed code beneficial to the common people!
After becoming a Count, he started the legislative work. He invited personnel from the Imperial Court to help draft it, as his population had exploded and traditional policing was no longer sufficient.
Furthermore, a Count could knight his own vassals. He needed a code to regulate this.
This highlighted the difference between landed and unlanded titles. In this feudal system, Land was the foundation of a noble!
"Regarding the Supernatural Restriction Act!" Lawrence said. "They disagree with almost every article!"
"It was raised by the Imperial Court people, right?" Charlo said flatly. He didn't need to look to know.
Vested interests never propose laws to restrict themselves unless forced. It was obvious who opposed restricting the supernatural.
"Correct!" Lawrence nodded.
"How are the other parts?" Charlo asked, ignoring the objection for now.
"The framework is basically complete. Only specific regulations remain!" Lawrence replied.
"That's enough! Send them back!" Charlo nodded and spoke expressionless.
"Is... is that enough?" Lawrence hesitated. "Shouldn't we let them finish the other articles first?"
"No need!" Charlo said without hesitation. "Since the framework is done, filling it in is just a matter of time! We can do it ourselves slowly! We don't need them! They look down on us? Then let them get out! In my territory, the Supernatural will be restricted. Want to be lawless like elsewhere? Impossible!"
"This isn't just about the difference between Supernatural and Commoner! It's about public order! It's about Class! I can admit Supernaturals are a rank higher, but commoners must have their own rights too!"
"Yes," Lawrence replied.
"Next..."
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