Chapter 127

Chapter 127

#127. The War of Money (1)

The news that Arad had almost been kidnapped (?) was immediately reported to the High City via a Magic Communication Device.

Apparently, the identity of the attempted kidnapper (?) was Yulkaneis, a magician from the Empire’s Golden Mage Tower.

Upon hearing this, Ariana felt a strong wave of dizziness.

“Arad… are you… are you hurt anywhere?”

Ariana tried calming her trembling heart as she inspected Arad’s appearance through the communication device.

[Yes, I’m perfectly fine.]

“Return to the High City immediately!”

[No, Your Majesty. Time is pressing. Due to my mistake, the Empire’s Golden Mage Tower has accelerated its research on the Magic Circuit. We must widen the gap somehow.]

“The Magic Circuit or your airship aren’t more important than you. Return at once. It’s an order!”

Arad’s location and destination were as crucial state secrets as Ariana’s health condition.

Only the upper echelons of the High City and the executives of the Arad Group knew Arad’s whereabouts.

Even so, Yulkaneis seemed confident that Arad would come to the Demon Den and waited there beforehand.

He claimed he found out due to a familiar summoned by an 8th Circle Magician, but Ariana didn’t think it was solely because of that.

“Arad Jin, you’re the future of Lenslet. Your crisis is also Lenslet’s! So return to the High City immediately!”

Hadn’t she just gone through something major? Ariana was extremely uneasy about everything.

That’s why she felt like Arad, the man she relied on most, might disappear at any moment.

[Your Majesty’s concern fills me with gratitude. I too wish to return to the High City immediately.]

However, Arad seemed unaware of Ariana’s feelings.

[Please reconsider, Your Majesty. Now, the peace and prosperity of Lenslet come first before me.]

“Does this shipyard have to be built in the Jin Viscountcy?”

[It has the smallest population and is remote, making security better. It’s also close to the Great Forest for easy material supply.]

The Arad reflected in the Magic Communication Device continued cheerfully.

[Plus, I’m supposed to be doing closed-door research publicly, right? This place seems perfect for it. Hahaha!]

“…”

With Arad saying that much, Ariana had nothing left to say.

Not that she couldn’t say anything.

She could’ve held him back by reminding him about his regular check-ups.

Or she could’ve ordered Valkyrie, who was nearby Arad, to bring him back.

“But… I understand. If you need anything, let me know.”

But Ariana didn’t do any of those things.

[Yes, Your Majesty. I will definitely repay you with the best results.]

And thus, the magical communication with Arad ended.

“…”

After finishing the call, Ariana stared blankly at the Magic Communication Device for a while.

“Miss?”

“Your Majesty?”

Isabel and Sun, who were beside her, looked worriedly at Ariana.

‘Is that how it is…?’

Ariana gave a bitter smile as she touched her lower abdomen.

Arad’s behavior just now was strange.

The Arad she knew usually listened to whatever she said.

This time, however, was different.

‘Even though I’m this worried… even though I gave an order…’

Most importantly, even though she was feeling this unwell.

‘Has his heart truly drifted away?’

If she were her usual self, she would’ve thought ‘Arad must be really into airships lately,’ and dismissed it casually.

After all, he’d gotten obsessed with things before, like during the portrait incident.

‘To think someone like me would be liked… No, it’s impossible.’

But Ariana wasn’t in her usual state, both physically and mentally.

‘Did he find another woman? Someone healthy and proper, unlike me…’

This difference led to misunderstandings and various delusions.

‘Alright, I’ll let him go.’

It’s better if Arad settles down with a healthy Lensretian woman.

He needs to start a family soon… so he doesn’t leave Lenslet…

Drip drip drip

Tears streamed down Ariana’s eyes.

“A-Are you alright, miss?”

“Her Majesty is crying…?”

The lady who hadn’t shed a tear even when her father passed away!

Her tears caused quite a commotion around her.

After that day,

Strange rumors spread throughout the Glorious Palace of the High City.

Rumors that there was discord between Arad and Ariana.

The reasons for these rumors were complex.

Currently, Arad was reportedly doing something akin to closed-door cultivation for research purposes.

During this time, whispers circulated secretly that Ariana had talked to Arad via the Magic Communication Device and ended up crying.

Of course, the maids wouldn’t dare eavesdrop on their sovereigns’ magical communications.

All they noticed was Isabel and Sun’s flustered appearances and Ariana’s red-rimmed eyes after that day.

Moreover, as Arad continued his “closed-door research” without leaving for months, the rumors gained more traction.

* * *

Around the time the final war against the barbarians ended in Northern Lenslet,

The Empire was also fighting one of the last remaining barbarians at the Eastern Wall.

The Mongar Orcs, the long-time nemesis of the Empire, and humanity itself.

Though they no longer ruled the entirety of the Arcadia Continent like in the olden days of barbarism, they remained a significant threat that couldn’t be ignored.

Tens of thousands of Mongar Orcs, riding tamed monsters, charged across the plains towards the Ragolte Main Wall.

The Empire greeted the invaders atop the magic-reinforced wall.

A mobilization order was declared across the entire empire, and regardless of being from the Newcomers faction, the Nobility Council, or the Church, soldiers and knights were selected to be sent to the wall.

Even the Kingdom Alliance, as members of humanity, paused their local conflicts and provocations.

Thus, the full-scale war began.

However, even with the Empire holding a standing army of 100,000 central troops, they couldn’t deploy all of them to the wall.

The Imperial Royal Family and the Newcomers faction had too many enemies both inside and outside the empire due to their karma.

“The Central Army will send exactly 30,000 troops to the wall. The rest will be supplemented by retired soldiers, militia, and… fiefdom troops.”

In other words, additional maintenance costs would arise beyond the existing upkeep of the 100,000 standing army.

Even if the newly mobilized soldiers were retirees, militia, or fiefdom troops, they still needed basic weapons, armor, and rations.

Managing the increased number of troops and supplying military goods consumed every hour at the wall was no small burden.

Indeed, logistics determine the outcome of war.

“Supply our supplementary troops with uniforms made from Rian fabric and equipment made from Imperial Steel. We can’t keep giving out embarrassing-looking armor and weapons claiming they’re from the royal family forever.”

And for this war, the Emperor was confident.

He was confident that he could provide abundant supplies to the newly mobilized soldiers and knights.

“This time, we’ll do it right! We must show the prestige of the royal family!”

Regardless of whether it’s the direct territory or the Newcomers faction nobles, he decided to showcase the royal family’s prestige through military supplies and provisions to all troops.

That way, when they returned home later, good words about the Emperor would spread, which would naturally influence public sentiment in the provinces.

“Your Majesty! Though your compassionate heart towards the lowliest soldiers is beautiful, it’s realistically impossible!”

“There’s no need to worry excessively about the newly mobilized soldiers! Those recruited from the direct territory are either retired soldiers or militia with some training and experience, not as polished as the central army, but decent enough.”

“That’s right! Many soldiers even purchase quality weapons and armor with their own money. Simply providing them with linen shirts would suffice.”

“Why not use that money to hire more mercenaries instead?”

Naturally, concerns and opposition from the ministers followed initially.

They still didn’t fully understand industrialization like the Emperor did.

“No. This time will be different.”

The Emperor disregarded the ministers’ worries.

And as the Emperor said, this war was indeed different from previous ones.

“Summon Bishop Entaire. We’ll purchase urgent military supplies from him at a reasonable price.”

First thing the Emperor did was attempt to buy military supplies at a bargain price from Bishop Entaire.

“We cannot meet such quantities even if you insist. Please show mercy!”

At a price akin to confiscation, Bishop Entaire naturally refused indirectly.

“If you sell us only what you can supply immediately, we’ll appreciate it!”

Selling a portion at that price would bankrupt us. We’ll offer a token amount; please take it and leave. That was the implication.

“Is that so? Then let’s hurry and build factories in the royal direct territory!”

Khanbraman had been waiting for this statement.

Using this as justification, he officially pushed forward the industrialization that had been sluggish until now.

“With the war starting, we’ll need more military supplies. There’s no need to consider the guilds’ opinions anymore.”

Even before the war, the Newcomers faction nobles and the royal family had quietly operated some factories.

But their numbers and momentum were limited due to the guilds’ resistance.

“It’s time to part ways. The information network and funds provided by the guilds aren’t what they used to be.”

For ages, Imperial Steel had been renowned.

The influence of the masters and their guilds within the empire was far stronger than in any other country on the continent.

But that glory faded away suddenly, almost overnight.

And the Emperor, who had protected them until the very end, promptly abandoned them.

* * *

With the wind of industrialization blowing, the Emperor issued a mobilization order across the entire empire.

Massive amounts of materials were required.

Normally, the sound of blacksmiths’ shouts and hammering should’ve echoed from workshops across the empire, but not this time.

The fires in the workshops were extinguished, replaced by factory chimneys visible everywhere in the cities day by day.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

THUD THUD THUD

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

Inside the factories, successfully replicated steam engines roared continuously, producing Imperial Steel, weapons, and cloth. Not pausing for a single moment.

The only beings capable of resting were the humans working in the factories.

Under the thorough supervision of Inspector Julian, imperial workers were allowed to work a maximum of 15 hours a day.

The imperial factories ran in two shifts, producing military supplies non-stop from morning till the next morning without a single hour’s break.

“Goodness gracious…”

“If we had to make all this in workshops like before…?”

“We probably couldn’t have produced even one-hundredth of this quantity. And it would’ve cost ten times more money and time.”

“Rather, isn’t it too much production?”

“While storing them in magic warehouses will prevent dust and rust…”

“I’d rather sell them elsewhere.”

“Selling directly to the Kingdom Alliance might be tricky.”

“If we sell them ourselves, it could cause problems.”

“Then?”

“Selling to mercenary groups and war merchants might work, don’t you think?”

“That sounds good. What about selling to the East too?”

“Great idea! Imperial Steel is famous even in the eastern continent.”

The weapons and cloth pouring out of the factories like a flood were in such overwhelming quantities that they seriously considered exporting after equipping their own soldiers.

Surprisingly, it didn’t cost much budget.

The budget used for this war was similar to, or slightly more than, the one used during the past Mongar Great Invasion.

However, the factory-style mass production delivered significantly more weapons quickly to the empire with the same budget.

“More iron ore! Bring more iron ore!”

“Magic stones and coal too!”

The only inputs required were raw materials and fixed labor costs.

The northern regions producing the core raw materials and the Bishop Company distributing them to the empire benefited the most.

When gold mines are discovered, sell picks and jeans, they say.

“Our imperial soldiers using soulless weapons like these! It’s an insult!”

“Are you going to keep saying that? The world has changed. Time to acknowledge it.”

“It can’t be helped! All this loyalty the guilds and our artisans have shown to the empire until now…”

“Sir Pyetonne, master blacksmith to the royal family, you’re still highly skilled and renowned, making swords for knights even now.”

Where there’s light, there’s shadow.

The guild’s argument of favoring artisans and keeping machines and steam engines at bay lost all power even within the Newcomers faction.

Nowadays, smokestacks and factories were common sense throughout the empire, whether it was the Newcomers faction, the Church, or the Nobility Council.

“I’m fine, but my apprentices…”

“That’s beyond our control. We value Sir’s dedication to the royal family, so we’ll arrange jobs as factory managers for your apprentices. Be satisfied with that.”

“But…”

“Hush! His Majesty said he can’t keep purchasing military supplies from Bishop Company indefinitely.”

“…Understood.”

The artisans should’ve been grateful.

His Majesty maintained minimal propriety considering his dignity.