Chapter 290: Conductor (3)
Translator: miraclerifle
Editor: Borderline Masochist
Teaser: Wonder Girls' Nobody plays in the background.
The Cat Knight, Sir Rex, did not know much about administration or politics.
“...A land for magic and alchemy-”
That was why he could only imagine a vague idea of that rather than pinning down the details.
“What do you mean by that?”
“It's simple.”
Of course, it was not a simple issue. However, Cale was thinking about it in simple terms.
“Magic and alchemy have a lot of similarities. The small city will have a way to protect itself if we can gather people and provide a strong foundation for them.
He could hear the invisible Raon's voice.
- Human! Will Rosalyn get a new home? Let’s build one for Goldie gramps too!
Cale simply ignored Raon. What he didn’t know was that he would end up regretting this in the future.
Raon was being serious.
“Young master-nim, why is that beneficial for the Empire and the Roan Kingdom?”
“For the first twenty years, the Roan Kingdom's palace and the Mogoru side’s leaders will work together to select the mayor.”
The mayor. It was the person with the most power in a city.
“Doesn't that just mean that the Roan Kingdom wants to recommend a mayor for twenty years in order to control the city?”
Sir Rex was certain that, although it was called a partnership, that there would be no recommendations that were from the Mogoru side. Cale nodded his head and added on.
“You're right. A Roan Kingdom's person will be the mayor for twenty years.”
It meant that the land belonged to the Roan Kingdom for twenty years.
"After that, we guarantee that we will help support the city to become a truly free city where the citizens will have a say on the leadership. This will all be announced to the Western continent.”
Rex's expression turned odd as if he could not believe Cale.
“Just tell me flat out that you want me to give you some land.”
His voice sounded sharp and critical.
“Although it is called an offer, aren’t you basically telling me to give you land for making me the Emperor?”
“Well...”
Cale crossed his legs and leaned back into the chair.
“Roan has the strength to do that.”
Cale followed that up by shaking his head.
“However, if we do that, the Empire would disappear.”
“...Just what?”
“The Jungle, Whipper Kingdom, and Caro Kingdom. Do you think these three places would leave the Empire’s land alone? They will try to make deals to steal land just like the Roan Kingdom is doing, or they would start wars in order to steal the land.”
Sir Rex was at a loss for words.
The other three kingdoms had more negative feelings toward the Empire than the Roan kingdom did, preventing Rex from antagonizing the Roan Kingdom as well.
The crazy priestess Cage had already explained everything the Empire had done in the Western continent to Rex.
“...Then do you truly mean that you want to turn it into a free city after controlling it for twenty years?”
“Yes.”
He answered without any hesitation.
“That's the only way for the other kingdoms to accept it.”
That was also the only way to get the Magic Tower and Alchemists’ Bell Tower to be created in the city.
“Our Roan Kingdom plans to provide all of the foundational necessities and spend as much as necessary for magic and alchemy to develop in this city.”
Who would have something to say against it if the Roan Kingdom says they will help out until the new free city is settled and were willing to spend a ton of money on it?
“They’ll probably just call us stupid for spending all that money and then taking our hands away from it in twenty years.”
“...Who would believe that you would really take your hands off after that time?”
“I'm sure that the other kingdoms will probably ask us to make a Vow of Death.”
“Are you planning on doing that?”
“Yes.”
Rex was completely at a loss for words.
However, Cale was not done talking just yet.
“Furthermore, we will be on friendly terms with the Mogoru as we will be creating this free city together. That is why we will work hard to control the issues that the new Mogoru has with other kingdoms.”
Rex wondered if he was hearing correctly that the current rising star of the Western continent was willing to be the sturdy shield for the Mogoru that was the setting sun.
“We will also provide the funds for the Empire’s Alchemists’ Bell Tower and for alchemy itself to stand back up.”
“Ha!”
Rex was shocked.
He subconsciously said exactly what was on his mind.
“What is left for the Roan Kingdom? Aren’t you just giving and giving without receiving anything back?"
Cale heard Raon's voice in his mind at that moment.
- That's not true! You're wrong little Cat Knight! The human and crown prince will not just be giving! I saw the two of them laughing!
Cale naturally ignored Raon's voice.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
“Why do we get nothing back?”
“Well, to build a city and bring in both magic and alchemy, both of which are expensive to maintain, would cost a lot of money. Would there be anything left?”
Cale leisurely shook his head and answered back.
“It's fine. We have a lot of money.”
Rex didn't even have the capacity to be shocked anymore.
However, the Roan Kingdom really did have a lot of money.
They received money for helping the Caro Kingdom. They were also going to receive a lot of money from the defeated three northern kingdoms. In addition, the Roan Kingdom was going to trade food to the Norland Kingdom up north.
They had more money than ever and also had a lot of money that should be coming in.
“...I can’t understand at all. Why would the Roan Kingdom make such an offer?”
The Empire would need to give up some land. This would be very painful to do. However, the things that they would get back in return were worth quite a bit.
They would also not need to fight a bloody war nor have to sign a humiliating agreement.
Cale could see Sir Rex slowly opening his mouth to speak. The Cat Knight slowly started to speak after seeing the look of certainty in Cale's eyes.
“I’m envious.”
He could see how the Roan Kingdom would sparkle in the future.
“Why? Do you think it is impossible for the new Mogoru?”
Sir Rex slowly nodded his head. He looked down at his scarred hands and started to speak.
“...All of the corruption starting with the Church of the Sun God's terror incident and the terrible truth about the Alchemists’ Bell Tower and the royal family will soon be revealed. The Alchemists’ Bell Tower will be destroyed and the Empire will lose strength.”
Rex slowly reached his hand out and picked up the document that Cale had handed over.
“Of course, we will gain a, ‘new Church of the Sun God,’ and a, ‘new alchemy,’ if we accept the Roan Kingdom’s proposal.”
The citizens’ hearts would be at peace through the new Church of the Sun God.
The Roan Kingdom would help them maintain alchemy and prevent any foreign kingdoms from trying to invade the new Mogoru.
However, that was not the issue.
Rex started to frown as he asked.
“Do you think the citizens can still love their nation after the evil deeds of the Alchemists’ Bell Tower and the Empire are revealed? Could they be proud of the place they call home?”
Would the Empire remain the same in the citizens’ minds once the royal family, alchemy, and their religion were gone?
“They’ll feel like their home has disappeared.”
Rex believed that a, ‘home,’ wasn’t just a piece of land with a name.
My nation.
My hometown.
The land that I am proud to call the place I was born and raised.
That was what he considered to be a home.
Would the emptiness in their hearts allow them to see their home recover?
Rex had no way of knowing.
Cale had a profound expression on his face as he looked toward Rex who had his head down. He was surprised at Rex right now.
‘He’s better than I expected.’
He was someone who knew what was important.
Cale was thinking that he made the right decision by making Rex study those books and that maybe Rex was able to do everything he had done until now because he had such thoughts.
That was why Cale started to speak to the knight who still had his head down.
“There’s the real one in front of me.”
“...Excuse me?”
Sir Rex slowly raised his head. He could see a face that was not smiling, but still had a look of certainty.
“The real one.”
“Real...?”
“Yes.”
Cale casually added on.
“The real pride of the Empire.”
Rex subconsciously gasped. He heard Cale's voice at that moment.
“All of you have put your lives on the line.”
While revenge was partially responsible for their gathering, they had started everything in order to fix the things that were wrong.
They were trying to let people know about the truth.
“Isn’t that the true Mogoru?”
Rex felt as if he could not breathe.
Cale started to smile while looking at Rex’s reaction. He had dragged Sir Rex into this operation so that he could let the citizens of the Empire know about what was going on.
Screeeech-
Cale stood up from the chair that he was sitting on. Sir Rex looked toward him with a complicated expression as Cale pointed to the document in Rex’s hand.
“You can reject the offer. It is an offer because that is possible.”
Bang, bang, bang!
Loud noises suddenly filled the room.
Cale looked toward the entrance of the second floor.
Bang, bang, bang!
Someone was banging on the door.
“W, what is it?”
Sir Rex jumped up in shock. A voice responded from the other side of the door.
“Young master-nim! It’s me, Billos!”
It was the Flynn Merchant Guild's Billos.
He seemed to be gasping for air outside the door. There was a sense of urgency in his voice.
‘What is going on?’
Cale walked up to the door and grabbed the doorknob.
It was at that moment.
- Human, human! We have a message from the crown prince!
A message was left on the video communication device.
Cale flinched after hearing that it was from crown prince Alberu and stopped turning the doorknob.
“Young master-nim!”
However, Cale ended up opening the door in the end.
Billos, who seemed to have rushed over, couldn't even catch his breath as he started to speak.
“Young master-nim, the Imperial Prince and the Vice Tower Master of the Alchemists’ Bell Tower are supposedly heading to the western border!”
Cale’s face brightened up.
However, it immediately turned to a frown as if he was a wet tissue that was crumpled up.
- Human, the message says that, ‘the Imperial Prince asked for reinforcements!’
Raon's voice could be heard in Cale's mind.
- He also said, ‘Cale Henituse, the Imperial Prince is looking for you!’ Human, why is the Imperial Prince looking for you?
‘Damn it.’
“Now what the hell is going on?”
Cale’s frown became even deeper.