Price of Management

* * *

Emperor Kars eventually reached the border along the Baden River with 100,000 troops.

The commander of the border fortress has become the temporary residence of Emperor Kars, and has been transformed to suit the elegance and majesty of the emperor. An unacceptable force at the border fortress has begun setting up a nearby garrison. It was a well-trained Horn Empire frenzy.

In time, Earl Antares and Earl Lindell crossed the border along the Baden River by boat.

The two earls were able to face Emperor Kars at the border fortress of the Horn Empire.

“I am here to see Emperor Kars Horn, the great ruler of the Horn Empire. ”

Earl Antares and Earl Lindell bow on one knee and pay their respects.

Emperor Kars nodded, expressionless, and gestured.

The two stood up and saw Emperor Kars.

There were two others there besides Emperor Kars.

One, of course, is Earl Halstein, called the "Sword of the Emperor." The other was Earl Rängen with a two-handed sword on his back, like a giant black cross. The existence of the two strongmen overwhelmed the two earls in secret.

But most of all, it was the cold emperor who showed no emotion in his eyes.

“This is the first time I've seen you in person. ”

Earl Antares' words made him flawed for a moment. It was so dry that I didn't think it was human. I couldn't find any eyes, faces, voices, emotions.

What else is there to be afraid of, like an unknown opponent, who has no idea what they're thinking?

‘The Wolfgang negotiated with this man. ’

Smell of fear rises.

However, Earl Antares replied calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. But it's nice to meet someone I've known for a long time. ”

“You're lying. ”

“Yes?”

Emperor Kars told Earl Nolan Antares:

“You're afraid now. Are you afraid of me?”

At that moment, I was speechless.

Earl Antares quickly found the right answer.

“I see someone who will be the Lord and Master of the Great Kingdom, how can I not be afraid? ”

“I see.”

Emperor Kars continued in an uncertain tone, whether he was still angry or satisfied.

Count Antares, on the other hand, feels a mistaken look in his eyes. I didn't want to make eye contact. Being in one place alone made me feel burdensome. The Earl of Lindell next to him was also uncomfortable.

The emperor, who had been watching them for a while, opened his mouth again.

“Let me ask you something. ”

“Bless me.”

“Who do you think would be the most stumbling block to conquest the continent? ”

Earl Antares and Earl Lindell glance at each other for a moment. Earl Lindel nods slightly. Earl Antares soon opened his mouth.

“If there is anyone in the world who dares to stand in the way of the Emperor, he is probably Earl Caroc Ligand. ”

“Why do you think that is? ”

“The role of the Caroc Ligand was behind the rise of the Kingdom of Ledon as it restored the Kingdom and succeeded in reform. To the outside world, he has also made alliances with the Orient Kingdom. ”

Earl Lyndel was also assisted by the end of his words.

“I can never underestimate animosity, either. The power of aesthetics to cause earthquakes and destroy a castle must be a strategic and deadly weapon. ”

On hearing them, Emperor Kars asked Earl Great Gen, who had remained silent.

“You lost, right? ”

“Hnng!”

The Marquis of Great Gen sighs in a straightforward question.

“Yes, I lost. because there was no way to win in the first place. ”

“Even if we fight again? ”

“If I decide before I ambush and hide in the ground, I'm not sure I can win a hundred battles. because there was no way to hit him underground. You can't sell your land with a blade to come, and even if you do, you can't hide any deeper, which is why you're a natural enemy to an unmanned person like me. ”

“In that case, Earl Halstein. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Can you stop Caroc Ligand from attacking Jim? ”

“…… he has too many different attack patterns. I can protect you, but over time, the situation will be disadvantaged. If it flies in the sky or goes underground, I have no way to stop it from moving. According to His Excellency, the Spirit is the enemy of the Unsullied. Only with the help of wizards will we be able to cope properly. ”

“I see.”

Emperor Kars has had time to rethink.

An awkward silence followed after the conversation, leaving only a pessimistic outlook.

Earl Halstein has long been accustomed to the awkwardness of cars, but the other three are very uncomfortable.

At last, Emperor Kars opens his mouth.

“Not good. Aesthetics. ”

“Your Majesty……. ”

Earl Halstein was quite surprised when he first said he had trouble with his mouth.

“Jim never considered aesthetics when he was researching strategies. Even when I met him, I was interested in excellent knowledge and insight, but I wasn't interested in animosity. But now it's a big variable that's hard to believe. ”

A great figure has stood out since childhood. As it is a class of society ruled by royalty and nobles, it is said that there are many talented children in one family.

For example, Earl Rick Fernando, who recently became a master, came to visit. Ever since I was a child, I was told I was a genius, and when I became Duke Meutt's disciple, I was called a future master.

In that sense, Caroc Ligand was one day a writer who fell from the sky.

As soon as the talented bastard of the small and trivial family became an adult, he opened his eyes to animosity and superiority, earning huge wealth and mastering advanced animosity. They quickly accumulated glorious accomplishments such as negotiations on the Baden River toll, alliances with the Orients, royal reform, and the success of financial tension.

It was no wonder I didn't think that even Emperor Kars would show up.

“Jim doesn't go to war without knowing the outcome. I will assist the Magic Soldiers in their research on animosity. We'll have to wait until we figure out a way to deal with the animosity. Jim is used to waiting. ”

The Magic Legion is a magical army boasted by the Horn Empire, high enough to rival the palace wizards led by the Grand Wizard Raymond of the Orient Kingdom. War-related magic has developed, especially as a magical group in the Horn Empire, a military empire. If they had focused their research on animosity, there would have been results.

“We'll do everything we can to help. ”

Earl Antares and Earl Lindell are at peace.

Emperor Kars nods and stands up.

“Then we need to finish what we came here for. ”

When Emperor Kars gestures, Earl Halstein, who was standing behind him, draws his sword and gives it to him carefully. It was not his, but the sword of the Wasteland.

“Be respectful. ”

Earl Antares and Earl Lindell bow on one knee.

His sword points to Earl Antares.

“John of House Antares, do you pledge allegiance to Jim for the welfare and prosperity of the Horn Empire in the future? ”

“I swear.”

The sword then points to Earl Lindell.

“Franz of House Lindell, do you swear allegiance to Jim for the welfare and prosperity of the Horn Empire in the future, forgetting the past? ”

“I swear.”

“I hereby bestow upon you the title of Duke and declare you to be the nobles of the Horn Empire from this day forward. ”

The ritual was brief. Not many peacocks have been born in the Horn Empire, and the ceremony was empty.

However, emperor Kars throws a boulder sword to make sure he doesn't mind. Earl Halstein takes it and puts it in the sword.

“I'm tired. I'm done. ”

Emperor Kars swoops away. Earl Halstein followed.

So, the two of them became Dukes of the Horn Empire. It was a quiet ceremony, but the wavelength was never small.

* * *

Earl Antares and Earl Lindell had a great party, invited the nobles and declared it official. They swore allegiance to the Horn Empire and became Dukes of the Horn Empire.

Those who had already anticipated it, but had no idea how the regime was flowing, were appalled by the treachery of the two after the onslaught.

The news was delivered first through the royal network of Lerdon, who was monitoring the post-emergence trends.

And four days after that, Evan came back.

“Lord, I just got back. ”

“I heard that two traitors became Duke warlords. ”

“I've come back with more information than that. ”

Evan had just returned from leading an intelligence group directly in the Baden River basin.

Evan is a good man. I was hoping he'd bring more useful information.

“Nearly every item, including food, necessities and precious metals, has skyrocketed around the Baden River basin. Earl Antares and Earl Lindell were funding and buying whatever they could. ”

Oh, I see.

They were no longer nobles of the Kingdom of Leaden. Their lands have been merged into the Horn Empire.

This meant that tariffs would be applied shortly.

We had to import the goods at the rate customs had been applied, so we were storytelling before that.

“I know how to hold on. ”

I remembered what Earl Antares said. I thought I knew what that meant now.

“I think I know the intentions of Earl Antares. ”

Evan opens his mouth.

I nodded back and forth.

“You're thinking of ruling the economy of the Horn Empire. ”

“That's right.”

The goods that the two families were buying now were for sale to the Horn Empire.

I intend to make the Horn Empire more economically dependent on me so that Emperor Kars cannot be trifled with.

“Certainly, the two families occupy the Baden River basin, so they will continue to serve as trade nodes for the Horn Empire. It's profitable to enter the Baden River without bleeding even for the sake of the Horn Empire. ”

As trade intensifies through the two families, the Horn Empire's economy will gradually recover and give it the strength to start a war.

This is how these humans came out.

We can't let that happen.

“Then we must stop them from trading! ”

“Yes?”

“I'm going to get to know the king. ”

I waved lightly at Evan and jumped out the window.

I flew up into the sky with the power of Wounded and rushed straight toward the palace.

* * *