Chapter 162: The Imperial Council
Morning came quickly.
Kael had barely finished breakfast when a servant arrived at his temporary Imperial residence.
His Majesty reminds Your Highness that the Imperial Council will convene shortly.
Kael looked up from the documents spread across the table.
I know.
The servant bowed and left.
Darius stood near the window, already dressed in his armor.
Kael glanced toward him.
You heard that.
Darius nodded.
The Council.
Kael leaned back in his chair.
Apparently, Blackwood has become interesting enough for the Imperial nobles.
Darius gave a faint smile.
It was only a matter of time.
Kael looked at the papers again.
Blackwood had started with almost nothing.
Eleven villages.
A small population.
Barely any military infrastructure.
Yet in a relatively short period, Kael had created the Black Dragon, recruited skilled craftsmen, begun restoring Ironridge, and started thinking about expanding the territory.
Now the Imperial Council wanted to know what he was doing.
Kael stood.
Then let’s show them.
Darius followed him.
As they walked through the palace corridors, Kael noticed something.
More guards than usual.
Some were watching him.
Others were watching Darius.
A few looked toward the Black Dragon insignia on Darius’s armor.
Kael understood.
His father had not exaggerated.
People were paying attention.
The Imperial Council chamber was enormous.
Twelve seats surrounded the central table.
Behind them stood representatives from the major Imperial institutions.
Military commanders.
Ministers.
Nobles.
Imperial scholars.
The room became quiet when Kael entered.
Darius followed directly behind him.
Kael walked toward his designated position.
Several members of the Council looked at Darius.
Then they looked back at Kael.
One elderly minister finally spoke.
Prince Kael.
Kael looked toward him.
Chancellor Roland Vester.
The elderly minister’s expression was stern.
You were summoned because the Council has several concerns regarding Blackwood.
Kael sat.
Then let’s hear them.
Another minister leaned forward.
Your territory currently contains eleven villages.
Correct.
Yet reports indicate that you have increased military recruitment, established the Black Dragon, begun restoring Ironridge, recruited foreign races, and started attracting craftsmen and skilled workers.
Kael nodded.
Correct.
The minister frowned.
Why?
Kael looked around the chamber.
Because Blackwood needs to grow.
Several nobles exchanged glances.
One laughed quietly.
Grow?
Kael turned toward him.
Yes.
The noble stopped laughing.
Blackwood was given to you as a minor territory.
You are not expected to build another kingdom.
Kael remained calm.
I’m not building another kingdom.
Then what are you building?
Kael looked directly at him.
A territory that can survive.
The room became quiet.
Kael continued.
Eleven villages are not enough.
Our roads are limited.
Our population is limited.
Our food production is limited.
Our military strength is limited.
If something happens to Blackwood, there isn’t enough infrastructure to protect the people living there.
Chancellor Roland studied him.
You’re thinking about expansion.
Eventually.
That answer caused several nobles to react.
Eventually?
Kael nodded.
Blackwood cannot remain eleven villages forever.
A minister slammed his hand against the table.
You speak as though territory can simply be taken.
Kael looked at him.
It cannot.
Then how do you intend to expand?
Kael leaned back.
Legally.
The minister frowned.
Kael continued.
There are abandoned settlements.
Unclaimed frontier territory.
Villages struggling under distant lords.
Trade routes that aren’t being properly maintained.
There are many ways for a territory to grow without invading another noble’s lands.
Chancellor Roland’s expression changed slightly.
You have already been researching this.
Kael smiled.
Of course.
Darius remained silent.
He had heard Kael discuss these ideas before.
Blackwood needed more people.
More land.
More trade.
More resources.
And eventually, more connections with the rest of the Empire.
Kael wasn’t interested in simply becoming powerful.
He wanted Blackwood to become self-sufficient.
General Lucien Voss finally spoke.
The military reports concerning your soldiers are unusual.
Kael looked toward him.
General Voss was an imposing man wearing the armor of an Imperial commander.
Defender of the Eastern Pass.
Kael recognized the title.
The Black Dragon has only fifty soldiers.
Correct.
Yet their reported training standards are considerably higher than expected.
Darius finally spoke.
Because they were trained properly.
Several members looked at him.
General Voss studied Darius.
And you personally trained them?
Darius nodded.
Alongside Commander Severus Kane and the other officers assigned to the Black Dragon.
Kael noticed something.
The Council was not merely questioning him.
They were measuring his people.
His military.
His commanders.
His territory.
Everything.
Kael understood the game.
The Council wanted to know whether Blackwood was becoming dangerous.
Kael decided to give them something else to think about.
I’m not only interested in soldiers.
General Voss raised an eyebrow.
Then what else?
Kael looked around the chamber.
People.
The room became quiet.
Blackwood doesn’t need an army first.
It needs a population capable of supporting an army.
Farmers.
Builders.
Merchants.
Smiths.
Healers.
Scholars.
Engineers.
Mages.
Kael paused.
And adventurers.
Several nobles looked confused.
Chancellor Roland leaned forward.
Adventurers?
Kael nodded.
I’ve been considering establishing an Adventure Guild in Blackwood.
The room immediately became louder.
Kael waited.
He allowed them to speak.
An Adventure Guild?
In a minor territory?
Why?
What purpose would it serve?
Would you allow mercenaries?
Who would regulate them?
Kael raised one hand.
The chamber slowly quieted.
An Adventure Guild would give Blackwood something it currently lacks.
Information.
The ministers listened.
Kael continued.
There are monsters outside Imperial cities.
Bandits.
Ruins.
Unexplored territory.
Lost roads.
Dangerous forests.
People already take these risks.
They simply do it without a centralized organization.
Kael looked toward Chancellor Roland.
An adventure guild could register adventurers, issue quests, regulate dangerous expeditions, provide rewards, and report threats to the local government.
General Lucien Voss crossed his arms.
And you believe this would help Blackwood?
More than that.
Kael’s eyes sharpened.
It could help the Empire.
That caught everyone’s attention.
Kael stood.
Imagine a system where adventurers are required to report monster activity.
A system where dangerous areas are documented.
A system where injured adventurers can receive treatment.
A system where skilled people can find work without joining an army.
A system where the government can identify people with useful talents.
Chancellor Roland slowly nodded.
You’re proposing more than a guild.
Yes.
I’m proposing an organized network of independent adventurers.
Kael could already see the possibilities.
Exploration.
Monster hunting.
Resource gathering.
Escort missions.
Ruins.
Maps.
Information.
And most importantly...
People.
Blackwood would become a place where ambitious people came looking for opportunity.
Kael continued.
If Blackwood becomes the frontier where adventurers gather, merchants will follow.
Then craftsmen.
Then farmers.
Then families.
And eventually, more villages.
A few nobles exchanged uncomfortable looks.
Kael wasn’t asking for more people.
He was explaining how he intended to attract them.
A cold voice interrupted the discussion.
And what happens when those adventurers become criminals?
Kael looked toward the speaker.
A noblewoman sat several seats away.
Her expression was openly hostile.
Princess Seraphine Asterion.
Cassian’s sister.
Kael knew her position.
He also knew her views concerning other races.
Her eyes briefly moved toward Darius.
Then toward the goblin waiting outside the chamber.
She clearly didn’t approve of what Kael was building.
Kael answered calmly.
Then the guild handles them.
And if they refuse?
Then imperial law handles them.
Seraphine narrowed her eyes.
You make it sound simple.
It isn’t simple.
Kael’s voice remained steady.
That’s why it requires rules.
Seraphine leaned back.
And you expect the Empire to allow you to create an organization capable of attracting thousands of armed adventurers?
Eventually, yes.
A few nobles stared at him.
Kael didn’t blink.
But not today.
Today, I have fifty soldiers.
Eleven villages.
One blacksmith.
One carpenter.
A retired soldier working as a gardener.
And a territory still recovering from years of neglect.
The corner of Kael’s mouth lifted.
I have a long way to go before I have to worry about thousands of adventurers.
A few people laughed.
Even General Lucien Voss smiled.
Seraphine didn’t.
Chancellor Roland looked down at the documents.
There is another concern.
Kael waited.
Your recruitment of Grom Ironfang.
The room became noticeably colder.
Kael’s expression didn’t change.
Grom is a soldier under my command.
He is a goblin.
He is also the former Spear King of the Eastern Clans.
Seraphine’s eyes hardened.
He is a monster.
Darius stepped forward slightly.
Kael raised a hand.
Darius stopped.
Kael looked directly at Seraphine.
No.
He’s a person.
Silence.
Seraphine’s expression became furious.
You dare—
Kael interrupted calmly.
I don’t need to dare anything.
Grom has served Blackwood faithfully.
He has never attacked an Imperial citizen.
He has never betrayed me.
And he has fought beside my soldiers.
Kael leaned forward.
If someone proves their loyalty through action, I will judge them by those actions.
Seraphine stared at him.
Then we’ll see how long that loyalty lasts.
Kael didn’t respond.
He had expected hostility.
What he hadn’t expected was how personal Seraphine seemed to take Grom’s existence.
That was something he would remember.
The doors suddenly opened.
An Imperial messenger entered and immediately bowed.
Your Majesty.
The entire chamber went silent.
The emperor entered.
Augustus Aurelius Asterion walked toward his seat.
Everyone stood.
Kael included.
The emperor sat.
The Council followed.
Augustus looked toward Kael.
Continue.
Kael nodded.
He had expected his father to end the discussion.
Instead, the Emperor had decided to listen.
Kael took a breath.
There was one more thing I wanted to propose.
Augustus watched him carefully.
Kael continued.
Blackwood should become a frontier development territory.
The Council went silent.
I want permission to expand its roads.
Improve its villages.
Invite craftsmen and merchants.
Establish agricultural programs.
Restore abandoned settlements.
Recruit skilled workers.
And eventually establish an Adventure Guild.
Kael paused.
I don’t want Blackwood to remain a forgotten corner of the Empire.
I want it to become one of its strongest territories.
Augustus stared at his son.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then the emperor smiled.
Very well.
The Council erupted.
Kael remained perfectly still.
Darius looked at him.
Kael already knew what his father was going to say next.
But Augustus wasn’t finished.
You will receive permission to begin.
However...
The emperor’s expression became serious.
You will receive no additional Imperial soldiers.
Kael nodded.
I wasn’t asking for them.
That answer surprised several people.
Augustus continued.
Build Blackwood with your own resources.
Earn the trust of your people.
Attract settlers.
Develop your territory.
And prove that your ideas can work.
Kael bowed his head.
Understood.
The Emperor looked around the chamber.
The Council will review his progress every six months.
If Blackwood succeeds, further privileges may be granted.
If it fails...
Augustus looked directly at Kael.
The privileges will be revoked.
Kael smiled.
Then I’ll make sure it doesn’t fail.
The emperor nodded.
The meeting continued.
But Kael’s mind had already moved beyond the Council chamber.
He was thinking about Blackwood.
Eleven villages had been the beginning.
Now he needed more.
More people.
More land.
More roads.
More food.
More craftsmen.
More opportunities.
And perhaps...
An Adventure Guild.
For the first time, Kael wasn’t simply thinking about defending Blackwood.
He was thinking about turning it into a place people would choose to live.
And that would require something no army could provide.
A reason to come.