CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 443: WE NEED A WAR

Hilus Royal Capital, Dome Palace, Council Hall.

"Currently, all the root cause lies with your Navy Department. If it weren’t for the loss of the entire Great Treasure Fleet, how could the Kingdom be facing this predicament?"

"Your accusations are completely unfounded. Faced with an irresistible force, no one could have done better than Colonel Dale Griffith of the ’Red Maple’!"

And your Ministry of Finance is always clamoring for increasing revenue and cutting costs.

Our Navy Department has already cooperated by cutting military spending by twenty percent, barely suppressing the soldiers’ discontent. I would like to ask you, where is your ’revenue’?"

"This..."

This high-ranking official from the Kingdom’s Ministry of Finance was secretly muttering: ’If I could increase revenue, would I be arguing with you, this brute, here?’

He was now at a loss for words, as the Kingdom’s current predicament would not be a problem at all if there were money, but the biggest issue is there is no money!

The colonial gold and silver mines are restricted in production due to various reasons; the Netherlands Bank Group, as the Kingdom’s largest creditor, based on risk assessment, refuses to increase loan amounts to Hilus; currently, only the colony in the Southern Continent is operating normally, but trying to expand the revenue scale is not that easy, unless...

At this moment, a civilian general from the Ministry of the Army stood up, also targeting the blame at the Ministry of Finance, and delivered his attack steadily, accurately, and ruthlessly.

"Since last year when financial strains began, you have been issuing excess currency that is disproportionate to the precious metal content. The price level, which has been gradually rising to 350% over the past century due to the influx of gold and silver from the New Continent, has soared to 500% in less than a year.

This month, a large-scale revolt and rebellion by the lower-class populace of the conquered territory, the original Franco Duchy, was suppressed with great effort by our Army, and this was not an isolated incident. Many of the lower-class populace in the conquered areas are already restless.

Do I need to say more about where the root cause lies?"

The Ministry of Finance suddenly became the target of everyone’s criticism.

’This... wasn’t it forced upon us by you guys? Moreover, it was agreed upon by His Majesty and the Council Meeting, how can it be blamed on us?’ Such angry thoughts echoed in his heart, yet this high-ranking official could only brazenly defend himself:

"The temporary rise in prices can be perfectly resolved. By purchasing goods from other countries on a large scale, cheaper and more advantageous, while also transferring domestic risks.

Including the industrially advanced Tulip Countries, the entire nation serves only as labor for us, no different from those lowly craftsmen within the Kingdom."

"Moreover, aren’t various colonies’ plantations and mines facing a serious shortage of manpower? We can send the destitute populace within the Kingdom to the colonies, where they should be staying."

This statement was made with righteousness, clearly revealing the true intention of this ’Let them eat cake’ figure, yet he ignored the growing and irreversible income disparity under the influence of absolute authority.

However, mentioning the colonies didn’t sit well, as the mention of them caused all the Kingdom’s high-ranking officials present to frown slightly, and their minds couldn’t help but conjure up various bad news from the New Continent colonies during this time.

No matter how arrogant or slow-witted, after several months, the Kingdom’s leadership had already realized the formation of a widespread Anti-Hilus Alliance.

And the plundering actions of these bastards had greatly disrupted the shipping order between the New and Old Continents. In recent months, losses of both official and private merchant vessels have been unprecedented.

Moreover, after the Black Sea Goddess was resurrected and occupied the former "Eye of the Black Sea," most of the navy bases along the route were scrapped, rendering the stationed naval forces of Hilus stretched thin and temporarily unable to maintain the safety of the route.

They couldn’t afford to rebuild new naval bases.

It was simply a vicious cycle.

Adding insult to injury, a large-scale epidemic struck suddenly, affecting all colonies around the Golden Sea. The New Hilus Vice-Kingdom, Vice-Kingdom of New Granada, Vice-Kingdom of Secret Dragon, including the largest island in the Golden Sea, Saint Domingo Island, did not escape calamity.

Although each Vice King is currently contacting Phaletis, who also suffered but developed a special cure, and is procuring that medicine in large quantities, the heavy losses are inevitable.

"In this matter, the four Vice Kings of the colonies are undoubtedly seriously negligent!"

"How can natural disasters be blamed on the Vice Kings?"

"..."

A group of people in the council hall argued until their faces were flushed. In the end, they ignored distinctions between enemy and ally and started firing indiscriminately, as long as they prevented anger from high on the throne from dispersing onto themselves.

This Council Meeting continued with arguments for two hours, but achieved nothing.

The Prime Minister, ministers of various departments, Navy Department, Ministry of the Army, think tank... among them were representatives of the Royal Faction, Church Faction, Great Noble representatives, and colonial Vice Kings’ central representatives, all mingling and competing for their turn.

But the core theme was only one: "I won’t take the blame, you take it!"

Philip II, wearing a blue diamond crown and luxurious royal attire, felt that since his engagement with a princess from the Habsburg Clan, he had hardly heard any good news.

The only one thing that had been resolved was the Army successfully dealing with a rebellion, but was merely cleaning up another mess.

At this moment, hearing them point out the sores on the Kingdom one by one in their quarrel, even this ruler of the world’s strongest nation couldn’t help but wonder if his country was soon to end?

He couldn’t help but pinch the corner of his forehead and look towards the highest-ranking individuals seated below.

Hilus, building its country with the army, undoubtedly respected soldiers, below the Kingdom’s Prime Minister Bartlett was the Marshal of the Army and Minister of the Army Fafman, the Navy Marshal and Minister of the Navy Bankrot.

And... the Great Wizard of the "Curse School," Anduin, who had clearly become the chief confidant of the think tank.

They were also the most likely to influence the King and decide the future direction of this nation.

They probably felt that this group had been arguing too long, and upon noticing Philip II’s gaze.

Swish—

The Marshal of the Army, Fafman, adorned in military attire with his chest full of shimmering medals, stood slowly like a towering wall.

He gave a slight bow to Philip II on the throne, and even though he tried to suppress it, his words were like thunder, a bolt that rendered the assembly hall into utter silence.

"Great Your Majesty, we need a new foreign war!"

At the same time, the Prime Minister and the Navy Marshal exchanged a glance without speaking, clearly both tacitly approved.

With the country in turmoil and dissatisfaction rising among all classes, nothing would better divert domestic conflicts than a war.

On the other side, the Great Wizard, who only served the King, slightly flickered his gaze, nodding slightly to the approaching Majesty.

Now, whether good or bad, there was finally a way to break the deadlock.

...

On the opposite shore of the Treasure Sea, in the capital of the colony on the Southern Continent, Saint Louis City, of the Sak Empire.

Although it was already near midnight, many places in this capital city were still brightly lit, showcasing prosperity not inferior to large cities in the homeland.

In the center of the district where dignitaries gathered, a uniquely styled garden villa stood quietly, surrounded by a sizable park filled with lush green trees, with the building small yet exuding delicate elegance at every corner.

Even in front of the exquisite iron gate, there were two fully armed official City Guards standing watch day and night, clearly indicating the extraordinary status of the owner here.

"Hey David, did you see Lady Diana’s visage when you were on duty during the day?"

"I... I saw it, although she had a thin veil on when she returned, I bet it’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.

The Lord Governor is truly fortunate, not only noble by birth but also able to enjoy such beauty."

"If I could spend just one night in this house, I’d be willing to be executed by the Governor immediately!"

Putting aside the unrealistic fantasies of the two guards, the steward ruling here was indeed Prince Clement, the Emperor of the Empire’s only brother.

Because the royal families of all nations could at least trace back to one Tier 4 title, as descendants of Peak Extraordinary, all offspring, no matter how poorly talented, could naturally become Official Knights once they reached adulthood.

There’s no need to undergo a perilous trial of body berserk like ordinary people; they’re born to wield the Extraordinary Power of a Knight.

Correspondingly, while the powerful force is inherited in the bloodline, the direct descendants of royal families are pretty scarce, just like the Sak Empire in this generation, only having these two brothers.

Yet, although this Prince Clement was noble by birth, he was unfortunately untalented and knew his own abilities well. After slowly reaching Official Knight Peak by enduring over years, he didn’t care much about the Extraordinary Path or political affairs.

An artist living off elegance, indulging in extravagant pleasures, wasting without restraint, has become his label.

Even the soldiers at the bottom secretly don’t respect this prince much, though they truly envy him to the bones for his romantic escapades.

Nevertheless, a prince remains a prince; relying on a strong team of advisors, despite being a fifty-two-year-old playboy who hasn’t married yet, at least he hasn’t caused any major trouble.

Building a pretty house for a lover in the heart of the capital and affording it lavish treatment is just another trivial matter.

While the two guards were chatting idly, they didn’t know that a stranger had already sneaked into the love nest that the Lord Governor constructed for his canary.

In the room where the lights had long since gone out, a silhouette seemingly condensed from darkness crouched quietly in the center, asking in an intimate tone with the mistress there:

"Phanes, can you guarantee that when Hilus initiates the plan, that playboy Clement won’t dispatch troops? The Kingdom and Mr. Anduin don’t want the scale of war to expand endlessly."

In the moonlight, wearing only a sheer white gauzy nightgown, the noblewoman leaned with soft helplessness against the chaise by the window, her wavy long hair spread like clouds, her skin subtly revealed, smooth as jade, lustrous as snow.

In the hazy dimness, her enchanting figure was tempting like a [Frenzy Potion]. Even the person in the shadow, confident in his steady mind, felt slightly shaken.

"Hornet, is there a need for doubt? It’s merely standing by and watching, not assisting Hilus.

Achievements difficult for others are but trivial to me."

The lazy feline voice tinged with hoarseness, rich like fine wine, mesmerizing.

Yet, upon hearing this, the shadow named "Hornet" frowned secretly:

"You used a Magic Potion? Enchantment? Curse control? This isn’t reliable, is it?"

The reclining noblewoman raised her delicate hand, gently brushing over her cool cheek, her burning red lips, exquisitely beautiful collarbone... all the way down to her long, slender legs, exhaling a fragrant breeze with a rosy breath:

"Hehe, do you think a prince who is strictly guarded against Extraordinary Power would be controlled by such simple tricks? The reason is easy; he merely fell in love with me."

Crossing her legs on a small stool, she stepped down from the chaise lounge, bringing with her the entire roomful of moonlight, gracefully walking to the shadow and slightly leaning over, pressing her red lips to his ear:

"Madly in love! Hehe..."

Finished speaking, she’d already been laughing herself to a sway.

Knowing the essence of his partner, "Hornet", not a shred of allure made him feel, but rather a profound chill from the core.

Because the name "Phanes" for the Wizard also had another title—Double-Sexual Deity!