Chapter 46: Echoes Of An Empty Treasury

    Arkanos and Arvel walked side by side through the grand halls of the imperial palace. The air was filled with the faint aroma of incense, and the soft click of their boots echoed off the polished marble floors.

    Beautiful chandeliers hung overhead, their crystal facets catching the warm glow of torches lining the walls. Tapestries depicting battles and victories of past emperors lined the walls, their vibrant colors dulled by age but still commanding respect.

    The hallway gradually sloped downward, giving way to simpler, sturdier architecture. The air grew cooler, and the faint rumble of activity from above faded into silence.

    Two guards stood rigidly at the top of a wide stone staircase. Their polished breastplates gleamed under the torchlight, and their halberds stood at attention beside them. They straightened further as Arkanos approached.

    "Greetings, Your Majesty," they said, bowing deeply.

    Arkanos gave a small nod. Arvel, walking slightly behind, offered them a polite but distracted smile.

    The guards stepped aside, and the emperor descended the stairs, his sharp gaze noting the smooth granite walls devoid of decoration, emphasizing functionality over beauty.

    The stairway opened into a long, dimly lit corridor. More guards lined the path, each standing at attention with hands resting on the hilts of their swords. The air here was damp with the faint metallic tang of iron and stone.

    "Your Majesty," each guard greeted as they passed.@@@@

    Arkanos acknowledged them with a small nod.

    Finally, they approached the treasury doors. Two colossal slabs of reinforced steel stood before them, their surfaces etched with runes that glimmered faintly in the torchlight.

    The runes were a blend of Dwarven craftsmanship and Elven enchantments, designed to ward off intruders and reinforce the door''s impenetrability.

    A pair of elite guards stood on either side of the door, their armor far more ornate, with golden accents and sigils marking them as the best of the imperial defense. They saluted crisply as Arkanos and Arvel approached.

    Arkanos pinched the bridge of his nose, a slow exhale escaping him. The absurdity was overwhelming. "By the gods..." he muttered.

    His eyes narrowed as he flipped through page after page, the sheer frivolity of his former self''s spending habits becoming all too clear.

    Finally, he snapped the documents shut and handed them back to Arvel. "I get the gist of it," he said dryly, his voice laced with both irritation and resignation.

    Arvel took the papers carefully, his expression one of mild unease. "Your Majesty, if I may... how do you intend to replenish the treasury? Increasing taxes, perhaps? After all, the sudden boost in the agricultural capabilities of the farmers will now allow them to afford to pay more taxes. Or perhaps we take from the nobles? After all, a project of this scale will need a massive amount of funds. So, what do you plan to do..." He gestured vaguely, his words trailing off.

    Arkanos allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips, the glimmer of confidence returning to his eyes. "Of course, Arvel... another divine miracle."

    Arvel''s monocle nearly slipped from his face as he adjusted it hastily, his mouth agape. "Asking the gods for money? Your Majesty, I''ve never heard of such a thing before!"

    The emperor''s smile widened, and he clasped his hands behind his back, pacing leisurely. "You misunderstand, Arvel. I don''t intend to grovel for coin. I intend to perform a miracle with the divine power in my possession."

    As Arkanos said those words, a system window suddenly appeared beside him.

    ? ? Several gods are very curious about what you mean ? ?

    ? ? Some gods say it is impossible. Summoning is one thing, but what you are saying you want to do is the creation of wealth with divine power ? ?

    ? ? Some gods are confident you will pull it off ? ?

    ? ? Some gods say you won''t ? ?

    ? ? The god of games is suggesting they place a bet on how this plays out ? ?