Chapter 99: Chapter 91 The Three Republics and 13 Autonomous Mountain States_1 Chapter 99: Chapter 91 The Three Republics and 13 Autonomous Mountain States_1 Captain Paul arranged for the guards to escort the ladies of Parviga for medical treatment and back home, whichever they needed.

Anyway, there’s bound to be a massive earthquake in Parviga today.

Some of these ladies might as well just lock themselves at home and never come out again.

However, Lady Alice was leading Ivita and the Hearthstone Grand Witch to the central location of the Blacksmith Guild in Parviga.

The Blacksmith Guild was a string of low and squat red-brick houses, each with flat roofs and camphor trees planted on both sides. There’s a shimmering lake right beside the guild. The beautiful scenery could keep everyone in a delightful state.

A flag featuring a golden lion brandishing a knife hung atop each brick bungalow, lined up in rows and columns, fluttering in the wind, presenting a spectacular sight.

Ivita asked Lady Alice curiously, “Why is there a lion flag hanging on top of each house?”

Lady Alice nodded at Ivita and explained, “That’s just the way it is, Ivita.”

“The flags of most guilds will choose the lion flag. Although each guild’s flag will vary, they are all different variants of the lion flag.”

“Only in the Florcana Republic is there a difference, the flag of the loan shark industry uses the Green Dragon Flag, and the Law Association uses the Golden Dragon Flag.”

“I’m going in.”

“I am going to get them to release all your subordinates.”

Lady Alice nodded respectfully to Ivita, then entered the guild with her witch apprentice by her side.

Ivita looked at the rows of Knifed Lion Flags fluttering in the wind. “The purpose of these flags is probably to differentiate which building belongs to the Blacksmith Guild of Parviga.”

“I just don’t know why the Loan Shark Industry and the Law Association use dragon flags instead of lion flags.”

The Hearthstone Grand Witch chuckled, “Your Highness, I know that.”

“The Florcana Republic was established by craftsmen, bankers, and lawyers, and it was the first place where guilds appeared. Because the first guild, the Florcana Handicraft Association used the lion flag, guilds elsewhere generally prefer the lion flag as well, they just make slight modifications to display their unique features.”

“However, the Loan Shark Industry and Law Association of Florcana both inherit the legacy left by the ancient civilization, so their flags are both derived from the Red Dragon Flag.”

“This is why only these two guilds used dragon flags.”

The Grand Witch said to Ivita, “But, Your Highness, only Florcana in this world will have the Loan Shark Industry and Law Association.”

“Loan sharks are seen as part of the grey industry in all countries and are disdained and despised.”

“But in the Florcana Republic, where any industry can form a guild and the republican system is supported by civic virtue, even loan sharks can have their own guild.”

“The unique Law Association in Florcana is due to Florcana’s comprehensive legal system, which trains thousands of lawyers every year. These lawyers can enter other republics and feudal states to provide services to the local mayors or lords.”

Ivita looked at the old witch strangely. “How do you know so much?”

The old witch’s face showed a bit of embarrassment. “Uh, I was once caught by The Church and put on trial in the church court. So, I spent all my money hiring many lawyers. I remember that I switched between several lawyers from Florcana, and then I naturally understood all this.”

“Your Highness, as long as you hire lawyers a few times, you’ll understand everything.”

“Another advantage of hiring lawyers from Florcana is that they generally have some high-ranking clergy acquaintances in The Church.”

“In a religious court, hiring a lawyer from Florcana will give you a significant advantage.”

Ivita nodded, I see.

“I remember you said that there are dozens of republics of various sizes on the peninsula, but only three that are truly powerful. They are the pillars in the world of republics.”

“With Florcana having so many guilds, even unique Loan Shark and Law Associations. What special guilds do the Aristocratic Commercial Republic and the Republic of Belisarius have?”

The old witch seemed rather hesitant because she didn’t really know much either. “Your Highness, everything I know is hearsay.”

“Just listen with interest.”

“If you want to know the specifics, you’ll have to see it with your own eyes.”

“I only know that Florcana has a nickname, that is, the Guild Republic.”

“As for the Aristocratic Commercial Republic, they hardly have any guilds. I heard that they have their own various committees.”

“And the Republic of Belisarius is even more special. In its grassroots units, there are some guilds, but there are more shareholders’ associations.”

The Old Witch spoke nervously and slowly, screening out misinformation to prevent making an error. “The Aristocratic Commercial Republic seems unconvinced about the idea of autonomous bodies, comprised of various small guilds, controlling the grassroots level. Meanwhile, the Republic of Belisarius strikes a balance between the two.”

“However, I’ve heard that the republics on the peninsula solely operate under the influence of these three greatest republics. The political and cultural trajectories of these smaller republics align with that of the three largest republics.”

The Old Witch spoke gravely, “Indeed, these three great republics each have their independent laws and regional legislations.”

“Without them, the power of the republics would instantly crumble under the feudal forces and the church’s influence.”

“Interestingly, although these countries are far-flung, their influence tangibly extends to the Viscount Ambros’s Independent Country. The strong cultural influence from these three nations has allowed the city forces of Ambros to swell to their current state.”

Ivita realized that while internal factional struggles seemingly drove the independent viscount of Ambros, foreign influences were omnipresent throughout.

Monarchies powers and republics were at a confrontation here!

“How does the confederate cities rank in the republic’s power dynamics?” Ivita recalled Pan God’s statement about the leader of the confederate cities, who would bring soldiers to Ambros to support city factions.

The Old Witch scratched her head, noting that most of this was common knowledge in their world—but it was reasonable for a Demon God to not understand such things.

“Your Majesty, you must be referring to the Thirteen Mountain States.”

“That nation is quite peculiar, playing both sides, and yet unique in its own right.”

“It could be seen as receiving strong support from the republics.”

“In actuality, it’s a society where military nobles and Land Communes unite—the military nobles act as mercenaries and may never return to their own territories in their lifetime, thus leasing their lands to the rural communes for management.”

“The lords can only collect taxes and negotiate territories but can’t exercise actual control over the land.”

“It’s as if the military operates under a feudal nobility system, while its politics are republican.”

“This nation certainly has its independent laws, even regional legislations. The Kingdom of Alsace once attempted to invade this nation, hoping to make them a vassal state, but they failed.”

Ivita nodded, half-understandingly.

At this moment, Lady Alice had already stepped out of the association along with at least five hundred blacksmiths, each carrying hammers and crucibles.

With an army at her disposal, Lady Alice’s confidence soared. She walked briskly and calmly, “Ivita, these blacksmiths from the Blacksmith Guild are all excellent soldiers during wartime.”

“Furthermore, I can also mobilize a city’s private family mercenary force of one hundred and fifty members.”

“Additionally, Captain Paul promised me five hundred city guards and four hundred city mercenaries.”

Ivita calculated quickly, they had approximately one thousand five hundred fifty soldiers in total.

Among them were apparently some hunters and warriors.

Even without considering the mingling professionals, this was a much better situation than when he had only been able to mobilize just over two hundred militiamen while defending Baron Moro’s territory.

It was clear that Parviga, a moderate urban force, had a significant pull, even as a blacksmith guild leader.

Others simply had better resources.

Of course, the force that Lady Alice could actually control was just a few hundred; most of her troops were borrowed from the city.

This arrangement was not particularly reliable.

After all, these troops and mercenary forces, belonging to the city, might switch sides at any time due to the council’s orders.

Ivita advised Lady Alice to remain cautious.

Lady Alice nodded at Ivita and said: “All your suggestions are very sensible.”

“I will consider it carefully.”

“I intend to accuse that jerk—Lord Prole in the city council. If he accepts the council’s punishment against him, I certainly won’t suppress him with force. I’m assembling an army merely to guard against those foolish nobles who may act recklessly.”

Ivita coughed, “I am also a noble, you know.”

Lady Alice realized her generalization and apologized to Ivita: “I am sorry, Ivita, you are different.”

“You are not one of those parasitic nobles who do nothing but inherit wealth and social privileges through ancestors and bloodlines.”