Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 168

8. Solidifying Internal Affairs

1

Having concluded the subjugation of Thanatos Island, Luke returned to his home country a few days later.

Since this southern expedition was a secret, there was no grand welcoming ceremony.

The entry into the port was also done late at night.

Instead, Luke instructed that all members of the expeditionary force be given ample rewards and rest. Then, he headed straight to the royal capital, Brenden.

Ministers who had been contacted in advance gathered in the throne room to greet him.

“It is a pleasure to see Your Majesty’s robust countenance again.”

“I am also pleased to see you all again. However… it seems there is more than just the joy of reunion.”

Luke made a disgruntled expression as he looked at the thick stacks of documents the ministers handed him.

While he was away, Secretary Sebastian and Prime Minister Hans, who had been acting as regents, had managed state affairs. However, there were quite a few pending issues that they could not handle with their acting authority.

The most pressing of these were diplomatic documents.

Among them was a summit proposal from the Holy Artenia Empire.

“Upon your return, His Holiness the Pope has given a strict order for you to come to Bless immediately.”

“A strict order, you say?”

No matter how one looked at it, this seemed like a meeting disguised as a summit, more akin to a couple’s rendezvous.

From the start, Reina had been displeased with the southern expedition. She thought Luke was pushing himself too hard.

It seemed that if he went to Bless this time, he would be subjected to a lot of nagging about it.

“Understood. What can I do when it’s my lady’s strict order? Tell them I will handle the urgent matters and go immediately.”

“Yes, but what happened to Lord Hwangbo Seong? Surely he didn’t stay behind in his hometown…?”

At Hans’s question, Luke looked around, then shook his head while keeping his eyes on the documents.

“There are new knights I recruited from the Southern Continent, and he is just late because he is coming with them.”

Since a trade ship could not keep up with the speed of the Oster, it would take at least another week for them to arrive in the Symphonia Kingdom, even if they came as quickly as possible.

“Ah, come to think of it, you mentioned recruiting some people called the Blood Band?”

Hans said, recalling the previous regular communication.

“Yes, it’s a unit formed by selecting martial artists from the Southern Continent among those who surrendered after the battle. There are quite a few who want to come to our country after the civil war ends. It seems like Lord Hwangbo Seong’s entire family will be coming.”

“Having more skilled knights will be helpful for national defense. The problem is…”

“Of course, it’s money.”

Forming a new knight order costs a lot of money.

Apart from the mansions and salaries they have to be given, the cost of armaments is quite high.

In particular, forming a part of the knight order into a Gigant unit [a unit of knights using large, powerful armor] would cost the equivalent of a year’s budget for a decent kingdom.

“But there’s no need to worry about that. The treasures received as a reward from Song and Yemaek are considerable, and there’s another source of money.”

The other source of money referred to the Grain Merchant Guild.

Luke, having examined Zehart’s memories, had decided to seize the vast wealth he had hidden.

In addition, he had plans to use the Grain Merchant Guild strategically in connection with the Kingdom of Lybia, where Arsen was.

Of course, he would not proceed immediately but planned to proceed step by step after completing preparations.

“Just in case, has there been any unusual activity in the Kingdom of Lybia?”

“The Kingdom of Lybia, you say? Recently, they have been slightly violating the alliance treaty between the two countries.”

“Violating the treaty?”

At Hans’s words, Luke’s eyes flashed sharply. It seemed that this was related to Arsen, who had taken over Shaikhan’s body.

‘He must be plotting something to take control of the Kingdom of Lybia and stab me in the back.’

As Luke was thinking this, Hans tilted his head and replied.

“Well, the treaty violations aren’t a big problem. It’s just that they are reluctant to share information or are not proactive in trade.”

They were sending back agents dispatched for information sharing or limiting the number of cities and territories that merchants could visit.

“Hmm…”

“According to their foreign minister, their domestic situation is more devastated than expected due to the war with the Baroque Empire, so they do not have the capacity to fully implement the treaty.”

‘Hmph! They’re making up a convenient excuse to hide information.’

They were probably planning to stab him in the back when he was off guard.

Luke, inwardly scoffing, looked at Baron Hudson, the head of the intelligence department, and said.

“Dispatch more agents to the Kingdom of Lybia.”

“To the Kingdom of Lybia, you say?”

Until now, the intelligence department had been allocating the most agents to finding the remnants of the Baroque Empire and the Veritas Magic Tower.

So, it was only natural to be puzzled when he suddenly ordered them to dispatch more agents to the allied Kingdom of Lybia.

“Yes, during this expedition, I received intelligence that they might stab us in the back. So, we need to monitor their every move.”

It was still too early to reveal to his ministers the information that Arsen had taken over Shaikhan’s body.

So, Luke explained it vaguely.

But that alone was enough.

Because Luke had never been wrong when he said so.

Accordingly, the ministers decided not only to dispatch more agents but also to secretly reinforce the fortresses on the border with the Kingdom of Lybia and increase their troops.

After about an hour of discussing pending matters with his ministers in the throne room, Luke moved to his own room.

He needed to calmly think about the future and also to relieve the fatigue accumulated from this expedition.

2

“What? The secret hideout in the Hell Islands has disappeared!”

Shaikhan.

No, the being who should now be called Arsen, rose abruptly from his seat upon receiving a report from a black magician wearing a gray robe.

Frightened by his grim atmosphere, the black magician stammered in response.

“T-to be precise, it seems that the self-destruct magic circle located under Thanatos Island has been activated.”

The former elder of the Veritas Magic Tower, who had infiltrated the Kingdom of Lybia with Arsen, began to explain the signal he had received an hour ago.

A special signal was set to be generated when the self-destruct magic circle located under Thanatos Island was activated, and this signal had been detected.

“That can’t be!”

As far as Arsen knew, the self-destruct magic circle under Thanatos Island was only activated when the secret hideout was in danger of being captured.

But if it had been activated, it meant that the secret hideout was on the verge of being captured by a powerful enemy.

“I also find it hard to believe, but the signal was definitely real.”

At the former elder’s words, Arsen frowned deeply.

‘Damn it! About a third of the undead forces were left on Thanatos Island. Even if they were incomplete due to being in the process of being refined, they were powerful enough to easily win against most kingdoms. Yet, the secret hideout was pushed to the brink of being captured, and the self-destruct magic circle was activated?’

Even if you combined the Southern and Northern Continents, there were not many places that could project that level of naval power.

The Holy Artenia Empire, the Kingdom of Castia, and the Song Empire were the main candidates.

Among them, the Song Empire and the Kingdom of Castia had no reason to do so, so the most likely candidate was the Holy Artenia Empire.

‘But how did the Holy Empire…?’

How did they know that there was a secret hideout in the Hell Islands?

And even if they found out, if the Holy Empire had dispatched a large-scale navy and undead legion, it would not have escaped their intelligence.

‘For now, I need to wait for survivors, including Nesta, to contact me.’

Even if the island was captured, there would be those who escaped.

Just as Arsen decided to wait for their contact, the door to his office burst open, and a middle-aged black magician entered.

“Ancestor, something terrible has happened! Right now, in the Song Empire…”

He was about to speak urgently, but his body froze when he saw the former elder lying flat on the floor and Arsen’s murderous expression.

“What about the Song Empire?”

“T-that is… news came late….”

As Arsen stared at him with sharp eyes, the middle-aged black magician could only tremble and could not answer properly. He was completely overwhelmed by the aura.

‘Damn it! This guy or that guy…!’

Slightly annoyed, Arsen stretched out his hand.

Then, like a piece of iron drawn to a magnet, the middle-aged black magician’s body was pulled towards him.

“Gack!”

Whether the middle-aged black magician struggled in pain or not, Arsen read his memories through mental magic.

‘What? Hwangbo Gwang attacked Yemaek? Without saying a word to me…!’

Arsen frowned in displeasure.

Hwangbo Gwang, who had been pushed aside by his half-brother within the Hwangbo family, was able to rise to the position of being second only to the emperor because of his help.

But while he was busy plotting in the Rodisia Continent, he had distanced himself, and now he had even brought in a guy named Guigokja to create undead and start a war on his own.

In the end, Hwangbo Gwang lost that war and fell.

But there was a more annoying fact for Arsen.

‘Luke, that guy went to the Southern Continent and supported Yemaek and Jo Won-rak’s faction?’

As his thoughts reached that point, another possibility came to mind.

It was about the identity of the enemy who attacked Thanatos Island.

‘That’s right! That guy might be capable of it!’

Overwhelmed by the rising anger, Arsen unknowingly tightened his grip.

Crack.

He glanced down at the middle-aged black magician, who had died with a broken neck, and opened his mouth in a voice dripping with murderous intent.

“I’ve found out who the culprit is who attacked the secret hideout.”

“Who is it?”

The former elder slightly raised his head and asked.

“It’s that Luke bastard, who I wouldn’t mind chewing to pieces.”

“H-how could that be!”

The former elder made an incredulous expression. This was because he knew that Luke was currently staying in the Symphonia Kingdom.

“It seems that the one there was a fake. The real one seems to have gone to the Southern Continent with the knight order.”

According to the report from the deceased black magician, Luke, after rescuing Yemaek from the Song Empire’s attack, led the Gigant unit and helped the third prince, Jo Won-rak, seize Daeryang.

Following that, he eliminated Jo Won-gyun and the Hwangbo Gwang faction.

There had been no reports from his subordinates dispatched to the Song Empire for some time, and now the reason was clear.

“Then, isn’t this a serious problem?”

The efforts Arsen and the Veritas Magic Tower had invested in the Song Empire were substantial.

Their goal was to support the Song Empire in unifying the Southern Continent and then use it as a base for producing undead.

However, with the Hwangbo Gwang faction destroyed, a key element of the Veritas Magic Tower’s plan to dominate the middle world had been disrupted.

“Of course, it’s a big deal. But the bigger problem is that my location might be compromised.”

If Luke had taken over the secret hideout, he might have discovered his whereabouts.

Of course, there was a good chance he hadn’t.

Since the self-destruct magic circle had been activated, there was a possibility that the hideout had sunk into the sea along with Luke, who had attacked the island.

‘But, considering his abilities, the chance of him surviving is higher.’

Arsen had been defeated in his previous encounter with Luke.

Because of that, he felt both anger and anxiety.

Even though he had taken the body of a Dragonian, he wasn’t yet able to fully utilize its power, and his black magic hadn’t returned to its previous level before his defeat.

‘I need to buy time. First, I need to prevent him from finding me.’

There were several options.

He could create chaos in the Symphonia Kingdom to distract them, or he could target someone close to Luke.

‘Hehehe, I have a suitable plan.’

Recalling recent intelligence from the Livia Kingdom, he rang the bell on his desk.

Ding-dong!

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

Shortly after, Magreta, dressed in revealing attire, entered. She was the successor of the Arachne Magic Tower, known for its charm magic. After being subdued by Arsen, she exuded a strong sensuality.

‘Too bad. If only I were three hundred years younger…!’

Arsen, with a sly smile, spoke.

“I have an order for you.”

“W-what is it?”

After her crushing defeat, Magreta became nervous and tense whenever she was in Arsen’s presence.

Seeing the fear in her eyes, he waved his hand and said,

“Hehe, there’s no need to be afraid. It’s something you’re very good at.”

Then, Arsen approached Magreta and whispered instructions in her ear.

After hearing the instructions and detailed explanations, she looked relieved.

It was something she could easily accomplish.

“I’ll give you a few black magicians, so leave immediately.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Magreta, bowing deeply, departed for the Grenada Kingdom with the former elder designated by Arsen.

However, Arsen’s plans didn’t stop there.

He summoned more of his vassals and dispatched them to various locations.

“Kuhahaha! Luke, you bastard, try being busy to the point of exhaustion!”

A dry, joyful laugh echoed through the office.

3

Luke intended to deal with the accumulated documents from the past three months and then immediately move on to the Holy Empire.

However, the situation was complex.

First, the conflict between the Volga Republic and the Baroque Empire showed signs of escalating into a full-scale war.

The Baroque Empire, which had seemed to catch a break with the retreat of the Livia Kingdom, had lost several northern territories due to the unexpected betrayal of Razette County.

Emperor Rudolf, furious, quelled the internal rebellion and led his army to stop the Republican forces.

If the Volga Republican forces were allowed to advance unchecked, it seemed like the entire northern part of the Baroque Empire would be lost.

‘The problem is that I can’t simply ignore this as someone else’s problem.’

Taking advantage of the Emperor’s focus on the north, some peasant rebels requested to defect to the Symphonia Kingdom.

This wouldn’t have been an issue, but many imperial citizens, either involved with the rebels or tired of harsh taxes and tyranny, were crossing the border en masse.

The southern army of the Baroque Empire, guarding the border with Symphonia, was essentially turning a blind eye to this.

This was because the Emperor had taken the remaining forces, and they were barely able to keep the Symphonia Kingdom’s army in check.

What was difficult for Symphonia was the sheer number of refugees arriving at once, which they couldn’t handle.

Providing food and clothing was manageable, but providing shelter or jobs was not easy.

Moreover, some refugees were causing trouble by committing crimes like theft and assault, and public sentiment in the northern region was rapidly deteriorating.

“In the council, the royalists and nobles are arguing loudly over the refugee support issue…”

Even the relief issue was a headache, but the defected peasant rebels and some in the military were advocating for a northward advance.

They argued that they should attack while Emperor Rudolf was fighting the Volga Republic.

In some ways, it seemed like a good opportunity.

However, Luke’s biggest enemy right now was not Emperor Rudolf. It was Arsen, who was likely gaining power in the Livia Kingdom.

‘The longer it takes to deal with him, the more the damage to our country will increase exponentially.’

Second, there had been some changes in internal affairs over the past three months.

After the black magic-related bill was passed in the council before the southern expedition, a black tower was built in the royal capital of Brenden, and Dark Moon members and wandering black magicians gathered.

They shared knowledge on how to deal with black magic and actively participated in Gigant production.

As a result, production efficiency and quality improved.

Until now, the mages of the Katarina Magic Tower had been central to producing Gigants like Skilleto, Gaius, and Orion, and Symphonia’s magical engineering technology had improved considerably.

However, the production capacity and efficiency were still slightly lower than the top 10 magic towers, but the situation was reversed with the addition of black magicians from Dark Moon.

Dark Moon had unique expertise in Gigant manufacturing technology, having supplied main Gigants to the Volga Republic for a long time.

Thanks to their exchange and cooperation, they were able to fill in the gaps considerably.

However, where there are good things, there are also bad things.

“I guess the established order doesn’t like the newcomers? And there’s also the traditional conflict between white and black mages…”

Conflicts were inevitable as mages of two completely different tendencies worked together.

White mages often viewed the black mages’ magical knowledge with prejudice, and as this treatment continued, the black mages, who had expected discrimination, grew increasingly resentful.

It was necessary to mediate, but no one was willing to step forward on this issue.

There was a risk of getting caught up in the conflict of the magic world if they sided with one side.

“In the end, I have to step in and sort it out.”

It was annoying, but it was a task he had to do as the king.

And third, the movements of the Grenada Kingdom were unusual.

The conflict between the two countries had been settled when an envoy came to Symphonia Kingdom’s founding and Luke’s coronation ceremony.

However, recently, they had been demanding the return of the Hiredin Ho, that is, the Oster Ho, and the Grenada naval ships had been frequently violating territorial waters.

‘It must be related to the undead attack in the south last time. They probably think we’ve become weak.’

According to the intelligence department’s report, the hardliners in the Grenada military were very dissatisfied.

At the center of this was Count Fernand de Salizar, who had been a prisoner of war in the last war and was released through negotiations between the two countries.

Fernand, the son-in-law of the current Grenada King Drake and a strong candidate for the next throne, was making statements supporting the hardliners, as the military’s dissatisfaction grew due to the losses he had suffered from his defeat and capture.

If this was just a political statement, it would be fortunate, but if it escalated into a war between the two countries, it would be difficult.

“It’s really just a bunch of annoying things!”

Luke clicked his tongue inwardly and got up from his seat and went out of his office.

The temporary parliament building of the Symphonia Kingdom, located in downtown Brenden.

Loud voices could be heard from inside, as if the members were in the middle of a debate from early in the morning.

“Baron Jordi, if we don’t advance north now, when will we? We must petition His Majesty to attack the Baroque Empire immediately.”

In response to the words of Count Juon, the leader of the noble faction, who was wearing a splendid ceremonial robe, Baron Jordi of the royalist faction, who was sitting opposite him, retorted.

“I agree that we must overthrow the Baroque Empire, the enemy of our Symphonia Kingdom. However, that does not necessarily have to be now. Now is the time to stabilize internal affairs and strengthen our national power.”

“Oh, my, can’t you hear the groans of the helpless people suffering under the tyranny of the brutal Rudolf?”

“Who said I can’t hear them? However, given the current situation of our kingdom, if we engage in an all-out war with the Baroque Empire, the damage and side effects will be considerable.”

The Symphonia Kingdom had made remarkable progress over the past few years.

The territory, population, and industrial production had increased many times compared to when it was the Rakan Territory in the past.

However, where there is a bright side, there is also a dark side.

They had suffered losses from the war with the Milton Kingdom, followed by the declaration of independence, the Grenada navy’s attack on the southern coast, the conquest of the southern Baroque Empire, and the attack on the southern cities by Arsen and the undead, almost once a year.

Of course, the damage caused by the wars or attacks was quickly recovered with the resources of the newly expanded territory or the help of the Holy Empire.

However, due to the successive wars, the mental fatigue of not only the military but also the general public could not be ignored.

“Mental fatigue? Is there any evidence that the people are suffering?”

To Juon’s question, Baron Jordi confidently replied.

“Yes, there is. Over the past year, donations from various sects, including the Elcasel Order, have increased more than twofold. The growth of new sects, including the Arahan Order, is also remarkable, and the construction of temples and sacred objects has also increased in various places.”

Religion grows significantly during times of turmoil or economic recession. This is because people try to find mental stability by leaning on faith.

“In addition, many people have joined large and small guilds to prepare for disasters. A new system has even emerged called ‘insurance guilds,’ which regularly collect money from guild members and provide insurance money to members who have suffered disasters.”

When the topic of insurance came up, some of the noble faction members nodded.

Not only commoners but also nobles had joined insurance guilds to prepare for disasters or accidents.

“Even if we put these issues aside, our kingdom’s military power is not overwhelmingly superior to the Baroque Empire.”

“I know you are from the military, but aren’t you underestimating our kingdom’s army too much?”

To Count Juon’s sarcasm, Baron Jordi calmly said.

“I’m not underestimating it, I’m just stating the obvious reality. Of course, I have no doubt that our kingdom’s army will win if it fights the imperial army, but in order to win a war, logistics are as important as combat power!”

Soldiers need to eat to fight, and Gigants need to be regularly inspected and repaired to be used on the battlefield.

Baron Jordi’s skepticism about the northern advance stemmed from the fact that, given the Symphonia Kingdom’s current national strength, guaranteeing smooth supply lines in a full-scale war would be difficult.

“Count, you advocated for relieving the helpless people suffering under Rudolf’s tyranny, but even if we march in and occupy, their lives won’t immediately become prosperous, nor will food magically appear.”

“Well, that’s….”

“Don’t you realize that the resources needed to feed and clothe the starving people of the Baroque Empire are astronomical? Moreover, it’s our people who will have to shoulder that burden!”

“So, what are you suggesting?”

Count Juon’s voice grew rough, annoyed by the constant rebuttals.

“Since our Symphonia Kingdom’s economic and military power will only grow stronger over time, it’s not too late to conquer the Baroque Empire later.”

“Hmph! What if the Baroque Empire recovers in the meantime? Don’t you know we should strike now while we have the chance, so we don’t regret it later?”

In truth, Count Juon knew that Jordi’s words were reasonable.

Nevertheless, he insisted on the northern advance for two reasons.

Firstly, unlike the royalists, who had solidified their political base with Luke’s retainers, the aristocratic faction needed an opportunity like war to secure their position.

The Baroque Empire, weakened by rebellions and foreign invasions, was a perfect target.

If they liberated the empire’s people from Rudolf’s tyranny, the aristocratic faction, who advocated for the northern advance, would win the hearts of the people in the newly acquired territories, and their political standing within the kingdom would also strengthen.

Secondly, war was a massive undertaking that mobilized the nation’s industries.

Therefore, as long as they didn’t lose, the aristocratic faction, which operated large-scale farms in their territories and invested in numerous domestic merchant guilds, could reap significant profits.

When his persuasion didn’t work on the royalists, Count Juon turned his gaze towards the neutral faction members.

“Councilor Aiden, what are your thoughts?”

“Me, you mean?”

“Yes. You agree with our opinion, don’t you? From your perspective, you can’t ignore the people suffering under tyranny, can you?”

“……”

There were many republicans in the neutral faction, and Aiden was also a republican.

Count Juon had a general idea of the ideology of these passionate young people.

So, he believed they would side with him, considering the ideological justification.

Faced with Count Juon’s attempt to sway him, Aiden, who held considerable influence within the neutral faction, looked troubled. Both the aristocratic and royalist factions’ opinions had merit.

After a moment of thought, he spoke.

“I agree that now is a good opportunity to invade the Baroque Empire.”

“See?”

Count Juon replied, his expression brightening. If the neutral faction members agreed, he could push through his argument with a 175 to 125 majority.

However, one should always hear the full statement.

“However, as Councilor Jordi said, moving the army is no small matter. Above all, His Majesty must have his own plans, so wouldn’t it be a priority to understand His Majesty’s intentions?”

‘What is this, you rotten republican! When have you ever cared about the king’s will?’

Could it be that the king is siding with them because he is tolerating republicanism?

Count Juon, inwardly displeased, hardened his expression and began to persuade again.

“Of course, His Majesty’s intentions are important. But if we hesitate and miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…”

That’s when it happened.

Bang!

The door of the temporary assembly hall burst open, and a page entered, shouting.

“His Majesty, the sun that illuminates the nation and the master of Symphonia, is entering! Councilors, rise from your seats and pay your respects!”

At the page’s cry, the councilors all rose from their seats, removed their hats, and bowed towards the entrance.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Located in the highest position within the assembly hall.

Luke, wearing a dignified but not extravagant uniform, sat in the king’s designated seat and looked around the room before speaking.

“Everyone, be seated.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Immediately after all 300 councilors were seated, Count Juon raised his hand and stood up to speak.

“Your Majesty, this time…”

“Enough! I’ve already heard your arguments from outside, so there’s no need to repeat them.”

Luke, cutting off Count Juon’s words sharply, spoke again.

“I have no intention of launching a northern expedition for the time being.”

“But Your Majesty, now is the time to settle the royal family’s old grudges and relieve the suffering of the empire’s people…”

As Count Juon tried to object, Luke exuded an aura of authority and slammed his palm on the table.

Thud!

The table didn’t shatter, but the heavy shockwave emanating from his palm made everyone in the assembly hall tingle.

Count Juon, who had been standing, even staggered.

“Juon, are you perhaps mistaken about something? The assembly is an institution created to support the kingdom’s internal affairs, resolve disputes between nobles, and facilitate communication. Yet, you dare to interfere in matters of diplomacy and military affairs, which are my inherent prerogatives?”

A cold voice.

The inside of the assembly hall froze over.

Overwhelmed by the force Luke emitted, Count Juon was sweating profusely.

“Moreover, although you are the head of the aristocratic faction, you do not hold a councilor position. How can you raise your voice in this place?”

“W-well, my loyalty to Your Majesty and the royal family…”

“Silence!”

Thud!

Juon, who was trying to make excuses, froze at the force of Luke’s second table slam.

“Whether to launch a northern expedition or not is something I will decide after consulting with the military. In the assembly, you should focus on devising concrete plans to aid the refugees from the Baroque Empire.”

At Luke’s stern words, the councilors erased the issues they had been discussing from their minds and began to discuss support for the refugees from the Baroque Empire and measures to maintain public order.

‘Hmph, I left them alone for a while because I was busy with the southern continent expedition, and they dare to interfere with my authority?’

The reason Luke created the assembly was to delegate the rapidly increasing internal affairs work as the kingdom grew.

It was also to keep the dissatisfaction of the nobles, who were suppressed by the strong royal authority, within the assembly, by giving them legislative and processing rights in relatively less important areas such as internal affairs and noble disputes.

That way, the nobles would be at odds with each other, trying to gain even a little bit of control.

However, over the past three months, Sebastian and Duke Hans, who had been acting on his behalf, had been relatively receptive to the policies and national proposals put forward by the assembly, and it seemed that some councilors had completely lost their sense of fear.

‘And there’s another reason besides Arsen why I’m delaying the northern expedition.’

That was the presence of the Blood Band warriors that Hwangbo-sung would bring.

Luke planned to select those among them who were skilled in martial arts and had strong loyalty to form a Gigant [large humanoid war machine] unit.

Currently, the Symphonia Kingdom had a total of six Gigant units, including the 1st to 5th Armies and the Royal Knights.

The number was about six hundred units.

He planned to add two more Gigant units composed of Blood Band warriors.

It would take at least a year to organize them and train them as Gigant riders.

Therefore, Luke was considering postponing the northern expedition for a year.

But he couldn’t help but be displeased with the aristocratic faction, who kept insisting on the northern expedition without any sense of timing.

‘I should probably set a date to deal with the aristocratic faction councilors.’

Luke had already noticed the aristocratic faction’s schemes.

Moreover, before coming to the assembly, he had received reports from the intelligence department about the nobles’ large and small corruptions, which he had not paid much attention to.

Who had illegally mobilized the people in their territories to reclaim wasteland, how much they had received in bribes in exchange for backing merchant guilds or workshops, and so on.

‘It’s not yet at a level that would cause major problems. But if I don’t take action now, it will rot and fester like the Veritas Magic Tower.’

Luke had not forgotten that the reason the Veritas Magic Tower’s self-destruct magic circle had not worked properly was due to internal corruption and irregularities.

Inwardly grinding his teeth, he watched the proceedings of the assembly with a fierce gaze for about an hour before leaving.

4

The next place Luke visited after the assembly was the Black Tower.

The Black Tower was created by the first law enacted by the assembly to manage black mages.

This tower, which was a remodeled fortress on the outskirts of Brenden, currently housed over 300 black mages, white mages, engineers, and priests.

The purpose of having priests in the magic tower was to monitor and guide the black mages.

This was also a matter stipulated by law.

However, even the white mages and engineers who were dispatched to support the work looked at the black mages with suspicion.

They viewed every action and every spell with prejudice.

Because of this, there were constant conflicts every day since the Black Tower was built.

It was fortunate that there had not been any major incidents yet.

“Hah, this is quite the predicament.”

“Indeed, it is.”

The top floor of the Black Tower.

It was the tower master’s office, where two people were sitting facing each other, sighing.

They were Mute, the Meister [master] of the Katarina Magic Tower, and Johas, the Meister of the Dark Moon.

The two were jointly tasked with managing the Black Tower, but they were racking their brains over the unexpectedly difficult task.

“The conflict between the mages is getting worse, so what should we do?”

“I am also worried. We came out into the light to work for the country and His Majesty… but the friction is more severe than expected.”

“Tsk, I thought it would get better with time.”

Just as the two Meisters were clicking their tongues, a crystal ball placed on one side vibrated, sending a hurried message.

– Meisters, His Majesty is coming!

“What!”

Mute and Johas jumped up from their seats.

The two hurriedly straightened their clothes and led their respective elders and disciples to greet the king.

However, behind the two men lined up at the main gate of the Black Tower, the atmosphere was unusual.

The black mages and white mages were glaring at each other or glaring with their eyes.

Their gazes contained not only wariness but also a hint of hostility.

Just as Mute and Johas were about to scold them, it happened.

Clatter! Clatter!

The King’s personal carriage, drawn by six white horses, and his escort of knights arrived.

As the King’s party approached, the two Meisters bowed respectfully.

“Your Majesty, you have arrived.”

Following the two Meisters, the elders and disciples all knelt in unison.

“May the blessings of the gods be upon Your Majesty, the sun of Symphonia!”

“May glory be upon Your Majesty, like a star shining in the darkness!”

Luke, hearing the resounding blessings that echoed through the Black Tower, observed them silently before speaking.

“Rise. I have come to see the two Meisters today, so the rest of you may return to your duties.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“We shall obey your command!”

After dismissing the mages, Luke proceeded to the reception room of the Black Tower with the Meisters.

He moistened his lips with the tea brought by an attendant and slowly began to speak.

“I had somewhat anticipated it, but the atmosphere seems quite tense.”

He was referring to the competitive behavior they had displayed during the greetings earlier.

Although they didn’t openly antagonize each other in front of the King, it was obvious they were desperate to outshine the other side.

“We, too, have been frustrated by this matter.”

At Mute’s reply, Luke shrugged and said,

“Still, it’s a relief that the leaders aren’t at odds.”

“Well, if even we were to fight, things would escalate further.”

In fact, even when Luke had left for the Southern Continent, the two Meisters had regarded each other with suspicion.

This was due to long-held prejudices and differences in their positions.

However, as the friction between the black and white mages continued to worsen, both sides began to communicate in an effort to ease the conflict.

As a result, the two were able to discover surprisingly compatible aspects of each other.

“Though our paths are different, both Master Johas and I were in the same position. We were both struggling to control our subordinates.”

“As we talked and opened up to each other, we naturally became closer.”

Luke nodded at the two Meisters’ words.

“Indeed, if you communicate openly, you can resolve misunderstandings and solve problems more easily. Considering your experiences, it shouldn’t be too difficult to ease the friction between the mages.”

“Well, we’ve advised them to talk to each other and even held separate discussions. But there hasn’t been much effect….”

Mute looked skeptical.

However, Luke had a smile on his face, not one of disappointment.

“It’s not something that can be achieved by forcing or ordering. We need to create a topic that will pique both sides’ interest.”

“A topic… Does Your Majesty perhaps have a plan?”

At Johas’s question, Luke nodded and said,

“After I leave, spread the rumor that the King is bringing a lot of Taoists from the Southern Continent. Well, it would be better if you mentioned it casually to your subordinates during a drinking session.”

“Taoists? Are you referring to people with abilities similar to that Southern Continent girl named Jegalsoha in the royal palace?”

The two were also aware that there was a royal Taoist in the Symphonia Royal Palace, and that Jegalsoha held that position.

They had some knowledge of Taoism, but they were not very interested in it.

It was a different system from magic, and the influence of Taoists in the Lodisia Continent was too insignificant.

“But what do you think everyone will think if I bring in a large number of such Taoists? Wouldn’t they feel a sense of crisis?”

Being intelligent people, the two immediately understood Luke’s words.

“Indeed, there is nothing better than a perceived external threat to unite internal forces. However, Your Majesty might lose the trust of the mages.”

If rumors spread that Taoists were being favored over mages, the mages’ loyalty to Luke might decrease.

This should not be seen as just a decrease in the morale of the mages. In the worst case, it could lead to a weakening of the Gigant forces, the pinnacle of modern magical weaponry.

“If that really happens, it might be so. But if it’s just a rumor, there’s no need to worry.”

Luke patted the two men on the shoulders, instructed them to do as he had said, and left the Black Tower.

Todd, who had been sent to the Rakan Territory after losing a bet with Luke a few years ago.

Since then, he had steadily built up his skills and achievements, becoming a mid-level executive at the Katarina Magic Tower.

He was dispatched to the Black Tower to handle research and support duties, and the day after Luke visited the Black Tower, he received a visit from his close colleague, Humphrey.

“Hey, did you hear the story?”

At Humphrey’s question, who had come closer, Todd, who was looking at the Gigant design drawings, raised his head with a puzzled expression.

“What are you talking about?”

“The rumor that His Majesty is recruiting a large number of Taoists from the Southern Continent.”

“What? Taoists?”

“I heard it directly from Elder Jupie, that Master Mute mentioned it at a drinking session yesterday.”

He had heard of Taoists before.

They were people who were treated similarly to mages in the Southern Continent, using a unique ability called Taoism. [Taoism is a philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing harmony with the natural order.]

He had heard that there was one such Taoist in the Symphonia Royal Palace.

“I see. But what’s the big deal?”

When Todd looked at him with a face that asked what the problem was, Humphrey thumped his chest with a frustrated expression.

“Oh, you blockhead! It’s a problem because those Taoists might steal our livelihood.”

“What? Why?”

Although he had heard rumors about Taoists, Todd did not know much about them.

This was because there was so little information about them.

“This is just a rumor, but it seems that His Majesty is planning to have the Taoists make wooden puppets.”

“Wooden puppets?”

“Don’t you know about wooden puppets? It’s the large doll weapon that Count Hwangbo-seong, the commander of the Royal Knights, used when he sparred with His Majesty.”

“Ah! A weapon similar to the Gigants in the Southern Continent?”

“Yes, it’s said that the wooden puppets are much better in terms of flexibility of movement and stability of the power source. It seems that he plans to mass-produce them instead of Gigants.”

The mages of the Katarina Magic Tower had witnessed the sparring match between Luke and the Sword Masters.

At that time, they were quite amazed by the wooden puppet that Hwangbo-seong had summoned, and it seemed that Taoists could make them.

“Wow! Then that’s a big problem!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

Why do mages receive enormous treatment and support from the kingdom and nobles?

It was because of the Gigants. [Gigants are large, magically powered war machines.]

They strategically support magic towers and mages to secure Gigants with better performance than other kingdoms or nobles.

But what if there was a weapon that could replace the Gigants?

The support they were receiving could be diverted to that side.

In the worst case, mages might become second-class citizens in the Symphonia Kingdom.

No, not just Symphonia, but the entire structure of doll weapons on the continent could be overturned within a few decades.

“Shouldn’t we stop it right away?”

At Todd’s question, Humphrey retorted.

“Stop it? How?”

“Well, by going on strike or holding a sit-in….”

“Hmph, do you think that will work? Don’t you know what kind of person His Majesty is? Before we even do that, we’ll disappear without a trace.”

Luke was known to be generous when he was generous, but he was ruthless to those who committed crimes.

Especially if the target was a privileged class like nobles.

The two, who had been severely punished by him in the past, were keenly aware of this fact.

“There’s only one way. If we don’t want to be pushed out by the Taoists, we have to create a Gigant with better performance than now and change His Majesty’s mind.”

“Better than wooden puppets? But with our current magical knowledge and technology, it seems difficult?”

“Of course, it’s difficult with our abilities alone. But….”

Humphrey trailed off and turned his gaze to the black mages working in the distance.

At that sight, Todd realized what he was thinking.

“Are you saying we should join hands with the black mages?”

“It’s something the country has already allowed. In fact, several collaborative projects and research are underway for this.”

Of course, their projects and research were not making any progress due to the conflict between the black and white mages.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know how to improve the performance of the Gigants.

However, they were unable to reach out because of their deep-rooted distrust and conflict.

But now it seemed like it was time to change their attitude.

No matter what anyone said, it seemed that the black mages, who were still within the same framework of magic, even if their paths were different, would be easier to communicate with than the Taoists, who were from a completely different system.

“I heard the black mages talking in the cafeteria a few days ago, and they said that the flexibility issue could be greatly improved with something called a bio-golem.”

At Humphrey’s words, Todd asked with a disgusted look.

“Bio-golem? Isn’t that an undead?”

“It doesn’t use corpses, but it grows things like muscle tissue of living things in a special culture medium and then pieces them together. I don’t know more than that.”

The only way to know more was to contact the black mages.

Fortunately, this Black Tower was an area where such exchanges were legally permitted. They had just been reluctant to do so until now.

“Damn it, I’ve said some harsh things to those guys, I wonder if I can get along with them now….”

At Todd’s lament, Humphrey shrugged and said,

“Don’t worry, they’ll be as desperate as we are. Let’s start by greeting them when we run into them in the cafeteria or workshop.”

The rumor about the recruitment of Taoists was spreading not only among the white mages dispatched from the Katarina Magic Tower, but also among the black mages.

The rumor, which started from the black mages who had a drinking session with Johas, had spread to all the black mages in the Black Tower.

“We can’t be pushed out by those Taoists!”

“That’s right. We finally got a chance to come out into the world again, we can’t go back to the frontier!”

“It’s not ideal, but let’s join hands with the white mages and create a new Gigant!”

Feeling the same sense of crisis and coming up with the same solution, the black and white mages began to actively open up channels for dialogue and exchange, unlike before.