Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 566 The most important weapon of the country
Thales's embarrassment seemed contagious.

At least, the air in Ballard's room seemed to freeze for a moment.

That was exactly the time the king's gaze lingered on him.

"So that's all."

Fortunately, King Kessel averted his gaze and spoke again:

"Sodor?"

The air began to flow again.

Thales breathed a sigh of relief and avoided the gazes of the others.

Thank goodness, they didn't press the matter further.

Perhaps he shouldn't have said so much about the little rascal?

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Military advisor, Sordor Reid, bowed and replied:

"All the information we need about the military situation in the North is here."

In the dimly lit room, the Imperial Council resumed its normal working atmosphere:
Prime Minister Cullen shook his head thoughtfully, while military advisor Sodor looked serious. Viscount Connie, who was in charge of commerce, whispered something to the treasurer, Joker Mann.

Lord Clapham, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, continued to stare blankly into space, while Vicar Stilliards remained silent but listened attentively.

Thales maintained the Duke of Starlake's gentle smile and elegant posture, keeping a low profile and being dignified.

Only the king remained unmoved, his tranquility surpassing even the inextinguishable lamp behind him.

“Gilbert?”

The Iron-Fisted King's eyes gleamed as he scanned the map and chess pieces on the table.

The former foreign minister, having anticipated this, calmly raised his glasses:
"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gilbert reopened his notebook:

"Thanks to the cooperation of my colleagues in the Secret Service, and thanks to Lord Sodor and the sharing of battle reports by the Military Affairs Department, the Diplomatic Department has a new assessment of the post-war situation after understanding all the details."

He cleared his throat:

"The overall conclusion is: although we won the battle, but..."

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the cunning fox:
"Exter is by no means a winner."

Thales' eyes flickered.

"First of all, without the attrition and restraint of the other two cities, it wouldn't be so easy for Dragon Sky City to take Free Fortress."

Gilbert pointed to the black and white chess pieces on the long table:
"But now, fame and fortune, cities and land, all the good things have been taken by the Palace of Heroes."

"On the contrary, Qiyuan City and Jieshou City suffered a great defeat and were ridiculed."

The attendees looked enlightened and understood.

“And let’s not forget the Grand Duchess’s ‘peace decree’,” Sodor added coldly.
"And her magnanimous 'forgiveness' towards prisoners of war, in contrast to the Ronnie and Lyco families, who suffered heavy losses and gained nothing..."

Thales felt uneasy as he thought of the resolute Grand Duke Ronnie and the venerable Grand Duke Leco.

"There are also suffering people."

Gilbert nodded and added something to his notebook:
"Lady Blaze received help from the suffering people of Freehold during this battle, and even spoke up for them after the war in return—but don't forget that, as fellow northerners, Qiyuan City has long exercised oppressive rule over the suffering peoples within its borders."

Gilbert looked up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, we have reason to believe," the cunning fox of the stars squinted behind his glasses:

"After this battle, whether in terms of interests, ideologies, reputation, or stance, Dragon Sky City will inevitably drift further and further away from the Dragon Blood Party, led by Qi Yuan City."

Upon hearing the unfamiliar address, the king's brow furrowed slightly:
"Dragon Blood Party?"

Thales felt a lump in his throat.

Dragon blood.

This is definitely not his favorite phrase.

Gilbert nodded in response to the doubts of his colleagues.

“In the past two months, King Chaman has been purging the Black Sand Territory and eliminating dissidents without mercy.”

"Correspondingly, the opponents within the Black Sand Territory, in order to justify their actions, chanted the slogan: 'Never forget the blood of the dragon, and be grateful for the kindness of the former king.'"

Blood of the dragon, grace of the former king.

Thales recalled the voice and smile of the Heavenly King, and his feelings were complicated.

“They said that as long as you stand up against King Chaman, you are a true Northman, a member of the Dragon Blood who cherishes brotherhood.”

Gilbert said:
"Therefore, Dragonstreet City goes without saying, and the clearly defined Qiyuan City and Jieshou City are also included in it, and are called the Dragonblood Party by the people of Exter, in contrast to the 'Black Sand Party' that supports King Chaman."

The king gave a soft hum, his emotions unreadable.

The Dragonblood Party opposes the King, cherishes the memory of the late King, and values ​​brotherhood...

Thales sighed inwardly.

The person who came up with this slogan and title...

Viscount Connie, a man of wide experience and extensive knowledge, aptly expressed the prince's thoughts:
"Ha, the implication here is really malicious."

"Rumors and reputations have power; as the saying goes, 'Many voices can melt metal,'" Prime Minister Cullen sighed and clicked his tongue.
"But why do I always feel that this was the work of the Royal Secret Service?"

He looked at the scarred man.

The envoy from the secret service bowed respectfully:
“Your Excellency, you overestimate us. Public opinion in the North is surging; how could a mere secret service possibly sway it?”

But he immediately smiled slightly, his face contorted with the scar:
"However, it is true that as the calls for action grew, I cannot say that our people did not play their part."

Duke Cullen gave a strange look.

Ok.

Looking at the people from the Secret Service, Thales raised an eyebrow:
Chaman Lumba will probably never have a good reputation in his life.

"So, Dragonfall City is no longer welcomed by the Dragonblood Party—which sounds really weird—does that mean the Walton family will join the Rumba faction?"

Viscount Connie returned to the main topic, asking with a puzzled expression:

Even if they are sworn enemies?

Gilbert shook his head:
"Not really."

"After careful analysis, the Foreign Affairs Department believes that Dragon City is likely to extricate itself from the anti-king struggle, neither favored by the Dragonblood Party nor friendly with the Black Sand Party, but like Beacon City, to remain neutral."

Military advisor Sodor snorted:
"Then they'll be pleasing neither side, and no one will be happy with them."

Gilbert nodded first, then shook his head:

"Yet we remain outside the storm, observing from the sidelines."

"Given the size and status of Dragon Sky City, coupled with the natural disdain the dukes have for female rulers, the Hall of Heroes might even be able to profit from this."

"What our northern neighbors are putting on will no longer be the show of the Black Sand Party and the Dragon Blood Party taking sides, which has been the case for the past six years."

Thales listened to his teacher's analysis and felt relieved.

Although everyone in Dragonstreet City disliked King Chaman, and Selma and Count Risban had witnessed the Night of Dragon Blood, their grudges were hard to resolve.

Fortunately, Valhalla did not act rashly or irrationally as a result.

They chose the path that best suited them.

Viscount Connie pondered before speaking:
"So, after this battle, Exter is even more chaotic? And any issue will inevitably involve at least a three-way tug-of-war?"

“That’s certainly the case at present,” Gilbert said.

“Very good,” Joker Mann’s eyes lit up:
"A triangular chair is always more stable than a two-wheeled vehicle."

Lord Clapham, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of it and let out a breath:

"Finally, those damned northerners have met their match."

The atmosphere at the imperial conference improved considerably, and the ministers were in high spirits.

But the king remained unmoved.

Until Gilbert shook his head, pouring cold water on everyone's mood:
"But we can't be too optimistic."

"The greater the chaos, the more intense the contradictions and the more escalating the struggle."

A sense of unease appeared in the eyes of the former foreign minister:
"It means we're one step closer to the end."

Prime Minister Kulun seemed thoughtful:
"ending?"

Gilbert nodded:

"Two hundred years ago, Exter faced the 'Cataclysmic Disaster': Tann rebelled, Weyland changed hands, and thus began the cruel 'Century of the Dead Sun'."

"In that century, our stars and dragons fought, from 'Northern Conqueror' Erika to 'Sailor' John, four kings who were no less powerful than their neighbors."

As they listened to the glorious history of Xingchen, the ministers were filled with awe and respect.

"In contrast, the Dragon Kingdom became increasingly divided and declining: the five dukes fought fiercely at the election of the king, resulting in four deaths and one crippling injury."

"The darkness and chaos are even greater than they are now."

Thales clenched his fist as he thought of the old sword that King Chaman never parted with.

But Gilbert's tone shifted abruptly, revealing deep apprehension:

"But it was precisely the chaos and disorder that reached its peak that ultimately led to the crowning of 'Broken Steel' and the rise of Longxiao."

"Initiating three generations of the Walton family's monopoly on the throne."

"The ten great dukes will be united as one again."

"Bring the Dragon Kingdom back to its peak and reclaim dominance over the Western Continent."

No one spoke at the long table.

The shadow of that bloody year loomed over everyone's hearts.

Gilbert spoke earnestly:

"History has proven that Exster is not Commas, much less Thornfield, and they will not be divided forever."

“A friend once told me: Never underestimate the courage of the Northlanders.”

At that moment, Thales felt as if he had returned to Dragon Sky City, and all sorts of northerners flashed before his eyes:
King Nunn, Deadface, Officer Myrk, Kaslan, Chaman Lumba, Viscount Cambida, Fire Knight, Long-haired Ronnie, Bowlcut, Scarlet Witch, Veteran Griveor, Tailor Kex, Deathrattle Raven, Annoying Ian...

But then something suddenly occurred to him.

Little rascal, and quick rope too.

They are also from the North.

“Well said,” military advisor Sodor Reid called out, sweeping his gaze over the ministers who had previously been celebrating Exter’s decline:
"And we have no time to waste."

His tone was firm and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.

Thales noticed that the treasurer, Joker Mann, curled the corners of his mouth in a dismissive manner.

But right now.

“Gilbert”.

King Kessel's voice suddenly rang out, decisive and authoritative:

"You are to be reinstated immediately, and the Foreign Affairs Department is yours—though it always was."

The king's eyes swept over the crowd:
"I guess no one, whether in Exter or within the Star Kingdom, will raise any objections this time, right?"

The ministers at the imperial council all lowered their eyes, and no one spoke.

"The king's orders must be obeyed," Prime Minister Kulun replied gently.

This statement seemed to send a signal, and the former Foreign Secretary—or rather, the current Foreign Secretary, Earl Gilbert Cassel—remained silent for a moment before nodding respectfully:
"I will do my utmost."

Thales quietly savored the undercurrents in this question and answer exchange.

The king nodded and turned to another person:

"Sodor, I hear you have something to say?"

The military advisor saluted:
"Yes, Your Majesty."

Thales leaned back in his chair.

After learning about the outcome of the war in the Northwest, his mood improved considerably, and even the pressure that had enveloped him when he entered the palace quietly dissipated.

Now, all he has to do is quietly listen to the meeting and then face the consequences of last night.

He understands his role.

Sodor opened the documents at hand and cleared his throat:

"Although the development of the war situation has been somewhat unexpected, the Military Affairs Department's assessment has remained basically unchanged over the past few months."

"Although the war between Ext and the Liberal Alliance was small, it was of great significance."

The soldier held out his palm and gestured on the map:

"The city walls, barricades, fortifications, catapults, eternal oil, military crossbows, magic guns, intelligence ravens and falcons, including the refined crystal weapons specially equipped for elite troops, all these things have played an irreplaceable role, even more so than before."

Sodor paused for a moment, his expression serious:

"War, gentlemen, war."

"Warfare in this era is different."

Sitting opposite him, the treasurer, Joker Mann, made no attempt to hide his impatience, waving his hand dismissively.
"here we go again."

Sodor's expression tightened.

But he still suppressed his displeasure and patiently said:
"War places increasingly higher demands on logistics and makes us increasingly reliant on it."

The military advisor gestured to the locations of several major battles on the map.

"The battle reports from the front tell us that the Northerners' frontal combat strength remains unparalleled, but..."

Sodor's tone became urgent:

"No matter how strong one's physique, how superb one's skills, or how fervent one's fighting spirit, none of this past pride can make up for a rumbling stomach and broken armor."

His words caused many ministers to frown.

"Their bad example proves that supplies obtained through burning, killing, looting and plundering locally are not only insufficient for battlefield consumption, but also provoke unexpected resistance and hostility, and lead to lax discipline and morale collapse."

Sodor nodded in the direction of the king.

"This is why the Free Alliance, though a small place, was able to rely on its geographical advantage and popular support to keep the three great cities of Exter exhausted and unable to attend to their respective needs."

"That taught us a lot of lessons."

As he finished speaking, he glanced around, only to be met with an unexpected silence.

The ministers were exchanging glances and exchanging words, which puzzled Thales.

This was his first time attending the Royal Council, and he was unfamiliar with its rules. Finally, the Duke of Cullen, the highest-ranking official in the kingdom, cleared his throat and took over the conversation that no one else had dared to speak to:
"For example?"

Sodor withdrew his less-than-satisfied gaze:
"We cannot repeat the mistakes of the northerners; we must attach great importance to maintaining supplies and ensuring efficient transportation."

"Let's start with the royal standing army."

There was another moment of silence.

Even King Kessel remained silent.

It's as if this is a terrible topic.

"Lord Sodor, we have always given the royal standing army the highest priority in terms of logistical support," Lord Clapham, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock who had been daydreaming for most of the meeting, suddenly snapped out of his reverie and hurriedly distanced himself from the situation.
"Especially during wartime, the setting sun bears witness that at least in terms of food supplies, there was never any shortage..."

Sodor interrupted him:
“I did not mean to accuse you, Lord Clapham.”

But the next moment, the military advisor's gaze turned to Thales.

"In the past few months, the Royal Standing Army and the lords of the Western Wilderness worked together to rescue Prince Thales, venturing thousands of miles into the desert."

Duke Xinghu was taken aback.

"That was a valuable attempt. Following the desert war, we tested our ability to establish a unified supply line in a foreign land and pushed the limits of logistical transport for expeditions."

"The detailed report has already been submitted to you before the meeting."

Some ministers began to peruse the documents on the table, while others remained calm and composed, as if they had expected this.

But Sodor's volume immediately increased, resounding throughout the Ballard Chamber:
"It has been proven that the standing army's independent logistical capabilities are quite excellent: the shortest routes specially established by the Military Affairs Department, the key points for ensuring the rear defense line, and the back-and-forth sweeps in the desert have all effectively ensured the smooth flow of supply lines, and even supported the army to march all the way to the border of the Free Alliance."

His tone suddenly changed:
"But in contrast, the logistics organized by the local lords of the Western Wilderness were slow, inefficient and chaotic! From Grace Town to the front line of the desert, countless people embezzled money along the way, and the transportation figures remain a mystery to this day."

"As a result, some unscrupulous merchants smuggled military-grade eternal oil from the Blade Fang camp into the hands of the desert orcs, until it was intercepted by the standing army!"

Smuggling eternal oil...

Thales swallowed hard, took the document Gilbert handed him to read, and smiled in acknowledgment.

Sordor Red opened the document to a page, his face grim:

"Baron Williams even reported a serious incident—his vanguard officer, after a pursuit of orcs, was handling the spoils according to regulations, but was unreasonably obstructed and illegally embezzled by local conscripts from the Western Wilderness!"

"The other side showed no respect for the royal family's dignity and almost attacked our own troops!"

Upon hearing the familiar story, Thales rubbed his nose.

"Yes, the report from the Wings of Legends also mentioned..."

Lord Joker Mann's casual words mingled with the sound of pages turning:
"With a heart full of loyalty to the emperor and love for his country, he endured humiliation and hardship afterward, prioritizing the overall situation, and had no choice but to dismiss one of his selfless and upright vanguard officers to quell the matter and save face for the lords of the Western Wilderness..."

At this point, the finance director's expression changed, and he slammed the document down:

"You believe that idiot's nonsense?"

Thales raised an eyebrow.

Well, this is the evaluation one of the three most illustrious commanders of the Stars received at the Imperial Council meeting.

"Hmm, judging from the wording..."

Gilbert coughed at just the right moment, covering up the sudden outburst of profanity from the Lord of Mann:
“I believe Williams must have a new clerk.”

The Foreign Minister's joke was perfectly timed, easing the tension, and a low chuckle rippled through the assembled officials.

“Lord Sodor, I understand what you mean.”

Lord Clapham, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock—Thales was somewhat aware of his position in the Imperial Council—smiled and replied:

"What I want to say is that, regarding logistics, since the beginning of the Desert Wars, we have maintained excellent cooperation with various merchant groups and trade associations, from grain and cloth to livestock and ironware. If needed, I would be happy to introduce them to the Military Affairs Department..."

Sodor interrupted him again:
"Do not."

The military advisor spoke coldly:
"In a major war involving tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, war logistics is characterized by its meticulousness and complexity, as well as its scale and duration."

“No lord, town, castle, or merchant group is qualified to undertake such a heavy responsibility.”

"Even the Military Affairs Department won't do."

Lord Clapham's smile froze.

Sodor's eyes sharpened:
"Unless the king issues a decree, which is uniformly deployed and the whole country follows suit."

"The practice of having conscripts under different lords provide their own food and logistics and scavenge supplies locally is outdated."

Upon hearing this, all the officials before the emperor fell silent.

The military advisor's eyes, sharp as blades, swept over the people around the long table:

"No matter how diverse the composition of the army may be, or how many lords have the authority to command troops, we need a more unified, efficient, and convenient logistical organization."

"Only then can we provide sufficient and continuous supplies to the front lines in a future war that lasts for several years."

The ministers present had various expressions as they pondered the meaning behind those words.

King Kessel's face remained hidden in the dim, backlit shadows, leaving only looming black silhouettes.

Until Prime Minister Cullen exhaled and spoke earnestly:
"Lord Sodor, you're talking about logistics."

"But what I want to say is not just about logistics, right?"

Sodor looked at the Prime Minister with a detached gaze.

Ballard's room fell silent once again.

"Come on, soldier, we all know what you're up to."

Chief Financial Officer Qiu Ke snorted coldly, making no attempt to hide his displeasure:
"Anything else? Tell me all at once."

Thales noticed that Gilbert began wiping his handheld glasses—a sign that he was troubled and looking for an opportunity to think.

Sodor gave Qiu Ke a deep look.

"The lessons the northerners taught us go beyond this."

The military advisor, under the scrutinizing gaze of the entire imperial council, appeared even more resolute, showing no signs of the dullness that often accompanies someone his age.
"Taking the Free Alliance's war as an example, the war involved luring the enemy, harassing, occupying, hiding, dividing, flanking, decapitation, espionage and intelligence... The war's cycle was prolonged, its scope expanded, its tactics became more complex, and its impact was multifaceted. It can no longer be summarized by just a few key battles."

Sodor stared at the chess pieces on the long table:
“We have all seen that Exster has unparalleled numbers and head-on advantage, but precisely because of this, the army is difficult to move and the organization is bloated.”

"Faced with the 'surprise Ivan' and his small elite force that had made a flexible advance, they, fighting in a foreign land, appeared flustered and disoriented."

"Moreover, Kierkegaard was only the nominal commander-in-chief. The three armies of the northern people were not under each other's command and at most cooperated with each other. The transmission of orders was time-consuming and inefficient, and the multiple commands made it difficult to work together, which ultimately led to bitter consequences."

His tone changed abruptly, becoming one of deep sorrow and indignation:

"However, such a persistent problem also exists within us."

Sodor slammed his hand on the long table:
"From what I saw during my trip to the Western Wilderness, the royal standing army and the Western Wilderness conscripts cooperated in expeditions, but they belonged to different command systems. The former were clearly professional, battle-hardened elites, but they were often hampered by the conscripts who accompanied them. The latter, under the command of their respective lords, did not obey orders, had poor coordination, lax discipline, and low combat effectiveness."

"The back-and-forth wrangling among the various lords of the Western Wilderness has seriously affected the entire war situation."

As the conversation progressed, the military advisors gradually abandoned the official language they had developed from years of visiting the Fuxing Palace and began using slang they had picked up during their youthful days in the military:
"Two units of the same rank could not get along at all simply because their respective commanders had a falling out. This resulted in multiple commands and missed opportunities in battle—Baron Williams's intelligence report specifically mentioned this damned point."

"If it weren't for the dereliction of duty and misconduct of these local lords and their conscripted soldiers, how could Prince Thales's journey home have been so fraught with difficulties, and how could the Blade Fang Camp have suffered such a calamity?"

Thales immediately felt that many eyes were on him.

Knowing some of the truth about the Western Wilderness incident, he felt immense pressure.

But the figure at the end of the long table remained motionless.

Faced with Sodor's questioning, the courtiers remained silent.

The only secret agent standing to the side, the scarred man, was as still as a statue.

Duke Cullen spoke slowly, seemingly quite accustomed to this task of maintaining silence in the royal council:

"so?"

Sodor took a deep breath:

"The Star Legion proved it during the Bloody Year, and today, Exter and the Liberty Alliance reaffirm it once again."

"The key to modern warfare is no longer quantity and intensity, but quality and efficiency."

He clenched his fist and raised his arm:
"For this purpose, we need a unified command chain, reliable logistics and transportation, more military-savvy officers and soldiers, strict hierarchical organization, efficient intelligence transmission, and of course, a spirit and awareness of selfless dedication."

Sodor delivered his impassioned speech, completely ignoring the increasingly unpleasant looks from his colleagues:
“And we cannot expect the conscripted soldiers of the vast lords to do this—whether they are His Majesty’s direct vassals or the dukes and elders of remote fiefs.”

"The only ones we can rely on are the royal standing army, whose profession is war!"

Prime Minister Cullen raised his voice, his tone serious, a stark contrast to his usual slow and deliberate manner:

"Lord Sodor, what exactly are you trying to say?"

The military advisor slammed his fist on the table and raised his voice:
"My lords, times have changed."

"For the future, we need more active-duty officers and more professional soldiers to take on more stringent requirements and more important tasks across the country, in preparation for any eventuality!"

"The expansion of the royal standing army must be put on the agenda."

Sodor's words were followed by another silence.

In the tense atmosphere, Thales stretched his equally stiff back.

He saw Gilbert gently close his eyes.

"Expansion..."

Duke Cullen sighed:

"How many times has this happened?"

“The third time,” Joker Mann quickly picked up the conversation, without even blinking, clearly quite adept at it:

"Not counting the four times it was rejected."

He was immediately met with an angry glare from the military advisor.

On the other side, Gilbert tentatively tried to ease the tension:

"The military preparedness of the western lords is lax, and this problem certainly needs attention. However, to escalate it too quickly to the point of affecting the entire kingdom would be making a mountain out of a molehill..."

“Not only in the Western Wilderness,” Sodor quickly interrupted him.

"Even nationwide, despite previous expansions, the royal standing army still accounts for a small percentage of our total military strength, and our actual combat effectiveness heavily depends on the cooperation and quality of conscripts."

The military advisor's stance is undeniable:
"Separation of logistics, multiple command centers, communication barriers, inconsistent training levels... this has brought about too many problems."

"Excuse me for interrupting..."

Treasurer Juke Mann coughed heavily:
"Hey soldier, have you looked at last year's financial statements?"

The military advisor frowned when he was called by his nickname.

"Do you know how much of the Treasury Department's budget your prized Royal Guard costs every year?!"

The treasurer looked at Sodor with a grim expression:
"Take the three guard units of the standing army as an example: Fury, Starshine, and Stardust. Although they are called guard units, do you know how many people have exceeded the authorized number of these three units, and how much the maintenance costs have exceeded the limit?"

"And that doesn't even include those outside the official ranks! Do you know that the financial resources spent on them, if allocated to regular conscripts, would be enough to recruit thirty more battalions and form ten legions!"

Joker Mann looked disgusted, clearly having suffered under Sodor for a long time:
"Expanding the workforce? With what means?"

"Your spittle?"

But Sodor did not rush to refute; he waited until Juke's breathing stabilized before speaking again:
"That's the second point I wanted to make."

He turned to the shadowy figure at the far end of the long table:

"Your Majesty, I propose that a new law be enacted to reform the kingdom's military system!"

The next moment, "Soldier" Sodor stood up decisively, his voice echoing throughout the secret chamber:

"We should gradually reduce the number of privately recruited soldiers who are engaged in both farming and training under the command of various local lords throughout the entire Starry Sky region!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present, including Thales, was stunned for a moment, unable to react.

But Sodor's cold words continued:
"Whether it's gradually shortening the service period, reducing the frequency of conscription, or even exempting lords from the obligation to respond to expeditions."

"And ultimately, even their right to conscript soldiers on their territory."

One second, two seconds...

Everyone's expressions changed.

Having spent six years in Dragon City, where he had been immersed in the military culture of Exter, Thales blinked.

"reduce……"

The instant she understood what the other person meant, Joker Mann was shocked:

"what?"

At the end of the long table, the king's figure slowly moved, his cold eyes piercing the darkness once more.

Like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath.

The military advisor raised his voice:
"I believe this can save on quarterly recruitment costs, streamline the army, allow us to focus on agriculture, animal husbandry, industry and commerce, increase tax revenue, and perhaps even make up for budget shortfalls."

Prime Minister Cullen stared incredulously at his longtime colleague:
“Sodol…”

But Sodor Red ignored it:
"The standing army is ready to take over the heavy responsibility and shoulder the important task of national defense."

He suddenly looked up, seemingly transformed into an unyielding rock:
"The nation's military equipment is a vital weapon for the stars."

From now on, all orders will be issued from the same source.

"Without exception!"

The narrow, dimly lit Barad Chamber fell into an unprecedented silence, accompanied by the slight chill unique to stone chambers.

Sodor looked around the long table, his strong and unruly demeanor like that of a seasoned veteran.

This forced the ministers, who were still in shock, to turn their heads in surprise.

Thales was stunned.

During the earlier discussions about the war in the north, he was focused and attentive, and was not affected by the atmosphere of the meeting.

But it was at this moment that Thales truly realized:
This is a meeting of the Emperor.

What he heard at this long table concerned the future of tens of millions of people across the country.

Thinking of this, a sudden feeling of suffocation washed over me.

That was a feeling he had never experienced, neither the duels in the Hall of Heroes nor the day of the court in Valhalla.

"Everyone..."

After a long silence, someone finally spoke softly.

"Please do not divulge the contents of today's meeting, not even to your closest friends or family, not even a single word or phrase," the Prime Minister's voice rang out softly, weary and hesitant.
"And, Sodor..."

Duke Cullen looked up at the kingdom's military advisor, whose face was resolute, and said solemnly but firmly:

"You're crazy."

It's almost the end of the month, and I'll be doing an event in the comments section, like giving away Qidian coins for voting for monthly tickets.

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(End of this chapter)