The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 611 The Last Snow of 1054
A biting wind swept across the surface of the rushing river as a steam-powered flat-bottomed boat, flying the flag of the Duchy of Campbell, slowly sailed through the wide waterway toward the harbor of Roland.

Standing by the railing at the bow of the ship, Jan Andes, wearing a cashmere coat, gazed at the streets along the riverbank, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

At the edge of the horizon, the royal prison, a symbol of the absolute rule of the Devalo dynasty, has been reduced to ruins, with only the collapsed towers and broken giant stone pillars remaining to record the earth-shattering battle that took place months ago.

Workers pushing carts were busy beside the ruins, along with people wielding shovels and carrying stones.

Perhaps by next spring, this city, which was once on the verge of destruction, will have no trace of even this last ugly scar.

No one expected that the Devalo dynasty, which had lasted for a thousand years, would collapse overnight.

What's even more unexpected is that this dead monster didn't crush the people crawling beneath it.

Just across the street from the ruins of the Royal Prison, vendors have reopened for business, and smoke is rising again from the chimneys of houses.

Young men wearing felt hats hurried past, while women swept snow from their doors with brooms. Several children chased after an oxcart, running and laughing through the muddy streets, while a newsboy of similar age called out his newspapers not far away.

People seem to have returned to their former tranquility.

Life was tough, but it hadn't been much better before.

In other words, the sky over Roland did not fall because a king had died...

This is something that the kingdoms of the continent of Os would find most intolerable.

In the narratives of feudal lords, without the command of lords and stewards, the lives of serfs would be bleak and hopeless, and everything would be doomed. Or rather, they would live like the savages of ancient times, living in caves before the First Age, until a lord pulls them out of their caves.

The citizens of Roland proved that this was merely a deception by the feudal lords. Once people learned to eat with a spoon, they would carve one for themselves even without one, instead of waiting to be fed.

They are not smart, but they are not that stupid either.

Although they did not become rich immediately because a king died, their lives did not become worse as a result.

It's just the same as before.

As Andes was filled with emotion, his admiration for His Majesty Edward's foresight grew even stronger.

If the Duchy of Campbell only undertakes economic reforms without radically transforming the monarchy itself, all their achievements will ultimately be nothing more than castles in the air.

People will erase the miracles they have created from this land, just as they demolished the royal prison.

He only realized this when he was almost at Roland City, while His Majesty, sitting in Campbell Castle, had already seen what would happen 100 years later.

"Your Excellency, we will be there soon."

A steady voice came from behind.

Andes turned around and saw a well-dressed gentleman walking towards him from the direction of the cabin.

That gentleman was Sir Scullen, the special envoy representing Campbellburg to Roland. Although the envoy was forty years old, his back was straight without a hint of hunch, and every brass button on his clothes was fastened meticulously.

Even though he wasn't carrying a gun, people could still tell at a glance that he was a soldier.

Andes nodded slightly, a friendly smile on his face.

"Finally, we're about to dock... By Saint Sith, it's been a long time since I've taken a ferry since the train connecting Campbellburg and Thunder City opened."

"I hope this journey hasn't left you with any bad memories."

"Haha, that's not the case. The waves at sea are much bigger than in a river. These waves are nothing to me."

"Really? Then I'm relieved. His Majesty specifically instructed me to take good care of you."

Sir Scallen smiled kindly, walked to the railing and stood there, following Andes' gaze to the ruins of the royal prison on the riverbank.

At that moment, looking at the ruins, he suddenly remembered something and spoke in a casual tone.

“I heard from the fishmonger yesterday that locals have turned stones from the Royal Prison into souvenirs.”

“Stone? A souvenir?” Andes paused, his expression turning somewhat strange. “What can that thing commemorate…”

"I'm also curious about what those things can commemorate. If anyone still sells them, I plan to buy a few to give as gifts."

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, the steamship's whistle sounded a long blast.

The two tacitly ended their conversation and returned to their cabin to wait. Shortly afterward, the ship slowly approached the shore.

There were already people waiting for them at the dock.

The man at the front was about forty years old, of medium build, and wearing a well-tailored but not particularly luxurious dark gray coat.

He wore a silver badge on his collar, his hair was neatly combed, and his chin was clean-shaven.

What's most impressive is his smile; his eyes are smiling, but his pupils aren't.

Standing beside the gangway, Andes quickly sketched out a rough outline of him in his mind. This man was probably a technocrat from the old era, either a ceremonial officer in the royal palace or a knight or a knight's squire.

Such people thrived in the old era and will continue to thrive in the new. For them, the color of the flag is unimportant; what matters is whose hand it is in.

They will naturally gravitate towards that person and occupy the most advantageous position.

“…Sir Conrad Perrin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the First Republic of Lane,” Sir Scarlen introduced in a low voice, standing next to Andes.

Andes asked in a low voice.

"How many ministers do they have?"

Five.

"That's not many."

"Indeed, the main power is in the hands of Marshal Fayet and the Constituent Assembly, followed by the Legislative Assembly. As for the current five ministers, some of them are even ministers of the Devalo dynasty. They do not hold real power and are more like decision-making advisors to the Constituent Assembly."

Upon hearing that there was a former minister, Andes showed a surprised expression, and after a moment he made a joke.

"I was surprised that the National Assembly was not blinded by victory."

Sir Scallen looked at the Foreign Minister and the officials standing on the dock and continued in an increasingly soft voice.

"Marshal Fayet himself was a constitutionalist. He advocated bringing Charles de Vallo back to Roland to take charge of the overall situation, to act as a figurehead monarch to balance the pressure from the Empire and the kingdoms, and to pardon some of the old dynasty's technocrats. However, Charles de Vallo was clearly not going to fall for it, and the Stonemasons and Barricades were even less likely to agree."

Andes hesitated slightly.

"What are the Stonemasons' Faction and the Barricades' Faction?"

Sir Scallen explained patiently.

"The former is an alliance of stonemasons and citizens, and the latter is a spontaneous organization of the lower classes... It doesn't matter if you can't remember them, because their names may change again after a while."

As he said this, his gaze fell on another simply dressed gentleman behind Sir Conrad.

“Standing behind Sir Conrad is Emil, the Speaker of the National Assembly. He is of commoner birth, has no surname, and was formerly a teacher at a church school in Roland. He is also one of the few clergy members who participated in the Quarry Declaration... At the same time, he is the only neutral person among the sixteen people you see who is not affiliated with any faction.”

After a pause, Sir Scullen added in a meaningful tone.

"Of course, since those who support the charter are all encyclopedists, he is now also counted as an encyclopedist by some radicals."

A slick and experienced old bureaucrat, and a revolutionary determined to change the old system.

They were like two sides of a coin, placing the coin that would determine the fate of Roland City on the table.

However, what surprised Andes the most was not the turbulent undercurrents beneath the calm surface of the river, but Sir Scarlen standing beside him.

"How do you know so much?" he asked the special envoy in surprise.

The latter gave an awkward laugh but kept quiet.

Andes was a smart man, and he realized what was going on in an instant, his eyes widening in surprise.

Good heavens—

Is he a member of the Royal Intelligence Service?!

Realizing this, he immediately swallowed all his questions and stopped talking to the guy.

"Welcome! Welcome to Roland City!"

At the same moment the two stepped off the gangway, Secretary Conrad was the first to greet them, a polite smile on his face.

He first shook hands with Sir Scallen, then turned his gaze to the Andes, his smile deepening noticeably.

“Mr. Andes, I have long admired your name,” he said, shaking Andes’s hand firmly. His tone was gentle and warm. “Your Andes Group has an excellent reputation in Thunder City. Many people in our republic have long admired you, and I eagerly hope that you can expand your business to the upper reaches of the Benliu River.”

"To be honest, I'm here on a business trip." Andes warmly shook his hand, exchanged a few pleasantries with him, and then turned to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Unlike Minister Conrad's tactful approach, Speaker Emir's attitude was much more rigid.

He seemed very uncomfortable in such situations. He shook hands with Scalen and Andes respectively, but there was almost no small talk. He only said one sentence in an extremely solemn tone.

"The Republic welcomes our friends from the Principality of Campbell. May our friendship last as long as the flowing river."

Andes could sense his sincerity from that solemn tone.

He clearly cared more about the friendship between the people of the two places and about the beautiful word "republic" than Sir Conrad next to him.

Andes sighed silently to himself, hoping that fate would not betray his sincerity.

The minister and the speaker were also extending their greetings to the other members of the delegation, while Sir Scalon accompanied them and gave introductions.

Andes' gaze swept casually across the crowd of people receiving guests, catching sight of a slightly uneasy face.

He recognized the face; he had seen it in the newspaper. The man's name was Newcastle, the founder of the Rowland Fire Service and one of the participants in drafting the Magna Carta.

Although Scalen did not introduce this "minor figure" to him, Andes had carefully studied the man's information before setting off and could tell at a glance that he held a high position in the newly established National Assembly.

As for why it looks so cramped...

It's probably because he comes from Thunder City.

Every citizen born in Thunder City has heard of the Andes family and knows the name Jan Andes.

Andes smiled inwardly, stepped forward, and extended his right hand to his fellow countryman.

"This must be Mr. Newcastle. It's a pleasure to meet you. His Majesty the Grand Duke has mentioned your name to me on several occasions."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Andes."

Clearly not expecting this important figure to notice him, Newcastle hurriedly grasped his hand, trying not to let his awkward expression overpower his warm smile.

“By Saint Sith, I never expected His Majesty Edward to know my name! And even more unexpected is that you recognize me. Haha, it seems today is my lucky day.”

“You’re as humorous as the rumors say,” Andes chuckled. “We both started out in the real economy, so I’m sure we’ll have a lot in common to talk about.”

Upon hearing this, Newcastle's smile became slightly awkward, as if he felt ashamed of the very word "industry".

He was indeed very ashamed.

As Baron Wickton's front man, his business consisted of buying fire extinguishers in Thunder City at low prices and then reselling them at high prices to the fire department controlled by the Royal Guard.

This doesn't require any technical skills, just connections.

His most successful investment in his life was a business that had absolutely nothing to do with real industry.

Furthermore, due to the overwhelming success of his investments, he managed to drive away his company's biggest client, and unsurprisingly, his Roland City Fire Protection Company went bankrupt.

However, fate did not completely abandon him. Although he went bankrupt, Miss Marie did not leave him.

Moreover, the Constituent Assembly still hired him as a "constitutional advisor," after all, the Quarry Declaration bore his signature and fingerprint.

"Thank you... Your Excellency Andes, you think so highly of me. To be honest, I was almost ready to give up on business, but your encouragement has given me back my confidence."

"Haha, that's my honor!" Looking at the shyly smiling Newcastle, Andes shook his right hand vigorously, then let go with a smile.

"Also, remember to secretly tell me where you plan to do business next time."

"Is it... about avoiding risks in advance?"

"No, it means I can place a bet directly on you."

Andes pulled out a business card and handed it to Newcastle, who looked on in surprise.

Then, he smiled and patted the young man on the shoulder.

"Both I and His Majesty the Grand Duke have high hopes for you, especially for the charter you helped draft. We both believe that the Duchy of Campbell also needs that... When you return to Thunder City, please be sure to ask someone to bring me a letter. I would like to introduce you to His Majesty."

The two chatted very well.

Andes subtly expressed his optimism about Newcastle, personally cultivating a closer relationship with this "new money," while publicly sending a goodwill signal to the National Assembly—the Principality of Campbell recognizes the National Assembly's charter and also endorses the republic they advocate.

Although Minister Conrad and Speaker Emir's attention was mostly on the Principality's envoy, their eyes did not leave the Andes for long.

They knew very well that this man was not just a businessman, but also a guest of honor of Archduke Edward.

Interestingly, this crucial intelligence was provided to them by Mr. Newcastle from Thunder City.

The pleasantries and tentative exchanges concluded successfully in the cold wind.

At the invitation of Minister Conrad, Andes and Envoy Scalen rode side by side in a carriage to the summer palace.

The delegation from Campbell was housed there, which is also the only decent palace still standing in the entire city of Roland.

The others were either looted or burned black.

Only there, because it was the main office of the National Assembly and was protected by the army led by Marshal Fayette, was it spared from the wrath of the citizens of Roland.

The carriage passed by a church.

Looking out the window, Andes saw several priests being herded out of the church.

Behind them, the silver cross hanging above the gate was removed and replaced with a flag symbolizing the three classes.

A look of surprise crossed Andes' face, and he subconsciously looked at Minister Conrad sitting opposite him and asked a question.

"Are you... planning to demolish the church?"

Minister Conrad's expression was somewhat subtle, as if he hadn't expected that the road to the Summer Palace would pass by a church, and now it was too late to ask the coachman to change course.

"Well... the situation is complicated, and I don't know the specifics myself, but I can ask the council for you—"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Speaker Emir, who was sitting next to him.

"In November, the Constituent Assembly announced the confiscation of church property, with land, buildings, and works of art being nationalized as collateral for the issuance of 'delivery certificates'."

As he said this, he lowered his head, his hands resting on his knees unconsciously clenched, and his tone became somewhat complicated.

Sir Scallen and Andes, sitting opposite each other, exchanged a glance.

It was only then that Andes suddenly remembered that this Emir Speaker had previously been a teacher at a church school.

Clearly, he knew quite a few pastors.

"Is this a decision made by Parliament?"

"Yes." Minister Conrad took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, trying to hide the embarrassment on his face.

Clearly, he didn't approve of people going to such lengths, but he really had no say in the matter.

"What about Marshal Fayette?" Sir Scarlen frowned slightly. "Does he agree as well?"

When faced with a difficult question, Minister Conrad fell silent again.

Finally, it was Speaker Emir, this honest man, who spoke up and told the truth.

"His army is insufficient to protect all the churches, so we have to make appropriate compromises in the face of reality. If we let powerful buyers purchase the artwork in the churches, at least we can prevent them from being burned by the mob. Moreover... the Devalo treasury has not left us a single penny; the Constituent Assembly is facing a severe financial crisis, and there's nothing we can do about it."

"What is a delivery voucher?" Sir Scalon clearly knew, but still showed just the right amount of curiosity.

Speaker Emir forced a smile.

"It is... the transitional currency of the National Assembly; we followed your experience."

"us?"

A strange expression appeared on Sir Scallen's face, and it didn't seem like an act.

Minister Conrad smiled and continued the conversation.

"Didn't you issue those silver pounds and government bonds? We drew on your experience to some extent, using confiscated church and royal assets as collateral for printing and issuing delivery notes... In short, it's something somewhere between currency and government bonds."

"Will this... work?"

"It's working quite well for now, although we know it's not a long-term solution, but... there's no better way right now, is there?"

As he spoke, Minister Conrad gave Sir Scarlen an apologetic look.

Sir Scarlen fell silent.

Nominally, the National Assembly invited the Campbell delegation here to compensate the Duchy of Campbell for its losses in the Winter Coup, but it was clear that they were penniless.

I'm afraid they haven't even figured out how to compensate us.

Although his respected Emperor Edward hadn't expected a group of beggars to pay him back...

“I think… I’m afraid no one would dare to buy these things,” Andes glanced at the church disappearing out the window. “What would they do with them? Use them as a warehouse?”

He downplayed the situation, but the truth was far more brutal. Even if buying it would be somewhat useful, no one would dare to buy it.

Although Devalo died, the royalists did not disappear.

The Duke of Eiffel has endorsed Charles de Vallois as Theodore's successor and has made it clear that the National Assembly is illegal.

If it weren't for the sudden uprising within the Kingdom of Rhodes, the Duke of Dragon's Eye City would probably have already marched south and joined forces with the Northern Duke of the Republic of Ryan.

At this critical juncture where the situation is still uncertain, no one would dare to buy things that could bring about their death.

These things aren't like the bricks in the royal prison, which you can't throw away once you've gotten them on you.

Andes believed that if he could think of this, the clever people of Roland City certainly could too.

This is placebo therapy.

If the auction of church and royal assets is unsuccessful, these delivery certificates will immediately begin to depreciate.

But he still didn't say those words.

Because once he says it, the delivery vouchers that were supposed to last until next year will start to collapse tomorrow.

Emil's lips moved, but in the end he said nothing, only sighed softly.

"I don't know who to sell the church to, but we have to convince people that we're doing this, otherwise we won't even have bread for tomorrow, let alone bread for the future."

“But I am very worried about you. Your blasphemy against the Holy Light may cause you to lose the support of the countryside.”

Sir Scallen looked at Speaker Emil and, unusually, uttered a word of genuine sympathy.

"Furthermore, have you considered what to do when the empire's envoys arrive?"

Emil fell silent.

Minister Conrad wiped his sweat and said nervously.

"We... will explain the situation to them as much as possible."

“What about Chaos?” Sir Scarlen didn’t stop, still staring into his eyes. “And the demons of Hell… what if they come?”

A long silence fell over the carriage, broken only by the sound of horses' hooves on the stone slabs and the clatter of wheels rolling through the cracks.

Andes, unable to bear seeing the two in such a predicament, coughed lightly to remind the special envoy beside him.

"Your Excellency, let's talk about something lighter."

Upon hearing Andes's reminder, Sir Scarlen snapped out of his reverie and apologetic expression appeared on his face.

"I'm sorry... I said some unnecessary things."

"No, Your Excellency, there's no need to apologize. I can sense that your sympathy for us is genuine, not something you do to make fun of us."

Speaker Emil smiled gently and spoke in a very soft voice.

"No matter where our little boat goes, we will do our best to make it go as far as possible... At least, we've made it through the toughest times, haven't we?"

Optimistically speaking, that's true.

However, Andes could hardly be optimistic and could only turn his gaze to the window for the time being.

Dusk gradually sank into the sea of ​​clouds on the horizon.

Before nightfall, the delegation finally arrived at the Summer Palace, and Andes was finally able to extricate himself from the oppressive atmosphere.

However, just as he was about to stretch his stiff back, he was ushered into the banquet hall of the Summer Palace by the servants and forced to attend another social event.

The National Assembly took the guests from the Principality of Campbell very seriously, and the meal was not shabby at all.

After all, the chefs in the Summer Palace are still the same people, and their skills are still there.

As night fell, it started snowing again, and the snow fell heavier and heavier.

The only consolation was that no fires swept through the city in the winter of 1054, nor did a large-scale famine occur.

Perhaps it was the "delivery voucher" that Emil mentioned that made a difference, or perhaps it was simply because there were fewer people.

Although the National Assembly did not forcibly drive people out of the city to survive in the wilderness like Theodore did, the war still objectively played a similar role to the "Great Fire of Winter".

The guest rooms at the Summer Palace are warm and cozy.

Andes took off his coat, sat down at the mahogany table that had once belonged to a nobleman, opened his diary, and lit the candle on the table with a match.

The sound of patrolling soldiers' whistles drifted in from outside the window; the young men carrying Roxay rifles had just finished their shift change.

Their noses were red from the cold, but their faces were beaming with enthusiasm.

The reason is that the members of parliament they voted for are in the next-door parliamentary chamber, discussing the future of all of them.

Whether it's light or darkness, at least it's their own decision, not that of a supreme monarch.

Andes dipped his pen in ink and wrote on the blank page of his diary.

"...On the last day of 1054, I spent it in the summer palace in Devalo."

"The luxury here is breathtaking. The wealth of the Andean family is as insignificant as a speck of dust in comparison, and it will never be surpassed in the foreseeable future."

"However, what impressed me most was not the magnificent palace, but the people's passion for changing everything... something I had never seen in Thunder City."

As he wrote this, Andes pondered for a long time, recalling his observations on the rushing river and the welcoming banquet that had just ended.

Only when the pen tip, which had been stuck on the diary, spread out a thick, dark ink dot did he pick up his pen and continue writing down the only regret of the day.

"...But so far, all I see is enthusiasm."

(End of this chapter)