Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

Hayden clasped his hands and produced a stack of plans, which detailed various magnificent magical artifacts with exquisite printing and illustrations:

Magic-infused armor, a special knight's longsword and lance infused with magical crystals, lightweight magical armor and amplifying staff used by mages...

"But...but you said these are just ideas! They haven't even reached the stage of actual development yet..."

The nobles stammered, while Hayden rolled his eyes impatiently; his rudeness was now insignificant in their eyes.

"Of course, it's just a concept, which is why we need your esteemed support to fund our research and development. Others are ahead of us now, after all, they're sparing no effort to extract wealth from respectable gentlemen like you to support us..."

Hayden deliberately provoked the nobles before leisurely building suspense:

"However... our research has recently made a breakthrough, and we'll be able to start production soon. But we still need some initial funding... As for the first batch of weapons produced, we'll naturally offer them to the highest bidder..."

As soon as Hayden finished speaking, the nobles scrambled to reach into their pouches, pulling out their gold coins and certificates. However, Hayden merely clicked his tongue and shook his finger, smiling at the lords confined to Sochi.

"How could this small change possibly be enough?"

"But our property is all on the estate! And Earl Duke forbids us from returning to the family!"

"Therefore, I need you gentlemen to write a few letters, asking your families to contribute money to support us. By the way, shouldn't you also tell them not to easily surrender to the Linhu Territory? Otherwise, when you return to your territories, there might be nothing left... Although most of your territories are south of Sochi City, their safety cannot be guaranteed..."

Chapter 23 The Competition in Magical Engineering

The nobles, who had just been scrambling to participate, hesitated again upon hearing that they would have to pay more. They exchanged glances, then cautiously asked Hayden, "Is Lin available? If so, I'm free. Is Lin available now?"

"The Linhu army is right in front of us. Is it too late for us to give you the funds now? And does your Chamber of Commerce really already have research results?"

Hayden clapped his hands, making a helpless gesture:

"Since you gentlemen distrust me so much, there's nothing I can do. You must know that merchants value integrity above all else. As for the research results you want..."

Hayden picked up his cane and tossed it to a nobleman who was a magician, pointing to the button on it and gesturing for the nobleman to proceed.

Crack! The cane transformed into a long staff inlaid with magical crystals, and the nobleman tentatively used a fireball spell, which became much more powerful under the amplification of the magical crystals, almost burning off the beards of those around him.

"Oh my! This is really..."

Before the gasps of astonishment had even subsided, Hayden placed a crystal ball with a mechanical base on the table, activated the switch, and the crystal ball immediately emitted a phantom image under the influence of the magical crystal. In a workshop somewhere, a group of engineers were assembling various magical weapons—longswords, staves, you name it—instantly capturing the attention of the nobles!

"Of course, our current inventory is still a bit tight for supplying your families. We also have some key materials that are stuck in our warehouses because our suppliers haven't paid the final payment. We're counting on you all for this."

Hayden rubbed his hands together with an earnest and excited expression, not forgetting to add fuel to the fire:

"As long as there's enough profit, we're willing to work tirelessly to provide you gentlemen with sufficient weapons. Not only can we resist those despicable scoundrels in Linhu Territory, but it's not impossible for you to overthrow Earl Duke yourselves! That would be a great achievement; if I weren't part of the Merchant Guild, I'd do it myself. After all, I wouldn't get the Earlhood of Otus..."

Earl! With the fall of the Duke family, Sochi territory will inevitably need a new earl!

The minor nobles, once again bursting with boundless enthusiasm, immediately wrote to their families, demanding that they provide funds to the joint representative of the merchant guilds in their territories. In their letters, they also earnestly explained the seriousness of the situation to their families, urging them to resist the despicable threats and inducements from Ryukia and Earl Duke, and absolutely not to easily join the camps of either Sochi City or Linhu Territory…

"Alright, alright~ Thank you all, sirs~ Here~ I will deliver the letter for you~ Oh, and sir, please return my cane."

Hayden accepted the nobles' letters with a beaming smile, then reached out to the noble holding the magic-amplifying staff. The latter stroked the staff, which could amplify his magic several times over, with obvious reluctance, as if he were holding a lover.

“Mr. Hayden, I’ve staked all the magical ore I’ve accumulated over the years on for you. Can’t this staff be considered as an advance payment?”

The nobleman contributed the most among them, after all, he had a small magical mine on his territory, and despite the strict restrictions imposed by imperial laws, he had accumulated a considerable amount of unreported mining over the years...

Hayden politely declined with a smile, "Please spare me, sir. Without it, I'd feel much less secure, and such a plain staff is hardly befitting your status. How about this: consider the camera and the magic orb as gifts. You know, a camera can preserve many wonderful memories~"

Seeing Hayden's ambiguous smile, these nobles, who had long been away from war, suddenly realized the enormous value of the 'camera'!

Whether it's creating precious memories with a lover in the bedroom or taking dirty evidence of a rival in some private and shameful places, this is the perfect thing for nobles to indulge in debauchery and mutual attacks!

So the nobleman pretended to be the one who had been wronged and reluctantly returned the staff to Hayden, but the moment he got the camera, he immediately started playing with it excitedly, his eyes full of smiles, completely forgetting the complicated situation he was in.

"It seems that no amount of talking can make you realize the importance of magical weapons, yet a single glance can make you imagine countless uses for a camera... Indeed, you gentlemen are no longer suited for the coming era..."

Hayden's sarcastic remark instantly changed the nobles' expressions. They all looked at Hayden, who was adjusting his hat, and questioned him while suppressing their anger:

"Mr. Hayden! What do you mean by that?"

"It's nothing much, it's just that my small business needs a little extra support from you gentlemen."

Hayden flashed a bright smile, tapped his staff lightly, and amidst the nobles' horrified gazes, the staff shone with a dazzling light.

"Mr. Hayden! What do you mean by that?"

"It's nothing much, it's just that my small business needs a little extra support from you gentlemen."

Hayden flashed a bright smile, tapped his staff lightly, and amidst the nobles' horrified gazes, the staff shone with a dazzling light.

"That is the worthwhile death of you esteemed sirs..."

When the light faded, Hayden rubbed a drop of blood off the hem of his clothes with his fingers; only pieces of flesh remained at his feet. He snapped his fingers lightly, and immediately a servant emerged from the shadows.

"Give these letters to their families in their territory, and then arrange this place to look like Earl Duke discovered their plot to betray them and then killed them to cover it up... Let their families know about this a few days later."

"Yes, Mr. Hayden, are you returning to the Golden Society?" the servant asked respectfully as Hayden chanted the teleportation magic circle.

"No, it's going to Linhu Town... You can't do business with just one side."

Hayden gave his servant a slight smile, and before leaving, he grabbed a handful of the 'change' the nobles had brought out and stuffed it into his pocket with satisfaction.

"Understood. May the glory of wealth bless you, Mr. Hayden..."

Under the respectful gaze of his servants, Hayden's body disappeared into the teleportation array. After a dizzying sensation and pain, he suddenly appeared in the inn in Linhu Town.

"Cough cough cough! Still not used to it... Oh, Julian, long time no see. You've done a good job. Here's the extra fieldwork allowance I applied for for you. By the way, what time is it now?"

While coughing, Hayden handed the handful of gold coins and vouchers he had just grabbed to Julian, and then asked about the time.

"Three o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Hayden."

Julian, the young male servant standing nearby, was not surprised by Hayden's sudden appearance. Instead, he respectfully handed Hayden a glass of water, which Hayden, who was covered in sweat, drank down in one gulp.

"An hour's teleportation time... It seems there really is a strange magic field near Linhu Town. Where's Liuxia? Has that brat returned yet?"

"He's back. Last night he took several carriages with him and that female engineer to the magic workshop, and he hasn't come out yet."

"Is that so? It seems I've arrived just in time."

Hayden smoothed his hair, which had been disheveled by the teleportation, changed out of his blood-stained clothes, and pushed open the door to go out...

Inside the magic workshop, Ryuka and Anyaberg, both sporting dark circles under their eyes, looked at their masterpiece with great satisfaction.

Olivia was naked and bound to a massive steel contraption, her outstretched limbs completely encased in magically protected iron cylinders. These cylinders were connected to various pipes engraved with magical circuits, from which Olivia's fiery magical power would be continuously drawn to supply the various facilities within the magic workshop.

"Just reconnect the life support system, and it'll be done. After working all night, it's finally finished..."

"You two are insane! You beasts! Just kill me already!!!"

Olivia angrily berated Ryusha and Anyaberg in front of her. Although Anyaberg felt a little reluctant, he immediately forgot about it when he thought that his magic workshop would have enough magic power to operate in the future.

Well, that's what war and succession struggles are like...

Meanwhile, Ryūka pinched Olivia's two large, firm mounds of flesh, picked up a gag mask connected to a feeding tube, and approached her with a smile:

"I did ask for your opinion, whether it was becoming my slave girl or the energy source for the magic workshop, it was your own choice. And considering your health, you'll be allowed to rest one day a week~ Well~ on the bright side, six days will pass in the blink of an eye~"

Olivia was forced to wear a black mask covering the lower half of her face by having her chin pinched. She could only let out low growls. Deprived of her freedom of movement and speech, she was filled with terror when she saw Ryuka walking over with a black iron eye mask.

"Ugh! Ugh ugh ugh ugh!!!"

Her vision went completely dark, but that wasn't enough. Olivia felt her legs being gently parted, and two soft tubes, one thick and one thin, caused her body to convulse violently. This was the excretory system that Ryūka had shown her… Olivia's pride was utterly shattered…

She had been completely stripped of her human rights and reduced to nothing more than a source of energy. Only now did she finally regret joining this war.

However, this was not the end of it. The place, which had just healed, was invaded again by something cold and thin!

This shape and feel... it's the hilt of my own staff sword!!

"Hmm, the staff sword that can affect her magic is connected to this device. It controls her magic output by vibrating and moving in and out of it. Phew~ I really am a devil..."

Ryuu couldn't help but click his tongue. Although he also felt incredibly beastly, he still couldn't resist doing it. Anjaberg, on the other hand, turned away, his face flushed, and muttered under his breath:

"Goodbye, tomboy. Hopefully, your attitude will be a little better next time we meet~"

"Waaaaah!!!"

Deep beneath the magic workshop, in a dark room inaccessible to anyone, the door was completely locked. As the staff and sword operated incessantly with the stimulation device, Olivia's magical power gradually filled the entire magic workshop like a spring…

Ryuu stretched. He and Anyaberg had stayed up all night to complete the device, and the design drawings were finished on the way back. Ryuu was fine thanks to his Great Knight's physical strength, but Anyaberg's body seemed to be completely exhausted. The usually energetic girl staggered as she said goodbye to Ryuu and returned to her independent laboratory/room in the magic workshop.

However, after Anjaberg locked the door, her expression of being about to pass out vanished instantly. Although her dark circles proved she was indeed nearing her limit, after washing her hands and lying down on the makeshift bed piled with her dirty clothes and various medical instruments, the first thing she did was loosen her belt…

"Ugh, that Ryūka guy, he actually came up with such a terrible design! It's so awful! There are clearly other, much better ways to regulate magic! He's definitely not as smart as me!"

As Anyaberg muttered to herself, her mind kept replaying Olivia's restraints. Her small hand slid gently down her flat stomach, slipping inside the work pants she'd worn for days, and a slight tremor ran through the muscles in her forearm.

"Haa~ I knew it... I've been accumulating a lot of stress lately..."

Besides mathematics, magic, and engineering, Anjaberg also has considerable expertise in biology, especially in the human body's aura and magic circuits, and...

When people are under pressure, they need to find pleasure and relaxation, and stimulating the nerves is the simplest and most direct way! You're simply using the most efficient method to independently relax your body and mind! This is science!

"Hmm... the best spot for today is... Ahh~~ found it... then it's the frequency..."

Anyaberg's body involuntarily curled up on the small bed, shrinking into a tiny ball and trembling incessantly. However, after a violent shudder, she staggered out of bed and opened the toolbox on her desk...

"Excessive accumulation of physical and mental fatigue... requires a more efficient and intensive approach to dealing with it..."

A homemade, smooth magical instrument was taken out, and as the switch was turned on, the instrument vibrated in Anjaberg's hand.

That's right, I'm a genius! Even a monster like Ryukatsu wouldn't have thought of making something like this! I'm definitely smarter!

After all, magical machines are more reliable than human bodies! Ryuka's way of dealing with the girls around him is just too inefficient!

"Ahhh~~~ Why... does his image keep popping into my head? Damn it... it must be because I've been spending too much time with him lately... Ugh~~"

Anjaberg squeezed her legs together, her toes clenched tightly. With a weak tremor, she struggled to roll over, the magical instrument in her hand falling to the floor with a clatter, the only sound in the quiet room being its buzzing.

"To lay a hand on me... what a stupid thing to say, you're so incredibly idiotic..."

The girl stared at the dim ceiling, a wave of drowsiness washing over her, but her mind was still on the magic cannon they were going to start building tomorrow, a design she had completed with Ryuka.

Ah... I haven't showered yet, and I don't seem to have any clean clothes left. Oh well... I'll do it after I wake up...

Chapter 24 The Witch Who Delivers Information

"I'm back……"

Back at the lord's manor, a weary Ryuga collapsed onto the soft bed. His rest was short; Hetia and the others were busy conquering cities, and Ryuga needed to arrange production at the magic workshop before heading to the front lines as quickly as possible.

Kania, who stayed behind to coordinate supplies, came closer. Her soft fragrance was irresistible. However, Ryuka, like a husband returning home after a long day at work, only felt more comfortable with the soft blankets.

"They're just like a couple who've been married for a long time..."

Kania sighed and was just about to tuck Ryuka in when a bird call from behind her made Ryuka, who had just closed her eyes, open them.

It was a small bird with turquoise feathers, perched on a hanging bar, staring at me. Beside it were a water trough and a food trough. However, the food trough didn't contain rice or insects, but rather fish roe that had been carefully preserved during the winter, along with some fresh wild plums.

"It flew here a few days ago and wouldn't leave no matter how I tried to shoo it away. It's so pretty, so I kept it. But this little thing is very picky; it won't eat anything but its own food..."

Kania, seeing Ryūka's gaze, explained that this beautiful little bird was a blue jay, common in the east, and then considerately asked:

"Will it disturb your rest? Should I kick it out?"

"No need... Call me in four hours..."

Ryuka mumbled that it was just a bird, then shifted to a more comfortable position and buried her head in the soft feather pillow.

To Blue Raven's astonishment, Kania revealed a sly smile, lifted a corner of the blanket from the bed, and then slipped inside...

Feeling the movement, Ryuka threw off the covers, stared at Kania who was taking off her pants, and said with a helpless expression, "I want to sleep."

"But that's not what it thinks."

Seeing Kania licking her lips with great interest, Ryuka helplessly patted the little witch's head: "Men sometimes act like this when they're extremely tired."

"Alright... then at least give me some orders, little master~"

Kania shook her bottom somewhat resentfully, but unexpectedly, Ryuka's next words were like this:

"Orders, huh? Sure... Work with Kira to ensure the operation of the magic workshop, then supply military rations and magic gun ammunition according to the needs of the front lines... Also, arrange for people to relocate the villages on the outskirts of the territory inland, and inspect the construction of the defense line... Oh, and prepare a new set of armor and weapons for me. Okay, go."

"Um~~~"

Kania puffed out her cheeks angrily, looking like a hamster with its mouth stuffed full of food, but after hearing Ryusha's next request, she finally got up contentedly.

"When you're working, fill the space in front and back. After each task is completed, you have to ejaculate five times that night. You can't use your hands or move your legs. You have to figure out the method yourself..."

"Hehe~ Yes, ma'am~"

"Okay, remember to call me later..."