One-Eyed Monster

Chapter 45: Chapter 44: Fury Thunder (Part 1)

Luona, Twin Star Grand Hall, Governor’s Conference Hall.

Aevernan stared with a somewhat unfocused gaze at the translucent, sparkling stone, wondering what trick Governor Rostov was playing this time.

Originally, he had planned to report to Governor Rostov that the young master on his distant travels was being targeted by certain miscreants.Although he inwardly felt that such an act of snitching was beneath a righteous person, after weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, he had steeled his resolve to do this despicable thing. However, just as he was about to step out, a Mail Bird from the Government Administrative Office flew in to tell him that the Governor was holding an emergency meeting that evening and to report to the Twin Star Grand Hall immediately!

Upon arriving at the Grand Hall, he realized the scale of this emergency meeting was considerable. The Head Administrator, the Dean of Yonder Travel Academy, the Grand Duke of Finance, the Court Chief of the Court of Guards, the Chief of the Wizard Association, the Chairman of the Scholar Commons, the President of the Trade Association, and even the leader of the Roaring Tiger Army stationed at the Empire’s border were present. Everyone who should be there, and even some who shouldn’t, had assembled, indicating that this was no ordinary meeting.

Looking at this assembly, Aevernan thought to himself, fierce debate is inevitable today.His initial idea of snitching was quickly pushed to the back of his mind, as he realized that, given the current situation, he had far more important matters to report.

”Gentlemen, deep winter is approaching. How is the progress on the various matters you are responsible for?” the Housekeeper of the Twin Star Grand Hall began the proceedings.

”Progress? The children in the Imperial Capital who should be studying in proper schools have all gone off to Yonder Travel Academy to run wild. Our Scholar Commons won’t be seeing much progress this year.” The Chairman of the Scholar Commons was a middle-aged man with a traditional beard. His overt hostility towards Yonder Travel Academy made it clear he was aligned with Louvkat’s faction.

Dean Hoffman of Yonder Travel Academy sat with his head bowed and eyelids drooping, seemingly dozing off. Faced with the other’s animosity, he merely drawled, ”Yonder Travel Academy changes destinies.” Throughout this, Old Hoffman didn’t even lift an eyelid, seemingly completely overcome by drowsiness.

”Humph, merely teaching lowly commoners a few characters and you call that changing destinies?” The other party’s hostility did not diminish in the slightest; this was a blatant provocation, likely intended to infuriate Rostov.

Rostov remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the gradually intensifying fighting spirit on both sides of the oval table, a thoughtful expression on his face.

”Speaking of progress, our Court of Guards has spared no effort in maintaining order and combating the forces of darkness. Yet, some people insist on harboring rats and crows, rendering the efforts of our Court of Guards brethren futile.” Court Chief Aymond of the Court of Guards was still resentful of the Trade Association’s tolerance of dark forces.

”We have no choice. Our Trade Association needs protection. You of the Court of Guards care more for the plebeians, so we can only find our own bodyguards,” the President of the Trade Association said, spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

”Watch your wording, gentlemen. Everyone in Luona is a subject of the Lord Governor,” the Housekeeper reminded the sparring parties. Clearly, provocative terms like ”lowly,” ”commoners,” and ”plebeians” had achieved a certain effect.

Louvkat, his face impassive, was secretly pleased. Anything that could make Rostov uncomfortable brought him a moment of joy. He currently felt that Rostov’s supporters were far too weak, utterly incapable of putting up a fight. He had no idea how Rostov managed to acquire those strange baubles to please the King.

”Ah, the reserve funds for the Demon Festival and Chimney Festival are still quite adequate. The festivals will certainly be lively. For this, we must thank the scholars of the Scholar Commons for calculating the best material procurement plan for us,” Grand Duke Kote said, stroking his beard, speaking of trivial matters at a leisurely pace. He also took the opportunity to compliment the Scholar Commons, his only aim being to undermine Yonder Travel Academy.

”Yonder Travel Academy changes your destiny...” Old Hoffman was still half-asleep.

”Speaking of money, our Department of Roads is short of coin! The Steam Rail Project, personally endorsed by His Majesty the King, has now stagnated due to a lack of funds.” Aevernan had been mulling this over for a long time; he had far too many grievances to air before the Governor. ”Now that deep winter is approaching, we won’t be able to start construction for a while. If His Majesty the King demands an accounting, it will be difficult to explain.”

”Regarding that, wasn’t there a special allocation from His Majesty the King for the railway?” Grand Duke Kote frowned, feeling that this matter should have nothing to do with him. The purse strings he held weren’t to be loosened for just any reason.

”That track to the Imperial Capital, Xinbal, was completed a year ago, Your Grace. We are now in the second phase. His Majesty the King expects the rails to be laid all the way to the army’s front lines.” Aevernan paused, then suddenly realized that Grand Duke Kote was incapable of understanding such strategic foresight. Thus, he had to switch to complaining in terms the other party could understand. ”Therefore, I need money. Previously, the tracks were laid with coated wood. Now it’s different; they’ve been changed to iron bars. This material alone is a significant expense, let alone other costs such as labor, transport, and inspections.”

”I believe, since the railway is being refitted with iron bars, it would be more effective for the Lord Governor to seek assistance from Alchemists,” the President of the Trade Association continued his provocations. The rumor that the Lord Governor had offended the Alchemy Workshop, though just a rumor, was still quite effective in verbal sparring.

”Indeed, I have always wished for the assistance of Alchemists. Yonder Travel Academy did lend two alchemy apprentices to the rail construction site, but Yonder Travel Academy can never compare to the Scholar Commons. I sought help from Chairman Massa, the most learned man in the Imperial Capital, yet his Scholar Commons has not managed to train even one or two alchemy apprentices to this day.”

Chairman Massa of the Scholar Commons turned deathly pale, his expression unsightly.

”Yonder Travel Academy changes your destiny...” Out of nowhere, Dean Hoffman mumbled again in his sleep.

”Not only is money insufficient, but the major workshops also complain to me daily, saying they cannot deliver the materials required by our Department of Roads on time. The iron bars forged daily by the fuel workshops and large smithies are pitifully few. I initially thought it was due to outdated forging techniques, but an alchemy apprentice from Yonder Travel Academy informed me that wasn’t the case. The large smithies lack sufficient ore; they simply cannot forge. In such a situation, even if you gave me all the Alchemists from an entire Alchemy Workshop, they couldn’t complete the task even if they exhausted all their Spirit Power.”

Even Head Administrator Louvkat felt a flicker of surprise. How can this Aevernan be so articulate?

”I don’t understand why the Lord President of the Trade Association would organize merchants to desperately procure gemstones and perfumes. Why can’t they procure even a small amount of ore? Are ores so expensive that only the nobility can afford them?”

”No, er, that’s not it. It’s mainly that gemstones and perfumes, er, have higher tax revenues,” the President of the Trade Association stammered, somewhat unaccustomed to being so directly challenged.

”Oh? If the tax revenue is so high, why don’t I see His Grace the Grand Duke allocating more funds to us?”

”Well...”

”Furthermore, we are still using slow-moving ox carts to transport materials to the construction sites. Could the Head Administrator perhaps arrange for faster horse carts or steam tractors for us? I’ve heard that many children of the elite borrow steam cars to attend Yonder Travel Academy.”

This Aevernan, whom Rostov single-handedly promoted, was indeed a rare talent. His eloquence was such that he could take on ten men single-handedly. He was truly a difficult talent to come by. Louvkat felt a myriad of emotions. His own subordinates had been verbally demolished by a newly established department, their faces—red with embarrassment, green with shock, white with misery—utterly shamed him as their leader. What was even more infuriating was that the other party had actually forced him, Louvkat, to speak.

”All of you have been diligent and dedicated, making your contributions to the Imperial Capital. Therefore, for the prosperity of the Imperial Capital, we must now set aside our individual prejudices, rally around Governor Rostov, and follow his instructions.”

Louvkat was rather shrewd; he wouldn’t directly answer a minor department head’s question. What he needed to do was simply cede the floor to the persistently silent Rostov. Truth be told, he still had no idea what Rostov’s agenda was for today. That fake Rain Crystal had been passed around so many times, everyone’s eyes must have developed calluses from looking at it.

”Gentlemen,” Governor Rostov cleared his throat. ”I have summoned you all urgently today to discuss a new matter.”

Everyone pricked up their ears. After all, Governor Rostov was a great favorite of the King; his every word and action always filled people with anticipation.

”Today, I have specially invited Chairman Rolin of the Wizard Association, and Lord Kaufman, commander of the Roaring Tiger Army stationed at the Empire’s border.”

”Deep winter is approaching. Its severe cold will mean an arduous October for the barbarians to Luona’s northwest and the savages to the east. Come next year, when all things are rejuvenated, this band of vicious malefactors will undoubtedly covet our Luona.”

”We have ample food supplies, and public order is stable. If the enemy attacks on a small scale, we can repel them. But if it’s a large-scale army from an enemy nation, can we still hold out?”

Rostov turned to Kaufman, signaling him to elaborate on the enemy’s military strength for everyone.

Kaufman stood ramrod straight, his voice steady and his diction precise. ”Thank you, Lord Governor, for addressing the concerns of the Empire’s Guardian Army. To our northwest, the enemy nation Mantai currently possesses the Mountain Monster Army and equipment manufactured by Dwarves. If they were to invade, the Empire’s Guardian Army could only barely resist. Mountain Monsters are colossal in size, their strength immeasurable; our Guardian Army’s cavalry can only contend with them when charging. To the east of our Luona lies the enemy nation Wensi. They possess a mysterious Tree Spirit force. Their main forces are elusive and hard to detect; it is easy to fall into their traps when engaged in battle...”

”Fortunately, we have the Thunder Army,” someone muttered.

”At present, relying on the Thunder Army, the Guardian Army can barely contend with the enemy nations. But if their armies invade on a large scale, I fear it might lead to the Fourth National Defense War.” Kaufman spoke with great seriousness. Everyone understood the brutality of the National Defense War; the Kayne Empire had nearly been destroyed because of it.

”Luona is situated in a triangular region. The surrounding lands are gradually being encroached upon and devoured by the barbarians and savages. If the enemy nations invade again, it’s highly probable the flames of war will be drawn to the Imperial Capital itself. If such a day truly comes, then no amount of reserve funds will allow us to hold the Demon Festival and Chimney Festival. We might even become the sinners responsible for splitting the Kayne Empire in two...” Rostov’s gaze was resolute. ”Fortunately, we have the Thunder Army. But the Thunder Army’s selection criteria for soldiers are overly stringent, preventing it from forming a numerically superior force against the enemy.”

Rostov spoke, pausing from time to time. In these intervals, no one dared to interrupt him, nor could anyone have interrupted him.

”I have urgently summoned everyone today precisely to strengthen our defensive capabilities. The Thunder Army is difficult to scale up, but Thunder itself can be. That stone you all just examined is precisely for the new initiative we are about to undertake. This stone can bring new power to our Guardian Army!”

”That stone is not merely a fake Rain Crystal.”

”I call it Fury Thunder.”