Chapter 106.2

“I do, but I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Why?”

“It just seems more efficient to celebrate it with the other employees born in summer.”

“…I see.”

Privately, Arina decided to make plans for the coming summer.

***

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace

“…”

The Emperor of the Empire, Canbraman, felt as though he was being challenged.

It was as if every bold decision and plan he had made recently was being put to the test.

“Paper money… paper money in the North…”

It wasn’t anger or irritation but a different realm of emotion altogether.

“They say you can only purchase Northern magic stones with this paper money…”

The concept of a magic-stone standard quickly crossed his mind.

“They claim that the issuing authority lies not with the Grand Duke of the North but with a committee of scholars…”

If it had been a clumsy provocation, the Emperor might have been furious.

But the North’s latest countermeasure elicited more astonishment, shock, and dread than anger.

The imperial envoys who had returned from the North knelt in silence beneath the golden throne, awaiting the Emperor’s reaction. Among them was Entir.

“When will this end…? I need to get back and start working on comprehensive financial services.”

Entir, the leader of the delegation, was obligated to attend this audience.

“You’ve used your head well,” the Emperor finally said after some time.

“And you’ve made it well.”

In Canbraman’s hand was a 200-Ren golden banknote, brought back by the delegation.

Equivalent to one gold coin, it could be exchanged at Arad Bank for a gold coin or traded at Arad Energy for the same value in magic stones.

“Can we produce such refined banknotes ourselves, and cheaply, in large quantities?”

The Emperor’s gaze shifted to his right, where Ron, a mage of the Golden Tower, stood. Ron’s primary duty was to serve as a liaison between the Golden Tower Master, Yulkanes, and the Emperor. ℝΆ₦ÒʙΕŚ

“Well… we would need to conduct further research,” Ron replied cautiously, still examining a 50-Ren banknote.

“Research?” The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched. Unlike their usual confident assurances, the Golden Tower’s response was unusually tentative.

“Yes… This isn’t something that can be achieved through magical engineering alone.”

Ron, uncharacteristically hesitant, elaborated, “It involves alchemy to produce special inks, printing and mechanical engineering to enable cost-effective enchantments, and advanced papermaking techniques for mass production. These banknotes encapsulate an entire spectrum of sciences and industries.”

Canbraman fell silent, deep in thought on his throne.

“The magic-stone standard! North’s magic stones can only be purchased with Renslet currency! Your Majesty, this cannot stand! We must mobilize the army immediately!”

Ricard, the Emperor’s champion, Count Palatine, and the leader of Sigma, could no longer contain himself.

“?!”

Entir, still kneeling with the delegation, flinched at Ricard’s outburst and inadvertently raised his head.

“If we mobilize the army, can we win?” the Emperor asked, turning to Ricard.

“We must not merely win. We must achieve a decisive victory with minimal losses.”

At these conditions, Ricard fell silent. The same hesitation was reflected in the faces of the military advisors.

“If it were the North of the past, we could have exploited their poverty and internal discord to achieve a swift conquest.”

“But the North today is different. They’re powerful, prosperous, and united under the Archduchess.”

The advisors exchanged glances, their unspoken thoughts evident in their eyes.@@novelbin@@

“Of course, we could still launch a massive military campaign and subdue the North.”

“But the casualties would be staggering.”

“The resulting unrest in the Empire’s rear would be catastrophic.”

“It could even lead to civil war, splitting the Empire apart.”

Some glanced at Entir, or rather, at the nobles and clergy he represented. Even though the North had grown rapidly, the Empire’s size and population—nearly 20 times that of the North—remained vastly superior.

Yet everyone present instinctively knew: an Empire fractured by internal discord would be at great risk if they attacked the North.

It resembled the historical clash between Goguryeo and the Sui Dynasty—a smaller but united force successfully resisting a sprawling yet divided empire.

“Count Entir.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You must work for the Empire and the Imperial family.”

“…How so?”

“We will create and issue our own currency. Your task is to ensure that this currency can also be used to purchase the North’s magic stones. Convey this message to the High Tower.”

In the end, Canbraman chose patience.

“…I will try.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Entir, confronted by the Emperor’s “request”—which carried a weight greater than an imperial decree—could only nod with a cold sweat forming on his brow.

“Damn it…”

For once, Entir felt neither hatred nor disgust toward Canbraman. His impatience to return to work on Arad Bank’s financial services vanished, replaced by an acute sense of foreboding.

“And Ron.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Inform the Golden Tower Master that additional funds will be allocated for research into magical devices. Task them with creating currency of this quality.”

“!! I’ll relay the message immediately.”

“However, let it be clear that the funds will only be released once mass production of the currency is feasible.”

“Understood.”

The Emperor’s decision, though contentious, was pragmatic enough that even the dissenting nobles complied without much protest.

For the Nobles’ Assembly and clergy, anything was preferable to the initial idea of a reckless northern invasion.

“Oh! By the way, did Count Arad Jin from the North agree to visit?”

As the audience and meeting seemed to draw to a close, Canbraman raised the question as if it had just occurred to him.

“Yes,” replied Marquis Sedes, one of the returning envoys. “However, with the North occupied by the Extreme North Expedition, he said he would visit once the expedition concludes.”

“Until the expedition is over? Does Arad Jin fight well?”

“According to the Archduchess, he’s responsible for regularly supplying the expedition with weapons and provisions, which prevents him from leaving.”

“They’re buying at least two years of time,” Canbraman deduced with a smirk.

“An Extreme North Expedition…”

For a moment, Canbraman considered reversing his decision.

“Should I strike while they’re distracted by the expedition?”

The temptation was strong. It seemed like the last opportunity.

“The justification could be that the Imperial Army is protecting the North in their absence.”

The Emperor’s resolve to exercise patience wavered.

“The North’s small population isn’t an issue. What if that population becomes fully armed with Northern Steel?”

The North had pioneered the steam engine and could easily use it to mass-produce steel, which would naturally translate into armor and weapons.

“If they’re relying on factories, they could churn out weapons like soup in a pot.”

He envisioned a swift campaign with four legions sent to the North while their expedition forces were away. The idea of a decisive and visible gamble—war—seemed more appealing than the abstract and uncertain path of diplomacy.

“If I promise nobles and clergy a share of the North’s spoils, the Empire will unite for once!”

The Emperor was gripped by the temptation to abandon patience and seize immediate action.