"I..." Roland blinked. No one had told him things were this complicated! He had thought all he needed to do was become the General Who Conquers the North. Who knew there were so many twists and turns involved?
"The kingdom needed stability after its restoration. I imagine Empress Nyx had focused her efforts on internal affairs. After all, coordinating more than half the kingdom from centrally located Flowing City was no easy task!" Marquis Al-Teglang-Franz said thoughtfully.
"Fine. Since you're the expert, what insights do you have?" Roland glanced at Marquis Al-Teglang-Franz. Considering the Franz Family's reputation, Roland felt it was necessary to steer this lackey back onto the proper path. He was, after all, a hereditary marquess, and he bore the royal mark. Throwing him away or keeping him around for nothing were both poor options, so Roland might as well find some proper work for him!
"Then may I ask what Your Majesty requires? If it is merely to maintain trade, we need only set tariffs and conduct commerce according to the law. But if Your Majesty wishes to control the economies of both nations, we must forcefully seize their markets, promote our currency, and bind them tightly to us. Combined with arms trading, we can surely weld them to the kingdom's war chariot..." Al-Tegron-Franz looked up at Roland after speaking, then slightly bent at the waist and lowered his voice.
"If Your Majesty wishes to swallow them whole, that will require more time and effort..." Al-Tegron-Franz considered before saying.
"Stop!" Roland hurriedly cut him off. Nothing had even begun, and this guy was already eyeing their territory? After oil had bred "mold," was land now going to breed "Lagrange troops"?
"Is Your Majesty concerned about morality and damage to your reputation? There is no need! I can