The Attempt on the King

Looking at the average price given by the various chambers of commerce, Hudson nodded in satisfaction. It was slightly higher than his estimated price, showing that everyone was quite accommodating.

A bond worth 1.28 million is converted into 1.5 million gold coins—it seems like an easy way to make money. However, over 90% of that price is due to the bonus from his position as commander.

In the class-based Aslant Continent, everyone is a partner now, and will most likely remain partners in the future; that's how these circles are built.

For major chambers of commerce, doing business has always been about "politics first, business second." Without understanding this, even the biggest deals will be ruined.

The only downside is that this 1.5 million gold coins is just wealth on paper. He won't receive the money until everyone has sold the bonds.

Hudson isn't worried about this. Even if the Moxi people were to default, it wouldn't happen immediately. At least this year's interest payments are guaranteed.

While the premium appears high, the interest payment deadlines for some bonds are fast approaching. The latest payment date is five months from now.

Within just five months, they were able to recoup 160,000 in interest. The capital premium of 220,000 gold coins didn't seem unacceptable.

If the debt collapses in the future, only the last person to take over will be left holding the bag, and who knows how many times it has changed hands in the meantime.

If it weren't for the limited channels available to him, preventing him from liquidating the huge amount of bonds in a short period of time, Hudson wouldn't have sought help from these chambers of commerce.

If nothing unexpected happens, the price of bonds issued by the Moxi Duchy will continue to rise in the capital market in the near future.

Clever nobles would find a suitable opportunity to sell their war bonds and cash out.

In fact, in addition to the war bonds of the Moxi Duchy, Hudson also held 500,000 war bonds of the Alpha Kingdom.

It had nothing to do with economic benefits; the purchase of these bonds was purely a political necessity. The King and the high-ranking nobles took the lead in subscribing to them.

They could have sold them all together to cash out, but Hudson didn't do that.

As a high-ranking nobleman in the kingdom, he may not have a good opinion of the Moxi Duchy, but he must have a good opinion of the Alpha Kingdom.

Even if the kingdom's finances were truly on the verge of bankruptcy, the great nobles would have no choice but to grit their teeth and persevere. It might seem tragic, but this is precisely what Hudson admired most.

If the ruling class of a country cannot share weal and woe with the country, then that country is destined to be unable to withstand the storms of life.

The greatest significance of the trading platform was not how much benefit Hudson gained, but rather that it stimulated the coalition's fighting enthusiasm.

In the past, people fought on the front lines mainly to show off and flaunt their bravery. Now, there's another reason—profit.

Everything else may be illusory, but the spoils of war are real.

Although the Orc Empire was poor overall, every nation has its wealthy members. Ordinary Beastfolk were barely clothed, but this did not prevent tribal chiefs from wearing fine silks and satins.

Not only can goods be converted into cash, but slaves are also a lucrative business. Previously, they were inconvenient to carry and could only be dealt with with a single blow; now, capturing them is a guaranteed profit.

Seeing the allied forces wreaking havoc on the battlefield, the Kingdom Army was also eager to try their luck, but Hudson forcibly suppressed everyone's desire to make money.

Alpha Kingdom was already the biggest winner after crippling the Orc Empire. If it were to come out and compete with its allies for spoils, it would be too unseemly.

Moreover, the reason why the allied forces were able to wreak havoc was because they were all elites from various major powers, while the Kingdom Army was mostly composed of serf soldiers.

It's alright to escort supplies, but what if we go to the front lines to fight the Beastfolk and get overtaken by the enemy?

As the commander-in-chief, Hudson needed stability. With the allied forces defeated the Beastfolk, his credit for transporting supplies and ensuring the army's logistics was secure.

Even if we want to kill enemy generals, we should wait until the allied forces have severely damaged the enemy's main force before going to finish them off!

Hudson is the real expert at beating a drowning dog.

"My lord, the old grounds of the Behemoth Imperial Court are just ahead. It's a pity those damned Behemoths burned down their camp before they left; now only ruins remain!"

After hearing the adjutant Jose's explanation, Hudson was speechless. They'd already forced the other side to abandon the royal court and flee; how could they expect them to politely leave the old capital behind?

Ruins and desolation are irrelevant; as long as the Behemoth Imperial Court is trampled underfoot, it will be a great strategic victory.

With the Logistics Department all moved to the Beastfolk royal court, the allied forces on the front lines advanced even faster.

At the current pace of progress, optimistically, we could occupy the Orc Great Plains within the year and force the Beastfolk to a truly harsh and desolate land.

"It doesn't matter, ruins are good! Ruins can be demolished and rebuilt, but since this is the Behemoth Imperial Court, let's leave it as it is for now."

Perhaps His King will one day take the time to come over himself.

Send a message to Duke Cavadia, informing him that the grain stored in Fengyue Port can now be transported.

Another dock was reserved specifically for merchant ships. Any merchant ship holding a pass issued by headquarters could use this dock!

It must be admitted that the power of magic is truly formidable. With current production capacity, clearing sea lanes would take years.

However, the high-level mages completed the waterway clearing task in just a few days.

With the addition of a sea transport route, the previously strained logistics will soon be fully restored.

It's unclear what the orcish Beastfolk is thinking. They carefully selected a group of elite soldiers from the army and, after paying a heavy price, managed to infiltrate the Alpha Kingdom.

Just as they were beginning to unleash their power, the human race changed their transport routes again. The initial inland transport was because the inland regions had stockpiled large amounts of strategic resources.

However, those stockpiled supplies have long been depleted. Currently, the Alpha Kingdom can only supply one-third of the army's logistics, with the remainder coming from overseas procurement.

To cut off the supply lines, they would have to fight their way from north to south, cross the Alpha Kingdom, and continue on, destroying all of the human's coastal cities.

"Catch the assassin!"

The sharp sound instantly caused chaos at the scene.

Caesar III, the main character, was surrounded by guards for protection.

The group of assassins who suddenly appeared were blocked by the skilled guards who were secretly protecting them before they could rush over.

Faced with the ever-approaching guards, the assassins, whose identities had been exposed, suffered heavy casualties in an instant.

In the banquet kitchen, the five Beastfolk who had managed to sneak in were now in a panic.

They haven't even made a move yet, how did they get exposed?

"Don't panic. Before the alchemical potion expires, we're no different from ordinary humans. Just look at the direction the soldiers are heading; we're not the ones who've been discovered!"

The leader, trying to remain calm, said.

"Let's find an opportunity to make our move. Now that an assassin has been exposed, the enemy will definitely conduct a thorough investigation."

No matter how well we try to conceal it, there are subtle differences between us and normal humans. As long as the enemy conducts a thorough investigation, it's only a matter of time before we are exposed.

Even if he escapes this search, Caesar III will be more vigilant, making it harder to get close to him next time!

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Having witnessed an assassination attempt, Caesar III showed no emotion. This was the seventeenth assassination attempt he had survived since ascending the throne.

The only difference is that the previous assassinations were almost all detected and dealt with by the city guards before they could be carried out.

This was the first time in his life that Caesar III had come so close to assassins. Unfortunately, despite their excellent concealment, the assassins were exposed just before they could strike.

"Take them alive!"

No sooner had Caesar III finished speaking than five figures suddenly appeared, heading straight for his position. In an instant, the guards who had blocked his way were gone to meet the Lord of Dawn.

"A master!"

Realizing this, Caesar III's expression also turned grim. It was clear that two groups were involved in the assassination attempt; compared to the first group, the assassins of the latter five were noticeably less skilled.

Despite his skillful maneuvering, he couldn't overcome the overwhelming strength of the enemy. Seeing his guards dwindling, Caesar III couldn't help but feel a little panicked.

"Your Majesty, let's avoid this place for now."

No sooner had the Duke Newfoundland finished speaking than a dagger appeared on Caesar III's back. The one who struck was none other than a maid with no real skill.

Before anyone could react, the maid who had succeeded smiled slightly and suddenly collapsed to the ground. A stream of foul-smelling blood slowly flowed from the corner of her mouth.

In the blink of an eye, everyone was stunned.

No one would have guessed that the lady-in-waiting who had served Caesar III for many years would actually be an assassin.

What was originally a well-prepared fishing plan turned into an unexpected disaster when the angler caught a highly venomous catfish, whose venom backfired and poisoned him.

"His Majesty!"

Just as everyone was in a panic, a beam of holy light magic landed on Caesar III in time, temporarily saving his life.

Upon closer inspection, Archbishop Tyron's expression changed drastically, and he said in a panic, "There is an unknown toxin on the dagger. Ordinary treatments are useless; we must use a Forbidden Spell light spell!"

"Prime Minister, quickly send someone to summon the high-ranking priests of the city. The rest of you, guard this place and do not allow anyone to touch His Majesty's body."

"Good!"

The Duke Newfoundland immediately nodded in agreement.

After a brief moment of shock, everyone quickly came to their senses. The fact that Caesar III's safety was being personally protected by a group of high-ranking officials was something no one could believe at that moment.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the head guard personally led an attack on the assassins. If they didn't make a move soon, they were doomed.

The King suffered an accident while under his protection, a responsibility he could no longer bear. Even capturing the assassin would only slightly lessen his guilt.

"Target acquired, let's retreat!"

As soon as the words fell, not only did the assassins on the field rush out, but dozens of figures also darted out from the crowd, frantically fleeing outside.

This scene, witnessed by the princes and ministers, only fueled their rage.

To allow so many assassins to infiltrate a diplomatic banquet is tantamount to humiliating the Alpha Kingdom.

The panic wasn't limited to the princes and ministers; it also affected the envoys from various countries. Many were surprised to discover that the assassin had actually brought himself in.

This is an "assassination attempt on the monarch." If it cannot be explained clearly, and one is suspected of assassinating the monarch, then one is doomed.

Not only will the Alpha Kingdom not let them off the hook, but their own King will also seek revenge against them.

The biggest hope now is that Caesar III will not die. As long as he is alive, it will only be an "assassination of the king" case, not a "regicide" case.

It may seem like just a difference of one word, but the consequences are worlds apart. Getting involved in an assassination attempt on the emperor is bad luck for the individual, but if it becomes a case of regicide, then the entire family will be implicated.

In this critical moment, an elderly man with white hair gritted his teeth, took out a small bottle from his pocket, stepped forward, and said:

"Archbishop Tyron, this contains the Water of Life. Do you think it might be of any use in treating His Majesty's injuries?"

It's impossible to avoid spending money. Although today's banquet was arranged under the leadership of His Highness the Crown Prince, he is actually the Crown Prince's deputy.

If Caesar III had been rescued, although he would still have faced accountability, he would at least have been spared a life, considering his contribution of the Water of Life.

"Give it to me!"

As he spoke, Archbishop Tyron snatched the small bottle, opened the stopper, and a rich aura of life rushed out.

After checking and confirming that there were no problems, it was immediately poured into Caesar III's mouth.

Almost simultaneously, he reached out and pulled the dagger from the descendant of Caesar III. Then, another spell was cast, stopping the King's bleeding.

"His Majesty's injuries are severe; even a single drop of the Water of Life is insufficient. If anyone has any of these items in their collection, please contribute them immediately."

While the Holy Light Forbidden Spell offers rapid healing, it has strong side effects, so it's best to avoid using it if possible!

"Little Caesar, I remember there are three drops left in the royal treasury. Go and fetch them immediately, or I'll skin you alive!"

Archbishop Tyron said sternly.

Crown Prince Caesar, who was already stunned, hurriedly replied, "Yes, Uncle! I'll take men to fetch it right away!"

As a member of the royal family, he naturally understood Archbishop Tyron's protective intent. He didn't want the outside world to implicate him in this assassination attempt.

Deep down, he was speechless. This banquet was specifically prepared for fishing, and he personally inspected all the security measures before they were implemented and approved by Caesar III.

The fact that so many assassins were able to infiltrate the area was naturally a pre-arranged plan between the father and son. He deliberately pretended to be careless to lure the assassins into a trap.

It was all because of the huge bounty in the underworld. Knowing that someone was after his life, Caesar III was not one to sit idly by and wait to die. He deliberately set up a counterattack.

Unfortunately, despite all the precautions, no one expected that the maid who had served Caesar III for over a decade would actually be an assassin.

It's important to know that a maid who could serve the King not only had to have a clean background but also had to be of noble birth, making it virtually impossible for her to be bribed.

It was too late for regrets now. The assassins had been lured out, but Caesar III was seriously injured, adding another label of "incompetence" to his already formidable Crown Prince image.

Explanations are meaningless; a mistake is a mistake. Nobles have always only cared about results; the process is unimportant to them.

Now we'll see the results of the investigation.

Judging from the scene alone, there were several groups of assassins; heaven knows how many hidden forces were behind this.

Although the checks have been relaxed, everyone who can appear at the banquet must be a nobleman, and a well-off one at that.

With so many fake nobles infiltrating, it would have been impossible to accomplish this without the cooperation and cover of domestic forces.