Signs of Turmoil

"Your Governor, besides this matter, Count Hudson also sent many Beastfolk slaves, and..."

Anthony asked with concern.

Beastfolk slaves are certainly less efficient than serfs. They are also a hassle to manage, otherwise they would have become widespread long ago.

"No need! To hold them back on such a small matter would seem too deliberate and would have a bad influence if word got out."

Besides, the Corubia informed us when they left a few days ago. Although the final result was mediocre, they showed their goodwill, and we should reciprocate.

Since they're all Beastfolk slaves anyway, Count Hudson probably wouldn't care if some died, so let's just put them in the most dangerous places.

Governor Pierce said calmly.

This was an open strategy, and even if Hudson knew he was being targeted, he couldn't say anything.

Slaves have no human rights, Beastfolk slaves have even fewer. It's only natural to assign them dirty and tiring jobs.

With primitive construction techniques, some projects in treacherous locations were destined to be completed at the cost of lives. It was better to risk animal lives than human lives.

"Uncle, I've heard that the Arcane Academy currently being built in the kingdom will have Count Hudson as its honorary principal. Do you think this will have any impact on us?"

"I asked with a worried expression, "Viscount Cayou asked.

Judging from the level of attention given to it by all parties, the Arcane Academy currently under construction is no ordinary institution. Considering the Magic Academy in the Royal Capital, Kayo knew this would inevitably influence the kingdom's future political landscape.

The competitor was not only the founder of the Arcane Academy, but also its honorary principal, while they only placed an ordinary teacher there. The influence of the two sides on the academy was clearly not on the same level.

"Don't worry, the Arcane Academy has just been established and needs credibility right now. No one will cause trouble at a time like this."

Hudson's character is reliable. We've dealt with him for so long, have you ever seen him resort to any underhanded tactics?

Besides, the Arcane Academy is not in his position to make decisions now. From the time the academy was established until now, Hudson has done nothing except lend his name to it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to do it, but those old guys had too much control over the Arcane Academy. Even if Hudson, the honorary principal, had been there in the past, he wouldn't have had much say.

"Just wait and see. Once those old guys are worn out, Hudson will definitely set his sights on the Arcane Academy."

Viscount Cayou was quite helpless after hearing what Governor Pierce said.

"Is Hudson a good person?"

Looking back through his memories, he couldn't really find any flaws. At least from the perspective of the human nobles, Hudson's actions were commendable.

Especially on the Beastfolk battlefield, when there was a clear opportunity to sabotage them, they not only refrained from taking advantage of their misfortune, but also helped them out at a crucial moment.

What happened in full view of everyone cannot be denied.

So much so that at the postwar aristocratic conference, the proposal for the Coslo Family to enter the circle of the great nobility was passed unanimously, with even the Dalton Family reluctantly casting their votes in support.

But this guy with good character tricked him terribly! Thinking back on his previous tragic experiences, it all brings tears to his eyes.

Unfortunately, these things cannot be told to anyone. It's unclear how much this would affect Hudson's reputation if it got out, but Viscount Cayou himself would certainly be doomed.

The Black Forest Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, Louis Vuitton III is completely unresponsive. No matter what we say, he remains indifferent."

Marquis Krasna said with a troubled expression.

Originally, this was a problem for the military, but the shrewd Marquis Relian found an opportunity to shift the blame to the Foreign Affairs Department. His reason was very simple: these brutes were only suited for fighting and killing, and negotiations should be left to professionals.

At this point, even if the Foreign Affairs Department wanted to refuse, it had no choice but to accept the trouble.

However, Louis Vuitton III proved to be far more difficult than they had anticipated. Coercion and bribery not only failed to work, but the officials sent out to negotiate were instead left frustrated and bewildered by his words.

Even as a prisoner, he maintained his King bearing. Cooperation was out of the question; Louis Vuitton III now only did one thing—eat, drink, and be merry.

Outside the palace, the Hesse army ruled; inside, it remained Louis Vuitton III's domain. He received none of the treatment due to King.

It's not that they don't want to use underhanded tactics, it's just that too many people are watching them. Everyone here is smart; if Louis Vuitton III doesn't cooperate, it just creates more trouble.

If they used excessive force and something happened to Louis Vuitton III, the charge of regicide would fall on their heads.

Such a selective issue, let alone international public opinion pressure, would even tempt their own King to kill them.

"Waste!

Tell that bastard Louis Vuitton that if he cooperates, he'll be a count in the kingdom. If he behaves well, I can give him a wealthy county as his fief.

If he continues to resist stubbornly, then let him take his family and go into exile, living a life of dependence on others.

If you can't persuade them, then get the Corubia royal family involved. Send their queen, princes, and princesses over to work on it together!

Alexander V said in an annoyed tone.

This action against the County of Corubia has gone far too far. If the aftermath is not handled properly, the international reputation of the Black Forest Kingdom will plummet to negative levels.

Legally annexing a country is never a simple matter. This is especially true for a country like the County of Corubia, which has never been fought in a war, making its future rule fraught with potential dangers.

If a direct, unfettered merger won't work, then we'll have to increase the level of sophistication. For example, Louis Vuitton III could propose the unification of the two countries.

Such things have precedents on the Aslant Continent. The current powerful nations on the continent were all formed by a group of noble lords banding together after the collapse of empires.

Many ancient noble families have ancestors who were King. Even if their period of independence was short, they still had a glorious history.

"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. If Louis Vuitton III had truly wanted to commit suicide, he would already be dead. No matter how fast we act, we cannot stop someone from seeking death."

Their current behavior is nothing more than waiting for a better offer, hoping for a higher price to go. We want a dignified ending, and so does he.

The real trouble we face in annexing the County of Corubia right now lies with the scattered noble lords and vassals. Without eliminating these people, the kingdom's rule in those regions will never be secure!

"The prime minister, Duke Milton, said menacingly."

They make a lot of noise, but when it comes to actually dealing with the situation, things change.

The lands of nobles are sacred and inviolable; without a valid reason, even the King has no right to strip them of their titles.

In the normal process of stripping a title, the King or governments at all levels must obtain substantial evidence of the person's crimes and submit it to the Noble Council for confirmation before the title can be formally revoked.

These rules of the game clearly don't apply to the County of Corubia. Perhaps it's possible to strip one or two nobles of their titles.

It's no wonder the local nobles would never agree to a collective stripping of titles! Even if you put a knife to the throats of the councilors, the local Noble Council probably wouldn't pass it.

In times of peace, Alexander V would not dare to order the execution of nobles indiscriminately, not even those from other countries.

Leaving these people behind is even worse. The Black Forest Kingdom took a huge risk by launching a military operation, not just seeking to gain a nominal rule, but to have meat to eat.

A host of interest groups in China are sharpening their knives, waiting to divide up the pie. It would be utterly unacceptable to suddenly announce that the pie is gone.

"What do you think we should do?"

Alexander V feigned ignorance and asked.

Generally speaking, when dealing with stubborn individuals who are impossible to deal with openly, we have no choice but to resort to extraordinary measures.

However, this is usually the case.

"Your Majesty, the July Association been entrenched in the County of Corubia for a long time and is plotting a rebellion."

We helped suppress a rebellion in the past, but the nobles of Corubia were ungrateful. Since our master wouldn't allow it, we couldn't force our way into their territory.

Now that the matter has been leaked, it is likely that in July he will take the risk of launching a rebellion ahead of schedule and attacking the King of the County of Crobia.

For the sake of the greater good, please order the troops that have entered the County of Corubia to assemble in the Royal Capital to protect the safety of Louis Vuitton III.

Count Nicholas made the suggestion with a serious expression.

In such matters, the military must step forward and take responsibility, and cannot allow the King to be implicated.

"Let Marquis Relian handle it! Maintaining the long-term peace and stability of Corubia is the top priority."

Alexander V's words settled the matter immediately. For Corubia to enjoy long-term stability, it was essential to first eliminate destabilizing factors.

It was just a pity for the July Association; even though they were still active in the northern part of the Alpha Kingdom, a black pot fell from the sky and hit them.

And they can't just ignore it; countless pieces of evidence and dirt will point to them, proving that they were the ones who did all the bad things.

Of course, for the July Association, which is thousands of miles away, this is nothing more than a case of "the more lice, the less it itches," and taking the blame is just routine.

Over the years, they have already taken on countless charges; this is just another one.

No Heretical Cult is clean. Especially those that have made a name for themselves; they're covered in Heretical Cult.

Holy Mountain.

"Your Majesty, the Ruthenia have rejected our goodwill, offering only a road but refusing to declare war on the Dwarf Kingdom!"

Bishop Solon reported with a gloomy expression.

What they thought was a sure thing turned out to be a rejection. They had gone to great lengths to win over the Ruthenia Kingdom.

The mighty Church was willing to lower itself to form an alliance with a declining kingdom, yet it was still refused. It's simply...

In short, this incident has caused Bishop Solon to lose face, and he is now furious, wishing he could immediately send troops to put the King of Ruthenia on the barbecue grill.

"Expanding the living space of the human race is the responsibility and obligation of everyone. How can the Ruthenia people refuse it just because they say so!"

Send someone to warn the King Ruthenia, telling him that colluding with foreign tribes will not end well.

The rest of the plans remain unchanged.

Ulise, find opportunities to orchestrate several conflicts between the Dwarf Kingdom and the Ruthenia Kingdom, the bigger the better.

The spies planted in Ruthenia should be activated now. Spread the word: "Some high-ranking officials in the Ruthenia Kingdom are colluding with the dwarves, betraying the interests of our human race."

Pope Pius VII decisively gave the order.

Clearly, similar incidents had occurred more than once. His extensive experience in political struggles allowed him to make a skillful decision.

After simple renovations and refurbishments, Canglan City became the second Arcane Academy on the mainland, dedicated to "pursuing truth." It then began enrolling students.

The campus was donated by the Liufeng Family. It was originally their residence in the Royal Capital, but the family had declined, and continuing to own such a mansion would be too conspicuous.

Normally, these would be sold to emerging noble families. However, Duke Liufeng was no simple man; although he was a novice in warfare, he was quite adept at political maneuvering.

Despite strong opposition, they prevented family members from selling the property for profit. Leveraging their family connections, and after considerable effort, they finally secured the opportunity to donate the property to the Arcane Academy.

Without a doubt, this is a very worthwhile investment. The Arcane Academy, jointly established by the kingdom's major powers, was destined to be extraordinary from its inception.

Living in the mansion donated by the Liufeng Family every day, it would be unreasonable for the academy not to take care of them.

For the declining Liufeng Family, this investment in favors could be a lifesaver in a critical moment.

From public preparation to the completion and enrollment of students, the entire process took less than two months, truly embodying Alpha Speed.

Attending the academy's inauguration ceremony in person, Caesar IV had mixed feelings. He had thought he would be the main character, but there were simply too many elders present.

Leaving aside distant uncles and aunts, a whole bunch of royal old fogies appeared, including great-uncles, great-great-grandfathers, and great-great-grandfathers.

The representatives sent by the other high-ranking nobles of the kingdom were also a group of old men over a hundred years old. These men all shared common characteristics: not only were they incredibly powerful, but they were also remarkably senior.

A group of centenarians were busy reminiscing, leaving King Caesar IV completely ignored, making him feel utterly King.

Of course, this little bit of frustration is nothing. In the extraordinary world, the large number of immortals also signifies profound wisdom and strength. In an era where the average lifespan is thirty or forty years, those who can live to be over a hundred years old are not weak.

While ostensibly a groundbreaking ceremony for the Arcane Academy, it was also a demonstration of strength to the outside world, showing that the Alpha Kingdom had not declined.

"Your Majesty, the foundation laying ceremony went smoothly; this is not the style of the Church!"

The Duke Newfoundland said with deep concern.

The last time the Arcane Academy of the Frankish Kingdom opened, it was attacked multiple times. If the Franks hadn't suppressed it quickly enough, Necrotic Cataclysm would have almost broken out.

They claim it was done by Heretical Cult, but who here doesn't know it was the Church's doing?

The violence directed at the Frankish Kingdom suddenly turned into a milder approach when it came to the Alpha Kingdom, which was clearly illogical.

"Perhaps the previous failure taught the Church a lesson, and they abandoned this pointless assassination attempt."

However, we still need to be on high alert. There's a bunch of lunatics in the Church who are capable of anything!

"I am uncertain, "Caesar IV said.

Any irrational behavior, once associated with madness, can become understandable.

"Your Majesty, the Church's silence may be related to their upcoming actions. All indications suggest that the Church is planning a war."

The specific target is still unknown. However, the Church's main legions have all entered the preparation phase.

Not only the Church, Dante Kingdom and the South Bank Kingdom in the central region, and the Frankish Kingdom and the Iberian Kingdom in the south, are all stirring with ambition.

A century has passed since the end of the last Continental War. Following past precedent, the next Continental War is imminent!

"Count Francis said nervously."