Hot Spring Province in Need of Reconstruction

The essence of noble politics was the exchange and compromise of interests.

The Emperor did not have absolute say, especially in a world jointly ruled by the Emperor and the nobles.

What Ryan wanted was clearly not the portion the nobles had put forth to satisfy the "part" mentioned by the Emperor.

He wanted more.

But he would have to seize it all from the nobles and the Emperor.

The Emperor had already been dealt with. What about the nobles?

Ryan stood atop Rhino Horn Mountain. From here, one could naturally only look northward. Northgar Lake and its waterfall, once level with him, now lay beneath his feet. This was the effect of Mountain Forest Essence; extraordinary power had made the mountain ever more majestic.

The world to the North remained as Dead Silence as ever. Ryan wanted to change this unchanging world, but that would require vast resources.

There were six provinces in the Empire's north that bordered the Northlands.

West of Northwind Province, beyond the towering mountains, lay Blazing Snow Province. Farther west was Twilight Province, and west of Twilight Province was Morelos.

Continuing westward brought one to Hot Spring Province, followed by Purple Mountain Province, formed by the Purple Mountains.

It could be said that each of the six Northlands provinces had its own distinct characteristics.

Ryan's first stop was Hot Spring Province.

Because of the war, the province had gathered the vast majority of the Empire's war resources in its later stages. Though resources had been consumed like flowing water during the war, what remained would still amount to a terrifying sum if converted into Gold Coins.

The wagon wheels pressed two muddy tracks into the ground. From the ruts behind the carriage, a deep purplish-black liquid seeped out.

"War ravages the land.