Chapter 132
"What's different?"
" In the Western Territory, the sky is covered by smoke from battle, but here it's covered by clouds, and the moon is inside the clouds, pure white."
"Is the smoke of battle due to the numerous wars in the Western Territory?"
"Yes, the Western Barbarian Army invasions have almost never stopped. Why is the Iron Blood Army so powerful? It's because of years of war." Magana closed her eyes comfortably. "The wind here doesn't smell of blood... I'm not used to it, but it has a unique charm. I can't stay too long, or my axe will get dull."
"The Grand Duke really does love the battlefield."
"It's not that I like it, it's that I only feel valuable when I'm on the battlefield, you understand? It's that feeling of satisfaction. The extravagance and debauchery of the nobility doesn't suit me. I don't like dealing with them, with all the roundabout ways. I prefer to solve problems in a more direct way."
"Ah."
"I hate betrayal the most. Creed lied to me, and I will kill him with my own hands."
"..."
Have I told you about my situation?
"What's up?"
"My family died in the war, and that's when I became Supernatural Being. I killed the invaders, and the guy who betrayed my father and caused our territory to be breached. I don't like betrayal, I like to believe, and I hope those I believe in believe me too."
Magana turned her head, her face glowing in the moonlight, her white hair flowing, and her smile was almost innocent.
No, what the heck? This feeling of my heart clenching is...
Hey, hey, hey, something's not right, is it? Are you testing retired cadres with this?!
"I definitely believe in the Grand Duke!"
"Haha~ Of course I believe you. I knew from the first glance that you wouldn't be the kind of person to betray others for personal gain."
Ryan thought to Grand Duke. My heart is as cold as a block of ice right now.
"That's why I came here on purpose." Magana's eyes were full of confidence. "Ryan, I'm taking you back to the Western Territory! I want everyone to know that you are my Grand Duke. You no longer need to be an inside man. The Southern Territory has been taken, and the rest is up to Grand Duke! From now on, you will advise me in the Western Territory. With Grand Duke here, no one can threaten you!"
"You went back?"
Ryan was stunned. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Is it too late now? The engagement banquet doesn't start until tomorrow."
"Oh no, I mean... um, that's awesome, I can't wait."
"Hehe~" Magana shifted closer, excitedly pulling out a map. "Ryan, let me tell you, I've already planned the route. I don't want to team up with Caslathdi; your help is enough for me. We'll attack from the Badar Plains first... to here... and then to here... You see, the defenses here are weak; the Old Emperor has transferred all the troops..."
Next, Magana spent half an hour explaining her grand plan to Ryan. Ryan then carefully analyzed it, concluding that they successfully conquered the Imperial Capital, killed the Old Emperor, and seized the throne.
"Whoa whoa whoa!! We won! Ryan, we won!"
"Uh... not yet, we were just talking on paper earlier."
"I think we've got this in the bag!"
Looking at Magana's expectant expression, Ryan suddenly felt guilty. Damn it, it was all the fault of that damn game company!
Although I really want to go back to the Western Territory with the Grand Duke and lie low, the plan is already in place, and to be honest, after all the deductions I just did, the other side is full of idiots. Of course they can win. If a real war breaks out, it won't be that easy. It won't be over for at least a year and a half.
The key is to wait until the Old Emperor continues his madness, causing widespread suffering and the royal family completely loses its prestige; that will be the best time to attack.
Although the empire is in a bad situation, the majority of the population still supports the Old Emperor, so it is impossible to conquer the Imperial Capital under these circumstances.
"... Alright, it's time to go back." Magana stood up. "See you tomorrow, Ryan, and welcome your moment of glory."
The nobles from the Western Territory and Southern Territory have all arrived, along with those who haven't. At this moment Silver Peak City is the focus of the entire empire's attention—isn't that its most glorious moment? The Grand Duke is very satisfied with his arrangements.
"Grand Duke, wait a moment."
Ryan took out a piece of paper and folded it into a paper crane. "This is for you."
"What's this?"
"Hmm... paper cranes, they're not valuable, just for looking at."
"Oh? Grand Duke's quite interesting. I thank you for your kindness." Magana put away the origami cranes, patted Ryan on the shoulder, and gave him an encouraging look, "Keep it up, Ryan!"
The Grand Duke is gone, and he left in a very elegant manner.
Ryan looked up at the sky and thought to himself, "The night is so beautiful tonight."
The next day.
The citizens of Silver Peak City rushed towards the castle.
"I heard the new City Lord is going to give his inaugural speech?"
"What appointment? Isn't this all pre-arranged? Whether we talk about it or not, it's going to be him anyway, so what's the point?"
"That's different. I heard that Lord Ryan was a commoner. He was appointed City Lord because of his outstanding abilities."
"Really? A commoner can become City Lord?"
"I heard that it is because Her Highness the Princess values him."
"Grand Duke Magana's fiancé!"
"???"
"This is very strange, I need to go and take a look."
The activities of the nobles were of little concern to the common people, since they were not going to get a piece of the pie from them anyway.
However, because this situation seemed somewhat special, many citizens in the city also went to see it.
As noon approached, a large crowd gathered in front of the stage outside the castle, all looking on with curiosity for the person who was supposed to make a dazzling appearance.
"Really, Ryan is going to come back to the Western Territory with me, the Grand Duke, and he still wants to be the City Lord here." Magana stood on the castle side, arms crossed, and said with some complaints.
The City Lord's position—isn't that giving that Princess face?
Everson lowered his head and said, "Actually, this is good. Everyone thinks the Ryan brothers are serving the Princess. When we go to the Western Territory together, we'll surprise them."
Magana's eyes lit up with delight, and she nodded approvingly. "Hmm~ As expected of someone I've Grand Duke, I see. I completely understand Ryan's plan now!"
"However," she glanced at Everson, "How many times have I told you not to stand so high when you speak? Do you want me, the Grand Duke, to look up at you?"
Everson looked aggrieved, thinking to himself, "I'm standing on the ground, I'm on the same plane as you, Grand Duke."
The others around him casually moved back, trying not to block the sun from shining on the Grand Duke's head. Everyone knew how radiant the Grand Duke was and how majestic he was.
"Duchess Magana".
At this moment, Caslathdi also came out of the castle.
Then, one after another, nobles arrived at the main stage. They had nothing better to do, and since they heard there was a show, they came to check it out.
Magana's eyes searched through the crowd for a while before finally spotting 'Vainay'. She had been quite curious about the latter before coming, after all, Ryan had said he liked her and such, but after seeing her, she wasn't that great... Apart from being a little pretty, a little taller, and having a slightly better figure, she wasn't that special.
She hadn't seen Ryan exchange a single word with 'Vainay' yesterday. It seems these noblewomen like one woman today and another tomorrow. Lord Ryan, you've truly been deceived by women!
As for 'Shally', Magana hasn't met her yet. She should be back in Silver Peak City soon, and then she'll have to see what kind of woman is worthy of her Lord Ryan.
Just then, two figures emerged from the castle; they were none other than Ryan and 'Ina'.
In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to them.
Ryan walked out of the castle and onto the grand stage, glancing around at his surroundings.
The nobles stood on the left and right sides, while Magana and Caslathdi each led their people to stand at the back of the stage. Directly in front were mainly commoners, as well as a large number of soldiers responsible for maintaining order.
"I have a dream!"
Ryan opened his mouth, starting with zero frames.
"I dream that one day, Augustus will be free from war, poverty, disease and plague will be gone, and every citizen of the empire will be able to eat his fill and wear warm clothes."
"I dream that one day the wind will blow through Silver Peak City, rippling the wheat fields of Alta, and I will hear the laughter of children in the wind, instead of the cries of war."
"I dream that one day, noble gentlemen will be able to exude their nobility and elegance from within, elevate their souls, and use their noble, great, outstanding, and brilliant talents to enrich their territories and earn the respect of their people."
"I dream that one day, the people will no longer be violent, religion will no longer be rampant, and death and bloodshed will no longer be a daily threat."
"I dream that one day... I will no longer have to dream."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I, Ryan Basque, am officially assuming the position of Mayor of Silver Peak City today."
"I stand here, whether you are a stranger or a familiar face, whether you don't understand or approve, it doesn't matter. From today onwards, Silver Peak City will usher in a new chapter!"
"..."
"..."
Public speaking wasn't Ryan's forte, but he was certainly a good actor, and then he'd add a little bit of his own ideas: there was no need for red to be everywhere. Ryan felt that if all of the above could be achieved, it would already be a wonderful world.
There's not much fairness and freedom in this world. Prosperity and well-being are happiness. Your position is determined by your circumstances, so just do your job well... The old leader's teachings still linger in Ryan's heart. Remembering the old leader, Amen.
"Everson, hurry up and write down everything Ryan said!" Magana quickly said to the big guy behind her from behind the big stage.
Everson scratched his head; he wasn't good at this kind of thing, so he instructed the person behind him to write it down.
Immediately afterward, a group of Western Territory nobles, those with paper and pens took them out, and those without quickly ordered someone to fetch them. Those with good memories were still reciting their lessons, while those with poor memories were already on the verge of tears. What to do? What if the Grand Duke tests them later? They wouldn't even know how they died!
"This child has some truly unique ideas."
Beside Caslathdi, Haino said with great interest, "If what he said is true, the Augustus Empire will be a completely different place. I really don't know where he gets so many ideas at such a young age."
"Because I've experienced it deeply, that's why I have these insights. Ryan was born a commoner." Caslathdi suddenly remembered a sentence she had spoken to the Saintess a long time ago, a sentence she still remembered vividly.
Why can birds fly?
Perhaps my father thought the same way before, but unfortunately he has completely deviated from his original intentions.
Those who were most moved by Ryan's speech were not the nobles, but the citizens of Silver Peak City who were listening on the grand stage.
Although they initially doubted the veracity of these words, Ryan's commoner status did give them a greater degree of trust, and the recent purge in the city, in which so many noble lords were purged, did indeed indicate a change in the order of Silver Peak City.
"... So, my people, let us look forward together!" At the end of his speech, Ryan opened his arms wide, smiling as if to embrace the sky. "Let us look forward to a bright tomorrow; it will surely come!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh!"
"City Lord Ryan!"
"City Lord Ryan!"
At Ina's signal, some people began chanting the name of the great Master Ryan, and then others joined in the cheering.
"See that? This is what true governance talent looks like!" Magana said to her incompetent subordinates behind her. "Stop thinking about fighting all day long. Learn from Ryan: win the hearts of the people, and you'll win the world!"
"Your Grand Duke, aren't you the one who always enjoys the most killing?"
"Everson, who told you to put your left foot forward? Go back and get twenty lashes!"
Magana was excited and looking forward to it. She had no time to argue with these insignificant guys. She was already fantasizing about going to the Western Territory with Ryan and ruling the world together!
Caslathdi was also very excited because she felt that Ryan was different from others. With such a talent, how could the empire not prosper?
Just then, a commotion arose in the distance.
The people who had been crowding behind the stage were forcibly separated, and a cold, chilling aura swept over them, instantly turning the originally enthusiastic atmosphere cold.
Magana wrinkled her nose; she smelled the scent of blood from the battlefield.
Da da da da da!
"Make way! Make way! The Holy Blood Legion is on official business!"
The crowd in front of the main stage dispersed.
To everyone's astonishment, 'Shally', clad in dark red armor and wielding a greatsword, walked step by step toward the main stage.
"It's the Holy Blood Legion!"
"They look like they just came back from the Southern Territory."
"I heard that the Kainter army was routed."
"They killed tens of thousands of people!"
A murmur arose from the crowd.
"Shally Shirley!"
Caslathdi was stunned for a moment before realizing that this was indeed the time when the Holy Blood Legion would return... But what was she trying to do?
Now that you're back, why didn't you change your clothes before coming over?