When Wendy found Landen, he was listening to Redbird and Gleia's reports. The Lord was leaning against the desk in a relaxed posture, one hand supporting his forehead, his face twisted in agony as he listened to the accounts.
Redbird stood nearby with a thick stack of reports in her hands, reading out the territory's expenses line by line. "My Lord, we really are out of money. They're awakening two or three people every day now, and once their Bloodlines are awakened, their food and potions have to be doubled. At most, the territory's current income can support another thirty people awakening their Bloodlines."
Gleia added at that point. Having grown up helping her two brothers prepare feed for the Dragon Knights, she had a deep understanding of finances. "Landen, those children aren't merely four hundred extra mouths to feed. Over the past few days, several children have directly become Apprentices, and the demand for potions has shot up. In my view, it's entirely possible that nearly half of those four hundred children will awaken their Bloodlines. The territory will likely need to prepare potions for an additional two hundred Mana-Wielders."
"But we have money now! I just brought back so much of it!" Landen had hauled back a mountain of Gold Coins, so naturally he had told Redbird first.
Yet the girl still shook her head. "But, My Lord, you can't use those Gold Coins! Those coins are nearly ten thousand years old. Though their weight and value are roughly the same as current Gold Coins, they can't circulate! We can only exchange them through the Imperial Finance Department, or give them to the Department in the name of taxes, donations, or payments, after which they'll recast them into Imperial Gold Coins."
"Mm, you're right."
Landen nodded. He could