Chapter 128

Although the Black Death has passed, there are still many things that need to be arranged and resolved.

The fear and chaos brought about by the disease had long since led to the abandonment of many industries—commoners and slaves lost their livelihoods and income, which in turn made it impossible to continue tax collection.

As the amount of money the nobles can collect decreases, their quality of life will decline...

Cyrus could foresee the situation in various places after the epidemic ended.

--It's nothing more than a vicious cycle.

Most nobles don't care about the lives of commoners or slaves; once the life-threatening diseases are gone, they only want to restore their former standard of living as quickly as possible.

As for commoners and slaves?

In the eyes of the nobles, they were not even worth a silver coin, or even a copper coin.

If the aftermath of the pandemic is not handled properly, the chaos will continue.

Just like the Saint Airo Empire, which was ravaged by the Black Death.

The situation within the royal city was particularly dire—population was scarce, most houses and residences were vandalized, and almost all shops had been looted and vandalized...

The crops in the fields are left uncultivated.

During the Black Death, every field that could be seen was looted.

Even worse, some fields were burned down, leaving behind charred remains.

Although the shadow of the Black Death is gradually fading.

However, the lives of ordinary people and slaves continued to be unsustainable due to the subsequent effects, and they often could not even meet their basic needs for food and clothing.

Even after recovering from his illness, the emperor of the empire did nothing.

Under these circumstances, the already dissatisfied citizens of the city launched a series of protests, and some nobles also expressed their opinions.

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The king had no choice but to reinstate his eldest son, Warner, to handle state affairs.

The Saint Airo Empire is currently in turmoil, with its population estimated to have decreased by nearly a third.

Most importantly, the border territories have been lost due to the impact of the pandemic.

--The bandits brazenly seized villages, plundered nobles' estates and wealth, claimed territory on the empire's borders, forced slaves to work for them, and committed all sorts of atrocities.

And this isn't even the worst-case scenario.

As a vassal state of the Saint Airo Empire, the Bia Kingdom managed to maintain a complete lockdown during the Black Death outbreak, making its situation far better than that within the Saint Airo Empire.

His Majesty the King of the Bia Kingdom is named Yasa Derick.

He had received Mayor Vina of Komoy Fort and diplomat Nat from the Desinia Territory who had come to visit him, and had purchased the White Sugar Formula.

Finally, the Bia Kingdom, in cooperation with Cyrus, printed the White Sugar Formula on paper and scattered it throughout the streets, making it known to the public.

Yasa Derick had long wanted to separate the Bia Kingdom from the Saint Airo Empire and no longer make it a vassal state.

The period following the Black Death happened to be a perfect opportunity.

The Saint Airo Empire and besieged by the ever-growing threat of the Bia Kingdom from without.

Even though Prince Warner was incredibly capable, he found himself in a bit of a dilemma at this moment.

The second prince Kien, then suggested that they request support from outside.

Warner considered this and first ruled out the Bovell Kingdom.

The war in the Bovell Kingdom was fierce, Gena Kozmo was even more ambitious.

In Warner's view, the King of the Bovell Kingdom was unlikely to support the Empire; he was more likely to join forces with the Bia Kingdom to seize a piece of the Empire.

The situation in the Saint Airo Empire is now complex and urgent; Warner cannot afford to take risks.

Second Prince Kien said, "Brother, since the Bovell Kingdom is also likely to take advantage of the situation to attack the Empire, we must be wary of attacks from the Bovell Kingdom while we are clearing out bandits and suppressing the Bia Kingdom."

Warner nodded in agreement.

Kien: "Brother, what do you think about asking the Desinia Territory for support?"

"The Lord of Desinia is a magnanimous man."

"He led the alchemists to develop an antibiotic that could cure the Black Death, and selflessly helped various regions overcome the crisis..."

"I think he wouldn't refuse to help the Empire."

When Kien thought of Cyrus Desinia, he couldn't help but feel a little conflicted.

After the Black Death, Desinia's prestige soared, and her influence within the Empire probably surpassed that of the King.

This is not good news for the rulers.

Cyrus Desinia.

This name has almost become a religion for some, second only to the Creator God.

To some extent, this devout, grateful, and even fanatical faith could very well have a significant impact on the empire...

Kien had to think further ahead.

If the Saint Airo Empire were to one day become an enemy of the Desinia Territory.

Would the people, knights, and even nobles of the empire truly harbor hostility towards this lord, who is renowned for his prestige, benevolence, and the faith of countless people?!

--Won't some people give up resistance before the war even begins?

Kien even hears the phrase, "Oh! We are able to regain peace thanks to Lord Desinia," wherever he goes.

"Without Lord Desinia, I would probably have already met my death. Creator God of Creation, please bless Lord Desinia with good health..."

"... It was the Lord of Desinia who saved everyone!"

"Lord of Desinia, he must have been sent by the Creator God to save us!"

There are countless similar statements.

Kien had no doubt.

If anyone were to say a bad word about Desinia now, they would be thrown out of town and into the river to have their heads washed.

Because this person is probably not thinking straight.

Kien thought that the best course of action for the Empire now was to establish friendly relations with the Desinia Territory —and the Empire's act of lowering its stance and requesting support from the Desinia lords would be the first step in this probing.

There was indeed no better option than requesting support from the Desinia Territory.

However, when Warner sent a letter to deliver his request, it was rejected by Cyrus.

The reason is that he has accepted a gift from the second prince of the Yami Kingdom and is currently very busy, so he really has no time to get involved in matters concerning the Saint Airo Empire.

So I'm very sorry, but I'll have to trouble you, Prince, to find someone else.

Warner was slightly disappointed, but didn't take it to heart, since others really had no obligation to help them.

Kien, however, asked with a puzzled look, "What was the gift from the second prince of the Yami Kingdom?"

He knew of this second prince of the Yami Kingdom.

--Nitaya was rescued from the Yami Kingdom and came to the Saint Airo Empire.

Although they were infected with the Black Death, they were fortunate enough to catch up with Dr. Birdbeak at the last moment, who brought antibiotics into the quarantine area.

After recuperating in the imperial capital for some time, Nitaya took the few people with him to the Desinia Territory.

He wanted to thank them in person.

As expected, the nearly destroyed Yami Kingdom will be inherited by its second prince Nitaya.

The Saint Airo Empire originally intended to take advantage of the situation and occupy the Yami Kingdom.

After all, the Yami Kingdom is now like meat on a chopping board, completely at the mercy of others.

Even if the second prince of the Yami Kingdom were still alive, it would be of no use.

However, the Saint Airo Empire was facing both internal and external troubles, so it had to put aside the matter of occupying the Yami Kingdom for the time being.

Warner's eyes flickered at Kien's question.

He asked, "What gifts do you think this second prince Nitaya, will prepare to thank the Lord of Desinia for saving his life and the remaining people of the Yami Kingdom?"

Kien was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed.

Warner said, "I think Nitaya might give away what she currently owns to Desinia."

And what does he possess?

The Yami Kingdom.

The gift that Cyrus received was indeed the Yami Kingdom.

Nitaya understood perfectly.

Although he could inherit the throne of the Yami Kingdom, he would certainly face an extremely difficult situation after inheriting it, one that he would find difficult to resist.

The Yami Kingdom was a difficulty and a burden for him, but not for the Lord of Desinia.

Nitaya had already decided to give the Yami Kingdom to Desinia. Afterward, he would travel the continent with Light Green and Yotun to see all the sights.

Cyrus accepted the gift.

Although the Yami Kingdom is geographically far away, located at the southernmost point.

But after he acquired the Yami Kingdom, he could directly order people to open up a shortcut at sea.

--That's right, the Yami Kingdom is adjacent to an inland sea, and this narrow bay, surrounded by land, connects to the Cogit Sea.

The fleet can depart directly from Visas to the Yami Kingdom.

After the Yami Kingdom becomes his territory, the resources from the south will be transported here for further development and utilization in beneficial research.

Afterwards, merchant ships and other cargo vessels could also depart directly from the port in the Cogit Sea and sail into the inland bay...

This is a win-win situation.

Cyrus takes the takeover of the affairs of the Yami Kingdom very seriously. He plans to return to the Yami Kingdom directly with the second prince, Nitaya, to conduct an on-site inspection.

As for the letter requesting support that the male protagonist sent to him in the original book?

Return it to where it came from.

I don't have time, and I don't want to get involved.

After all, he's very busy.

Upon arriving in the Yami Kingdom, their first task must be to restore order from the devastation and chaos caused by the Black Death.

After a rather long journey.

Cyrus finally arrived in the Yami Kingdom with her beasts and men. Just as the bird-beaked doctor had said, it was desolate, silent, and sparsely populated.

After arriving in the Yami Kingdom with Dr. Birdbeak, Chipman Norton did not leave for the time being.

The situation here was so dire that it has only just begun to show signs of life again.

Cyrus sent a message through Qing Tuan in advance, informing Chipman Norton and others of his impending arrival.

After the fleet sailed into the bay, he saw Chipman Norton waiting there with his men, but behind them stood even more emaciated and haggard people.

Cyrus had assumed that the people of the Yami Kingdom had come to welcome Prince Nitaya, the last heir.

However, Nitaya shook her head. "I don't think so."

"They came to greet you, not me."

The boat approached the shore and stopped, and the gangplank was lowered.

Cyrus appeared.

After Chipman Norton bowed to him, the people of the Yami Kingdom, as if confirming something, knelt down before him in unison, without warning or sound, like a tidal wave.

Cyrus's steps down the path came to an abrupt halt.

The scene was silent, yet all the more powerful.

Cyrus understood their unspeakable gratitude, their trembling bodies, and their eyes brimming with tears...

--The people of the Yami Kingdom had been immersed in despair and fear for far too long, so long that they were numbly awaiting death when they finally saw a ray of bright light shining in...

At this moment, Cyrus is the sacred one who leads them out of the abyss.

Gradually, one person spoke, then two, then three... more and more words of gratitude poured in, as if they were about to flood half of the bay.

A day later, Cyrus naturally incorporated the Yami Kingdom into the Desinia Territory, making it part of its domain.

The people of the Yami Kingdom wholeheartedly agreed.

He also received some unexpected surprises—smaller countries or territories around the Yami Kingdom, also shrouded in the Black Death, voluntarily submitted to Desinia.

From then on, Cyrus successfully lit up most of the southernmost territory on the system interface.