After the trial ended, Aldrick walked into the Radiant Hall deep within the royal palace.
A White-Gold Holy Emblem bestowed upon the royal family by the Most Holy Church hung from the hall's ceiling. Sacred Flame burned quietly in niches inlaid with Holy Silver.
Beyond the high windows, Church banners and the Seran royal flag hung together in the winter wind.
The king of Seran sat beneath the Holy Emblem, leafing through the documents. His gaze passed over line after line of records on Holy Oil consumption before settling on a figure the Treasury had marked in red ink.
Aldrick lowered his head. "If its performance continues to match the trial results, the reduction in Holy Oil purchases next year should roughly cover this year's increase in military spending.
"The local Church has tested it. So far, it has found no Blood Moon or Gray Blood contamination."
After reading the documents, the king leaned back in his chair. As ruler of a nation, he understood what those savings meant.
Since production had fallen in the mining districts, the Treasury had been considering another special tax. Several great nobles had already sent people to the Royal Capital to complain.
If Red Marrow Incendiary really could bring down Holy Oil expenditure—
Aldrick looked up. "Your Majesty's decision?"
"Prepare a formal proposal. If it can save this much money, it deserves serious consideration."
And so, at a Kingdom Council meeting a few days later, the proposal for Red Marrow Incendiary was placed before more nobles.
The moment they heard that its raw materials came from the bodies of condemned prisoners, the mood in the Assembly Hall changed noticeably.
They were all calculating how much they might gain if such a thing came into use.
An elderly count set down the document and asked