Ordinary people passively absorbed the news. All they knew was that everything around them seemed to be made in Free City, and Annan must be rich.
Nobles and other wealthy people had more sources than ordinary folk, but their information was distorted and lacked any seriousness. They just thought Annan lived extravagantly, waking each day in a bed as large as a Mu of Land and covered with women.
But politicians at the level of a Deputy Chief Judge or a minister knew Annan was genuinely short of money. He spent whatever he earned, and even the Wealth Church couldn't keep up with his needs.
With a Floating City as its foundation and mountain copper as its frame, it was like building a Divine Temple on the Allen Continent through his efforts alone. No amount of money would be enough to pour into it.
The Deputy Chief Judge pondered for a moment. "I can authorize ten thousand from the goods confiscated by the Judgment Hall as initial aid for Free City."
"How much?"
Annan wondered if he'd missed two zeroes. Ten thousand Gold Narls? That was less than he'd gained tonight!
Once he confirmed he'd heard correctly, he couldn't hide his disdain. "Why so little?"
Even the Deputy Warden looked a little embarrassed. "The State Religion Army doesn't handle money," he explained. "We act first, then the Finance Department calculates the expenses."
Wealth and power corrupted people. As a force loyal to the Empire, the State Religion Army naturally had to keep clear of both.
Annan certainly had no interest in ten thousand Gold Narls, but he knew the Judgment Hall had nothing to offer beyond loyalty. His dark eyes turned to the minister wearing the Military Affairs Department's black boots. "Then I want technology. Dreadnought blueprints, Arcane Core schematics,