Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master

Chapter 147

147. Over the Empire, Flies Renslet (1)

The term "Ra" in the imperial name Ragoit and the emperor’s name Canbraman Ra Goit originates from an ancient language, meaning "sun."

It was a privilege exclusively reserved for the empire, and only the legitimate imperial bloodline could use "Ra" as a middle name.

Ragoit and Ra Goit symbolized the empire and the royal family’s preeminent authority and exclusivity.

"Arad Ra Goit would’ve sounded better than Arad Jin Renslet..."

Emperor Canbraman had even considered bestowing such a privilege upon Arad, underscoring his earnestness in recruiting him.

However, the emperor’s sincerity never moved past the planning stage.

While rigorously selecting princesses, both direct and collateral, who might catch Arad’s interest, an unexpected wedding invitation arrived from the north.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth—like watching a golden treasure slip through his fingers and fall into a deep abyss.

"Sending the invitation only after the wedding is over... They clearly didn’t want me there."

The empire only learned of Arina and Arad’s marriage after the ceremony had concluded.

The precaution was taken to preemptively block any potential interference from the empire before the marriage could take place. Instead, they chose to inform them after the fact.

It was, quite obviously, a massive insult.

"And to think they finalized the marriage right after I granted patents and copyrights in the name of imperial decree. They must’ve planned this."

What stung even more was the timing—right before this news arrived, Canbraman had declared through imperial decree that Arad’s patent for the production of magic communication devices would be protected.

Thus, the emperor felt deeply humiliated.

"Chancellor."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Canbraman called out to his chancellor, Karaso, who was standing nearby.

"What’s Entir Bishop up to these days?"

The emperor was referring to the individual who had first spread rumors about a rift between Arad and the Renslet family in the imperial court and had later lobbied for patents and copyrights to be granted as a bargaining tool.

"He has not come down from Askai lately."

Askai was a city located in the northwestern part of the empire.

Situated between Fort Ruhan, which marked the border between the empire and the duchy, and Solaris, a royal city under direct imperial control in the north-central region, Askai was also one of the major cities of the Noble Assembly. ℞ÄNƟbЁȘ

"So not Havana or Solaris, but Askai... He’s not even bothering to hide his actions anymore."

Hearing the chancellor’s response, Canbraman let out a cold scoff.@@@@

"We should send a wedding gift to Renslet, shouldn’t we?"

The emperor had no intention of letting such insults and affronts slide.

"We have the perfect justification. The northern economy is already deeply entangled with the empire."

"!!"

"Send magic communications to every merchant guild in the empire! Tell them to cut trade with the north!"

At last, Canbraman decided to enforce long-prepared economic sanctions.

"Y-Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"

To the emperor’s surprise, Chancellor Karaso immediately objected to the decision.

"??"

Canbraman frowned deeply, puzzled, but decided to hear the man out.

The chancellor’s face had turned pale, and his stiffened expression showed that he was risking his life to speak.

"Cutting ties with the north would deal a significant blow to the empire as well."

"I’m aware. And the north would surely collapse first."

"I regret to inform Your Majesty... but the empire itself may fall before they do."

"...?"

For a moment, the emperor thought he must have misheard.

"Is this because of the Noble Assembly or the Church? Even if their influence has risen lately, I still have the Flaming Rose, Elisha von Havana. I have my champion, Ricard. I have 150,000 standing imperial troops equipped with the best imperial steel. The Magic Tower, and Yulkanes, an 8th-circle mage. I have 1,000 royal knights. Above all, I have the empire’s strongest sword, the Dark Grand Duke, Doom."

The more Canbraman spoke, the more the chancellor’s words felt like nonsense.

After stabilizing the Ragoit Great Wall and the Eastern Collapse Region, the emperor had immediately summoned Doom to the capital.

He had even re-employed a large number of soldiers mobilized for the wall into his standing imperial army, using them to pressure the Noble Assembly and the Church.

"That’s not the issue, Your Majesty!"

"...Then what is?"

The chancellor, Karaso, shut his eyes tightly and blurted out everything.

"The empire’s cities are currently seeing massive population inflows every single day. The birthrate is also soaring!"

"That’s true. A growing population is a blessing."

"The problem lies with food. Feeding the population flooding into the cities, not to mention the expanded imperial army, will become a massive issue if ties with the north are severed."

"Because of Arad Salt and Mary’s Blessing?"

"Yes, exactly! The bigger issue is the fertilizer—Mary’s Blessing!"

"The empire managed just fine before fertilizers existed."

"T-that was a completely different era! The current population, especially the consumption rates of food in the cities, is on an entirely different scale!"

"Aren’t we reclaiming the Eastern Collapse Region and the lands beyond the Great Wall?"

"It will take at least ten years before those areas are fully reclaimed and yield meaningful harvests."

"Even if they are fully reclaimed... without Mary’s Blessing..."

If the empire attacked the north, the royal family would have to fight a three-front war.

But was the emperor even aware of this? Did the empire’s intelligence network, Sigma, know the full extent of the danger?

The funds tied up in Arad Bank weren’t limited to just the slush funds of imperial nobles.

What mattered just as much to them were the stocks and bonds they had invested in Renslet.

These stocks and bonds, which paid hefty dividends and interest each month, had already surpassed the scale of their slush funds.

If the emperor’s actions to isolate or attack the north rendered these investments worthless? The empire would inevitably split apart.

However, neither the emperor nor Sigma had realized this yet.

Due to the countless blunders the empire had committed in Renslet over the years, Sigma’s intelligence network in the north had become virtually nonfunctional.

"......."

Bang!

After silently pondering for a while, Canbraman suddenly slammed the armrest of his golden throne with his fist.

‘Fine! Let’s see who comes out on top!’

If his subjects had to go bankrupt and starve to death for the greater good, he could endure it.

If rebellion threatened the rear while he led his campaign, so be it.

In fact, that might even be advantageous. He could use the opportunity to completely crush the Noble Assembly.

Great growth always came with risks and pain.

"I will sever ties with the north."

"!!"

"Y-Your Majesty!"

But Canbraman pressed forward.

"Even without northern fertilizer, without that northern porcelain, without those northern spices, and without those northern magic stones!"

His crimson eyes gleamed as he issued his imperial decree.

"The empire will remain unshaken."

Would the empire collapse first, or would that tiny Renslet fall?

Canbraman found himself looking forward to the outcome.

***

The Arad Secret Shipyard in the Renslet Duchy, Jin County.

[The empire has drastically reduced food exports to us. Meanwhile, they’re frantically trying to buy Mary’s Blessing. Of course, we rejected their attempts, but Entir Bishop has been meddling and making it incredibly frustrating.]

Having paid a rare visit to the shipyard, I received a magic communication from Director Teo, who had stayed behind at the High Tower.

[I believe this marks the empire’s official moves. We should start preparing.]

"Looks like prices are going to skyrocket to Swiss levels."

[Sw... Swiss? What’s that?]

"It’s just nonsense. Don’t mind it."

Though the content of our conversation was serious, both Teo and I remained calm.

"Has the imperial decree been officially announced yet?"

[Not yet. It seems they’re aiming for a surprise severance, as the imperial palace remains quiet for now.]

"Tsk tsk tsk. What good is that? Their intentions are written all over their actions."

[You’re absolutely right. Hahaha!]

As I prepared to end the communication, I asked Teo one last question.

"How much food do we have stored?"

[If we switch to rationing, we can last about six months.]

"And if we include the food we produce on our own land?"

[If we give up on fine dining, we can stretch it to two years with rye and potatoes. Beyond that, the growing population will make it difficult.]

"Don’t worry. This won’t last more than two years."

[Of course.]

"Alright, I’m cutting the connection now. As soon as this call ends, start preparing for winter immediately."

[Understood! We’ll begin right away.]

After exchanging final words with Director Teo, I ended the communication.

"Tsk tsk tsk. A complete severance? How reckless. If it were me, I’d have gone with tariffs."

Clicking my tongue, I stepped out of the building.

"Announcing the presence of the national lord! His Excellency Arad Jin Renslet has emerged!"

The moment I stepped outside, the cries announcing my presence rang out.

"Just call me President."

Ever since marrying Arina, I had gained titles like "national lord" and "Your Excellency," but I still preferred "President" above all.

"Are the preparations for takeoff complete?"

"Everything is perfect!"

In the center of the Arad Shipyard, seven airships glowed with a faint blue light, awaiting departure. These had been secretly built over time.

It had taken seven years since arriving in this world, but it was finally a monumental achievement.