At eight in the morning the ceremony began, and around nine o'clock the
castle bell rang for the last time. The cheers of the people in the square were
still faintly heard when Arthur stepped down from the podium. He did not
linger; the next task already awaited. The heads of the Council followed behind
him, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridor toward the grand
council chamber. The atmosphere was quiet, only the sound of shoes and steady
breathing could be heard.
As the large wooden doors were pushed open, the cold air of the hall greeted
them. In the center of the room, a round table was already prepared. Tall
chairs of black wood lined up neatly. Arthur walked to the head of the table,
his robe sweeping the marble floor. The council heads sat down in order, while
Marcel stood slightly behind, holding a thick stack of records.
Arthur swept his gaze, looking at each face one by one. "Congratulations on
your appointments," he said in a calm yet authoritative voice. "Remember: you
are here to listen to the voice of the people and to provide solutions. We will
work quickly and honestly. And yes, the final decision rests with the King."
The chairs creaked in unison, all nodded, some bowed their heads.
Arthur gave a small signal. "The records."
Marcel stepped forward, placing a large scroll in front of Arthur. The
ribbon seal was released, and the parchment spread wide. Arthur traced the
lines of names with his finger, reading them out in order: defense,
intelligence, infrastructure, education, health, diplomacy, industrial reform,
and economy. His voice was steady, each word filling the hall. Only the
scratching of quills across paper was heard in between.
Once the list was finished, he closed the scroll slowly. "Enough. Let us
begin the working session."
Arthur stood. From beneath his robe he produced a black-covered book,
staring sharply at Lionel Drest. "To improve the quality of our soldiers, I
have compiled the Heavenly Valior Technique. This technique teaches
how to store mana in the dantian (a vessel larger than the heart). With
purified qi, the body can be strengthened: bones solidified, toxins cleansed,
stamina increased. This book has already been mass produced together with Marcel.
Starting today, the entire army will adopt it as mandatory training
curriculum."
Several military officers whispered to each other, their eyes shining with
excitement. Lionel bowed his head, his face stiff, as if still processing the
order.
Arthur shifted his gaze toward Hadrick. "You must gather intelligence on
potential global conflicts, including the movements of the Ethereal. Make sure
the old nobles from Mordred's era are not doing anything suspicious. Report
even the smallest matter."
Hadrick rose, striking his chest with a clenched fist. "Orders received,
Your Majesty. Our network will move tonight." His eyes gleamed with
determination.
Arthur then turned to Karrel, who had already prepared a rolled-up map.
"Prepare a railway plan immediately. Gather data on the price of steel, land
(if the route passes through people's property), and calculate the total cost.
Seek the most efficient solution. In addition, increase the supply of clean
water. Improve public facilities, especially in the slum areas. I do not want
slums to exist in the capital any longer."
Karrel bowed deeply. Several merchants on the side of the room whispered
quickly, calculating investment opportunities.
Arthur turned to Teacher Loran. "Show me the curriculum."
Loran stepped forward and handed over a draft:
Elementary school:
reading, writing, arithmetic, history, basic etiquette.
Advanced academy:
development of talents in swordsmanship or magic, or both.
Arthur quickly added, "Include basic qi cultivation. It is mandatory before
learning the Heavenly Valior Technique (which is only for soldiers)."
Loran bowed, his cheeks reddening slightly from nervousness. "We will revise
it immediately, Your Majesty."
Arthur turned to Bruna. "Find strategic locations for village clinics and
the National Hospital. Clinics for general treatment, hospitals for inpatients
and major surgeries. Recruit doctors, healers, physicians, pharmacists,
herbalists. The anti-plague division—maximize research on fever medicine. I do
not want even the smallest outbreak to spread."
Bruna replied firmly, "We will carry it out." Her voice was steady, though
her face revealed the heavy burden of the task.
Arthur then looked to Roland Sparks. "What is the progress on the
refrigerators?"
Roland smiled proudly. "The product is ready to enter mass production, Your
Majesty."
Arthur nodded. "Good. That product will significantly support our economy,
so prioritize this project." He then pulled out a rolled blueprint and handed
it to Roland. "Begin mass production, bring a prototype to advertise in other
kingdoms. And this— a mana-powered crossbow. This weapon will be the key to our
defense."
Roland froze. His hands trembled as he received the blueprint. This
King… insane. A genius, but insane, he muttered inwardly.
Finally, Arthur's gaze fell on Erel Vadison. "Report on taxation."
Erel opened her records, her voice slightly heavy. "Tax revenue has indeed
decreased because of the reduced rates, Your Majesty. However, ninety percent
of the people pay on time. With the lie-detection device, almost no fraud has
been found."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Almost? Fix that system. I do not want any
loopholes."
Erel lowered her head, her face paling. "It will be fixed, Your Majesty."
Arthur sat back down, his hand tapping the table once. "Now we discuss
costs."
Lionel was the first to stand. "To train with the Heavenly Valior
Technique, we need new training facilities, mana stone storage, and herbal
supplies. Initial estimate: three hundred thousand gold coins."
Erel immediately shook her head. "Too much. One hundred fifty thousand is
enough."
Arthur stared at Lionel. "You misunderstand. This technique is free because
I created it. The essence of this technique is storing mana in the dantian (a
space larger than the heart)."
Lionel froze. "Is… such a concept even possible, Your Majesty?" Arthur
answered curtly, "I am the proof." Marcel stepped forward. "I am a witness. He
grows stronger every day." The room fell silent, everyone stunned.
Hadrick then spoke. "The spy network requires two hundred thousand coins for
new ciphers, disguises, and foreign agents."
Erel slapped the table. "One hundred twenty thousand is enough. We are not
in open war."
Hadrick narrowed his eyes. "Without intelligence, a kingdom is blind and
deaf."
Arthur raised his hand. "One hundred sixty thousand. No more. Focus on the
Ethereal and the old nobles."
Karrel came forward with his map. "The railway costs: 1.2 million coins."
Erel nearly choked. "That is half of the kingdom's treasury!"
A merchant immediately interjected, "We can invest three hundred thousand,
provided we share in ticket profits."
Arthur tapped the table. "The state will provide five hundred thousand, the
rest from investors. We will share profits from transportation: investors sixty
percent, the state forty. Submit a proposal to the crown. Start with a short
route inside the city."
Karrel quickly nodded. "Understood, Your Majesty."
Next, Loran spoke. "For village schools, books, and teachers, we need eighty
thousand coins."
Erel calculated. "Reasonable, but teachers' salaries could be cut by ten
percent, replaced with small land grants."
Arthur shook his head. "No. Raise teachers' salaries. Ninety thousand final,
plus land. Ensure the teachers are competent."
Bruna stepped forward, her face firm. "For village clinics, the national
hospital, and plague research, I need two hundred thousand coins."
Erel shook her head sharply. "All at once and the treasury collapses."
Arthur fixed his sharp gaze on her. "Choose the main priority. Hospitals can
wait, one or two for now."
Bruna drew a deep breath. "I will prioritize village clinics, Your Majesty.
They are the most urgent."
Arthur struck the table once. "Good. One hundred twenty thousand for
clinics. Plague research continues."
Roland spoke again. "For refrigerator mass production, we need two hundred
fifty thousand coins."
Erel quickly cut in. "It can be reduced to one hundred eighty thousand."
Arthur's gaze was firm. "One hundred thousand from the treasury. The rest
from investors. Investors will gain exclusive rights as primary sellers, with
five percent profit-sharing outside taxes for the kingdom. Submit proposals to
the crown. Send prototypes quickly to neighboring kingdoms to accelerate state
income."
The investors glanced at each other, their eyes gleaming with greed.
Theon stepped forward. "We need sixty thousand coins to reopen embassies in
Silverwood and Veritas."
Erel nodded. "Reasonable."
Arthur added, "Give thirty thousand first. If successful, the rest will
follow."
Finally, all eyes turned to Erel herself. She bowed slightly, then spoke
heavily. "The total allocation: about 1.3 million gold coins. If tax revenue
does not increase, we will face a deficit in two seasons."
Arthur's eyes locked on her, his voice cold. "It does not matter. Trust me,
the refrigerators and railway will cover the deficit."
The investors nodded in agreement, whispering quick calculations among
themselves.
Erel lowered her head further. "As you command, Your Majesty."
Arthur stood, his robe swaying gently. He looked at everyone one by one.
"From this day on, every gold coin spent is an investment in the future of
Valoria. Do not waste any of it."
He turned, striding out first. The great doors closed behind him, leaving
the echo of his footsteps lingering.
The room was silent for several seconds before Lionel whispered, "If that
technique works, our army will become legendary."
Hadrick scribbled briefly in his notes. "One hundred sixty thousand is
enough. The old nobles will be restless."
Karrel hugged the map to his chest. "Five hundred thousand is enough for the
first route."
Loran smiled faintly. "Qi cultivation in elementary school… a new generation
will be born."
Bruna exhaled deeply. "Village clinics first. Lives will be saved."
Roland still stared at the blueprint in his hands. "This King… remarkable."
Theon murmured, almost inaudibly. "Thirty thousand is enough to reignite
diplomacy."
Erel closed her records with trembling hands, her face weary. "The deficit
is frightening… but perhaps the King is right. This time, I will trust him."
In the corner of the room, the investors whispered among themselves, their
eyes glowing with ambition. The first council session of Valoria had ended,
leaving behind a mixture of awe, relief, and apprehension toward their young
King.