The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 426 The Pieces Stepping Towards the Chessboard
On the outskirts of Thunder City, on a muddy field, a powerful roar echoed above the heads of hundreds of people, urging these greenhorns to run through the mud.

Not only do they have to run, but they also have to ensure that their steps are synchronized. Only by maintaining a consistent pace can they avoid bumping into each other and falling over while their chests are pressed against each other's backs.

These young men are all newly recruited conscripts, and only about half of them have received military training.

Before heading to the Twilight Province to rescue their compatriots, they need to undergo two weeks of training in the recruit camp before they can become qualified privates and stand in their own company.

They have very little time left.

Fortunately, their instructors didn't have high expectations for them to begin with.

All they needed to learn was how to fire, reload, and maintain their formation amidst a hail of bullets, trying not to be the first to flee before the enemy was routed, thus keeping the front line stable.

The true force responsible for breaking through the enemy lines was the duchy's cavalry.

They not only received professional training, but also possessed extraordinary power that ordinary people could hardly match!
Even when facing monsters blessed by chaos, they have the power to fight!
Of course, the Trident Knights won't be on the field this time, since their opponents are just a bunch of peasants.

And they weren't even trained.

"Hurry up! You bunch of pigs!"

"The enemy won't wait for you to slowly find your formation before they open fire! Before you even know which way is north, south, east, or west, their arrows and pitchforks will be stabbing your asses to shreds!"

"Raise your arms! You damn idiots, I didn't tell you to raise them above your heads!"

Finally, someone couldn't hold on any longer and stumbled to the ground. Looking at the approaching instructor, the young man's face was filled with fear, and he stammered.

"Instructor, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, a strong, thick hand grabbed his neck and lifted him out of the mud puddle like a chick.

"Shut your mouth! The only thing you should say is 'Yes, sir!'"

"me……"

"Your answer!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Very well! Now get back to your team, and all of you will have two extra laps today! Because one of you is a coward!"

The shouts in the recruit camp were deafening, and the intense training continued.

Compared to the cruelty they are about to experience, this insult is nothing.

Every veteran knows that this is just an appetizer before the main course...

Compared to the princes and nobles who traded these young men's lives for land, they were the ones who truly cared for them.

On the other side of the recruit camp, a very special unit presents a completely different picture.

These soldiers were tall and strong, but they all looked rather dim-witted.

During training, they are either listless or point east and go west.

What frustrates the instructors the most is that no matter how much they whip them, they always have a grinning face, showing no fear whatsoever. In the end, this only makes the exhausted instructors so angry that they suffer internal injuries.

One punch, one whiny guy: "Damn it, why do we have to do military training even in a game?"

Nuclear submarine repair specialist: "Is it possible to not train them?"

Mr. Wang, the hairdresser at the village entrance, said: "Damn the planning! Why is it so hard to organize an event? I'm speechless."

Lumberjack: "Does it have to be this realistic?!"

One punch, one whiny guy: "Damn it! I'll let it slide for the sake of the land!"

The instructors at the recruit camp called them the "idiot army" because they were genuinely stupid. Their brains seemed to be filled with sand; they couldn't understand commands, couldn't march in unison, and couldn't even maintain basic seriousness.

Even the instructors in charge of training them were a little confused, wondering if they couldn't understand human language or were deliberately going against the grain.

But when they thought that these people might not want to be like this, but were just born with intellectual disabilities, those hateful looks turned into sympathy.

They can punish troublemakers who disobey orders, but they are helpless against a bunch of fools who don't react to being beaten or scolded.

One or two can serve as a warning to others, but a hundred... it's really hard to find a place to bury them.

The key issue is that so many talented people were wasted, and morale was also damaged for no reason. It's a losing proposition.

dinner time.

Looking at that group of big, clumsy, and seemingly harmless guys, Chief Instructor Kruger couldn't help but curse.

"What are the recruiters doing? How did they manage to recruit these bastards?"

What's the difference between this and sending them to their deaths?
The veteran in charge of training them also looked embarrassed and coughed as he spoke.

"I don't know... but to be honest, I don't think they're that bad. Apart from not being able to maintain their formation and not understanding human language, they do have the skills to fight... for example, they are fearless when charging, and they can throw a half-pound grenade a hundred paces away, which even I can't do."

Kruger chuckled.

"What a joke! Do you think we're going on a picnic? Soldiers who don't understand discipline are completely useless! They wouldn't last a minute at the front lines!"

The instructor was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"But... what if we let them collapse in the enemy's ranks while carrying earthenware jars stuffed with gunpowder?"

Kruger paused, staring into his eyes and frowning.

"……What's the meaning."

The instructor coughed and said.

"What I mean is, since they're already like this, there's no way we can fix their brains in two weeks, so we might as well make use of them... so they don't come back and become our neighbors."

"Damn it, you're a genius!" Kruger cursed, as if he were spitting on a madman.

However, the thought of those stubborn, unruly people made him tempted.

Of course, he was just a recruit training instructor, not a frontline commander.

Perhaps he should talk to the officers of the rescue army and establish a special "javelin" unit, instead of a private.

This way, we can make use of this bunch of stupid, useless people...

……

The shouts from the recruit training grounds were deafening, and the noise also echoed in the city council hall, several kilometers away.

While the new recruits of the Principality of Campbell were sweating it out on the parade ground, the councilors representing the citizens were also shouting loudly for their rights at the conference table.

"Your Highness! My respected Princess! You cannot do that!"

"I know your kindness cannot bear to see your compatriots in the Twilight Province wallowing in hell, but your mercy is pushing us into hell as well!"

“Our taxes are already very high. You just announced Bill Six not long ago, and it hasn’t even passed yet. Now you want us to spend even more money on your war. Where are we going to find so much money?!”

At the very front of the meeting hall stood Eileen Campbell, dressed in military uniform. Her golden hair was neatly coiled behind her head, and her straight nose was like the eternal light of the Duchy of Campbell, yet at this moment, her sword-like eyebrows, perched atop that light, were filled with sorrow.

At this moment, she was facing her dearest people, who were also her brother's staunchest supporters.

Among them were presidents of chambers of commerce, artisans from handicraft guilds, factory owners of emerging factories, and even those wearing badges of knights or knights.

As the most prominent citizens of Thunder City, they represent the rest of the population. While the Campbell royal family usually doesn't need to concern themselves with these mascots, they do require their input when it comes to levying taxes.

This has been the case for five hundred years!

Theresa, standing to the side, glanced at His Highness with some concern.

Although her princess has grown a lot since two years ago, even her father and brother find the issue of taxation troublesome.

The citizens support this just war and are willing to sacrifice their lives for it.

But if you ask them to donate money, that's a different story.

This problem is not difficult to understand.

Although those who donated their lives and those who donated money were both citizens of Thunder City, they were not the same group of people.

Looking at the councilor who was arguing for his rights, Eileen took a deep breath of the hot air and spoke earnestly.

"Gentlemen, I know you are in great difficulty, but please think about our compatriots in the Twilight Province! They are also citizens of the kingdom, children of Saint Sith just like us. If we do not extend a helping hand and let them slide into hell, the flames that ignite from them will eventually burn us as well!"

A craftsman wearing a felt hat couldn't help but shout.

"Then they should go to Saint Sith! Or their king! Instead of bothering their neighbors to clean up their mess!"

"By Saint Sith, can't we ask King Ryan or the provincial governor to pay this money? The people of Campbell are willing to shed blood for them, yet they are unwilling to pay even the slightest price!"

"No one would agree to such an unequal treaty!"

Seeing the indignant members of parliament, Eileen fell silent.

What they said made sense, and she even knew in her heart that she was making unreasonable demands.

For the prosperity of the Duchy of Campbell, the citizens of Thunder City have borne a very high tax burden, far exceeding the money contributed by the feudal lords.

Now, it's unreasonable and illogical for me to try to squeeze more money out of them.

Besides, judging from their excited expressions, they probably really don't have much money left.

Most importantly, if Bill 6 fails to gain broad support in Parliament, those poor people will likely continue to live in misery.

For the prosperity of the Principality of Campbell.

Just as Eileen was caught in a dilemma, a highly respected gentleman suddenly stood up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to say a few words."

The moment he finished speaking, the restless atmosphere and arguments in the council chamber subsided as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.

Eileen instinctively turned her gaze to the person, and a fleeting glimmer of hope flashed in her calm, lake-like eyes.

That gentleman was none other than Jan Andes, the current head of the Andes family.

This middle-aged gentleman was not only the wealthiest merchant in Thunder City, but also her brother's most steadfast ally.

This expedition, launched to save countless lives, was spearheaded by his brother. It's likely that this Mr. Andes will offer some advice to prevent the 50,000-strong expeditionary force from falling into an unsustainable predicament before even reaching the battlefield.

“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, the citizens of Thunder City are not unwilling to share the burden of the Duchy. If it is for the purpose of conquering the legendary Demon King and defending our own homeland, I believe that everyone here would be willing to contribute generously for Campbell’s survival.”

As soon as he finished speaking, voices of agreement immediately rose from the surrounding crowd. These were not mere flattery, but genuine expressions of agreement.

"That's right!"

“We are willing to give everything for the Duchy of Campbell, but our money doesn’t grow on trees. Why should we do these things for our neighbors?”

"We've already handed over almost half of our income, how much more do you want to take?"

"Mr. Andes..."

Eileen looked at Andes in surprise, about to say something, but was stopped by his look that said, "Please calm down, Your Highness."

He paused for a moment, then changed the subject and continued.

"I think the problem is not the imbalance between obligations and rights, but the uneven distribution of benefits."

"What do you mean by that?" Theresa frowned slightly as she looked at him, annoyed that he had interrupted the princess.

She had no good impression of this mercenary guy.

Every Campbellian knew that the Duchy's sheep had become man-eating beasts, and that was at least half the reason he was the one. He had no eyes for glory, only for money.

Of course, she did not deny that the prosperity of the duchy and the consolidation of Grand Duke Edward's power were indeed due in part to the Andean family.

The funds Her Highness used to build the new industrial zone, as well as the auction that attracted the attention of the entire duchy, were all made possible with the help of the Andes family.

"It's very simple."

Facing the knight's sharp gaze, Andes calmly continued, "The farmers of the Twilight Province have been redeemed, the farmers of the Duchy have received land, but what have the hardworking citizens who paid for it received? Besides a heavy tax bill and a pale honor, I can't think of anything else." Theresa, upon hearing this, flew into a rage, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.

"Shut up! You rude scoundrel! Who do you think you are, daring to question the honor of the Duchy of Campbell!"

The council chamber was completely silent; everyone's face was frozen in fear.

Clearly, the councilors present had not expected that Andes would be so audacious as to question the pricelessness of honor in front of the knights of the duchy!
Of course, that's to be expected.

Because they didn't realize that they were just the slightly fatter sheep in the pen.

Mr. Andes was the same before.

However, since Archduke Edward came to power, the prosperity of this duchy has become inseparable from him. He and his family have become the new nobles and no longer need to bow down to the traditional nobles.

They have become a force, and a force in fact.

Moreover, he was not speaking for himself at this moment, but for His Majesty the Grand Duke.

“No, Your Excellency Knight, I am merely discussing a more practical matter with you. If you want your people to willingly follow your prince, you must show them the benefits of doing so.”

Andes calmly answered the conservative knight, then looked at the princess, who was wavering between conservatism and radicalism, with neither servility nor arrogance.

Eileen didn't get angry. Instead, she stopped Theresa, who was about to say something more, and stared at her with mature and wise eyes.

“I understand your loyalty, Mr. Andes, so please tell me, do you have any better suggestions?”

"of course."

Andes nodded slightly, a pleasant smile on his face, and proposed an idea that caught everyone off guard.

“My suggestion is that this time the tax revenue should not be collected under the name of taxation, but rather the royal family should ‘borrow’ money from the council, the citizens of Thunder City, and even the subjects of the entire duchy. Of course, the royal family’s borrowing of money is the same as the citizens’ borrowing of money; everyone will need to pay interest on the loan. I think that in this way, no one should object to supporting our neighbor.”

The moment he finished speaking, the entire conference hall erupted in an uproar.

Apart from Theresa staring at Andes in shock, all the other councilors, after a brief moment of astonishment, gradually changed their expressions to excitement.

"The royal family borrows money from its subjects?"

"Pay interest?"

"This! This is simply unheard of!"

"However, this is a better way than collecting taxes. At least once the taxes are paid, the money will be gone, but the money that has been lent out can be recovered."

"Hiss... I need to think about it some more."

The whispers gradually turned into a noisy discussion, and the entire council chamber became as bustling as a market.

"This is insane..." Theresa could only mutter to herself, unsure of what words to use to describe this crazy idea.

She was a knight, and wielding the sword for the royal family was an inherent duty for her and her family, while the royal family's duty was to protect its people.

Now that the royal family is doing business with its subjects, what is the sword in her hand?
If one day the royal family decides to default on the debt and not pay it back, are they expecting her to ride a horse and beat up those... uh, creditors?
Of course, such a thing would never happen to the Campbell family.

However, this confusion between obligations and rights left her momentarily bewildered about her own identity.

Hearing the uproar over the discussion, Eileen stared wide-eyed at Andes, her face filled with astonishment.

Then her eyes sharpened, and she spoke in a serious tone.

"Are you serious, Mr. Andes?"

“Your Highness, of course I’m serious, and this is the best solution I can think of.”

Andes nodded respectfully and continued to answer.

"Using war bonds instead of war taxes can appropriately alleviate people's suffering from war and provide some compensation to those who have paid a higher price... and even involve the traditional nobles."

"Of course, this may seem unorthodox to the traditional royal family, and your concerns are understandable. If you find this suggestion too presumptuous, then let's continue with the old methods: have your army drain the citizens of the duchy and let us see where they've hidden their money."

This proposal wasn't an idea he came up with on the spur of the moment; rather, it was inspired by Colin Group's stock a long time ago.

If a company can be traded on the market in the form of securities, why can't debt be traded as well?

Moreover, it's a debt issued in the name of the royal family, so there's no more reliable guarantee.

Jan Andes was a thoughtful person and quickly spotted the business opportunity!
In particular, the Campbell royal family was different from the unruly Lane court. The benevolent Campbell family would consult with his subjects even when levying taxes, rather than breaking into their homes like robbers and taking every penny.

This is one of the reasons why the Principality of Campbell was able to create incredible miracles despite its small size!

Considering these factors, issuing war bonds in Thunder City has a reliable and realistic basis, and the returns are entirely predictable. Even without using the forestry and mineral resources of Twilight Province as collateral, Thunder City's tax revenue is sufficient for the royal family to repay the debt.

He had long ago discussed with Archduke Edward the idea of ​​raising national funds by issuing debt, and the archduke, who was incredibly open-minded about new things, supported it.

Otherwise, he would never have brought this proposal to parliament at this point in time.

Eileen was silent for a moment, then looked at Andes and said.

"...I cannot make this decision on my own; I must consult my elder brother."

She believed that her father had given her the sword so that she could protect Campbell's people in his stead.

Unlike Act Six, which protected the rights of the people, taxation was the king's prerogative, and only her brother could decide whether to replace war taxes with war debts.

She didn't want anyone who was delusional to misunderstand that she had any designs on the throne.

Looking at the sensible Princess Campbell, Andes smiled gently and nodded with pleasure.

"Of course, Your Highness, it is most appropriate for you to ask."

Unlike those conservative nobles who yearn for the past, and those nouveau riche who try to distance themselves from the past, he genuinely hopes that the brother and sister can get along harmoniously.

For the Andean family, who already possessed everything, nothing was more important than the stability of the duchy.

……

Meanwhile, on the road to Twilight City, Mr. Colin's carriage swayed and rocked.

This road is so bumpy.

Normally, the Demon King, who is particular about his quality of life, might have used some magic to enhance his travel experience, but unfortunately, he simply wasn't in the mood for it lately.

Erin Campbell's sudden arrival completely disrupted his plans.

He needs to think carefully about how to continue this story in order to avoid losing more than he gains.

"Mr. Colin, have you been having some troubles lately?" Sitting opposite Luo Yan, Karen, holding the Book of the Holy Word in her hands, seemed to sense something and asked with concern.

"A little... but it's not a big problem."

Seeing the Demon King trying to remain calm, Taff, who was lying on Sarah's lap, almost couldn't help but laugh.

She happened to wake up last night while the Demon King and Sarah were chatting, and overheard quite a few interesting things.

Although she didn't know who Eileen was, she could guess what had happened just by looking at her tail.

She's not curious about anything now, she just wants to see some demon king capsize!
Do it quickly!
Unlike Taffy, who enjoys watching the drama unfold, the kind-hearted nun looked worried.

"Um... if you don't mind, you can confide in me."

Before Luo Yan could answer, Sarah's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

Do mere humans even deserve to be the subject of the Demon King's confidants?
That's really too weak...

Sarah, lost in thought, suddenly fell silent, her gloomy gaze shifting from Karen to the towering mountains outside the car window.

Seemingly realizing that her words were somewhat presumptuous, Karen's cheeks flushed red, and she added a sentence, somewhat embarrassed.

"Please, please don't laugh at me... I just feel that it might be better to talk about my troubles than to keep them inside."

There was no presumptuous intent whatsoever.

She genuinely just wanted to do something for this kind man, just like he had selflessly helped her in the past.

Although she had no money and no remarkable abilities, she was still able to listen to the troubles of her believers.

And that was the only way she could help, as a nun.

Luo Yan didn't mean to mock her naivety; no one loved his believers more than he did.

After all, every believer is his wing.

"Thank you, I appreciate your kind offer, but there's really nothing you can do to help me with this. It's just that my time management has run into some issues..."

Luo Yan suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his gaze falling on Karen. After a moment's thought, he changed his words, "...Hmm, maybe not?"

Things don't seem to be that complicated after all.

Up until now, the refugees following the caravan only knew Karen's name, praising her kindness and generosity, but did not know who Colin was.

Since that's the case, why not just treat her as a pawn active in the spotlight while I stay behind the scenes?
Upon realizing this, Luo Yan's mind cleared instantly, and a confident smile returned to his face.

At first, he just thought it was funny and helped the "nun" lady out of the blue. He never expected that his unintentional act would become a crucial step in the game.

Sarah looked at the Demon King in astonishment, her shocked expression suggesting she was asking why it wasn't her.

And Karen, sitting opposite, gradually turned from astonishment to delight.

"Really?! Someone like me... can I really help you?"

“Please don’t underestimate yourself, Miss Karen. You possess qualities that others don’t have, which I discovered long ago. And now is the time for you to put them to use.”

Luo Yan said casually, then turned his gaze to the outside of the carriage window.

Almost at the same time, Sarah's eyes suddenly sharpened, and the dagger hidden at her waist revealed a hint of cold light.

Sensing the sudden, chilling killing intent, Karen froze on the spot, looking completely bewildered, not knowing what had happened.

"Miss Sarah?"

“Someone is approaching…” Sarah said in a hoarse voice, “and there are quite a few of them.”

Luo Yan nodded slightly.

"I know."

This piece of fat meat has been left to dry in the wilderness for so long; it should have attracted vultures by now.

Just as he finished speaking, a loud gunshot rang out in the distance.

boom!
Upon hearing the gunshot, the caravan stirred, with wagons and carriages crowding together.

The mercenaries were the first to jump off the vehicle with their weapons, colliding with the fleeing refugees who were running around in all directions, creating an extremely chaotic scene.

"Enemy attack! Damn it! It's bandits with green turbans!" the mercenary leader roared, trying to organize a defense, but despaired when he saw the number of people on the other side.

Seeing Karen at a loss, Luo Yan smiled slightly and gave her a reassuring look.

"Do you believe me?"

Meeting that composed smile, Karen felt all her panic vanish.

She felt as if she had returned to that cold, snowy place, and in the darkness, she saw the light of salvation.

"I believe you!"

Those tranquil eyes held only devotion, and even a hint of fanaticism.

Looking at that pure and flawless face, Luo Yan nodded approvingly, as if he were examining a work of art.

"very good."

"Just do as I say in a moment."

(End of this chapter)