Throne of the North.

Chapter 713 The First Conflict

"Ryan, you've come at the right time."

“I said I would not treat you unfairly. Originally, Grand Duke Meyers and his group requested that the Northwind Province provide metal minerals for the future of the empire, but I rejected their proposal because I thought that your territory was in the Northwind Province.”

Ryan stared wide-eyed at the empire's new emperor. Gone?
"So, Ryan, you can have more say in the Northwind Province now."

Ryan smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, your majesty is very much like that of His Majesty Columbus III."

“Hahaha, Ryan, you’re right, I will surpass my father.”

Ryan realized that this was not what he had said. Volvo was as stingy as Columbus III and was adept at using various means to diminish the merits of nobles.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty."

Ryan originally came to ask for resources, but now that it seems he won't get them, he's simply turning it into a visit.

The exchange was utterly pointless, mainly intended to intimidate the new emperor's authority, and Ryan took his leave in less than ten minutes.

Stepping out of the emperor's palace, Ryan took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of coldness.

"hey-hey."

Ryan suddenly laughed and strode outside.

At the Earl of Clayton’s mansion, Ryan also needed to bid farewell to him.

“Father, I must return to the North. The war is urgent, and countless soldiers are dying every day.”

The capital city is currently embroiled in a political struggle between the Emperor and Grand Duke Freming, with powerful nobles like Earl Clayton and Grand Duke Rodrigo swirling within it. The massive vortex in the capital city is capable of swallowing everything, but it is unlikely to create any larger waves.

……

A considerable number of nobles left the capital city; they were all from the Northern Territory.

"Baron Ryan, what are His Majesty the Emperor's views on the Northwind Province?"

The nobles inquired curiously, knowing that Columbus III had a terrible attitude towards the Northwind Province and wondering what the new emperor would be like.

"The Emperor believes that the North Wind Province is also part of the Empire's territory."

Ryan answered in this way, and the nobles looked at him expectantly, but never received a reply.

"It's gone?"

Ryan smiled and asked in return:
"Do gentlemen require any further answers?"

The nobles remained silent; they couldn't articulate what they wanted, but this answer clearly didn't satisfy them.

"Gentlemen, we can only rely on ourselves to achieve what we desire."

"Become powerful in the Northwind Province, and you will find that everything in this world is just as you wish."

Along the way, the nobles seemed distracted. They thought that with a new emperor in the empire, everything would be new and different, but they found that nothing had changed.

The empire remained the same, and these nobles of the North Wind seemed to be detached from the world.

They're just realizing it now.

The nobles' procession moved slowly, their spirits low, which slowed them even further. By the time Ryan entered the Volga province, Count Pascal and the nobles of the Danube province had already caught up.

"My Lord Count."

Ryan greeted the nobleman with a smile, then noticed that the Gargoyle Earl also looked unwell.

"What happened?"

Ryan had a guess and asked:

"It seems that the Earl is not doing well with His Majesty the Emperor either."

Pascal sighed and nodded, not noticing the word "also" that Ryan mentioned.

"I want to use His Majesty the Emperor to allow Pascal's title to enter the high nobility circle of the capital, so that I can follow the political ideals of a Grand Duke. After all, I have no intention of forming my own faction to fight for interests."

“I would like to follow Grand Duke Russell, but he has already gone to the North, and His Majesty the Emperor… he simply doesn’t have time for me right now.”

"The day after you left the capital, Ryan, the emperor issued a second batch of decrees. However, this time, Grand Duke Freming and his people tried their best to stop it. They also supported the Senate, which, in the name and responsibility of assisting the emperor, used various reasons to persuade the emperor to issue the decrees."

"The emperor was very angry and summoned the nobles to a meeting. Grand Duke Meyers and the others kept rebuking and questioning the nobles for rejecting the emperor's will."

"The political struggles within the capital city have become incredibly chaotic."

Count Pascal, whose political career was also unsatisfactory in the eyes of this emperor, returned quickly to the Danube province in a fit of anger.

Clearly, after being humble and subservient for so long, this nobleman was not without temper.

"I want to see what Volvo is capable of that allows it to keep so many nobles in check."

Upon reaching the Earl's territory, the nobles of the two provinces parted ways once again. As they crossed the Winged Canyon defense line, a sudden chill in the air caused everyone to wrap themselves tighter in their clothes.

The snow in the North has not yet disappeared, but it is much warmer than in previous years, perhaps thanks to the sun shining from that god.

The atmosphere of war permeated the land of the North Wind, a feeling that the southern provinces of the empire could not experience. Under such an atmosphere, even the sullen nobles had to adjust their mood and begin to focus on the matters at hand.

"Lyan, can the Northwind Province really hold off the orc army from the North?"

"Werewolves have appeared, and their power remains terrifying."

Earl Winter looked at Ryan seriously and asked, to which the latter responded with a confident smile.

"Don't worry, Lord Winter, we will win. The North Wind is not just the North Wind; we have many friends."

"The warriors of this land are stronger than we imagined."

Ryan stood in the snow, the coldness under his feet making him even more calm.

"I have decided to eliminate the orc threat in the North."

"To give the people of this land more time for peaceful development."

……

Within the capital city, no one cared about what was happening in the North. The nobles of the North had already left the heart of the empire, while the remaining nobles stayed behind. The emergence of a new emperor was a major event for them.

The nobles had no choice but to accept the first batch of decrees issued by His Majesty the Emperor, as this was the rule of the game for the nobles, and the victors enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

However, the emperor's second batch of decrees has not yet left the capital city.

This outcome infuriated Volvo, who had only been emperor for a few days, and he loudly rebuked the nobles for their intentions.

The nobles, led by Grand Duke Freming, argued based on reason, while the nobles of Grand Duke Rodrigo's faction echoed the ancient traditions. The nobles of Earl Clayton and Grand Duke Russell's side remained silent, watching this lively drama unfold.

"Damn it! How dare they defy the Emperor's will!" The Emperor roared in a low voice in the palace. The dukes of Meyers were also furious, but some of them knew why Duke Freming dared to do this.

Normally, Volvo should have gained a great deal of prestige and prestige when it became the elector of emperors, and naturally become emperors. At that time, it could naturally transform the prestige it once had into the authority of an emperor.

Volvo lacked a significant portion; it failed to establish its own authority over those nobles.

Just like those Northern nobles who left, except for those from Twilight Province, all the nobles returned to the North because of the war, and they did not feel the pressure and authority brought by Volvo.

The Southern nobles, such as Grand Duke Freming, were even more so. From birth until now, Volvo had no direct connection with these nobles.

Archduke Fleming had previously been loyal only to Columbus III, and Volvo did not inherit this 'legacy' from his deceased father.

The nobles had more confidence than they did when facing his father.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I think this is because the government's decrees are being issued too frequently."

The nobles couldn't say that the emperor's lack of authority caused all this, so they had to find other suitable reasons.

"Not long ago, the nobles of the empire provided a massive amount of wealth and resources for the war in the north, making it impossible for the orcs in the north to even breach the empire's fortresses. In a short period of time, the emergence of these decrees has made it necessary for the nobles to bear more responsibility."

"Perhaps that is why they are stopping His Majesty."

"Humph!"

The emperor snorted coldly. Was that what he was dissatisfied with?
"This was the emperor's will. They knelt before me and swore to follow my will, but what about now? Do they still have any respect for the emperor?"

After thinking it over, Grand Duke Meyers said:

"Your Majesty, perhaps you could issue your decrees slowly, giving the nobles time to prepare."

Volvo stared at Archduke Meyers and sneered.

"These decrees are all related to the interests of you great nobles. Are you willing to slow down?"

The reason why the decree was directly admonished this time was simple: there was no suitable reason for war this time, and it was purely the emperor exercising his power to carry out the internal transfer of interests among the nobles.

It causes some nobles to lose, and some nobles to gain.

Grand Duke Meyers turned his head, exchanged glances with the other nobles, and then said back:

"Your Majesty, all of this is in your best interest. If you are unwilling, we can give up all the benefits."

"Okay."

“Then I will tell Grand Duke Freming and the others that I have decided to cancel all decrees.”

what?
This time, the nobles were speechless. This didn't make sense; this exchange shouldn't be like this.

"Your Majesty, these decrees are also intended to consolidate your authority."

Grand Duke Meyers could only suppress his anger and say this.

His status and seniority were such that even Columbus III was wary of them, the old dukes. Volvo had just become emperor and was not yet qualified to have Grand Duke Meyers speak so humbly.

The empire was the empire of the emperor and four grand dukes, or it could be said to be the empire of the royal family and nobles.

"Then it shall be determined according to my will!"

Volvo finally revealed its ambition, staring intently at Archduke Meyers, and said:
"As you said, the nobles are feeling immense pressure due to the continuous expenditure of resources, and their territories cannot bear such expenditures."

"Then, some decrees can be cancelled, but I will not reduce the issuance of decrees."

"My goal is to make the Flor Empire even more glorious and powerful."

"Gentlemen, we should unite."

"You have already received enough benefits. Now, it is time for the nobles of the empire to repay their emperor."

After Volvo finished speaking, he stopped talking and looked at the nobles in front of him.

"His Majesty……"

The nobles exchanged glances and looked at Volvo.

What kind of order do you want to give?

Volvo also became serious and said:
"I am prepared to issue the Chamber of Commerce's trading permit."

As the emperor of an empire, Volvo must be exceptionally good in certain aspects.

His time in power was short-lived. The first was the rebuilding of the naval fleet on the west coast, and the second was the establishment of the Northern Heroes Guild in the south, which was successful with the tacit approval of Columbus III and gained Columbus III's recognition and satisfaction.

The third instance was when Volvo, the war commander-in-chief in the North, defeated the Orcish royal court in a short period of time using a completely different war style than before.

These three attempts at power share a common characteristic: they are all related to money.

Volvo has a profound understanding of the power that an empire can unleash once it has a massive economy.

He experienced the benefits that money brings.

When he was still the elector, controlling wealth meant he could achieve resounding victories in war and determine the course of war in the North; now he is the emperor.

The empire's wealth all belonged to him. What kind of changes could such immense wealth and power bring?
Volvo is ambitious. Having watched his father, Columbus III, rise to become the Great Emperor of Light, Volvo, after becoming emperor himself, was naturally unwilling to be inferior to his father.

He believed he could make the empire better, and that even Columbus III had never discovered the power of money.

This is his opportunity and his means.

"A trading permit from the Chamber of Commerce... what is that?"

Even Grand Duke Meyers couldn't help but wonder, as he had never heard of the Chamber of Commerce needing this item.

"With the Empire's permission, one can trade freely within the Empire and enter the territory of any noble."

"However, similarly, the empire's authorized merchant guilds can also enter the lands that recognize the empire's trade, whether they are kingdoms, noble territories, or even foreign lands. They can enter freely and receive protection."

"The empire will possess immeasurable wealth."

Rather than helping these nobles gain benefits, Volvo prefers his policies to be supported by everyone.

As for the nobles? Aren't all the nobles of the empire loyal followers of His Majesty Emperor Flor?

As His Majesty the Emperor, he must treat everyone equally.

The nobles were taken aback that the emperor would threaten the Imperial Merchant Guild's interests, and they couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

In that case... even these nobles can't avoid it.

They weren't rejecting Volvo outright, but rather wondering whether it would be good or bad for them.

"How does Your Majesty intend to stipulate the contents of trade permits?"

(End of this chapter)