Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

By late May.

Only a few batches of overseas materials remain adrift at sea in the "Cradle of Life." As long as there are no storms at sea, they should be able to reach the shore smoothly in June.

Gordon calculated the dates and came to an exciting conclusion.

At the latest, he will be able to launch the ceremony after the college's report meeting in June.

By then, he'll be free from university, and he can take leave for summer vacation without having to perform a mysterious ceremony while worrying about whether the teacher will take attendance in class.

It was pouring rain that day, and Gordon carried a shovel back to 9 Knight Road.

His cloak was completely soaked, several jars of highly active sludge hung from his waist, and a bag of newly refined water-phase spiritual crystals was on his chest.

Upon arriving outside the Johns Hopkins dental clinic, Gordon did not go upstairs.

A huge four-wheeled carriage blocked the way, with four tall black horses harnessed and puffing out puffs of white steam.

Vera stood at the bottom of the stairs.

She looked at the huge carriage, then at Gordon.

"It's been here for a while," Vera said.

Did the driver say anything?

"no."

"suspicious."

"Nothing suspicious." The car door opened.

It was Earl Guy Monford.

Gordon greeted him.

He sat on a cushion, his beard imposing and thick, holding a walking stick, and dressed in a dark suit.

  

The count's gaze fell on Gordon's cloak, and he raised an eyebrow.

"In such heavy rain, Mr. Vic still had the leisure to swim in the river," he said.

Other swimming clubs charge membership fees.

"I'll give you five minutes to change into something presentable. We're going to Mount King." The count tapped the carriage floor with his cane.

Junwang Mountain.

Vera's expression changed instantly.

The Royal Palace, the Privy Council, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Colonial Affairs, the Ministry of the Navy... and many other departments that Vera couldn't understand, were all there.

For hunters, being taken to King's Mountain meant committing a serious crime.

"You want to cut off Gordon's head?" Vera placed her hand on the black sword.

"No," the count said, pointing his cane at Gordon. "Mud."

"Mud won't make people go up the mountain," Vera said, puzzled.

"We try not to discuss this in the street."

"I'll go too," Vera insisted.

"That's Mount Monarch. Bringing a college student in has already damaged my political credibility," the count said coldly.

"Alright, alright, Vera, stay home." Gordon went upstairs.

"..." Vera followed Gordon back to the second floor with worry, her steps light and her heart heavy.

Gordon used the apartment's brass showerhead to wash away the fishy smell of the river and changed into a relatively new white shirt.

As they went outside again, Vera followed them to the door with reluctance.

"Come back early this time," Vera said, "before dark."

"understood."

"The sky never goes dark on Mount Kings," the Earl said.

"How could that be?" Vera said.

She crouched down at the doorway and watched Gao Deng get into the car.

Vera was used to waiting; it was a quiet duty.

Gordon secretly vowed that he would really come back soon this time.

If he doesn't come back, she might stay here until she turns to stone.

……

The carriage left Knightsway and headed toward the heart of Lundenim, rain streaming incessantly down the windows.

The streets were congested and smelled terrible. Coal trucks covered with black tarpaulins creaked as they rolled over the stone pavement.

Citizens braved the rain; many Lundenim residents are used to the rain and walk in it without umbrellas.

The Earl of Montfort held up the draft, and Gordon took it.

Application for Permit for the Disposal of Silt and Development of Spiritual Resources in the Blackwater River.

The contents are rich and the wording is solemn. It is stamped with the white lion emblem of the Montfort family, and there is a large blank space in the lower right corner, waiting for the emperor's seal.

The Earl had the advantage of breaking the project down into three layers.

Dredging silt can serve water management projects, water-phase spiritual crystals can reduce the cost of military combat agents, and the project itself can also create jobs.

This is a professional project, and the Earl has tried his best to solve the problem using contemporary thinking.

"Very well written. Very well..." Gordon nodded solemnly.

"You mean there's a problem?"

"You understand me better and better."

"I don't know why either."

"Actually... I don't think the Empire will hand over the river's profits just because a plan is scientific. If that were the case, scientists like me should be the richest people in the Empire," Gordon explained.

"When did you become a scientist?"

"It's only a matter of time, sir."

The count decided not to discuss this.

"I can attest that if we don't start clearing the silt now, the riverbed will rise, the waterways will become blocked, and the flood control project will not be able to proceed smoothly," the Count said.

"That's not enough." Gordon closed the draft. "We need to tell a story."

"story?"

"The story of a cult that is stealing imperial assets, plundering labor, and threatening imperial power... We are already in a state of de facto war."

"Right now, you're the only one fighting them."

"So I need this country to help me."

Earl Monford leaned back and looked at Gordon.

The difference is huge.

Most people would feel nervous and uneasy upon hearing that they were going to Mount Monarch. Even Source Hunters are no exception, worrying about etiquette and their lives.

But Gordon's first reaction was to involve the Empire as well, have the state eliminate his enemies, and then have him and the Monford family take over the riverbed left behind by the enemies.

"You should know that those people won't be swayed by a few nice words," said the Earl of Montfort.

"It's okay, I prepared many, many sentences."

The count closed his eyes.

……

The carriage passed through an invisible barrier, and the rain clouds disappeared.

Gordon looked up.

The city behind us was still suffering from the May downpours, but the Junwang Mountain was clear and blue, bathed in sunshine.

A sun hangs in the sky, freezing the panoramic view of Junwang Mountain at noon.

Surrounding it is a vast central administrative building complex, with solemn classical buildings that are majestic, upright and bright, and the royal three lions and sun flag fluttering in the wind, as if burning under the sky.

They got out of the car and stood in front of the Imperial Government Building.

"When I first came here when I was young, I felt so small." Earl Monford looked up at the enormous building.

"Do taxpayers know their money is being used to fix this?" Gordon looked up at the spectacle.

The building itself is exceptionally tall, with a high arched entrance and neatly arranged stone pillars.

Countless civil servants moved about among them. The world empire needed people with extraordinary abilities, as well as people to complete bizarre and trivial administrative tasks.

The sun never sets on Mount King, so the sound of the bells is essential.

Every fifteen minutes, the clock tower would chime, and a group of civil servants would immediately pour out, moving from one door to another.

Gordon and the Earl walked up the steps.

The length of the steps varies depending on people's sense of awe; the more tense they are, the harder it is to climb.

I climbed up ten steps and felt like I was at the top.

He turned around, and there was Earl Montfort, still solemnly climbing his fifty steps, moving extremely slowly.

"How many steps have you taken?" Earl Monford arrived at the entrance and found Gordon already waiting for him.

"Ten steps."

"...Don't tell anyone."

I said I could only count to ten.

They arrived at the second floor on the east side of the building.

The Earl and Gordon stopped in front of an office with an ivory-carved nameplate.

"We are to meet with 'Lady of Generosity' Elizabeth. She is the most approachable one, but if you try to be clever..." The Earl straightened his tie.

"I know her," Gordon said.

The count's hand stopped on his tie. He looked at Gordon, and for the first time, a hint of surprise appeared on his usually stern face.

"...How is that possible?"

"It's true. We've maintained a very long and close relationship," Gordon said seriously.

The Earl's attitude toward Gordon suddenly changed.

The emperor appointed seven extraordinary individuals to serve as pillars of the nation.

The Minister of Temperance is responsible for balancing the economic resources of the entire empire, the Minister of Diligence is responsible for promoting the expansion of the empire's industry and military... while the Minister of Generosity ensures that money, talent, and opportunities flow continuously within the empire, ensuring that the empire remains vibrant and endures for millennia.

If Gordon can get in touch with such an important person, then the Earl's assessment of him must be completely overturned.

"...I knew nothing about him before." The count lowered his voice. "How did you come to know the Gentleman of Generosity?"

Gordon also lowered his voice.

"She issued my student loan. Elizabeth Charitable Trust Student Fund."

"..."

"One hundred gold pounds, and one hundred and three gold pounds this month," Gordon added. "Our relationship is growing closer every day."

"That's not what it means to know someone, Mr. Vic."

"She knows my name, my home address, my major, and where I want to work. Who else in this world would be willing to know so much about me besides her?"

The walnut door finally opened, rescuing the Count from his predicament.

"Please come in," the secretary gestured for them to enter.

The office was very clean, like a private living room.

The wallpaper was off-white, and geraniums were placed under the window. Elizabeth was brewing tea with her back to them when she heard footsteps and immediately invited them to sit down.

"Please sit down." She wore a gray long dress and a wool shawl, with an unchanging, gentle smile on her face.

Gordon took his seat and glanced around.

[The Emperor's portrait. The sun of Logris, so intense and inviolable, shines so brightly that his features are obscured.]

[The filing cabinet. It likely contains records of your debts.]

[Curtains. For afternoon naps.]

The count explained his purpose.

They chatted for a while, and the Earl of Montfort recounted the Blackwater River dredging project, the spirituality of the river mud, the industrial uses of water crystals, and then brought up other topics such as the mining area, the workers' strategy of protecting the monkeys from the mud, and the amount of tax paid.

Elizabeth listened quietly, her expression gentle, occasionally flipping through the documents.

"A very valuable idea," she said.

"..." The count nodded, knowing he was doomed.

"I have two questions."

"Speaking."

"First, the dangers on the Blackwater River are increasing daily, with surveyors, engineers, and contractors dying without cause. I cannot approve an industry that could kill hundreds or thousands of people."

"Secondly, the source of the spiritual energy in the water is still unclear. The Blackwater River has existed for thousands of years, but this activity has suddenly erupted in recent years. If you cannot pinpoint the source, how dare you deal with this unknown pollution?"

"Anyway, you're not the first people to ask me if this is feasible," she smiled.

The count remained silent, lost in thought.

Gordon put down his teacup.

"...These two questions have the same answer," Gordon said.