Shadow of the Evil God

The banker nodded in agreement and hurried out with her male companion, who followed her like an attendant, to the banquet table that should have been filled with wine and delicacies. She sat down, and if the chair wasn't sturdy, the legs might have creaked under her weight. Cesar found a seat facing the table. The banquet hall was still brightly lit, but it was strangely empty. The few people conferring at the table, lit only by candles, was truly strange.

Cesar glanced at Diana, who was wearing a colorless black cloak with the travel coat she always wore in the wilderness underneath; then he looked at the princess, whose armor had not yet been removed, and the bloodstains and smell of gunpowder had not been washed off her crimson battle robe; his own alderman's clothes, which he had picked up at random, were surprisingly the most suitable for the atmosphere.

He exchanged a glance with Gouzi, and before he could formulate his words, Gouzi ran off to the side room, his expression as if realizing something. A moment later, the invisible assassin vanished, and a neatly dressed young maiden emerged. As the others watched in bewilderment, she blew her trumpet and struck her timpani before striding over to Cesar's side.

Beside him stood Gouzi, chest puffed out, wearing a tall hat, holding a musical instrument, and adorned in the exquisite uniform of a page. Her black coat was trimmed with gilded trim, a crimson cape draped over her shoulders, and a wide red ribbon tied around her waist. She looked like a lively young woman with long, golden-red hair. She played the music from the beginning of the banquet to the end, each beat and drumbeat perfectly executed.

Did this guy understand the subtle thoughts in his mind? Some subtle interest that he himself didn't even realize? It had to be said that this joke was both childish and cruel, with a sense of absurdity, like dancing on a grave.

"I admit your joke is funnier," the banker said suddenly. "This lady's presence makes all my proud collection pale in comparison. Now, at least we have a party atmosphere, Cesar. You can call me Loretha. I'm the main investor in this place, but for now, I'm just a prisoner."

Cesar nodded and pulled Gouzi to sit down, as she seemed to want to play the dance music for the rest of the party. "Do you have any opinion on this situation, Ms. Loretha?"

Her expression remained unchanged. "From what I understand, the alderman wants to add a few more words to his contribution, but you are a man of action,

It's a really big step. Not only do you not want to pull it back, but you also push the person who's blocking your way into the mud."

"You're kidding! The local nobles are more than just trying to block our way. You're more than just looking for investment."

Rolaisa grinned. "You mean to ask," she said, "a banker from Olidan who, in order to expand his business, rigs the Empire and bribes the troops who were supposed to be guarding the frontier fortresses? I knew that mouthy idiot in Correla would spill everything, and I've been suggesting they deal with him, but you've killed the ones who should have. So, is he still alive?"

"Corella is doing well," Cesar said. "To stay alive and prosper, he's already writing a financial tally of his family's assets and drafting a blueprint for running his Chamber of Commerce."

"Aren't you afraid of blood feuds?" she asked. "You just wiped out a family, and Corella is the only one left alive."

“Not everyone cares about family and blood,” Cesar said, gesturing toward Altinia. “And sometimes, they get overwhelmed by other things, don’t you think?”

Loresa seemed reluctant to look Altinya in the face. She rubbed her throat with her chubby fingers, trying to calm her nerves. "The sudden massacre and attack that occurred yesterday were all the work of our noble Princess?"

"You don't really believe the false news spread by the Chancellor, do you, ma'am?" Cesar sized her up. "If the Imperial Chancellor was telling the truth, she wouldn't be wearing a ball gown right now, but she would at least have washed the blood off her tabard and armor. It's a shame they didn't invite us to the banquet first. Otherwise, it wouldn't be the town square filled with corpses, but this brilliantly lit banquet hall."

"The news that old man released was so fake, I thought at least some of it was true!"

Chapter 227 She is like a puppy

Rolaisa rubbed her temples as she spoke. "I do my best to sift through the rumors and identify the pretexts deliberately thrown out by the conspirators, but there are so many pretexts, so many that they could be used as bricks to build a house. Often, I feel like I'm living in a castle made of pretexts. No matter how careful you are, you'll keep stepping on those pretexts thrown by who knows who, and end up falling flat on your face."

Cesar nodded in agreement. Although he had come up with a bunch of excuses from dusk to evening, each of which was no less fabricated than that of the prime minister, this did not affect his nodding of agreement.

"You could stop being so evasive, ma'am," he said with a smile. "Facing reality sooner rather than later would be better for all of us."

"Yes, the reality," Loretha said, clearing her throat cautiously, seemingly out of consideration for Artini, who had been profoundly impressed by the events of the evening. "The reality," she said, "is that we don't trust you to hold the fortress, young Borgia, any more than the noble faction, aided by the Empire, could defeat old King Evered IV."

Cesar discovered the most critical point of the matter. After assessing the situation, those in the know did not think that he could defend the Gural Fortress.

He tapped his fingers on the table. "You think you're very strategic?"

"I'm simply assessing the situation," she said, as expected. "Intentions are determined not only by interests but also by risks. Since ancient times, the southwestern empire has prioritized military power and valor. Even if the Chancellor continues to invite and befriend the southern nations, he won't be able to advance even a fraction into the territory commanded by General Clifas. Do you understand the weight of this fact?"

"so?"

"Now the old general has become more active, found an opportunity, and formed an alliance. The Chancellor's economy and culture are the most intact, and they now have military support from General Garcia. General Clefas's side has more than enough military power, but lacks only allies and economic resources. If both sides address their weaknesses, the ensuing war will inevitably revolve around the southwest, southeast, and north of the Kasar Empire. Anyone who stands in the way of one side without intending to form an alliance with the other is courting death."

"continue."

Rolaisa stared at Cesar. "As long as you hold Gural Fortress, serving as a gate to King Evered IV, bloodshed is inevitable. Believe it or not, General Cleface's plan can at least save your life, allowing you to continue fighting under the banner of the Empire—and not just your life, but everyone's. If the army marches straight in and meets the allied forces of the nobles, Olidan can quickly end the civil war and avoid all the bloodshed and chaos that will follow."

"The information you've obtained is even less comprehensive than I thought, Ms. Loretha," Cesar said. "Did you know that I have a personal grudge against them?"

Rolisa took a deep breath. "I don't think the rumor is true... maybe it's a half-truth?" She looked at Gouzi. "It's her, right? But Miss Rhine seems to be doing well. Not only is she unharmed, but her artistic accomplishments are also remarkable. If this misunderstanding can be resolved, wouldn't it be better for everyone?"

Cesar knew the rumors were false, but the truth was far worse. Of all the accusations he'd made against old Thane, this one ranked highest. Furthermore, in the imperial court, there was no way to verify the state of a person's soul. Not to mention his reluctance to hand over the dog, even if she truly passed herself off as deceased, given her status and position, someone would sooner or later discover her body was empty.

He spread his hands. "Let me put it this way, Ms. Rolaisa. You can rest assured that the rumors are true. The night before I breached Fort Gonzales, I had a heart-to-heart meeting with Governor Vermeer. There, coincidentally, was General Cliface's confidant and this lovely lady of mine. He asserted that I had damaged her soul, and I must pay for it. I wanted to kill him and everyone in the meeting room, but unfortunately, with the Temple's support, I was unable to accomplish my goal."

Cesar stared at Loresa. She stared at the dog for a long moment, as if she didn't understand what he was saying, then looked back at him. "What did you do?" she demanded.

He put his hand to the dog's mouth, and the dog licked it with its tongue like a well-behaved puppy. "What do you think?" he asked.

"Why? I say why? I will at least make my baby look like a human being!" she asked continuously.

"I'm here to discuss my personal preferences?" Cesar waved her off. "Think about it, Loretha. Someone desperately wants to save his well-educated daughter, and after finally hearing the news, he finds her sitting in someone else's arms like a puppy, paying no attention to her. What do you think he'd think? If he had a sword, he'd stab me to death."

"Are you kidding me? Didn't you know who she was when you bought the slave?"

"You weren't there, so you don't know what happened." Cesar shrugged, even though Old Thane wouldn't care if he knew. "Please, Old Thane didn't tell me who she was when he gave her to me. I thought she was my carefree best friend. In fact, I never thought she was Miss Rhine, but some people think she is and want to avenge me with blood. Can I hand over my head with her? Do you think it's okay?"

Rolaisa's eyes widened. "You can just offer her up as Miss Rhine and explain that it's all old Thane's fault. What's the point? The princess has accepted you as her teacher. Can't she pray for forgiveness for you?"

"Oh, of course," Cesar sighed. "I'd surrender my life to fate, unable to do anything but pray for mercy. I couldn't even make any strategic plans. Why would I do that? Tell me. This isn't just a military confrontation, Loretha. It's also about someone's family blood debt. There's no other choice but to resist with all my might."

"If you say so, does that mean that everyone in the banquet hall..." She seemed to realize something.

Cesar applauded her. "You are very perceptive, ma'am," he praised. "Indeed, everyone in this banquet hall has their own personal reasons, some are family feuds, some are academic disputes, and our princess is even more so. No matter how nicely you explain your considerations, we cannot agree to them."

"School Wars..." Rolaisa looked at Diana, who was resting her elbows on the table, her chin in her hand, looking a little distracted. It was clear she wasn't taking the meeting seriously. She believed everything about Sodoris was settled, no further discussion needed, and coming to the banquet hall was just a formality. She also laughed at Cesar's occasional desire to perform.

"The Hisai School supports General Cleface." Cesar smiled at her. "I forgot the old wizard's head in my bedroom and didn't bring it with me. But it's okay. If you need it, I can bring it to you after the meeting." He leaned forward and tapped the table with his finger. "This is a war with no room for retreat. I can't betray King Evered IV, nor can I defect to General Cleface. They know I can't do that. We all know this. Lady Diana will be taken to the Hisai School dungeon and tortured to death. My head will be presented to a loving fiancé. Only Her Royal Highness will survive, but she will also be forced to marry a blood relative. Do you understand?"

To say he couldn't betray Fred IV was a lie. He expanded his military power and controlled territory precisely to acquire countermeasures. After all, he wasn't a direct descendant of Fred IV. If the king had taken someone's promise and, considering the pros and cons, wanted to back down, he would naturally consider the olive branches offered by the nobles. This was assuming he already had these resources.

Loretha's lips moved. She hadn't given up yet, showing remarkable perseverance. "General Cliface's messenger has repeatedly emphasized that this expedition is aimed at stopping war and massacres, preventing further slaughter."

"In short, you promised to surrender the Gural Fortress, bribed the officers, and even the alderman's family was linked to your betrayal."

"This is good for everyone!" She roared in a low voice. "The nobles are more reasonable than Evered IV, more supportive of free trade, and every one of them is more open-minded than the royalist nobles! General Cleface will not invade the south. He will only defend the Gural Fortress with us, reach a trade agreement with Auridan, and work together to resist Domini and other imperial territories. As long as the king abdicates, everything will be fine. As long as you give up the fortress, you can save thousands of lives!" She also leaned forward, and the oppressive feeling she exuded could be felt with the naked eye. "Every day the fortress holds out, more people will die in Auridan. The massacre has spread and is becoming more and more. Don't you see it yourself?"

"Are you finished?" Cesar asked her.

"Not only that, these refugees and farmers you have are simply incapable of defending the fortress. Bribing the officers to join forces inside and outside will at least give you a dignified exit. A stubborn resistance would cost the civilians and soldiers remaining in the fortress their lives. What is this all for? Is it because of your personal vendetta? While the fighting within Olidan was a mess, with corpses scattered everywhere, you forbade other factions from aiding the noble coalition, while allowing Evered IV to boast about the nonexistent friendship between Olidan and Domini? If you truly fear death, why don't you take your men and flee far away? The world is so vast, and there's no place for you? Even if you dare not stay on this continent for long, can't you take to the sea?"

"You really are good at offering people a way out in life, ma'am," Cesar said, "but I think it's easier to just face the challenge."

Loretha, on the verge of collapse, once again stopped herself and maintained her composure. "I guess you don't know the size of the army over there," she said.

Chapter 228 You are a devil

"I hope you'll make a list of these insignificant details and show them to us later." Cesar tossed a scroll to Loretha. "If you've figured it out, we can get down to business."

Her eyelids twitched when she heard it, and she had to reach out and rub them. "What do you want?"

"What else could it be? Military expenses, of course. Can I negotiate with a banker for the army?"

"How much do you want?"

"That's hard to say," Cesar said casually. "Let me give you an example. One hundred thousand livres..."

"That's impossible," Rolaisa immediately denied. "I'm a banker who manages numerous guilds, not a wealthy individual with a basement full of gold. I only offer opinions and influence the meeting's decision-making. The funding you casually mentioned requires deliberation and a vote by many members before it can be approved."

"I didn't say it was the final price."

"You mean give as much as you can?"

"No, I mean at least this much."

Rolisa's eyelids twitched even more. "You might as well just kill me," she said, staring at him. "My entire fortune doesn't even reach that much. Even if I could get enough money, I wouldn't have enough time to transfer it. Before then, everyone would unanimously vote to fire me."

Cesar stared back at her indifferently. "Aren't you going to open a bank and expand your business in the territory ruled by General Cliface, Ms. Rolaisa?"

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to make a huge return right away.”

Cesar shook his head. "It means you didn't think you could take things any further."

Rolaisa leaned forward. "Do it more radically? What do you think you're talking about? You may have more insight into military matters, but who are you to advise me on business and economics? Every one of us knows the rewards we can get from managing General Clifford's territory. We've proposed and evaluated countless options and found the most suitable one. And you say we can do it more radically?"

"You can unfold the scroll first and take a look at my proposal," Cesar said. "We can discuss any details later."

Loretha's brow furrowed deeply, but considering she was a prisoner, she didn't refuse. She took a sip of the wine she hadn't opened at the banquet, then set her glass down, trying to maintain her composure as she read the scroll in her hand. After a moment, she raised her head, staring blankly at César, and began to curse under her breath. Her words were surprisingly fluent and crude. When she finally finished, she picked up her glass and emptied the rest.

"Tell me about it," Cesar said.

"You're a demon," Rosa said. Diana turned her absent-minded gaze, and the princess also looked at him, a little confused.

"I'm just giving you a suggestion," Cesar denied. "Don't we still have to leave the specific details to our banker?"

Loretha asked her male companion to refill the glass. "Yes, you are," she said. "Let's think about this calmly for a moment. The premise of all this is that General Clifford has excellent silver mines, which can mint high-quality coins and barely maintain their trade qualifications and economic potential, right?"

"Nothing's wrong," Cesar said.

"Then," Rolisa said, "in order to emulate the Prime Minister and revitalize the territory's economy and commerce, the first thing they wanted to do was bring us in. I don't know if this was the young prince's idea or General Clifas's, but they did welcome our bank into the agreement. As long as we provide a high upfront investment and buy off multiple nodes along General Clifas's route, the scope of their opening will gradually expand until we gain certain privileges."

"Yes."

She twisted her nose vigorously. "You mean, first gradually approach and obtain the right to mint coins? Then, while they're focused on fighting, we can collude with the nobles and bureaucrats in their court who haven't been granted military power to issue new coins. We can reduce the silver content while forcing the recycling of high-quality old coins and foreign currencies, and then claim it as the currency of a unified territory."

"Do you have any objections?" Cesar asked her. "Are you telling me that artificially creating inflation will destroy a place's already shaky economy? Or are you complaining that the money earned from issuing inferior coins and massive over-minting isn't enough?"

"No," Loretha hesitated, "we can make a lot of money, but..."

"Are you more afraid of General Clifford discovering something is wrong years from now and having you all arrested and executed, or are you more afraid of being thrown into a dungeon and screaming like a wild animal? You can tell me now."

She let out a long breath, gripping her glass tightly. "This is indeed a risky move, and one that's far too long-term," she said. "This presupposes that you can hold off General Clefas's army and end the civil war in Olidan. Only by surviving all these threats can you, years from now, seize the empire's territory, which is on the verge of economic collapse. Furthermore, even if their territories' economies completely collapse, and the nobles, fearing repercussions, flee to other kingdoms with their wealth, they still have the ability to muster a large army for a desperate fight."

"Yes," Cesar admitted, "but why do you have to think so far ahead for me?

Madam? Now that your bank has made enough money, can't you lead those wealthy nobles to flee to foreign lands? Wasn't it me who was the first to stand in his way? Now you only need to consider two things: mobilize the nobles without military power to make money together, and give me a share of your wealth to help with military expenses.

The most important thing is to not let General Cleaves and his military nobles make all the money and concentrate it in the hands of those who are good at escaping. It just so happens that they are busy going on expeditions and getting involved in the civil war in the South, and there is no better opportunity.

"You are a devil, little Borgia," hissed Loretha.

"Don't be so harsh, Ms. Loretha," Cesar said in astonishment. "I'm not a banker who only thinks about making profits. I'm just finding new ways to attack my military enemies. Besides, it's not me who's in charge of this matter. I'm just offering an ambiguous suggestion to help you think about it. You should be able to sell it, right, ma'am?"

"I don't need to sell it. People with good eyes will join us naturally."

"That would be great, ma'am."

"You do have a gift for negotiation, young Borgia." Loretha laughed harshly. "That's the only true rumor. If you ever can't hold back the northern army, you'll have a bright future in business."

"You think too much." Cesar shrank back. "I'm not good at anything. I just happened to meet some people who are good at things."

Chapter 229: Cliff

......

To ensure that the banker's promise was trustworthy, Diana pulled Phils to help her prepare the spell.

Cesar had already experienced Fils's ability to control souls and emotions. It felt like mixing colors on a canvas. Often, it reminded him of the mage who ate himself like a book, perhaps even more so. At first, Fils had only soothed his soul, but now, Diana often took her to explore the structure of the soul and consciousness, and she had gradually begun to use her magic on others.

She didn't learn them, she just remembered things she had forgotten.

Think about it carefully, why would Ferriers strip off the part of herself that is good at controlling her soul and emotions? This is difficult to understand. Cesar originally thought that Ferriers was a mysterious accident, but now it seems that this stripping also has its own difficult-to-understand purpose.

Cesar didn't follow them out because Altinya pulled him aside to ask more questions. It had to be said that as the decisions Cesar had given her to make came to fruition, she also showed a more advanced temperament.

His view of the princess was a mixture of cruelty and pride. Having suffered family setbacks as a child, she had learned a superficial humility and mastered the art of deceit. While these traits couldn't completely conceal her true nature, revealing themselves unwittingly when she sought his advice, they at least allowed her to break free from the shackles of the imperial court.

After discussing some basic economics with Altinya, Cesar watched her take notes, and then they talked about the events of the previous night. She didn't rush into the conversation, first lighting a few candles in the gradually darkening banquet hall and placing them beside them, then bringing over some wine and sitting down to his right.

"I don't really care whether they're traitors or not," she admitted. "I do have more than one way to deal with the seized supplies, but I have the authority to act and enough troops. I think instead of playing political games with them, it's better to just get rid of them and replace them with our own people. The only difference is whether we kill them on the spot or lock them up and leave them to die."

Altinia leaned back in her chair, staring at the blood-red wine in her hand, her gaze seemingly absorbed in the crystal glass. She looked serene, apathetic. She took a sip, then passed the glass to Cesar, as if sharing her blood and secrets. Some old custom? Cesar wasn't sure, but seeing her focused gaze, he took it and took a sip.

She nodded slightly, then began to recount the history of their Casal Empire. Cesar listened for a few words and realized it was a chronicle-style narrative, but judging by her tone, it sounded more like a scholar describing a natural phenomenon.

"It was a recently completed, magnificent palace located in the southern part of the empire," the princess explained. "The palace's design was quite ingenious, with a magnificent corridor leading to the banquet hall. Deeper inside was a temple for worshipping the gods. The newly ascended emperor was visiting the palace, and the old emperor invited a large number of dignitaries to a banquet. The most prominent local nobles escorted them through the corridor to the newly completed banquet hall."

"Is there any conflict between the emperor and the dignitaries in the south?"

"Yes, it is." Altinya nodded. "But why do you feel there is a contradiction, sir? I haven't said anything yet."

"The smile on your face has different subtleties at different times," Cesar said. "When I was sick in the tent, your eyebrows were raised high and the corners of your mouth were deliberately lowered. I think maybe you could call it pride?"

"I'm not proud..." She subconsciously wanted to deny it, but then admitted, "I just, well, maybe there is a little bit. I never see you so weak before. Rare things inevitably change people's moods, especially when you can only listen to what I say."

"It sounds like you're aiming to be emperor," Cesar said. "Will you arrange a marriage for me with an important nobleman and then keep me in line?"

"Teacher, please stop joking with me."

"Okay, speaking of the signs of your changing mood, I think it's because you've been smiling habitually for too long, and you can't seem to maintain a completely neutral expression, so it's inevitable that your emotions will show on your lips and brows. When you were sharing insignificant stories from the past about the Empire with me, the arc of your smile was very natural, your eyebrows were raised high, and you truly had a genuine sense of joy. But just now, your face was just a polite smile, devoid of any emotion. It seemed too restrained, and aside from the slight curve at the corner of your mouth, nothing else could be seen on your face."

Altinya pressed her lips.

"You're right. I should probably practice maintaining my expression..." Her train of thought remained unique. "Let's get back to the palace. When the new emperor ascended the throne, he was engaged in power disputes and ethnic conflicts with the southern aristocratic factions. The old emperor built this palace, which people believed would both ease relations and intimidate the local nobles. Regardless, the palace was completed, and the old emperor extended invitations, seemingly aiming to ease relations among his subjects for the new emperor, whose position was still unstable. Everyone decided to attend the banquet and walked through that corridor into the banquet hall."

"The corridor you specifically mentioned

What’s so special about it?”

"Its decoration is so exquisite and eye-catching," said Artinya. "The artwork displayed in the corridors brings together paintings and sculptures by the most famous masters of the time. It seems that the old emperor prepared them to ease relations. The candlelight is also dim. Although it is a bit dim, it just creates an atmosphere of appreciation for beauty and art. The emperor's attendants personally escorted the dignitaries through the narrow corridor and told them that the new emperor, who had just ascended the throne, was waiting at the end of the banquet hall and looked forward to their first meeting."

“Not wide…”

"Perhaps it's more accurate to say it's narrow," the princess said, her lips parting slightly. "Because of the sculptures and portraits, there's very little room for people to stand. Do you remember how brilliantly lit the banquet hall was just now? It was also brilliantly lit then, and the most amazing thing was that the glaring light was concentrated at the corridor exit. People passing through the dim corridor to reach the banquet hall would either subconsciously raise their hands to cover their eyes or subconsciously squint, and some would even be blinded until everything was white. The rich aroma of incense and candles filled the air, making people extremely intoxicated. At this time, the palace guards would read out the names and surnames of the guests aloud, their voices so loud that they would echo throughout the corridor. Then, the invisible assassin—"

"Invisible Assassin?"

Altinya smiled slightly.