Chapter 753.2: Port Gallon, In A Mess
Chapter 753.2: Port Gallon, In A Mess
Still, although he looked down on the name from the bottom of his heart, Governor Nihark couldn't help but feel a trace of warmth. Those sycophants who had once practically licked his boots hadn't come to visit him even once during his imprisonment. Yet someone who had met him only once, two years ago, had still remembered him.
The only disappointment was that the man hadn’t come personally. Instead, he sent a servant?
As if noticing the displeasure he was feeling, Aksh smiled and explained, "My master wanted to receive you personally, but he's currently under military orders and can't leave the frontlines. So he entrusted me with welcoming you instead."
"Military orders? What military orders?" Nihark asked blankly, completely unaware of current events.
The smile on Aksh’s face remained as he continued, "The Expeditionary Army, of course. Right now, across the entire wasteland... and even our Poro Province, which technically isn't even part of the wasteland, there is no cause more important than the war against humanity's enemy. It's not just us. The Army, the Enterprise, and the Academy have all committed troops to it."
Nihark nodded as though he understood. In reality... He understood nothing.
Humanity's enemy? Since when had the Empire gained another enemy?
Knowing that none of this could be explained in just a few words, Aksh smoothly changed the subject. "It's a long story. Far too complicated to explain here. My master has prepared a welcome banquet in your honor at the Triumph Grand Hotel. If you'll accompany me to the private dining room, I'll explain everything in detail."
"Then I'll trouble you." Nihark glanced around.
Since no one else had come to receive him, he accepted the invitation and followed Isair's servant. The two quickly climbed aboard a three-wheeled vehicle. More accurately, it was a covered carriage pulled by a three-wheeler.
Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the street, a young Ratfolk man dressed in a sharp suit stood expressionlessly outside the prison gates. Only after the three-wheeler disappeared into the distance did he quietly speak. "Kunal, my friend. Do you still remember that man?"
The young Dogfolk man beside him nodded. "Of course I do. He the great lord governor."
Axin spoke casually. "That was a long time ago. Now he's like a rat crawling out of a sewer, frightened by the people on the streets. Cowardly. Pathetic. All bark and no bite... Tsk, tsk."
He gently shook his head, making no effort to hide the contempt and ridicule in his eyes.
That man reminded him uncannily of his former self. If someone stripped that fellow naked and threw him into the street, he might not handle it any better than Axin once had.
So this... Is what the Empire's nobility really looked like.
There were no Sunfolk, Bullfolk, or Elephantfolk here. Only different breeds of rats.
Kunal muttered, "I don't understand. Why didn't the New Alliance just kill them all? Wouldn't it have been easier to become emperor themselves? Why make things so complicated?"
"They only needed to take one more step west, and City of a Thousand Pillars would have been theirs. Add one more pillar there, and as 'Iron Men', they could have ruled this land, becoming the 1001st gods upon it."
"You don't understand? Good. Neither do I," Axin replied, glancing at his friend. "But my intuition tells me that's precisely one of the reasons the New Alliance chose not to kill them."
Having said that, he ended the fruitless discussion.
What a pity. Originally, he had planned to invite the fallen governor to dinner. Perhaps that would have given him an opportunity to establish connections with the Heavenly City and expand his business in Banana Head Bay even further. Unfortunately, someone else had gotten there first.
Still, it hardly mattered.
That former governor was unlikely to sit down and share drinks with a Ratfolk like him anyway. And after witnessing the man's pitiful display, Axin had suddenly lost all interest. Especially when he thought about the fact that an empire so vast had been ruined by people like that.
The thought filled him with shame and he could hardly hold his head high.
Maybe, they should simply replace everyone from the Empire.
The idea suddenly surfaced in his mind. Once it appeared, it refused to go away, growing steadily stronger. Of course, he had no intention of becoming emperor himself. The emperor's life was probably far less comfortable than the one he currently enjoyed.
He had heard that a group of Moonfolk rebels was active in the forests to the north.
Perhaps, he could invest in them.
For example, by using his network among the warlords to supply them with equipment, or arranging for some of their people to study in Dawn City.
The operation itself would actually be quite easy.
Through an inn called the Land of Abandoned Ships, Axin had already established connections with the leaders of both the Fierce Tiger Army and the Black Panther Army. At least half of the resources produced by the plantations and mines scattered across the eastern region were being sold to Port Gallon through his shadow port.
The risks were certainly high, but what if those Moonfolk rebels actually succeeded? The returns from investing in a new dynasty would be far greater than backing some down-and-out old noble...
...
At that very moment, Governor Nihark had no idea that a young Ratfolk was staring at his departing figure while contemplating something so treasonous.
Following Aksh to the Triumph Grand Hotel, he was completely stunned by the lavish feast laid out before him. Compared to this dazzling spread of delicacies, the boxed meals he had eaten in prison had been no better than pig feed!
Watching the former governor devour the food with wolfish appetite, Aksh almost spoke our loud: They must have starved you in prison.
But after noticing the loose folds of fat hanging around the man's neck, he swallowed the words. It was obvious the New Alliance hadn't starved him at all. In just a few months, they had practically fattened him into a pig. There was probably more grease than blood flowing through those noble veins now.
Suppressing the urge to laugh, Aksh stood respectfully beside him and recounted everything that had happened over the past few months, placing particular emphasis on General Babita's incompetence on the northern front and the hardships his own master had endured eating insects on the southern front.
After eating and drinking his fill, Nihark dabbed his mouth with a napkin. The moment he heard they were eating insects, his face twisted in disgust, and he interrupted Aksh. "Enough, enough. I understand the situation. This is easy. I'll put in a good word with His Majesty and have that... what's-his-name Babita, transferred to the south while moving your master to the northern front."
Judging by those men's ranks, His Majesty probably didn't think much of the Expeditionary Army anyway.
After all, if a mere baron was commanding 10,000 men, then that army probably didn't even have many professional soldiers. At best, it was just a bunch of slaves. The profits squeezed from 100 of them probably weren't worth as much as a single regular soldier.
Reassigning a few barons was nothing more than just a few words from him.
Aksh nearly choked on his own saliva. "My lord, that absolutely won't do!" he hurriedly protested. "If we're transferred north, wouldn't we... wouldn't we end up taking the blame for General Babita? Then everything we've endured on the southern front would have been for nothing!"
"You've got a point," Nihark admitted after belching lazily. "Fine then. I can't be bothered thinking about such trivial matters. You decide what you want. As long as it's not excessive, I'll help."
The moment he heard what Nihark said, Aksh's spirits soared. Wearing an ingratiating smile, he leaned close and whispered into Nihark's ear. "... We aren't asking for much. We only hope His Majesty will split the Expeditionary Army into the Southern Army and the Northern Army. That would make command and deployment much easier. After all, the two fronts are so far apart, and there are interference issues along the route. Even sending a telegram has to be relayed twice."
"Done. I'll handle it." Hearing that he didn’t need to do anything but make a few suggestions, Nihark agreed.
Aksh knew exactly how to conduct himself. With a glance toward a servant, a suitcase was immediately brought over and gently placed on the chair beside the table. "A small token of appreciation from my master... Consider it an apology for being unable to receive you personally. Please accept it."
Nihark reached over with his greasy hand and opened the suitcase. The neatly stacked golden banknotes inside made his eyes widen.
Dinar Golden Notes!
Those specially protected banknotes could be exchanged in Triumphant City for the equivalent amount in Dinars. Although they circulated only in the western part of the Central Continent, Wislander merchant ships frequently visited the west coast of the Poro Province, and those merchants readily accepted them, usually deducting only 5% to 10% of their value depending on circumstances.
He gave the stack a rough count and realized there had to be at least 500,000 Dinars inside. It was equivalent to the value of 500 healthy slaves!
"It seems your master has been doing rather well for himself," Nihark said, narrowing his eyes with an amused smile.
The money itself wasn't enough to tempt him. But the fact that a mere baron could casually produce half a million Dinars genuinely surprised him.
Aksh forced a bitter smile and sighed softly. "To tell you the truth, my lord, this is my master's entire fortune. But if he can't return alive, no amount of money will matter. Isn't that right?"
"Heh." Nihark chuckled dismissively, paying little attention to the remark as he accepted the suitcase. "Very well. Isair, was it? I'll remember your master's name. By the way... how do I get back to the Heavenly City from here?"
Aksh answered immediately. "Please don't worry. We would never allow you to travel alone. We've already arranged a ship waiting at the harbor. It will safely take you to West Sail Harbor, which is under the control of the Army. We've also arranged a carriage there to escort you home."
Hearing this, all of Nihark's lingering worries finally melted away. He nodded in complete satisfaction. "You're a man who knows how to get things done."
Aksh revealed a wide smile and bowed slightly. "I'm glad you're satisfied."
...
Meanwhile, at Port Gallon's harbor, a cargo ship flying the flag of a White Bear lay moored alongside the docks. Its hold was packed with canned herring and distilled liquor produced in Port Gallon.
Both were favorites among the Army’s junior officers and ordinary soldiers.