Ashen Dragon

"Increasing investment in the military industry would not only hinder our finances, but also bring us hefty returns and create a plethora of job opportunities."

"Haven't you read the Empire's financial reports? The Klaubow Armament Group is a crucial pillar of the Empire's finances! Without continued military investment, where would the money come from for education, healthcare, and other fields?"

"That's sophistry."

Olivia retorted.

"The Empire's assets don't belong solely to the military; they are the result of the hard work of countless Imperial Citizens, who deserve to enjoy a corresponding reward!"

"If we keep funneling money into the military industry, those gold coins will only end up in the pockets of you Dragonblood Nobles!"

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.

The Imperial Senate Hall instantly erupted. They never expected—someone dared to publicly "declare war" on the Dragonblood Nobility!

Scholars and Citizens admired her courage, yet they sighed inwardly, lamenting for this woman as beautiful as Venus.

Everyone knew that the Dragonblood Nobility were a colossal force in the Empire's political, military, and economic spheres.

Offending them meant this woman would find it impossible to take a single step forward in the Empire and might even face deadly retribution.

Earl Dwayne said, "As far as I know, according to the Empire's regulations, the Lower House's power must be agreed upon by over sixty percent of the councillors to take effect."

Goblin Earl looked around, overlooking the councillors seated in the hall, and calmly said, "Councillors, do you support Councillor Olivia's actions?"

"All who support, please raise your hands."

The hall fell into dead silence.

The air seemed to freeze; those councillors who had loudly claimed to support her earlier now collectively held their tongues.

They were no idealists either.

No one wanted to risk offending the military for an unrealistic proposal by supporting an ordinary councillor with shallow roots.

Olivia looked anxious, her left hand clenched her skirt, but she had no recourse.

After all, the opposition was merely following the regulations.

This was, in her view, the fundamental flaw of the Empire's system: true power lay in the hands of the Military Merit Aristocracy.

And councillors like her seemed irrelevant.

Dwayne's expression didn't change, but his lips curled into a disdainful smile. He put away the document in his hand: "Since no one has any objections, then...."

"I have an objection."

A calm voice came through.

Dwayne looked toward the source of the voice, his expression instantly fascinating, even astonished.

"Didn't you in the Military Department read my statement 'Beware the Savage Development'?"

"The people of the Empire indeed hadn't received their due treatment. His Majesty Cassius once said, 'Expecting the horse to run without feeding it is unrealistic.'

"At this rate, their labor efficiency and quality will both decline. Logically and morally, the Empire's officialdom should give them their deserving welfare benefits."

On the gold and red cushioned seat symbolizing administrative power, Imperial Prime Minister Ramp sat upright, an ugly smile on his face.

"Since this is your sentiment..."

Dwayne lowered his head, his voice growing smaller, no longer as confident as before.

That was the Imperial Prime Minister; in His Majesty Cassius' absence, he symbolized the highest authority.

In other words, Ramp had veto power over proposals.

"The Prime Minister is right!"

"Duke Ramp is indeed magnanimous. I say the Empire's welfare benefits should have been improved long ago."

"Right, the last worker uprising was caused by the military's harsh exploitation, wasn't it?"

With the Prime Minister's intervention, the hall livened up once more, with various factions getting involved.

Previously silent councillors began to speak up enthusiastically, citing various arguments to support the Prime Minister's stance.

But Dolores, seated among the Elders, looked incredibly grim, as though ink could drip from his face.

At his behest, the generals of the military stood up urgently, striving to counter-argue.

"Was that event caused by the military?"

"You're throwing mud! Those rioters were bribed by Northern Nobility! They incited this rebellion with the aim of overturning the Empire!"

"The current situation on the continent isn't optimistic. Without the development of the military, how could the Empire stand firm in the South?"

"But from a long-term development perspective, welfare and healthcare are indispensable!"

The sides battled fiercely with words, the atmosphere in the Senate Hall growing ever more intense.

—Soon, the matter itself was surpassed, gradually transforming into a political struggle, a contest between the military and the administrative management.

"This..."

Olivia clutched her thick stack of documents, watching the incessant fighting. Her mouth opened, feeling somewhat helpless.

"No matter what, I will persist in fulfilling my responsibilities."

"This country shouldn't be like this; it can become better."

Olivia pressed her lips together, secretly making up her mind.

But she also felt deeply powerless, as if she couldn't change anything.

Though the Empire's system claimed "democracy and equality," it was actually a tool for various interest groups to contend against each other.

Councillors like her, without background or money, couldn't genuinely voice their opinions or change the Empire's policies.

The Silver Dragon of justice and kindness detested such an atmosphere.

Wait—

Background?

Who was the most powerful backing in the Ashen Empire?

The answer was undoubtedly clear.

Olivia's blue-gray eyes immediately brightened, but soon they revealed hesitation and uncertainty.