The First Magic World War

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Charles handed Louis Simi fifty luxury items and Ross Bard thirty-five luxury items, instructing them to exchange these goods for cash to hire a group of detectives and adventurers with the proceeds.

By now, the fight at Silver Pigeon Fort was over for Charles, and the two men had yet to bring over the detectives and adventurers, which was certainly an issue they couldn't explain away.

As for pocketing the money, that was something neither of them dared to do, no matter how bold.

If Charles had died at Silver Pigeon Fort, neither man would have had to worry, but not only did Charles survive, he also got promoted to the second rank of level 32 common affairs and became a power-holding elite in charge of the Patrolling Army and the Knighthood. Although he was a lower-tier elite, killing two businessmen was as easy as flipping one's hand.

A level 33 first rank common affairs and level five Clerk Chief are equal in rank, but level 33 is the ceiling for the Clerk Chief, yet only the starting line for common affairs.

As lower-tier elites, Clerk Chiefs have a certain chance of obtaining an administrative role, managing specific affairs, whereas common affairs are guaranteed to receive administrative roles, entering the managerial hierarchy of the Empire.

After all, Louis Simi was much bolder, and after leaving Silver Pigeon Fort, he came to Charles's side and said in a low voice, "I have acquired a detective agency for you. They weren't doing very well, but they have a full staff. I thought rather than hiring detectives, it would be more convenient to have our own agency."

"The procedures were really too slow, and that caused a bit of a delay."

With a slight smile, Charles accepted this "reason".

The batch of luxury items he provided should have been just enough to acquire a medium-ranked detective agency, but acquiring a detective agency was not as simple as simply deciding to do so; Louis Simi must have used all his wits and resources.

There's no need to treat businessmen as friends.

Charles didn't feel betrayed by Louis Simi; all he needed was enough "profit" in return.

Ross Bard was bitter; he indeed weighed his interests. Upon returning to Strasbourg and learning that Charles had killed the leader of the South Ceraph resistance, Jonathan, outside Silver Pigeon Fort, and that Lady Southseraph had even sent a Sacred Order to seek revenge, he concluded that Charles wouldn't survive, so he did nothing.

When he learned that Charles had not only defeated the South Ceraph Restoration Army several times but had even "driven away" the Sacred Order from South Ceraph, Ross Bard's vision went dark, knowing he had backed the wrong horse.

He didn't know how Charles managed to drive away the Sacred Order, but he knew that the day he left Silver Pigeon Fort was the day Bard & Co. would cease to exist.

Ross Bard chose to abandon all business partners, liquidate all the fixed assets of his family, and had his entire family take all the movable assets to the Inglima Empire. He came alone to see Charles.

When he saw how easily Charles forgave Louis Simi, he knew he had made yet another wrong choice.

Charles paid no attention to this businessman, but during the first pause, he called Belisa and her guards over and said gently, "We're about to go to the front lines, but Miss Belisa, you need to report back to the Duchess, so we must part ways."

Belisa hesitated but eventually agreed, even though she also wanted to follow to Interlaken City, saying, "Please take care of the Duke."

Charles nodded and after sending Belisa off, he didn't continue the march but began another round of reorganization.

This time he expanded his own, Taoles, Yellow Bear, and Dobin's direct combat teams to five hundred men each. The Spotted Deer Gwen and The Wind Wolf Bankcroft kept their direct combat teams at two hundred men each. The conscripted militia from Silver Pigeon Fort was disbanded and integrated into the Westwind Knights.

The Westwind Knighthood became a massive force of over thirteen thousand men. Though this knighthood's quality was incomparable to a proper knighthood due to the complexity of its composition, having fought a few battles, they were now a disciplined military force.

Then, Charles led this army straight to Machu Picchu.

As for Duke Joseph…

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Curse his big head.

Baron Fabolais took a long seven or eight days to recover and no longer looked dejected.

He had used all his wits to obtain Silver Pigeon Fort, but reaped no benefits from it; that damned Lady Southseraph didn't leave a single coin for him, thoroughly plundering Baron Fele's wealth.

This fact once left him in deep despair, and the opportunity for Baron Fabolais to bounce back was the first tax collection day at Silver Pigeon Fort after his arrival. Read exclusive content at empire

When Charles was at Silver Pigeon Fort, no taxes were collected at all.

Baron Fabolais' first tax collection caused complaints and grumblings, and even led to conflicts with local residents, but, with his own Knighthood, the residents of Silver Pigeon Fort dared not speak their anger aloud.

In the afternoon, after strutting around Silver Pigeon Fort, he returned to the fort and couldn't wait to visit his treasury, which was once Baron Fele's treasury. However, before he arrived at the fort, it had been cleaned out, not even a mouse was left, thoroughly empty.

After passing through heavy guards, Baron Fabolais stepped into his treasury, ready to count the taxes collected that day, only for his eyes to bulge in an unprecedented manner. He rubbed his eyes again and again, but still saw nothing. The treasury was as empty as the day he arrived; not even a mouse was there, thoroughly empty.

"Where is my gold Aegeus? Where are my taxes? What about my savings?"

"My money..."

Baron Fabolais let out a shrill howl, sounding like an injured wild dog, or a wild cat that failed to mate, pitiful to the point where one would want to kick him to death.

A few minutes later, Baron Fabolais, boiling with rage, finally saw a line carved by a sharp blade on the wall: 'We, Lady Southseraph, have taken all your wealth!'

Below it was a signature: 'Cyrus, Temporal Commander of the South Ceraph Reclamation Army.'

The signature was flamboyant, clearly showing the sheer delight of the person who had written those words.

Baron Fabolais' hands shook with fury. He left Strasbourg for Silver Pigeon Fort, thinking he would spend a prosperous life in this wealthy territory, so he brought all his life savings with him—a significant amount of money.

Baron Fabolais was so heartbroken he felt he could dare to duel with the Sacred Order.

When pushed to the brink, humans could do anything.

Even challenge a dragon!

Suddenly, Baron Fabolais broke down in tears, punching and kicking the walls, sobbing and cursing, "Cyrus, you won't die a good death! Cyrus, you took my money, how could you take all my money, not leaving even a single coin!"

"Cyrus, if I catch you, I'll definitely deliver you to the Augusladin High Priest."

"I want the Augusladin High Priest to punish you severely!"

"How can someone be so cruel, to take away all my savings, my money!"

"Damn Southseraph people! They are robbers, real robbers..."

At this moment, the only thought in Baron Fabolais' mind was: 'My enmity with the Southseraph people shall not coexist under this heaven. My grudge against Cyrus, this vendetta shall not end until death.'