novelden Chapter 116 : Chapter 116
Chapter 116 : Chapter 116
Chapter 116. Making the Best Use of Everything
Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on her.
This half-elf assassin, who normally refused to do even a bit of extra work, was now idly playing with the cold, gleaming dagger in her hand, a look of amused anticipation on her face.
“Why are you all looking at me? I only know how to kill people, not farm.” Lilith shrugged, then jerked her chin toward the door. “But if I remember correctly, don’t we have a ready-made craftsman around here?”
“Iowen?” Logaris West raised an eyebrow.
“Exactly.” Lilith flicked her dagger in a flourish. “That guy may be a slick-tongued pretty boy, but he is a pure-blood high-ranking natural elf. You all know what natural elves are capable of—they are born plant experts.”
“I see him every day doing nothing but writing materials on musical magic or staring into a mirror grooming that green hair of his. He is so idle he is practically growing mushrooms.” Lilith curled her lips, her tone full of schadenfreude. “Such excellent labor would be wasted if we did not use it.”
It had to be said that Lilith had long been displeased with Iowen’s carefree lifestyle. Especially when she thought about how his contract only lasted five years, it irritated her even more. Now was the perfect chance to pile more work onto him.
Logaris stroked his chin.
That actually made sense.
Elves were naturally close to nature, especially high-ranking nobles from the royal court. Their ability to make “all things grow” made them practically walking super-fertilizer.
Letting an artistic bard improve crop yields? The image was so absurd he did not even dare imagine it.
“Approved.” Logaris slapped the table, a rather wicked smile spreading across his face. “I will assign him a new performance target later. That guy has indeed been too idle lately.”
With the agricultural issue temporarily resolved, Sylvia did not stop. Her gaze shifted to the military deployment map.
“The third problem,” Sylvia said, tapping the table rhythmically. “The army.”
Unlike the earlier discussion on agriculture, everyone instinctively straightened their backs when the topic turned to the military.
“I am not worried about the loyalty of our current soldiers.” Sylvia swept her gaze across the room, her tone firm.
“After several rounds of purges, along with the recent pay raises, these young men are now completely devoted to the Duke’s Manor. If we told them to jump into a pit of fire, they probably would not even hesitate.”
At this point, Grayson nodded slightly. Though it pained him to spend the money, the results had clearly paid off.
“However,” Sylvia continued, changing her tone, “loyalty and courage alone only make them qualified cannon fodder in modern warfare.”
She stood up and walked to the map, crossing her arms as she examined the long border.
“We have too few men. At most, our standing army is only twenty thousand. If that old man Remington really throws everything he has at us, or if the war machine of the Valeria Empire starts moving—or even…”
She paused, her gaze deep as she looked toward the royal capital. “Even when the struggle for that throne begins, the chips we hold now are nowhere near enough to sit at the table.”
“Expand the army.”
Sylvia turned around and raised two fingers, her tone leaving no room for objection.
“At least double our current forces. That is the minimum.”
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
“Do not worry about the money, Grayson.” Sylvia seemed to see right through the finance officer’s thoughts. “Only when the sword in your hand is sharp enough does the money in your pocket truly belong to you.”
“As for the training model…” Sylvia looked toward the towering figure standing by the door. “Akash.”
“Yes.” Akash, clad in heavy magitech armor, stepped forward, making the floor tremble slightly.
“From now on, you are the Chief Instructor of the Northern Territory,” Sylvia ordered. “But I do not want you to continue using the outdated noble methods of ‘knights charging and infantry holding the line.’ Times have changed. I want a military that can adapt to a new era.”
“That will depend on our Chief Advisor.” Sylvia’s gaze returned to Logaris, a meaningful smile curling at her lips.
Logaris’s expression darkened.
“Why is it me again?” Logaris almost lost his composure. “Do you want me to turn those brutes who only know how to swing swords into technical soldiers capable of operating magitech rifles, reading tactical maps, and even coordinating with the heavy equipment I am developing?”
“Bingo.” Sylvia snapped her fingers, smiling as she personally poured him a cup of hot tea and pushed it toward him. “Who else but you could serve as the chief architect of this magitech military reform?”
“Chief architect? More like the chief scapegoat.” Logaris looked up, utterly lifeless.
He could already foresee his miserable life over the coming months.
Not only would he have to handle research and development, but he would also have to go to the military camps to teach those barely literate officers what “line infantry volleys,” “infantry-artillery coordination,” and “saturation strikes” meant.
“The capable must bear more responsibility.” Sylvia patted his shoulder. “Just imagine—twice the current army, all equipped with weapons you designed, standing in formation. What a beautiful sight. Is that not the ‘truth’ you have always dreamed of?”
Logaris swallowed. He had to admit, this woman truly knew how to manipulate him. The sight of tens of thousands of magitech rifles firing in unison… that was a man’s romance.
“Fine…” Logaris sighed and drained the tea in one gulp. “But I want a raise. And those new recruits must be literate. I am not going to start teaching from the alphabet.”
“Deal.”
“The final problem.”
Sylvia’s smile faded, and with it, the relaxed atmosphere vanished completely.
“Right now, the area around Winter City is indeed under our control. But the Northern Territory is vast.”
Her finger traced a circle along the edge of the map—remote mountainous regions far from Winter City, where remnants of old forces still lingered.
“Some local powers are still watching and waiting. Once my orders leave Winter City and travel a hundred kilometers, their effectiveness drops significantly in certain areas.”
“Although Cicero’s court has been established, laws only matter if someone enforces them. A few sheets of paper cannot intimidate those who have ruled like local tyrants for generations.”
The hall fell silent.
Everyone understood Sylvia’s meaning. This war was far from over. The victory at Winter City was only the beginning. To fully control the Northern Territory, they had to pull out every hidden nail one by one.
“After spring begins,” Sylvia adjusted her collar, her tone as casual as if she were planning a leisurely outing, “I will personally make a tour.”
“Traveling incognito?” Cicero raised an eyebrow. “That is very dangerous. Those people hate you to the bone now.”
“Danger?” Sylvia sneered. “I would like to see whether their bones are harder, or my sword is sharper.”
“Of course, this will require careful arrangements.” Sylvia glanced at Logaris, who was already pretending to be dead. “Which means we will need our Chief Advisor…”