Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 362: -115- Order from the King

Chapter 362: -115- Order from the King

"Damn it! A Communication Crystal isn’t that expensive? Only a wealthy Earl like you would say something like that."

"Someone like me, a Viscount from a poor and remote area, can’t even gather enough gold tana to fix the roads!"

As he looked at the ethereal girl saluting him, Viscount Remisio couldn’t help but complain.

Charlotte smiled slightly:

"Oh? Is that so? But from what I see, it doesn’t seem like you lack money."

After hearing Charlotte’s words, Viscount Remisio fell silent.

He gave Charlotte a complex look and sighed:

"Lord Charlotte, there’s no need for you to probe like this."

"I know what you mean. You want to talk to me using the Communication Crystal because you’re wondering why I remained neutral in the Castel rebellion, even though I had agreed to send troops, right?"

Charlotte nodded:

"Yes, I am indeed curious."

"I believed the terms I offered were quite generous. Even without the mercenaries’ fees, you should have been able to make at least five hundred thousand gold tana from this war..."

"Yet, you chose neutrality."

"Although we didn’t sign a formal contract, given the longstanding friendship between the Castel family and the Remisio family, I hoped for an answer."

Hearing Charlotte’s words, Viscount Remisio also sighed:

"Yes, at least five hundred thousand gold tana."

"Just by changing a flag and clearing up a few battles, even without too many conscripted soldiers to face the Transcendents, one could make so much money—more than even the best mercenary corps in Mireya."

"But..."

"But... I can’t do it!"

As he spoke, Viscount Remisio’s expression became sorrowful.

His heartbroken expression was as if a cooked duck had flown away.

"Hmm? You can’t do it?"

Charlotte frowned slightly.

Viscount Remisio sighed:

"Yes..."

"Lord Charlotte, you might not know, but I had even prepared the family banner for the occasion. But just before departing, I received a military ban..."

"The King has ordered a strict investigation into the misuse of kingdom troops by noble officers changing their flags for personal use. Violators will be stripped of their command, and in severe cases, even convicted!"

"You should also know, my Viscount Domain of Remisio is even poorer than the poorest part of the Bold Duchy. Most of my income as a kingdom commander goes to support my domain..."

"My Remisio family simply cannot afford to lose the position of legion commander."

"In such a situation, even if I want to earn that five hundred thousand gold tana from you, it’s beyond my power..."

Hearing Viscount Remisio’s words, Charlotte’s frown deepened:

"The King’s command? Why would the King suddenly issue such a prohibition? As far as I know, isn’t the practice of noble commanders using kingdom troops for personal purposes an open secret?"

Charlotte was genuinely puzzled.

Moreover, although the Star Moon War ended in victory, the New Moon Kingdom had won at a great cost.

The New Moon Royal Family simply didn’t have enough funds to maintain a large-scale regular army and must rely on the nobles to some extent.

In fact, the identity of many of the kingdom’s troops nowadays is blurred, maintaining both the character of the regular army and partly that of noble private troops.

In such a case, the New Moon Royal Family had also been turning a blind eye to noble commanders misusing kingdom troops under their command.

After all, part of the maintenance cost for the regular army actually comes from the nobles’ own pockets.

Charlotte, who had crammed on the politics and military intelligence of the New Moon Kingdom, was also aware of these matters.

This was also why she had the confidence to hire a regular army from Viscount Remisio.

Viscount Remisio gave a wry smile and said,

"Yes, in the past, His Majesty the King turned a blind eye, but now it seems that those good days are about to end."

"It is well known that His Majesty the King wants to strengthen his authority, with military power being of paramount importance. This ban must be His Majesty’s signal to reorganize the military."

"Lord Charlotte, His Majesty has decreed that from now on, any movement of the regular army must be officially authorized by the military. Without an order, commanders are not to make any movements on their own."

Upon hearing Viscount Remisio’s words, Charlotte felt helpless.

The Kingdom’s Regular Army was ultimately loyal to the Royal Family, with major expenses such as equipment, Transcendent material consumption, and military pay still provided by the Royal Family.

As for the portion of maintenance costs borne by the nobles, mainly military food supplies, this maintenance cost was just a small part in front of the regular army’s significant Transcendent expenses.

If the New Moon Royal Family was determined to reorganize the army, then there truly was nothing to be done.

"So, from now on, you need the military’s approval to deploy the troops?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes, from now on, it won’t be as free as before," Viscount Remisio sighed.

Speaking of which, he gave another wry smile,

"However, it’s not all bad news. At least... all expenses will henceforth be borne by the Royal Family, and we commanders won’t have to worry about provisions like before."

"As for other matters... there are always policies above and countermeasures below. Let’s talk after this storm has passed!"

"But for now, I truly can’t provide any assistance to Castel."

Upon hearing Viscount Remisio’s words, Charlotte sighed slightly:

"I understand. Since it is the King’s decision, there is nothing that can be done."

"Lord Charlotte, although I cannot provide direct military assistance to Castel, as the commander of the garrison for Castel’s silver mine, I can at least ensure the safety of the Castel mining area."

"I can promise that as long as the Castel family’s rule remains, the secret silver mine will not fall into the rebels’ hands. This is the least I can do," Viscount Remisio said.

Charlotte nodded:

"Viscount, thank you for your promise. Keeping the mining area secure is already a great help. After the rebellion is quashed, I will still pay you a significant amount of gold tana as thanks."

Viscount Remisio’s face lit up with joy:

"Hehe, then I will unashamedly accept it at that time."

After finishing, his expression became serious again:

"By the way, Lord Charlotte, there’s one more thing... please be careful of the Third Prince."

"Be careful... of the Third Prince?" Charlotte felt a pang in her heart.

Viscount Remisio nodded, speaking solemnly:

"Yes, Lord Charlotte, do you know why His Majesty the King is reorganizing the military at this time?"

Charlotte’s gaze shifted slightly:

"Could it be... related to the Third Prince?"

Viscount Remisio nodded:

"Word has it that the reorganization of the Kingdom’s army was proposed by the newly appointed Military Chief, Duke Orton, who... is very close to the Third Prince."

"It is said that in Duke Orton’s proposal, he specifically mentioned the Kingdom’s troops stationed around the Castel Domain, including the mine garrison I oversee. Almost all the commanders that Castel could possibly contact were listed."

"This is also why I dare not deploy troops out of the mining area."