The Last King Of Darkness
Chapter 380 - 267 Fire Hall

Chapter 380: Chapter 267 Fire Hall

But things did not develop as Rod had envisioned.

The tremors caused by the Sun Crystal Vein exceeded his expectations by far.

The Royal City did not remain silent about his series of victories and gains as it had before, but instead immediately dispatched a heavyweight team that arrived in Star Town the same day.

Leading the team was Guardian Chucher, Elder Palos, members included the head of the Royal City’s logistical resource department, senior prospectors, the commander of the Conquest Legion, and several high-ranking officials from the Royal City.

The team sought out Rod as soon as they arrived in Star Town.

Seeing the composition of the team, Rod knew something was amiss.

Sure enough, Elder Palos clearly told him that the Sun Crystal Vein could not be treated as his private spoils of war and must be taken over by the Royal City.

Rod’s face darkened instantly, "Why?"

"Because this is Royal City’s most critical strategic resource; its mining and distribution must be uniformly planned by the Royal City."

"But we had an explicit agreement before the expedition that all rights to the spoils of war belonged to me. You even said that was to verify whether the actions of conquest and expansion could actually bring positive benefits to humanity, and used this as an excuse to cut my staffing and reduce my supplies. Even the money for the expedition was loaned to me by the Mahara merchants!"

There was no change in Elder Palos’s expression.

"That is your own affair and has no connection to Royal City’s strategy. Taking over the Sun Crystal Vein is a consistent rule of Trolian."

Rod frowned, "Elder Sir, doesn’t the Royal City have to be somewhat reasonable?"

"We, so many people, risk our lives and toil to secure these resources, and you just take them away like this? Do you think raising such a large family doesn’t cost money? Everyone’s salaries, distributed materials, potions, food, they don’t cost money?"

Elder Palos said coldly, "This is not my concern."

Feeling indignant, Rod waved his hand, "If you say so, then the Sun Crystal Vein is none of your concern either."

Elder Palos narrowed his eyes, "What are you trying to do? I warn you, you are defying the Royal City’s orders."

Rod scoffed, "It’s clear you were the first to breach our agreement. The land I have taken is mine, and so are the resources I have mined. This was the agreement between the King and the Elder Council. By breaking the agreement, you show contempt for the King. I would like to ask you if you harbor any ulterior motives towards the King who guards the Holy Fire?"

Elder Palos never expected Rod not to care even for an elder’s authority. The reason Royal City sent so many people was to suppress him and make him obediently hand over the vein, yet he turned out to be more of a troublemaker than anticipated.

"Young whippersnapper."

There was now a tinge of coldness in Elder Palos’s tone.

"Do you think your success is due to you? Without Royal City’s support, could you have borrowed money? Could you have bought so many materials? Would so many excellent warriors have followed your orders?"

"You should know, with just one word from me, you would become a commander without troops."

Rod said calmly, "You’re welcome to try."

Elder Palos’s forehead sported a prominent vein, and he said loudly, "Molly, gather everyone with official duties in Star Town."

Molly stood behind Rod, her expression indifferent, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

Elder Palos bellowed, "Molly! Don’t forget your role as a high-ranking dispatcher in the Military War Department!"

Molly’s bright eyes looked at the air, her delicate face showing no expression, as if he didn’t exist.

Palos’s face was flushed, but it was Rod who finally spoke, "Molly, go."

Only then did Molly turn and leave the hall.

Moments later, everyone in Star Town above the rank of team captain had gathered in the hall.

Using Spiritual Energy to amplify his voice, Palos announced loudly, "Rod has been stripped of his duties for violating Royal City’s orders. The Internal Affairs Court and Judgement Court will immediately try him for his crimes. All of you must return to Royal City immediately, and anyone who defies will share his guilt!"

As soon as these words fell, the crowd erupted in an uproar!

"What did you say?"

"Who’s this imposter? Lord Rod is Trolian’s rising star, how could he possibly be accused of crimes?"

"Lord Rod has opened up such a vast territory, expanded so much living space, there’s no way Royal City would strip him of his duties."

"Stop wasting words with him, he must be a Doomsday believer, here to sabotage our fruits of victory!"

"Right, he’s a Doomsday believer!"

"Quick, Guardians! Go arrest him!"

"Catch the Doomsday believer!"

"There’s a Doomsday believer attacking Star Town!"

Despite Palos repeatedly declaring he was an elder and presenting various evidence, no one was listening. The crowd was so riled up that it would have turned violent if Rod hadn’t intervened to stop them.

In the end, Rod resolved the incident by suggesting it was a misunderstanding, and that the man must have a huge bump on his brain to be spouting nonsense like this, which begrudgingly dispersed the indignant crowd.

Palos’s face alternated between red and pale, and he left the hall without saying a word.

Turning his head, Rod smiled and said, "Well done, Molly. Otherwise, that guy would’ve really thought we were pushovers."

Molly spoke seriously, "He won’t give up. This is Royal City’s bottom line, they will not compromise."

Rod’s voice grew cold, "They’ll have to compromise. I’ve crunched the numbers; even if the True Silver Vein operates at full capacity, the daily output is only fifteen million silver coins, and our net profit is merely around eight hundred thousand, with a weekly income of barely five and a half million silver coins."