Chapter 38: The Imperial Capital Has Already Decided—You Will Confront This Black Tide
After experiencing a second upheaval and change of rulership, Moldavia had returned to its proper course, and the main city welcomed a rare night of peace.
The lights of the commercial district still shone brightly. Even though night had fallen, the flow of people remained considerable. The blacksmith's forge, the general store, the pharmacy, and the material collection yard were all doing brisk business. Adventurers, scattered mercenaries, and travelers mostly sat in the taverns, raising their glasses in hearty drink. In livelier spots, some had already taken advantage of the alcohol's courage and, amidst the crowd's urging, begun arm-wrestling to test their strength.
Riding his warhorse, Joshua slowly advanced through the darkness toward his mansion, observing his territory.
Moldavia's total population was nearly one million, and the entire Northern Region's population was close to five million—roughly one-twentieth of the Empire's total population. It sounded like a lot, but in reality, it was very little.
Although it occupied a quarter of the northern map, the combined population of the four territories was still less than that of a few large cities in the south. It seemed that no matter what world it was, things were roughly the same—colder places always had vast lands with sparse populations.
Of course, Joshua also knew that the million-strong populace under his name was somewhat nominal. The population density of the Northern Region was even lower than anyone imagined.
On such a vast expanse of land, the humans he could directly govern numbered only four hundred and twenty thousand. The dwarves, gnomes, and goblins living in the lava region added up to roughly four hundred thousand as well. Distributed across various locations were halfing craftsmen, wandering adventurers, mercenaries, and other transient populations totaling seventy to eighty thousand. Adding in a few elves, barbarians, and other minority races, the total number barely scraped close to a million. But the problem was that most of them only paid taxes to him in name; some simply lived underground, with not a single person visible above ground.
Of the ninety-seven enfeoffed knight qualifications the Empire had granted to Moldavia, fewer than twenty actually possessed their own fiefs of ten thousand people. The vast majority were officers stationed at various fortresses and small towns, hoping that one day they would earn military merit and receive a formal enfeoffment.
Multi-racial cohabitation—this was a major issue, but strictly speaking, it wasn't all that important. Unlike the Eastern Human Federation, which emphasized purity, the Northern Empire and the Far South Alliance did not mind mixed habitation. In the Far South, humans and elves frequently intermarried, and the number of half-elves once accounted for a fifth of the total population. In the Empire, humans and dwarves lived together harmoniously, without any discrimination or prejudice. Centuries of shared life had made everyone take this for granted. No one thought having an elf or dwarf neighbor was a bad thing; at most, they would curse the goblin merchants in the shops.
Of course, for several different races to coexist so peacefully, there had to be a reason. And on the Continent of Strife, that reason was the Black Forest.
[The Black Forest Tide]
The mountains trembled as tens of thousands of beasts surged forth from the boundless forest, like the raging waves of a black sea.
Those who had never seen this sight could not imagine the despair it brought. If not for this terrifying disaster, would racial integration have been so simple? The bountiful land and active mana meant that the various races had no need to worry about food—yet they had to fight for the continuation of their own lives. In the wars that spanned a thousand years and then another thousand, the blood of all races mingled with the sand, their bones scattered across the wilderness. This was the origin of the Continent of Strife's name.
West of the city, Joshua, still on his warhorse, gave a slight shudder. He narrowed his eyes and looked toward the location of his residence.
"Silver, high-rank, male, not young in age..."
Muttering to himself, in Joshua's vision, which had overcome all obstacles, a Silver high-rank warrior stood near the mansion, completely undisguised and unabashed, his entire body emitting a cyan-golden fluorescence. Not far from him was his Divine Mechanism.
"This aura feels familiar, like someone I've met before."
Urging his warhorse forward, Joshua ceased his patrol of the territory. This city was his; if he wanted to see it all, there was no rush. In the days to come, he could look as long as he liked, until he grew tired of it.
Before long, he rode up to the side of that Silver high-rank warrior.
"Monster?"
Seeing the familiar red-trimmed black greatcoat and the golden balance emblem on his chest, Joshua knew this was an inspector from the Imperial Noble Court. And judging by the face, it was the acquaintance who had 'judged' him a month ago.
"Long time no see, the new lord, the young Count."
With a slight bow, the middle-aged inspector named Monster sighed, "I've been waiting since the afternoon, before the sun had even set."
"Without a prior appointment or a letter sent, how was I supposed to know you were coming?"
Dismounting, Joshua patted the horse's neck and looked at this expressionless inspector, feeling a bit of a headache coming on. "Your arrival—does it mean you have some bad news to tell me again?"
"Unfortunately, yes. But this isn't a good place to discuss it."
Monster turned his head to look toward the mansion, where a silver-haired girl was running over. He shook his head. "That said, your little subordinate is quite loyal and dutiful—she wouldn't even let me near the courtyard."
"Master!"
Running to Joshua's side, Ying looked at the two of them with some confusion. "Do you know him?"
"Ah, I do know him. He's an acquaintance."
Patting the Divine Mechanism girl's little head, Joshua smiled and praised her, "Well done, worth encouraging. How was your day?"
"Very good. I've familiarized myself with most of the things in the house, and I even learned how to cook."
"Oh? That's really good. You learn fast."
Monster watched the two of them chatting naturally and couldn't help but remind them, "Ahem... Are you two going to stand outside and talk?"
"You're right."
Joshua looked around, then nodded. He patted Ying on the shoulder and gestured, "Ying, take Black to the stable first. I'll take this guest inside to discuss some matters."
"Black is so sturdy and majestic—why not call him Black King? Why insist on just 'Black'..."
"If he were a dragon, I wouldn't mind calling him Nidhogg or Neltharion. But he's just a horse. Enough talk, go on."
Ying led the obedient Black toward the stable, while Joshua led Monster toward the main gate.
"She calls you 'Master'?"
"Yes. Ying is my head maid."
The inspector of the Noble Court shook his head expressionlessly. "Using child labor is illegal... I didn't expect you to have such a hobby."
Joshua opened the main door and frowned. "She's the same age as me. How is that child labor?"
Ying's core was made from the right wrist bone taken at his birth. If one wanted to be strict about it, the two of them were indeed the same age.
"I can't tell at all."
Monster seemed to still be pondering. "Is she a half-elf? Growing slower than ordinary people? Or does she have fairy blood?"
As they talked, the two had already entered the mansion and arrived at the reception room.
"Alright, please have a seat."
Gesturing, Joshua sat down casually. Seated in his chair, his expression turned slightly serious. "For you to wait outside the door for so long and insist on telling me this bad news, it really makes me eager to hear it."
"Although this matter is important, it's not that urgent..."
Monster looked up and down at the black-haired, red-eyed warrior before him, somewhat amazed. "I've heard the rumors, and I felt it outside earlier, but I really didn't expect you to have actually advanced to Gold-rank. One month—from Silver high-rank to this level... It's truly unbelievable."
It's only three ranks. Why are you so surprised?
"An accident. After running on the road for seventeen days, I suddenly got stronger for no reason."
Joshua brushed it off without any sincerity, looking into the inspector's eyes as if trying to discern something. "Don't tell me you came all the way from the Northwestern Orc Plains to the Northern Region just to marvel at my advancement to Gold-rank."
"Of course not."
Shaking his head, Monster hesitated, as if unsure where to begin. After a moment, he simply brought up another topic. "Count, do you know that the Ural Fortress has prohibited passage for groups of more than ten people?"
"Not long ago, the merchants told me that."
"Then you should also know that there was a disturbance in the central part of the Empire."
The inspector pressed on.
"Indeed, I do." Joshua tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, his brows furrowing. He spoke bluntly, "No need to beat around the bush, Monster. If you have something to say, say it directly. We're both military men by birth—why be so cautious?"
After a moment of silence, this inspector of the Noble Court, the mouthpiece of the Emperor's will, sighed. His expression turned solemn. "The Black Erosion Wind has risen from the south. An unknown plague is spreading deep within the Black Forests everywhere... It has already crossed the Ural Mountains and reached the Northern Region. This means this year's Black Tide will come earlier than usual, and it will be more ferocious—unstoppable."
"The Imperial Capital has judged that the severity of this Black Tide will increase by three levels, and there is even a high possibility of multiple Gold-rank magical beasts."
At this point, Monster's expression was more serious than ever. He reached into his bosom and pulled out a small box. "Count, it's somewhat unfortunate that you've encountered such an accident right after your succession. Although you've advanced to Gold-rank, there should still be some distance between you and your father... And this is a token of concern from the Imperial Capital."
When he spoke the last sentence, Monster's tone carried the highest degree of respect. Judging by his expression, although the inspector did not know why the Imperial Capital was treating the man before him with such special consideration, he did not hesitate. "Take it. This is what His Majesty has given you."
With that, he handed over the box, carved from rosewood and covered in dense, intricate runes, to Joshua.