The Mythical Hero's Otherworld Chronicles: Volume 8 [Parts 1 to 7] by Tatematsuri

Author:Tatematsuri
Language: eng
Format: epub

The fourth day of the sixth month of Imperial Year 1026

When asked what the greatest city in the southern territories was, the first name on any imperial’s lips would be Sunspear. If the imperial capital was magnificent, Sunspear was shining. But its freedom and open-mindedness were not gifts of the ruling House Muzuk. They were the product of its status as a nexus of trade from all across the continent, a veritable inland port through which all manner of exotic goods flowed. It was connected to the imperial capital to the north, Lichtein and Steissen to the south, the third imperial city to the west, and House Kelheit’s seat of Baldickgarten to the east, and its reserves of gold ensured a constant stream of prospectors hoping to strike it rich. Most of all, it was where the empire’s upper class collected. That, more than anything else, was why it shone.

“This’ll make my fifth time to Sunspear,” the white-haired old soldier said, stroking his chin. “Never gets any less lively.”

“It’s almost as cheerful as the capital. Maybe all the foreign trade has something to do with it.”

Liz rode by his side, gazing at the merriment on the people’s faces from atop her horse. Behind them followed the two thousand soldiers that made up the Knights of the Rose, the elite troops of the Fourth Legion that defended the south. They took up the road as they passed. Crowds waved from either side of the street, and dancing girls danced to the tune of stringed instruments, drawing roars from the people as they rained flower petals on the parade. Every pair of lips praised Liz’s name.

“It’s an impressive welcome, right enough,” Tris said, “but House Muzuk must have deep pockets indeed to fund all this.”

Liz nodded. Politics typically came down to money in the end. Still, there were limitations. No amount of coin could buy rain, the absence of which could bring a nation like Lichtein to its knees regardless of its finances. It was tempting to believe that wealth could solve all problems, but humans were helpless before the power of nature.

“They must. I won’t blame them for putting stock in coin, but it’s a precarious kind of power.”

A single mistake in managing one’s finances could make any amount of wealth vanish like a puff of smoke.

“Fritter it away and it’s gone forever,” Liz continued, “but even if you invest it, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back.”

Rosa had leveraged House Kelheit’s financial might to win the support of the western and central nobles and secure the chancellorship, but Liz had heard that doing so had cost her half of all the assets she had accumulated, and the western and central territories were still far from secure. It would take time to recoup the coin she had invested, and in the meantime, House Kelheit’s coffers continued to dwindle.

“House Muzuk uses its coin wisely, though,” she added. “Sometimes, it’s worth putting on a lavish display to show off your strength.”

Bringing the entire city out in force for this welcoming procession served three purposes.

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