Rebirth of the 8th-Circle Mage

Chapter 187 - Central Powers (1)

News that the emperor had died and that the Eurasia Empire had collapsed spread like wildfire across the continent.

Everyone thought it was just a rumor at first because no one could’ve imagined the vast Eurasia Empire collapsing overnight. People were especially skeptical because the empire had never gone through a war impactful enough to cause its collapse. However, the rumors turned out to be true, as the servants residing in the imperial palace had been sent across the continent.

"What? The imperial palace is gone?”

“The empire fell?”

“Then what’s going to happen to us?”

“Damn it, once again, there’s going to be bloodshed all over the continent.”

Some were afraid of the chaos that would soon break out, while others couldn’t wait for a full-blown war to happen. Even though a war implied danger, it was undoubtedly also a good opportunity to rake in wealth.

The moment the Empire collapsed, the currency and bills it issued became worthless. Instead, the value of primitive goods, such as gold and rice, rose significantly. It seemed like the continent had plunged into chaos.

Because the capital was in the center of the continent, the rumors traveled at a steady pace. However, it didn’t take long for new information to spread as quickly as the initial rumors.

“What? Aenia Empire?”

“It’s a country the Grand Duke Arthus founded?”

The news picked up when the nobles who had converted to Aenia got rid of their nameplates of the Eurasia Empire to replace them with the nameplates of the new one. Along with this, the landlords of the Aenia Empire were busy following the orders of gathering their peasants together to praise the newly established empire.

Of course, it didn’t matter to these peasants who had become the emperor. Regardless of who was in charge, they knew that their lives wouldn’t change. However, Arthus had different policies.

The people of the empire welcomed him because he lowered the tax rate that the Eurasia Empire had imposed down to twenty percent.

"Oh-oh! How great is Grand Duke Arthus! No, His Imperial Majesty sure is different from the other ones!”

“Long live His Imperial Majesty Arthus!”

"Hurray!"

The peasants couldn’t stop praising him because they knew that lower taxes meant that they would become richer. In addition to lowering the taxes, Arthus focused on eradicating corruption because he knew that doing so was essential for his empire to run smoothly with the modified taxes.

However, the people were oblivious to the truth that lay behind the lowered taxes and the eradication of corruption.

The previous tax rate had actually been a recommendation Arthus had proposed to the cabinet as the Grand Duke of the previous empire. He was the one who had imposed the staggering forty percent tax rate.

The people cheered for Arthus, not knowing that he considered them filthy and insignificant.

Back then, the members of the States Contributors had been focusing on eradicating corruption prior to the tax raise, so there wouldn’t have been any problems running the empire even without the tax raise.

Therefore, all these changes were merely for show. Arthus was well aware of how to sway public opinion in his favor in order to give his empire a good start.

With his newly established empire, what Arthus needed the most was a new image that would set him apart from the previous emperor.

* * *

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“Of course, Archmage.”

The meeting that everyone had expected to end early actually ended up being surprisingly long. It had turned into a marathon meeting that lasted a whopping three hours. However, every second of the three-hour meeting was fruitful.

“Then, let’s conclude the meeting here, since we don’t have much time.”

"Yes!"

Despite the meeting having lasted three hours, the topic of the meeting had been relatively simple and straightforward. It had been about sending delegations to the former allies of the previous empire, specifically, the areas Arthus hadn’t been able to unify while establishing his new empire, so that Henry could form alliances with them again.

‘Given that Arthus didn’t build his empire by conquering the entire continent, no matter how hard he tries, he’ll only be able to claim at most sixty percent of the continent as his territory.’

The reason the Eurasia Empire had been able to take control of the entire continent was because they had conquered the entire continent with the goal of unification.

As far as Arthus was concerned, his approach had been different. He had gone for a relatively peaceful method where he had taken on the role of the emperor while making the nobles side with him.

Spectacularly enough, Arthus’ plan had succeeded.

However, because of his peaceful approach, he couldn’t take over the entire continent like Golden Jackson Edward had done, and Arthus himself was well aware of this.

Now that Arthus had founded a new empire, Henry knew that the first thing he had to do was to ask his former allies to form alliances with him again before they heard the news.

“Yes, everything is true. And there’s no need for you to call me ‘Lord’ anymore.”

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

“Eisen is also dead.”

“...?”

There didn’t seem to be an end to the shocking news. However, everything Henry had shared was true.

“Arthus rebelled and exhibited his supremacy to take over the continent. It just so happened that the emperor died, and the empire collapsed in the process.”

“So what’s going to happen to the continent now?”

“I’m glad you asked, Your Majesty. In fact, that’s why I’m here to see you. It won’t be long before an envoy from the new empire that Arthus has established pays you a visit.”

“An envoy from Arthus?”

“Yes, if he moves the way I anticipate, Arthus will try to start discussions with the countries that were considered allies, since the Eurasia Empire no longer exists.”

“Hmm, that’s a bit surprising.”

“What do you mean?”

“Is there any reason for Arthus to make the Central Powers side with him again? If his goal was to take over the throne, hasn’t he already achieved that?”

“It’s because of his greed, of course. He was the Grand Duke of a great empire that had already taken control of the continent. So, even if he becomes the emperor of a few kingdoms, he won’t be satisfied unless he himself takes control of the entire continent.”

“Well... That seems likely, since we’re talking about that Arthus.”

“Indeed. The greed of men has no limits.”

“If that’s the case, it’s obvious what the consequences are if I refuse his offer to become allies.”

"Of course. Arthus will try to completely destroy Shahatra this time.”

The consequences that a country had to face if it refused to become allies with the emperor were obvious. The royal family and the nobles of the country would be exterminated, and the kingdom would probably be downgraded to a free city to be directly managed by the empire through a mayor. Moreover, those living in those kinds of cities, especially in the case of Shahatra, would likely be forced to produce specialty goods for the rest of their lives.

For a brief moment, Herarion imagined the bleak future of his country if he lost the war against Arthus. He was disgusted just thinking about it. With this, Herarion finally said, “It makes the most sense to accept the alliance with him, since it’s the most ideal way, but...”

“But Your Majesty has no intention of doing that.”

"Precisely.”

Herarion had already suffered because of Arthus, which was why he had joined hands with Henry and planned to bring Arthus down. Considering what Arthus was planning, siding with him was something that even a person who had hit rock bottom in life would scoff at.

At least, that was how Herarion felt.

“But I can’t imagine withstanding an all-out attack from Arthus’s Empire.”

“What makes you think you can’t?”

“Well, things were different when my father was alive... And now, Benedict is gone as well. He used to be the best warrior in the desert. On top of that, we’ve just finished suppressing a rebellion, so we haven’t been able to fully recover our military forces yet.”

“But Your Majesty, you’ve just gained new forces.”

“What new forces?”

“Me.”

Henry answered Herarion's concerns nonchalantly. Hearing this, Herarion couldn’t help but put on a radiant countenance.

“Don’t worry too much, Your Majesty. You’ve already allied with me before Arthus got to you.”

Henry’s words continued to move Herarion. However, the latter knew that emotions weren’t enough to overcome the reality his country was about to face. Soon, Herarion spoke up with an uneasy expression, “Those are very reassuring words, but no matter how strong and talented you are, do you believe that just the two of us can handle such a big army?”

“It’s not just the two of us, Your Majesty.”

"Pardon? Are there more people involved?”

“On the topic of the Central Powers, aren’t there four more besides Shahatra?”

“Four countries? Oh Henry, have you already...?”

"Yes, Your Majesty, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. I plan on gathering the four remaining Central Powers in order to make one nation. We’ll name it ‘the Allied Powers.’”

‘The Allied Powers!’

A fight between the Empire and the Allied Powers. It was the most ideal scenario Henry had in mind.

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