Dragon’s Bloodline Chapter 75

Dealing With the Postwar Period

It was common sense that things would get harder before they got better, more so in war.

Ria worked hard at her state affairs every day for ruling the vast ex-Cordova territory that had become hers.

“There is no money.”

He, who was originally a financial bureaucrat, completely understood the nation’s finance.

“It’s because your majesty graciously handed it out to the soldiers.”

Of course she remembered allowing them to plunder the treasury.

That was necessary for her to seize the Cordovan soldiers. Moreover, Ria felt something like money could be produced so long as they had people.

“… Serge—! Seeerge—! Come up with some ideas~!”

Summoned, even Serge couldn’t come up with a solution that easily.

War bonds wouldn’t work that well since the war had ended, but government bonds would be good. They would temporarily settle it with government bonds.

Similar to some countries, it didn’t use any money on the unproductive elderly. On that mark, this country where fundamental human rights didn’t exist was wonderful. [1]

“If we pay off the influential merchants with an annual interest in the neighborhood of twenty percent for now… it should be fine?”

“The most necessary ones’ portions will come from my private funds, so please wait until tomorrow.”

But the cabinet ministers didn’t seem to be thinking about that, they were simply impressed by Ria’s stance of preventing a delay in wages by using her own funds.

With this, their finances would somehow manage for now. Because there was money in Manesh, all they had to do was transport there.

*

Next was a problem of law.

What new legal system would they introduce to Cordova? And again, how would it integrate with Ogress Kingdom’s?

“Capital punishment for big crimes. Whipping for small crimes. That is all.”

“Obviously not permanently. But Cordova had bound a lot of countries with laws for many years, with many political offenses as well. This will be necessary to change the people’s thoughts.”

She needed to unite this vast territory, Manesh included, by then.

She needed to establish areas for the ogres and beastkin as well of course, that was also a serious matter.

“Pardon all previous political criminals for the time being.”

“Pardon them. On the other hand, even if the Cordovan earls made a move now, I won’t be so sympathetic again.”

“Criminal offenses aside, what should we do about processing territory rights?”

Territorial disputes between nobles would turn into things that needed to be settled by the monarch’s choice without fail.

Territory was a noble’s asset, something they should defend and stand up for themselves.

“Maybe we should try and have all of the new nobles be unlanded nobility?”

However, since there were both different pros and cons to that, they weren’t able to come to a conclusion in the end.

It was something that could only be done with a mighty monarch’s authority.

(Emperor Gaozu did great putting China together~) [2]

Ria came to feel a newfound appreciation towards her previous life’s great people.

*

“The temples? Why’re you asking me?”

(Why’d a problem like that get brought up?)

However, when she heard more about it, it certainly was related to her.

“Oh~, so that’s it.”

Then if someone were to ask if faith towards dragons were strong, because they were actual entities, it seemed as though that made them harder to turn into objects of faith.

That aside, back to the temples.

However, they did the splendid work of providing relief to the weak and disadvantaged.

By contributing to that as the monarch, the other nobles should also follow suit.

*

“It takes so much money though~”

“Thank you for your continued patronage. Always smiling with guaranteed security, I am Black Cat Transportation’s Ferna.”

Black Cat readily undertook the transportation of their valuable currency. Moreover, they succeeded in it quickly.

“Then, again, we look forward to working with you next time~”

She’d called her here today for that reason.

Just leaving them as a private organization would turn into a problem in their current situation.

“That so, you didn’t say it’s impossible. But please make sure to look at the current situation. The Millennium has nothing to do with country borders.”

Having finished being interviewed by the queen, Ferna sighed deeply.

“Ah, Ferna-san, good work.”

Although the person himself may say that he disagrees, Halt was a man of healing. Being with him would settle someone down.

“How’d it go? Any unreasonable demands?”

She liked being spoken to with a little bit of gentleness once in a while.

Halt smiled unconsciously. There was no way he could be.

“Where will you be going after this job’s over, Ferna-san?”

Casalia had lost a potential enemy by the name of Cordova. And Ogress couldn’t be any more of a friendly nation towards it.

“I also think there’ll be something suspicious happening there. Rather, if Casalia doesn’t annex them quickly, the small countries might stand together.”

Although Lemdria was moving to annex the empire’s south-east areas, the opposite side was still open to Casalia.

“Ah, yeah, that’s right.”

She didn’t particularly dislike the thought of seeing the route to Casalia.

“Yeah, same here.”

And so the two people went to an inn where they could entrust their carts to.

*

Northeast of Cordova. A remote village far in the mountains.

“Well then, that’s it for us.”

Giving a stern smile, the beastkin teleported. The only two remaining were Ordo and Pineau.

Ordo spoke. The man turned towards him due to the unexpected statement.

“Rather, Ordo-sama, are you alright going without meeting that Jou-sama?”

Even though it looked like she was building a girl’s harem herself.

After all, she hated all men other than his majesty the demon king.

“Well, I have other business to take care of.”

It could be said he fell in love with Carla the dragonslayer.

He preferred taking women by force. Because of that, although he hadn’t made his majesty the demon king angry a second or third time, he would probably be turned into an example the next time.

However, his opponent this time was that person.

Recalling that feminine figure and that beautiful silvery hair, Pineau sighed softly.

Footnotes:

This is implying that’s a great thing to do if the premise is that you’re a country that screws its citizens. Probably.Return

Founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty, ruling China from 202-195 BC. Ria uses his original name, Liu Bang, but I changed so people could probably understand the reference without having to reading this