Falan Royal Capital, Huaqiu City.

Summer Palace.

The hot wind swept through the boxwood hedges, whispering softly.

In the flowing streams of the palace gardens, white-painted swan boats sailed by, laden with noblewomen and noble maidens adorned with lace.

Hundreds of glass floating lanterns drifted on either side of the water, their starlight intermixed with the lamplight ripples, only to be disturbed by the silver carp in the river.

The noble young ladies played, stirring the river water with their hands, while the noblewomen raised their heads to gaze at the garden under the moonlight.

Youths with red lips and white teeth strolled through the geometric flowerbeds, crafting the royal crest out of purple silk and lavender.

Upon seeing the arrival of the noblewomen, they smiled and bowed in greeting.

If any lady favored a particular youth, she only needed to remember the emblem embroidered on his chest, and that night, she could see him at her bedside.

Unless the King favored him as well.

Behind the glass windows, the Summer Palace was brightly lit, with thirty thousand beeswax candles burning in the crystal chandeliers, changing colors in the light.

Thousands of nobles, merchants, and civil officials mingled and socialized in the vast hall.

On normal occasions, they would discuss the gems of the Xilan Sea, the desert nomad slaves across the sea, gems and the latest trends in clothing and art.

But today, those painters and poets failed to spark any interest, and even the noblewomen's latest fashion clothing and accessories couldn't capture the men's attention.

The hottest topic in the Summer Palace today, however, was the news coming intermittently from the Thousand River Valley over the past week.

"...On July 12th, the Thousand River Valley People and the Leia People clashed near the Grey Robe Valley of Haji Castle, resulting in a devastating defeat for the Leia People, with losses exceeding thirty thousand..."

"...On July 15th, the Thousand River Valley People ambushed the Xia Lvcheng reinforcements outside of Kenke Town, forcing the Pseudo-Pope Puliano to flee in panic..."

"...On July 18th, according to reliable sources, Great Knight Raffel and King Ginijis were captured, while Great Knight Boardman successfully led the Imperial Knights to escape..."

"...On July 19th, the Thousand River Valley Army, numbering twenty thousand, officially began the siege of Xia Lvcheng, with defenses led by Constans, the former Archbishop of Thousand River Valley..."

To be honest, no one believed this news at first, who would dare to?

Mind you, the Leia People are the mortal enemies of the Falan, having been their greatest barrier in annexing the Windmill Lands.

Leia Kingdom mobilized its entire army, gathering nearly twenty Imperial commands, two Great Knights, and a force of a hundred thousand to attack the Thousand River Valley.

In barely more than half a year, they have fallen from having a hundred thousand forces to only half remaining, with many nobles captured.

According to the estimates of ransom agents, it is predicted that in this battle, one hundred eighty-seven Barons, fifteen Counts, and six Dukes would either die or be captured.

Throughout Leia, especially traditional royalist areas like River Island and Eagle's Claw Bay, more than half of the local nobility was swept away.

Not only did the secular noble forces suffer such losses, but over half of the church's armed forces were also wiped out.

Having once fled to Falan and Norn due to internal wars, the Leia nobles now cried out, "Divine punishment upon the sinful King."

Lately, in the streets of Huaqiu City, one could see exiled nobles selling bonds for the restoration of the kingdom daily, carrying wooden cabinets.

If nothing else, they learned the bond system of the Holy Alliance quite quickly.

Some support Nedbach as King, some nominate themselves as King, others propose the son of Prince Kongdai as King, and there are even proposals for Horn as King.

At this banquet, there were many exiled nobles seeking donations.

However, the upper echelons of Falan viewed these exiled nobles with cold eyes.

Who will be the King of Leia, that will be decided by His Highness Charles VIII, and you are seeking donations?

Holding crystal goblets, swirling fine wine, the nobles stood whispering beside the roasted peacock.

"Those were Great Knights, and they were defeated by the Thousand River Valley People?"

"Indeed, how did the Thousand River Valley People manage it?"

"The Leia have truly fallen, being routed by a bunch of farmers and small craftsmen."

The nobles were intensely studying the war developments in the Thousand River Valley, but even after a week, they couldn't figure it out.

However, the new nobility and merchants held different views and thoughts.

"This kind of thinking should be curbed. I've always said that citizens have power, and you didn't believe me. The Thousand River Valley People won because of the power of the citizens!"

"Without the citizens lending money, buying bonds, could the Thousand River Valley have recruited thirty thousand troops?"

But this notion clearly didn't win the approval of traditional nobles, who retorted with sneers.

"What power of citizens? It's thanks to the power of His Highness Charles VIII, right?"

"They could only win with our support, without us, they would have lost long ago."

"His Highness was truly wise, and you said supporting the Thousand River Valley was a losing trade, now what? Hmm? Answer me!"

"Mark my words, after the war, that Mad Pope will surely come to Huaqiu City to request His Highness to grant him a position as the Thousand River Valley Bishop, I said it!"

"His Highness's wisdom is unparalleled!"

Though they didn't fully agree with the nobles' views, the new nobles and merchants had no choice but to raise their glasses in agreement.

The King is supreme after all, in the Royal Palace, one cannot speak recklessly.

Yet, despite the traditional nobles' disdainful facade towards the Thousand River Valley, they were more focused on it than the new nobles.

The reason was simple; the King forced them to purchase a significant amount of Thousand River Valley war bonds.

What everyone thought was a futile effort, unexpectedly yielded returns.

The information they gathered through their own channels was actually far more than what was officially announced.

For example, the 10 tons of gold brought by the Pope's Treasury stored in Xia Lvcheng is equivalent to nearly 400,000 gold pounds!

Just this alone is more than enough to pay off their bonds.

Outside the treasury, including those already distributed to soldiers and the knights themselves, it's even more, certainly not less than 200,000 gold pounds.

Not to mention the ransoms of knights and nobles after the war, those in the ransom agents business are making huge profits.

It's said that one ransom agent even wrote the timeless verse, "Horn, oh Horn, you are my dear father."

These traditional Falan nobles who purchased land bonds had their expressions change several times a day.

In the morning, they had a dead horse face, by noon it was a "possible dead horse, but can't be dead" face, and by evening, it's "horse, you have revived!" face.

Nobles like those from Red Leaf Hill, who helped Horn sell sugar and bonds, were surrounded by traditional nobles.

The reason is simple.

The Red Leaf Hill Bond Company works with the Thousand River Valley People, and although they can't decide whether to pay the bonds, they can decide the payment order.

The Red Leaf Hill nobles, once at the periphery of banquets, are now surrounded by flattery and compliments.

Especially Gigano from the Thousand River Valley Trading Company, who was surrounded several layers deep, drinking till his face was flushed red and intoxicated, not knowing how many unattainable requests he accepted.

Having repeated the same words too many times, Gigano simply stood on a chair, raised his wine glass, and announced to the surrounding crowd:

"The Thousand River Valley can absolutely pay your war bonds, and will also issue commercial bonds in the future, with lower interest rates, but you can still purchase..."

Upon hearing this, the traditional nobles' faces nearly blossomed with smiles.

As for those jealous of the bond-purchasing nobles and those who regretted not buying them, they were overjoyed.

The annual input of precious metals and grains from the Blood and Flesh Royal Court and the gold mines of the overseas islands have caused prices to soar, and noble land income is becoming increasingly devalued.

With these bonds, while not guaranteeing a return to the past, they can ensure their assets shrink at a slower rate.

Although essentially still relying on commerce and industry to earn, they can maintain the noble tradition of "not engaging in lowly trades" by making money through "lending."

After all, lending is not a lowly trade and can preserve their dignity.

As for who they lend to or for what purpose, that's not their concern.

"...Moreover, everyone, due to the freedom on which the Thousand River Valley was founded, you are all very welcome if you wish to establish workshops and such in the Thousand River Valley..."

Upon these words, many traditional nobles attempting to transform, had their eyes light up.

They struggled with their domestic commerce and industry being monopolized by new nobles, making transformation full of hardships.

If the Thousand River Valley welcomes Falans to build guild workshops, then they can smoothly transition from traditional land nobles to new industrial nobles.

As for the anti-noble sentiment in the Thousand River Valley, that's not a problem, just find an agent.

After making money in the Thousand River Valley, bring technology, money, and people back home, and the power would return, wouldn't it?

But when the traditional nobles turned their heads, they saw those new nobles and big merchants with equally bright eyes.

Damn, these hyenas!

The land nobles couldn't help but curse inwardly.

But the thoughts of the new nobles and merchants were different from those of the old nobles—a country composed entirely of citizens, what a huge market!

Most importantly, the Thousand River Valley People have the ability to protect their assets.

Currently, Horn's new country at least has the territories of the Shattered Stone Plain, Thousand River Valley, and Black Snake Bay.

This is truly a land of fortune!

The news spread, and the palace banquet was abuzz with discussions everywhere.

The Red Leaf Hill nobles, for the commission of the bonds, nearly extolled the Thousand River Valley as a land flowing with milk and honey, and gold everywhere.

However, it was a matter of happiness for some and distress for others. Many merchants and nobles who had bet that the Thousand River Valley would lose and had taken short positions or attempted to corner the market felt the sky was falling.

"This was just one battle, I thought it would last long, stored up so many herbs, all for nothing."

"It's over. I just bought soybeans and wheat, and now I might not even get half price."

"It's okay, it's okay, it will definitely get better."

These merchants gathered together, comforting and probing each other, to see if they had any means to sell off their stock.

A royal favorite passing by overheard their conversation and couldn't help but chuckle: "Don't worry, everyone, from what I've gathered, these goods will definitely still be useful."

These merchants' eyes lit up, and they continued to press for more information, but the royal favorite just kept his mouth shut, smiling silently.

But soon, they learned of this mysterious insider information.

Because in full armor, Charles VIII had entered the hall, standing at the end of the red carpet.

He waved the paper in his hand, his face full of anger, his words of righteousness echoing throughout the palace.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have to inform you of a terrible news.

The Pseudo-Pope in Holy Seat City and the False King Ginijis of Leia have colluded with vampires, and used zombies as knights!

Lord Nedbach was right before, they indeed conspired with the Blood and Flesh Royal Court!"

Amidst the uproar, Charles VIII drew his longsword, pointing northward, as if he was speaking not of an invasion, but of salvation.

"To turn against our human brothers for heresy is absolutely outrageous, for the glory of the Saint Master and the purity of humanity—

I am determined to support Prince Kongdai's youngest son Anthony of the former Plantagenet dynasty as King of Leia, to send troops to Windmills, to send troops to Holy Seat City, and to save our orthodox Miseria religion!"