Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 36: The Threat

...—Hauzen City, Arestia— Empire...

...—14 September 1238—...

The darkness of the night enveloped the atmosphere of the Free Trade City of Hauzen which looked as fierce as the crowds.

Large ciamically decorated lanterns illuminated several houses and streets of the capital, shops and small merchants who kept their stalls on public streets, indicating that the atmosphere of the festival held by the Emperor due to the inauguration of the Merchant Guild had not ended at all.

One of the high-end inns of three-story Hauzen City, Ullysia looked at the sparkling city with something prodding in her heart.

Murky look. Thus with his right hand that tightly grasps a white sheet with a soft texture and very thin to wrinkle that will certainly replace the current writing media that the nobles are using.

Domination with culture.

The first movement, Ares has started his campaign. Using paper, Ares aims to improve the intellectuality of the people living in this world.

Although it takes up to 1,000 years, paper is the beginning, something that becomes a starting point where it can be accessed by more people because the price is cheaper and can be easier to use compared to parchment.

More groups will open their eyes to letters and numbers. Even so with its production that does not depend on animal skins, causing paper to be accessible to traders and residents with economies that are at the middle level.

In contrast to Ares's earlier world history, paper technology spread through the Crusades, which revolved around the early 12th century originating in Asia.

In this world, because the peace of the world as a whole has been going on for a long time, technology is getting harder and harder to develop. It is not a lie if innovation actually appears and is created in a difficult era such as the occurrence of world war.

"He's dangerous." Although just muttering, Ullysia's words sounded clearly piercing the eardrums of her subordinates who were behind her.

"Do you really need to watch out for Ares until you act like one, Madam?" One of Ullysia's male subordinates asked, on her forehead was a black Star David tattoo.

Ullysia turned around, looking at her subordinates doubtfully, "Didn't some of you have seen such rare commodity items inside the Merchant Guild Warehouse earlier this afternoon?"

Ullysia's subordinates momentarily glanced at each other, forming a deal in silence if none of them felt that Ares was someone they should be wary of and afraid of, regardless of any military achievements he had carved before.

"Isn't that just sugar, ma'am? I also don't think that just that much sugar Ares can affect the distribution and trade of the world" he said.

"And also, we did not once feel the tight security that protected Ares and the members of the Imperial Family when they attended the guild inauguration ceremony," another female subordinate said.

Ullysia let out a light sigh in response to her subordinates' reply, "Every year, the sugar production she targets reaches over 1 million tons, he said, do not deny the possibility if it will increase sharply in the future."

Silent.

No one could speak against the words Ullysia spoke. Although they are laymen, but the subordinates of Ullysia certainly understand about the state of the world market.

Some of Ullysia's subordinates were present with hiding her true identity.

At first, none of them believed Ares' words saying that the guild would expand its trade in the next few months to other countries, but if sugar production increased sharply, ares' words are not just a wish.

Recollections recollect when Ullysia spoke with Ares after the inauguration ceremony had taken place. Finding a girl whose one eye was covered by a black blindfold coiled around her head, Ullysia somehow felt a faint strangeness.

Moreover, with the presence of Loic, the strange impression of Ullysia aimed at Ares greatly increased. Ullysia certainly understood with the actions of Emperor Renacles who nationalized many giant companies to make them all under his umbrella.

With the presence of Loic—the former heir to the Coulent—Feeling discomfort possessed by Ullysia is increasing. Unlike the nobles in general, even though Loic now no longer had anything of value, Ares still carried it under his palm, as if doing good without expecting the slightest bit of selflessness.

"Send a message to the 'Round Table, ' Ares is someone who should be inside the 'Blacklist.'" Ullysia gave a firm order.

"Yes, Madam." The subordinates simultaneously replied, dropping his body to kneel to his Master.

Ullysia slowly turned around, staring at the atmosphere of the city that still felt crowded from behind the windowpanes. His palm once again clenched tightly, Ullysia made a sharp gaze towards the large castle that was in the middle of the city.

Don't think that everything is under your control, young man.

Inside a luxurious room in one corner of the Hauzen City Castle building far from the inn where Ullysia and her subordinates were staying, Edward stared intently at his daughters eyes, painted a very murky expression that he had never shown anyone before.

There was no one but the two of them in the room, Lucia could only look at her father strangely, never before called upon by Edward except for her brothers who discussed an important matter.

"Lucia." The call of his father who stared intently at him broke the silent atmosphere that had previously enveloped the room with the lighting of the lanterns are quite bright.

Lucia instinctively straightened her back, sitting tensely from feeling the heavy pressure emitted by her father.

"Yes, Dad." Lucia replied calmly, hiding her anxiety well.

"Have you understood why I wanted to marry you to His Majesty the Emperor?" Edward asked sharply, causing Lucia to become even more depressed.

Putting aside the murderous feasts that Excel emitted when the two were conversing with the Imperial Royalty Couple of Arestia, Edward considered that his choice to marry his daughter to the Emperor was very appropriate.

In addition to the cause of the two princes Holenstadt who greatly disliked Edward who had sent an engagement proposal to his daughter, who, the reason for gaining influence within the Merchant Guild became one of the goals that Edward wanted to achieve, beside her who loved her daughter very much and really did not want Lucia to be carried away by the flow of political turmoil Holenstadt Kingdom.

Not without reason, the air of Holenstadt Kingdom has been felt increasingly tense. Edward had given Ares protection money as a cost to save and protect himself and his family if the political situation of the Holenstadt Kingdom could no longer be controlled.

With the commodities for which he was very promising and had been under the palm of Ares, Edward's desire to make a familial relationship with the Emperor could no longer be contained.

Sugar, salt, wood, even gunpowder, all these important commodities were displayed in the halls and storehouses, as if Ares was not playing around with what he had said.

"Yes, Dad. But..." Lucia stopped her words, powerless to say anything that could offend her father.

"What's wrong?" Sensing that accidentally putting pressure on his daughter was too high, Edward softened his expression, forming a gentle smile.

Seeing her father slowly soften, Lucia slightly bit her lower lip, deciding to reveal what she felt as a woman, "Dad, to be honest, your actions felt really annoying to a woman, she said, especially for Her Majesty Empress Excel."

"Eh?" Receiving the answer, Edward momentarily fell silent, dumbfounded at the painful words that almost never came out of his daughter's mouth.

...----------------...