Tome of Blood

   "Damn it! A communication crystal is not that expensive? I'm afraid only you, a rich earl, would say such a thing."

   "A viscount like me in a remote country can't even get Tana to build roads!"

  Looking at the illusory girl who greeted him, Viscount Remisio couldn't help complaining.

  Charlotte smiled slightly:

   "Oh? Really? But in my opinion, you don't seem to be that short of money."

  After hearing what Charlotte said, Viscount Remisio fell silent.

  He gave Charlotte a complicated look, and sighed:

   "Your Excellency Charlotte, you don't need to be so tempting."

   "I know what you mean. You don't hesitate to use the communication crystal to talk to me. You just want to ask me why I have agreed to send troops, but why did I remain neutral in Castel's rebellion?"

  Charlotte nodded:

   "Yes, I am indeed curious."

   "I think the conditions given should be quite generous. Even if the commission for hiring the soldiers of the kingdom is removed, you can at least get half a million quintana in return in this war..."

   "However, you have now chosen to be neutral."

   "Although we haven't signed a formal contract, I hope to get an answer based on the years of friendship between the Castel family and the Remisio family."

  After hearing what Charlotte said, Viscount Remisio also sighed:

   "Yes, at least half a million Quintana income."

   "As long as you change the banner to participate in the battle, even superhumans won't have too many conscripts to get so much money, even the most outstanding mercenary group in Myria can't make that much money."

"but…"

   "But... I can't do it!"

   Speaking of this, Viscount Remisio looked sad.

  The distressed expression was like a boiled duck flying away.

   "Huh? You can't do it?"

  Charlotte frowned slightly.

   Viscount Remisio sighed:

"yes…"

   "Your Excellency Charlotte, you don't know, I even prepared the family flag that I played, but I received a military ban before I set off..."

   "His Majesty the King has an order to strictly investigate the chaos of noble officers in the kingdom's army changing the army's flag for private use. Violators will not only be dismissed from their positions as commanders, but will even be convicted if the situation is serious!"

   "You should also know that my Remisio Viscounty is poorer than the poorest place in the Principality of Boulder. Most of my income as the commander of the kingdom actually subsidizes the territory..."

   "I, the Remisio family, will definitely not lose my position as legion commander."

   "In this case, even if I want to earn your half a million quintana extra money, I'm powerless..."

  After listening to Viscount Remisio's words, Charlotte frowned even deeper:

   "The order of His Majesty the King? Why did His Majesty the King suddenly issue such a ban? As far as I know, isn't it an open secret that noble commanders change their flags and use the kingdom's army for private use?"

  Charlotte is really weird.

   Besides, although the Star-Moon War was won that year, the New Moon Kingdom also won miserably.

  The Crescent Royal Family simply does not have enough funds to maintain a large-scale regular army, and must rely on nobles to a certain extent.

  In fact, the identities of many current kingdom armies are already vague. They often have both regular army identities and a certain background of aristocratic private army.

  Under such circumstances, the Crescent Royal Family has always turned a blind eye to the royal army that the noble commanders changed their flags for private use.

   After all, part of the maintenance fee of the regular army was paid by nobles.

  These things, Charlotte, who has been supplementing the political and military intelligence of the New Moon Kingdom, also knows.

   And this is also the reason why she has the confidence to hire regular troops from Viscount Remisio.

   Viscount Remisio smiled wryly:

   "Yes, in the past, His Majesty the King has always turned a blind eye, but looking at it now, I am afraid that such a good time will be over."

   "It is well known that His Majesty the King wants to strengthen his authority, and military power is the most important thing. This ban should be a signal that His Majesty the King is preparing to rectify the army."

   "Your Excellency Charlotte, His Majesty the King has issued an order. In the future, the transfer of the regular army must go through the military's official transfer order. Without an order, the commander is not allowed to transfer without authorization."

  After listening to Viscount Remisio's words, Charlotte felt helpless.

  The regular army of the kingdom is loyal to the royal family after all, and the royal family provides most of the expenses such as equipment, extraordinary consumables, and military pay.

  As for the part of the maintenance fee borne by the nobles, it is mainly military rations and supplies. This part of the maintenance fee is only a small part in front of the regular army, which accounts for the majority of extraordinary expenses.

  If the New Moon royal family is determined to rectify the army, then there is really no way.

   "So, if you want to call the army in the future, you must obtain the military's consent?"

   Charlotte asked.

   "Yeah, I won't be so free from now on."

   Viscount Remisio sighed.

   As he spoke, he smiled wryly again:

   "However, it's not all bad things, at least... all future expenses will be provided by the royal family, and we commanders don't have to worry about military rations like before."

   "As for other things... there are policies and countermeasures, let's talk about it after this rumor has passed!"

   "It's just that now, I really can't help Castel."

  After hearing what Viscount Remisio said, Charlotte sighed slightly:

   "I understand. Since it is His Majesty's decision, there is no other way."

   "Your Excellency Charlotte, although I cannot provide direct military assistance to Castel, as the commander-in-chief of the Castel Silver Mine, at least I can guarantee the safety of the Castel mine."

   "I can promise that as long as the rule of the Castel family is still there, the Mithril Mine will not fall into the hands of the rebels. This is the last thing I can do."

   Viscount Remisio said.

  Charlotte nodded:

   "Your Excellency, Viscount, thank you for your commitment. Being able to hold the mining area is already a great help. After the rebellion subsides, I will still pay you a certain amount of Quintana to express my gratitude."

   Viscount Remisio suddenly smiled:

   "Hey, then I will accept it unceremoniously."

   After speaking, he looked solemn again:

   "By the way, Sir Charlotte, there is one more thing... Please be careful of the third prince."

   "Be careful... the third prince?"

  Charlotte's heart skipped a beat.

   Viscount Remisio nodded, and said in a deep voice:

   "Yes, Your Excellency Charlotte, do you know why His Majesty the King reorganized the army at this point in time?"

  Charlotte's eyes moved slightly:

   "Could it be... related to the third prince?"

   Viscount Remisio nodded:

   "According to the rumors, the reorganization of the kingdom's army was proposed by the newly appointed military commander, Duke Orton, and Duke Orton... is very close to the third prince."

"It is said that in the Duke of Orton's proposal, he even specifically named the kingdom's troops stationed around Castel Territory, including the mine defenders I'm in charge of, all the army commanders that Castel might be able to contact Officer, almost all of them are on the list."

   "It is precisely because of this that I dare not send troops out of the mining area at all."