Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 647 - 646: Conversation

The royal banner has fallen, but this is only the beginning. Establishing a new order is not easy; before everything stabilizes, countless issues need to be addressed— for Gawain, the only good news is that the resistance he faces has already collapsed for various reasons. Anzu has undergone a thorough cleansing in this disaster, and what he faces is a wasteland to be rebuilt, nothing but a wasteland to be rebuilt.

Moreover, he has gained the support of two Guardian Dukes, as well as the support of remaining royal families—at least on the surface.

The battles in the southern and eastern regions of St. Soniel have not yet completely ended. The mechanical forces and field fortresses have segmented those areas into many dead zones, where the Crystal Cluster Monsters that wandered over from the Plains of the Holy Spirits are ground to dust against those blockade lines, like entering a pulverizer.

The fleet docked along the Gorgon River has completed its fire support mission. All ships except the Pioneer and several small gunboats remain on standby near St. Soniel, while the two main battleships lead the remaining vessels to retreat, returning to the Gorgon River to continue blockading the channel, ensuring no escaped Crystal Cluster Monsters enter the western plains.

Those armored cargo ships have also left, but not permanently—they will maintain the transportation line between St. Soniel and the southern plains in the coming period, ensuring the supply of materials to the royal capital.

After the war, St. Soniel is in severe shortage of resources, particularly medical supplies. If the supply of various necessities to the royal capital cannot be restored promptly, the city might fall into self-destruction despite victory, a lesson history has taught repeatedly.

Upon entering the city, Gawain’s first order was to open the granaries of Silver Castle, distributing grain across the city, while deploying numerous pass messages to read the Pacification Announcement throughout the city. He also sent the White Knights to the streets, where they freely healed the citizens to initially soothe the public’s mind—he did not hastily confiscate properties or block those disempowered aristocrats, as it would lead to unnecessary panic and suppression, but he immediately replaced all city guards, stationing Soldiers in all urban areas.

During this process, Amber promptly mobilized the Intelligence Agency operatives within the city. These agents, who have been rooted in the city for a long time, acted in secrecy, uncovering numerous opportunists seeking to exploit the chaos, continuously providing grassroots intelligence to the military, allowing the officers responsible for maintaining order to quickly control the situation.

These effective measures brought a preliminary stabilization to the atmosphere of St. Soniel in a short time. Residents’ tension remained, but at least normal daily life was preserved, and the city functions were initially restored—after all, the traditional city management institutions of this era did not have very complex functions, and the Cecil Legion was smoothly implementing the "wartime military governance" process, more than sufficient to restore order to this city.

Inside Silver Castle, in a study adorned with a dark blue carpet, luxurious bookshelves, and exquisite Silver Candelabra, Gawain stood behind the crystal window, gazing at the open area with fountains and wide lawns in front of the castle—two Warhammer-I Main Battle Tanks and two Steel Ambassador Multipurpose Combat Vehicles parked beside elegant flowerbeds, while a squad of fully armed Magic Combatants marched in formation past the fountain, and four White Knights clad in heavy armor, holding Mechanically Powered Warhammers stood in the distance, appearing vigilant.

The classical royal castle and the modernized magic-conducting machinery forces appeared in a strangely surreal juxtaposition in the same scene, carrying a certain fantastical sense of displacement, yet bizarrely harmonizing together.

"I didn’t expect you’d be able to gracefully take over a royal capital and maintain order so swiftly," a middle-aged voice emerged from behind, "It seems that you’re quite adept, might even have rehearsed beforehand?"

Gawain turned around, watching Wales Moen approach the desk: "We didn’t rehearse, but the Cecil Legion had contingency plans for most situations, and adhering to them suffices for this city. As for adeptness...we indeed took over quite a few cities in the southern borders."

"This city is a greater mire, though my reminder might be somewhat redundant, I still hope you handle it cautiously," Wales chuckled, casually picking up the teapot on the desk, "You might try the tea here—it’s one of the few good things in Silver Castle."

Gawain openly accepted Wales’ goodwill and remarked offhandedly: "Sounds like you don’t have a favorable impression of Silver Castle."

"I dislike moldy places, and this is the most mold-infested house in the entire kingdom. I left here for twenty years, only to return and find it unchanged," Wales chuckled, "Fortunately, I don’t have to continue living here."

"Regret this decision?" Gawain glanced at him, "You actually chose the route most disadvantageous to yourself—you didn’t need to leave the throne in disgraceful infamy; I would naturally settle the accounts with those aristocrats, and you could peacefully transfer power, perhaps even leaving behind the title of ’Heroic King.’ Now, even though I’ve somewhat preserved your reputation, you’re still a king overthrown due to scandal, and such stains are difficult to cleanse."

Wales replied calmly: "This is precisely the situation I desired. A king who peacefully transitions power reminiscences too much, inciting future factions to raise my banner, attempting to restore Anzu’s monarchy, whereas overthrowing the king extinguished most future sparks, especially considering the king overthrown was a conspiratorial, bloody tyrant—nobody desires a tyrant’s return."

Upon saying this, the king, recently crowned for eight days, suddenly chuckled, a trace of self-mockery on his face: "I even prepared a gallows for myself, as the ultimate ’self-overthrow,’ but didn’t expect your direct, powerful stance to suppress the aristocrats’ impending fury... my gallows never came into use."

Gawain couldn’t help but gaze at Wales Moen, but the latter maintained a serene smile, as if discussing a trivial matter.

"In fact, even if you were dead, as long as there are those remembering the old days, restorers would emerge nonetheless, they might not invoke your name, but they’ll seek out your descendants, Moen bloodline successors, claimants from other branches, or even fabricate an ’offspring,’" Gawain shook his head, "Preventing a restoration requires not bloodline eradication, but the erosion of time and the allure of the new era itself. As long as new order surpasses the old, securing the majority’s benefit, restorers naturally find no ground."

Wales gently exhaled: "Then that’s your task."

"...Indeed, it is my task."

Gawain sidestepped, glancing at the square outside the window.

Some carriages emblazoned with family crests rolled across the roadway in front of the square.

Wales also stepped ahead, joining Gawain in observing the scene outside.

"...The Colinpas Family... They’re likely seeking Duke Baldwin for discussions on reopening market affairs."

"These families now stand opposed to you, and they’ll soon undergo management and ’reformation’ under Cecil laws," Gawain commented, "Many of them genuinely pledged allegiance to you, even until now. Cecil’s new order will be an arduous trial for them, shedding their longstanding lifestyles, their properties, their lands, their armies, nearly all privileges they once held. This is an almost unbearable ordeal given their previous status, and some who fail the trial, who can’t adapt to the new order, might forfeit their lives—as with the old aristocrats executed in the southern borders."

"Many of them are good people, good people by common moral standards, but Anzu... this nation needs rebirth," Wales stated tranquilly, "The issue lies within the entire aristocratic system, so we must dismantle the entire system, irrespective of individual morality."

"On the other hand, even these ’good people,’ those not sent by me to Raven Plateau, the ’good people’ who courageously defended the royal capital, remain obstacles and hindrances to the nation."

"The knights steadfastly defending the walls also exploit serfs in times of peace. The Earls and Viscounts, who fight to the death without retreat, also take away the last bit of grain and land from the farmers. Those who donated everything to support the front lines, who sent all their children to the walls, who died with nothing left at the barrier nodes... They are also the masters of the land, the owners of serfs, the holders of wealth. Among them are both Reformists and Conservatives, but no matter which faction they belong to, they all must become history—just like me, this king."

Gawain looked at Wales seriously, and after a long pause, nodded slightly, "You’ve seen through it very clearly."

"Just seeing it clearly, but it’s difficult for me to act upon it. I know my own limitations... I can see through things but cannot forge an army like yours. I understand human nature but lack the wisdom to design a whole new order like you. Perhaps I have some courage... but not enough to completely ignore all traditional forces and stick to my path like you," Wales shook his head self-deprecatingly. "The Raven Plateau was a gift from me to you, but it was also a test. Only when Skyfire falls upon the plateau can it prove your complete opposition to the current aristocratic system...

"As long as the cannons on the plateau roar, there will be no opportunity for reconciliation between you and the aristocrats. They will submit to you but will never attempt to win you over again. You will transform them but will never integrate with them. Even many years later, even if I die, even if you die—if you still have one more life to live—Skyfire over the Raven Plateau will be etched forever in the memory of witnesses and their children of the first and second generations, never to fade.

"This test might have been offensive, I hope you don’t mind."

"If I minded, I wouldn’t be standing here," Gawain glanced at Wales, "But I’m curious, what would you have done if I hadn’t ordered the cannons to fire back then?"

"I had arranged about half a company of knights in Mill Town," Wales said with a slight smile. "Compared to a true company of knights, those noisy clowns on the Raven Plateau are nothing. But that’s the worst-case scenario; if I had acted, the remaining order in the royal capital would collapse immediately, and the death toll would increase several times over, including individuals necessary for the kingdom’s reconstruction. Yet, I’m confident that if things had come to that, you would have intervened to take over the worse mess."

Gawain paused, unable to help but laugh softly, "Then I was lucky to have fired the cannons back then... Wales, in terms of scheming, you’re exactly like Charlie the First."

"That’s the highest praise I’ve ever received," Wales said openly, immediately shifting the conversation, "But now I have one last concern... Do you know what it is?"

"What is it?"

"The order of the Cecil Principality seems beneficial today, but Anzu’s aristocratic system was also beneficial when it was first established... Over time, every human-created order will be corrupted by humans, especially a completely new social order. No one can prove in advance that it is certainly correct. If someday, or perhaps not too far in the future, your kingdom—or empire—strays from the path you’ve set, and your rules are proven wrong, then at that time..." Wales paused here, raising his head to look into Gawain’s eyes, "Will you overthrow yourself? Or, can anyone overthrow you and your descendants?"

Gawain was silent for two seconds and then seriously said, "Yes, I promise."

He didn’t list a bunch of social development laws or the special attributes of Magic Guide Technology to substantiate his words, and Wales didn’t seek any evidence either. They both simply smiled, as if reaching a mutual understanding.

"Then I have no further questions," Wales set down the tea cup in his hand, adjusted his coat slightly, and then took half a step back, "It’s time for me to leave. A king who has been overthrown should not linger too long in the royal capital. This stage is yours now."

"Not considering staying to help?" Gawain looked at Wales, who was preparing to turn away, "You’re a talent, an extremely valuable talent, and the newborn country needs people like you. I have many positions, and I wouldn’t let your ’former king’ status get in the way."

"As the rumors say, you are indeed fond of recruiting talents, but I’m sorry to say, I am a lazy man," Wales shook his head. "I’ve used up a lifetime’s worth of diligence in these eight days of being a king. Now I want to return to my original life. For the sake of the contribution I made defending the city, allow me this laziness."

Gawain did not give up his efforts, "Consider it as witnessing whether my new order is correct, and see if I can keep my promise until the end."

Wales thought for a moment and spread his hands, "...Better not, I fear I might not live longer than you."

Gawain: "..."

The former king left the study.

Gawain sighed, and beside him, Amber’s figure gradually appeared in the air, blinking as she poked Gawain’s arm, "Didn’t succeed in recruiting him, eh..."

"I didn’t have much hope, merely gave it a try."

"But you seem really disappointed..."

"You revealed yourself just to say that?"

"Not really," Amber jumped out of stealth, stretching carelessly, "It’s just the first time I’ve seen someone talk as much as you do... and it’s surprising how many of Wales’ perspectives match yours. If I hadn’t known it was impossible, I would suspect he was taught by you..."

"There isn’t only one clever person in the world, unfortunately, not all clever people can be poached by me..." Gawain shook his head, temporarily putting aside these irrelevant musings, "Anyway, keep an eye on him, maybe one day he’ll still want to work for this country."

"Don’t worry, I knew you would make such arrangements."

"Where are Duke Baldwin and Duchess Victoria?"

"They’re in the first-floor reception room meeting with aristocratic and merchant representatives. There are many people who need reassuring at this stage — though they should have finished by now. Do you want them to come see you?"

"Send them up," Gawain nodded, "and bring up a Magic Web Terminal as well. I need to hold an internal meeting."