Chapter 25.
The stone steps before the Duke’s residence were bitterly cold, yet the dozens of rchants kneeling there were drenched in sweat.
Sylvia did not appear.
The one who ca out was the finance officer, Grayson.
Grayson looked down at the rchants who had recently tried to strangle the Northern Territory’s lifeline.
His expression did not show the slightest ripple of emotion.
He unfolded a sheet of parchnt and spoke in a tone that sounded like the reading of a verdict.
“By order of Her Highness the Princess.”
“All supplies brought to the Northern Territory by the Golden Griffin rchant Guild will be purchased by the Duke’s residence and then sold to all residents of the Northern Territory at seventy percent of the market price.”
“You, the rchants present here today, will be responsible for managing the distribution network. There must be no mistakes.”
“Secondly, effective imdiately, a Northern Territory Joint Tax Inspection Team will be established. All industries, lands, and mines under your nas will be reassessed. According to the new tax law, you will repay the taxes owed over the past three years.”
THUD.
One rchant collapsed onto the ground and fainted.
Repay three years of taxes?
According to that life-draining new tax law?
That was not taxation. That was confiscation.
“You may stand now.”
Grayson rolled up the parchnt.
“Rember who the true master of the Northern Territory is.”
…
Inside the study, Sylvia stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, gazing in the direction of Winter Harbor.
Even from this distance, she seed able to see the three enormous fleets bearing the Golden Griffin banners.
They resembled three moving mountains that had completely subdued this land.
Logaris' favor was even more valuable than she had imagined.
But Sylvia knew clearly that outside forces were still outside forces.
The Golden Griffin could intimidate the rchants of the Northern Territory once, but they would not remain in Winter Harbor forever.
She needed to build a power structure that truly belonged to her—one capable of operating efficiently on its own.
“Grayson.”
Sylvia spoke.
Her voice was not loud, yet it carried unquestionable authority.
Grayson, who had been standing respectfully behind her, imdiately stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Your two assistants perford well.”
Sylvia turned around, her silver-gray eyes fixed on him.
“One is nad Martin, the other Colin. Correct?”
Grayson felt a jolt of tension.
He had not expected the Princess to rember even the nas of his assistants.
“Yes, Your Highness. They contributed greatly while calculating the assets of the seven great families and drafting the detailed regulations of the new tax law.”
“Bring them in.”
Soon, two middle-aged n wearing ordinary clerical clothing were led inside.
They appeared uneasy and dared not even raise their heads.
Sylvia did not waste ti.
“Martin, if I assign you to manage the comrcial taxes of Winter City, where would you begin?”
Martin trembled slightly when his na was called.
He swallowed nervously, but his reply was orderly and clear.
“Your Highness, I would begin by coordinating the distribution network with the Golden Griffin rchant Guild. All shops would be required to use accounting books issued uniformly by the Duke’s residence. Tax officers would be stationed to supervise them and eliminate the possibility of falsified accounts. Secondly, I would impose an additional thirty percent special tax on luxury goods transactions…”
Sylvia then turned her gaze to the other man.
“Colin, if you were given ten million Golden Lion Coins, how would you ensure that it supports the industrial park while also stimulating the entire Northern Territory’s economy?”
Colin appeared calr than Martin.
After thinking briefly, he answered in a steady voice.
“Your Highness, I would recomnd establishing a Northern Territory Developnt Bank. This money would serve as the reserve capital. Low-interest loans would be issued to promising workshop owners and farm operators to help them expand production. In this way, the money would generate more money and also activate the vitality of the civilian economy.”
A faint smile appeared on Sylvia’s face after hearing their answers.
“Excellent.”
She turned to Grayson.
“From today onward, you will formally serve as the Chief Financial Administrator of the Northern Territory. Martin will beco the Chief Deputy of the Taxation Departnt, and Colin will beco the Chief Deputy of the Comrce Departnt. I give you authority. You will give results.”
The three n froze for a mont before overwhelming joy flooded over them.
They fell to their knees, their voices trembling.
“We swear to serve Your Highness with our lives!”
This was the first step—promoting capable administrators.
Imdiately afterward, Sylvia sent out several invitations.
That night, the Duke’s residence hosted a small banquet.
The invited guests were several old noble families who had remained neutral during the recent purge and had even been suppressed by families such as the Marcus family.
The atmosphere at the banquet was sowhat tense.
Several heads of families sat uneasily in their seats.
Sylvia raised her wineglass, her silver-white hair flowing under the magic lamps like moonlight.
“There is no need for you to feel nervous.”
Her voice was gentle.
“What has passed should remain in the past. The blood shed in Winter City is temporarily sufficient.”
The family heads exchanged glances and finally relaxed.
“I invited you here to discuss the future of the Northern Territory,” Sylvia continued.
“The industrial park will require supporting urban construction, and abandoned farmland must be reclaid. All of this requires experienced individuals to manage and supervise it. I hope you will contribute your wisdom and strength for the future of the Northern Territory.”
She ntioned no accusations.
Instead, she offered them a bright future.
“I intend to establish the ‘Winter City Construction Advisory Council’ and the ‘Northern Territory Agricultural Reform Supervisory Council.’ I hope you will take positions within them.”
These positions carried no real power, but they were symbols of honor.
More importantly, they represented acceptance by the new ruler.
The noble heads imdiately stood up and bowed respectfully to Sylvia, expressing their willingness to serve her.
By winning over the neutral faction and dividing the old powers, the second step was completed.
The following day, General Victor ca to report on military matters and brought several files with him.
“Your Highness, these are several n I selected from the army.”
Victor’s voice was firm and powerful.
“None of them co from noble families, but in Blackstone Fortress they have shed more blood and fought harder than anyone else.”
Sylvia looked through the files.
They recorded the stories of ordinary soldiers who had climbed step by step to beco junior officers through their battlefield achievents.
She lifted her head and looked at Victor.
“Then bring them here. My personal guard does not need noble bloodlines. I only require loyalty and ability.”
Victor’s eyes burst with blazing excitent as he struck his chest armor with his fist.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
At this point, the three pillars of governance—politics, comrce, and military—had been preliminarily established.
anwhile, the true mastermind behind all of this, Logaris West, paid no attention to the political storms outside.
He spent all day in the laboratory at the highest tower of the castle.
Lilith sat miserably in a specially designed tal chair.
Several faintly glowing rings were locked around her wrists and ankles.
Logaris paced around her while holding a recording crystal, muttering to himself.
“Incredible. Mana directly reverting into Aether… what kind of principle could possibly explain this?”
As he spoke, he drew a complex rune in the air with his hand.
A stream of scorching flas suddenly appeared, licking through the air beside Lilith.
Lilith trembled in fright.
“I… I feel a little uncomfortable.”
“Be quiet.”
Logaris answered without even lifting his head.
“…”
After finishing a full day of administrative duties, Sylvia habitually ca here.
When she pushed open the door, a wave of heat mixed with the sll of burning and tal rushed toward her.
She frowned slightly.
Stepping around scattered components and half-drawn magic arrays on the floor, she walked toward Logaris' workbench.
A blueprint lying on the table caught her attention.
It was a newly completed design for a blast furnace’s internal structure, far more sophisticated and efficient than any design Aaron had previously presented.
“For Aaron?” she asked softly.
“I just sketched it casually.”
Logaris' gaze remained fixed on Lilith.
“If he cannot understand it, he can throw it away.”
Sylvia said nothing more.
She simply folded the blueprint carefully.
A new core of power was rapidly forming around her.
The financial bureaucracy led by Grayson, the technical administration led by Aaron, the military leadership led by Victor, and the incorporated old noble forces together ford the foundation of her rule over the Northern Territory.
Within only half a month, order in Winter City had not only been restored but had beco more efficient than ever before.
The patrols on the streets were no longer lazy.
Officials in the city hall no longer evaded responsibility.
Even the dockworkers at the harbor carried expressions of hope for the future.
People had begun to sincerely call her “the true ruler of the Northern Territory,” rather than “that princess from the royal capital.”
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