Chapter 63: The Wager’s Price and a New Alliance

“However, even so, the wager with the Demon King was a personal loss for you, and to have the nobles within the territory foot the bill is truly…”

Sweat beaded on the envoy’s brow. The territory’s resource vault was not Silvya’s sole property; major merchants and nobles also held a stake in it.

To demand such a massive expenditure from them now, when they had done nothing, was simply too much.

“I’ve already covered the largest share; you all can divide the rest among yourselves.”

Silvya could not be bothered to engage further. She understood the envoy’s implication: that her mistakes should be her burden alone, with the fine paid from her own coffers, rather than escalating into a punishment for the entire territory.

Yet, such convenient arrangements rarely existed in this world, where one could reap benefits without bearing responsibility.

From Silvya’s perspective, His Majesty the Demon King had been well aware of the situation within their territory, which was precisely why he had specifically demanded ‘territory inventory’ and ‘territory taxes,’ while also forbidding any ‘increase in territorial levies.’

This would undoubtedly force the nobles of the territory to tighten their belts for several years.

A faint smile tugged at Silvya’s lips as she imagined the faces of those arrogant individuals turning greener than moss.

“Enough. Tell them that if they have any further objections, they are welcome to come directly to me! I’ll beat every single one of them into submission!”

The envoy seemed poised to speak further, but Silvya raised a hand to stop them. Despite her petite, loli-like figure, her words carried an undeniable swagger.

The envoy’s expression clouded with difficulty, yet they ultimately dared not utter another word, retreating silently.

****

“Ai Yi, when will the first batch of resources arrive?”

Bored, Silvya sat idly in her chair, casually pulling a document towards her as she addressed her secretary.

“The first batch… should arrive this afternoon. However, your withdrawal of such a large sum from the vault might cause the nobles within the territory to…”

Ai Yi adjusted her glasses, hinting at her worry.

“Rest assured, with me here, they wouldn’t dare rebel. In fact, it would be even better if they did.”

Silvya’s lips curved into a pleased smile. She was keenly aware of the petty nature of the nobles within her territory, yet unfortunately, the majority of wealth was concentrated in the hands of these few.

The truly shrewd would choose to follow her arrangements, while only the insignificant clowns, incapable of achieving anything substantial, would bite back with ferocity.

“It seems your problem-solving methods are unexpectedly simple and brutal. Should I say it’s fitting for a capable and ambitious lord? You completely disregard the issue of attrition.”

Archimedes, the white dragon in spirit form, emerged from Silvya’s ring. He plucked a cupcake from the table with a claw and tossed it into his large maw without bothering to peel off its wrapper.

The ring on Silvya’s hand was, of course, not Noah Autolinde’s ‘White Dragon Blood Ring,’ but merely a temporary vessel for Archimedes to inhabit.

Noah Autolinde had instructed Archimedes to stay by Silvya’s side, referring to it as ‘monitoring,’ ‘guidance,’ and ‘investment.’

Silvya, for her part, had no objections, nor any particular expectations.

Since her battle with Noah Autolinde, she seemed to have adopted a more tranquil disposition, even feeling a certain detachment from worldly desires. The servants in her mansion had begun to wonder if she had contracted some serious illness.

“I am now His Majesty the Demon King’s person; my actions naturally must consider His Majesty.”

Silvya glanced over, stating plainly.

“Besides, both I and the parasites in this territory have been fed up with each other for a long time.”

“I’d like to see who is so capable as to dare make a move against me at this very moment.”

Silvya’s lips curled slightly. Having been beaten by the Royal Court’s princess until her body shrunk, and then ordered by His Majesty the Demon King to pay reparations, anyone would assume this was her weakest moment.

Yet, she knew herself that this was both her strongest and most unstable period.

The body Noah Autolinde had reshaped for her was extraordinarily powerful, a true refinement of her essence; such a boon also confirmed her unequivocal allegiance to the Demon King, a situation entirely unlike what the territorial nobles might imagine.

This was also an opportune moment for her to discern who was loyal and who was treacherous; who was astute and who was foolish.

Having lived in peace for too long, she was quite eager to see some blood spill.

“My Lady, there are adventurers outside who wish to see you.”

The servant conveying the message leaned close to Silvya’s ear, speaking softly.

“Let them in.”

Silvya gave a slight nod. Few adventurers were capable of conversing with her, and even fewer could complete her tasks and obtain exclusive skills from her.

She felt a flicker of anticipation, wondering if the visitors would be newcomers who had found clues, or seasoned veterans who had mastered their craft.

“Big Sis Silvya! I brought my friends over… huh!?”

The cat-girl rogue, clad in short clothes, greeted them energetically, her ID ‘Yuan Miaomiao’ hovering above her head.

Upon seeing the unfamiliar blonde loli sipping tea in the chair, she was startled, her ears and tail instantly standing on end.

Adventurers (players) could not initially select non-human races during character creation, but they could transform their race through special quests, costumes, or potions as the story progressed.

Yuan Miaomiao’s ears and tail, for instance, were special attire. Though not a true cat-girl, she still possessed the sensory experience of a tail and ears through sensors.

Trailing behind her were the two who had just logged in: Mao Ning and Knight Aaron.

“B-B-B-Big Sis!? What happened to you?”

Yuan Miaomiao stared at the unfamiliar blonde loli before her, momentarily flustered and incoherent.

“Don’t mind such trivial details. Is there something you need from me?”

Silvya and Yuan Miaomiao were quite familiar with each other. Silvya had assigned Yuan Miaomiao numerous quests, and in return, the rogue had acquired many exclusive skills and benefits from her.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, nothing to be ashamed of.

Therefore, whatever Yuan Miaomiao sought from her, Silvya trusted it wouldn’t be a disadvantageous deal.

However, the moment the three adventurers stepped into the hall, Archimedes, the white dragon, swiftly burrowed back into the ring, for reasons unknown.

Silvya didn’t dwell on it, merely assuming that Archimedes’ existence needed to be kept secret from adventurers. Some secrets, naturally, were safer with fewer knowing.

“Um… Big Sis, can you help us get into the Demon King’s Castle?”

Yuan Miaomiao scratched her head. It was somewhat unsettling to see such a statuesque beauty suddenly transform into a tiny loli.

“I used to be able to, but not anymore.”

Silvya rolled her eyes. If they had asked two days earlier, Silvya could have, in her capacity as a demon lord, met with the Demon King openly and honorably.

Now, however… given that she was, on the surface, still half a failed rebel, it was best to maintain some distance and avoid stirring up trouble.

“What do you want to do in the Demon King’s Castle?”

Silvya asked, curious, as she observed the suddenly dejected Yuan Miaomiao, Mao Ning shrouded beneath her hood, and Knight Aaron, who merely shrugged helplessly.