Regarding Kashchey's congratulations, Fyodor responded with a calm, indifferent expression, as if everything were well within his grasp.
However, a closer look at his slightly arched eyebrow revealed that his mood had indeed improved significantly upon hearing the news. One could say this report acted as a much-needed shot of adrenaline. It seemed the power struggles the nobility had been conducting in the shadows lately had not only failed to cease but had likely intensified.
After all, this Emperor held few soldiers or civil officials who truly obeyed him. How could those nobles fear a "little" fellow without power as they had feared his father? The fact that they hadn't yet marginalized him to the point of being a mere puppet—sitting in the palace with nothing to do but breed successors—was a testament to the Emperor's own brilliance.
Surrounded daily by ministers who watched his every move like vultures, without a single person by his side to keep them in check, this starting position could truly be described as "Hell Difficulty."
"Based on your understanding, if we use the entire batch of Holy Water we just purchased, how long will it last?"
Although the effect of the Holy Water was excellent, the price of the stuff was outrageously expensive! Even the Emperor felt a twinge of pain in his chest at the cost. Even with Laterano offering a discount due to Jeanne's presence in Ursus, the price was by no means cheap. They couldn't afford to spray it like common water; even the national strength of Ursus couldn't sustain such spending.
"The specific concentration is still being tested. We hope to maximize the effect without wasting it. However, I estimate we can make it last for a month."
While Kashchey didn't understand the inner workings of Holy Water as Jeanne did, he had endured over three years of "baptism" by the Holy Light. Coupled with the experiments they had conducted on the land previously, Kashchey could now proudly claim that he understood the nature of the Holy Light better than most Sankta.
It was like someone who has been beaten frequently naturally knowing the extent of their own injuries. During those three years of "torment," this wicked god had essentially been forced to put all his skill points into the knowledge of this power.
Hearing Kashchey's words, Fyodor nodded. If the Holy Water could truly last a month, the cost remained within Ursus's range of tolerance. Moreover, with its help, the death rate of soldiers in the North and the consumption of munitions would drop significantly. This meant the expenses for weapon manufacturing and pensions for fallen soldiers would plummet. Once those savings were accounted for, they might even have money left over after buying the Holy Water.
Though relying entirely on imports gave the Emperor a sense of unease, there was no alternative. This wasn't something that could be learned like Originium Arts.
"It seems, Duke Kashchey, that you will need to put more effort into managing Lady Jeanne. At the very least, over the next few years, do not allow her perception of us to shift too negatively."
On the surface, this was a business deal between Ursus and Laterano, but he knew who truly called the shots. That girl might claim she didn't care about such matters, but whether the business continued was ultimately up to her.
The most troublesome part was that she was currently in the snowfields—the place where Ursus's control was at its weakest. This meant that if any accident occurred, she could potentially flee back to Laterano. Even as Emperor, his ability to control that wretched place was limited, and he couldn't act too overtly lest the nobility notice something.
Thus, the best person to soothe any potential tensions was undoubtedly Kashchey. This was perhaps Kashchey's most challenging mission to date. Fortunately, the fellow was a master at manipulating hearts; his skill points in this area were nearly maxed out. Keeping Jeanne steady wouldn't be difficult for Kashchey, as he understood her personality well.
"Your Majesty can rest assured on that point. I will keep an eye on everything happening in the snowfields. I also believe that the relationship between them is strong enough to withstand this level of testing."
Evidently, Kashchey didn't believe Jeanne would leave Reunion. Jeanne wasn't like his own Little Talulah; she wasn't so easily misled. With Talulah, Kashchey could use the power of language to subtly change her until one day a breaking point would occur, making her accept his ideology.
But for Jeanne, Kashchey's ideologies held no sway. This girl had her own way of thinking and was immune to outside influence. Kashchey couldn't even guess what she had experienced to possess such a resolute will at such a young age; it certainly wasn't something a village girl should have.
This was also why he wasn't worried that Jeanne would be lured away by the prosperity of Lungmen and refuse to return.
Speaking of Lungmen, Kashchey suddenly remembered that because he had been busy helping the Emperor, he hadn't spoken to Jeanne before she left. He seemed to have forgotten to tell her a few things.
But it shouldn't be a big deal, right? His subordinates were being perfectly obedient now and wouldn't cause trouble for Jeanne. That only left the business with the nobility. Once Talulah reached the snowfields today, he would just tell her. After all, only a few days had passed; Jeanne shouldn't have run into any of his old, messy affairs yet... probably.
For some reason, as Kashchey thought about this, he felt a sudden chill on the back of his head. But no windows were open in the room. He dismissed it as an illusion.
However, since he had subordinates in Lungmen, it meant that if he put in a little effort over the next few days, it might be possible to transfer his soul there. Although doing so would be a hassle and lacked practical use, he dearly wanted to see the expressions on Wei Yenwu's and Lin Gerui's faces when he suddenly popped up.
He could already imagine their panic, their unease, and their disbelief... Ah, he wanted to laugh just thinking about it. At this moment, Kashchey's troublemaking heart, suppressed for years, began to stir. Having been suppressed under Jeanne for so long, he was looking for a chance to vent.
Little did Kashchey know that once Talulah and Jeanne spoke on the phone, what awaited him might be described as nothing less than hell...
Rumble... rumble...
Talulah drove the massive truck across the snowy plains. The nearby villagers watched with immense curiosity as the huge vehicle passed through their village. It had been years since a private truck had been seen in these parts. Anyone who could afford such a thing wouldn't come here; the profit from a deal wouldn't even cover the cost of the Originium fuel.
"So this is the snowfield... it seems quite peaceful along the way."
Crownslayer sat in the truck, chatting with Talulah to prevent her from losing focus during the long, monotonous drive. The previous part of the journey had been fine, but in this place without even a paved road, Crownslayer didn't dare help with the driving, fearing she'd lead them into the middle of nowhere.
However, throughout the trip, she hadn't seen the legendary Infected Patrols. Weren't they supposed to be roaming the snowfields, encountered at every turn? Yet, despite being on high alert, they hadn't seen anyone except for a few highwaymen. Even Talulah found this incredibly strange.
"Generally speaking, the snowfield is not as peaceful as what we've seen these past few days. There are many Infected Patrols and transport teams for the Infected, not to mention many Ursus rebels hiding here..."
Talulah described the hardships of life for the Infected. If even a normal person found survival difficult here, it was far worse for an Infected person with no power or status.
It was true; even if the rebels were hiding, the patrols and transport trucks shouldn't have missed them. Yet, to this point, not a single team had caught up to them...
Just then, Crownslayer and Talulah both spotted a figure resembling a small giant standing not far off.
"Welcome back."