Chapter 54: The Price of Peace

The morning sun climbed higher over Aurelia.

From the palace walls, the imperial capital looked flawless.

Golden rooftops shimmered beneath the sunlight.

Towering cathedrals overlooked bustling markets.

Scholars debated in public squares.

Merchants from every corner of the continent traded goods worth fortunes.

It was beautiful.

Almost...

Too beautiful.

Kael walked through the eastern district with Walter, Leon, Iris, Darius, and Grom following several steps behind.

None of them wore royal cloaks.

Only simple traveling clothes.

The only thing identifying Kael as a noble was the sword at his waist.

Walter stretched his arms.

"I've got to admit..."

"The capital is incredible."

Leon nodded.

"It is."

Walter grinned.

"So why do I feel like you're about to ruin my good mood?"

Leon sighed.

"Because perfection doesn't exist."

Kael smiled quietly.

"I was thinking the same thing."

The Steel District

The smell reached them before the buildings did.

Hot iron.

Coal.

Burning charcoal.

The ringing of hammers echoed through the streets.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

Hundreds of blacksmiths worked side by side.

Armor.

Swords.

Spears.

Shields.

Horse shoes.

Every forge burned from sunrise until nightfall.

Walter's eyes lit up.

"I love this place."

Hugo would've loved it even more, Kael thought.

He made a mental note to bring the rest of the Black Dragons here someday.

As they continued walking...

Kael noticed something strange.

Nearly every blacksmith looked exhausted.

Not simply tired.

Broken.

Their hands were wrapped in cloth.

Some limped.

Others coughed constantly from years of smoke.

Yet...

Business was booming.

The system appeared.

Observation Detected

District Productivity:

Excellent.

Worker Satisfaction:

Low.

Recommendation:

Investigate.

Kael nodded almost imperceptibly.

Master Rowan

An elderly blacksmith wiped sweat from his forehead before noticing the group.

"You're buying..."

He paused.

"...or just looking?"

Kael smiled.

"Mostly learning."

The old man laughed.

"That's a first."

"I'm Rowan."

"I've worked this forge for forty-three years."

Kael extended his hand.

"Kael."

The old smith shook it firmly.

"A strong grip."

"You've worked."

Kael nodded.

"I've held a hammer before."

Rowan grinned.

"Good."

"Too many nobles think swords appear by magic."

Walter laughed.

"I wish."

Kael spent nearly half an hour asking questions.

How long did it take to forge armor?

Where did the ore come from?

How many apprentices worked each year?

What tools broke the most?

How much did iron cost?

Darius quietly watched.

The questions surprised even him.

Most nobles would've asked...

"How many swords can you make?"

Kael asked...

"What makes your job harder?"

Finally...

Rowan answered with a tired smile.

"Taxes."

The group became quiet.

"We pay taxes when the ore arrives."

"We pay taxes after the weapon is forged."

"We pay taxes when it's sold."

"We pay taxes transporting it."

He shrugged.

"The Empire collects."

"The city collects."

"The guild collects."

By the end...

"We're lucky if we keep enough to repair the forge."

Walter frowned.

"That's ridiculous."

Rowan looked around carefully before lowering his voice.

"Keep that opinion to yourself."

"The Tax Office has ears."

Kael's Thoughts

As they left the forge...

Kael remained unusually quiet.

His memories drifted back to Earth once again.

Economics.

Supply chains.

Small businesses.

He remembered reading about how excessive taxation discouraged production.

When people stopped investing...

Everyone became poorer.

Not richer.

"A government should collect enough to function..."

"Not enough to suffocate growth."

The system responded.

Knowledge Integration Complete

Earth Knowledge Applied:

Economic Development

Potential Policy Created

Progressive Commercial Tax Reform

Stored within the Imperial Archive.

Unlock Requirement:

Become an emperor.

Kael smiled.

"So that's how it works."

The system wasn't simply giving him abilities.

It was preserving ideas.

Waiting until he possessed the authority to implement them.

The Veteran

Further down the road...

They passed a small bridge.

An elderly man sat quietly beside it.

His left sleeve hung empty.

He had lost an arm years ago.

His faded military cloak identified him as a former Imperial soldier.

Most people walked past him without a second glance.

Kael stopped.

He approached slowly.

"May I sit?"

The old veteran looked surprised.

"...It's a free bridge."

Kael sat beside him.

For several moments...

Neither man spoke.

Watching the river was enough.

Finally...

Kael asked,

"You served?"

The veteran nodded.

"Thirty years."

"Northern Border."

"Demon incursions."

He glanced toward his missing arm.

"Left this behind."

"Were you compensated?"

Kael asked.

The old man laughed.

"A medal."

He reached into his pocket.

A bronze medal rested in his palm.

"Worth less than the bread I ate this morning."

Walter clenched his fists.

Leon looked away.

Even Darius frowned.

"My sons work now."

The veteran continued.

"They take care of me."

"But..."

He looked toward the palace visible in the distance.

"I wonder sometimes..."

"...how many others weren't as lucky."

Kael stared at the flowing river.

Another problem.

One that no report had mentioned.

The system quietly updated.

Leadership Record

Problems Identified

✓ Agricultural Reform

✓ Infrastructure

✓ Military Recruitment

✓ Tax Burden

✓ Veteran Welfare

Empire Stability Analysis:

Current Grade:

B-

Potential Grade with Reforms:

A+

The Shadow in the Alley

As the group prepared to leave...

Iris suddenly raised her hand.

"Someone's following us."

Instantly...

Walter's joking expression vanished.

Leon rested his hand on his sword.

Grom quietly shifted his stance.

Kael didn't turn around.

"How long?"

Iris answered calmly.

"Since the Steel District."

A hooded figure stood at the far end of the street.

Watching.

Motionless.

The moment Iris looked directly at him...

He disappeared into the crowd.

Walter immediately moved.

"I'll catch him."

"No."

Kael stopped him.

Walter blinked.

"We're just letting him go?"

Kael looked toward the crowded marketplace.

"If he wanted to kill us..."

"He would've tried already."

"If he's watching..."

"Then let him watch."

High above...

Hidden on a rooftop...

The hooded man smiled beneath his mask.

"Interesting."

"He noticed."

He pulled a small notebook from inside his cloak.

Writing only one sentence.

The subject possesses exceptional awareness. Continue observation. Do not engage.

Far beneath the Imperial Palace...

In a chamber lit by blue flames...

A masked woman accepted the report.

She read it silently.

Then placed it onto a growing stack.

Each report...

Was about one person.

Prince Kael Asterion.

She looked toward the masked elder seated at the head of the chamber.

"The boy is different."

The elder closed his eyes.

"I know."

"Should we recruit him?"

The old man shook his head.

"Not yet."

"He still believes the Empire can be changed from within."

A long silence followed.

Finally, the elder spoke.

"Let's see if the Imperial Court teaches him otherwise."