Chapter 310 : Chapter 310

Chapter 310. Phoenix: This Kingmaker’s Merit Is Worth Taking

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the state funeral ended, the Royal Capital entered an eerie period of calm.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍“Ten-Day Agreement” between Sylvia and Dorg was like a thin layer of ice, temporarily covering the Royal Capital that was about to boil over.

Notices ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍about the joint regency were posted throughout the streets and alleys. The Municipal Guard returned to the streets, dispersing scattered riots. On the surface, order seemed to be recovering.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍greed was a poison more terrifying than any plague. The old nobles, who had grown accustomed to lying on the kingdom’s blood vessels and sucking its blood, did not restrain themselves because of this brief buffer period.

On ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the contrary, they smelled the bloody scent of gold coins in this crisis of royal succession.

They ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wanted to take the opportunity to make an enormous fortune from the national crisis, while also raising a huge amount of operating funds for the coming “secret meeting on the eve.”

They colluded in secret and firmly controlled more than seventy percent of the grain merchants and supply channels in the Royal Capital.

On the first day, they spread rumors that the flames of war at the border were about to spread, creating panic. The price of flour rose by twenty percent as a result.

On the second day, they used “blocked roads and insufficient transport capacity” as an excuse to hoard goods and profiteer. The prices of coal and coarse cloth doubled.

On the third day, the prices of daily necessities rose by a mad threefold.

Another grain-robbing incident broke out in the Lower District, and the public security system that had barely been stabilized once again teetered on the verge of collapse.

Golden Rose Palace, side-hall study.

Sylvia sat behind the broad desk, reading the price and public security report submitted by City Hall.

When she saw the absurd price increase figures in the final lines, she first froze for a moment, then laughed out of sheer fury and slammed the letter paper hard onto the desk.

“Those stupid pigs with brains full of shit!” Sylvia rarely tore away her perfect noble facade and cursed on the spot.

She shot to her feet, her chest rising and falling violently.

“The kingdom is facing a national crisis! Valeria’s army is sharpening its blades outside Thunder Gorge, yet they are engaging in hoarding and profiteering at a moment like this?!”

“Dorg and I barely managed to stabilize the situation in the Royal Capital when it was on the verge of losing control, but those fat-bellied parasites actually dare to take the initiative to create panic just to profit from the national crisis?”

“Do they think the heads on their necks are hanging too securely?!”

Seeing this, even Logaris could not help holding his forehead and sighing. He had also underestimated just how outrageously rotten those vermin could be.

Looking at Sylvia, who had rarely lost her composure and was now cursing furiously, he took out a Communication Crystal.

“Greed is an instinct carved into their bones. The old nobles’ way of thinking has long since decayed.”

Logaris’s voice was filled with coldness. “But I suppose they will not be able to keep jumping for much longer.”

Sylvia took two deep breaths and forced down her irritation, regaining the coldness of a governor.

“Have you contacted the Golden Griffon Family? What did Phoenix say?”

Fortunately, they had prepared a small fallback plan.

“We have contacted them.” Logaris placed the crystal on the desk, and a trace of a smile flashed through his eyes behind his lenses. “That generous old classmate of ours sends you his greetings.”

“He said that the deposit of two hundred thousand Golden Lion Coins prepaid by the Northern Territory Treasury has already arrived. In addition, he personally included an extra gift as a ‘show of sincerity from an old classmate.’”

Sylvia nodded.

“When will the supplies arrive?”

“They have already arrived.” Logaris raised his wrist and looked at the time. “Two hours ago, three heavy magitech trains already stopped at the Royal Capital West Station.”

...

Two hours earlier, Royal Capital West Station.

The piercing whistle was firmly suppressed within the platform by a high-tier silence barrier.

Amid thick steam and a halo of mana, three heavy magitech trains like steel behemoths slowly came to a halt.

Phoenix de August stood in the shadows of the platform, his loose golden hair somewhat tousled by the night wind.

He was wrapped in a low-key dark trench coat as he watched the carriage doors open one after another, revealing mountains of pale-white Sunwheat and black coal piled inside.

Eight thousand tons of wheat and ten thousand tons of coal.

“Young Master, the inventory has been completed. The eyes of those nobles in the inner city have probably already surrounded the perimeter of West Station so tightly that not even water could pass through. As soon as our trains entered the station, the news was probably already sent to Redleaf Manor.”

A merchant guild steward hurried over and reported loudly.

Phoenix de August stood in the most conspicuous position on the platform, his loose golden hair gleaming beneath the station lights. Wrapped in a luxurious dark trench coat, he patted the steward’s shoulder in satisfaction.

“Well done. Tell the brothers that once this order is completed, everyone will receive triple bonuses!”

Phoenix’s purple eyes flashed with a merchant’s greed and a politician’s ambition, and the corner of his mouth curved into a wild grin.

In all of Astrelia, aside from the few ducal families that respectively governed the four territories, only the August Family had the confidence to transport such a vast quantity of supplies into the Royal Capital so openly.

The Golden Griffon Merchant Guild was the largest merchant family in the Eastern Territory, controlling almost half of the Eastern Territory’s shipping and land logistics networks.

To consolidate their position, every generation of the August Family had maintained close marriage ties with the Tresseri Family, to which the Grand Duke of the Eastern Territory belonged.

The two sides had long since become a deeply bound community of shared interests.

And in this storm of royal succession, Phoenix overrode all objections and forcibly persuaded his father, who had always preferred stability, as well as the Grand Duke of the Eastern Territory, who was about to become his father-in-law.

He had openly thrown all the Golden Griffon Family’s chips onto Sylvia and Logaris’s side.

Looking across the world today, Valeria on the Western Continent had established a systematic mage army, while the Meriga Confederation on the New Continent ran magitech factories day and night. The wave of reform had already swept across the globe.

In this great age of contention, if Astrelia still clung stubbornly to its system of enfeoffment and rent collection from centuries ago, it would sooner or later be crushed into pulp beneath the wheel of the times.

Reform had already become an irreversible trend.

And the reason the Eastern Territory dared to “jump ship” so decisively was not only vision, but also confidence.

The August and Tresseri families had lived from the sea for generations and dominated the kingdom’s shipping and trade.

These maritime merchants, who had fought their way through waves and gold coins, were naturally profit-driven, pragmatic, and willing to take risks. They shared an innate resonance with the new class rising within the kingdom.

The old nobles were bound tightly to land and crops, but the Eastern Territory’s commercial capital could flow like water into the logistics and industrial networks of the new era, completing a magnificent transformation without obstruction.

In Phoenix’s view, the iron-fisted methods and foresight Sylvia and Logaris had displayed were the only future the kingdom could seize.

Not to mention, they had helped him more than once back at the academy. Both emotionally and rationally, he had to stand with them.

“If I am going to gamble, then I will gamble big. I do not only want to win. I want to win so openly that the whole world knows it. One act of kingmaker’s merit will be enough for the Golden Griffon Family to shine for another two hundred years.”

Phoenix calculated silently in his heart.

This time, he had directly raised the banner of the Golden Griffon, which was equivalent to announcing the entire Eastern Territory’s political stance to the whole Royal Capital.

“Young Master, what do we do next? Open the warehouses and release the grain directly?” The steward quickly followed him, lowering his voice, though he could not hide his excitement.

“Open the warehouses! And do it with great fanfare!” Phoenix sneered, displaying the ruthlessness of the future leader of the merchant guild.

“Her Highness Sylvia’s instruction was to sell at one-third of the market price. Then we will sell at exactly that price, without raising it by a single coin!”