Chapter 381: A Nation’s Strength

"Cassian is right. One Farming Lord won’t decide the future of the Homeworld."

Seraphine readily changed the subject.

"For the offices, I suggest starting with a nine-tier hierarchy and adapting it to our needs."

"Nine tiers?" Darian frowned. "Our thirteen Provinces have a hundred and ninety-three National Fortune between them. How are we supposed to support that many offices?"

The others joined in. Suggestions and objections crossed the table freely.

For the moment, Cassian let them talk. His thoughts returned to the news Alwin had brought.

That farmer from Bharan was interesting. He had actually admitted to being the Divine Farmer.

Anyone bold enough to make that claim probably had something to back it up. If the reports were true, several farming skills at Transcendence already put him ahead of Sylvara in that respect. Perhaps he had even prepared something before the end of his previous life, as Julian Lind had done by casting his Region into the void.

But why take my name?

Was he hoping to cheat benefits out of Florentia’s Elves? Had he obtained a Faith Artifact and decided to gather Faith Power? Or did he intend to become a god in this life and kindle his own divine flame?

Cassian could think of several possibilities.

Faith Power came from emotion directed toward its recipient. By claiming to be the mysterious Divine Farmer, the man could make himself the subject of conversations across the Homeworld. That much attention could produce a tremendous amount of Faith Power.

*What a waste. I’ve caused enough uproar myself, and I still have no way to collect it.*

Cassian shook his head with regret.

Whatever the man’s purpose, though, someone else claiming the title did him no harm.

——

Food and drink continued circulating while the discussion carried on. Cassian offered an opinion from time to time, and eventually they settled on a much simpler system.

Mira summarized it for everyone.

"National Fortune is limited. Apart from Cassian’s position as Sovereign, we’ll begin with two paths: one for War Lords, one for Warbound Lords. Farming, manufacturing, and entertainment offices can wait."

She displayed the six appointments.

"War Lords will have General, Colonel, and Centurion. Warbound Lords will have War Champion, Vanguard, and Guard."

The costs and benefits appeared beside them.

[General: 1 National Fortune per appointment. All attributes of every unit in the appointed Lord’s Domain +20%.]

[War Champion: 1 National Fortune per appointment. The appointed Lord’s personal attributes +40%.]

[Colonel: 1 National Fortune per 10 appointments. All attributes of every unit in the appointed Lord’s Domain +10%.]

[Vanguard: 1 National Fortune per 10 appointments. The appointed Lord’s personal attributes +20%.]

[Centurion: 1 National Fortune per 100 appointments. All attributes of every unit in the appointed Lord’s Domain +5%.]

[Guard: 1 National Fortune per 100 appointments. The appointed Lord’s personal attributes +10%.]

"Those are the expected increases," Mira continued. "The variation should be no more than one percent. If someone needs a specialized office, we can consider an application. A Military Adviser who increases only Spirit, for example."

She turned toward Cassian.

"Anything to add?"

"No. We’ll start with that."

Everyone was watching him expectantly. He rose from his seat.

"When you return, choose your people carefully. Submit the offices you want according to your Province’s contribution of National Fortune."

He took out the Divine Nation’s jade seal and tossed it to Mira.

"I’ll leave the appointments to you. Work from the lists the Provinces submit."

Cheers burst out around the table.

"Long live Cassian!"

"Long live the Divine Nation!"

A Lord who held a Founding Writ would ordinarily take one or two National Fortune from each joining Province as an entry fee. Cassian had taken nothing.

One point alone could support a hundred Centurions. His generosity meant real strength for every Province present.

Mira held the seal, scarcely able to contain her excitement. Cassian could withdraw her authority whenever he wished, but until then, the power he had placed in her hands made her second only to him in the Nation’s administration.

Of course, she also knew why the others were happy to leave the work to her. Darian, Nessa, Elara, Seraphine—their interest lay in becoming stronger, not sorting appointment lists.

Cassian raised his cup.

"The third Provincial Ranking settles in less than a week. Our Nation will receive another share of National Fortune then. Use these next few days to prepare for war."

The others exchanged eager looks.

There was only one possible target.

The Black Banner.

After the twelve allied Governors departed, Cassian kept Divine Province’s own leading Lords behind to settle their appointments.

"My office as Sovereign will commit ten National Fortune for a thirty-percent increase to all attributes. As for the rest of you, take General or War Champion, whichever suits you."

They nodded enthusiastically.

Divine Province held far more National Fortune than any of its allies. Its strongest Lords could all receive the highest offices available under the new system.

Dain and the seven Valcrests benefited especially. War Champion’s forty-percent increase brought Dain’s raw attributes into the range of a Mythic at the same Level. The Valcrests fell a little short of him, but not by much.

"What about the Fortune left over?" Darian asked.

Cassian had already worked it out.

"Once we add the forty points from the Outer Realm War settlement next week, we’ll have fifty-two available. I suggest three hundred Colonels or Vanguards, and twenty-two hundred Centurions or Guards."

Thirty points for the first group. Twenty-two for the second.

"Find the right Lords over the next few days."

The thought left him quietly pleased.

A year ago, the Jade Court had tried to win him over with the office of Third-Class Blade Guard. Its twenty-percent personal attribute bonus was the same as his new Vanguard appointment.

Now he could grant hundreds of such offices with a word.

——

Over the following days, all thirteen Provinces threw themselves into selecting candidates.

Lords who had kept their strongest cards hidden began reporting them to their national authorities. An office was worth competing for. The selection also gave the Nation a better understanding of the strength within its borders.

Other Provinces could only look on with envy.

Some quietly contacted Divine Province, offering their National Fortune in exchange for admission. Walter Norman was among them.

Cassian refused those requests.

Meanwhile, Lysette’s work in his Domain produced its first result.

"A hundred times?"

Cassian sprang up from the breakfast table. Veyra sat beside him, watching the scientist across from them.

"At least a hundred times," Lysette corrected him.

She wore a laboratory coat and a research monocle. Excitement shone in her uncovered eye.

"It’s only been a few days, and I’ve already opened the second genetic limit. In the Realm’s terms, Genetic Unlocking has reached Proficient. At this rate, the improvement is certainly more than a hundredfold."

Cassian struggled to contain his own excitement.

Arts became harder to advance at every stage. Taking a Grade-A art from Lesser Perfection to Greater Perfection might require a century, perhaps several centuries. Reaching Transcendence was harder still.

Yet the few days Lysette meant were ordinary Realm Days. She had achieved this without using the Enclosure’s accelerated time.

Cassian forced himself to settle down.

"Lys, you won’t need to hunt monsters for now. Concentrate on opening your genetic limits and improving your strength. I also want you to prepare a batch of Miracle Serum as soon as you can. Whatever materials you need, ask your older sister Veyra."

Miracle Serum could give a Human a chance to open the first genetic limit. In that respect, it served much the same purpose as an art’s Skill Book: a way to step onto a new path of growth.

"Leave it to me, Boss."

Lysette nodded and turned to get back to work. Cassian stopped her.

"Since you’re here, have breakfast with us. There should be something worth watching afterward."

Today was the day the Outer Realm War ranking settled.