Chapter 73 – The Pact of Two Banners.

Morning in the Second Circle's Central Plaza began with the frantic bustle of commerce.

Diana walked through the marble avenues accompanied by Rhea, wearing her long jacket of dark leather over her Dragon Chestplate. The Commander had set aside the start of the day for a thorough inspection of the faction's commercial operations before defining their next dungeon route.

At Commercial Stall No. 14, customer traffic ran with clockwork precision.

The dark wood shelves were stocked with 85% purity healing potions, mana regen elixirs, and anti-rust oils synthesized in the Bastion laboratory. At neighboring stalls, independent alchemists of the commercial alliance kept their benches filled, reselling Arcane Greed concentrates with stable profit margins.

The citadel town hall didn't dare send inspectors to levy abusive fees: the copy of Lord Vane's Magical Contract of Noble Exemption gleamed in a silver frame at the stall entrance, guaranteeing total immunity against the Council of Nobles' bureaucracy.

Diana opened the stall's automated vault and collected the accumulated passive revenue from the week's sales: 10 Pure Silver Coins.

***

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The March South - Fortress of the Silver Lion

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With the plaza inspection complete, Diana and Rhea headed to the extreme south of the citadel.

Atop a fortified hill of black granite rose the Fortress of the Silver Lion, the military headquarters of the Silver Legion.

Unlike the Palace of New Nobles, which boasted vain velvets and tapestries, Cassius's fortress was a purely functional structure: ten-meter-high walls mounted with heavy ballistas, infantry training courtyards, and gray banners with the winged lion fluttering in the cold mountain wind.

When Diana and Rhea approached the fortress's iron gates, the heavy-armored sentries didn't draw weapons.

Instead, the soldiers beat their spears against their chestplates in a unison military salute, swinging open the iron grates with absolute reverence. News of how Diana had saved Legion officers during the Silver Abyss collapse had spread through every squad in the troop.

Diana crossed the central courtyard, where two hundred legionnaires practiced shield formations and spear thrusts with iron discipline.

***

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The Warlord's Training Ground

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In the center of the fortress training arena, Lord Cassius was in combat against three veteran Level 30 captains.

The Legion commander handled the colossal Gravity Cleaver with terrifying ease, parrying spears and sweeping all three officers onto the gravel floor with a single blade arc.

Diana discreetly activated [Command Eye], evaluating Cassius's progress:

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[ENTITY ANALYSIS - LORD CASSIUS]

- Level: 36 | Class: Legion Warlord Commander

- HP: 1,650 / 1,650 | MP: 400 / 400

- Main Stats:Strength: 75 | Vitality: 72 | Agility: 30 | Intelligence: 24 | Willpower: 34

- Updated Gear: Ancestral Silver Plate Armor (Forged from Level 40 Colossus plates).

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Level 36. Strength 75 and Vitality 72.

Cassius hadn't sat idle after the Abyss battle. The Legion commander had actively hunted in border dungeons and used his share of the Colossus's silver plates to forge a suit of Level 35+ heavy armor glowing with gravity runes.

Cassius drove his cleaver into the gravel, dismissed the captains with a gesture, and turned to Diana with a rough soldier's grin.

“Commander Diana.” Cassius said, his thunderous voice calm. “I didn't expect a visit from the leader of Greed so soon at my barracks.”

“I came to check if your armor was still creaking with rust, Cassius.” Diana replied with an ironic smile.

Cassius let out a loud, clear laugh, pointing toward the command office in the south tower. “Your workshop's oil solved that problem. Come, let's have real wine.”

***

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The Command Office - The Supply Treaty

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Cassius's office was austere: tactical maps of all Second Circle canyons covered the stone walls, and a rustic oak desk held patrol reports and a pitcher of mana wine.

Rhea sat in the chair beside Diana, attentive to every detail in the room.

Cassius poured two goblets of wine and sat across the table, crossing his armored arms.

“I heard from my scouts that you cleared the Amethyst Labyrinth through the third floor and took the Level 38 Emperor's core.” Cassius said with military sobriety. “Your faction has already reached Level 35+, hasn't it?”

“Our frontline is at Level 35 and I am at Level 36.” Diana said, taking a sip of wine. “We are in the final prep stretch for Level 50.”

Cassius nodded slowly. “The Council of Nobles is in a panic in the north sector. They know that between my Legion's military power and your Faction's commercial monopoly, their authority over the Second Circle fiefs is unraveling.”

The commander leaned over the desk, adopting a direct negotiation tone:

“I want to propose a Permanent Logistical Cooperation Treaty between the Silver Legion and the Arcane Greed Faction.”

Diana raised an eyebrow. “What are the terms?”

“The Silver Legion buys a fixed weekly batch of five hundred 85% purity healing potions and anti-rust oils straight from your workshop at military list price.” Cassius detailed. “In exchange, my Legion provides official heavy-infantry armed escorts for all your glass transport carts from the West Foundry, and guarantees priority supply of Level 30+ monster carcasses hunted by my men for your laboratory.”

Cassius pushed a leather pouch containing 10 Pure Silver Coins across the table as an advance on the contract.

“Ten silver coins down payment for the first weekly batch.” Cassius said.

Diana analyzed the treaty in her Intelligence 151 mind.

The proposal was flawless: it guaranteed a large-scale military buyer to absorb all surplus workshop production, posted Level 30 guards to protect her raw material supply routes at no extra cost, and supplied rare carcasses for her Level 20 Alchemy experiments.

Diana picked up the quill on the desk and signed the official document with a firm stroke.

“Done deal, Cassius.” Diana said, collecting the ten silver coin pouch.

***

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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]

Previous Balance: 314 Silver Coins (31.4 Gold Coins).

Commercial Stall No. 14 Revenue: +10 Silver Coins.

Silver Legion Military Contract Advance: +10 Silver Coins.

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 334 SILVER COINS (33,400 Bronze! / EXACTLY 33.4 PURE GOLD COINS!)]

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Three hundred thirty-four silver coins stashed in the faction vault. Over Thirty-Three Pure Gold Coins.

—Commercial monopoly with Level 36 heavy infantry escort… The System's voice echoed in Diana's mind, the interface floating in black gold with ironic admiration. Your greed is getting way too professional, Diana. Not even Fourth Circle Dukes put together schemes this clean.

Diana rose from the command desk, adjusting her long dark leather jacket.

Cassius escorted Diana and Rhea to the fortress central courtyard, exchanging a firm handshake with the human girl before the two crossed the gates back to the city.

As they descended the hill beneath the Second Circle's violet sunset, Diana looked at the signed military document in her pouch and then toward the towers of the Ivory Citadel.

The financial and military foundation was consolidated. The alliance with the Silver Legion was sealed. And the Arcane Greed Faction was ready to launch its final march toward Level 40.

Final Notes:

 Just stopping by to thank everyone for the patronage! It's a start! And to remind you all that you are amazing <3