Chapter 120: Special Gift [1]

The heavy, iron-reinforced doors of the Audience Chamber swung wide open, and Craig stepped across the threshold, flanked closely by Master Ea.

Every step he took radiated an undeniable aura of absolute dominance and authority.

The crisp click of his boots against the polished marble floor echoed through the cavernous hall, commanding the attention of everyone inside.

Seated along the grand, horseshoe-shaped marble table were the key pillars of the Myrain Viscounty.

Craig’s eyes swept over the room, instantly picking out his most trusted officers.

There stood Ser Hughway, the Indestructible Sword and Lord Commander of the Myrain Viscounty, standing tall alongside Ser Damian Blacksun, the Supreme Commander of the newly christened Crimson Dragon Order.

To their right were the territory’s three veteran military commanders—Ser Gunther, Ser Meryln, and Ser Hetos—with Ser Gunther standing proudly at their forefront.

Filling out the remaining seats were the nine high ministers, regional administrators, and newly appointed department directors.

Every single official in the room immediately rose to their feet.

They lowered their heads in unison, their voices echoing off the vaulted stone ceiling.

"All hail the Lord Viscount!" they greeted in deep, resonant harmony.

Craig did not speak a single word.

He maintained a calm, impassive expression as he walked steadily up the elevated marble dais.

Reaching the summit, he turned and sank gracefully into his grand, high-backed sovereign throne.

As he settled into the seat, Craig exhaled a soft, composed sigh and crossed one leg lazily over the other, resting his chin lightly on his knuckles.

He surveyed the assembly for a brief moment before breaking the silence.

"Be seated, all of you," Craig instructed smoothly, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall.

As the officials resumed their seats, Craig offered them a warm, approving nod. "Before we discuss our administrative updates, I want to extend my personal gratitude to every one of you.

The peace, stability, and rapid economic growth currently thriving within the Myrain Viscounty are direct results of your relentless dedication and hard work.

You are doing a magnificent job managing this domain, and I am deeply grateful for your service."

Hearing praise directly from their sovereign brought a palpable sense of pride across the chamber.

Ser Gunther, a broad-shouldered veteran knight with a scarred cheek and unyielding eyes, stepped forward from the military delegation.

He placed a gauntleted hand over his heart and dropped onto one knee before the dais.

"My Lord," Ser Gunther spoke, his gravelly voice filled with absolute sincerity. "When you were first designated to inherit this frontier viscounty, many of us wondered if you would simply be another pampered noble playing at lordships.

But you have proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are the true, rightful master of Myrain. You possess the vision, the strength, and the courage we have lacked for decades.

I speak for myself, for Ser Hughway, and for every soldier under our command when I say: we are profoundly grateful that our liege is neither weak nor wicked. We pledge our blades to you, and we will continue to conquer and bleed for your banner."

Craig’s smile widened genuinely. He inclined his head toward the veteran commander.

"Rise, Ser Gunther. Your unwavering loyalty is the bedrock upon which our military might is built. Keep our borders iron-clad, and you shall never find your liege lacking."

Ser Gunther bowed once more before stepping backward into formation.

Immediately, Master Cretchen, the Minister of Finance, stepped forward to take his place.

Draped in fine silk robes embroidered with gold coin insignias, the portly, sharp-eyed minister offered a polished, deferential bow.

"If I may report on the current fiscal health of the territory, My Lord," Cretchen began, a proud grin breaking across his face.

"The Department of Finance is thriving beyond our most optimistic projections. In particular, the influx of capital generated by our newly implemented Farm Allocation Scheme is scaling upward at an exponential rate.

As of this month, the official treasury of the Myrain Viscounty has cleared a steady baseline profit of at least two thousand gold coins every single month."

Murmurs of astonishment and quiet celebration rippled through the surrounding ministers.

Two thousand gold coins in pure monthly surplus was a staggering sum for a frontier viscounty, securing their economic independence from the central ducal coffers.

Craig nodded approvingly, his golden-crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "An outstanding financial milestone, Master Cretchen. Your administrative stewardship has been exemplary.

Continue optimizing the allocations, and ensure the surplus is reinvested directly into our agricultural infrastructure and defensive reserves."

"It shall be done precisely as you command, My Lord," Cretchen replied, bowing deeply before returning to his seat.

With the financial and military reports concluded, Craig leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms against the armrests of his throne.

It was time to lay down the public narrative for his upcoming clandestine absence.

"Now, listen closely," Craig announced, his voice dropping into a measured, authoritative register that silenced the entire hall.

"Starting in two days’ time, I will be officially departing from the Myrain Viscounty. I am leading a diplomatic delegation to the Eastern Continent to negotiate a massive, cross-continental trade summit. Our goal is to dramatically expand the viscounty’s commercial networks."

Craig paused, letting his gaze sweep across the council. "Furthermore, during this expedition, my objective is to formally claim and establish a brand-new barony situated within the newly conquered Jeju Forest, extending our borders all the way to the fertile banks of the Black Oasis River."

The moment those words left his lips, the entire Audience Chamber erupted.

Realizing the massive territorial expansion and economic windfall such a move would secure, the standing ministers, military commanders, and department directors rose to their feet and burst into a thunderous, unified round of applause.

The sound of clapping hands echoed vibrantly through the hall, a testament to the absolute faith and ambition the officials held toward their young sovereign.

Craig raised a single hand, and the applause instantly died down, the hall returning to a respectful, absolute hush.

As the officials settled back into their seats, Master Ea, the newly appointed Minister of State Affairs, stepped gracefully toward the center of the dais.

His flowing white cloak swayed with his movements as he offered a low, reverent bow to the throne.

"My Lord Viscount," Master Ea spoke, his voice carrying the calm, articulate cadence of a seasoned statesman.

"We salute your relentless dedication and your visionary commitment to the unending growth of the Myrain Viscounty. Your ambition inspires every official serving beneath your banner."

Master Ea paused, a subtle, knowing smile touching his lips as he looked up at Craig.

"Before you embark on your grand journey to the Eastern Continent, the administration, the military, and the departments wish to present a token of our appreciation—a special gift, prepared exclusively for our Lord Viscount."