The gifts from the three nobles were all very large. Two hundred stallions were not to be underestimated. This was equivalent to giving Rex tens of thousands of pure-blooded horses.
Sephiroth was very satisfied. This was the effect he wanted. He wanted the nobles to send resources to Rex, but not people. It didn't matter if Rex took down Cloud Flow. Cloud Flow was a country formed by a bunch of bastards.
Others didn't know the situation in Cloud Flow, but Sephiroth had sent people to infiltrate. He even had spies in the palace. He knew the absurdity of Cloud Flow's emperor. The extravagance of Cloud Flow's nobles made him feel like it was a disgrace to humanity.
He'd originally planned to sacrifice Rex, but now it seemed that it was better to sacrifice him in another way.
There was a reason why the nobles were so eager to help the Bitter Water Commandery. Everyone's interests were on Jia Loulan, and Rex would definitely not advance westward anymore. Let her fight the Cloud Flow people. She could pay, but only if they gave up Jia Loulan.
After all, Rex's identity was sensitive. They couldn't attack Rex's land openly. Last time, Antos suffered a big loss and was scolded by the emperor. Even the lower house didn't speak up for him. Everyone understood that even if Rex wasn't favored, he had the same surname as Sephiroth.
It was fine to backstab him, but attacking Rex directly would be disrespectful to the royal family.
Hundreds of nobles, big and small, were the richest and most powerful people in Qin Yin. Even if each of them gave 100,000 gold coins, it would be tens of millions of gold coins. Moreover, they weren't giving gold coins, but military resources that were in short supply.
It was very difficult to buy these things in large quantities. Sephiroth's support this time was real. If it were anyone else, they would at most give Rex a large amount of gold coins.
Holy Rock City was busy preparing gifts for Rex, Cloud Flow was busy sending more troops, and the Scotia Empire was discussing how to deal with this political marriage.
The Emperor of the Scotia Empire also summoned his closest ministers.
Previously, Emperor Downey of Scotia had profited greatly from the three empires. This time, it concerned the Bitterwater Prefectural Kingdom and the Metatlin Kingdom. He had to consider if he should be friendly or remain neutral.
The ministers close to His Majesty Downey were basically all generals. He summoned the ministers and directly asked his questions.
"Everyone, what kind of attitude should we maintain for the marriage alliance between the Bitter Water Prefecture and the Metatlin Kingdom?" King Downey stroked his beard with his fingers and observed his ministers with his tiny eyes.
"Your Majesty, ignore them. We're mercenaries, so of course we're neutral. The Tanggulas people wanted to drag us into the war, but didn't we reject them all the same? "
"That's right, Your Majesty. Who cares about the conflict between them? We're just doing our own thing. Who dares to criticize us? Since they're connected by marriage, then according to the etiquette between countries, we should just give them a similar gift. "
"But it's not good to be too stingy!" Donnie said with a smile.
The ministers looked at each other. Suddenly, someone had a brainwave and understood what Donnie was thinking. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Bitter Water Prefecture is short of soldiers now. If we send a mercenary group of 10,000 to congratulate them in the name of sending a congratulatory gift, Rex will definitely hire this mercenary group. We won't have to spend much to make her appreciate it."
"Hahaha!" King Downey, who had already become a Gold Sword Saint, laughed vulgarly like a street vendor. He was very satisfied that his close minister could think of such a good idea.
Anyway, according to the empire's laws, he could mobilize a regular large-scale mercenary group for a small amount of money. This mercenary group wouldn't complain. After all, they were going to the Bitter Water Prefecture to receive business. Everyone knew that. More importantly, this mercenary group was going to fight the Cloud Flow people, not the Tanggulas people. That way, the Tanggulas Empire, which was nearby, wouldn't be angry.
This was killing three birds with one stone. No matter how small his gift was, Rex wouldn't say a word of mockery. He was sending a large-scale mercenary group.
"Very good. But which mercenary group should we send?"
"The Red Tiger Mercenary Group. Their Archmage has been abducted by the Metatrines anyway," a minister said, taking pleasure in their misfortune.
"No way. If we do that, Rex won't appreciate it." Downey rejected it decisively.
Also, although the Red Tiger Mercenary Group was registered in Phoenix, it was actually a local mercenary group in the Rhine Duchy. He still had to tell Grand Duke Rhine about this, and he would owe him a favor. Given how stingy Downey was, he definitely wouldn't ask for this favor.
"Your Majesty, didn't the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Group recruit two level-eight Mages? They're already level-eight mercenary groups. Let them go. Anyway, these guys are wild and unruly. If they stay in the empire, we'll have to guard their cities. It'll be so troublesome. "
"Yes, well said." King Downey clapped his hands and praised. According to Scotia's laws, if a mercenary group advanced to level-seven, they had the right to manage a large city, make it their base, and collect all kinds of taxes.
The Dragon Slayer Mercenary Group was originally a level-six mercenary group. It had always been difficult to manage. The leader was stubborn and didn't get along well with the local nobles. Now that it was level-eight, Downey definitely wouldn't bear to give it a city. If he did, they might all die at Rex's place.
"Your Majesty, if the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Group leaves, their base …"
"Don't do anything for now. After all, there are still two level-eight Magic Shooters who belong to them. You won't have a good time if you offend them." Downey was finally a little clear-headed. He didn't want to deprive the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Group of their original base.
The stingy King Downey and the ministers continued to discuss the details, such as what gifts to give, how to get the Dragon Slayer Mercenary Group to leave, and so on. The most lively place in the Scotia Empire was, of course, the Metatlin Kingdom.
After receiving news of Salin's success, Shika immediately issued the kingdom's first national decree as the regent. The content involved everyone. The commoners got a year of tax exemption, and the farmers got three years of half-tax. The nobles were all happy. They got even more.
Not to mention Salin's trusted nobles in Metatlin City, the Phoenix nobles that Salin subdued all got the leadership rights in their own cities. Although it wasn't a fief, it was an indefinite management right. These nobles were temporarily used as municipal officials, and they could keep 20% of the taxes.
This wasn't what the Phoenix nobles were happy about. They were happy that Salin and Rex's marriage would change their status. Rex's surname was Glucus, and she was the old emperor's daughter. These Phoenix nobles recognized Rex the most. Salin and Rex were allies, which was the main reason why they defected.
Now that Salin was suddenly going to marry Rex, these Phoenix nobles finally treated the Metatlin Kingdom as their own. Salin would definitely gradually distribute the territories back. This was something that didn't need to be judged.
After the news spread in the Metatlin Kingdom, the southern part of Phoenix was also affected. In the areas that the Qin Yins couldn't control, millions of people poured into the Metatlin Kingdom. Some nobles who had been hesitant also joined in.
The population of the Metatlin Kingdom broke through 10 million, and it finally looked like a country.
With a population of 10 million, the pressure of conscription was greatly reduced. Salin's kingdom could finally develop steadily.
The Metatlin Kingdom was in a festive mood. In the temple, Sica was lying in Salin's room, staring at the ceiling in a daze. Neris stood at the side carefully and didn't speak.
"Neris, do you think Salin will have a change of heart?" Sica asked the little demon.
"Sister Sica, Master definitely won't have a change of heart. I know how you feel."
"What does a demon like you know!"
Neris thought, Then why are you asking me? But that wasn't what she said. Instead, she said, "Rex likes Master too, and won't make things difficult for him. She's a Magician, and what she wants is different from you."
"Yes, she's a Magician. That's why I hope Salin will marry her." Sica's eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed.
"Sister Sica, it doesn't matter if you're a Magician or not. Master likes you because you're his most precious lover," Neris said to Sica, recalling the descriptions of love in human books.
"Precious?"
"Of course, the most precious. When Master met me, you were already by his side. I like you too, so if Rex dares to bully you, I'll eat her up. "
"Hehe." Sica laughed. Although Neris wasn't speaking the truth, she probably dared to do so.
"Sister Sica, you're just not feeling well. Before Master made his decision, weren't you always egging him on? Before Master left, why did he make you the regent? "
"Why do you think?"
"This country is what Master's teacher needs. There's a plane transportation matrix under the temple. From now on, you'll be a family with Master's teacher. "
Sica froze. She knew the demon's description wasn't accurate, but Salin definitely thought so.
What Salin was doing must be extremely dangerous. He left the kingdom to her, not for her to take care of this land, but for his teacher to take care of her!
Thinking this through, Sica rubbed her nose and wiped away the strange liquid. "Salin, that guy, still has a conscience. Neris, what did he tell you before he left? "
"He told me to protect you. If I don't do it well, Master won't want me anymore," Neris said, feeling wronged.
"Protect me? Haha, we Gaugass Priests, even if we have children, our fighting power is the same … "Sica suddenly stopped, her face turning red. She remembered that when she was with Salin, this little demon would always peep nearby.
"Sister Sica, Master's children are very important. You can't touch them. Are you afraid of the dark? "Neris asked a strange question.
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