The meeting hall of Purgarian Palace was just like any other palace room, lavish and well decorated. The overall color of the room was red with gold patterns now and then. The walls left and right were almost covered with portraits of former dukes. There was a large rectangular marble table in the middle of the room. Right above it was a reddish crystalline glowing chandelier. There were lavish golden chairs around the marble table.

There was one more lavish chair than those golden chairs that were kept on the longer side. The lavish platinum chair was on the shorter side which you see first entering through the door. Behind it was a white marble fireplace and above it was some porcelain vases and even above it on the wall was the portrait of current Duke Lyon.

As of now, the chairs on the longer side of the table were filled with some nobles murmuring with each other. They were summoned by the Duke for a scheduled meeting today and were catching up with one another before he arrives.

Their murmuring stopped suddenly when Marquis Deder Lloyd walked in, followed by General of Duke’s army, Earl Henry Lance and Knight Grand commander, Earl Bartel Hameil. The nobles stood up and bowed to welcome these big shots one by one.

After some introductions, the Marquis sat closest to the Duke seat, in of the longer side with both Earls following to seat beside him. They sit closest to Duke according to their rank and power.

“What do you think Marquis Lloyd?” Viscount Allen Belfrost, the head of the Domestic Affairs department started a conversation with the new arrivals.

“I have no idea myself, Sir Belfrost.” Marquis Llyod answered candidly.

“Whatever may be the cause of Lord Duke summoning us together. I hope it won’t be too much of a shock like last time.” Earl Hameil added, emphasizing the last words.

Everyone drew a cold breath after listening to him.

“Did anyone of you heard any rumors of any family that disobeyed or offended the Duke in any way?” Earl Lance inquired turning his head to look them all in their eye.

A silence ensued but after a while, everyone shook their head.

“But I did hear that His Grace was going around the city with your Daughter, Sir BelFrost”, Viscount Jeff Warkin, the head of the Food Department, directed his question towards Viscount Belfrost.

It was no secret to any of those present there about Viscount Belfrost’s daughter and the Duke. They were rather envious of him for that.

“He surely must have come across something that got his disapproval during his tour.” Added Earl Hameil.

“…..or someone…” Earl Lance pitched his thoughts calmly that made the room go silent again. Marquis Lloyd felt cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

His Grace is entering the Meeting Hall

One of the guards outside the room announced Duke Lyon’s arrival, everyone got up from his seat and bowed their head as Duke Lyon, followed by Marvic, Greish, and Viscount Avalon Espirit, the head of the financial department and the treasurer of Duke Lyon.

Duke Lyon nodded and took his seat on the more extravagant one before his portrait. After he was seated, Marvic, Griesh, and Viscount Espirit took their seat on the opposite side of Marquis Lloyd and Co.

Lyon POV

I didn’t speak for a while after I sat down. Marvic and co. who came later bowed a little towards Marquis and he nodded back, acknowledging each other’s presence.

“Your Grace, how was your tour around the city?” Seeing me silently looking at all of them, Marquis Lloyd tried to strike a conversation first.

“It was fine, I summoned you all today for the matters I came upon during my outing” I said that with as little interest I can muster. I could actually see them sweating cold sweat. I don’t dislike this. According to Marvic, my aura of authority is frightening. A single man who owns Saluda.

I signaled the servant standing behind me and he came forward and placed a bunch of written documents in front of me, bowed, and went back to stand again.

I casually picked one of them and read a little………

“General Henry…..” I called out.

“Your Grace…..” Earl Lance stood up from his seat.

“On my outing, I noticed the number of guards. They were, I can say very few when thieves and crooks were running around freely in the commoner’s section. And, I came to know that it’s my standing army that is used as City Guards, am I correct, General Henry?” I looked up from the paper, straight in his eyes.

“Yes, Your Grace.” He answered back albeit a little weaker than before.

“And now that I see the numbers, my standing army is hardly above 10,000. After the war with Valha, you suggested cutting some military expenses. General Henry, I’m sure you didn’t think that number was enough to control the population of over 500,000 of Alore City.” I was angry, at myself for ignoring this case for so long.

General Henry remained silent. He pretty much knew it was his faults for neglecting this issue till now.

“A strong army is needed to keep peace and order intact.” Everyone in the hall understood my intention to increase the military.

Saluda Dutchy was prosperous in every way. There were many greedy eyes who crave it across the continent far and wide. Even if I complain 10,000 isn’t the full force of Saluda. It’s my personal standing force only. Aside from me, there are 2 Margraves who guard Saluda’s border from the 3 other kingdom of Sovern. After all, ‘A good fence makes good neighbors.

Both Margraves maintain an army of 30,000 each, the three Top counts are allowed to hold personal army of 10,000 each. Together, only us have around 100,000 standing troops. Saluda is a strong power but it won’t be the case even if one of them betray when I rely on them too much. An extravagant reward and more power promised by a foreign force may sway them. Only having a strong personal army will save me or my descendants then.

“General, I need at least 40,000. 25,000 from this city and recruit 15,000 from outside the city. Be sure to supervise that” I ordered him.

“With honor, Your Grace.” The General put his right hand over his left chest and bowed. This gesture meant he received my orders.

“Viscount Avalon…” As soon as I called him, he got ready with a paper and ink.

“Your Grace, I’m writing everything down. I will send it to you as soon as I’m done with the calculations.” He answered and I nodded my head.

As the financial head, he has to calculate all the added expense of maintaining a bigger standing army. Ah! A standing army is a permanent military unlike those conscripted during the war. The conscripted ones go back to their normal life after war but standing armies remain and they earn their salary from me. They and their family are also exempt from income tax and given a house in the military district of city Alore as long as they serve in the army.

Saluda’s treasury can support an army way bigger than this one. But I’m a guy who looks at quality over quantity. Putting the paper down, I picked another paper.

“Knight Grand Commander Hameil…..” I called out after taking a look at the details of the paper. It was a similar report like General Lance's but this time it was on knights. I was too bored to get angry again to get him sweating.

“Yes, Your Grace.” The Noble before General Henry stood up.

“….hmm…it’s kind of a similar order to General Henry here. Only over 1,000 knights, increase it to 3,000.” I can see Avalon writing hard on this one. Grooming a knight takes a lot of money and resources than a soldier. Knights also lead soldiers at war. Only 2000 more knights will certainly take around 15,000 normal soldier resources.

“And train them well so that soldiers know Basic Body Enhancements and each Knights should know to apply Magic Edge in their weapon. I want to hear no objections. I will be looking forward to see the results.” They both almost objected but swallowed it back with my last words. They did the gesture of accepting again. I finally gave them permission to sit.

“Marquis Lloyd…” Now it was the Marquis time to stand.

“On my outing, I overheard some Nobles talking about some faction. Didn’t I order you to dissolve that faction right away.” I can tell my voice was cold as ice when I said that. No Purgarian head ever tolerated Noble Factions. It does nothing but gives rise to a Civil war at some point.

“M-My apologies, Your Grace. I will dissolve it right away.” Marquis Lloyd stuttered at this point. The Duke’s gaze was too cold and he could see Marvic to the side. He won’t think twice about lopping his head if the Duke gives the order. He can’t even refute because he is the nominal head of that faction.

“Good. I will tolerate friendship but no factions. Am I clear?” I directed this question to everyone else present and they nodded their head in obedience. I let Marquis Lloyd sit after that but not without reminding him about the consequences if he didn’t.

I took a deep breath. Now, I need to discuss the real matters with them.

“Now that the side works are gone. Listen to the real reason of this meeting.” Everyone straightened their back on my words.

“I came upon some merchants who looked trouble. I talked with them and found out Bandits have increased a lot in just a year. They don’t feel safe on their journey here. It will affect our trade.” I told with seriousness in my voice.

“What? Robbers? They dare….?” Marquis Lloyd was surprised as well. It was first time in his life that he heard robbers acting so boldly.

“So your orders are…….” Marvic spoke for the first time.

“Not just order but a decree. Each territory should construct a Guard post with around 100 guards every 10 km but it will……..” There were objections on their way already but they were halted by my incomplete sentence again.

Somewhere within the territory of Saluda

In a clearing of a road through Forest Grenria,

Four carriages can be seen toppled in different directions. Horses and people laid dead here and there. Some thugs can be seen in the middle of looting and killing more people. A girl with a pair of leopard ears was watching the scene gleefully.

“…….happen after their complete extermination”, she froze. She looked left and right confused where that sound came from.

Was it my imagination? Her intuition gave her a really unpleasant feeling but she shrugged it off after a while. They got their hands on some good loot today so she didn’t want to ruin her mood over a hunch.

Back to Lyon’s office

“Your Grace, you mean that….” Viscount Allen word stuck in his throat.

“Yes, I mean I’m mobilizing the whole Saluda. Search every corner, in all directions. I want the bandits exterminated. Spare no one. They dare rob and kill people here, I don’t want them alive for long.” Everyone gulped. Here was that feeling coming from their Duke again, the feeling of No-mercy and absolute destruction.

“This is the decree, exterminate every bandit within a month. After that, establish Guard Post every 10 km in their territory. If vassals can’t afford it, it’s their Liege’s responsibility but I want it done, by every Noble with a territory” I stamped the written decree with my Purgarian House seal.

I wanted it to be 5kms but I refrained because of over expense in maintaining them. The merchants will have security throughout my territory and a signal flare fired at the sky can be seen from only 10kms away so the nearest station can go in to help if needed

After some more small details, I ended the meeting and left the meeting hall.

It’s time for me to act as well, let’s get some experience. With those thoughts, I moved along the long-decorated hallway followed by Marvic, Griesh, and a servant.