Work Prophet

Conley ignored their reactions and continued, "Third, I need some money, not much, just two hundred thousand gold lions will do."

"Are you joking?" Allister said discontentedly, "It's not just your forces fighting against Ireya; we are also dispatching people to form an alliance army. Why should we pay you extra?"

Claudio added, "You control the Red Plain and hold the Lion Heart Castle, how could you be short of money?"

Conley's face was quite unsightly. Before he moved into Lion Heart Castle, he thought the same way; as an imperial person, how could he not have heard of the city's prosperity and luxury?

But when he arrived, he realized that while Lion Heart Castle was indeed luxurious, it was also a bottomless pit.

Previously, when the Vespasian Family was around, goods and products from other parts of the Empire were continuously sent to Lion Heart Castle, supporting the prosperity of the continent's first city and the extravagant lives of the royal family and nobles in the city.

But now, with war raging across the Bratis Continent, although Conley controlled the Red Plain, almost all routes to other places were blocked, meaning resources could no longer be transported.

However, the spending habits of the nobles in the city couldn't change overnight, leading to rising prices. For the wealthy nobles, this increase was painful but bearable.

But for the commoners at the bottom, survival became impossible, forcing some to leave Lion Heart Castle and seek livelihoods elsewhere, further reducing the number of producers, leading to continued price increases.

Conley realized the issue of population loss, but neither he nor Lannita were financial or economic experts, and neither had dealt with such a complex and thorny economic environment before.

So Conley just ordered to prohibit ordinary citizens from leaving Lion Heart Castle at will.

This somewhat alleviated the problem of population loss, but didn't solve the trouble of rising prices and also worsened city security.

Ordinary citizens who couldn't bear the rising prices resorted to stealing and robbing to fill their stomachs.

Conley had to recruit more guards to maintain order, which was another significant expense.

And worse things followed; when Conley checked the national treasury, he found it completely empty.

At first, Conley thought Solomon had emptied the treasury when occupying the place, but when he found Lannita and the previous Finance Minister, he learned it was already empty.

Not only was it empty, but the Vespasian Family had left him a huge debt of two million six hundred thousand gold lions.

These were holes left by several previous emperors, though due to the chaos of war, a substantial part no longer needed to be repaid.

And Conley didn't plan to repay the remaining debt; he wasn't that kind to clean up the mess for the Vespasian Family.

But this led to a new problem; Conley couldn't borrow any money.

Because no one was willing to lend money to someone who didn't repay debts.

Moreover, things were different now than during Solomon's time; Conley now had two competitors (excluding Ireya), and he couldn't be too harsh on the nobles below, blatantly exploiting them. If pressed too hard, they'd all turn to support Allister and Claudio.

In conclusion, Conley really had no money now; that's why he considered asking Allister and Claudio for some on this visit.

But even this wasn't easy, as the money of Allister and Claudio didn't come from the wind, and this money was for their competitor.

Conley could only compromise, "If you don't want to give it, treat it as a loan to me. I'll repay you in a year."

The three of them discussed Conley's conditions for two whole days, during which Allister and Claudio each proposed their own terms.

Finally, after a long debate and bargaining, the three of them formed an alliance, swearing by the honor of their families and the gods behind them, to temporarily cease hostilities, gather all their forces, and defeat the formidable enemy Ireya.

Lannita also agreed to dispatch two giant dragons and two hundred Wing Clan warriors, which was all the force she could muster.

After the three agreed on the date and location to deploy, Conley and Claudio returned to make preparations.

Duke Schroder on Allister's side also returned to the Northern Territory to recruit soldiers, but Allister himself stayed in Short Tail Town, waiting for the return of the Priest of Cornelia four days later.

However, the latter brought back bad news, "I have to leave for a while."

"For how long, ten days, half a month?" Allister asked.

"I don't know, but it should take at least two or three months to return."

"Are you serious?" Allister's smile froze on his face, "The great battle is about to begin, and Priest of Cornelia, I shouldn't need to remind you that we need you, we need the Life Goddess behind you.

"Is there anything more important than defeating Ireya?"

Cornelia was silent at this, and silence itself represented an attitude.

Allister also got a bit angry, "Go then, without your help, I can still defeat that Western frontier queen; I'll just have to reconsider the faith for myself and my people.

"Duke Schroder has always hoped I would convert to the God of Storms and Ice, Fengel."

Cornelia sighed, "I'll send my two disciples to assist you."

"But your people have already been defeated by Merlin and his Double Rest Sect once." Allister raised his voice.

"I'm now starting to suspect that your reluctance to join us in the attack on Ireya is because you fear facing Merlin, knowing you're not his match."

"Mind your words, Your Majesty, don't forget who helped you take the New Moon Land." Cornelia's expression also turned serious.

"You have your mission, I have mine, and the Life Goddess has plans for each of us."

Allister wanted to say more, but seeing her darkened expression, he dared not continue, so he just snorted, turned, and left.

Cornelia watched his back, feeling a bit weary, but she only rested in Short Tail Town for half a day, then hurriedly left the city.

When Allister heard that Cornelia had left again, his dissatisfaction with her grew stronger, and he rejected the two disciples Cornelia sent, refusing them entry.