Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill Chapter 451:Rewards On The Way

The lead aide proceeded with his report cautiously, picking his words with great care.

"It started with Count Ethan's crackdown on slave routes and various illicit activities. He razed multiple hidden farms and trading paths secretly linked to the Ambrose Family. This inflicted heavy damage on much of their income sources."

The Emperor's face stayed unchanged, though his fingers halted for a moment on the armrest.

"At first, they were overly assured in their response," the aide continued. "They figured he wouldn't dare strike directly at them, despite his well-known aversion to slave trading."

A second aide advanced and offered a slight bow.

"Yet this abrupt action disrupted the equilibrium between various noble houses. It went beyond mere ethics. It sliced into their concealed earnings."

A subtle smile curved the Emperor's lips.

"Thus, they grew complacent," he murmured softly.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," the initial aide responded. "They viewed his opposition to slave trading as merely personal. They never anticipated such bold, negotiation-free action from him."

He halted momentarily before going on.

"Certain families feel his battlefield successes are eclipsing their contributions. They dread his swelling sway in the western territories."

The Emperor uttered a single word deliberately.

"Fear."

"Precisely, Your Majesty," the aide affirmed. "They fret that prolonged war and ongoing victories for Count Ethan might earn him excessive backing from soldiers and civilians alike."

The Emperor reclined a bit on his throne.

"Do they suppose me oblivious?" he inquired evenly.

The aides bowed even lower at once.

"We dare not suggest such a thing, Your Majesty."

The Emperor's gaze sharpened faintly.

"Which houses?"

The aide wavered briefly, then named several esteemed noble clans in the Empire. These were ancient lineages, firmly entrenched in the capital, and habituated to wielding power.

"No overt moves from them yet," the aide hastened to note. "However, traces of discontent appear. Secret gatherings. Veiled grumblings. Doubts over resources funneled to Count Ethan."

His tone dropped lower.

"They even claim the throne is covertly aiding him."

The Emperor stayed quiet.

The room's atmosphere grew denser.

Following a prolonged silence, the Emperor rose gradually from his throne. His robes whispered across the marble as he advanced.

"Power breeds envy," he stated serenely. "Particularly among those terrified of fading into irrelevance."

He paced a few steps, hands folded behind him.

"Count Ethan proves valuable."

The emphasis was clear.

"Extremely valuable."

The aides maintained their bowed postures.

"Yet value offers no shield from examination."

He paused by a towering window, gazing down at the sprawling capital.

"Monitor those noble houses closely," he commanded, back still turned.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And monitor Ethan as well."

The chief aide tensed a little.

"Your Majesty?"

The Emperor's tone held steady.

"Talent requires cultivation," he whispered. "But unrestrained might demands gauging."

He recognized Ethan's ascent was inevitable. That was plain. Still, such unchecked ascent clashed with his principles. No noble ought to surge ahead without counterweights.

For an instant, the Emperor's stare grew remote.

"I recall my old ally's proposal," he muttered. "Looks like I must endorse it."

The aides held their silence, expectant.

Moments later, the Emperor faced them once more.

"Convey this to the families: Count Ethan may govern his domain freely. He merits that extent of autonomy."

He hesitated.

"Additionally, honor his triumph fittingly. Dispatch gifts. Titles where apt. Ignoring his feats would reflect poorly on us."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A subtle glint passed through the Emperor's eyes.

"Let him radiate."

The statement was tranquil, yet layered with meaning. The chief aide raised his head just a touch before dropping it anew.

Within, a slight smile emerged.

His Majesty aimed to hone the blade prior to wielding it.

Rewards upfront.

Assessment next.

What a stratagem.

The Emperor made his way back to the throne unhurriedly.

.....

Dusk gradually enveloped Frostvele.

The fortress, ablaze with combat merely a day prior, now lay serene beneath the moon's silvery light. Fresh snow blanketed the plains, gradually concealing the bulk of battle's wounds. From the ramparts, far-off watchfires twinkled along the border, while chilly gusts bore distant sounds of troops chuckling and chatting.

Triumph granted them brief respite, yet true repose remained elusive.

In Frostvele Castle's command hall, officers clustered around a grand wooden table. Frontier maps lay sprawled over it, annotated with new ink marks and tiny metal markers showing army deployments.

Miranda bent forward over the table, arms folded tight, eyes locked on a highlighted zone.

"So they pulled back that far?" she questioned, jabbing at the sketched mountains on the map.

A scout close by nodded briskly.

"Yes, Lady Miranda. Patrols verified it at dawn today. The remaining demon troops retreated further into their domain after their rout."

Nera dropped her eyes to scrutinize the map with focus.

"They're regrouping," she murmured low. "Such a withdrawal screams they're scheming something big."

Phillips loomed next to the table, his massive palm flat against the map's rim.

"Spot on," he affirmed steadily. "Demons never yield ground idly. They'll strike back."

Leon lounged against a nearby pillar, ears attuned to the talk. His gaze burned with that familiar battle-hunger it always flared up for fights.

"That only means round two of combat," he quipped, smirking faintly.

Miranda rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"Of course you'd say that."

Julia swept into the room right then, clutching fresh dispatches. She laid them on the table and spoke evenly.

"Patrols spotted something additional."

All eyes lifted sharply.

"Demon supply paths in the western valleys are stirring up," she pressed on. "Looks like they're shipping supplies deeper into the frontier."

Phillips knit his brows a touch and rapped the table with a finger.

"They're bracing for a prolonged war."

Nera dipped her head in slow agreement.

"That tracks perfectly. With multiple commanders down, they'll bolster forces before launching anew."

The chamber fell into hush.

Through the windows, winds whispered fiercely over the vast snowscapes.

Miranda flicked her gaze to the door, brow creasing faintly.

"Where is Father?"

Julia responded with poise.

"He's yet outside the fortress."

At that instant, far past the battlements, Ethan stood solitary atop a cliff surveying the glacial plains.

The vast night sky arched overhead, twinkling with remote stars. Chilly gusts whipped his cloak as snowflakes danced gently about him.