The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 622 The Hidden Troubles of the Holy Empire of Valtanir

"Bankrupt? What exactly do you mean by that, Father?" Freya inquired, a trace of skepticism marking her tone.

The Holy Empire of Valtanir stood as a pillar of vast wealth and prestige. It seemed utterly preposterous that a nation of such standing could face insolvency.

"The bankruptcy I speak of is exactly what you are guessing," Ragan replied with a soft, dry laugh. "Do not be fooled by the facade of grandeur this empire projects. The truth is, they have been hollowed out by the total annihilation of their capital. I assume you have heard the news?"

"You mean the destruction of Valtanir's capital city?" Freya narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes, I am aware. It was the doing of the Singularity of Chaos, was it not?"

Halveran, once the crown jewel of the Holy Empire of Valtanir, had stood as a marvel of engineering, rivaling even Solvaria from the Great Velmora Empire.

However, just a year ago, the Singularity of Chaos descended upon Halveran in a sudden, brutal strike, reducing the entire metropolis to dust.

While the loss of life was negligible, every single building and piece of vital infrastructure was erased from the map.

The memory remained vivid in Freya’s mind; she had struggled to believe that a bastion as mighty as Halveran could be toppled with such ease.

Yet, when she contemplated the culprit behind the tragedy, the impossible suddenly felt plausible.

"Precisely," Ragan nodded vaguely. "The fall of Halveran resulted in staggering losses for the Holy Empire. Their national treasury was nowhere near enough to finance a restoration, leaving them forced to lean on massive debts from the Blue Moon Trading House. Do you have any idea what the price of reconstruction is? Two hundred billion Sharn."

"Two hundred billion Sharn?" Freya’s pulse quickened. "That much?"

"Indeed, that much." Ragan exhaled heavily before pressing on. "But it makes sense. Halveran possesses unmatched economic importance, with land values that compete even with Solvaria. Since the city grounds were pulverized into a two-meter-deep basin, the rebuilding process is agonizingly complex. Naturally, the costs are catastrophic."

The catastrophe had done more than level the architecture; it had forced the very earth to sink two meters deep.

This created a gargantuan engineering nightmare, as the entire depression required imported soil to build a stable foundation capable of supporting a city once more.

Truthfully, even he could not fathom how the Singularity of Chaos managed such devastation. It defied logic—even for someone of the level of a Celestial Mage.

Freya fell into a pensive silence as she processed her father's words. Regaining her composure, she followed up, "So that is what you mean by bankruptcy? Can the Holy Empire of Valtanir truly plummet into financial ruin over this?"

Ragan offered a nod. "Yes, the primary reason is that. But other tumors are festering. Political instability is beginning to take root across the empire. Are you familiar with the Church of the Goddess of Light?"

"The Church of the Goddess of Light?" Freya look alarmed once more. "Yes, I know of it, Father. If I recall correctly, they operate as a radical faction opposed to the imperial throne and the state. What is happening? Do not tell me they are plotting a coup."

Her expression shifted into one of deep gravity.

"They haven't reached that point yet, but the path is certainly leading that way," Ragan said, leaning back into his chair. "Since the fall of Halveran, the public's faith in the imperial family has plummeted to merely forty percent, and it is dropping further with every passing month. Citizens are questioning the imperial family's failure to contain the Singularity of Chaos. Even the Singularity of Light is being targeted by public scorn and losing the trust of the populace."

Public confidence remains the lifeblood of any kingdom or empire. This is precisely why the palace maintains a watchful eye over nobles who act cruelly toward their subjects.

Brutality breeds public discontent, which eventually blossoms into deep-seated resentment and hatred. Once that tide of anger rises, it can consume the entire realm in chaos.

Should that come to pass, maintaining dominion becomes nearly impossible. Regardless of how potent an empire may appear, internal rebellion is almost always the harbinger of a nation's death knell.

Over the millions of years this continent has existed, countless mighty nations have risen to supremacy.

Putting aside foreign invasions, most were ultimately brought to their knees by the fires of internal insurrection.

Having studied the lessons of history, Ragan was determined not to let his own reign succumb to the sting of rebellion.

"I had no idea so much had changed while I was away," Freya sighed, her voice heavy.

Being stationed at the border meant she was often behind on domestic news. Nonetheless, she could not deny that the situation sounded dire.

If the Holy Empire of Valtanir were to spiral into civil war, the tremors would be felt by every nation on the continent.

"I see the gravity of the situation. But tell me, Father, how does this involve my summons?"

Ragan sat straighter. "The Holy Empire of Valtanir occupies territory adjacent to our northern frontier. It acts as a base for a significant battalion of roughly eighty thousand troops. They have been posturing to provoke us, aiming to seize the Eldrath Mountains for their rich resources. Thus far, they haven't dared to strike first. However..."

His face hardened. "As the documents you reviewed suggest, there are clear signs that a full-scale war is approaching. Their goal is plain—the resources of the Eldrath Mountains. I am calling you to command the army to stabilize the region. Should hostilities erupt, you have my full authority to launch a counter-offensive and crush the forces of the Holy Empire of Valtanir."

He fished a red token out of his robes, carved with the insignia of a dragon.

Freya’s eyes widened. It was a war-command token—a rare and legendary implement. Its specific purpose was to deploy the empire's feared dragon forces.

The might of the dragon forces was terrifying and absolute. Throughout history, her father had used them to subjugate any territory that dared to stand against him.

With the dragon forces in play, even a stubborn territory could be conquered in less than an hour.

She never imagined her father would entrust her with such an artifact.

One thing was certain: this was an immense mark of trust, and she would move mountains to prove worthy of it.

"Do not worry, Father. I will handle this situation flawlessly," Freya pledged with firm resolve.

It had been ages since she had gone to the front lines, and the weight of the responsibility left her heart racing with anticipation.

After sharing a few final words, Freya stood and exited the office.

Watching her retreat, Ragan exhaled deeply. "I hope she can succeed. But knowing Freya... I am certain she will."

Her talent was nothing short of extraordinary. Ragan’s secret intention was to promote her as the next supreme general, succeeding Luvistar.

This impending conflict would be the crucible for her trial. If she triumphed, the position would be hers.