123: Chapter 123 An army is for fighting wars, not for collecting debts.

That exquisite bill had more texture than any Imperial Gold Note he had ever seen; its delicate patterns and clear seal carried a convincing, heavy weight.

Something was slowly lighting up in the veteran's eyes.

He turned around holding that "bond" as if he were cradling a rare treasure.

His staggering yet firm silhouette became the most effective advertisement.

The crowd began to stir.

One, two, ten, a hundred... more and more people poured in from every corner of the city, exchanging the old contracts and IOUs they had long considered waste paper for brand-new "silvermoon restoration bondss."

They might not yet understand what a "shareholder" was, but they understood that Lord Levi was willing to endorse these pieces of "waste paper," giving them a hope they could hold in their hands.

For three whole days, the counters of the Silvermoon City Development Bank were swarmed with crowds.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Envoy Cassius and the old nobles he had rallied could only watch all this happen, utterly powerless.

The theories of "scams" and "illegality" they tried to spread appeared pale and laughable in the face of tangible proof of interest.

Cassius finally understood that Levi didn't care at all whether he had the support of the old nobles.

He had bypassed these middle classes entirely, turning the most numerous commoners at the very bottom of the city into his most steadfast supporters.

With a small slip of paper, he had completed the total recruitment of the hearts and minds of Silvermoon City.

Dusk, the final day of the three-day deadline.

A vibration came from the horizon outside the city—subtle but continuous, like some giant beast pacing rhythmically in the distance.

Soon, the bells atop the watchtower were rung, urgent and sharp, tearing through the fragile order Silvermoon City had just established.

"The Imperial Second Legion! It's General Tiberius's Goshawk Flag! They're here!"

The news spread through the city like a plague.

The citizens who had just received their "bonds" and felt a flicker of hope in their hearts saw the color drain from their faces instantly.

What was an Imperial Legion?

It was the Emperor's iron fist, a war machine that crushed all resistance.

Bonds, shareholders—everything seemed destined to turn to dust in the face of absolute military force.

Panic began to ferment.

Cassius had finally reached the moment he had long anticipated.

He changed into a brand-new black mage robe embroidered with golden scales and, surrounded by a squad of Royal Guards, walked out of his temporary residence and stood in the middle of Central Avenue where the crowds converged.

He held the Imperial Decree high in his hand, his voice carrying through the entire block via a faint amplification magic.

"Citizens of Silvermoon City! Do not be deceived by that border scammer! The Imperial Army led by General Tiberius is here to rescue you!"

His voice was full of incitement. "Your beloved Princess Ella Radiance is being held hostage by that usurper! The Legion has come precisely to bring the Princess back and to liquidate the illegal debts forged by Levi Byron! The so-called 'bonds' in your hands are nothing but worthless waste paper! Now, set aside your fantasies; assisting the Empire is your only way out!"

These words were like a heavy bomb, exploding in the panic-stricken city.

Rescue the Princess? Liquidate the bonds?

People's gazes instinctively turned toward the City Lord's Mansion. They had just staked their lives and fortunes; was it all going to be lost in the blink of an eye?

Levi stood on the highest balcony of the City Lord's Mansion, the wind carrying fragments of Cassius's voice into his ears.

On the horizon outside the city, the dark mass of army tents had already spread out. The Goshawk Flags fluttered in the afterglow of the setting sun like a forest of steel, exuding a cold killing intent.

"My Lord, we..." Evelyn stood behind him, a hint of tension in her voice.

The City Defense Force was already showing signs of unrest.

Levi did not look back, merely asking calmly, "Where is Princess Ella?"

"In the prayer room on the third floor."

"Please ask her to come up. Tell her there is an important equity grant ceremony that requires her, the protagonist, to be present in person."

When Ella Radiance stepped onto the balcony, this was the scene she beheld.

Below the city, the Imperial Envoy was delivering a passionate speech, inciting the emotions of the populace.

Outside the city, one of the most elite legions under her father's command had its spears pointed directly at the city walls.

And the man who had dragged her into the center of this vortex stood with his back to the sunset, his expression so calm it was as if he were watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

"You were looking for me?" Her voice was cool, carrying a hint of wariness.

She didn't know what new trick Levi wanted to play at a time like this.

Levi turned around and gave her a flawless business smile.

He didn't explain but instead made a "please" gesture, indicating for her to walk to the very front of the balcony.

Ella hesitated for a moment but walked over anyway.

She wanted to see how this man would break the deadlock with the Imperial Legion at the gates.

Levi also stepped forward, standing side-by-side with her.

He deliberately raised his volume. Though his voice wasn't as booming as Cassius's, it clearly overrode the noise below.

"Citizens of Silvermoon City, my shareholders, good evening."

The phrase "my shareholders" caused the restless crowd below to quiet down instantly.

Levi's gaze swept over the fearful faces below and then landed on Cassius in the distance, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Just now, the Imperial Envoy told us that the Second Legion outside the city is here to rescue Princess Ella, who is supposedly being 'held hostage' by me. This claim is quite interesting, but unfortunately, it is a lie."

He turned sideways toward Ella and gave a slight bow, his movements as elegant as if he were inviting a lady at a court ball.

"Today, I invite everyone to witness a historic moment together."

He took an exquisite document wrapped in a gold-embossed cover from Evelyn, who had been standing silently behind him.

"Since Silvermoon City entered the stage of bankruptcy restructuring, Princess Ella Radiance, with her noble character and wisdom, has made an indelible contribution to the restoration of order and the stability of the people's hearts. She has not only prevented bloodshed but also used the reputation of the Royal Family to bring valuable reconstruction resources to us."

Levi's voice wasn't loud, but it was powerful.

"To thank the Princess for her outstanding contributions, the board of directors of the Blackstone Holding Group has unanimously decided to grant Princess Ella Radiance thirty percent of the equity in 'Silvermoon Co., Ltd.' for free! From the moment this agreement takes effect, the Princess will be the largest individual shareholder of Silvermoon City!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire area fell deathly silent.

Whether it was the citizens under the wall or Cassius, who was still mid-speech in the distance, everyone stood frozen as if struck by a petrification spell.

Equity? Largest shareholder?

What were these unheard-of terms? Yet everyone understood the meaning behind the words.

Levi was giving the highest revenue rights of this city to the Imperial Princess!

Under the watch of countless gazes, Levi solemnly handed the document to Ella.

Ella's breath also hitched for a second.

In her azure eyes, Levi's calm and deep black eyes were clearly reflected.

She instantly understood Levi's intention.

He wasn't forcing her to pick a side; he hadn't asked her to choose between the Empire and Silvermoon City.

He had simply given her a business choice.

If she accepted, she would no longer be an observer sent by the Empire, but the most core stakeholder of this city.

Cassius's excuse of "rescuing a hostage" would fall apart on its own.

She would use her own actions to declare her stance to everyone.

If she refused, she would immediately be severed from the city, confirming her status as being "held hostage," and then the Imperial Legion outside would have the most legitimate reason to besiege the city.

This was an open conspiracy—a knot that tied together politics, military affairs, the hearts of the people, and interests.

And the key to untying this knot was placed in her own hands.

Her gaze swept over the citizens below who were clutching their bonds with eyes full of hope and fear, and then she looked toward the military flag outside the city that represented her family's glory.

After a long time, amidst the oppressive silence of the entire city, Ella slowly reached out her hand.

Her fingertips were fair and slender, carrying a barely perceptible tremor as she took the document titled "Equity Grant Agreement."

She didn't say a single word.

But this action was worth more than a thousand words.

A tsunami of cheers erupted from beneath the city walls.

Cassius's face instantly turned as white as paper.

He had lost; he had lost utterly.

That night, a carriage without any insignia, under the personal escort of Evelyn, quietly drove out of the side gate of Silvermoon City and sped toward the Imperial Second Legion's camp.

There were no swords or armor on the carriage.

Only several wine barrels sealed with fine oak from the Blackstone Territory, and a thick stack of parchment smelling of fresh ink.

Inside the legion's central command tent, the lights were bright.

The commander, General Tiberius—a middle-aged man with neat grey stubble on his chin and eyes as sharp as a hawk's—was staring intently at a simple military map in silence.

He wasn't a pure politician like Cassius; he was a pragmatic soldier. The things he had to consider for a war were far more than the words on a decree.

Provisions, manpower, siege engines, and... post-war pensions.

The orders from the Imperial Capital had come in a rush, requiring him to march but even telling him to "self-provision locally" for food and supplies.

This light phrase, when translated, meant he was to plunder the area.

But Silvermoon City had just gone through a great upheaval; there wasn't much to squeeze out. Instead, it might provoke a civilian uprising, making the siege even bloodier.

Just as he was feeling irritable about this, a soldier came in to report that Silvermoon City had sent an envoy.

When Evelyn walked into the tent with her chests of ale and a "business proposal," General Tiberius's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Levi Byron sent just one woman with a few barrels of wine to surrender to me?" His voice was low and majestic.

Evelyn gave a neither humble nor arrogant salute and presented the parchment scroll in her hand.

"General Tiberius, my master did not send me to surrender, but to negotiate a highly profitable business contract with you."

"A contract?" Tiberius was so angry he laughed.

The army was for fighting wars, not for doing business.

"Please take a look." Evelyn said no more, simply placing the "Business Proposal for the Imperial Second Legion to Provide Security Services upon Entry into Silvermoon City" on his desk.

General Tiberius originally wanted to throw it directly into the brazier, but that strange title somehow made him pick it up.

He suspiciously unfurled the scroll.

The contents caused the mockery in his eyes to gradually turn into surprise, and finally into deep shock.

This wasn't a letter of surrender at all.

This was a business plan so clearly organized and rigorously logical it was terrifying.

The proposal suggested: The Imperial Second Legion could enter Silvermoon City peacefully in the capacity of a "Special Security Contractor," responsible for the city's outer defense and public order.

In return, "Silvermoon Co., Ltd." would pay a salary to the Second Legion.

The salary standard: Triple the Imperial standard military pay.

Payment method: Directly allocated from Silvermoon City's future pre-tax profits, settled monthly.

In the proposal, there were even precise charts and figures for the legion's daily food consumption, equipment wear and tear, disability compensation for personnel, and pensions for families of the fallen—all calculated at rates far exceeding Imperial standards.

Where every penny came from and where it was to be spent was written clearly and was obvious at a glance.

Holding this proposal, Tiberius's palms actually started to sweat.

He thought of that vague order he had received from the Imperial Capital; he thought of how, after every campaign, he had to bow and scrape before those noble lords just to fight for a pittance of pension for his dead brothers.

He was a pragmatic soldier.

He was loyal to the Empire, but he was even more responsible for the tens of thousands of soldiers who followed him through life and death.

He knew clearly which "contract" was more beneficial to his soldiers.

A long silence fell over the command tent.

Only the crackling of the oil lamp could be heard.

The next morning, the sun rose as usual.

The expected siege did not happen.

In its place was a messenger from the Imperial Legion who delivered a document personally signed by General Tiberius at the city gates.

Levi stood atop the city wall and took the document.

The title was: "Letter of Intent for Security Services."

He smiled.

He turned and gave new orders to Evelyn beside him, his voice calm yet carrying a power that seemed to pierce through the future.

"Notify the Finance Department to prepare the first salary payment for our new 'Security Contractor.' Additionally, draft a commercial feasibility report for a 'Military-to-Civilian' transition for the entire Imperial Northern Defense Line."

Standing not far away, Ella heard this command clearly.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a chill rose from her spine.

Military-to-civilian?

Recruiting one legion wasn't enough; he had actually already turned his gaze toward the entire northern border defense line of the Empire?

Just how great was this man's ambition?