Chapter 143: Roger Invents a Proxy War for the Sea Kingdom
Roger explained a new war mode to Marguerite, calling it a “proxy war.”
The Azurevine Empire was now in a period of recuperation, focusing its efforts on domestic technological upgrades, increasing productivity, and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
However, a penchant for war was ingrained in the Empress of Eternal Night’s very being. While she couldn’t wage war for the sake of public welfare right now, it didn’t mean she didn’t desire it.
Furthermore, the Arcane Society was constantly inventing new things daily, whether they were mass-produced pure magic items or arcane equipment merging magic and technology, all of which required actual combat tests to prove their worth.
Theory was just theory; laboratory environments could only partially simulate complex battlefields. Only equipment that passed the crucible of war could be mass-produced and issued to the entire army.
But the empire had already declared a phase of peaceful development, leaving no opportunity to use those “big boom boons, super big boom boons, and ultra-giant boom boons.”
This left the Empress of Eternal Night like a gamer who had learned a new build and playstyle but was forbidden to play, with the itch to “start a war” churning within her.
While large-scale public warfare was unsuitable for the empire at present, testing new weapons and equipment was a pressing need. The Crown Prince of the Sea Kingdom, Shaq, who happened to be available, provided a new avenue.
“We can, through means including but not limited to providing weapon and equipment aid, training magical troops, offering mercenaries, and supplying logistics, help the Mermaid Sea Kingdom defeat the constantly conflicting Naga Empire. We can use their money and their lives to validate our weapons and equipment, completing a generational upgrade.”
“If Your Majesty is pleased, she could even make a guest appearance as a mercenary to satisfy her craving for battle…” Marguerite caught on, giving Rogue a thumbs-up.
This idea was sure to earn the Empress of Eternal Night’s favor and channel her pent-up energy.
Moreover, this was more than just finding a new toy for the Empress of Eternal Night; validating new military theories through a proxy war and achieving certain strategic objectives would yield benefits no less significant than the empire directly conquering its neighbors.
It could even be more profitable!
The Mermaid Sea Kingdom would also receive strong support, solving their persistent major threat.
Initially, they would undoubtedly suspect the Azurevine Empire’s ill intentions, and indeed, the empire did have ill intentions.
In the initial stages, the empire still needed to act as an honest and trustworthy arms dealer and military service provider, offering high-quality goods at low prices.
However, as the Mermaid Sea Kingdom grew accustomed to the taste of victory and became increasingly reliant on the empire’s aid, they would slowly realize the shifting dynamics of their relationship.
The balance of supply and demand was dynamic. There were no suppliers on the Azurevine Empire’s level in the market, and the Sea Kingdom couldn’t defeat the Naga on its own, thus granting the empire leverage.
The Sea Kingdom might profit now, but the empire would never lose.
As long as the Sea Kingdom became locked in a real conflict with the Naga, even if they knew the Azurevine Empire’s wolfish ambitions, they would choose to drink poison to quench their thirst.
The more Little Fan thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed. Having personally overseen large-scale campaigns, she offered many details for execution.
By the end of their discussion, Roger felt confident that the Empress of Eternal Night would approve this proxy war proposal, and under Little Fan’s direction, it would advance with great success.
Ultimately, the vast ocean would become the empire’s mining ground and provide primary labor. Marguerite, as the initiator, would naturally receive immense credit and wouldn’t have to worry about losing the Empress’s favor.
This “homework” could be repeatedly copied and applied to any region experiencing conflict and disputes. The empire wouldn’t bear the stigma of an aggressor while still reaping the benefits of one.
What emperor could refuse such temptation?
Marguerite’s expertise would then become even more valuable to the empire.
“Dio, shall we submit this proposal jointly?” Marguerite proactively suggested, not wanting to hog all the credit.
Roger shook his head and chuckled, “I merely pointed out a direction; the subsequent details were all your elaborations. You don’t need to include my name.”
Hogwash. While it sounded simple, actual execution required balancing various factions, which was quite troublesome.
Given the Emperor’s personality, if Roger were involved, he would undoubtedly be exploited even more.
Perhaps a few more shadow puppets would be sent over that very night…
So, this opportunity to shine should be enjoyed solely by loyal subjects like you!
Marguerite, unaware of Roger’s eternal desire to slack, believed he was giving her the best chance. She shyly uttered, “That wouldn’t be appropriate. I don’t even know how to repay you…”
Roger jokingly replied, “There is indeed one way to repay me.”
“Y-you say it!” Marguerite immediately tensed, her body instinctively sitting up straighter.
If he were to leverage this situation to demand she pledge herself to him, should she agree immediately or feign some coyness first?
Or perhaps haggle, and try starting as a couple first?
In that case, I could get ahead of that blue-haired saint!
Roger remained completely oblivious to the subtle shifts in Marguerite’s emotions.
To him, the recent exchange was like online political debate, akin to two P-game players discussing their gameplay.
While it was enjoyable, he had forgotten Marguerite’s gender and didn’t consider her delicate feminine sensibilities.
After all, they had just been discussing battleships and conquering oceans; jumping to a Romeo and Juliet scenario felt awkward.
Therefore, he maintained a light, joking tone: “Don’t be so nervous. I’ll be content if you just remember that the source of favor is contributing to the empire, not eclipsing others.”
“So… that’s it? Don’t worry, I definitely won’t forget. Heh heh.”
Marguerite’s lips twitched as she tried to force a smile, but her final expression looked worse than crying.
So, after all that circling around, bestowing upon me immense credit, you were just advising me not to compete with Angelina?
Good heavens, talk about a roundabout way to achieve national salvation!
Granted, it was good advice from a friend, and she was grateful, but Marguerite felt as if she had swallowed a fly.
It was all Angelina’s fault!
Roger looked at her expression and realized that something simple for him was incredibly difficult for this little demon who had fought tooth and nail to achieve everything she had.
Her journey to her current position in the empire, fighting alone, was indeed not easy.
He put down the newspaper and his expression turned serious. He spoke each word deliberately and solemnly: “Don’t worry, I won’t betray my friends, but I certainly won’t stab them in the back. From now on, I will stand with you in the cabinet.”
The half-demon little devil tilted her head, looking at Dio with a puzzled expression: “Friend, what exactly are the standards for that…”
Roger did not answer her question.
Everyone’s standards were different; everyone’s expectations were different.
In common human understanding, befriending a demon was akin to a gamble.
But he still believed that even this little demon harbored a yearning for light within her heart, and treating others with sincerity would ultimately be met with sincerity.
It was just that no one had ever given her such an opportunity before. Perhaps by starting with himself, he could offer her a new possibility, and maybe the little hedgehog could surprise him in return?
Marguerite waited for a long time, expecting Roger to follow up with promises of shared destiny, like “not born on the same day, but wishing to die on the same day.”
But there was nothing more.
Instead, he looked at her with the gentle gaze of an elder, as if implying, “You’re still young; you’ll understand when you grow up.”
“You, you’re just a scoundrel.” Marguerite spitefully kicked Dio.
I knew it; those knight novels were all lies. Men are such oblivious, slow-witted pigs, they can’t even lie sweetly!
“What’s gotten into you today?” Roger wasn’t in much pain; he was just startled by her surprise attack.
“Hmph, I’m leaving, bye-bye!”
Marguerite offered no explanation and walked away with her head held high.
At least this scoundrel was good to his friends, though his fault was being good to *all* his friends…
Sigh, the conquest is not yet successful; Marguerite must continue to strive!
From an angle Roger couldn’t see, the little demon showed an exceptionally bright smile.
Anyway, she had friends now, and they were friends she cherished dearly!
…
…
The Frosty Spring Manor.
Roger, along with Little Joey and several key editors from “New Arcana,” was interviewing a rather unconventional job applicant.
It was a young red dragon. In her human form, she possessed wild and alluring features, a tall and voluptuous figure, and fiery hair that cascaded down to her heels.
If she were to dress according to the empire’s popular fashion, she could undoubtedly stun high society.
But now, she was merely draped in a loose, shapeless robe, quite wrinkled, with her hair left unkempt.
She sat sloppily in her chair, as if on the verge of sliding to the floor.
Despite her youth, this young dragon exuded an air of a middle-aged man down on his luck, sitting at a street corner, enjoying the cool breeze while eating a watermelon.
Everyone could only be thankful that she looked disheveled but didn’t smell of curry.
One editor asked, “What is your source of inspiration for your articles?”
“Inspiration? I don’t have any inspiration. I just write what’s on my mind!”
Another editor inquired, “Do you have any future articles planned?”
“Haven’t thought about it yet. At least the manuscript fee is enough for me to eat for a month, right?”
Yet another asked, “Why did you come to the City of Mysteries?”
The red dragon chuckled, “Our clan leader is going to the Underdark to fight the black dragons, and I’m too lazy to go, so I came hiding here—with the Empress of Eternal Night around, even ancient red dragons wouldn’t DARE come and grab me.”
In other words, you’ve come to the empire to desert your post?
The imperial citizens, accustomed to valor, showed their disdain.
After three questions, most of the editors present had drawn a large ‘X’ next to this young dragon’s name.
While dragons were generally lazy, this red dragon, named Che Guevara, was the laziest of the lazy.
With her personality, they couldn’t possibly expect her to clock in normally and complete her work on schedule.
At this moment, “New Arcana” was undergoing another round of expansion.
The Night Watch’s workload was growing increasingly demanding, and Roger and Little Joey’s energy was too heavily diverted there. Consequently, Frosty Spring Manor needed more staff.
Correspondingly, the articles published in “New Arcana” were becoming more profound, and the experiments for verification and replication were becoming increasingly difficult, requiring more editors and assistants with higher magical proficiency.
There was no alternative but to continue expanding staff to handle the increasingly complex workload.
The good news was that “New Arcana” and “Arcane Musings” complemented each other, forming a stable routine.
As long as they continuously created controversial topics, subscription numbers would remain high, and the goal of enlightening the empire’s mages would be smoothly achieved.
The red dragon before them was an applicant for an editor position at Frosty Spring Manor.
This was because she had previously written an article titled “What Do Mages Truly Rely On for Output”:
[Rely on their own magic power output? Rely on the equipment they carry? Rely on swinging their staffs at people? Wake up, what are minions for? What are mercenaries for? Am I spending money to have them take lava baths?]
[Mages are a noble profession. 99% of targets in the world aren’t worth our personal attention.]
[Our core output should be money: buying equipment, hiring people, issuing bounties! As long as we wave our hands from our magic tower, the output is complete. This is the life a mage should have!]
[Combat is impossible, never personally fight. Mages need money, money, and more money. Those who need to fight themselves are bound to be eliminated by the times!]
[Only the dregs who can’t afford to pay get their hands dirty!]
While her article was somewhat biased, even suspected of targeting a certain Big Shot and constituting professional discrimination, her writing was undeniably compelling and generated significant discussion on “Arcane Musings.”
Such talent, and the editors were willing to give Che Guevara a chance.
However, meeting her in person was far less impressive than hearing about her. Upon seeing the actual dragon, they felt it was too much.
According to procedure, Che Guevara was asked to wait outside for news while the editors discussed.
“There’s nothing to discuss; next candidate?” Little Joey was meticulous and had no fondness for such indolent individuals.
Roger waved his hand, “I think she’s very suitable as the deputy editor-in-chief of ‘Arcane Musings.'”
Everyone: ???
Roger propped his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his clasped hands, and said with a smile, “Compared to Miss Che Guevara, our empire’s mages are generally too diligent and too warlike. While her ideas are biased, they are exactly what’s needed to counteract the mages’ tendency to rush headlong into battle—the driving force behind technological progress is, in fact, human laziness.”
One editor commented, “But Madam President, won’t they laugh at us for hiring a lazy deputy editor-in-chief…”
“We are already being ridiculed for being fanciful; everyone should be subjected to one hundred Disintegration Bolts. Why fear being laughed at?” Roger chuckled with feigned surprise.
“I agree with Madam President’s opinion. Che Guevara’s thinking is inflammatory and can stimulate more mages to transition into research and management roles.”
The others fell silent.
As everyone knew, the Vice President would never disagree with the President; if he said magic wasn’t conserved, she would support it.
And so, Che Guevara received an offer.
For her, it was more accurately described as a long-term source of food.
Roger didn’t mind. Frosty Spring Manor had plenty of diligent and hardworking people. Their subconscious drive for progress would cause “New Arcana” to deviate in its ideology.
Che Guevara would perfectly balance this, much like making an outrageous initial demand—
First present an extreme viewpoint that you absolutely cannot accept, then gradually adjust; wouldn’t everyone then agree?
After signing a large number of backup talents for cultivation, the maddening process finally came to a close.
Roger returned to his office. Little Joey quietly followed him and shut the door.
The President and Vice President of the magazine are discussing major development plans.jpg
