Ch.171Chapter 171 – The Mechanic Meets the Emperor

The moment I entered the Golden Dragon Fortress, if I had to sum up my impression in one word, it would be “magnificent.”

Aurelios, the capital of the Celebrio Empire, was a city that displayed imperial splendor, but it was nothing compared to the Golden Dragon Fortress.

Upon entering the Golden Dragon Fortress, an extremely wide boulevard appeared before me, spacious enough for twenty carriages to pass through simultaneously.

Since one carriage is approximately 1.5 meters wide, the boulevard must have been over 30 meters across.

The main road cutting through the center of Aurelios is about a six-lane road, so in terms of road width, the Liu Empire clearly wins.

Moreover, befitting the capital of a vast empire that rules the entire Eastern Continent, every single sculpture placed along the streets was adorned with elaborate decorations.

“You seem surprised by the splendor of the Golden Dragon Fortress.”

As I was looking around in amazement at the magnificence of the Golden Dragon Fortress, turning my head this way and that, I heard Baek Yu-wol’s voice.

“Indeed. It’s an incredibly magnificent city. While Aurelios, the capital of the Celebrio Empire, is also splendid, the Golden Dragon Fortress gives the impression that the entire city is the imperial palace itself.”

“Your impression is correct. The Golden Dragon Fortress is both a city and the palace of our imperial family.”

Baek Yu-wol confirmed that my thoughts were accurate.

“I don’t know all the details, but I’ve heard that the Golden Dragon Fortress was built from the beginning to function as a city that serves as a palace.”

“Was there a specific reason why it had to be that way?”

“I’ve heard it’s because there are so many people affiliated with the imperial family. About 150,000 people work, eat, and sleep here.”

Given that this world’s level of development fluctuates between medieval and early modern periods, 150,000 was an enormous number.

Arcenium, where the Glesius Academy is located, only has about 10,000-20,000 people, and I heard that Aurelios has around 50,000.

Moreover, this city isn’t modernized; it literally still has the infrastructure of medieval to early modern times…

The fact that they could maintain a city capable of accommodating 150,000 people already indicated that the Liu Empire possessed considerable national power.

Well, it’s the capital of a massive empire that rules the entire continent, so I suppose they could easily support 150,000 people.

“How do you supply everything needed for food and drink for all the people staying in the capital?”

“The merchant guilds operated by the Sixteen Great Families are responsible for supplying all goods. The Sixteen Great Families have the ability to provide whatever the imperial family needs.”

While explaining about the Golden Dragon Fortress, Baek Yu-wol was subtly boasting about the capabilities of the Sixteen Great Families.

Well, thanks to her, I learned about the abilities of the Sixteen Great Families, who could be considered the de facto rulers of the Eastern Continent, so I couldn’t say it was a bad thing.

If what Baek Yu-wol said was true, it meant that the Liu Empire’s imperial family was essentially surviving solely on the support of the Sixteen Great Families.

“But I wonder if supporting so many people would be a burden even for the Sixteen Great Families…”

“Hehehe, not at all. The Sixteen Great Families provide what the imperial family needs, and in return, they receive benefits such as tax reductions or priority rights to participate in state-sponsored projects. Compared to such enormous advantages, sending the goods required by the imperial family each year is a sacrifice they’re more than willing to make.”

This was what you might call the Liu Empire’s version of government-business collusion.

But since I already knew that the Liu Empire’s imperial family was merely a puppet and symbol of the Sixteen Great Families, I could only smile.

Well, it doesn’t harm me… I just need to establish friendly relations with the Liu Empire’s imperial family and the Sixteen Great Families to get the help I need for the war against the Demon Cult.

Given that the Eastern Continent is a setting based on martial arts, there would certainly be many people suffering from various ailments that commonly appear in martial arts novels.

For example, those who suffered qi deviation due to sudden attacks during meditation, those who could no longer use their internal energy due to internal injuries from prolonged battles, or those who experienced side effects from incorrectly consuming medicinal elixirs and became physically limited.

In other words, there were potential allies everywhere whom I could win over using my abilities.

Moreover, since this vast land was ruled by the enormous Liu Empire, healing anyone wouldn’t negatively impact the empire’s diplomacy.

Additionally, I had officially come to this land as an honored guest of the Liu Empire’s imperial family, so I could assume that no one would openly attack me.

Anyway, the carriage carrying Baek Yu-wol and me soon stopped in front of a location.

“Count, you may disembark now. From here on, we must leave the carriage and proceed on foot.”

“Understood.”

I heard Administrator Kang’s voice from outside the carriage, and I followed his instructions and got out.

What appeared before me as I exited the carriage was a massive golden gate topped with tens of thousands of roof tiles.

“Are you Count Pathos Severio?”

As I stepped out of the carriage, a man wearing elaborate armor adorned with golden scales approached and addressed me.

He appeared to be someone of considerable rank at first glance.

“I am, but who might you be?”

“I am Paso-cheon, a Guardian General who protects the Emperor.”

A Guardian General was roughly equivalent to a count in the Celebrio Empire.

The position above that, Guardian Commander-General, would be equivalent to a marquis, and the Grand Commander-General would be similar to a duke.

Therefore, I didn’t bother using honorifics with Paso-cheon, the Guardian General.

“I have received the Emperor’s command to guide you. Follow me. He has ordered that no one except you be allowed in, so only you may accompany me.”

“Understood.”

Hearing that only I was permitted to enter, I followed him toward the gate.

“Open the gate! I have brought the esteemed guest invited by the Emperor!”

When Paso-cheon approached the gatekeepers and shouted, the massive gate slowly began to open.

The gate opened just enough for Paso-cheon and me to pass through.

“By the way, Count, you may not be aware, but when you appear before the Emperor, you must show proper respect without fail.”

…Hm? Isn’t that obvious?

“Isn’t it natural to show respect to the monarch of another country?”

“…You probably know this already. The Emperor doesn’t actually rule the Liu Empire in practice.”

Ah. I understand what he’s trying to say.

“That’s why there have been instances where envoys from other countries have been disrespectful to the Emperor. Of course, afterward, they were absorbed by the Great Families and reduced to insignificant local lords in remote provinces.”

“You need not worry about that. As a subject of the Celebrio Empire, if I were to be disrespectful to another country’s monarch, it would be like smearing mud on the face of the Celebrio Empire.”

“…You truly are different from others. Perhaps it’s because you originate from this land.”

Guardian General Paso-cheon showed a surprised reaction.

Wait, if this is the case, doesn’t the Emperor receive extremely poor treatment?

Anyway, I followed Paso-cheon’s guidance and gradually made my way into the imperial palace.

The palace was truly complex, so I couldn’t take my eyes off Paso-cheon for even a moment.

After following him for quite some time, we finally arrived in front of a massive wooden structure where the Emperor was presumed to be.

“The Emperor is inside. He has probably finished his morning duties by now, so would you mind waiting here for a moment?”

“I’ll do that.”

Since Paso-cheon was going inside to announce my arrival, I agreed to wait as he suggested.

He slightly bowed his head in gratitude and entered the building, then came back out just a few minutes later.

“Follow me inside. The Emperor is waiting for you.”

Hearing that the Emperor was waiting for me, I finally felt the reality of being in the Liu Empire’s imperial palace.

Following Paso-cheon’s guidance into the building, I saw thick wooden pillars lined up along the central corridor, with several platforms at the end of the corridor, and a bald man dressed in golden attire sitting on one of them.

“Oh! Count Pathos Severio! Welcome! I welcome you in the name of the Emperor who rules the Liu Empire!”

As I appeared, he rose from his seat, spread his arms wide, and greeted me with enthusiastic welcome.

I wondered if he was really that pleased to see me… but then I noticed his bald head shining so brightly that his enthusiastic welcome made sense.

“I was truly impressed by your abilities that have resounded throughout the Western Continent. Tell me, with your skills, could you possibly cure my baldness?”