The impact of the war was obviously comprehensive.
For large-scale wars like those between the Soma Alliance and the Sika Kingdom, it was not rely a pure military confrontation but also a contest of national strength.
Thus, the outcos at the front line affected not just the casualties of soldiers but impacted many aspects of the rear as well.
Walking on the street, Richard noticed that due to official preparations for the delegation’s entrance ceremony tomorrow morning, the overall atmosphere in Shaya was festive, joyful, and busy.
A large number of laborers were being chastised by lower-level officials to clean the streets and hang festive decorations. In the square, several sculptures commorating the victory of the war were being carved by stonemasons, and they seed likely to be completed by tomorrow.
However, this was only the surface.
Beyond the surface, one could see many negative aspects. For example, there were significantly fewer custors in stores, and so stores had even closed, with "For Sale" signs posted.
After listening to the muted whispers of passersby, Richard confird his suspicion: the war had a profound impact on the residents.
To win the war and improve logistics, the Alliance gathered considerable human, material, and financial resources. The depletion of the national treasury led to several additional war taxes and an increase in the collection rate of many previous taxes.
With higher tax rates, naturally, there was less money left, and residents’ purchasing power dropped sharply. Consequently, shops earned less, faced operational difficulties, and closing beca inevitable.
Now that they had won, there could be a breather; the tax rate might return to normal or even drop, and the war reparations from Sika might stimulate the economy. But if they had lost, it would have been a different scenario, perhaps much worse, with the upper echelon managing sohow while the lower layers of society would be in dire straits. That might be Sika’s current situation now.
Richard thought about this, shook his head slightly, and chose not to dwell further—he was simply analyzing information without a patriotic concern for his country and people.
He walked towards the more central area of Shaya, then turned into a quiet street.
Midway down the street, in front of a black mansion, Richard stopped and knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
After a few seconds, accompanied by a "clatter," the door opened. A young man around his twenties appeared inside, with bright eyes. He glanced at Richard and couldn’t help but show a look of surprise.
Richard recognized him; when he first ca to Shaya, it was the sa person who received him.
"Mars, right." Richard glanced at him and spoke up, "I wanted to ask, since I’ve returned to Shaya early, can I still stay here?"
"Of course, you can, Lord Richard, please co in." The young man clearly also rembered Richard, showing an incredibly warm and respectful deanor as he led Richard deeper into the mansion to the reception area, saying, "Lord Richard, your accommodations have been kept as they were, and we’ve been regularly sending soone to clean them. If you don’t mind, you can continue staying there."
"That’s good." Richard nodded, "I will stay there. I might only be here for a few days this ti; once I’m done with my affairs, I’ll leave. During this ti, I hope, just like before, to avoid any disturbances."
"Okay, I’ve noted that."
"Oh, by the way..." Richard rembered sothing, "Also, help contact Mr. Oscar. I hope he can find ti to co over, or I will visit him—I have so matters to discuss with him now that the war is over—as soon as possible."
"Okay, I’ll get right on it." Mars promised earnestly.
"That’s good then."
...
Just like that, Richard settled into his familiar courtyard, and Mars, who had promised to contact Oscar, indeed kept his word and did so.
Later, Oscar received the ssage and paid a visit, although the timing was sowhat unusual—not at dusk, not in the evening, but at midnight.
...
At midnight, in the courtyard of the official reception area in Shaya.
Richard was not asleep but in the study on the second floor, organizing so research issues.
During his confrontation with the Truth Society, he banished the Gray Mist, confirming the value of his research on the Exile Technique. But science is endless; this was only a small success. Whether it was the continued improvent of the Exile Technique, further refinent of the Energy Furnace, or the decryption of the Balta text, no task could be neglected.
So the next step...
"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."
Richard held a quill, quickly jotting down so thoughts and upcoming plans on a papyrus scroll.
While writing, the study door creaked open, and a silhouette appeared at the door—it wasn’t a servant, as a servant wouldn’t be this impolite. It was Bi Bi.
Richard looked up, gazed at Bi Bi, and asked, "What’s up?"
"Haa—choo," Bi Bi yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, sowhat complaining, "Soone’s here to see you. I’m here to let you know."
"Soone? Mr. Oscar?" Richard asked.
"Probably," Bi Bi replied, blinking sleepily after yawning, "I didn’t get a good look, but indeed, he seems quite dark, almost as if he hasn’t washed his face."
Alright, that’s him... Richard thought, waving to gather the papyrus scroll from the desk, and got up to leave, heading down to the first-floor parlor.
In the parlor, he indeed saw the visiting dark-faced elder, Oscar.
At this mont, the dark-faced elder Oscar appeared quite tired, taking a sip of the hot tea delivered by a servant and stretching his body on the seat, finally exhaling a long breath, looking sowhat relaxed.
Then he heard the sound of footsteps descending from the stairs, turned his head to look at Richard, lifted his droopy eyelids, and greeted, "You’re back! Earlier, you told your itinerary using star pattern paper. I thought you would arrive with the delegation."
"I intended to co with them, but there were too many celebration ceremonies along the way. Hearing that there was also a special entrance ceremony upon entering Shaya, I didn’t want to waste ti, so I ca ahead," Richard explained.
"You’re not planning to attend the entrance ceremony? That’s truly a pity," Oscar said with a bit of disappointnt, "This ti, the entrance ceremony in Shaya is quite grand, no less than the celebration banquet later at the Imperial Palace. Many of us, including myself, are busy with preparations, which is why I’m seeing you at this hour. After eting you, when dawn breaks, I’ll go to the city gate to handle the final details and subsequent matters of the celebration banquet..."
At this point, Oscar couldn’t help but confirm and ask, "Are you sure you won’t attend the entrance ceremony?"
"No, I really don’t want to attend," Richard shook his head, glanced at the weary Oscar, and said, "Mr. Oscar, rather than worrying about , you should be concerned about yourself. At your age, enduring this much labor, be careful not to have any mishaps."
If sothing happens, what about my things? Richard thought to himself.
"Don’t worry, I’m fine," Oscar responded nonchalantly, "My health has always been good, nothing will happen."
Suddenly thinking of sothing, Oscar paused, showing a bit of concern: "Actually, it’s His Majesty that worries . Due to the war, he hasn’t been eating or sleeping well for over three months. It wasn’t until recently, once the situation was completely settled, that he was able to finally relax. I’m more concerned about His Majesty’s health deteriorating and him possibly being unable to attend the celebration banquet due to illness..."
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